Bondville Christmas Gift Guide 2015: For Baby (II)

I couldn't resist all the cute Australian-designed goodies for baby this year; here is the Christmas Gift Guide for Baby Part 2, featuring some of my favourite items from stores in the Bondville Online Shopping Directory.

Rocky Cots at Lilly and Lolly in Australia

For all you parents or parents-to-be looking for a beautiful cradle that can rock (no more rocking chair!), will convert to a cot and then a bed, check out the gorgeous lines of the Rocky cot, available for pre-order now at Lilly & Lolly.

New eeni meeni miini moh and e3-M Spring Summer 2015 is here

Twice a year I excitedly receive the new lookbooks early from Bondville sponsor eeni meeni miini moh and e3-M to share with you here. And this Spring Summer 2015 collection is a doozy!

Kip & Co. new One Fine Day collection for baby and kids

Kip & Co. are the Queens of mix-and-match.  They are styling geniuses! Add their beautiful bed linen, pillows and bean bags to these amazing Incy Interiors beds (below) and it's a feast for the senses.

Here are four very different rooms for kids and babies, mixing and matching pieces from the new One Fine Day collection with limited edition Incy Interiors beds. First up, an Indian-influenced girl's room (amazing combination of the Munster leopard sheets with the floral!):

Hip-as Anarkid organic baby wear at Small to TALL

It's the first day of Spring in Australia and the perfect day to introduce to you the new SS14 collection from organic baby wear brand Anarkid, available at the Small to TALL online store. Loving this dreamy photoshoot by Simply Bloom Photography complete with amazing teepee and paper feather headband (there's an idea to borrow!).

7 of the best Australian baby blanket wraps

You asked! Lovely Belinda from Nest Design Studio is on the hunt for some cool baby blankets that "aren't yellow, aren't chevron and aren't 'spensive". This is the first of my posts answering reader questions; I have a panel of experts at the ready to solve your kids' interiors, fashion, party, gift problems. Email me!

In the meantime, I've put together seven of the best Australian-designed newborn wrap/blankets. Most of these are made from bamboo, organic cotton, or a mixture of both by amazing local companies! Here you go Bel...

New Milk & Masuki baby wear AW13

Hip Australian baby wear label Milk & Masuki has aced it again with the AW13 collection that launched at Kids InStyle in Sydney today.

Choose from body suits, rompers, tshirts, bibs, and baby blankets in a unisex aqua, yellow and grey colour palette with super-cool arctic animal designs. These are the gifts you want to receive at a baby shower.

You can find Milk & Masuki AW13 soon in the online store and stockists across Australia. Read more about Milk & Masuki here on Bondville.

Images: Milk & Masuki

Bambeano baby beanbag up for grabs!

The Bambeano baby beanbag is a fun and super-practical snuggle pod for your baby to relax and stay safe around the house. Bambeano was launched this year by Australia's original baby beanbag brand and Bondville sponsor Chibebe, which is used in hospitals, medical centers, special baby practices and by thousands of happy mothers across Australia.

Bambeano adheres to the same strict safety requirements as the Chibebe but with even more fun designs and without the additional accessories, at a lower price point.

There's so much to love about the Bambeano!

Say goodbye to Flathead
'Flathead' occurs when an infant's head is pressed continuously against a flat, solid surface. Since the Bambeano is designed to form easily to the shape of your baby's body and head, the pods work towards easily sidestepping this common phenomenon.

Help improve Reflux
Most children experience reflux if they are not properly elevated after feeding. The Bambeano's elevation can be easily adjusted— just shift the beans toward the area of the beanbag where your child's head rests to raise his or her angle of elevation and help prevent reflux.

Highest level of safety testing
Whilst the Bambeano Baby Beanbag is tested from birth to all ages, it is specifically designed for newborn babies, and up to about 7-8 months, depending on the size your baby. After that, the Bambeano Baby Beanbag can be used by bigger children by switching out the infant harness seat top for a toddler top, which is perfect for children up to about 8 years of age, although, they are tested for use for all ages. (note - they do not replace a cot)

You could score this Spritz Bambeano with lime seat in the Bondville Charity Auction!

Each Bambeano includes a designer baby bean bag cover, harness baby top seat, inner monogrammed bean-filling sleeve, toddler top cover, soft packaging, 30-day satisfaction warranty. Note, beans are not included, but are found at department stores.

The Bambeano Seat is cleverly designed to mix and match with Chibebe accessory products.

I love to see babies relaxing in their cute Chibebe and Bambeano beanbags. It's a wonderful way to provide a safe environment for baby to feel comfortable and watch the world go by. Oh - and what an amazing baby shower gift!

You can find Bambeano baby beanbags in the online store and select stockists (please check for authenticity). Makers of the Bambeano and the Chibebe beanbags, Brands United Group, have also donated one of each baby beanbag to the Bondville Charity Auction, with bidding finishing on Monday morning 25th November 2013. All proceeds go to the Children's Cancer Institute Australia - head over to eBay to bid now!

Read more about Bambeano's big sister-brand, the Chibebe snuggle pod here.

Images: Bambeano

Minyaka Design organic babywear - mushroom design

My sweet neighbour asked me last week if I had any stylish gift ideas for a friend having a baby. Um, hello! I immediately thought of Bondville sponsors and Sydney locals Minyaka Design who have just released the cutest-ever collection of 100% organic cotton babywear. Featuring yellow, peach and light blue Woodland-chic mushrooms with grey marle trim, the collection is perfect for both baby boys and girls.

How cute is this little play outfit with matching bib and leggings or Cheeky-Bum patch pant.

The long-sleeved onesie and matching bear hat!...

And the softest of reversible wraps (including a hooded version) or bunny rug that will do double duty as a blanket as the little one gets older...

It's a gorgeous unisex collection that is perfect for a baby shower or gender reveal party. You can find the Minyaka Design organic babywear collection in the online store and at select stockists around Australia, Korea and Kuwait.

Images: Minyaka Design

Conception Stories video and guide launch on Essential Baby

Last year I was thrilled to be involved in the Elevit Guide To Conceiving, and this year I joined in the fun again, this time in both the printed guide, and a 7-part video series of 'Conception Stories' hosted on Essential Baby.

The guide was launched today at a lovely morning tea in Centennial Park sponsored by Elevit, where we indulged in manicures, mini massages, goodie bags and heard from IVF expert Dr Debra Kennedy, lovely Amber Robinson from Essential Baby and the video series host (and sweeter-than-sweet The Block All Stars winner) Amity Dry.

Look, it's me all made up on-screen! I hardly recognise myself!

I can tell you now, that I am no expert on the subject matter; but it was fun to be involved in a project that might help some couples out with the sometimes rollercoaster ride that is conception. If you are starting out on this journey for the first time, or getting back into the swing of things, you might like to read the guide or hear some of the conception stories in the video series over on Essential Baby (with more to come).

Thanks Essential Baby and Mediacom for including me in such a fun project.

A royal baby care package from Australia

Well the big day has arrived for Britain's Royals with the birth of Kate and William's son - the new HRH Prince of Cambridge. We're sending them a huge congratulations as well as a virtual Royal Baby Care Package kitted out with some of the very best Australian-designed products, fit for a Prince. Ubabub? Wheely Bug? Udder? Oishi-m? Love Mae? Only the best, of course!

1. Ubabub Nifty Clear Cot & Junior Bed from Urban Baby
2. Organic Cotton Cushion Cover - Plus One - Yellow and Grey from Down That Little Lane
3. Metal Welcome Sign from OllieRose
4. Designer Kids Swing Vinyl Wall Decals from Tots n Tales
5. Udder Flash Cape and Mask from Skip To My Lou
6. Oishi-m Blitz Skinny Jean from Where Did You Get That?
7. Yellow kangaroo leather Ruby & Sam shoes from Antipodean Love
8. Wheely Bug from Urban Baby
9. Love Mae Fabric Wall Decals - Up, Up & Away from Urban Baby
10. Brown Damask Owl from Lelbys

Curated by: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Master and Miss super-cool organic children's clothing

Every now and then an Australian children's label pops up that just stops me in my tracks. Do you remember the grey marle and bronze wolf hoodie  in yesterday's Rustic Roots editorial on Bondville? It is part of a collection by Victorian-based Master and Miss - the brainchild of creative director Liane Shannon. Liane designs clothes for kids from newborn to age 10 that are vibrant, cool and 100% organic.

The newborn collection is hip too with geo shapes and bright colours that are perfect gifts for baby:

And this is my very favourite piece from the current collection - the sweetest limited edition Sophie teacup dress, on super-comfy organic jersery cotton. Team with contrasting leggings for the perfect outfit for afternoon tea, and play at the park afterwards. This one is hot! (and currently on sale!)

You can find Master and Miss in the online store and stockists across Australia, Singapore, Dubai and online. Watch this space for more gorgeous designs from Liane!

Images: Master and Miss

Fable Baby super-cute sustainable handmade baby clothes

Another great find at The Finders Keepers markets in Sydney on the weekend was the beautiful sustainable baby clothes from Melbourne lable Fable Baby. There were hand-screenprinted polka dot cropped sweaters and stripey leggings, farm animal prints and knottied onesies. I love the cuffed sleeves on the tees. Oh, and the knits were beyond cute (poncho with pom poms, anyone?).

1. Hand Knitted Chunky Unisex Organic Cotton Hooded Vest - Light Grey 2. Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Top - Navy Animals on Cream 3. Handmade Unisex Cotton Spot Shorts - Blue & White 4. Handmade Unisex Cropped Spot Sweater - Grey & White 5. Organic Cotton Knottie Sleep Suit Onesie - Red Spots on Cream 6. Hand Printed Organic Cotton Leggings - Navy Animals on White

Fable Baby was established exactly one year ago by cousins Phoebe Newlan and Prue Ryan with their combined backgrounds in textile and fashion design. Fable Baby uses only high quality organic and/or locally-produced fabrics. Knitted pieces are made from either organic cotton yarn from Peru or hand-dyed wool and silk from the Otways of Victoria. All garments are designed, hand-printed and handmade in Melbourne.

The current collection includes tees, knotted onesies, shorts, pants, bibs and the cutest knits you ever did see. All babywear items are thoughtfully designed with easy dressing in mind. For new Mums, that design element can make all the difference between a lovely clothing gift that sits on the shelf and one that is worn daily. With lots of unisex colours and designs, Fable Baby is a no-brainer go-to gift for a newborn or baby shower.


You can find Fable Baby in the online store as well as stockists listed on the website.

Images: Fable Baby

Made By Mosey's handmade rainbow dreamer mobile

I'm so taken with this mobile - reminiscent of a dreamcatcher don't you think? - by Madeleine Sargent from Made by Mosey. Each mobile features colourful wooden beads and those stunning patchwork feathers, made by hand. I can only imagine that they take an age to create. There are all sorts of colours in the Made by Mosey online store, but this rainbow mobile has my heart. Do you have a favourite?

Read more about Made by Mosey here on Bondville.

Image: Made by Mosey

Bassike, Camilla and Marc and Sass & Bide onesies!

Australian fashion powerhouses Bassike, Camilla and Marc and Sass & Bide have teamed up with baby clothing label Marquise to design these limited edition onesies for charity.

These onesies will be available exclusively at The Iconic and proceeds will go to The Sydney Children's Hospital as part of the Gold Telethon, to help support ill and seriously injured children. The bodysuits are $24.95 each. Fashion forward and feel-good too!

Images: Marquise

Hippest ever bibs, wraps and newborn packs from Milk & Masuki

Bundanoon-based milk & masuki design gorgeous organic bibs, wraps, blankets and other goodies for the hip newborns in your life. Does your baby love geometric designs? Why, yes. Feathers? Check. Foxes? Of course. You'll find these designs and more in unisex-friendly colours from milk & masuki.

With their beautiful packaging and fashionable sensibilities, milk & masuki newborn products make the perfect baby shower gift. I'm all about the grey chevron and feather design and can only imagine the compliments that Mums all over Australia must be getting with these beautiful pieces.


You can find milk & masuki in the online store and at stockists across Australia.

Images: milk & masuki

Stylish Kids: Broken Tricycle

Sydney children's clothing designer Patricia Murphy of Broken Tricycle has aced it with this great collection of mix-and-match pieces for kids in sizes 0000 to 2 years. Made from organic cotton (no harsh dyes or chemicals) and sweat shop-free, the Winter 2013 range is comfy and cute to boot.

Did you notice the great options for boys?!? Nearly all the clothes in the collection would work well for both boys and girls - choose from yellow, blue or red stripes to mix-and-match with classic grey and a super-cute beaver print. The signature girl-with-umbrella and rainbow-with-flying-beaver illustrations are bang on-trend. Let your little ones snuggle up in style this winter - every piece in the collection is a no-brainer.

You can find Broken Tricycle in the online store as well as in stockists across Australia. Congratulations Patricia on a fabulous collection - I love it!

Images: Broken Tricycle

Chibebe kids and baby snuggle pods and accessories

Now this is the ultimate in comfort for kids. Australian-designed Chibebe snuggle pods are super-comfortable structured bean bags for children of all sizes. Toddlers and older kids will love chilling out and playing with their bean bags. Use the baby seat with harness and the pod becomes a relaxing place for baby to rest and watch the world go by. You can also add a Chibebe frame to transform the pod into a rocker.

I love that the bean bags are easy to wipe down and have changeable seats for washing. The angle of the bean bag seems like a good option for babies who suffer with reflux and to help prevent flat heads. Then once the kids are older, remove the harness and the Chibebe becomes a lounging chair for reading books and playing.

Chibebe snuggle pods and accessories were developed by Bondville sponsor Brands United Group with quality and safety in mind. Authentic Chibebe products (the original baby bean bag in Australia) exceed the mandatory Australian safety standards by testing and meeting longevity (and tension), flammability, paint toxicity, plastics and fabric elements tests to ensure that their products are of the highest quality and safe for babies and children.

These have got to be the ultimate baby shower gift! You can find Chibebe snuggle pods and accessories in the online store as well as select stockists across Australia and online (check to ensure authenticity).

Images: Chibebe (kids playing image by Braggables)