Sleepi Mini Cot

We have been selling Stokke Sleepi for nearly 10 years and have been asked so many times if the Mini is available on its own. So we are really excited that we can now offer it as a stand alone product!

Great for families who have limited space, who already have a cot but love the Sleepi so much they want a little piece of it, but also great because it allows you to spread the cost of buying your Sleepi. It is now possible to start with the Mini then when your baby out grows it you can buy the conversion kit to make it into the Bed (120cm) then when your toddler outgrows that simply buy the Junior Bed extension kit (160cm).

Of course, we still offer the popular Sleepi package (which saves you money as you are buying the Mini and the conversion kit to make it into the bed all in one go) but now you have the choice, which has to be better for everyone!

Frugi news

One of our suppliers Frugi attended the Cornwall Business Awards last week where they were shortlisted for 3 awards: Most Creative Use of the Web, Customer Focus and Best International Business. We were almost as delighted as they were (they are such nice people!) when they announced thwy had won all 3 awards! What an achievement, well done Team Frugi!

Frugi are one of our best selling clothing brands. They have created a loyal following making ethical, practical, comfortable and affordable kids clothes. We send them our congratulations and best wishes for a successful future... Go Team Frugi!

Feeling Sleepi?!

We have a Stokke Sleepi on display in the shop. People always comment on it as they walk in, I guess it is striking to look at, particularly given its shape.

However, what I really enjoy doing is explaining the concept to people and watching their faces as they realise they can have one piece of furniture that their child can sleep in from birth to 7 years. No storing redundant furniture, no sleep trauma as your baby outgrows the cot and when you add up the price of a moses basket, a cot/cot bed and a junior bed plus mattresses, the Sleepi really does look good!

More Aden and Anais

We have just placed another order for the gorgeous Aden and Anais swaddles. These fantastic, multi purpose, 100% cotton or bamboo blankets are gaining in popularity all the time. Generously sized and in single layer muslin, they are not too heavy for Summer but can be layered for Winter.

We have started getting mums coming to the shop buying them for friends after using them, or buying for themselves after being told by a friend how great they are! With a selection of fun and beautiful designs and available individually or in packs of 2, 3 0r 4, there is something to suit every budget.

Nappy change mat, play mat, snooze shade, breast feeding cover, swaddling blanket, sick cloth...... What do you use yours for?!

Focus on Lizzie Shirt

We love to support British made goods at heybaby*. It makes sense. But British made kids clothes are not easy to find.

Lizzie Shirt is a great kids clothes brand that is based in Cornwall and the clothes are designed and made in their workshop, from start to finish! They make fun, distinctive clothes that are truly made for kids to wear, in sizes from 3 months up.

The clothes have to be seen to be appreciated but once people find them they always want more!

We are lucky to be one of Lizzie Shirt's limited stockists, take a look at what they do!

Baby Wearing

Our top selling product at the moment is the Kari Me baby carrier. I have carried all 3 of my children as much as possible, for a variety of reasons.

I was curious why some people love to carry their babies so much and others choose not to try it at all. I came across this site called The Natural Child Project that I think sums up the benefits of baby wearing really well.

If you are at all interested it is worth a look!

Howies that?!

Another busy day in the shop today. One of the best things about being on the shop floor is getting to chat to other mums and meet their gorgeous babies.

We had a visit from the cutest little boy called Milo today (great name!) and I noticed his mum (I have done my usual and got the baby's name but not the mum's....sorry mum!) was wearing a Howies t-shirt.

I have a few garments from Howies myself, next on my wish-list is the t-shirt pictured here, which sums up my days at work quite nicely! We swear by the Merino base layers when camping. If you are interested in environmentally sound purchases you should check them out.

They have a similar ethos to us and make some great clothes (mainly for parents but a few bits for kids too). It is refreshing to see clothes being made with an emphasis on making the consumer aware of the full impact of what they are buying. Well done Howies!

Holiday essentials?

We are off on holiday next week and we are lucky enough to have friends who have been where we are going. I was quizzing them yesterday about what we need to take and one of the items they said was essential that I had totally overlooked was an insect repellent.

We sell Green Baby handy insect repellent patches that contain natural essential oils and are safe and effective even on newborn babies as they can be stuck to clothing or bedding.

Easy to apply and great for all the family? We will definitely be packing some!

Happy nappies!

We received our copy of Your Dorset this morning, the newspaper of our County Council. Right on the front cover, centre stage, is a photo of a baby wearing a washable nappy with the title 'Keep it real: And ditch the disposables'.

I am overjoyed! This may sound like hyperbole but I can assure you the sentiment is real. I have spent years telling people about washable nappies, how easy it is once you get into a routine, how is saves you a fortune, how I believe we all have a reponsibility to do what we can for our environment etc etc..... It is so exciting to see our County Council not just agreeing in principle, but fully backing the cause.

I feel renewed enthusiasm, how exciting!

If you live in Dorset and would like to read more about the Council's position on washable nappies and their incentive scheme visit their Dorset For You website.

We sell a selection of real nappies at heybaby* and are happy to discuss, demonstrate and advise with no obligation to buy! Pop in and see us....

Bubble London

We have had several calls today from suppliers asking if we will be at Bubble London in June. I have told them all that we will indeed be there.

As a retailer of children's clothes (amongst other things) I find the only way to really look/see/feel new collections in a time efficient way is to head to trade shows. I used to face them with dread. I have been to too many in air-conditioned, sterile surroundings, full of business suits and smoking (before the ban) only to come away feeling uninspired and dehydrated!

Bubble London is somehow different. It is getting bigger each time we go but is full of vivacious, small businesses all hoping to catch your eye. We go and see our regular suppliers (Frugi, Kite Kids, Organics for Kids, Little Shrimp, Toffee Moon, Itsus...) but we always have our eyes open for something new and exciting so that we can bring it to our customers!

A quick garden update!

Due to heavy early morning rain, our plans for today were cancelled, giving me a 'bonus' day at home. The rain then stopped and I was able to do a bit more in the veg patch.

The courgettes are now out of the greenhouse and planted in their permanent places. I have earthed-up the potatoes (looking good) and sewn second rounds of salad, radish, peas, mangetout and beans (looking not so good!)

I also found a free packet of carrot seeds which we have not bothered with before as we get a plentiful supply of tasty organic carrots in our Riverford veg boxes, but as the seed was free and I had a space I have put some in as an experiment.

In the greenhouse, the tomatoes are now in situ, as are the cucumbers and peppers (see picture).

All in all, a good day's work!

Bank Holiday Madness!

Well, we have just about emerged from the madness that has occurred at the shop over the last few weeks and the only thing we can put it down to is the string of Bank Holidays.

We have never opened on Bank Holidays. I don't want to work them and therefore I do not think it is fair to expect my staff to. I also have this theory that if we close the Bank Holidays, as long as we are clear about it and let people know, they will come back when we are open.

So, we have had quite a few days off over the last month, which has been great but has resulted in several mad 'catch up' days comprising of picking and packing internet orders and placing/chasing orders with our suppliers to replace all the stock we are sending out.

I am not moaning, that is essentially what we do anyway, but I am interested in your views as our customers. Would you like us open on Bank Holidays and Sundays?!