BabaSlings' real focus for this year is to work with retailers and provide them with as much support as possible to help drive sales.

The Baby Products Association would like to announce the appointment of Robert Anslow as its new Managing Director.

The Baby Products Association in conjunction with Harrogate Nursery Fair is holding a joint trade show in October.

Building on the success of its consumer-facing The Baby Shows, Clarion Events is launching The Baby Show for Trade: a brand new destination event at the start of the buying season for the baby and nursery industry.

Dorel would like to advise that there was an error in the copy supplied for the February issue of Nursery Industry regarding the Maxi-Cosi Pebble car seat. The Pebble is a Group 0+ car seat suitable from
birth until approximately 12 months (0-13kgs).

The Baby Products Association is pleased to announce the launch of its new-look website: www.thebpa.eu

It is with profound sadness that Amie Beamish and Karen Stockford of the Home and Nursery Company, share the news that their dear friend and inspirational colleague Evelyne Ernst from Little Company (Netherlands) has lost her battle with cancer and passed away on Sunday 14 February.

She leaves behind her husband Marc Ernst and daughters Michelle and Gigi who will continue to run the company in her memory.

Cuddledry has raised £3000 for Bliss (the special care baby charity) through sales of its limited edition ‘Kangaroo care’ Cuddledry apron towel. The idea for the charity baby bath towel came about when one of the Cuddledry team had her little girl prematurely at just 24 weeks gestation.  Now a gorgeous healthy two year old, little Maggie this week presented the donation cheque to Bliss and one of the team from the NICU at St Michaels Hospital Bristol where she was cared for.

TensCare has appointed Sarah Tague as National Accounts Sales Manager.

 Sarah joins TensCare after successfully developing and launching her own company MYVISTA and bringing to the market a range of portable first aid guides under the brand name INDICARE™.

Pre-school property Zigby made its magazine debut in the UK this month thanks to a new deal with BBC magazines.

The new license means DRi Licensing’s colourful children’s property will regularly star on the pages of CBeebies Weekly, Toybox and CBeebies Animals. Zigby, the cheeky and spirited zebra, made his first appearance in the February issues of CBeebies Weekly and Animals.

It’s all hands on deck at the Cosatto camp and plans for Spring/Summer 2010 are well underway; ready and raring to go for “Sneaky Peek Week” commencing Monday 22^nd February until 5^th March.

The Fropper is a ride-on toy and bouncer in one and comes ready to use straight from the box. Castor wheels to the front make cruising around safe and easy for young racers and the whisper-quiet, non abrasive wheels make it ideal for indoor and outdoor use. Available in red and green or pink and purple, it folds to a fraction of its size and has a handle for carrying around.

BabyDan has appointed Treasure Trove Nursery division as its exclusive distributor partner for Independents and Key Accounts. From this month, Treasure Trove Nursery will handle the sales, trade marketing and distribution of the full BabyDan range, including Home Safety, Nursery Furniture and Bedding across England, Wales and Scotland.

The Industry has quickly got into the swing of things this year, with everybody talking about Harrogate and the return of the UK pavilion in Cologne. Our news pages are packed this month, telling stories of expansion, distribution agreements and brand success in the UK and abroad – a sure sign that economic recovery is now in sight.

Many parents opt to use disposable nappies as a matter of convenience. Baby and Pregnancy explains: “Readily available and maintenance free, disposable nappies offer ease of use. They are especially useful when away from home since they can be thrown in the bin rather than needing to be transported home for laundering.”

BPA Retail - half price membership offer extended for 3 months only

Times are tough for much of the retail community and whilst we are all looking for ways to cut back spending, it has never been more important to invest in the future. BPA would urge those retailers who are not already members of BPA Retail to consider joining as soon as possible while the half price offer lasts.

The Tidy Books Bookcase has picked up two Gold Awards at the recently announced Right Start Toy Awards.

The Bookcase won “Gold” in the “Best Investment Buy” category as a product that has great, long term play and usage value, and also “Gold” in the Nursery and Baby Accessories Category.

Those that have decided to breast feed will need a good supply of breast pads, often before baby even arrives. It may be that mum wants to be able to share the feeds so that she can take a break, or get a full night's sleep herself now again! A breast pump - either manual or electric - will allow her to do this, so you need to stock a range of both.

The purchase and correct use of a car seat is critical. As a retailer, you have an obligation to ensure that your customers are fully conversant with the law before allowing them to leave with a product from your store. This should include demonstrating how to the fit the seat, before checking that they can repeat the process unaided.

A reliable baby monitor enables parents to go about their daily chores or catch forty winks safe in the knowledge that baby is safely and peacefully asleep.

Broadly speaking, monitors fall into two main categories: analogue and digital. Brought to market in the 1930’s, the traditional analogue monitor has evolved to offer very good quality sound. Today all UK analogue monitors operate within the same allotted frequency band to transmit information from the baby unit to the parent unit.

Skibz, makers of the stylish award-winning dribble bib that looks like a fashionable bandana, are launching a new organic range specifically designed for newborns and young babies.

 Piccolo Lusso, distributor of the chic 'o' bello changing bag range and a Nursery Industry Sales Training Guide Sponsor, explained:

"A good changing bag will have a significant set of useful accessories and features included that make parents lives easier; ideally it should be structured internally so parents can organise their own belongings as well as baby's, whilst allowing them to be stored separately."

Following the huge success last year, the Harrogate Nursery Fair is again providing a night out at the Majestic Hotel to say thank you to all the exhibitors and visitors who are attending the exhibition. 

The independent Baby Product Guide (IBPG) are the innovative new organisation in our market place working with brands and their stockists to ensure end customers receive the service and experience they deserve.

Jackson Reece based in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland has won a Gold accolade, awarded by the UK’s leading parenting magazine Mother & Baby.  Their Kinder by Nature soothing herbal wipes were voted 2009/10 Best Baby Wipe at a recent awards ceremony held at the Park Lane Hilton, London. Readers of the publication reported that they ‘loved the texture, scent and quality of these environmentally friendly wipes and felt they were excellent value for money.’