Bulldog Licensing has released news of a major expansion to the relationship between baby/toddler property Goochicoo and top licensee Tommee Tippee - the UK's leading baby brand.

The Bubzilla Baby Sling is made in Australia from 100% soft cotton drill to guarantee quality & durability giving mum or dad hands free convenience without compromising the safety of baby. They can be worn up to 7 different ways & come with a lifetime guarantee.

As we come to the end of 2008, the pressure is on for Christmas. John Lewis has just announced a drop in sales in many white goods and furniture departments - but toys and gifts have been holding steady with seasonal sales expected to be on course.

BabyStyle UK Ltd is to exclusively distribute the Neonatal brand of baby products in the UK. The company currently represents the Mutsy, Lux and QuickSmart product ranges. Speaking about the appointment, MD of BabyStyle Andy Crane said, ‘We are very excited about adding such a high profile, quality brand to our catalogue. We will be distributing both of Neonato's colourways and are currently planning some exclusive fabrics for the UK in 2009'. BabyStyle has already begun handling orders and after sales issues.

Babylicious, the company that make home-made tasting frozen baby food, has launched a new contemporary image with improved receipe meals. The product update follows months of intensive research.

A new survery by pre-school activity group Talking Tots has found that 90 per cent of parents would rather go without themselves than let financial restraints affects their young children's lives for the worse. Britain might be in the middle of a credit crunch, but the overwhelming majority of parents would rather spend less on new clothes or eating out than cutting back on their children's activities.

Babies brought up using forward facing buggies may become emotionally isolated and struggle with language development according to the first ever study into the subject.

Following the recent news of that Mamas and Papas are opening 32 stroes in Russia, the family-owned UK business has just anounced the signing of an exclusive franchise agreement with the ImaginAsia Group Pte Ltd of Singapore. That company will be launching an initial twelve Mamas & Papas stores over a five year period throughout Singapore and Hong Kong.

Sarah Dickman, mother of 13 week old Tilly Dickman, has said how delighted she is that she was carrying her daughter in a Graco Junior Autobaby car seat when struck by a car in Yeovil, Somerset recently.

Lollipop has cashed in on these belt-tightening times by launching a new Lollipop nappy set which enables parents to trial their favourite nappies before making a bigger investment.

James Caan, one of the more charming investors at the BBC's Dragons' Den and Kanya King, founder of MOBO, are just two of the judging panel for this year's ‘Fast Growth Business Awards'.

A behind the scenes disagreement has ended its first stage in a legal suit in Germany recently. The court in Düsseldorf has found in favour of Swedish company Babybjörn after it sued Nord-Ideen, the German distributer of Lascal's M1 baby carrier for infringement of patents.

Tippitoes enjoyed its first catwalk experience last month at the Manchester Baby Show, where the company chose to show off the striking VIz Stroller.

Chris Wilson, Operations Director at gro-group®, has announced the arrival of Khalia Lancaster-Thomas, as Procurement Planner.

Norton and Company has won the Kleverkids account for 2009. The new client manufactures prams, pushchairs, car seats and accessories under the brand names of Kleverkids, Norton and Sproggs.

Luxury organic kidswear brand Aravore Babies has appointed As Clear As PR to handle their media relations for 2009. The Aravore Babies range is available in over 100 boutiques worldwide including Harvey Nichols, Fenwick of Bond Street, Scoop NYC and Tokyo in Japan. The collection includes vintage knits, dreamy dresses and co-ordinating accessories all made to last from 100% organic materials.

The new collection of stylish, organic cotton breastfeeding wear is out now. Think confidence, think effortless. Top - Mother Diva Dress with a discreet panel around the bust for easy access and which also covers your tummy. Shown in Boho Blossom, also available in Black. Rrp. £55. Below - Kaftan Top with flattering cut for all body shapes. Double layered with vertical openings on the under layer for easy access. Shown in Boho Blossom, also available in Black. Rrp. £40

Cheeky Rascals has hit an upmarket note with the soft, supple and luxurious ‘Snakeskin Pocketed Hobo' bag from OiOi®. Available in two headturning prints on the finest leather - smoky sage and chestnut rust, you'll be hard pressed to find a baby bag to match it for interior space & style. Each comes with a removable padded change mat, insulated bottle holder, zip-top bag and handy wipes case. Cheeky Rascals on Tel: 01730 895761, www.cheekyrascals.co.uk/oioi

As 2008 reaches its final throes I don't think there will be many business people sad to see the back of it. Traditionally a new year springs new hope and maybe in 2009 we will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All forecasts suggest 2010 at the earliest but as we get towards the end of 2009 hopefully the trends will be promising.

We all agree that the current financial downturn looks set to continue. Despite strenuous efforts by the Government to stimulate the UK economy we do not operate in isolation and as a nation our health and wealth depends on our ability to trade on a global basis. Unless governments around the world follow suit there will be no quick recovery.

Eighteen months have gone by since the courts tried to clarify this thorny area of dispute once and for all. Now is a good time to take stock and see how the land lies for agents and principals.

It's all about choice!

Maclaren the premium brand in parenting products proudly unveils its new collection for 2009. The theme: Customise your Buggy. Created to be lightest, most stylish and durable in their class, Maclaren has once again pushed the boundaries of buggy design with new fabrics, colours and patterns, as well as features and accessories that allow parents to customise their buggy with ease.

In our fame-obsessed times it's not surprising that where celebrities lead, ordinary mums and dads tend to follow. The current trend to use baby slings is a good example and according to all the research, a really positive move for both parent and child.

Every day when we wake up and turn on the news, it's rarely good news. Credit crunch, job losses, redundancies and global economic meltdown are something we seem to be hearing every morning.

When it comes to selling, the baby market has always been a fiercely competitive arena - market share for every category of product is hotly contested and different retail outlets (whether it's stores, shops or on-line) jostle for poll position on access and exposure to the consumer. And if it's not hard enough to compete in the normal run of events, today's tougher environment has brought sales and trading even more under the microscope.

There's been no shortage of new wheels coming out of the factory during 2008, with many brands creating brand new designs from scratch. Concord has seen its Neo Carbon Travel System rocket to success even with it's top end price tag of just under £2000. It's quirky, highly stylised shape which combines trolly with chair is clean yet sophisticated and the many optional accessories have been well-received.

Clippasafe's stylish new baby carrier was an immediate success when it officially launched and sold-out at The Baby Show Earls Court 2008.

The Original Cuddledry apron towel - this year's winner of the ‘must-have' baby product award at the nursery industry BACRA's - is literally drawing customers into the stores where it is stocked. One retailer Daniela Hopkins stated, "Word has already spread that Baby Butkins is the place to visit for Cuddledry products in our area, which has been driving expectant parents and gift givers to the shop."

Launched in the UK earlier this year by Lascal®, creators of BuggyBoard®, the M1 Carrier^TM signalled the arrival of a new generation of baby carriers, offering supreme comfort; a sporty, streamlined look, and a host of innovative features and fabrics.

Bonnie baby the cute knitwear label loved by celebrity tots has seen increased sales this winter, despite the credit crunch!

The Tidy Books® brand began with the children's classic design alphabet bookcase. The latest addition to the Tidy Books® family is the bedside buddy, a shelf designed specifically for bunk beds:

As the BPA had expected the 2008 show at the NEC in Birmingham in October attracted 1800 visitors through the door - not a bad reflection of the resilience of the nursery goods trade, when you consider what the gloom mongers had been predicting for months beforehand. Yes, the show had noticeably fewer exhibitors, but this simply meant those companies that were there, got better space and were more likely to attract the right people to their products.

This years BPA Show proved a success for Tippitoes, who showcased its new Littondale Cot Bed. With its classic, wooden style on trend for this season, the new Tippitoes Cot bed is an elegant and affordable environment for bedtime.

"I have never been on such a busy stand at a trade show," said Megan Faure, author of Baby Sense and developer of the product range.

Star of the Show for Petite Star, Zia4 has taken the travel system market by storm in the same way that the Zia won over the hearts of thousands of mums who need an easy to use lightweight buggy.  

A perfect way to get fit and enjoy some quality time with you little one. The WeeRide Kangaroo - the centre mounted children's bike seat which puts your child in front of you on the bike rather than behind.

Following on from the multi award winning Polly highchair comes the new and innovative Chicco Polly Magic. Suitable from birth to 3yrs of age, it adapts perfectly as the child grows.

Any parent will tell you their baby falls asleep much more easily with gentle rocking or in the car while its in motion. How many of us have spent many evenings driving round the block in desperation to get a howling infant off to sleep! This sort of repetitive, background movement is restful, whether it reminds a baby of being in the womb or it just assists in letting the muscles relax, few can resist it's hypnotic appeal.

Keeping babies stimulated and amused is key to their healthy development; they also love to be on the move.

The DJ Babywalker comes equipped with a fun sounds and lights toy. The electronic activity toy features a light up keyboard that has notes, melodies or animal sounds. It also has manual activities, including a sound effects levers, "music book" with pages that turn, all making amusing sounds and which help the co-ordination and stimulation of baby' senses.

If the new evening dresses at Bellybutton are anything to go by, maternity fashion is just fantastic at present. For this well-known company in Germany that grew out of a few mums creating and making for friends, into a company that attracts the likes of Claudia Schiffer to their new Autumn/Winter range, simply oozes the sort of understated, classic style and modern sophistication, that even non-pregnant women will want to wear it.

The bolas are hand-made and make ideal gifts for mum-to-be. The bola is worn low on the belly after 20 weeks into the pregnancy.

For serious quality and super-soft leather bags, look no further than OiOi.  Whether it's a fashion staple black bag or a glistening snake skin print, OiOi really glams it up this winter with its range of must-stock leather bags for Winter 2008.

The Transformer is a Group II/III child car seat in a class of its own. Its integral closed design simply shouts safety! Its understated styling and form communicate simplicity, power and dynamism.