It's Fair Trade Fortnight!

Did you know it is Fair Trade Fortnight?? We thought we should do what we can to spread the word. Becoming a parent makes most people reflect on their own life (when they have time!) and that of their kids.

I cringe when I hear people commenting how little they have managed to buy something for. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a bargain, and I know times are tough for most people, but the majority of us in this country do not know real poverty. When was the last time you saw somebody starving to death or dying from an easily preventable illness?

So when I buy something, I can't stop myself thinking 'is that a FAIR price?'

This Fair Trade Fortnight we want to encourage people to think about what they are buying. It does not mean that everything you buy has to be Fair Trade certified, (lots of companies are good, fair employers) but do ask the questions and make sure your hard earned money is going to a good place!

The Fair Trade Foundation works to help provide fair wages and safe working conditions for people in developing countries. Take a look at their website to find out more.

Green Toys

We have just had our first delivery of Green Toys. Just a few items at the moment but if they prove popular we will be adding to the range.

I don't know about you but for us, when we had our children, it emphasised the importance of thinking long term. A big part of that is looking after our surroundings and 'treading lightly' where we can. It makes sense to re-use whatever we can. Anything that gets used once then thrown away cannot possibly be good can it??

Green Toys are made from recycled plastic milk cartons! Up until now we have mainly sold wooden toys but they do have their restrictions, mainly where water and sandpits are concerned!

So now we have a viable alternative...plastic toys that can be played with in the bath, sandpit or garden but that are made from 100% recycled materials.

We currently have the Race Car, the Sandwich Set and the Stacking Cups in stock. Take a look!

Barefoot is Best!

When I was pregnant with my first baby I remember looking at shoes and thinking why people felt it was necessary to put them on tiny babies? I thought it was ridiculous and decided mine would not wear shoes until they were walking and needed a 'proper' shoe. However, our first little boy was a bit of a wriggler and used to rub his feet together to remove his socks: not a big deal in the Summer but in the depths of Winter I could not keep his feet warm and after many trials came across Inch Blue leather shoes. Super soft and supple, they offer just enough coverage to protect little feet with no restriction, and they really stay on! We have been selling Inch Blue for 10+ years and in all that time have only had 1 or 2 customers tell us they did not stay on their babies feet. They certainly transformed our little feet and all 3 of our kids have been avid Inch Blue wearers! We keep a full range in stock with new designs being added all the time. Inch Blue come in Small (0-6m) Medium (6-12m) or Large (12-18m) which makes buying the right size relatively easy.

Of course, once they are properly walking, they need a little more protection. With my first two I have done the usual high street shoe shops and always felt it went against the grain to put their gorgeous little feet into stiff, restrictive footwear. With number 3 I decided to do a bit more research and found a great brand called Bobux. They believe that small children should go barefoot whenever possible, and that when shoes are necessary, they should not restrict their feet in any way. Take a look at the Bobux website to see the science and thinking behind their shoes. In a nutshell, they have very flexible soles made from natural rubber, they are specifically designed not to restrict small feet and they are made and lined with leather which allows your child's feet to breathe.

We are excitedly waiting for our Spring delivery from Bobux. We have been selling them for 2 seasons now and the feedback we have had had so far has been amazing. You won't find them on our website because we believe the best way to buy shoes for kids is by trying them on.

Pop in and see us if you would like help choosing a pair of soft, comfy, shoes for your family from Bobux...who believe barefoot is best!

Seasalt Nippers

We had our first delivery from Seasalt Nippers at the shop this week. We came across this brand a few years ago and having bought their clothes for myself, I was excited to see that they are making their kids range available to independent retailers. I like the brand for several reasons.

Firstly it is a family run business and to me that means that they care about the business and their customers (me and you!).

Secondly, from the time they started designing and producing their own clothing ranges they have had an emphasis on using organic cotton and ethical production methods, which in my opinion, is just common sense.

Thirdly, being based in Cornwall there is a nautical theme that runs through a lot of their designs. Some of their range supports the RNLI by making a donation for every garment sold, and having been bought up by the coast myself, I know about the fantastic work the RNLI do and think this is a great partnership. So if I can help by selling the clothes, I am happy to.

Lastly, and I guess most importantly, the range is great quality, comfortable and practical.

We have started with a relatively small selection of long and short sleeve t-shirts, polo shirts, denim, leggings and a dress, as well as bamboo socks and their fantastic Tin Cloth coat, most of which is unisex and mix and match. If it goes well we will be expanding the range. So, if your Nippers need anything new, pop in the shop and take a look!

Happy Half Term!

Christmas was only a couple of weeks ago, right?!

Wrong!

This may sound daft but it has only just dawned on me that we are at half term already! I think in our house we are all ready for a week of no school runs or schedules...

The holidays are a great time to spend more time together, but what I love most is seeing the kids have time together. Our youngest is not at school yet so she loves it when her brothers are home and when the boys are at school they see relatively little of each other.

Don't get me wrong, we have our share of arguments and discord but the holidays allow the space and time to work through them and still have time left for smiles, talking and playing.

We just wanted to wish you a Happy Half Term...we hope you have time for smiles, talking and playing!

New Cheeky Wipes Kits

A few weeks ago I wrote about the benefits of using washable wipes. We now have the new Version 3 Cheeky Wipes kits in store and available online so I thought now was a good time to update you on the improvements that have been made!

The new kits have the same contents as the previous versions in both the All in One and the Mini Kits but they combine the best bits of Versions 1 and 2 in a new Version 3:

- flat lids for stacking
- air-tight seal
- one handed opening (but with a single robust clip rather than a pop-top)
- internal hooks on mucky box
- double hinge with stainless steel pin for strength
- water-fill levels

We have had a good 'play' with our delivery and they certainly seem robust and are easy to use.

Another great improvement is that the cotton terry wipes are now available in bright colours, turquoise and pink, adding a dash of colour to your nappy changing experience!

An All in One Kit (which contains 25 wipes and everything else you need to use them) is available from £37.99 so the sooner you start the more money you are set to save....what are you waiting for?!

Focus on Frugi!

We have just had our Spring/Summer 2012 delivery from Frugi. We all love it when we have new stock in the shop. It refreshes the place, and our enthusiasm somehow!

Frugi is our best selling childrenswear brand and we have been selling them since they first started as Cut4Cloth around 8 years ago. As for many people, our initial attraction was their unique selling point: clothes that are specifically cut to fit over cloth nappies.

However, a lot has happened since those early days, for them and for us! They have re-branded to Frugi (meaning 'fruits of the earth') and now sell a huge range of organic clothing for kids up to 8 years old as well as winning numerous awards. We have extended our range too and launched our online store, but have stuck by Frugi because we love what they do, and so do our customers!

If you like your kids to dress like kids, if you like clothes that last no matter what your kids do in them, if you care about supporting ethical business...you should take a look at Frugi.