Look after yourself and get some rest.

Christmas is hard work and we all know that tempers fray when we are tired.   To ensure a good night sleep don’t drink to much caffine or alcohol before going to bed as this will result in a inferior night’s sleep.

Drink in moderation

Drinking makes people relaxed and talkative, but it can make people do things that they will regret. Pace yourself and drink in moderation.

Keep Children Safe

Christmas is a time when there are lots of people around it is easy to forget about child safety.

• Be careful of small things on the floor which may get swallowed
• Remember that other people’s houses may not be child proofed
• Keep children out of the kitchen when there is lots of cooking going on
• Always buy toys which are age appropriate

(remember to check out our child safety products)

Don’t overspend

Many people get into financial difficulties by spending too much on Christmas presents.  Set a budget and stick to it.

Plan Ahead

At Christmas it is easy to just slump in front of the TV all day and vegetate.  To quote the great Homer Simpson:

“I’m not my fault I watch so much TV.  The networks just put on one good show after another”

This leads to pent up energy and boredom.  By planning some activities in advance it is possible to avoid lethargy and have more fun.  Here are some ideas:

• Don’t leave everything to the last minute.  Buy presents, food and other supplies well in advance.
• Get everyone involved in preparations.  This keeps everyone busy and shares the work.
• Get outdoors and take a walk.  Getting out of the stuffy house clears the head and leaves everyone feeling calm and peaceful.
• Organise a treasure hunt.  Write clues on pieces of paper with a start point, and hide them in various places. For example, “Look under the garden bench”, “Go to the rose bush.” The prize at the end can be a bag of chocolate money. If you’re children can’t read yet, read the clues to them.
• Read special Christmas stories and sing carols!
• Let your children open one present each hour until lunch time. This keeps the suspense going all morning, as well as ensuring that they play properly with each gift instead of discarding it before they’ve even looked at it and ripping open the next one.
• Play some board games.  Slightly old fashioned they may be but they are interactive, fun and something with which everyone can get involved.  Games like charades are also lots of fun.
• If you are going to watch TV, be selective about what you watch.

Avoid Gift Disappointment

A frequent source of disappointment is caused by kids not getting the presents they want.  The trick here is to manage expectations and let them know that you can’t afford what they are asking for and that you can’t buy everything.

Do a good deed!

Doing nice things for other people has been show to make people happier.  Think about inviting round a neighbour, friend of relative you think might be on their own this Christmas.

Buying presents online

Remember that the last postage day is 22^nd December for Royal Mail 1^st Class.  We recommend purchasing items much earlier than this as the post around Christmas is always chaos.  A few days of bad weather can cause weeks of delays.

Brio

Brio are the world’s largest manufacturer of wooden toys and it is not difficult to see why their toys have such an enduring appeal.  Brio toys are made of solid wood and beautifully designed to last for years.  As well as Brio’s preschool range of toys we also stock their two starter railways sets.

Check out:

• Classic Puck and Dachshund
• My First Railway and Little Forest Railway sets
• The ever popular coloured wooden blocks

Plans Toys

Plans Toys hail from Thailand where they are made in vibrant colours from sustainable wood sources.  Every child should have a Plan Toys Drum with which to drive their parents to distraction.  Plan  toys aim to fire children’s imagination as well as helping with their physical and mental development.  Buy soon as the Thai floods will hamper production.

Check out:

• Dancing Alligator
• For the musical the Oval Xylophone and Concertina

Jelly Cat (AKA Jelly Kitten)

Jelly Cat are one of the world’s top brands of soft toys.  Their toys are beautifully made, colourful and very huggable!  Jelly Kitten’s range of toys for babies is called Jelly Kitten, although most of their toys are suitable from birth.

The bashful bunny pictured above is one of their most loved creations.

Check out:

• The colourful Hoot Owl and Maypole Pony
• Brand new in:  Hip Hoppa Elephant

KidKraft

KidKraft‘s sets are super for inspiring imaginary play and keeping the kids busy for hours.  Their toys have a great attention to detail and will be the centrepiece of any child’s room.

Our favourites:

• Red Retro Kitchen
• Sleigh Toddler Bed (very seasonal!)

Little Tikes

Get ready for the summer with a product from Little Tikes.  These products are near enough indestructible and are to be seen in pub gardens through out the land.

Our picks:

• Buckingham Climbing Frame
• Ever popular Grand Coupe Car

Manhattan toy

All our toys are colourful, but Manhattan toy take vibrant colours to another level!  Their toys are simple yet ingenious and very popular.

Don’t miss

• Skwish
• Winkel Teether
• Simulate your baby with the Mind Shapes

• Enthusiastic
• Self Motivated
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Good interpersonal skills
• Interest in online retail and marketing

Working at Hello Baby is a great way to learn about eCommerce and online marketing.  Interns will gain exposure to a range of online marketing channels as well as the broad workings of a online retailing business.  Previous interns have worked on the following projects:

• Launch of eBay.fr, de, au and .com
• Launch of Amazon.fr, de and .com
• Redesign of this blog
• Running our first email marketing campaign

At Hello Baby we particularly welcome interns from the European Union as we are now selling on multiple European marketplaces.  Past interns have been from France, Germany, Finland and Italy. The internship is unpaid but we will cover reasonable expenses.  Hello Baby is Based in St Albans, Herts, 20 minutes from London Kings Cross by overland train. If you are interested, please email trevor@hellobabydirect.co.uk

Brio’s classic wooden race car is easy to grasp and to play with. Even children who cannot stand can sit and push the car. By stretching and reaching for moving objects, children improve their coordination and learn to explore the world around them. Best for Children from about 12 months of age. Another item (a favourite of mine) for the same age is this pull along wooden Hedgehog.

Brio Pull along Wooden Hedgehog

This Pull Along Hedgehog from Brio is delightful, as your baby pulls it along so the head bobs and it is generally so cute. Made of wood with a very nice finish.   You can find all our Brio toys here.

Four Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature 260ml BPA Free Bottles.

These Closer to Nature 260ml BPA free Baby Bottles from the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature range, bottle feeding couldn’t be easier, making it the perfect bottle feeding solution for your newborn. The unique extra-wide teat on all the Closer to Nature bottles works beautifully, just like mum, authentically flexing and stretching to mimic the natural look and feel of mum’s breast.

These can be complemented by this fine Tommee Tippee Microwave baby bottle steriliser.

Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Microwave baby Bottle Steriliser

This Closer to Nature Microwave Steriliser from Tommee Tippee has a sleek and clean design to echo the shape of the Closer to Nature bottle and take up less space on the kitchen workbench. This Closer to Nature Microwave Steriliser cleans 4 bottles and all accessories in 4 to 8 minutes, depending on the wattage of the microwave. The Microwave Steriliser is BPA-free and is designed for Closer to Nature bottles. For extra convenience, the contents stay sterile for 24 hours if the lid of the steriliser is unopened.

This Closer to Nature Baby Grooming kit contains everything that you may need both at home and on the go. It has nine essential baby care items. This Closer to Nature Health Care Kit from Tommee Tippee includes a digital thermometer, which can be used to take babys temperature either orally or under the armpit. The thermometer also includes an automated warning sound which sounds if temperature readings reach fever levels. The kit comes with a convenient carry case to keep your essentials together– all 9 essential items of the Tippee Closer to Nature Health Care Kit can be carried in the handy pouch.

Tommee Tippee Closerto Nature Baby Healthcare & Grooming Kit.

You can find our whole range of Tommee Tippee BPA free Baby Care, Bottles and Teats here.

Angelcare Nappy Disposal System & Cassette - White

This Standard Baby Nappy Disposal System from Angel Care makes nappy changing easier than ever! Uses a multi-layer barrier bag in the refill cassette which keeps the bad smells at bay. You can use the nappy bin with one hand and it’s really easy to empty. Uses a lot less plastic than any other competitive system, so it is environmentally friendlier too! The systems comes with one cassette, replacements are available from us:-

Angelcare Baby Nappy Disposal System 3 Replacement Cassette.

A Multi-layer bag provides effective barrier to keep nasty smells at bay. Only one type of refill cassette needed, suitable from birth. One refill cassette lasts approximately 28 days (128 nappies, size 2). Very easy to use with one hand. Safe and simple cutting mechanism inside the nappy bin.

Babywise Supervent Foam Mattress

This Supervent Foam Mattress from Babywise is just one of the 32 cot and cot bed mattresses we have. It is uniquely designed and ideal for newborn babies. The mattress is visibly ventilated from top to bottom which allows an even air circulation all over, whatever position your baby sleeps in. It also includes a non toxic PVC sleeve that can be adjusted anywhere over the mattress core or removed entirely if desired.

We offer conventional Sprung mattresses, three varieties of foam Mattresses, Coconut Fibre, Coconut Fibre and Spring, Coconut and Coconut Fibre and Wool:-

Babywise Coconut & Wool Baby Cot Mattress 120 x 60 x 10 cm.

This Coconut and Wool Mattress from Babywise is for your baby if you are looking for a mattress that’s comfy, natural and safe, the Babywise is for you. It’s filled with coconut husk fibres which are bound together with natural latex. The fibre pad is layered between pure wool sections for the softest possible sleep for baby.

Babywise Supervent Foam Mattress

The mattress is fully breathe-through from top to bottom, making it suitable for newborn baby and toddlers alike. The cover is made from water-resistant quilted polyester, and thanks to the side zip it’s easily removed for machine washing.

And this is our most popular crib mattress.

Babywise Crib Mattress 84 x 36cms Square Ended (33" x 14")

This ventilated foam safety Crib mattress from Babywise is manufactured using a non-allergenic CMHR 25 density foam – 4 cm thick. The mattress offers firm support and comfort. The head part is ventilated which aids the circulation or air around baby’s head it also allows the drainage of any liquids and is covered with polyester tricot mesh.

You can see all our Babywise Mattresses here.

Sophie the Giraffe from Vulli popular Baby Teether.

Sophie the Giraffe from Vulli was born in 1961, her success as Baby teether and toy is legendary in France. Made in the French Alps with natural rubber and non-toxic paint, Sophie Le Giraffe has been safely cuddled and chewed for nearly 50 Years! She is soft, light, and easy to grasp and fits perfectly into Baby hands. Sophie is loveable and amusing. She even makes a happy laughing sound when squeezed. Babies especially love her bumpy head to soothe their teething gums. Most importantly her flexible, renewable, natural rubber materials and non-toxic paint mean Sophie the Giraffe is a safe and all-natural teething toy for your Baby. Parents world-wide trust the joy this classic toy brings to their babies. In today’s world it is unusual to see a toy still made by hand: Sophie requires 14 manual manufacturing steps. Her retro style has ensured that she has remained fashionable for 50 years. Slender, flexible and soft, baby can squeeze and chew her in complete safety, and with great pleasure.

You can see all our Vulli Baby teethers and toys here.

This OXO tot baby feeding set has a training plate, Bowl, Fork and Spoon.

This four Piece Baby Feeding Set from OXO tot is for when it’s time for tots to self-feed. The Plate has a removable, curved ring and the Bowl features straight side walls, each designed to help guide food onto utensils with ease. Both have a non-slip bottom to keep them stable on the table. OXO Tot’s Fork and Spoon feature curved handles that are non-slip and easy for little hands to hold. Tines on the Fork capture food effectively and the deep Spoon makes it easy to scoop food and liquids.

We also have a range of OXO tot training cups:-

OXO tot Baby training cup.

This Baby Training Cup from OXOtot transforms as child grows and develops, it is suitable from 12 months and upwards.The training cup lid insert is perforated to control the flow of liquid when child drinks and is removable for use as a regular cup. Liquid level can be seen through transparent cup. Soft, non-slip grips and 200 ml capacity Top-rack dishwasher safe and BPA, phthalate and PVC free.

We also have a range of Baby Bottle Cleaning stuff including Bottle Brushes, Bottle Draining Racks and Dishwasher racks. See the innovative Baby Bottle brush:-

OXOtot Baby Bottle Brush With Stand - Green

You can use this Bottle Brush with Teat Cleaner and Stand from OXOtot to make sure clean bottles are ready for the next feeding with the OXO Tot Bottle Brush. The Brush features soft and firm bristles for gentle cleaning or serious scrubbing and has a soft handle that is non-slip, even when wet. Tucked inside the handle is a silicone Nipple Cleaner that cleans tight spots like bottle nipples and breast pump parts more effectively than bristles can. The Brush has a flexible neck for easy reach inside bottles of different shapes and sizes. The Stand keeps countertops neat and dry, has a pour spout and comes apart for easy cleaning.

You can see all our OXOtot baby feeding and cleaning stuff here, all this listings have informative videos to support thhem, have a look!.

Win Green Firestation Children's Playtents, Floor Quilts, Toy Bags and Nursery Organiser.

Win Green Firestation Wendy House/Playtent, Hellobaby has these delightful cottages from Win Green with matching Fire Statiom Floor Quilts. We also have matching Toy bags, Cushions, and Bean Bag Seats, all from Win Green’s Fire Station range. Very stylish and great fun. The heart of the collection are the Firestation Playtents

Win Green Fire Station Playtent

This Fire Station Childrens Playtent from Wingreen is made in denim, with a red multi-stripe roof, this tent speaks for itself! With double doors and roll up large fire engine, a fireman’s pole and a fire hydrant, we think this is every little boys (and girls, why not) dream. Easy to assemble with a light metal frame. There is a matching floor quilt available:-

Win Green Kid's Fire Station Floor Quilt and Playtent.

This Large Fire Station floor quilt from Win Green is 100% cotton, appliquéd and embroidered. These lightly padded floor quilts are designed to fit the base of the Firestation children’s play tents. These floor quilts also make great rugs or play mats and are machine washable.

You can see all our Wingreen Kid’s Playtents, Bedding and accessories here.