La Queue du Chat — organic children’s clothing
There’s something about cute, crisp underwear for kids. I just can’t stand old, over-washed knickers and I admit to throwing out those once-white undies that were accidentally washed with the dark load. (If only I were as picky with my own underwear, but it seems that for myself I prefer those old pieces!)
I find it quite difficult to find good quality, cool kids undies, especially for boys, but I’m loving the superman undies pictured. I love the tight fit, and I love that the superman logo is in fact made out of little red birdies, giving them that tasteful twist. So cute for my little boy! The grey girl’s set is lovely too, and in fact La Queue du Chat has many more adorable pieces, not at all just for ‘under’, and all made out of 100% organic and fair-trade cotton. Check out the collection on the website, also for points of sale…
xxx Esther
Olive & Moss, classy retro baby clothes
Can you believe that little Ava is 3 months old already? Yesterday I put her in a sleeping bag for the first time (we’ve been swaddling her so far), and she looks so cute in it! The sleeping bag is from Olive & Moss, a brand which reminds me a bit of the ’70s. (Sometimes I just need to step away from Liberty and luxury for a bit, and these funky designs really bring a smile to my face.)
Ava is in a Margot and Mo sleeping bag, which I thought was cute for a girl, but if I had a boy I would definitely go for Louis the Lion, I mean how cool is he? Margot and Louis and more crazy characters are available from the Olive & Moss website.
xxx Esther
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Back to School with Babyccino – on Etsy• Fruit Tiramisu (sort of)
• Travel bug
Biisoo — Handknit Luxury for Infants
How cute are all these little handknit pieces? I just love that red pom-pom hat! They come from Biisoo — a New Zealand-based label for infants. All the products are handmade from merino wool which is grown and processed on certified organic farms on the south island of New Zealand. The wool is super soft, non-irritating and oh-so cozy, making it ideal for babies. I know it’s still technically summertime here in the Northern Hemisphere, but I’ve just returned to a very dreary, cold London… and I’m in the mood for cozy! You can shop online at the Biisoo online shop.
-Courtney
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Back to School with Babyccino – on Etsy• Fruit Tiramisu (sort of)
• Travel bug
Weebits — Beautiful Knitwear for Babies
Gosh, I am a sucker for beautiful knitwear — for myself and my kids. When I discovered Weebits at Magnolia Square recently I was mesmerized by the quality, texture, colors and design and just a tiny bit peeved that they didn’t come in sizes big enough for us! Pure merino wool from New Zealand is the world’s most exclusive natural fibre and it is as scarce as cashmere. Because of its natural elasticity, lustre, resilience, density, strength, warmth and softness, it is perfect for newborns. I totally love these hoodies (pictured) but the rest of the range (especially the ponchos and loop scarves) are equally drool-worthy. The colors are just superb and produced using eco-friendly dyes. Definitely worth checking out. The good news is they ship world-wide. For more details, click here.
- Sara
Eponime, beautiful baby wear
Eponime is a French baby brand that I just love giving to newborn babies. Designed by Fanny Chretien, a young talented designer based in Normandy, these baby beauties are seriously something else. The designs are simple, but absolutely exquisite and the fabrics are beautiful, natural and soft with gorgeous prints. And they are functional too! As far as I’m concerned, Eponime hits the nail on the head with original, elegant and luxurious baby wear. Bring on more babies, friends!
xxx Esther
Il Tutto: stylish baby bags
Being a new mum doesn’t always bring out the physically best. For instance, after three babies my belly looks like a cross between gelatin pudding and a hot cross bun. My hair is a constant explosion of dry and frizzy dullness (and I’m losing it as we speak) and well, now that I’m at it: my bikini line looks like a Brazilian… rain forest.
Not the best ingredients for feeling like a yummy mummy. But, help is at hand: the moment I throw my uber-glamourous, luxurious Il Tutto Layla over my shoulder I instantly convert from tired looking, un-cute mum to a cool, hip and stylish mama. Or at least I feel that way! My back automatically straightens, my hair seems to look ‘interesting’ (Tina Turner looked good too after all) and surely soon the seventies will be sexy again. (more…)
What’s in a name?
Unless they’re called William III, or Jesse James Junior, you might have gone through nine months of nervous brainstorming — what should I call my new baby? I found it to be a very difficult task, and my husband and I have spent more than a few hours debating about it! I guess I like short, catchy names, because all our kids’ names have no more than 4 letters. I also like names that work in multiple languages. And they should work well with our family name (van de Paal).
Our first baby is called SARA van de Paal. I’ve always thought Sara is a beautiful name, very old-fashioned, but at the same time very simple and modern. I like how there are so many As in the first and last name. (more…)
Sweet for baby: Toffee Moon
Love the sleep suits from Toffee Moon! The baby girl outfits are absolutely beautiful with all the old fashioned smock work and special details, and the baby boy selection is so cool with the double layers, pockets and pin-tuck fronts! They’re made of thick, good quality cotton and are very comfortable and soft to wear. I also really like the hooded shawl cardigans — they have them for boys and girls. Cute!
xxx Esther
Ubabub — a cot that is uber cool!
I can’t speak for elsewhere in the world but in Australia the nursery furniture market seems dominated with traditional slat style cots — with an occasional cool Scandinavian design thrown into the mix. Now, talented duo from Melbourne, Natasha and Daniel Dumais, have brought to the market some distinctly modern designs with their Ubabub range, creating a fantastic buzz in the process! One of the standout designs is the ‘pod’ (pictured). Talk about UBER cool! It is ultra modern and ultra sleek and quite different to anything out there that I have seen! (more…)
Sunshine Kids Car Seat
Last year I bought this amazing car seat from Sunshine Kids and what I love about it is that it is not a big clunker of a thing that takes up the whole back seat. In fact, it is one of the most narrow seats on the market. It also grows with your child and you can use it from birth up until you don’t need a car seat anymore. The kids can get in and out of it more easily than the other seats we’ve had and they don’t overheat in them (which was a major issue when they were little).
-Dina
The Perfect First Shoe
I am indeed a big shoe fan, especially when I come across shoes as adorable and as clever in design as these! Handmade from one piece of leather and with no seamline, these All About Heidi shoes are ingenious… yet they look beautifully raw. Created by a mum from Bondi Beach in Sydney, they are the ideal first shoes. Not only does the soft buttery leather act like a ‘second skin’ for baby while she takes her first steps, but to ensure a perfect fit, the shoe can be adjusted for width by loosening the leather ties on the toes. So very clever! There are various gorgeous colors, and upon request are available for older children and adults too. Available for international shipment through online retailer DragonflyToys.
- Sara
Beaba at VUP Baby
I’ve raved before about the Beaba Baby Cook — it is one of the few must-have baby gadgets I always recommend to new mums. And the baby spoons from Beaba are also my all-time favourite spoons — they’re made from BPA-free silicone and have nice, long handles for easy feeding. I have one in every colour!
Actually, when it comes to the Beaba brand, you really can’t go wrong — all their products are great. And they’re now conveniently available from VUPbaby, the ultimate source for non-toxic baby products.
-Courtney
Nina’s House
I’m so impressed by the design of this little house. How clever it is: crib, playpen, storage cabinet and changing table all in one! Such fun, so super innovative and beautiful!! The Dutch designer, Dave Keune, thought about all the little details: the entire roof can be opened with bright yellow ropes. The base can be lowered and the rails removed to create a bed when the baby gets older. And (I love this detail), the chest of drawers below the changing table can be opened and closed with a slight push of the knee, so that both hands can still be available while changing the baby’s nappy. Good thinking, Dave!!
xxx Esther
Mamascarf, for discreet breastfeeding in public
Little did I know that breastfeeding a 5-day-old baby in the front row of a jam-packed circus was going to be a bit of a… challenge. Yes, you’re reading that right: 5-day-old, and: jam-packed circus. Thankfully I was wise enough to bring a Mama Scarf, so the spotlights on my boobs were cleverly avoided. The Mama Scarf is a stylish scarf that becomes sort of a hammock for your baby, allowing for discreet breastfeeding in public. What I like about it that it’s made of thin, cute fabric, and it doesn’t scream for attention. (It’s not like one of those, ‘hello everybody, I’m breast-feeding, but I’m covered up, as you can clearly see, so don’t look’ kind of covers.) Thanks, Mama Scarf, for saving my day at the circus.
xxx Esther
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Bonnets for babies — vintage handkerchiefs for brides!• Wonderous Wovenplay
Bellieboo — sweet things from Japan
Although I’ve never been, I have a fascination with Japan. I love the food (sushi), I love the architecture (Tadao Ando), I love the writing (mysterious), I love the products (Muji) — I must make my way over there at some point because I’m pretty sure I’ll discover a whole lot more that I will love…
Yumiko, who moved from Japan to England in 1996, started her online business, Bellieboo, after she had her daughter in 2004. Since she was unable to find clothes she liked for her little girl in barbaric Europe, she started bringing back special pieces from her home country of Japan. In her shop you can find sweet little girl clothes, and shortly there will be sweet little boys clothes too. There are also a few lovely toys and accessories to be found in the Bellieboo shop — like this retro, reversible sling that I think is cool beyond words, and that Ava is currently very happily residing in.
xxx Esther
Imps & Elfs Footless Tights
I got a few pairs of these Imps & Elfs Footless Tights for my daughter last year and they turned out to be one of the best staples in her closet. They’re great for babies because they can crawl or walk without slipping, yet they keep bare legs cozy on a colder day. They’re essentially like leggings, but in a nice, thick, soft material. And how cool are those colours? They’re available from The Emperor’s New Clothes.
-Courtney
Room Seven: Sweet dresses for playing and parading
I already knew that the beautiful bedding and bag range from Room Seven was absolutely stunning, but I had never heard of their clothing line until very recently. Maybe for the better, as it probably did save me some money! But now I’m in trouble… How sweet are these baby dresses, how perfect are the daring combinations of patterns, colours, frills and flowers, making them romantically old-fashioned but at the same time fresh and contemporary. Who can resist? Not I.
These dresses are just as perfect for playing as for parading, and they can easily be machine-washed, so not just for weekends.
BTW, is there something familiar to the Room Seven style?? Well Room Seven is the brand of Brechtje Olsthoorn, the talented daughter of Willem and Marieke Olsthoorn, brains and creative designer behind world-famous Oilily. Like mother, like daughter, we say.
xxx Esther
Nyp Balm, food for your boobs (and baby’s bottom)
The third time around, breastfeeding was easy. I knew exactly what to do, and the baby also got it immediately — she was breastfeeding within minutes after she was born, as if we both had been doing nothing else for years. Life is beautiful.
I also knew exactly what to expect a few days after the birth. Painful boobs the size of melons, hard, hot and with red blotches. Sleeping sitting up. Sore, cracked nipples, feeding bra size 100Z (too small). Have you ever had to pull a cracked nipple sticking to your bra? Ouch. Life is a bitch.
Enter Inlight Nyp Balm. A natural, 100% organic, wonderful smelling soothing balm that does the trick. Before birth, it’s used to help stretch the skin and prevent stretch-marks. After the birth it soothes and heals sore nipples. And, what I possibly like best about it is that now that I don’t need the Nyp Balm myself anymore (yay), I can use the rest for my baby’s bum. No spills! Because it also calms red and irritated baby bottoms wonderfully well.
All ingredients in Nyp Balm (like moisturising olive and coconut oil, protective beeswax, anti-inflammatory lavender and restorative rosehip oil) do not alter the flavour of the maternal milk and are easily tolerated by babies.
xxx Esther
Cute sneakers from DPam
Emilie brought a pair of canvas sneakers from the French shop Du Pareil au Même for my daughter when she came to visit last month and they’ve turned out to be the go-to shoe of the summer. My daughter, of course, LOVES them, and I love them because they’re so easy to put on and take off. My daughter’s pair has a velcro strap across the top, but they also have a bigger kids’ version (pictured) with an elasticated strap. So simple, yet so cute. And now on sale!
-Courtney
If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet
Of course every part of my baby’s little body is perfect, but her tiny little feet are absolutely ADORABLE. When she was one day old, I used a special harmless ink pad to make a print of one of her feet, which I then scanned and emailed to Otete & Anyo to have it translated into a perfect, life-size stamp of her foot. Isn’t that such a cute idea??
Ava’s foot stamp came last week, in a beautiful wooden keepsake box, and it is just wonderful. It has her name and date of birth engraved into it, and I’ve been using it to stamp her thank-you cards, which is cute because it makes it really personal. And SO much easier than using her real foot! I can imagine she will be using it herself when she is older, to decorate her correspondence cards, gifts, photo albums and more. I personally like it for grocery lists too…
xxx Esther
