Why do little ones like the song ‘Old Macdonald’ so much? Because they love farmyard animals! So what could be better than this excellent new playmat from Skip-Hop which features a host of funky farmyard animals. It’s simply delicious and every baby we’ve tested it with has not wanted to get off it!!!

The new Skip-Hop Funky Farmyard Activity Gym is extremely comfortable and irresistibly fun for little ones, with its choice of sixteen developmental activities!  It is brightly decorated with contemporary pictures of ‘funky farmyard’ animals, the mat is softly padded for extra comfort and the matching quilted pillow is ideal for babies to spend time on their tummies to strengthen those important back and neck muscles.

The soft arches have twelve easy to hang loops and five hanging toys offer appealing multi sensory play for every stage of development.  With play items ranging from a baby safe mirror and a teeth-able ring, combined with numerous plush textures and squeaky sounds, the Funky Farmyard Activity Gym is certain to keep little ones both stimulated and content….giving mum just a moment to tidy up all the other toys!

As with all Skip-Hop products, the Funky Farmyard Activity Gym is designed to be as pleasing on mum and dad’s eyes as it is on baby’s; although the design is bright for baby’s stimulation, it is still funky and contemporary for those style conscious parents! For stockist details, contact Bibs and Stuff on 01293 774924 or visit www.bibsandstuff.com

What is it? Bilibo is a new kind of toy. It has been developed by the young Swiss designer, Alex Hochstrasser, in conjunction with leading experts like Prof. Remo H. Largo from the University Childrens hospital in Zurich. Curious? Then read on…

Bilibo is a companion for children from the first year onwards and inspires a large variety of playing behaviors. The soft, round shapes and strong colors stimulate the senses and a child’s innate curiosity. They beg to be touched and handled.

The design of Bilibo is based on extensive research into the playing behavior of preschool children, into the way they treat found objects and use their imagination to create a world of their own. The shells can be aligned or stacked in many ways and when growing older, children will discover new ways of using the shells. Rocking and spinning for instance are great fun and help develop motor skills and a child’s sense of balance.

The elementary shells leave room for the child’s imagination. Instead of imposing a specific play pattern, Bilibo is open for a wide range of interpretations and encourages the children to invent their own games, to play and have fun in an active and creative way. Indoors and outdoors, in the sand-pit, in the water or even in the snow… Bilibo is full of surprises.

Are these not the cutest giant bugs you have ever seen! Why were they not around when we were little? So what are they? They’re called Wheelybugs and your little ones are going to love them.

Wheelybugs are high quality ride on toys, award winning and recommended! Unlike a lot of ride on toys they are easy to ‘ride on’ and help your toddler or child learn skills such as spacial awareness and balance. Choose from Ladybird, Cow, Mouse, Tiger and Bumble Bee.

Key Features:

* Aluminum handle with Polyurethane grip, securely bolted to base board

* Polyurethane leather cover for easy cleaning.

* Soft foam padding on the rigid inner board feelers are made from stainless steel spring.

* Polyester rope inside resists pull out and supports spring from being kinked.

* Plywood base is made from plantation timber and has smooth rounded contours

* Castors provide free movement that kids love at the same time developing their gross motor skills

JellyCats are amazing soft toys that little ones just adore. And now they have a little sibling, JellyKittens.

Jellykitten designs appeal to children ages 6 months to 4 years. From magical discovery toys, that tweet, crinkle, chirp, and jingle to imaginative read along soft books that play a variety of Peek a Boo games; Jellykitten offers over 100 innovative toys that are destined to become children’s favorites for years to come.

How cute is this! Baby Tad is an adorable green, new-born frog. His arms are always open and welcoming, just like his large eyes and smile!

Tad is always a willing companion to your baby around the clock. He can entertain and stimulate when baby is lively and alert, and also help get your little one to the land of nod when baby is sleepy.

During daytime, a press of the sun symbol gets baby active songs to listen to, and the chance to learn shapes and colours. The moon symbol allows parents to select up to 6 minutes of uninterrupted, soothing classical music for baby to hear. This is perfect for nighttime’s when you want to encourage baby to fall asleep.

Key Features:

* Play soothing classical music at night or play songs and learning games during the day

* Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Learning

* Perceptual Skills–bright colours and flashing lights stimulate shape and depth awareness

* Reasoning Skills–interactive play helps children connect action with reaction, symbols with sounds and words with meaning

* Motor Skills–children develop fine motor skills as they physically press buttons to choose a shape, song or kiss

* Manufacturer’s Age Recommendation: 9 months and up

Kids love to carry their things around with them and this is especially true of books. The Pʼkolino Book Buggee is a fantastically fun way to make books a part of your childʼs everyday play.

This fun-loving friend helps introduce and develop a playful bond with books through the self-directed acts of selecting, loading and pulling books and other treasures. This incorporation of books into play helps nurture a childʼs love for books.

In addition to the P’kolino Book Buggee being super cute, it is also ergonomically designed for easy use. The “V” shaped book holders are wider at the top for easy loading and unloading and narrow at the bottom to hold the book in place. With four book holders and plenty of “head” room for other treasures, see how much you can fit into your Book Buggee!

Another classic that is all to easy to forget in this hi-tech age. Simply Press the colourful characters and they will bob up and down, stimulating your baby’s interest. 

Later you can progress to colour matching the characters to their slots. It is ideal for the developing child, encouraging hand/eye co-ordination and colour recognition. Crafted in quality wood for durability and lasting pleasure this is one of those toys every new generation of little ones can enjoy.

There seems to be no shortage of home made looking playthings on the market for little ones but of of the original and best in our opinion is the range by Ann-Claire Petit. Anne-claire petit accessories is a Dutch company offering a range of stylish crocheted toys for little ones. 

Every item is hand made according to traditional handiwork techniques, using recognizable color schemes and natural materials which ensure every piece is unique. A great deal of the crochet work is done in Asia where the women have passed on their handiwork techniques from generation to generation. 

Due to the work they do for anne-claire petit accessories, the women are able to generate an income throughout most of the year – something from which the entire village benefits. 

Anyone who comes across an Anne-claire petit accessory will recognize it immediately. The authenticity, the eye for detail, the precise handiwork and the complementary color schemes remain unparalleled and make these great toys for babies to play with.

ABC, it’s easy as 123, well it is for you and me but for little ones it’s the start of everything. Learning the ABC can become a lot of fun when it is part of a giant playmat in your house. This fantastic soft play alphabet and number mat provides the perfect cushioned play area for your child and is ideal to prevent bumps and falls on hard floors.

Each set has 36 interlocking foam mat pieces that measure a huge 6ft x 6ft square when put together. But you can fit it together in any shape you choose and use it to spell baby’s name and other words.

These soft play puzzle mats are a great to way to help child development. Your child can learn letters, numbers and colours. And because all the pieces pop out it can be used as a giant jigsaw for hours of fun.

The mats are made from EVA – the same material as flip flops. This means they are very soft, durable, lightweight and can be used both inside and out. And perhaps most importantly, they are completely wipe clean – a baby wipe is all you need (we’re sure you’ve got lots of them!)

Each set comes in a clear PVC bag with zip and handle and is easy to put together and pack away. Or it can be kept as a permanent fixture in a lounge or playroom.

Who says that every baby toy has to look like a teddy bear? Not the guys at Pooki & Co who have created a collection of soft toys that your little one is going to absolutely love.

Marie Joxe-Collins, a French designer and illustrator, was inspired to stitch together her first Pooki in 2001 at the birth of her son, Mateo. Marie has been happily designing Pookies for children around the world ever since!

Soon other characters began to appear–Lola, Todor, Kiki, Mina—all with their own distinctive, kooky appearance and personality. Made from warm, vibrantly colored flannel material and stitched together to look rather like pillows with arms, legs, and curious expressions, these little creatures at once inspire imaginations while defying traditional norms of design and form, in an infectious and playful manner. 

A Pooki is imperfect, slightly odd and refreshingly unexpected; just like a person. Over the years, more characters have been added, as well as Pooki themed bags and room décor, all with the same spirit of excitement and joie de vivre. All Pooki and Co products are tested according to the safety standards of the United States and Europe, to ensure that they are not only infectiously fun, but securely safe.