How to Help Baby & Mum Get a Good Night’s Sleep

One of the most important things for a new-born baby is getting a good night’s sleep. It’s said that as infants, we do most of our growing during sleep. Our minds also process and remember the things we’ve learnt during the day at night. So getting your child into the proper routine is crucial.

And it’s not just infants that need good sleep patterns. Sleep is also very important to new mothers also. The stress of being a new parent, coupled with the fact that many women suffer from varying degrees of depression after giving birth, means that a good night of rest is just as important for mum as it is for the baby.

So how do you make sure both baby and mum get a good night’s sleep? The most important thing is routine. You need to set up a bedtime routine almost from the start. Choose a time to put your baby to bed and stick to it. Also, make sure the routine just before bed stays the same. This will often include a bath and a story, but the exact details are really up to you. Just make sure you stick to whatever routine you put in place.

What the celebs love

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love following celebrities, and when they have babies it gets a whole lot more interesting! 

One product that is loved by celebs the world over is ‘Aden& Anais’ range of Swaddle blankets.  Hollywood stars such as Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner and Sarah Jessica Parker (to name but a few) are often snapped out and about with their babies and an Aden & Anais blanket is often seen to be with them.  Having looked at these blankets I can totally see why celebs love them, there are loads of amazing prints and patterns to choose from and they are just so versatile, they can be used as burp cloths, car seat linings and also as pram covers – a very handy and stylish way to shade your little one from the sun.

Aden & Anais ‘Baby Cakes’ Swaddle

Pacapod baby changing bags are also catching the eye of the celebrities.  Adventurer Ben Fogle and his wife Marina have two children; Ludo, 1 and Iona who was born in May last year, and they both love the Pacapod design!  Ben was quoted as saying ‘We love our Pacapod, congratulations on creating such a brilliant product; we have been using it constantly.  We absolutely love it and have been using it in all elements – from the whole thing to taking out just the individual pods’

The above quote is exactly why the Pacapod are loved – you don’t just get one bag, you get one bag plus a ‘changing pod’ and a ‘feeding pod’ – which can be used individually and are also designed to keep everything separate from each other – so there are no dirty nappies next to baby food!

Plus there is a huge choice of different designs and prints to choose from – all with the same two handy  pods inside.   If you are after a sophisticated baby changing bag you might want to look at the the Pacapod Coromandel Tan changing bag, this certainly has an air of sophistication about it.  If an ‘out and about’ bag is more your style, then take a look at the Pacapod Almora Print changing bag which comes in quite a few different colours including ‘Midnight’ and ‘Sand’.  Comedian Jason Manford has also been known to Tweet about how much he and ‘Mrs M’ love their Pacapod he believes that it is ‘the perfect bag for expectant parents’.

With praise as high as this, we believe that the Pacapod really can do no wrong!

Pacapod Almora Sand design

Then there are ‘Busy Peas’ sleepsuits loved by Brit Actress Lucy Benjamin (best known for her role as Lisa in Eastenders).  In just July this year she was interviewed for ‘Hello’ magazine pictured with her newborn baby girl Rosie, who was happily snoozing on her mum’s lap wearing a Busy Peas sleepsuit.  These sleepsuits are fantastically colourful and are based around different fruit and veg characters such as ‘Carry Carrot’, Stewart Strawberry’ and ‘Gene Aubergine’.  Plus it’s not just the sleepsuits that may catch your eye – you can also get super cute character soft Busy Pea toys too (which by the way I absolutely love – ‘Gene Aubergine’ being my favourite!) these make fabulous newborn gifts!

Busy Peas ‘Gene Aubergine’ soft toy

As previously discussed I love following the celebs and I like to think that they wouldn’t be seen out and about using something that doesn’t work for them and their baby, therefore I believe that one of the best recommendations a product can get is to be bought, used and loved by a celebrity!

D for Diamond's New Look!

Just to let you all know that fantastic children's jewellery brand 'D for Diamond' has had a revamp of all it's packaging, and we love it!  With stars and flowers a plenty, all pieces of jewellery still come with their own boxes and certificates, but on top of that you now get a sweet little gift bag too!

Due to the popularity of D for Diamond jewellery we have also expanded our range to include lots of fantastic new pieces, that we think would be ideal for children who are slightly older.  These new pieces include items such as this beautiful apple locket, which opens up, so within it your little girl can keep a picture or a precious little keepsake.  This makes an ideal birthday present, especially with it's fantastically colourful new box and  gift bag!

Beautiful Apple Locket

So kick back, make a cup of tea and have a little browse of all our new stock and the D for Diamond revamp!

Have fun, and Happy shopping everyone!

The MollieBee Team

Sorry it's a bit late, but Happy New Year everyone!

Sorry it's a bit late, but Happy New Year everyone!

Time really does fly doesn't it. Only feels like I have blinked and all of a sudden we are out of xmas and at the end of January. Quite scary really! I hope everyone's festive breaks were enjoyable and wish you all the best for 2012.

MollieBee are working hard to source new products at the moment and today we attended the Bubble Show in London. It was great to meet existing suppliers and a few new faces which could see some new stock pretty soon. 

Embracing social media is very important to MollieBee. It seems everyone is now connected through Facebook or Twitter. If you aren't following us at the moment, please do drop by and have a look. Our Facebook fans are all entitled to 10% off, so it is definitely worth your while.

  

Enjoy shopping folks!

MollieBee.com

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Well, here we are at the beginning of December once more – how quickly has this year gone!?!?! – a sure sign that I’m getting older (and feeling it!). Once again I have to say that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year, from the mince pies to the children’s navitity play, and is it wrong that I’m already looking forward to eating Christmas Dinner?!?
So how’s your Christmas shopping going? Mine is following the same pattern that it follows every year – I get started in November, congratulate myself for starting it so early then don’t actually finish it off until mid December where I suddenly panic when I realise that Christmas day is round the corner, there is no way I want to go into town and wrestle with all the other Christmas shopppers! – and this is exactly why I love internet shopping so much!
This year at MollieBee we have some fabulous stocking fillers for little ones. We’ve recently brought in some gorgeous rattles and comforters by brilliant designer Ella & Otto

Ella & Otto 'BeepBeep' Bunny Comforter

These colourful little guys are make brilliant stocking fillers as they are small, soft and squashy, easy to wrap and totally affordable! –your little ones will love them! The comforter bunnies come in the Tweet Tweet and the Beep Beep designs and matching items are also available.
The other soft toys that we have been totally loving this year are the little ‘Busy Peas’ characters! All these guys are small, cute and extremely lovable, plus with names like ‘Pete Pea’, ‘Carry Carrot’, ‘Stewart Strawberry’ and ‘Gene Aubergine’ – you can’t really go wrong.

Busy Peas 'Gene Aubergine' Soft Toy

Again all of these guys are small, soft and fit perfectly into Christmas stockings! – Plus there are also matching items available including ‘All in Ones’ and ‘Bodysuits’ – what more could you want!?!?!
Do you know anyone who is due to give birth this Christmas? – and if so are you wondering what to buy the new baby as a gift? – well take a look at these super cute ‘newborn sets’ by creative designer ‘Olive & Moss’:

     

Olive & Moss 'Michael the Monkey' Newborn Set

These brilliant newborn sets are a generous size 0-3 months. Choose from the cheeky ‘Michael Monkey’ or cute ‘Betty Bunny’ prints, either one is sure to bring a smile to your face. The sets are made up of a sleepsuit that has closed feet to ensure that feet are kept warm at all times, and a matching hat which will keep precious little heads warm and snuggly!
Well there you go, I hope that we have given you some fab and funky stocking ideas! We also hope that you are not finding your Christmas shopping too stressful – remember ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!’, so sit back, relax have a mince pie, and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!


The MollieBee Team

It's time to get ready for Autumn!

Well I think that it’s safe to say that Autumn is definitely here (in saying that, I stepped outside my front door to today to a very unseasonable warm September day – a late summer maybe?!?!).  Anyhow – Autumn starts here, and I am ready for it! – I’ve put all my summer clothes to the back of the wardrobe, and all the chunky knits close to hand at the front!

It isn’t just adults that need to get ready for Autumn – you need to get your little one ready too!  The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, so now is the perfect time to stock up on snuggly blankets to keep your little one warm and cosy.

 If you’re worried about blankets being plain and boring, don’t be! – Toby Tiger are a perfect example of what blankets can be like! – with bright and bold colours and patterns they are a brilliant addition to any pram, buggy or cot, plus they keep your baby warm as well as looking fantastic.

Toby Tiger Baby Blanket – Green/White Stripes

Another way of keeping your little one snuggly throughout the night would be with a warm a cosy baby sleeping bag.  Tucking your little one into one of these at night means that there are no blankets to kick off leaving your baby exposed to the coldness of the night (and waking you up in the process – not ).  Sleeping bags come in all different colours and designs, which means that you are able to find one that will match your nursery perfectly, and if it doesn’t match, then so what? – buy it because you love it!  Ella & Otto are a brand that demonstrates the great pattern choices you can get perfectly, with their ‘Beep Beep’ car design, their ‘Tweet Tweet’ bird design, and the ever so popular ‘Animal’ design sleeping bags you really are spoilt for choice!

Ella & Otto Baby Sleeping Bag – Tweet Tweet design

So don’t feel sad about the arrival of Autumn, embrace it, and go shopping!

Happy Autumn!

From,

The MollieBee Team

Moving forward into a world of baby Funkiness!

Right – what are a lot of new parents out there looking for when it comes to baby products and gifts? – well if it’s a little baby boy, blue of course and a little girl, pink obviously! – well not any more, no longer do you have to pound the pavements looking in the blue and the pink sections of baby shops – nowadays designers are moving away from this and moving more towards funky, bold and bright designs – whoever decided that pink should be for a girl and blue for a boy anyway!?!?! – if that’s the unsaid rule then I’m a firm believer that this rule should definitely be broken!

Now then, what would be the main item of clothing that you will find in any new born baby’s wardrobe? – yes the sleepsuit of course (also known as the babygrow, playsuit, or romper suit).  Any new parent will tell you that your little one will get through loads of these little necessities on a daily basis, so will need plenty of them in their wardrobe, so yes by all means buy some cheap and cheerful plain ones in packs of 5s and 10s, but do they all have to be the same?  Why not treat yourself and your little one to a funky bright sleepsuit that will really get him or her noticed, there are some really fun designs out there, Toby Tiger, Busy Peas, Olive & Moss to name but a few, loads of thought has gone into designing these sleepsuits to ensure that your little one looks his or hers best at all times.

Another item that you will not be able to do without (and also need a lot of) would be muslin cloths – these little pieces of material have so many practical uses, from bibs, to swaddle blankets to sunshades!  There are lots of different muslin cloths out there, but one of my favourite designers around at the moment is Aden & Anais they are so funky and there are so many to choose from it’s no wonder celebrities such as Jennifer Garner, Ilsa Fisher, Gwen Stefani and our very own Jamie Oliver love them! (and this is naming only a few).  With a huge  range including animal print, stars and cupcakes, I promise that there is something for everyone!

Moving away from the plain to the funky also allows you to buy gifts easily without knowing the sex of the baby before he or she is born!  Not all expectant parents find out the sex of the baby before he/she is born,  say for example one of your friends is expecting a baby, and, as a well prepared, well organised friend you have decided to get the baby a present before he/she is born, but is it a boy or girl?!? – pink or blue? (there’s that unwritten rule again!) you don’t want to just buy beige or white! – you want something a little different that they will love!  Going funky will eliminate this problem as a lot of the bold designs out there now are more unisex (also easy to pass on to next child whether it be a boy or girl!).

So next time you’re shopping for baby products or gifts – and you find yourself drifting towards the pink, blues, whites and beiges (whether you are browsing online or High Streets), stop, have a little think and make the break – go funky, you won’t regret it!!!!!

Enjoy your new found funkiness, 

MollieBee.com