Top ten cool kids things for 2013

Miss Evelyn and Little Lola Maud enjoying the snow today



Hello, hello and happy 2013! To kick off the new year in style, we thought we'd bring you ten things we're most excited about this year. So here goes: cute fashion finds, keepsakes to cherish, brilliant organic products and some fab sheepskin slippers to keep tiny toes warm in these near-Arctic conditions. Enjoy!

Polish mountain slippers for little ones

1. Polish mountain slippers or 'mounties'.
Our brilliant Polish nanny, Sylvie, came back from her homeland with sheepskin slippers for Evie and Lola and the girls absolutely love them. Me too - they are so snug, cosy and beautifully embroidered. Luckily you needn't schlep to Eastern Europe to get them - CLB has found similar on Etsy.

 

Little Pinecone's delectable super-fine New Zealand merino designs including this newborn set, £19.95

2. Little Pinecone

Since acquiring this beautiful reversible merino hoodie last spring, Little Lola has worn it practically every day. Merino is a great year-round wool that keeps you warm when its cold (nice and toasty for a day like today) and cool when it's hot. Miracle! We adore this small independent brand specialising in soft modern merino pieces for babies and children.
www.littlepineconemerino.com

First Impressions' exquisite baby casts

3. First Impressions

We utterly cherish the bronze baby feet and hand casts we commissioned First Impressions to do when the girls were both teeny weeny. The north London-based company has been immortalising baby's tiny hands and feet in bronze, silver and crystal for the past 25 years. Now, they can even create a 3D moulds of your little cherub's face and put turn them into cufflinks. Not surprisingly, they have a vast celebrity following including stylish mums Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham, who got baby Harper's feet cast in solid gold.
www.firstimpressions.org.uk

Petit chic at new-in-the-UK French website Melijoe.com

4. Melijoe.com

We're really excited about this well-established French kids' designer website launches in the UK this week. Stocking a well-edited selection of pieces by labels like Little Marc Jacobs, John Galliano Kids and Rykiel Enfant, it is tres tres chic.
www.melijoe.co.uk

BMW does a buggy with MacLaren. A match made in engineering heaven?

5. BMW for Maclaren

Bring together a German car manufacturer and a British buggy company and what do you get? Possibly the zippiest, smartest buggies around. In a range that promises to deliver luxury, elegance and sporty elements, we can be sure these will be a hit with dads and car-loving mums everywhere. Available exclusively at Harrods from the beginning of February.
www.harrods.com

Delicious organic baby products by Child's Farm

6. Child's Farm organic children's products

The CLB household is IN LOVE with this glorious smelling product by Hampshire-based brand Childs Farm. Free of nasty chemicals, they feature delicious ingredients like tangerine oil, sweet orange and strawberry and mint. Yum-mmmy. From £4.69 for bubble bath.
www.childsfarm.com

Little Puggle's exciting craft boxes

7. Little Puggle gift boxes 

We are looking forward to buying themed boxes at Little Puggle. The online company offers a special subscription service where they send a new monthly activity box for budding craftsters, tailored to age and interests, but you can also buy one-off boxes as gifts. From £16.95 for a Mini Surprise Box.
www.littlepuggle.com

No Added Sugar's fab new shop in Notting Hill

8. No Added Sugar's newish kids boutique 

Located in Notting Hill's lovely Ledbury Road, No Added Sugar's first shop showcases the super-cool London kids brand beautifully. We look forward to exploring properly ASAP.

57 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA (0207 221 3212/www.noaddedsugar.com).

 

Kids will love these Gruffalo plaster

9. Gruffalo plasters

We'll be taking the pain out of grazes with these cute Julia Donaldson-inspired plasters. Can't think of a better way to spend £4.25. www.bodieandfou.com

10. Tales from the Shed
We've been meaning to visit our local theatre, Chickenshed, for the past year, and finally we've booked tickets to see the colourful, lively and interactive performance 'Tales from the Shed' performance next month. Can't wait. Tickets from £5.50.
www.chickenshed.org.uk 

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Myths about caesareans

Evie and Lola, both c-section babies

So, the ever controversial subject of caesareans is in the papers again. This time, refreshingly, it has nothing to do with Victoria Beckham and her latest offspring but the fact the NHS are cutting down on ‘unnecessary’ c-sections to save cash. Oh how the knives are out again for those women who have the cheek to choose a caesarean. Yes it's those pesky elective ones that are apparently draining the NHS millions a year (a planned c-section cost the NHS £2,600 while an uncomplicated vaginal birth £1,200). As a mummy to two beautiful daughters born by elective caesarean this made my heart sink. Frankly I am frightened for all the thousands of women who may not be able to choose a c-section over the next few years.

For a start the NHS is not in the habit of dishing out c-sections willy nilly. Of all the thousands of women who have a caesarean on the NHS each year (they currently account for nearly one quarter of births in the UK) the majority are for health reasons, in order to preserve the life of mother or baby or both whether elective (planned) or emergency. If there is any short fall maybe, just maybe, it is to do with the shortage of midwives and lack of support and expertise during labour. Add to that the fact that women are having babies later, babies are getting bigger and obesity levels are rising and you can see why c-section rates are going up. Interestingly in Holland where ante and post natal care and midwifery is incredible, 80 per cent of women are able to have home births.

Personally, I think casareans are amazing. If only people would stop looking down their noses at c-sections and the women who have them. No wonder some of us are made to feel guilty and inadequate. At worst women can feel like failures, particularly after a traumatic emergency c-section. That's why elective sections are so important; the woman feels in control and is less likely to feel negatively afterwards. My first baby was breech for the entire pregnancy. I have a funny heart-shaped womb (bicornuate uterus) and so it was difficult for baby to change position. Booking my elective c-section at 37 weeks was a highly positive, exciting experience and I was shocked when other women asked if I felt disappointed or cheated in any way. Why would I be when, as my fantastic, straight  talking doctor pointed out if I didn't have one me and the baby 'would probably die!' I was able to read-up on the procedure and plan it all and I was determined to make my birth experience as positive and joyful as I could.

When the day came on 18th May 2009, I was calm and excited about meeting my baby. The caesarean was – shock horror - a wonderful experience. (Kat at Housewife Confidential blog wrote a great piece on joyful c-sections earlier in the year). I was lucky to be in the hands of a brilliant team at UCLH in the new Elizabeth Garrett maternity wing. Seeing Evie peering down at me with her mouth suckling for milk as if to say, where’s my lunch, was the most incredible moment of my life. The feeling of euphoria is hard to describe. In recovery half an hour later, my little pink ball of baby latched on immediately and barely stopped breastfeeding for the next 18 months! That was already two myths about c-sections out the window in a flash; I’d read numerous times that you ‘may have trouble bonding with your baby’ and they ‘may have problems latching on’ (luckily a load of codswallop in my case).

When I fell pregnant with my second daughter, I was in no doubt that I wanted another c-section.  I carried Lola in almost exactly the same position – her head right up by my ribs and my bump and funny uneven shape that perplexed the midwives every time I had a check up. At both scans it took the sonographer over one hour to get all the required measurements because she was in such a odd ( I like to think eccentric) position. When at 37 weeks she was still breech, much to my relief I was able to book an elective caesarean again. It meant I could plan everything and start looking forward to the big day as well as get the family organised to look after my toddler Evie. I felt empowered.

And so the day came and as I was wheeled into theatre they scanned me to find that Lola had rather miraculously turned into the head down position. The consultant asked me to consider a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean). I was in no doubt that I wanted to still go through with an elective caesarean. For one I hadn’t planned for a natural birth. Deep down I knew a c-section would be the least traumatic and most positive birth experience for us. I was well aware that trying for a VBAC isn’t as straight forward as it sounds (there’s an increased risk of a ruptured uterus for a start). We were psyched up for the birth of our little buba, my husband had booked two weeks off work and my brother had booked the day off to help my mum look after Evie. But above all else I just wanted a caesarean. So shoot me. It was my choice. It was how I wanted my daughter to be brought into the world. I am so grateful I had this option.

Please share your thoughts and experiences.

For up to date information on c-sections see the Caesarean Debate blog

Lola latching on shortly after being born on July 22

Joy after Lola's birth. Attractive head gear, eh?

Common myths

You won't bond with your baby - of the many women I know who have given birth by c-section all of them have bonded with their babies.

That they are the easy option - no they are not! It’s major surgery and just sitting up in bed and holding baby for the week after is painful. Add a toddler into the equation and it's even more tricky.

Baby won't latch on – I would love to see concrete stats for this (bet they don’t exists). Most of the women I know who have had c-section have had no problems latching on. Women who give birth vaginally also have problems with breastfeeding and bonding.

Too posh to push – oh what rubbish! Most women have caesareans because they are crucial in ensuring the health – or life - of mother or baby or both.

You won't get the rush of oxytocin you get if you give birth naturally. Really? So the overwhelming flood on love a c-section mummy feels when she clutches her babe for the first time is something else, right?

Baby will be traumatised – what tosh. Both my girls came out in a beautiful, peaceful way.

Feelings of failure/disappointment – it is so sad that some women feel like this, no doubt not helped by other judgemental people. If you view a c-section as the incredible, life-giving operation it really is then you will only feel fulfilment and joy.

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Personalised baby gifts

Personalised framed baby picture, £28, Not on the High Street

CLB daddy was recently delighted when I bought him some personalised cufflinks with his girls' names on. There's something extra special about personalised gifts for your wee ones - or indeed for friends and relatives. I'm not talking tacky name mugs from your nearest Clinton card shop, but individual handmade gifts from independent designer/makers. Here are some of my favourites. Let me know if you have come across any more...

Letter wall stickers, £1.99 each, Kidscape

Personalised handmade quilt, £90, Cheeky Handmades

 

Personalised Ava charm, £105, Not On the High Street

Handmade personalised train picture, £35, Scamp Baby Gifts

 

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Happy 1st Birthday CLB!

It's a year since the Chic Little Baby blog launched and what a whirlwind it has been: 175 posts, 35,947 page views and an international readership that stretches from Auckland to LA. Evie and I have had lots of adventures along the way trying out new baby fashion labels, meeting all sorts of creative mums who have set up their own brands and checking out London's cool kids shops. Thanks to all our readers for following CLB so loyally and also to our wonderful sponsors, who help keep CLB ticking along. Check the blog next week for some 1st Birthday giveaways, including a divine pair of 9London maternity jeans. Meanwhile, I have decided I will celebrate with a cupcake from the chic new Laduree shop in Covent Garden. Mwah from us.

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Perfect presents for two year olds

Vilac wooden piano, £49, The Conran Shop

With Evie and a cluster of her little friend's turning two, I have been asked numerous times for gift ideas for two year olds. Trickier than it sounds. At this age, learning is accelerating fast and suddenly all those baby toys look very babyish indeed. Evie has suddenly developed a passion for role play and as a result adores the baby doll and buggy her Granny bought her - I am hoping this is good prep for when her little sis arrives in less than two months time. But she also loves tinkering on the little wooden piano her Grandpa bought her, pretending to make food (hello play stove) and the Win Green cloth playhouse from mummy and daddy. I have a few ideas below for boys but would welcome more suggestions. I have found that for safety reasons most manufacturers will print '3 years and above' on toys that may well be perfectly suitable for 2 year olds - just use your discretion.

Automoblox car S9R sports, £24, Funkymoose QUOTE: CLB at checkout for 10% off

Making stuff for Kids, £16.99, V&A Museum of Childhood shop

Brio stove, £39.99, Just Gorgeous

Gypsy caravan basket by Rice, £34.80, Sisters Guild

Mini Mello stool, £46.90. Eside.co.uk

Mandrill sweater by Mini Rodini, €41, Shak-Shuka.com

 

Wooden magnetic numbers, £15.98, Toyella.com

Slippers for papa and son, from €22, Collegien

Crazy animal magnets, £13.99, Olive Loves Alfie

Win Green Toy shop play house, from £160, at Cotton George

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Baby's first birthday

My baby, Evie Isabel, turned one last week and what a day it was! A milestone for mummy and daddy as well as baby with our thoughts rolling back to this time last year when she had just emerged into the world as a pink, wrinkled 7lb2oz ball of flesh. I had Evie at 1.36pm on 18th May 2009 via elective C-Section at UCLH and she arrived eyes wide open, looking directly at me - it was love at first sight.

The day before Evie's birthday I felt quietly emotional, pondering how our lives had changed in such a monumental way over the past year. Sure, I have a few more wrinkles, I get a lot less sleep and I have much less cash in the bank (alright if I'm honest, it's partly to do with my passion for baby fashion!) but I wouldn't change a thing.

Handily, my love of shopping has been gloriously transferred to my daughter and I thought it was about time I shared my finds. Evie's first birthday, celebrated with family and friends and babies galore, seems a poignant time to launch my much anticipated baby blog. Incidentally, those cute pink shades pictured are by Monsoon baby.

You won't find boring debates about nappies or cracked nipples here (there are plenty of websites doing that very well) but what you will find is a frank, fun-filled account of first time motherhood, packed with fashion ideas with details of interesting finds from hard-to-get labels for your little ones, to the coolest accessories and websites as well as chic tips for busy mummies (hey, and daddies too). Please do feel free to suggest topics and email me ideas - I'd love to hear from you.

Enjoy!

Maggie and Evie xx

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