Close Parent giveaway

Going out with three small children is not easy but the more we do it the easier it gets. Sometimes I feel like quite an attraction at the shops: two adults, two cheeky toddlers in two trolleys and our newest additon in a baby carrier. I always loved the idea of carrying the baby in a carrier, especially in those early weeks, but when our daughter was born weighing less than three kilo's I realised it wasn't that easy. Most baby carriers are only suitable for heavier babies so that would mean that small (often premature babies) miss out on that vital close contact. Luckily there is the Close Baby Carrier, perfect for little treasures like mine and suitable for babies as small as 2.27kg.

The Close Baby Carrier is a Close Parent product, you might know this label from their fabulous Pop-In cloth nappies (my favourite cloth nappy on the market!). The Australian and New Zealand distributor, Close Parent Down Under, works with many local stockists and consultants making the fantastic range available to mums all over the world.

The Close Baby Carrier is suitable for babies from 2.27kg up to 14.55kg so from tiny newborn to toddler. It is fantastic for skin-to-skin contact with premature babies (something doctors recommended for my daughter as she was small and struggling to maintain her temperature) and has five different positions to suit your child at different ages and stages. The carrier is small to take or store and can be machine washed and tumble tried, great for busy mums like me without time for handwashes. The soft, wide straps are really comfortable and distribute your babies weight evenly over your shoulders and back.

The design of the Close Baby Carrier is really easy, a cross structure holds your baby in, close and up and the separate wrap provides extra comfort and security (plus it looks good). My daughter seems to really enjoy being carried around in this carrier both when out and about and at home, she is asleep in it right now while I am typing this. She seems to enjoy the fetal like position just like when in utero, the natural sound of my heartbeat and regular body movement. While carrying my daughter I can still do everything around the house and look after the other kids because I have both hands free. Although I have not tried it yet it should also be possible to breastfeed your baby while he/she is in the carrier.

I'll admit that I had my doubts when I first saw this baby carrier, it really had to grow on me. One of my concerns was how easy (or difficult?) it would be to put on. The carrier comes with an instruction DVD in case you need it but I had mine 'on and in use' in just a few minutes. The Close Baby Carrier is made with supersoft 100% organic cotton, it feels just like wearing some extra clothing while hugging your baby nice and tight. The only part you need to adjust is the two straps, which you tighten by simple pulling on the ends (easy to do even with baby in there). The more I use the Close Baby Carrier the more I love it, because your baby pretty much decides how he/she is most comfortable it feels really natural. It also saves me a lot of heart wrenching baby tears and running back and forward to settle her while I am doing other things.

The Close Baby Carrier is available in different colours and even some beautiful limited edition designs. You can check out the range online at www.ozbabytrends.com.au or at one of the many stockists and consultants. Did you know consultant services are free, there is no obligation or pressure to purchase and postage is free when you buy through a consultant?

For your chance to win one of these fabulous Close Baby Carriers visit the gallery on the Close Parent Down Under website and leave a comment on this post telling us which colour you would love to win.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Close Parent Down Under on Facebook http://bit.ly/d2gyTi
• Follow Hip little one with Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in the left sidebar or in the navigation bar at the top of the page)
• Vote for Hip little one as Top Baby Blog by clicking this link http://bit.ly/5KFwu
• Subscribe to the Hip little one newsletter here http://eepurl.com/fIZY
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (Win a Close Baby Carrier #babywearing at @hiplittleone www.hiplittleone.com)
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends October 7. International entries welcome.

EzyRoller review

Even though the summer still seems far away the first days of spring are here so it is time to get the garden and your outside area's ready for the kids to play in. Of course you can clean out the sandpit, dust off bikes and wipe down the swing set but you'll score more points by getting your kids this awesome invention called EzyRoller.

The EzyRoller is a super cool combination of a billy cart (soapbox car), scooter and a rip-board, all with the control of a bike. This design even won the 2009 Toy of the Year award in the US so you can be sure you're onto a winner here. The EzyRoller has no pedals, chains or batteries (great for parents because there is less to charge, replace or break). Kids simply sit on the seat and use their legs to get it moving. It glides forward like a snake using easy left-right movements of the feet and legs to propel it. You don’t even need a hill to gain speed, the clever foot action does it all.

You'll have to agree that it looks really exciting and interesting and I am sure kids can't wait to hop on and give it a go, to be honest I would love to try it out myself too. A child’s centre of gravity on the EzyRoller is low, making it very stable and the hand brake allows the child to stop easily. Check out the EzyRoller in action on YouTube.

The EzyRoller is designed for children aged 4-14 years giving you years of use for your money and making it great for siblings to share. It comes with two extension bars to adjust the size to the child and is very easy to assemble. Parents will appreciate that the EzyRoller is completely silent and has non-marking wheels so it great for both indoor and outdoor use. The EzyRoller Classic is available in red, blue or pink.

For younger kids who can't wait for all the excitement there is the EzyRoller Junior with a handle for easier steering, designed for kids aged 24-48 months. Especially toddlers will love the 'close-to-the-ground' design making it easy to get on and off and they are in charge of how fast it goes. My kids found this much easier than a bike because it doesn't have pedals which sometimes are a bit difficult for little feet to keep up with.

Get your hands on an EzyRoller in time for summer and of course it would make a great Christmas present too. The RRP is $160 and you can order one online at www.ezyroller.com.au or visit a retailer near you.

September Lily giveaway

Now that I am the proud mummy of two beautiful girls I can already foresee plenty of tea parties, hair make-overs, girly giggles and of course jealous fights about dresses and hair clips. A good reason to extend my already rather large collection of hair accessories to cater for my second daughter too so I can happily shop around for more. I recently came across a beautiful little Etsy store called September Lily, full of stunning hair creations.

Owner and designer Deana is a mum of two who lives in Canada. She has a great talent for putting together beautiful fabrics and prints to make up unique and very lovely hair accessories for little girls. My oldest daughter has been trying these out and loves them, I am sure she won't be happy when her little sister has enough hair to wear them too. This divine organza headband comes in a few different colours and has a pleasant $8 price tag.

Now all mums with daughters know that one hair clip is not enough, the more the merrier that's for sure. Deana knows that too so she has put together great sets of matching styles to complete your girls best outfits. A set of three delightful clips like pictured here costs less than $6, what a bargain! Even for us all the way in Australia postage rates are ridiculously low (just $1.75) so this is a store worth bookmarking in your computer, a perfect place to stock up on birthday presents or party favours.

For your chance to win a super stylish September Lily prize pack valued at $50 (see picture, every girl would love to win this!!) visit the September Lily Etsy store and tell us which item in store you love most.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Hip little one on Facebook http://bit.ly/lv0R7
• Follow Hip little one with Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in the left sidebar or in the navigation bar at the top of the page)
• Vote for Hip little one as Top Baby Blog by clicking this link http://bit.ly/5KFwu
• Subscribe to the Hip little one newsletter here http://eepurl.com/fIZY
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (Win a divine September Lily prize pack worth $50 at @hiplittleone www.hiplittleone.com)
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends October 1. International entries welcome.

Haggus and Stookles giveaway

Last week we managed to go out for the first time with all five of us, it took some preparation but we did it. Getting out with the twins was already quite a challenge so now the job got even harder with a small baby on board. For a fabulous range of handy products for on-the-go and some great advice you should really visit Australian online store Haggus and Stookles.

Haggus and Stookles was set up by two mums who know all about the challenges and tribulations of going out with children. They source the best travel products from all over the world just to make our lives easier, how great is that? One of their fantastic products that we use quite a lot is the Fridge-To-Go lunch box. Don't be fooled, this is not just a cooler bag. Its high performing patented chilling technology keeps the contents cold for up to an amazing 8 hours! No wonder parents love the multi-award winning Fridge-To-Go as it is just like taking your home fridge with you wherever you go.

The Fridge-To-Go system works like this: each of the bags comes with built-in cooling panels covered with a Tempguard outer layer. The panels are much slimmer than your standard ice brick so they take up very little space in the freezer. The bag can be folded and put in the freezer with the panels inside or, as most of the bags have zip-out pockets, the cooling panels can simply be removed, frozen and replaced when required. That way your Fridge-To-Go is always ready when you are, just fill it up with your freshly made sandwiches, fruit, cheese or yoghurt, anything that tastes better cold. Especially when out with my toddlers I love how their fruit stays nice, crisp and fresh, not brown and soggy and now with a small baby it will be really useful for bottles of milk too. With summer slowly approaching the Fridge-To-Go will make our regular picnics a lot tastier!

The Fridge-To-Go range consists of different size bags (small lunch box, medium lunch box, 2 bottle holder, 12 can cooler bag and kids cold pack) so there is a perfect size for every family. Prices start at $19.95 for the kids cold pack up to $34.95 for the 12-can cooler bag. You can buy spare freezer panels ($3.95-$4.95) too which is especially handy for kids school lunches, that way you have a nice, cold freezer panel ready every morning. To order your Fridge-To-Go visit www.haggusandstookles.com.au and place your order online.

For your chance to win a Fridge-To-Go lunch box from Haggus and Stookles visit www.haggusandstookles.com.au and leave a comment here telling us which product instore, aside from the Fridge-To-Go system, you like most.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Haggus and Stookles on Facebook http://bit.ly/9CToOD
• Follow Hip little one with Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in the left sidebar or in the navigation bar at the top of the page)
• Vote for Hip little one as Top Baby Blog by clicking this link http://bit.ly/5KFwu
• Subscribe to the Hip little one newsletter here http://eepurl.com/fIZY
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (Win a Fridge-To-Go lunchbox from Haggus and Stookles at @hiplittleone www.hiplittleone.com)
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends September 30. Sorry, only Australian entries welcome.

Baby Bond giveaway

With the twins I found feeding times the most stressful moments of the day. When I was still breastfeeding it took all my efforts and energy to keep both attached and feeding but often one of them let go (or worse, fell off the feeding pillow) or needed to be burped which was always stressful. I never had the time to calmly look at them and really enjoy them. When I fell pregnant with our third child I really looked forward to calm feeds where I could actually enjoy my child and the quiet, private moment of the feed, looking at his/her face and really cherishing our bond. Our daughter has now arrived and although breastfeeding will never be my greatest talent I am trying my hardest at it. One product that I am finding really useful is the Baby Bond Nursing Sash.

The Baby Bond Nursing Sash makes it possible for mums to breastfeed their baby without the need to expose lots of skin (something many mums worry about) or to cover up your baby with a breastfeeding cover or scarf. You just wear the Baby Bond over your top and it creates a small, discrete opening for baby to feed through yet baby's face is uncovered so you can see your baby and your baby can see you and its surroundings. The Baby Bond covers mum, not her baby so your baby can make eye contact, interact and communicate.

The Baby Bond Nursing Sash is available in three different styles (Original, Flex and Couture) and in different colours to match your wardrobe. The Baby Bond Original is the basic model: a stylish sash that separates for discrete feeding with a built in burp cloth, the Baby Bond Flex works the same yet the burp cloth is removable. The Baby Bond Couture is multifunctional and can be worn as a nursing sash or belly band, covering you just the way you prefer it. I myself love the Baby Bond Flex because of the removable terry velour burp cloth and the possibility to use just any cloth or none at all (I go through many burp cloths a day and this way I always have one on hand, or shoulder I should say).

I find that, by not having to worry about exposing skin or sliding covers, feeding is much more relaxing. Of course this product is fantastic when out and about but I even use the Baby Bond at home because it means I am always covered up for unexpected visitors plus it keeps me much warmer during those chilly night feeds. While I am warm and decent my daughter is able to look at me and everything around her and I can keep a close eye on her while she feeds, enjoying every second I get to look at her beautiful face. Looking after your Baby Bond sash is easy because you can wash it in the washing machine.

You can order your Baby Bond Nursing Sash online at www.babybondnursing.com or at one of the many (online) retailers. When you think of how many times a day you feed your baby you will agree that a Baby Bond Nursing Sash is real must-have for nursing mums. At just $35 they make a great baby shower present too. Use the code 'hip' for a fabulous 25% discount on your order, offer valid until September 10th.

For your chance to win a Baby Bond Nursing Sash (a beautiful turquoise BabyBond Original in size 2) just 'like' Baby Bond on Facebook and leave a comment here to tell me that you do.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Hip little one on Facebook http://bit.ly/lv0R7
• Follow Hip little one with Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in the left sidebar or in the navigation bar at the top of the page)
• Vote for Hip little one as Top Baby Blog by clicking this link http://bit.ly/5KFwu
• Subscribe to the Hip little one newsletter here http://eepurl.com/fIZY
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (Win a Baby Bond Nursing Sash at @hiplittleone www.hiplittleone.com)
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends September 28. International entries welcome.

Go Trike review

As we were preparing for the arrival of our baby we stocked up on some exciting new toys and entertainment to keep the twins busy and happy during those early days. I am one of the lucky mums with a husband off work for a few weeks while we settle in, so the kids are having a great time with Daddy while Mum and baby rest. At the moment the twins favourite thing to do is going out with Daddy on the Go Trike from Giant Steps.

The great thing about the Go Trike is that it is the perfect transition from a pram/stroller to a bike. It gives kids the flexibility and novelty of a real bike with peddles and the possibility to steer and brake by themselves, yet parents are in charge at all times by being able to push and steer with the parent handle. Your little one is safely strapped in with the five point harness and protected from the harmful sun by the sun shade.

The Go Trike is available in four hip colour combinations that will appeal to any child: pale blue, pale pink, vibrant purple and bright red. The twins both love this trike, they had to get used a little to the slightly reclining seat but now they just sit back, relax and enjoy looking around as we walk around the block. They especially love the little tray at the back, perfect for bringing some snacks for a picnic in the park. Unlike some other trikes on the market the Go Trike has soft tyres making it a quiet ride, much more pleasant for parents than a noisy, rattly trip around the block. The trike is surprisingly light to push, so perfect for (older) grandparents too.

The Go Trike is recommended for children aged 1-3 years making it a great, long lasting gift idea for upcoming Christmas. To find out more about the Go Trike and to find your nearest stockist visit www.activeoutthere.com.au, the current RRP for the Go Trike is $159.

Dangerous Curves giveaway

I can't believe that just 12 days ago I was still walking around with a big pregnant belly, it feels like our daughter has always been here with us. As much as I loved being pregnant it also feels great to 'sort of' have my old body back. Putting away my maternity clothes did make me a little bit sad but lucky for me a few of my favourite items are perfect for both maternity and nursing so I can still enjoy them now. If you are pregnant or nursing and don't feel like wearing ugly, unflattering, oversized pyjama's I can highly recommend the Maternity Nursing 2 Way PJ's from Dangerous Curves.

The 2 Way PJ's are the ideal choice for mums who prefer the comfort of a nightie for home and the modesty of PJ's for hospital (I used my 2 Way PJ's in hospital last week and thought they were great!). This set is really feminine with a lovely lace trim and is adjustable for wear as a PJ set or a seductive statement nightie. The top features a silver heart charm, inbuilt sleep bra, kimono sleeves and cross over bodice and the ruched sides are adjustable for the ideal fit all throughout your pregnancy and beyond. The PJ pants are just above ankle length and have gentle elastic and drawstring for comfort and fit.

I am not surprised that this set is a Dangerous Curves bestseller, the design is very flattering (even for a post-baby figure) and the colours are great too. Currently the 2 Way PJ is available in three stylish colours (dusk, black and apricot) but new colours are on the way for the upcoming summer. Because you can wear the 2 Way PJ during pregnancy and beyond it is a great pick, for yourself or as a gift for an expecting mummy. I didn't get to enjoy my PJ set for long before our precious bundle arrived but as it is great as a nursing set too I still get plenty of enjoyment out of it. The design is really comfortable and it looks beautiful in photo's too.

You can order your 2 Way PJ online at www.dangerouscurves.com.au. The current RRP is $69 for the set and sizes range from S up to 3XL.

For your chance to win a 2 Way PJ from Dangerous Curves visit www.dangerouscurves.com.au and tell us here which item instore, aside from the 2 Way PJ, you love most.

If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:

• Like Hip little one on Facebook http://bit.ly/lv0R7
• Follow Hip little one with Google Friend Connect (click 'follow' in the left sidebar or in the navigation bar at the top of the page)
• Vote for Hip little one as Top Baby Blog by clicking this link http://bit.ly/5KFwu
• Subscribe to the Hip little one newsletter here http://eepurl.com/fIZY
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (Win a 2 Way PJ maternity/nursing set from Dangerous Curves at @hiplittleone www.hiplittleone.com)
• Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave the URL
• Visit up to four of my sponsors on the right and tell me your favourite item (1 entry per sponsor)

Competition ends September 24. International entries welcome.