So charming

In our search for the perfect Xmas treasure for all the new and expectant mamas we know (it truly is baby season), we were tickled pink and blue to find out about the Moms Name Charm Necklace from Bliss Living. Each custom-made necklace includes a sterling silver charm that can be inscribed with your baby's name and date of birth, connected to the chain by a Swarovski crystal birthstone.

In case you don't know your child's birth stone, there's a handy chart on the web site to explain and you can add additional charms to each chain to reflect your growing family. If you want to spread some Moms Charm before Christmas order by December 5 and use the coupon code FREESHIP for free shipping on all orders over $99 (by Nov 20).

Water Sport

One of the stands that caught our eye at October's Baby Show in London was selling something called the Baby Sport Water Bottle Teat Adaptor. The name is pretty self-explanatory but we'll break it down anyway: basically it's a little gadget that attaches a standard baby teat to any 'baby-friendly' water bottle. It creates a watertight seal and saves you having to boil and cool your baby's water before you head out the door.

The product is 100% BPA free and will work with almost any brand of low mineral water bottle suitable for babies from 5/6 months e.g. Spa, Aqua Pura, Evian, Highland Spring and Volvic. The BabySport adaptor is ideal for travelling abroad and will help keep your baby safely hydrated in countries where the tap water is dodgy. Find out more at the Baby Sport web site.

MeloBaby mats make mellow mamas

One of the most useful purchases I've made since becoming a mother is this Fold & Go Mat from The First Years, a fold-up changing wallet that fits into any medium-sized bag and has space for nappies and wipes case. At last month's Baby Show in London, I was thrilled to come across the MeloBaby nappy/changing wallet which combines the practicality of my current changing mat with the sleek good looks of a clutch bag.


Available in two colours, MeloNoir and MeloChoc, the MeloBaby features up to 4 pockets for wipes, nappies and creams and then folds out to a full-size changing mat in soft fleece to soothe your baby's tush. Even if you're intent on splashing out on that designer changing bag that costs and carries the earth, a portable mini-mat like the MeloBaby is definitely a worthwhile investment. Snap one up at the MeloBaby web site.

It's a wrap

Like most multi-tasking mamas, finding a fashionable product with multiple uses gives us an almighty buzz. So we were positively electrified to come across the M Coat, a Canadian Spirit designed coat that converts from maternity coat to new mummy cover-up and finally to a stylish jacket for when you're back to regular size.


Insulated with 100 percent Canadian down and featuring a detachable faux fur trim hood, what makes this coat so clever is the removable front panel that can be zipped into multiple positions for pregnancy or for toting your bubba in a front-carrier. The panel has an adjustable drawstring waist to allow your blooming belly to expand or to help pull your baby closer when used for babywearing. And when you're done with the infant stage, you can whip the panel off to reveal the sleeker version of yourself stylishly wrapped in what looks like a brand new winter coat! Find out more at the M Coat web site.

Go Skip Hop

It's not always the first item on your mind when you're busy scouting for pushchairs or prams, nursery items and baby clothes, but a sturdy diaper bag is one of the most essential purchases for any new parent. Being a mama essentially means becoming a bag lady as you have to tote an unimaginable amount of baby gear around whenever you step out.

US-based Skip Hop is one of the most popular brands for the new breed of baby changing bags that couple style with functionality. The Skip Hop Dash is a messenger-style bag that you can easily sling over the handle bars of your stroller or attach with its unique strap and fastening system. The bag contains eleven deep pockets to provide space for everything from nappies and wipes to bottles and snacks. It comes in a range of colours like our fave stripe design that has unisex appeal or even camouflage print for the more macho papa. Check out the Skip Hop web site for a list of stockists worldwide.

In the frame

One of the most exciting moments of your pregnancy is when you get to see your little one on the small screen for the first time. Whether or not you've had previous scans in early pregnancy, it's usually the 12-week ultrasound scan when you get a close-up of your womb tenant waving, kicking and even sucking her thumb that hits you with that 'I'm going to be a mummy' feeling in full force. Most ultrasound units will offer parents-to-be a grainy photo of their little bean but as the months progress, the flimsy print-out is likely to get tattered unless you find somewhere safe to store it.



Get yourself a Baby Scan Photo Frame from The Gift Experience. This hinged frame features one side to slot your scan photo and another side where you can write details like the parents' names, date and the number of weeks of gestation. The Baby Scan Photo Frame comes in a creamy resin finish and is dotted with cute little stars and makes an ideal gift for newly announced mamas and papas. Available at The Gift Experience and good photo stores.

Top Summer Read

We were lucky enough to receive a copy of Brain, Child – the “magazine for thinking mothers” – and we can’t wait to recommend it to all our mama friends. The summer edition of this quarterly features insightful and incisive articles ranging from a cutting report on the inaptly named Camp Baby event for mom bloggers (no actual babies allowed) to an expose on the deception and debt that often lies behind those tempting ‘work from home’ business offers.

Our favourite elements of the magazine are the personal essays by mothers who write with intimacy, honesty and even humour about topics as difficult as miscarriage, disability and helping a child to handle the death of someone close. Brain, Child is the perfect antidote for new mums who are worried their grey matter has turned to mush and this edition definitely makes the Top 10 of our summer reading list. Visit the Brain, Child web site for sample articles and subscription info.