Soothe a fever

Tis the season of coughs and sniffles and one of the most worrying times for any Brand New Mama. If you've got an infant who's under the weather, you'll want to be certain he has a fever before reaching for the Calpol. But how to get your poorly little wriggler to stay still long enough for that oral, armpit or rectal thermometer to get a precise reading?

Grab yourself one of these nifty Digital Soother Thermometers from Bruin. It looks and feels like a regular pacifier but will glow red when a fever is detected. It can be used in both celsius and fahrenheit and has a memory feature to recall previous readings. Soothing for baby and simple enough for the most sleep-deprived mum, these Bruin Digital Soother Thermometer can be found at Babies R Us stores or online.

Bottoms up!

When it comes to your favourite tipple, the jury's still out on whether light drinking or total abstinence should be de rigeur during pregnancy. If you've decided to play it safe but don't want to feel like the party pooper over New Year's, you can still enjoy a glass of bubbly with some sparkling (non-alcoholic) cider or whip up your own concoction.

Fizzy water with apple or cranberry juice or a splash of ginger ale for a little kick work well. For more inspiration, scope out Preggatinis. This book by professional mixologist Natalie Bovis-Nelsen a.k.a. The Liquid Muse is crammed with baby-friendly cocktail recipes for every stage of pregnancy. So skip the Cosmo for a Cosmom and toast in the New Year without guilt or fear. For a taste of The Liquid Muse check out her blog or get the book at Amazon.

Xmas cracker

Still after that perfect party dress? If you've had no joy in high street stores, look no further than this hot lacy number from online store Babes with Babies. Available in ultra-trendy dark chocolate or black lace over an oyster lining, it features a flattering empire line waist and cross-over neckline so you can work that new mama cleavage. This style of neckline is also useful for breastfeeding as you can simply slide the fabric across and let baby at 'em (maybe drape a scarf across if you're feeling modest). Designed by Tiffany Rose, this dress will keep you blooming throughout pregnancy, the festive season and beyond those bumpy days ahead. Order online at the Babes with Babies web site.

Brownies for baby mamas

Gushing phone calls, texts, cards and even flowers are all very well when you've had a baby. But after going through the resplendent drama of childbearing and birth, every Brand New Mama deserves something a little more indulgent. That's why the canny folk at Silver Bee Bakery have come up with a range of packaged goodies for mum and child.

With my second baby's arrival imminent in the next couple of months (ah, the 'secret' is out!), what I'm craving is a New Mummy's Pampering Kit complete with balms for lips, face and feet, organic soap and a sweet Anne-Claire Petit knitted rattle for the bubba. And of course the star attraction -- a huge tin of Chocolissimo brownies to keep my energy and spirits up during those 24 hour feeding-changing-feeding sessions.

I had a chance to sample one of these brownies at the London Baby Show and I have to say that they are hands down the most gooey, chocolatey, tongue-twistingly sensational brownies I've tasted in a long time. Give someone you know a new mama/papa/baby or Xmas gift to remember with an order from Silver Bee Bakery.

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.