Christmas advent calendar issue

baby buzz

Christmas Advent Calendar Special Issue

Photography courtesy of Cuddledry

B

75 Telford Road New Southgate London N11 2RL Company No: 8234631

Nickie Evans nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com 0208 361 0727 07944 240 321 Cindy Evans Jenny Blyth Emily Hewett, I am Emily contact@iamemily.co.uk Dean Baxter, ChimpMySite Dean@chimpmysite.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not always those of the publishers. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine makes any guarantee, warranties or claims as to the accuracy of any of the contents of this magazine. We include and use products and services that we believe to be of a reputable standard but we advise readers to make their own judgements. The publishers and magazine will not be held accountable and or responsible for any loss caused by errors, loss or negligence resulting from Baby Buzz Magazine Limited. We do not accept responsibility for any unsolicited material or photographs published. Terms and Conditions for our competitions can be found on our website at the time of being published. No section of this magazine is authorised for use or reproduction in any form without the prior consent of the editor.

No purchase is necessary. All prizes must be accepted as offered. For products that have been reviewed and then given away as part of a competition giveaway, it must be noted that there will be minimal wear and tear to that said product. All prize details and prices are correct at time of going to print. Winners shall be notified by email after the closing date with a delivery date to be agreed.

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Hi everyone, I don’t know about you but I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet. As with many other people, money is tight this year but nevertheless, I’m aiming to make it a great and memorable one for my family.

In this issue, we have a fantastic Advent Calendar full of amazing prizes to give away each day in the run up to Christmas. Simply answer the questions and email us your answers to be with a chance to win. We also have a fun and easy mince pie recipe so that the kids can get involved with the preparations for Christmas, as well as a the usual reviews of fantastic products new to the market. Hopefully you will all have read the November/December issue which had extensive gift guides with something for every budget whilst staying away from the usual high street options that seem to be advertised everywhere!

I know that this time of year can be a very hard time for some, but amidst all the rushing around, present buying and wrapping and hours spent in the kitchen, don’t forget to take a moment to just enjoy spending time with your family, friends and loved ones.

Finally, I wish all my readers a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nickie xx

Welcome to the World xx Name: Albert Cornelisus Murray D.O.B: 15�� October 2013 Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz Parents: Steve & Joanne Murray

Name: Leia Mary Devereaux D.O.B: 23�� November 2013 Weight: 5 lbs 12 oz Parents: Sam & Georgie Devereaux

Handwoven & hand-dyed with a satin label Available in Pink, Blue or your own colour choice, perhaps Birthstone Colour? Provided with its own presentation box. ÂŁ17.50 each, which includes delivery

www.JustWoolTextiles.co.uk Scarves for Adults & Children as well as Blankets also handwoven

The Big Chill…

Your questions and answers when it comes to fighting Colds!

I sympathise, it's no fun at all and snot is a default setting for many people in the winter. Some of my fave kitchen remedies My kids are 5 and 7 and are honey, lemon and grated ginger in hot water, raw garlic, from about mid thyme tea and a fab onion syrup.

October they take turns in getting colds until about March. It To make the syrup, layer slices of onions and raw unrefined sugar starts just as a snotty in a jar, seal the jar and leave overnight. Strain off the liquid and nose which goes on for drink! I'm also a fan of inhalations and use a plug-in diffuser ages and then does which is designed for children, I really find them helpful for adults eventually develop into blocked, stuffy noses too. a cough. This goes in Herbally speaking, I would look at Echinacea; I sell the liquid and cycles and eventually the tablets and can give high doses which really help if you're in both me and my a stream of getting ill all the time. I'd also give some lovely teas husband also get ill. with elderflower, lime flowers and yarrow which help to blow We seem to have spent away a fever and support the healing of the delicate mucous the last few years in a constant state of ill! membranes.

Dear Joanne

We eat really well and I'm always cleaning so I can't understand why! Is there anyway which herbs could help?

Thanks Sue ________________________________________________ Hi Sue

I could go on and on about this for ages as there is so much we can do! Please feel free to drop me a line to discuss further or to purchase some Echinacea or teas!

Let me know how you get on.

Joanne xx joanne@jmherbalist.co.uk and www.jmherbalist.co.uk

We recently attended the launch of a fantastic new hair salon aimed at just children called Sharkeys. What you might not realise is that they also have the party room of all party rooms on the lower ground floor! Should you wish to treat your little one to an extra special birthday full of glamour and want your little one to be treated like a star then this is the place to go.

So what does every little girl want, well to be pampered of course!

If you do choose to have a Birthday Party at Sharkeys, each girl will be pampered with a pretty hairstyle, very basic make-up application and a mini-cure. When they are all ready to go, they can choose from the array of beautiful dress up clothes and put on a fashion show of their own (pictures will be taken too!)

The party includes: use of the glamour room for 2 hours, hair styling, mini-cures & basic make-up, fashion show and pictures, in-house music, birthday girl can bring her own music, invitations and balloons, selection of hot and cold food and drinks, party bags (optional) and recorded video of party (optional) £40.

For more information, please contact: 77 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, London, NW8 0AE Phone: 020 7625 2680 | Facebook: SharkeyscutsforkidsUK | Email: stjohnswood@sharkeyscutsforkids.com

By Lauren Derrett medical miracle of the 20th century. This combination provides the most unique form of cellular healing and repair. Placenta growth factors have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, improve regulation of the autonomous system, improvement of blood circulation, wound tissue healing, inhibition of protease, enhancement of nerve generation, balancing multiple hormone levels, immune boosting, analgesic effect and improvement of intestinal environment” -(MFIII Human Placenta Injection,2009). How offensive could a capsule be? It was a complete no brainer and from that point in I was a convert. Less than 24 hours after my birth I was chugging down what was to become my happy pills and never looked back.

My blood loss only lasted a few days rather than weeks, my milk production was in overdrive, my hormones were so stable that there were no baby blues, day 3 came and went without me even noticing it, my energy levels never seemed to waiver and the most impressive thing was the dream like state I was in for the whole time that I was taking them.

I was so impressed by the smoothness and speed of my recovery that I made the decision to train to become a placenta specialist myself so that I could spread the word and help other mothers understand that Last year whilst I was pregnant with my 4�� baby I got sucked into one it’s not just for hippy types or cannibals, it’s not some weird cult or only of those Channel 4 documentary’s, this particular one was called ‘How for extremists. I am a normal everyday modern mum who just wanted to be a good mother’. And on this documentary the presenter met with a bit of extra support in my recovery, I don’t live in a commune and I wash my hair every other day, I have a Bugaboo and I use Amber a woman who had consumed her own placenta!! teething bracelets on my baby, I am new age meets high-street.

My initially reaction as I spat my honey nut cornflakes across the room (my craving) was utter disgust, and I questioned “how could you?” I My training is now all completed (with IPEN independent placenta then started to ask “why would you?” I had previously booked a doula encapsulation network) and I have, alongside my colleague (and fellow to support me through my pregnancy and birth (google doula, every doula) set up Essex Placenta, we offer encapsulation alongside tinctures, labouring mother should have one) and had mentioned the programme balms, creams, essences and homeopathic remedies to help aid mothers to her, with a disgusted, confused look on my face, but as it turned out with their natural recoveries. my Essex doula was also the only placenta specialist working within Essex. We discussed the benefits of placenta consumption in length www.essexplacenta.co.uk and I was becoming more and more accepting of the idea, but still struggled with the image of frying it up with some fava beans and a nice Chianti and then came the clincher…….you can have your placenta encapsulated!!

Just an innocent looking capsule fully loaded with everything your body needs for recovery after your birth. Why else do you think every other mammal on the planet eats theirs, gets up and walks back out into the wild ready to take on the world? Unfortunately for us educated mammals that are surrounded by science and medicine manufacturers who push all their remedies grown within laboratories using synthetic ingredients, we have become accustomed to the pharmacy being the first port of call. We have lost site of the fact that our bodies are made to birth and offer us the essentials for recovery after the birth. We have just evolved too much to deem is acceptable.

“Recent scientific research has shown that placenta is a rich healing agent for the body and contains potent amounts, over 128, rich growth factors. Also found in potent supply in the placenta are stem cells, the

Silk Glorious Anticipation Dress - £139.00

Happy Dress - £95.00

Perfect Ways Poncho £98.00

Personalised Aromatherapy Candle - £39.95 Hello Mum, Hello Baby Welcome Set - £39.95

Timothy Cheeky Monkey £29.50

Pink Blossom Eye Mask £46.00

Baby Hugs Necklace £120.00

Mama Mia Red Changing Bag - £255.00

December

st 1

For your chance to win all of these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question:

1

On the 1�� Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: A) B) C)

a partridge in a pear tree two turtle doves three french horns

2

3 Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 1�� December.

Prizes included today: 1. Nativity Advent Calendar, Tesco 2. Lumilove Savanoo Lion, Pabobo 3. A Sweetshop Jar, Hope and Greenwood

December

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, just answer this simple question: Which of these is not one of Santa’s reindeer?

A) B) C)

Prancer Rudolf Sherman

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 2ⁿ� December.

Prizes included today: 1. Newborn Bundle with gLotus and gVeggie, gNappies

nd 2

December

rd 3

For your chance to win all of these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: Where does Father Christmas live: A) B) C)

South Pole North Pole Seychelles

Email your answers to: Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Basketball Hoop, Chad Valley Princess Ball Pit, Chad Valley Mix Colour PlayBalls, Chad Valley A Sweetshop Jar, Hope and Greenwood

info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 3�� December.

December

th 4

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What is the name of Santa’s wife ?

A) B) C)

Goldilocks Mrs Claus Julie

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 4�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Stokke Bag Special Edition Shoulder Bag Theraline Plushy Moon Clare Byam-Cook - What to Expect when You’re breast-feeding Lansinoh, 60 Ultra thin Nursing Pads Babycup Little Cups

6.

7.

8.

9.

Metanium Barrier Cream 2 x Mumlins Magic Mitten Aquaint Cleansing Water

December 5th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What do Santa’s reindeer eat?

A) B) C)

Burger & Chips Carrots Chicken Chow Mein

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 5�� December.

Prizes included today: 1. Power Rangers Deluxe Gosei Morpher, Bandai Toys 2. Power Rangers figurines x 2, Bandai Toys 3. Harumika Style Studio, Bandai Toys

December

th 6

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What goes on top of a Christmas Tree?

A) B) C)

A Cabbage A Christmas Fairy A Pair of Mittens

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 6�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Baby Knits from around the World, Kari Cornell Knitting Kit, ButtonBag Fairies Fridge Magnets, Supercast Knitted Blue Baby Shoes Kit, Crafty Nana 2 x Easy Fun Cardboard and Colouring Models Two Fluffy Fabric Bunnies, ButtonBag

December 7th For your chance to win either a baby girl gift set or a baby boy gift set, just answer this simple question: Which of these plants is traditionally connected with Christmas?

A) B) C)

Daisy Tulips Poinsettia

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 7�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Tommee Tippee Limited Edition Bottle Set Milton Portable Soother Steriliser Teething Bugs Halo & Horns Moisturiser Metanium Barrier Ointment Finger Puppers Soft Rattle

Please state upon entering whether you would like the “girl” or “boy” themed prize.

December

th 8

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: .What date is Christmas Eve? A) B) C)

31�� July 24�� December 1�� January

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 8�� December.

Prizes included today: 1. Power Rangers Deluxe Gosei Morpher, Bandai Toys 3. Harumika Living Room, Bandai Toys

th 9

December For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a ……………………

A) B) C)

Elephant Mouse Cat

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 9�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

Baby Bouncer, Chad Valley

December

th 10

For your chance to win one of two fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: Santa has a naughty and nice list, how many times does he check it?

A) B) C)

One Hundred Times Twice Once

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 10�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

Plushe Wheely Bug Ladybird Ride & Roll

December

th 11

For your chance to win these fantastic games, just answer this simple question: Who makes the toys that Santa delivers?

A) B) C)

Toys R Us Elves Harrods

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 11�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

PLYT Board, Game Hotel Tycoon Board Game

December 12th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What is traditionally put into a Christmas Pudding?

A) B) C)

A Watch A Pair of Dice A Coin

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Cbeebies, Family Ticket to Wembley Lego Duplo, Places (2-5 years) Mini Meccano Set BigJigs Rail Wooden Train, 3+ Twig, Puzzle Blocks Set of plushey Blue Nose Friends Wooden Abacus, Kiddicare Wooden Building Blocks, Buzzing Brains Sports YoYo, 5+

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 12�� December.

December

th 13

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: According to the song, how many days of Christmas are there?

A) B) C)

Twenty Twelve Two

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 13�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Funky Giraffes, Set of 7 Christmas Bibs Funky Giraffe Hat Babasling, Neutral Colour BabyKokos Tutu (image shown may not represent the tutu available)

December 14th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What do most people eat for Christmas lunch in the UK? A) B) C)

Pizza Fish & Chips Roast Turkey

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 14�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

Gnappies mini bundle with gpants (large) Thermomenter Set Inch Blue Monkey Gift Set (0 - 6 months)

December 15th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What colour is Santa’s belt?

A) B) C)

Purple Black Yellow

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 15�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

Bumper Book Collection (Orion Books & Assorted) Spineless Classics - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Action CD for Children

December 16th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: Where does the tree in London’s Trafalgar Square come from?

A) B) C)

China Norway America

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

Ben 10 Transformer Badge It Game Ben 10 Figurines x 2

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 16�� December.

December

th 17

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: When are Christmas tree’s traditionally taken down?

A) B) C)

14�� February 25�� December 6�� January

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 17�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

Playmat, Chad Valley Bambino Bundle Sanamama Carrier

th 18

December

For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: Do male or female reindeer grow antlers?

A) B) C)

Male Female Both

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 18�� December.

3 x Vertbaudet Storage Boxes Barefoot SOS Set Noroclear Hygiene Set Digital Thermometer Kit Stocking Fillers

December 19th For your chance to win these fantastic prizes, just answer this simple question: What are you supposed to do under Mistletoe at Christmas?

A) B) C)

Tickle someone under it Kick someone under it Kiss someone under it

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

Perilla Luxury Gift Set for mummy and child Qube Knitted scarf and socks

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 19�� December.

December For your chance to win this incredible prize, just answer this simple question: The name mistletoe comes from the Anglo Saxons, but what does it mean?

A) B) C)

Christmas on a twig Kiss on a twig Dung on a twig

Prizes included today: 1.

SmarTrike

(please choose from green, purple, red, blue or pink).

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 20�� December.

th 20

December 21st For your chance to win this incredible prize, just answer this simple question: How many wise men were there?

A) B) C)

Seven Ten Three

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 21�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

Tractor Ted DVD, Book, Duvet Set and Water Bottle Selection of Lottie Dolls

December

nd 22

For your chance to win this incredible mama-to-be prize, just answer this simple question: Which of the following ‘Misters’ is not due to appear at CBeebies Live! The Big Band?

A: Mr Tumble B: Mr T C: Mister Maker

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Salter Scales Tommee Tippee Steriliser Cheeky Wipes Washable Baby Wipes Kit Peepo Pregnancy Calendar & Keepsake Set Aden & Anais Swaddling Wrap Elastalabo Kit NoroClear Metanium Barrier Ointment Mumlin Set Selection of Books

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 22ⁿ� December.

December 23rd For your chance to win this incredible prize, just answer this simple question: What date is Boxing Day? A) B) C)

24�� December 25�� December 26�� December

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 23�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

3.

Shnuggle Moses Basket Jumbo Playmat, Kiddicare Aden & Anais Swaddling Wraps

December 24th For your chance to win this incredible prize, just answer this simple question: What fruit is used to make a traditional Christingle?

A) B) C)

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 24�� December.

Prizes included today: 1.

2.

Beaba Bumper Collection of mixer and rice cooker attachment, storage pots Organix Food Christmas Collection

Pear Melon Orange

th 25

December

For your chance to win this incredible bumper prize, just answer this simple question: What colour was Rudolf the Reindeers’ nose?

A) B) C)

Green Pink Red

Prizes included today:

Email your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com Deadline for entry is 10.00 pm on 25�� December.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Joovy Ergo Caboose (Wine / Burgundy Colour) Pacapod Changing Bag TallTape Height Chart Reindeer Soft Toy, Babes with Babies Reindeer Towelling, Cuddledry BornFree Baby Bottles Set

The following pages are dedicated to the amazing companies that contributed to this months ‘Advent Calendar’ Issue.

Tesco have a wide range of Christmas accessories to get your home ready for the festive season. One of the many items in the Christmas Range is this beautiful Nativity Advent just waiting for you to fill with goodies for your children, whether it be a chocolate or a small toy.

So whether its indoor or outdoor, tree or table decorations, Tesco have something to suit all your requirements at great value.

To view the fantastic products available, please visit:

www.tesco.com/direct

A colourful way to carry baby! www.thebabasling.com BabaSlings Ltd is delighted to announce that theBabaSling®Classic will be available in some exciting new colours for 2013. Keen to give parents an even greater choice when it comes to picking their ideal sling, the brand have developed the Classic collection in line with trends for the New Year.

Babywearing is not only convenient for busy parents on the go; it’s a great way to bond with baby. theBabaSling® allows Mum and Dad to ‘wear’ their little one in five different positions from birth to two years. It’s easy for Mum to breastfeed discreetly whilst out and about, and gives Dad a great opportunity to keep baby close.

Having heard that the colour experts, Pantone, have recently announced that Emerald is the colour of the 2013, BabaSling Ltd are especially excited to be launching the BabaSling® Classic in a new green tone ‘Teal Green’. In addition to this, they’ve also selected a beautiful Aqua Blue to complement their extensive range of colourful carriers.

These bright and fun shades will look great on both Mum and Dad and will certainly ensure they are bang on trend!

Another popular trend at present is the emergence of neutral tones, which are sure to be big this year, so BabaSlings Ltd is very pleased that Misty Rose is the other colour joining the Classic collection. The subtle pink is ideal for anyone looking for a simple and elegant sling. What’s more exciting, the brand have also decided to further develop their Organic sling and are very pleased to announce two new shades; Pebble and Berry, the perfect solution for those parents looking for an eco-friendly sling with a touch of colour. theBabaSling® Organic is made from 100% organic cotton and offers the same benefits as the rest of their range.

theBabaSling® Classic is ideal for everyday use and it can be easily adjusted depending on the adult using it. Babywearing is a great way to keep little ones engaged with the natural rhythms of everyday life and if they fall asleep it’s easy to unclip the buckle and gently lay them down without waking them up. BabaSlings Ltd understand daily life with a little one can be messy, so all their slings can be washed at 40 degrees, making it easy to keep those beautiful colours clean and sparkly!

Daniel Lucas, Managing Director of BabaSlings Ltd commented ‘We were keen to introduce some new colours for 2013, and as we’d had such interest in our Organic sling we felt it was important to offer a little more variety. The Pebble and Berry fit very well with the natural feel of the Organic.”

Brighten up your babywearing wardrobe with theBabaSling®!

RRP: Classic £39.99/ Organic: £44.99

www.plyt.co.uk Price: £24.67 A fantastic new board game that actually helps maths, I can’t believe I said that. For us Maths has always been a complicated subject but it’s unbelievable how this game has made it that much more enjoyable and dare I say it, FUN! PLYT is a fast paced numeracy game for all ages from 4 upwards. It’s easy to play, loads of fun and allows players of different ages and abilities to compete against each other at the same time, making it a great game for family and friends. Even better it helps improve numeracy skills for all players – the more you play the better you get! So what do you have to do? PLYT is about challenging yourself to correctly multiply a number of dice together within the time, thinking strategically and being the first to reach the end of the trail. One of the great aspects of the game is the way a player just learning their 2 times table can be just as competitive as a player capable of multiplying 6 dice together. The key to winning is performing at your standard and challenging yourself to go for more. Answer correctly within the time and move round the board by the Master score – but beware – landing on a PLYT square can change the game! Absolutely brilliant and a must for anyone with children!!

WWW.BANDAI.CO.UK

Bandai was founded in 1950 by the late Naoharu Yamashina under the name of Bandai-ya. Bandai be a company which, in his words, makes toys that please people of all generations, irrespective of the times, a firm that will develop and grow for ever and ever. Bandai UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the third largest toy company in the world, Bandai Co. Ltd. Established in the UK in 1982, Bandai UK has grown to be the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties in children's toys and entertainment, including Power Rangers, Pokémon, Ben 10, Digimon, Gundam, Thunderbirds and original products including Badge It! and the worldwide phenomenon Tamagotchi.

Creating Diverse Businesses and Services by Capitalising on Characters’ Appeal The Bandai Group makes the most of its extensive line up of characters, and offers appealing products and services in a wide range of fields including video game software, apparel, confectionary, visual content, amusement machines and prizes, mobile phone network content, and course, toys – a field in which we have a long history. We not only turn characters into products, but also launch these products in a timely fashion, in close association with TV and other media. It is our challenge to create new businesses by forecasting the needs of the times, and at the same time. Promote the appeal of characters in a multifaceted manner, so as to further reinforce our management foundation.

There is an extensive range of toys available for boys and girls and cover every price bracket! Visit the website for more details.

www.barefoot-sos.com The Barefoot Story

The 'Save Our Skin' Brand Promise

Our brand name was inspired by the ancient Chinese tradition of doctors who travelled from village to village without shoes, dispensing natural remedies. Developed by natural healthcare experts, our range of Barefoot SOS products is specifically formulated to bring together the science of skincare with the natural power of botanical extracts.

At Barefoot, we pride ourselves on being the experts in combining the highest quality blend of naturally pure ingredients and active botanical extracts to bring the most effective results to challenged or uncomfortable skin.

The secret to our success lies in our unique advanced formulations. Our carefully crafted blends combine the best of cutting-edge science with a thousand years of herbal wisdom. Using only the finest natural ingredients, which have been hand-picked by experts to deliver high performance with powerful therapeutic benefits.

·

Our products are free from harsh synthetic chemicals, including paraffin, parabens, SLS, as well as artificial colours, fragrances and animal ingredients.

·

We formulate our products to be as gentle as possible, ensuring they are suitable for all ages.

Editors Note: Baby Buzz readers have reviewed a large range of the Barefoot SOS products and the responses have been amazing! A fantastic product highly recommended by us!

Our Bandana Bibs Our Bandana bibs come in a range of unique designs with practicality and affordability in mind. You will not find these designs anywhere else as these truly are the genuine article.

With ethically sourced materials and being a company that focuses on the needs and desires of mothers and their babies and toddlers, we are proud to sell our bandanna bibs worldwide. We have listened to feedback from many mums and brought together bibs that not only look brilliant and match any outfit, but make sure your baby is kept warm, dry and as cosy as possible. Any mother knows that the conventional baby bib is hit and miss with babies. By their nature babies grab bibs and often cover their mouths with the fabric as mum tries to feed them. These bibs fit snugly ensuring baby feels at ease yet being secure enough so that they cannot be pulled off mid feed.

Baby Gifts Funky Giraffe Baby accessories are both practical and stylish and make great baby gifts for friends and family. With Funky Giraffe you know that your gift will be used. You can also have your order gift wrapped with your personal message making it an easy gift idea.

CBeebies Live! The Big Band is the brand new live arena show from the producers of Justin & Friends. This musicthemed extravaganza is bound to have pre-schoolers rocking in the aisles when the show sets out on tour over Easter 2014, visiting London’s Wembley Arena on 5�� and 5�� April.

Tickets are on sale now and full details can be found at www.CBeebieslive.com or by searching for ‘CBeebies Live’ on Facebook.

share the stage with my CBeebies friends and see the audience join in the fun!”

Warming up their vocal chords and practising their scales for this spectacular show are some of CBeebies’ best-loved characters including Justin Fletcher MBE and his alter ego Mr Tumble, Mister Maker and – making his CBeebies Live! debut – gardener extraordinaire, Mr Bloom. Also, taking leave from their tropical island to bring their unique musical sound to CBeebies Live! are ZingZillas. Additional cast members will be announced later in the year.

Ben Faulks who plays Mr Bloom added: “It’s really exciting to be joining the cast of CBeebies Live! This will be my first experience of an arena tour and I’m particularly looking forward to playing Manchester. The Arena is a HUGE space and I’m sure it’s going to be very memorable.”

Bandana Bibs Our bandana bib products are growing; recently we launched a questionnaire asking you what designs you’d like to see on our bibs. The results have been amazing, and as we’ve worked to produce incredible designs on your feedback, we’re overwhelmed by the results. Our bandana bibs not only look great, made from soft cotton with a fleece backing, these will always keep baby dry. We have a bandanna bib to suit and day or night time outfit, and as demand for our range grows we are also producing baby Our funky bibs are so stylish that the designs can suit any grows, extra large bibs, and romper suits! outfit, making them not only useful but a great fashion accessory too. Baby can wear the dribble bib for hours, which are ideal when teething, ensuring a dry chest at all www.funkygiraffebibs.co.uk/ times, and ultimately a happier baby.

Phil Gallagher, better known as Mister Maker, returns to CBeebies Live! for his second tour: “I first performed with CBeebies Live! in 2012 and I’m delighted to be returning for the 2014 tour, “ he commented. “I think the ‘big band’ theme is going to be great fun.”

Baby Buzz Magazine has teamed up with BBC Worldwide to offer readers the chance to win a family ticket for four people to the 1.30pm performance of CBeebies Live on Saturday 5�� Justin Fletcher said: “I am so pleased… this is going to be a April. The ticket is valid for any combination of adults and fantastic show with great production values. It’ll be great to children provided there is at least one adult in the group.

GNappies is committed to creating a world where conventional nappies no longer exist. In 2005 gNappies introduced the disposable nappy inserts that can be composted. The inserts tuck inside gorgeous looking, thoughtfully-designed diapers covers that have helped make gNappies one of the most respected baby brands on the market

One day over breakfast, Jason and Kim Graham-Nye came across an interesting fact. They found that conventional disposable diapers are the third largest contributors to landfills in the world. And yet! Only five percent of the population uses them. Crazy. It was a fact of stunning proportion met by another amazing fact: a single disposable diaper can take up to 500 years to biodegrade in the landfill.

That got the Graham-Nyes thinking, since they were about to have a baby themselves. At 60 diapers a week until toilet training kicks in plus the likelihood of having more than one child, well, it was beyond comprehension. And so they gasped. Did they want to jump on the landfill train?

Absolutely not! What would the neighbours say? How would they face the world on Earth Day? And what about their garbage can? A heavy thought, indeed. So Jason and Kim did what any two self respecting, socially responsible people do in a situation like that, they began researching an alternative.

Obviously, disposables were out. Cloth used too much water for the water conscious couple living in drought-stricken Australia. And then they found it. A company in Tasmania made flushable diapers. An earth friendly option in their own backyard! They were delighted. Just a small shipping charge away and an order was on its way. The idea went over big with family and friends.

And so, Jason and Kim brought this revolutionary new concept to the U.S. (along with their baby and dog). Drop them a line sometime to say hi, or if you're inclined, to say thanks for keeping diapers out of landfills. And please, pass the word. Kim and Jason are the proud parents of two boys, Fynn and Harper. gDiapered from day one. *gNappies is known as gDiapers outside of the UK.

This autumn gNappies introduces tops and gPants to mix and match, coordinates that are functional and fun and inspire parents to make each nappy change matter. The gLotus dress is brightened by a patchwork lotus blossom and a message that reminds us to live simply. The gVeggie tee proudly proclaims a love for veggies. Both tops have coordinating gPants. The collection also includes two new solid colours.

Grecian Fig and Greyhound Grey. Limited edition legwarmers for babies are also available.

The gNappies autumn collection is available on gNappies.com, Ocado.com and selected retailers across Europe and North America. They range in price from £14.95 for solid gPants to £24.95 for the gLotus dress.

The Orion Publishing Group www.orionbooks.co.uk The Orion Publishing Group have a fantastic range of books HORRID HENRY'S SPORTS DAY, HORRID HENRY MEETS THE for every member of the family this year. We’ve been given QUEEN and MOODY MARGARET'S SCHOOL. a selection of children’s book to feature as part of our bonanza Francesca Simon spent her childhood in California, and then giveaway which the include the following: went to Yale and Oxford Universities to study medieval history First and Second Term: School for Stars and literature. She now lives in London with her family. She The first and second books in a glittering new series about has written over 50 books. Tony Ross is one of Britain's best dance, drama and friendship by sisters, Holly and Kelly known illustrators, with many picture books to his name. He Willoughby, set in a boarding school: the School for Stars. has also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, for authors such as David Walliams, Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton and HOLLY WILLOUGHBY lives in London with her husband and Astrid Lindgren. He lives in Wales. children. She is best known for presenting ITV1’s flagship daytime programme THIS MORNING as well as prime-time Do you speak English Moon? shows SURPRISE, SURPRISE, and THE VOICE for ITV and BBC Gorgeous jewel-coloured art perfectly complements a timeless respectively. This is the first project Holly and her sister, Kelly, bedtime picture book from Francesca Simon and illustrated have collaborated on together. KELLY WILLOUGHBY has by Ben Cort; two of the most successful authors and always dreamed of being an author and is now following her illustrators in children's books today – you can’t be lonely dream of becoming a writer and loving working with her falling asleep when you share your day's adventures with the sister. She lives in Middlesex with her husband and daughter. moon.

Horrid Henry – Royal Riot Ben Cort is the worldwide bestselling illustrator of ALIENS A gorgeous gift hardback bind-up of four classic HORRID LOVE UNDERPANTS and DINOSUARS LOVE UNDERPANTS and HENRY early reader stories by Francesca Simon, and illustrated has illustrated over 50 other children's books.

by Tony Ross. Includes: HORRID HENRY'S THANK YOU LETTER,

Noroclear is the only cleaner and disinfectant proven to Noroclear was developed for professional medical settings combat norovirus and kill such a wide range of superbugs in and is the only product for sale in the UK which is proven by European test standards to kill so many germs in just one just one minute. minute. Noroclear kills superbugs including MRSA, C. difficile, Noroclear products include hand rub, hand wipes, surface E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and even bird flu (H1N1) in just one wipes and disinfecting spray. All are non-alcohol based and minute.

100% bleach-free so is kind to your skin and to the environment. Noroclear hand wipes and foam contain natural It also kills the human flu, swine flu and human corona viruses, Aloe Vera for gentle skin conditioning, ideal for frequent use TB causing bacteria and Norovirus in just one minute. and for children. Plus our hygiene pack includes Noroclear in the three handy sizes that will be most useful, wipes to clean Noroclear hand wipes, surface wipes and hand rub – delivering and disinfect the surfaces you will touch, skin wipes to clean peace of mind for you and your family, available as a pack or off dirt, stickiness and germs and a small foam rub to keep as individual items. safe and refreshed on the move.

www.combatnorovirus.com

Available from byCarteBlanche.com, Clintons, Tesco, Amazon, Hamleys, WH Smiths and Independent Retailers nationwide. RRP ÂŁ5 each.

Fans of My Blue Nose Friends will be thrilled to hear that four new characters will launch in time for Christmas; Ziza the African Elephant, Flash the Pink Dragon, Avery the Fluffy Chick and Tinsel the Arctic Fox. The super cute collectable toys each have their own unique personalities and will be available from November 2013.

www.kiddicare.com

Baby specialist Kiddicare was established in 1974 and became part of the Morrisons family in February 2011. Kiddicare have opened 10 new superstores over the past year and has won multiple awards for excellence in online, delivery, product range and customer services from influentials including Mother & Baby, Which? and Retail Systems.

By the end of 2013 over 1,000 staff will be employed by Kiddicare and over 1m customers visit Kiddicare.com each month. Whether you need a car seat or a cot bed, a buggy or a baby monitor you'll find the best brands with the best choice at the best prices: from Avent to Zoggs. Find Kiddicare on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.

“Even before most people could read, books have been a bastion of human culture. Whether you love it because it changed your world view, or just made you happy for an idle hour, a favourite book can be a significant part of who you are. At Spineless Publishing we believe that having a great work form part of the backdrop of your life figuratively shouldn't stop you having it there literally.”

The fantastic people behind Spineless Classics have given us this beautifully told story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of our advent calendar prizes.

So what is a spineless classic? Quite simply they are stories well told and well known over the years that have been presented on one page. The quality and the detail are exquisite and will create the most amazing focal point for any child’s bedroom. This is one of those gifts that will suit anybody and everybody and they come in a array of different stories.

For further information, please visit www.spinelessclassics.com to see the vast selection of stories available.

www.pabobo.com/en

Pabobo’s Play range of toy lights provide the perfect luminous companions for your little one, whether day or night.

The Lumilove Savanoo range of colourful little animals mean children can have fun everywhere. Their moveable arms and legs make them ready for any adventure with a generous charge of 8 hours operation for lots of well lit hugs. The Savanoo lights change colours like rainbows, needing just one tap from a small hand to freeze the colour, then tap again for the rainbow lights to continue. Ergonomically engineered shapes feel great to little ones and the Lumilove range is safe too – with no cords, and never heating up, even under sheets. Choose between the Lumilove Savanoo Lion, Hippo, Monkey or Giraffe RRP £25.00 Pabobo is the inventor of the first portable, rechargeable nightlight. Pabobo pioneered the use of LED, creating light to enhance both parent and child well-being. Designers of Lumilove, the first luminous companions for children, the Pabobo team develops all its products in strict compliance with CE standards. All Pabobo creations are designed to be handled by children, innovation and design are central to this approach.

www.organix.com

Created in 1992, Organix exists to give children the best start in life, by giving parents better, more nutritious choices for their little ones. Organix foods are created by real people in our kitchen, using nothing but the best natural organic ingredients, so you can rest assured there’s nothing in our foods to stop them being food as it should be, just as you’d make at home. That means nothing artificial, just ingredients full of goodness – perfect for giving your baby great food foundations for life.

Ringtons Tea www.ringtons.co.uk Renowned British tea merchants Ringtons have partnered up biscuits, preserves and home ware. The gifts are suitable for with Baby Buzz Magazine to offer one lucky reader the chance all ages, budgets and occasions. Worldwide delivery is also to win an exclusive luxury gift box worth over £60! available via the Ringtons website or Customer Care team who are on Freephone 0800 052 2440.

The stylish gift box prize will be packed full of Ringtons finest Signature loose teas, speciality coffee, herbal infusions, The Luxury Great British Tea Fuser Gift Box shown contains bagged tea, and items including a gorgeous 1907 tea caddy three 125g packs of expertly selected loose tea and a Ringtons and Ringtons tea fuser. tea fuser a brilliant and easy-to-use infusing device that takes the fuss out of preparing loose tea. While the delightful Large With over 100 years of expertise in tea buying, blending and 1907 Gift Box contains a pack of 80 Kenyan Gold tea bags, packing, Ringtons knows a thing or two about tea and has a All-Butter Shortbread Rounds, 1907 heritage tea caddy and brew to suit every taste. Ringtons select only the finest and fine bone china 1907 beaker which features real 22 carat gold. freshest leaves to make sure customers enjoy the perfect Established in 1907, Ringtons is a family business that started life when Samuel Smith began selling tea from a horse and cuppa. cart to the households of Newcastle upon Tyne. Today 106 As well as a traditional doorstep delivery service – whereby years after Sam Smith began his business; Ringtons remains Ringtons delivers “tea and more” to over 260,000 customers a family-run business and continues to deliver the unique throughout the UK through a regular doorstep delivery service door-to-door personalised delivery service it is renowned for.

– Ringtons also offers the perfect gift for tea and coffee lovers, Follow Ringtons on twitter (@Ringtons) or search for Ringtons through its beautiful and stylish gift boxes. on Facebook.

The range of gift boxes can be viewed online at www.ringtons.co.uk and sets include tea, coffee, tea fusers,

www.pacapod.com

We were extremely privileged to feature Jacqueline and her fantastic creation, PacaPod in our November Issue and were thrilled to be offered the stunning Mirano weekend bag to give away as part of our Advent Calendar Issue. So what is PacaPod?

But it wasn’t just becoming a mum that gave her the spark to design her own baby changing bag. Having spent fifteen years designing outdoor clothing, which had to be comfortable and practical even in extreme weather conditions, Jacqueline took time cycling around the world with all her possessions stored Jacqueline Waggett, Creator of PacaPod…Clothing designer in two bicycle panniers. As you can imagine, her eye for design and mum of two small girls, drew on her own experiences to – combined with the tips she learned for travelling light and design the unique 3-in-1 baby organising system bag. being organised – came in handy when she came to realise that there was a gap in the market for great-looking and "As a mum when I need something I want to reach it quickly, practical baby bags. easily and with a degree of confidence. That may sound pretty obvious but how many times have you rooted around a bag Jacqueline had been disappointed with many of the baby bags looking for the elusive wipes or a nappy bag only to be on offer to new parents: often, a lack of different confronted with a half eaten sandwich, Flopsy bunny and compartments meant that things were difficult to find and handful of raisins? Life’s busy enough with the kids and when many of the design options were not ideal if Dad wants to take everything’s in place it means that we as a family are free to the baby out. With a little imagination and business sense – go and do the things we want. It can be something as simple and a few focus groups with other new mums – Jacqueline as a trip to the park, playground or more adventurous travels launched PacaPod at Harrogate Nursery Trade Show in 2008. to far-flung places but knowing that I’m organised is one less Since then it has been enthusiastically snapped up by busy thing to worry about. parents, celebrities such as Peaches Geldoff, Jo Whiley and Being free to do the things I love with the one’s I love is Ben Fogle and major nursery retailers including John Lewis & something I wouldn’t change for the world, time is precious – Mothercare & JoJo Maman Bebe across the UK. we don’t get it back”

We’ve all heard of Salter whether it be as the “Scales” to trust when baking or seeing them at the hospital or health clinics when having our little ones weighed.

Did you know that Salter is the world’s most successful and trusted brand of domestic weighing scales bringing over 250 years of expertise and innovation to kitchens across the globe. The UK based manufacturer has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the English village of Bilston by spring-maker Richard Salter and has since remained dedicated to developing and expanding its range of quality kitchenware with the latest technologies and state of the art designs.

Salter has always prided itself on positioning the user at the heart of each product bringing customers beautiful looking homeware that is not only accurate but also the perfect complement to any home.

We have been given an amazing opportunity to give away a set of scales to one lucky reader, these are no ordinary scales and will no doubt keep parents rest assured of their little ones weight gain. A fantastic prize to be included within the Advent Calendar special issue.

www.salterhousewares.com

www.shnuggle.com

I have a great affection for Shnuggle, as they were the very first company that I approached when I launched the magazine and from that point, last October, I have watched and waited for each new product being released. The first of the range that I saw at the Baby Show was their Moses Basket Set, which is just beautiful, and it epitomises the essence of quality and beauty, exactly what any parent wants for their new baby. We have been given a gorgeous white set (recently launched in John Lewis) to give away in this Advent Calendar Issue and I can’t wait to share any future products with my readers being brought to the market next year.

A little bit about Shnuggle…

Shnuggle is a growing family business created in 2009 by Sinead & Adam in beautiful Co. Down, Northern Ireland. Founding the business after having two lovely children of their own they were inspired to create clever products to make life easier for modern parents. The company philosophy is to re-design every day baby products to make them safer for baby, more functional and of course more practical for busy, modern parents. The multi-award winning Shnuggle Basket brings a fresh new approach to traditional Moses basket while the amazing Shnuggle Bath is the world’s first soft and cosy baby bath (being launched soon). With a continually expanding range of innovative products that are designed in the UK, Shnuggle remains focused on safety, quality and functionality above all else. Shnuggle are looking for partners to help bring these exciting products to babies all around the world and would love to hear from anyone interested in working with them.

A little bit about the Moses Basket The award-winning Shnuggle Modern Moses Basket captures everything you like about traditional Moses baskets along with some improvements you’ll absolutely love. Made frome a super-strong, hypoallergenic and easy to clean material it’s far safer for your baby. It’s almost silent when baby moves around and a clever locking system means the hood actually stays up, helping your baby to stay asleep. With beautiful 100% pure cotton fabrics, it’s a warm and cosy place for baby to begin life in the outside world.

and new safety regulations around the world. Smart-Trike™ is constantly using the highest quality materials, which are tested and certified by the leading global certification labs worldwide (Intertek, BV, SGS, LGA etc.). Smart-Trike™ products pass the strictest tricycle and toy QA standards (US, EU, Australia, Canada etc.). Smart-Trike™ will continue to Founded over a decade ago, Smart-Trike™, which has grown make safety our top priority when designing and steadily over the years, is an international company providing manufacturing ride-on-vehicles. ride-on-vehicles to families across the world. The main focus of Smart-Trike™ is on high-technology and innovation to Parents are satisfied when their babies use Smart-Trike™ develop state-of-the-art ride-on solutions for each cycling products because they are convertible, multifunctional and stage that babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers experience to grow with the child from 6&10 months up to 36 months and ultimately aid development and provide enjoyment. Smart- beyond offering the ultimate longevity for the family to enjoy Trike™ manufactures traditional, well made and durable for years and years. ride-on vehicles which are cleverly designed to support from I can safely say that this is a well used and much-loved 10 months all the way up until pre-schooler stage. essential for our little girl and one I can’t praise highly enough.

Safety has always been a focus at Smart-Trike™. The uncompromising quality standards ensure that the products Enter for your chance to win one of the Dream Smart-Trikes™ are both durable and safe. Prior to manufacture, each (available in green, purple, red, blue or pink). product is thoroughly tested to comply with the strictest international standards for babies’ and toddlers’ products.

The quality assurance team continually reviews the design and procedures to ensure that products exceed both existing It’s not easy to recommend a product when you don’t know much about it but in this case I actually had one bought for my little girl towards the end of last year, so know how much it is loved and how practical and easy it is for her to adjust to as she grows.

http://smart-trike.com/

London, UK 21/10/13 – Just in time for Christmas, Sony Pictures Animation’s THE SMURFS 2 arrives December 2nd on Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™, DVD and UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This heartwarming new adventure reunites the world’s favourite three apple-high creatures, bringing laughs for every member of the family.

Only included on the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray are three all-new, kid-friendly featurettes, including “The Puurrfect Companion: Azreal’s Tail,” showing how Gargamel’s sidekick was created, from the live-action cat to the digital double, and how actor Frank Welker brought the character to life. Both the Blu-ray versions and DVD come with deleted scenes and two additional featurettes.

“Animating Azrael” gives an in-depth look at how filmmakers animated Gargamel’s sidekick, and the all-new “Daddy’s Little Girl: The Journey of Smurfette” traces the origins of the one-and-only Smurfette back to Smurf creator, Peyo, and features Katy Perry on how she tapped into her inner Smurf to voice the classic character.

“The Smurfs 2 is out on Blu‐ray and DVD 2ⁿ� December and The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol is out on DVD now.” ©2013 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Hemisphere - Culver Picture Partners I, LLC All Rights Reserved. SMURF, and all Smurfs characters: © Peyo. All Rights Reserved. “Smurf” and “The Smurfs” are registered trademarks of STUDIO PEYO.

The countdown to Christmas just got Wheely Fun!

helps little ones use their Wheelybug as a companion to help steady them as they take their first faltering steps.

Enter our competition on page 21 (December 10��) to be in with a chance to win this years ultimate Christmas must To mark their 10th Birthday, the new Plush Wheelybug encapsulates all of these brilliant original features but with have - Hippychicks brand new Plush Wheelybug! one main difference - super soft, interchangeable, machine This Christmas surprise your little one with a Plush washable covers. Choose from super cute Panda or Wheelybug, the exciting new addition to the adorable Hedgehog designs (additional covers cost£15 each). With Wheelybug family and The hottest new toy for pre-school- more covers planned your child can have a full menagerie! ers. Available as a cute Panda or Hedgehog and featuring the unique multi-directional castors and adorable looks For more information on Hippychick’s popular and that have made the Wheelybugs so loved, Hippychicks innovative range of high quality toys go to new Plush Bugs are set to become the most coveted four www.hippychick.com, where you’ll find everything from wheel adventure for pre-schoolers. Loved by little ones funky Hoppers through to traditional wooden ride and for over a decade, Hippychicks best selling Wheelybugs push alongs with a contemporary twist and baby soft already come in six adorable animal designs - a ladybird, musical cot toys. cow, bee, tiger, mouse and pig. Their cult status is rooted in their clever design with their smooth padded bodies giving the comfiest ride possible and their unique multidirectional castors offering little riders easy manoeuvrability and satisfying speeds. A robust grip handle also

www.tractorted.co.uk

Tractor Ted, young children’s farming superhero, has launched lots of new products for Christmas this year which make fantastic Christmas presents and stocking fillers, especially for little boys.

Other new products include the Tractor Ted drinking bottle (20cm high; £4.99) and the light blue children’s single duvet and pillowcase set with button opening (100% cotton, featuring tractors and other machines, £36.00).

It’s no secret that young children are fascinated by tractors and 'tactor' is often a child's first word, and following the success of the book, the new All About Tractors DVD (£9.99) uses real life footage to show children the most up-to-date tractors at work on the farm with useful commentary along the way to show that tractors come in different shapes, sizes and colours, the different implements they can hitch up to, where they are built, the jobs they do on the farm and even what can go wrong. There will be a special Christmas edition of the DVD in which Tractor Ted meets the reindeer (please see image attached).

And of course there are all the usual Tractor Ted DVDs (£9.99) and books (£4.99) which cover big machines, looking after animals, the seasons and where our food comes from, as well as toys, clothes and products such as the ruck sack, breakfast set, lunch tin and wellies.

Tractor Ted’s Christmas Activity Book (£4.99, available from mid September) is a 32 page full colour book with lots of activities such as Christmas colouring, counting and cooking Christmas recipes like Reindeer Cupcakes and Christmas Crispies and playing Christmas-themed games such as guess the footprints in the snow.

All products are available at www.tractorted.co.uk or you can simply enter our fantastic competition to win one of each product.

http://babykokos.com

We were given the opportunity of attending a fashion launch of new girls wear company BabyKoKos. Founder Nuray has created some gorgeous, gorgeous tutus and dresses for girls fro 0-6 months right up to 8-10 years old. Each item is handmade to order and is created with the utmost care and attention.

We have a gorgeous tutu to give away and hope Baby Buzz Readers continue to support this fantastic new company.

Launched in August 2012, Lottie™ is a new, innovative fashion doll for girls aged 3- 9. Since her debut, Lottie has won 12 awards in the USA and UK, including 3 Oppenheim Portfolio Platinum Awards, generated international press coverage and been the beneficiary of positive parent and blogger reviews.

Arklu carried out 18months of research working with girls, parents, retailers, industry experts, child psychologists and child nutrition experts, leading to the generation of over 100 action points which have been incorporated into Lottie’s development. The three points that resonated the most strongly were: · Girls being concerned by body image from a young age · Girls being prematurely sexualised · Girls missing out on their childhood To address these issues Lottie has been based on the scientific proportions of a 9 year old child, with the exception of her head (which has been increased to accommodate hair play). She does not wear jewellery, makeup or high heels.

She can stand on her own two feet.

Her clothes are vibrant in colour and have significant attention to detail. Lottie’s clothes are very much activity based, in line with those of a 9 year old instead of an adult. She wears pretty dresses, as well as hardwearing clothes for muddy, outdoors play. Lottie allows girls to be girls and enjoy their childhood, in all its facets. Lottie’s motto is ‘Be bold, be brave, be you’.

http://www.lottie.com/

www.inch-blue.com A thank you again to the wonderful Inch-Blue who have supported our competitions and requests many times of the last year and have taken part again in our Advent Calendar Special by giving us the gorgeous Cheeky Monkey Gift Set (babygrow and shoes). A world of fun and adorable soft leather baby shoes. In a world of mass produced goods INCH BLUE is an oasis for lovers of originality, quality and fun design. Inch-Blue understand your baby’s feet aren’t just smaller versions of your own, they’re a completely different shape. They’re softer and plumper with hardly any hard bone in them at all. Inch Blue shoes have been designed to give total comfort for little growing feet. They are made exclusively from soft natural leather allowing " your baby’s feet to breathe.

And they’re not just for babies, Inch Blue make shoes for toddlers and children aged up to 6 years, which make them ideal for use in nurseries.

www.adenandanais.co.uk As a young woman growing up in Australia, our founder Raegan Moya-Jones was introduced to many traditional practices of motherhood. One of them in particular-- swaddling babies in generously sized, gentle muslin sheets-- amazed her. Even the fussiest babies seemed to sleep more peacefully in muslin. Despite the hot days and the cold nights, muslin swaddles helped keep babies comfortable. And, most importantly, the very act of swaddling seemed to build a bond between mothers and their babies. When she moved to the U.S. and started her own family, Raegan couldn’t find any swaddles like the ones she remembered from home. The only swaddles available were too small. Or made of much-too-thick flannel. Or, simply, unattractive. And so, aden + anais was born. And within months of hitting the market, aden + anais swaddles starting popping up in magazines, on blogs for new mothers, in virtually every celebrity gift registry, and in stores around the country.

Today, aden + anais, has brought the legacy of muslin together with fashion forward design to create a line of products that are as stylish as they are useful; and as simple as they are beautiful. We believe in muslin-- the way it looks, the way it feels, the way it works-- to improve the lives of babies and their mothers no matter who they are or where they live.

www.babeswithbabies.com We are extraordinarily lucky to be featuring the wonderful Babes with Babies in both the Gifts Section of this issue but also to be given one of the cutest littlest reindeer teddies as part of our Advent Calendar Special issue. I can’t wait to hand him over the lucky winner!

Becoming a mother is an incredible experience. It is amazing, awe-inspiring. But the undeniable truth is that it’s not terribly glamorous. And yet... maybe it can be, at least some of the time. We founded Babes with Babies London because we believe that pregnant women and new mothers deserve a touch of luxury; that this new phase of your life should be filled with enough moments of gorgeousness to get you through the stresses, strains and the sleepless nights. We’re not talking about unachievable extravagances. Our aim at Bb London is to hunt out those little luxury pieces that can go some way towards helping you feel fabulous when your body and life is changing dramatically. Everything we source for Bb London is carefully designed to flatter, pamper and be a pretty, practical treat. We strive to deliver excellent customer service, to make dealing with us as easy and quick as possible - check our customer comments and see how we're doing.

Our name? It’s a bit tongue in cheek - we know new mothers & heavily pregnant women might not be feeling particularly babe-like. But with something fabulous to wear we hope we can help you feel a tiny bit more like yourself.

http://cuddledry.com

The Cuddledry concept was founded by Helen Wooldridge and Polly Marsh, two long term friends, now working mums.

Their first product was the Cuddledry baby bath towel - now a multiple award-winner and a 'must-have' for all new mums and dads. Most baby towels are lightweight squares, which parents have to hold awkwardly under their chin or between teeth in order to have two hands free to lift baby. Helen and Polly came up with Cuddledry to make the bath exit a bonding time, not a stress!

the Cuddledry, but there are plenty more features to its unique design. The towel is super soft - made with bamboo and cotton, so it stays soft even after washing. The towel ensures the parent stays nice and dry, and the towel is attached to you which prevents the risk of having to move away from your baby for even a second. The single-handed easy release poppers allow you to simply remove the towel from yourself and lay baby down on their changing mat still snugly wrapped. In addition, the towel is double-layered, not only giving it a luxurious thick texture, but absorbing water The Cuddledry baby towel attaches to the parent like an faster and keeping it away from baby's skin. apron, so both hands are free. Lifting baby up out of the bath is easy and safe, and you cuddle and dry your baby in your We have one amazing Cuddledeer to give away as part of our arms naturally, strengthening the bond between you when bumper Christmas Day prize - enter for your chance to win… baby feels most vulnerable. You don't have to think about holding a towel at all. This is the major safety advantage of

Each month we review an amazing selection of new and innovative products and clothing and this month is no different. This month we have some amazing products all scented towards Christmas to give you that wonderful ambiance of Christmas throughout your home.

Would you like to join our Focus Group? Sign up now at info@babybuzzmagazine.com.

Hand Wash review: I keep a bottle of hand wash by every sink in the house as hygiene is a priority, as in most homes I suspect. Whereas I would normally choose something that’s citrus or lavender smelling my sister would choose the opposite and have something antibacterial and not overly perfumed as she isn’t too keen on artificial scents. So, on receiving three bottles of Carex hand wash with two being chocolate orange and strawberry laces, I wasn’t too optimistic on what she would think. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wrong and my sister really didn’t like the strong odour, to her they smelt sickly sweet and horribly artificial.

Unsurprisingly, the children in the house and I loved them and as the hand wash is aimed at kids and encouraging them to wash their hands, in that sense it works very well. The third bottle was the odour defence wash (which had a strong pine-y scent) which claimed to be effective on food odours such as onion, fish and it did sort of work as long as you washed your hands immediately after handling those foods and didn’t mind the strong scent. I have to say from my perspective that I preferred the Strawberry Laces scent and my sisters favourite was the Odour Defence. A nice play on scents though to keep children interested in health and hygiene around the home.

Hand Cream review: In contrast to the hand wash range, the hand creams (Hydrate & Protect and Nourish & Protect) are lightly scented, easily absorbed and most importantly, effective. I’ve been using the ‘Hydrate & Protect’ during the day and the ‘Nourish & Protect’ at night during the colder winter months when my skin really begins to suffer. I keep a tube in my bag and one by my bed and use them all the time. They are decent sized squeezy tubes that cost a reasonable £2.50 each. I will definitely be adding these to my winter health and hygiene kit.

Watch Review: We got a chance to review to the fantastic, colourful, unisex watches from Flik Flak’s new Funny Hours collection (Sweet School and Back To Wildness) aimed specifically at school children. The watches come attached to a ruler in packaging that can be used as a pencil case and are colourful, shockproof and waterproof and can even be popped in the washing machine if they get dirty.

A little too pricey in my opinion for the really young (the watches are suitable for 3+) at £23 each but perfect for children who are a little older. We were also given the Flik Flak “Dangerously Fast” watch to review and this is a bigger, sportier and in my opinion more masculine looking watch that would be great for teens. It’s more expensive at £31.15 but is hardwearing and comes with a 2 year guarantee. A hit with the reviewers at Baby Buzz and a fab idea for Christmas presents that should delight kids of all ages this year.

30 years ago two people decided to change their world. With the arrival of a new family, David & Luisa decided that the best out there wasn't good enough and an idea was born Mamas & Papas. Part of raising a family means instilling principles and values and David & Luisa treated Mamas & Papas just like their children. They know how important it is to give children the best start in life and they have held onto that thought throughout everything they do, and as Mamas & Papas has grown, so has their family.

Having two children of my own, with such a large age difference, means I have followed the trends, styles and new products that mamas and papas have brought to the market, and with a 99.9% accuracy I can honestly say I’ve loved everything that I’ve seen. It’s taken a lot of attempts to contact this brand to review some of the products that they have on offer and so I was delighted to get one of their gorgeous rompers to review. After viewing the rest of their collection, I’ve decided I’m in love! They have some of the most beautiful romper designs I’ve seen to-date and it would be impossible to pick just one, you’d have to pick them all! If that decision wasn’t hard enough you then look at the oldest girls (and boys) clothes and they are just as exquisite and epitomise style and gorgeousness that you want to play dress up each and every day. I can safely say that my daughters wardrobe will have a few more items added to it before Christmas!

We attended the Baby Show this year and were astounded by the array of products available this year by the new companies coming to the market. I have to say one of my favourites was the Peepo Pregnancy Countdown Calendar as it went back to the basics and presented a way to keep all of the family involved in the pregnancy. The concept, style and diagrams are stunning and the illustrations simply blow you away. If you register online now for your copy you can save a massive 50% of the RRP and get yours for just £9.99. This will be best £9.99 you spend!!

We converted to the Ecover brand a long time ago and were thrilled to be sent this new scent to encapsulate Christmas. They have combined scrumptious seasonal fragrance and stylish design, to add limited edition Festive Cookie washing up liquid to their range of plant and mineral based products. It is the perfect way to add some festive cheer to your kitchen and extra sparkle to your daily chores!

Smelling good enough to eat, this cinnamon, cranberry and gingerbread fragranced washing up liquid is made using plant and mineral based ingredients: no unnecessary nasties included. Like all other Ecover washing up liquids, it is 20 times less toxic than other brands, so you can enjoy sparkling clean crockery this season and feel good about looking after your world.

We highly recommend this one to all those who want to support the eco friendly product and like the festive smell! A definite must for us at Baby Buzz.

The Great Christmas Pudding Review Lidl Snowy Lodge Deluxe Luxury Christmas Pudding, £2.99; 750g v.

Heston from Waitrose hidden orange Christmas pudding, £14; 1.2kg Lidl’s Christmas pudding had a boozy kick, lots of fruit and was studded with lots of crunchy nuts. Tasty and a decent size without being too big (there was enough for six of us with some leftover for seconds). A traditional, rich but not heavy Christmas pudding that held its shape well and was even more delicious with a big dollop of brandy butter.

Waitrose/Heston’s Christmas pudding had a good balance of fruits and nuts and the orange added a zesty kick. It was very sweet and very moist although a little heavy.

It was very soft and hard to cut neatly but as you cut into the orange, there was lots of lovely thick orange syrup. It wasn’t very boozy but it did have a lovely depth of flavour. You don’t need more than a small slice to satisfy and it is a large pudding (serves at least 12), so perfect if you’re expecting lots of guests on Christmas day.

My personal preference is the more traditional Lidl pudding and at such a great price, it’s sure to be a family favourite this Christmas but if you’re looking for something a little different and you’ve got a big party to cater for, then the Waitrose/Heston Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding is sure to impress!

The Three Bird Roast Review Lidl Three Bird Roast, £9.99; 1.58kg v.

Tesco Three Bird Road, £12; 1.5kg What they say: Lidl’s ‘Three Bird Roast’ “A basted skin on British chicken breast wrapped around British turkey and British duck breast with layers of pork , apple and cranberry stuffing plus a sachet of cranberry and apricot glaze.”

What we say: Lidl’s Three Bird Roast was moist, well priced and not so large that we risked ending up with enough leftovers to last a lifetime. Other than popping it in the oven and basting it every now and again, there was very little prep work to be done, leaving me with plenty of time to get on with other cooking tasks. It was enjoyed by the whole family, including the fussiest eaters (aged 2 and 12).

What they say: Sainsbury’s ‘Three Bird Roast’ “Succulent skin-on chicken breast wrapped around turkey and duck breast, filled with a delicious pork, apple & cranberry stuffing, finished with a cranberry & port glaze”.

What we say: Sainsbury’s ‘Three Bird Roast’ was as easy to prepare as Lidl’s and was also a moist roast. Very similar stuffing and glaze and again enjoyed by the whole family.

My preference once again was Lidl for a couple of reasons. Firstly the price. I couldn’t see a reason why the Sainsbury’s roast was two pounds dearer, and with money being a little tighter at this time of year, every penny counts. Secondly, the Lidl roast is marginally bigger (which is always good) and finally because I preferred the glaze on the lidl roast (not a big fan of port). They’re small reasons and really the only way to tell the roasts apart. In my opinion, either would make a great addition to lunch on Christmas day.

Festive Fun Baking for the Family this Christmas What you need to make Mince Pies 250g plain flour 150g cold butter, cubed, plus extra for greasing 2 level tsp icing sugar, plus extra for decorating 1 medium egg yolk 250g mincemeat milk for glazing

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12 hole shallow muffin/fairy cake tin (you might need 2)

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.

2. Butter muffin tin.

3. Put the flour into a bowl, add the butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mix resembles breadcrumbs.

4. Stir in the icing sugar. Add the egg yolk and 2 eggshells full of very cold water.

Stir in with a knife then bring the dough together with your hands.

5. Knead lightly, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

6. Roll out the pastry fairly thinly and stamp out 12 x 7.5cm discs and 12 x 6cm stars.

7. Re-roll the pastry and stamp out more discs and stars until you’ve used up all the pastry.

8. Put the larger discs in the tins, fill with 1 heaped teaspoon mincemeat and then top with the stars.

9. Brush the top of each star lightly with milk.

10. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

11. Once out of the oven, let them cool before removing from the tin.

12. Sprinkle the cooled mince pies lightly with icing sugar to decorate.

Student Rooms And An Empty Nest According to recent figures more than one in five student undergraduate’s now live at home with parents during term time - a move made by many to reduce the overall debt that follows a degree.

At the start of the year Des Figueiredo, 51, converted the loft of his three-bedroom Victorian terrace house in London to create a self-contained flat. “We wanted the extension firstly to make extra space should we need it but secondly to generate more income”. Des and his wife have three children, two of which are The latest figures from the National Union of Students show the at University with the third also flying the nest this year. In May average rent for a room in purpose-built student accommodation they decided to take in a lodger by placing an advert on has gone up by 25% over the past three years to just under www.mondaytofriday.com. £123.96 a week. This works out as a huge cost of £5,244 a year.

“The website support was clear, reassuring and supportive and www.mondaytofriday.com recently launched a new Student made taking in a lodger manageable - it also helped me realise Accommodation section to the website. Students benefit from that lodgers had expectations too when it came to renting.” a comfortable home-from-home for the studying week before returning back home at weekends. Rooms to rent start from the Unlike other lodging services www.mondaytofriday.com is aimed very low cost of £250 - £350 a month. at the working week professional, so homeowners can rent out a spare bedroom from Monday to Friday and have it back ready The average cost of a student room (£300) through for weekend visitors. mondaytofriday.com for a 10 month term would add up to £3,000 a year - a saving of almost £2,244 over the course of a After just one week they received their first reply - a couple from year. This isn’t the only benefit for students: Manchester looking to save time and money from the daily commute. “Previously they were booking last minute hotel - Free from worries about bills and a TV license. rooms on Sunday night with which they soon became fed up.

- The freedom of being away from home without the We were actually the first place they looked at but the situation distractions that come with living in a student property. was perfect. They have a home from home on week days plus somewhere to leave a few belongings when they return home Judy Niner, founder of weekday specialist room rental website on Friday nights - but we still have the space so the kids can mondaytofriday.com, says, “A university education is a huge spread out if they visit at weekends.” up-front investment, and renting a room from mondaytofriday can reduce the money a student needs to find for their living Under the government 'Rent a Room Scheme' homeowners are costs. Another advantage is that students can more easily dip able to earn up to £4250 tax free cash each year by letting a out of some of the distractions of student life and put their furnished room in their home. “We have used the extra income energies into getting the best results they can”. in several ways - sometimes towards the capital on our interestonly mortgage but also to support the kids, repair the car or for In addition as many of these students leave home for University the occasional break”. they free up spare rooms around the country and these empty nesters can take advantage of the tax free income from the rent a room scheme. I have the case study below for example who has done just that: