When it comes to finding the perfect product for a baby or child there are so many brands out there that it can be rather over whelming. I know from my own experience that spending time researching brands both on the high street and on the internet can take time. But when you find one or two that you love it and better still your baby or child love you know it’s worth it.
Over the years I have spent many hours searching for products to fulfill different needs, from products to help my teething babies to finding the perfect bedtime story. With each of my children my criteria for products has changed due to both their individual needs and also the fact that I have become more determined to find the right products. I love finding and trying new brands, some of which aren’t available on the high street and some which are. As I’ve got older I have also enjoyed finding those products that help us reflect our personalities and make us individuals.
I want to share with you five brands that I feel are well worth a look if you have a baby or child. A few of them are relatively new to the market but are fantastic products.
First up we’re Cheeky Compers and their Chewy. A fantastic teething toy designed by two mums from Edinburgh. Julie Wilson and Amy Livingstone first met when they were both expecting their first babies. Then while both were on maternity leave they spotted a gap in the market for a teether that was attached to the baby and from there they designed the Neckerchew. The Neckerchew is a dribble bib with an attached chewy teether.
From there they developed their ideas further and in 2014 their 2nd product, a Comfortchew was launched. The Comfortchew is a soft, soothing and stimulating ‘blankie’ that brings together baby’s favourite items – a comforter, a teether, tags and the feel of their favourite teddy. Then last December Cheeky Chompers launched another great product – the Chewy. Chewy is a chewable hippo who is made of natural soft latex rubber. Chewy can also be attached to your child’s pushchair/highchair harness which means you don’t have to worry about loosing Chewy when out and about.
Chewy is available to buy from www.cheekychompers.com and retails at £10.99.
Secondly we have Piupia. Piupia are an organic baby clothing brand based in London. They have some adorable clothes in their range which are available from 0-3 months up to 18-24months. Piupia is owned by Claudia, who is from Guimarães in the north of Portugal and her husband is German. Claudia started out as a graphic designer in Barcelona, then she moved to London to work as a 3D artist where she still resides. Claudia’s family are clothing malefactors so when she had her son she realised it would make sense to combine this with her designs and her knowledge as a mum, this was the start of Piupia.
Piupia’s clothes are fun, colourful and comfortable while being made to high standards which are environmentally friendly. They very kindly sent me this adorable top so I could take a look at one of their products and I have to say it is so soft, I wish they were available in bigger sizes so my children could enjoy their clothes too.
If you’re looking for skin care products for your baby, child or even yourself then look no further than Kokoso Baby. Kokoso Baby is an organic coconut oil which is a multipurpose moisturiser. There are no added nasties just pressed organic coconut oil. They kindly sent me a pot and I have to say it smells divine and although I don’t have a baby I have been using it on both Erin and myself.
Kokoso Baby was started by a mum whose daughter had dry skin. She spent a long time searching for the perfect coconut oil to use having discovered the benefits of coconut oil. Kokoso Baby is made from natural raw virgin coconut oil which is grown on a family run farm in Thailand which is certified organic. They use state of the art equipment and are inspected, evaluated and certified according to UK and US regulations.
Kokoso Baby is a winner of the ‘Inspired by Baby’ award from Boots in 2015, as well as a Prima Baby Sliver award in 2016 for Best Baby Skincare Product and several other awards too.
There are so many uses for Kokoso Baby from using to treat dry skin, it has lovely moisturing and hydrating properties. It can be used on baby’s bottom as nappy cream, for treating cradle cap, to using on those areas which get sore and it is perfect for baby massage. Remember it’s not just for babies and children, use it on yourself too. I’ve been using it on myself and Erin for the last few weeks and it’s certainly a wonder product, I wish it was around when my lot were babies.
Kokoso Baby is available in two sizes, 168g which costs £7.99 and a mini 84g which costs £5.49. You can buy Kokoso Baby from www.kokoso.co.uk or from Boots
The fourth product I want to share with you is an absolutely delightful bedtime story from Belle & Boo called Hop along Boo, Time for Bed. This is one of those gorgeous books that you will enjoy snuggling up with your little ones at bedtime and contains some simply lovely illustrations that remind me of some of my childhood favourite books.
Before I talk about the book, let me tell you about Belle & Boo. Well Belle is a little bob haired girl and Boo is her adorable bunny friend. The creator behind Belle & Boo is Mandy Sutcliffe, Mandy studied illustration in Leeds Metropolitan University. While there Mandy visited France on an exchange trip and discovered a love of illustrating children. Mandy and the rest of the Belle & Boo team live in Bristol where they also work. The Belle & Boo collection includes books, homeware, girls clothing, framed art work and stationary. We were very kindly sent a copy of Hop along Boo, Time for Bed along with two other books, Dress-up Sticker Book and Holiday Fun, Sticker and activity book.
I was immediately taken by the gorgeous illustrations in Hop Along Boo, Time for Bed, they are so charming and innocent and made me feel reminiscent of books I had loved as a child. I have to say I have also enjoyed reading this book to Erin as much as she has enjoyed me reading it to her. The book costs £10.99 and is a hardback book which is worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. It’s one of those books that you will treasure for years to come.
There are twelve books available which range from activity and sticker books, to a craft book and lovely story books. The two sticker books we were sent are equally as delightful as the story book and Erin is enjoying them, sadly she wouldn’t let me take a photograph of her using the sticker books but I will certainly add one when she allows me to take one. The sticker books cost £4.99 each.
The last brand I want to share with you is Frugi, an organic clothing brand. If you’ve not come across Frugi yet you really must pop over to their website www.welovefrugi.com and take a look at their gorgeous clothes. I actually discovered them a couple of years ago and during my last two pregnancies treated myself to some of their breastfeeding clothes. Their clothes are so soft and cosy and feature fun designs which children will love. Their clothing is so comfortable and washes really well, I’ve been able to hand down some of the t-shirts and trousers I’ve bought to my other family members and friends and they still look new.
Frugi very kindly sent the three younger children one of their lovely t-shirts each. We all love the bright colourful designs. Clothing is available from birth up to ten years of age and Frugi stock everything from night wear to hoodies and fleeces and swimwear.
Erin was sent a lovely St Ives Boat Neck top with a Sea horse on it, which costs £19.99 and is available in sizes 2-3 years up to 9-10 years.
Rowan was sent a Fowley Applique T-shirt which costs £19 and comes in sizes 2-3 years up to 9-10 years.
Then Trystan was kindly sent a Atlantic Printed T-shirt which costs £18.00 and again is available in ages 2-3 years old up to 9-10 years.
Frugi now also have a range of lovely bedding available which is also organic and I’m sure just as cosy as their clothes. We love Frugi clothes, I only wish they made clothes for women that weren’t nursing ones as I loved my nursing tops and dresses.
Disclaimer: I was sent the items above for the purpose of this post however the content is 100% my own.
We love frugi clothing and they have a lovely young girl called Natty who models for them