TrendLife Baby

Colourful Geo the elephant is a wonderfully bright and solid shape-sorter that will provide little ones with lots of entertainment as they experiment with shapes and sizes.

The six chunky, wooden shapes slot into the corresponding holes and are easily retrievable so baby can try again. Presented in a box, this would also make an ideal gift.

Suitable: 18 months+

Box size: 21cm x 16cm x 12cm

£21.99 www.peanutandpip.com

If you are pregnant, do you find yourself laying awake at night being kicked by your little one, or just because you are plain uncomfortable from your growing bump?  The dreamgenii Maternity Pillow promises restful sleep for pregnant mums and after testing, we can confirm it worked like a dream (if you pardon the pun!).

How it works: This long and soft pillow lies next to you and sits between your legs, the back support hooks under your side and you can either cuddle it (my fave) or lie with your arm hooked over the top.  Through this position it supports your back, bump and knees in bed, helping you get comfy and also encourages you to stay on your left side when sleeping (but can also be used on your right).  And, when used from 20 weeks, it can also encourage your baby to adopt the optimal birth position which can mean a shorter and less painful labour. 

I also found it provided a good back rest when sitting on the sofa... and even a good laptop support with a bit of contortion (although this isn't recommend by dreamgenii!)

Then, as, with all of our favourite products at TrendLife, its usage is extended as once baby arrives, it supports you and baby whilst breat feeding.

Available from www.dreamgenii.com £44.99

Seraphine has an ideal, good quality, Trench Coat in either beige or black which gives that little bit of warmth whilst you are still in your light-weight clothes. £79.00 www.serphaine.com

M2B has a Trench Coat in a shorter length, ideal for the petite Mum-to-Be. This also comes in a vibrant red version to inject a bit of colour into your Autumn wardrobe. £60 www.mothercare.com,

Very has a lovely and affordable Trench Coat with pretty Bow detailing. £45 www.very.co.uk

Not only is their iconic London store a treat to visit, but the Hamley's website is a feast for the eyes.  One of the top products that we found online is the Bath Water Flute. Fill the flutes with different levels of water to make a “medley of musical notes”. What better way to make washing fun? It even comes with special waterproof song sheets!

 £10.50 www.hamleys.com

Tired of forgetting what you were saying mid-sentence? Keep leaving your phone in the strangest of places?  Baby brain strikes again!  We have heard of some new products from Les Fleurs de Bach - Elixirs de Bach which are ready-to-use remedies - and there is one specifically designed to help concentration! The Concentration Elixir contains an exclusive blend of organic flower essences providing a solution to baby brain!

£7.95 for a 20ml bottle from www.LesFleursDeBach.co.uk

Now the questions is – does daily moisturising help stretch marks? Well there are mixed responses – some who say it does, others who say a predisposition to stretch marks is genetic and moisturiser doesn’t make any difference.  Whatever the realilty, we know moisturising makes you feel good and smell divine, so we say go for it!

Here are our top three from the range tried:

Avent came in joint first for both tested moisturisers in usability, price, scent and consistency. 

Avent Moisturising Light Oil had a handy pump and the oil was light and non-greasy. It absorbed quickly and easily (ideal for those rushed mornings) £5.99 for 125ml www.boots.com

Avent Indulgent Body Cream smelt delicious without being over-powering.  The consistency was creamy without being greasy £5.99 for 200ml www.boots.com

Pevonia’s Micro-Emulsion Massage Oil Anti-Stress -  this product came a close second with a rich cream that left our skin silky soft and smelling luxurious.  Go on, treat yourself! £18.00 for 150ml www.pevonia.co.uk

Flexitol Naturals Skin Nourshing Oil comes in third.  Its 99.9% natural oil, made with plant extracts and essential oils, come in a handy pump and left our skin silky soft all day.  It smelt divine and was a good price for an oil at £7.65 for a 60ml atomiser. Available from pharmacies nationwide

The Chicco Physio Soother helps to develop babies’ mouth and tongue action and natural sucking instinct by using a smaller sized tongue hollow, specially designed teat and extra-slim shape. Tongue grooves on the head of the teat ensure a correct tongue position for sucking and swallowing and a slim neck of the teat allows babies to close their mouths properly once the soother is in.

The Chicco Physio Soother is available for babies 0m+, 4m+ and 12m+ and comes with silicone and latex teats. The soothers are available in a variety of colours; candy pink, ice blue, glowing, pineapple and lime.

Prices start from £2.29. Stockists details can be found at www.chicco.co.uk.

Teaching your child to use a 'big cup' can be an interesting.. and wet... experience but the new BABYBJÖRN Cup, launched in July can help save your dining table and carpets! The cup’s easy to grip materials and soft shapes, makes it simple for them to learn to drink from an open glass, just like mum and dad.... but with the minimum of spills as it is designed to be very difficult to knock over.

We would love to have been at the product development meetings as we've been told that the Cup was created with input from paediatricians, industrial engineers, children and parents! The BABYBJÖRN Cup contains no BPA or phthalates and is made from durable and recyclable plastics so it is safe for the microwave, the dishwasher and the environment.

As with all of our favourite products at TrendLife, the BABYBJÖRN Cup can be used for longer than other similar products because it can also be used as a feeding container and is designed to fit with the BABYBJÖRN Spoon.

The BABYBJÖRN Cup is available in two colours, red and green and co-ordinates with the rest of the kitchen range.

Curious Caterpillar comes in fresh plush fabrics of green, blue and red and has lots for a baby to discover. A soft apple creates a comfortable, supportive seat and comes with a lift-up flap which reveals a handy storage section for toys. A separate chime toy peeps out of the apple for little hands to explore. The rocker also features lots of additions to keep baby amused including hidden squeaks, chimes and crinkles.

Suitable for 9 months plus, Priced at around £75. www.littlebirdtoldme.co.uk.

Peanut and Pip have done it again, sourcing the most delightful baby clothing!  The Olive & Moss playsuit sets by designer Nina Goran are bright, fun and come with a matching hat.

This lilac-striped playsuit has poppers for easy nappy changing and an envelope neck. Made from 100% cotton, it has a super soft feel. The sets are machine washable and can be tumble-dried.

Pictured here is the Otto the Owl Playsuit Set £24