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Thu rsday, July 4 , 20 19 NewsI 2 the With Sophie and Janelle lowdown There seems to be a bit of a This week, Sophie looks at the best baby essentials with a focus on baby boom currently, there cer- tainly in my family with two new babies for June ! As it's been a ethical and sustainable products, plus a few genius items! while since I first became a mum, I was eager to see what products are currently on the market- is it the same stuff that I was using over 11 years ago , or has the market been influenced by celeb- rities that champion a sustainable approach to child raising, with a focus on chemical free, environ - mentally friendly products? LUXURY & GENIUS ITEMS • Heather Bow & Rattle chang- ing bag (£134 Bow &Rattle . com ) As a passionate collector of designer handbags, I wish something like this had been on the market all those years ago. It is the most luxurious changing bag I have ever seen . Considering it will be a long time before you can go out with just a handbag again, why not invest so this genius product is a god send! It's essentially a bib that ensures your expense buggy stays lovely and clean while baby can enjoy feeding themselves when out and about. Made of the softest material, (seriously l wish I had clothes in the same fabric!) its practical, well made and sure to save long hours dismantling the pram to get it sparkling clean again. • Skip Hop Moby Smart Sling Stage 3 Tub (£38.99) I loved my kids baby bath, but ii doesn't last very long. This company have de- veloped a baby bath that is suit- able for all of the miles tones and not just the first three months. Its ergonomic shape means not only is it practical and versatile, it also looks like a cute whale and is wont drive mum round the bend! ECO BABIES • Dr Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Baby Castile Soap (£7.99) It's frightening how many chemi- cals can be in some of the best known baby products, but this castile soap contains no parabens, or toxic chemicals plus it's just as good for cleaning a newborn as it is for you! An incredible multiuse product, and I jus t love the old-fashio ned look of the bottle. • Kit & Kin Nappies and Breast Balm (from £7.99) Kit & Kin is the brainchild of Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton and features a wide range of eco-lriendly baby prod- ucts that are kind to baby's skin as well as the environment. Their in something that is elegant and func tional. With plenty of storage pockets , changing mat and handy plastic pockets for separating wet and dirty clothing, this is the ultimate baby item and almost made me wish I was plan- ning another child! • PramBibs (£24.95 pramb ibs. com) Now we know how expen- sive prams and travel systems can be and the amount of mess created by little bundles of joy, sure to be the envy of others! • Vtech Leapfrog Butterfly (£19.99) and Vtech Lights and Stripes Zebra (£15.99) You can't go wrong with the VTECH toys, they've been on the market for a long time for a reason- they are excellent value for money, stimu lating for baby, and a cute addition to the nursery. These two are my cur rent faves on the market, both suitable from birth and provide soothing tunes that nappies are not only adorable with cute designs on the bum, but also available as a subsc rip- tion services so you may never run out! The breast balm features a range of nourishing oils and botanica l extracts to cool, heal and protect sensitive nipples- es- sential for those first few weeks of breastfeeding. • Mori organic bamboo zip up sleepsuit (£36.45) I think this might be the most delightful sleepsuit I've ever come across . Not only is it super soft, the organic bamboo means that the material breaths and washes well. But it's the zip feature that makes it stand out- no more faffing with poppe rs with wriggly legs, you can change baby in seconds! For me, this would be an ideal item for baby's first outfit. • Love to Dream Swaddle UP (£27.99 from cheekyrascals.com) My eldest son loved to be swad- dled and t do think it was one of the reasons why he slept so well, however it can be difficul t to get the blanket wrapped just so. This swaddling blanket has a zip so it's as easy as it can be, and another ideal aid for breastfeed- ing as no tiny limbs can get in the way while you struggle to ge t into the best nursing position. • Bravado Designs- washable nursing pads (£18) Most dispos- able breast pads are so dry and scratchy they can be really horrible against your skin, especially for such a sensitive area. These reusable pads are super soft, odour-resistant and very discreet underclo thing. They also come in lots of pretty colours and come with their own mesh bag so they wont go missing in the washing machine! • Balmonds Skincare- Rosehip scar oil, chamomile baby oil and all-natural baby balm (from £7.99) Balmonds Skinca re was created by a mot her who was desper- ate for an effective non-steroid mois turiser for her daughter. These products are suitable for all those prone to eczema, allergies, de r- matitis or any other dry and itchy skin con d itions, but are gorgeous smelling and non-greasy so would appeal to anyone . There is a wide range of prod- ucts that would make an ideal gift for mums to be, in particular the rosehip scar oil which is excellent for stretch marks and C-Section sca rs. GET IN TOUCH Email sophie.lowdown @gmail.com and janelle.lowdown @gmail.com SATURDAY 29TH JUNE 2019 11:OOAM - 4 :00PM You've found your perfect match .._so now it's time to start planning your perfec t day_ Our wedd ing fayre is a grea t oppo rtunity to see your ideal venue, find inspiration and meet your Wedd ing Ange ls all under one roof. 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