A New Year means new beginings and a positive mental attitude. Yes Christmas seemed to arrive before we were ready and we've all gone back to work before we've felt the rest, but there is good news to be had.

LeapFrog Toys has teamed up with the National Schools Partnership (NSP) and X-Factor mum, Sinitta to launch the Tag ‘Love to Read' programme, a brand new literacy initiative to build a passion for reading among children.  Developed for children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, the programme is based on the school curriculum and provides participating schools with exciting teaching materials devised by teachers in conjunction with literacy expert Jeni Riley.  It also consists of a parents guide to help encourage reading practise at home.

A well-known sleep clinic, Millpond International, has endorsed the new product, Sleepytot which was only launched in September. Sleepytot is an innovative baby comforter which was launched in September, and is now being sold in twenty-five high street and web stores across the UK and Ireland.

Yes! Superbaby who supplies innovative scarves and clothing with in-built toys to stimulate babies, has launched a competition to find the most photogenic mother or father and baby duo. To participate the baby must have been born in the summer of 2008 or later. The company is looking for parents who would like to model together with their baby in order to convey the fun and bonding at the heart of the products. Anyone interested should send an email to models@yessuperbaby.com by 30 Jan 2009.

Graco is celebrating winning two awards this month for a high profile PR campaign undertaken to promote its car seat range last year.The Lichfield based company won awards in the Best Consumer Relations and Best Use of Media Relations categories of the Midlands CIPR awards for its ‘Buy Second Hand, Get No Second Chance' car seat safety campaign.

Innovative British nursery company Brother Max is still smiling after winning Most Innovative Product 'Gold Award' for the 3-in-1 Thermometer, Best Nursery Product 'Silver Award' for the 3-in-1 Thermometer, and Best Feeding Product from Weaning 'Bronze Award' for its Food Portioners.In announcing the Gold Award for Most Innovative Product, Mother & Baby magazine editor Miranda Levy said, 'The judging panel agreed that Brother Max's 3-in-1 Thermometer truly is an extra-special and unique product that is great value for money and really makes life easier for mum.Genius!'

The National Association of Special Educational Needs (Nasen) has awarded its Inclusive Primary Resource award for 2008 to Learning Resources for its All Around Learning^TM Circle Time Activity Set. This is the second Special Needs award they have won recently as the Design & Drill^TM Activity Centre was also crowned winner of the ERA Award for Best Special Education Resource.

Bubble London, the only children's trade show is back this month at Olympia on the 18th and 19th with many names in the baby industry exhibiting for the first time inlcuding Frugi, Taggies and Minimink, Green Baby and Petit Bateau. The philosophy is to bring a new generation of kids trade show to the marketplace. Each event is carefully conceived as a focused trade show in a airy space, where retailers can meet a wide range of exhibitors from clothing to toys, shoes to accessories and more.

Lollipop, for many years, has established itself as a one stop source of information and products for eco-minded parents looking to find out about nappies and changing accessories. Now the team has turned their expertise towards a wider range of carefully sourced products, that have been ‘tried and tested' by their own army of advisor mums.

Britain's hot independent baby knitwear label Bonnie Baby has just announced that its collection is outselling global designer brands including Baby Dior at Selfridges' flagship store, Oxford St, London. The excellent sales figures have been achieved during Bonnie Baby's fourth season at the top London store.

Ofsted's chief executive Christine Gilbert shocked a House of Commons select committee last month over the death of Baby P. In a heated and hostile atmosphere MPs accused Miss Gilbert of running a watchdog which was too large, out of control and unable to look after the children it was supposed to protect. They wanted to know why Haringey, the north London council responsible for Baby P's care, was given a clean bill of health by Ofsted three months after the toddler died. Apparently information gathered for such reports was routinely destroyed after three months.

The recent launch of Clippasafe's new Carramio baby carrier at the Earl's Court Baby Show, was a huge success, with parents citing its excellent value and lightweight feel as key reasons why they loved it so much.  The design offers two seating positions facing in and outwards and comes with chic styling and comfort.

Lamaze will introduce a new cot toy called Dream Screen this month - just one of 14 new toys to come out this year. Just the thing to attach inside the cot, it helps a baby drift off to sleep thanks to the soft music, and encourage visual tracking through a dual motion screen for more wakeful moments. It can be parent or child activated and is MP3 player compatible. Also on show at Toy Fair will be the new Pyramid Play House Gym (pictured above) which won't be available until the summer, but is worth having a look at to get early orders in .

Concord has relaunched its modern Rio Rocker in a range of three new colours designed to co-ordinate with the whole Concord range - Krypton, Xenon and Argon. Already it comes in Bamboo (cream), Cherry (deep red) and Polar (white). Made from high-quality, softly padded and washable upholstery on an anodised tubular frame with a crafted beech wood rocker, the Rio is ideal for even the tiniest baby using the integrated insert cushion.

On 29th November Maclaren welcomed parents and children to enjoy some traditional German Christmas festivities at the grand opening of their first trade and consumer showroom in Europe, located in the historic district of Koln.

In these troubled times it is most important for you to remain focused on what your business is really about. In truth whether you are a supplier or a retailer the beginning and the end of everything is the customer. It is what your customer really wants that you must supply and not what you think they want. I know this sounds simple but there are so many businesses that are introverted in their approach and over time stray away from the primary focus of their business.

Playgro toys are brightly coloured and packed with fun, educational activities, ideal for stimulating visual and mental development. When infants start to explore, their tiny, sensitive hands love to encounter new textures, so Playgro toys are the perfect learning tool - fun, entertaining and safe. As the 'Early Years are the Growing Years', Playgro offers great ways to enjoy this journey, with the very best in product design and innovation.

Fisher~Price^TM has launched a new Electronic Steam Steriliser called Sterimax*, a unique product which is set to become a best-selling, ‘must have' item, for parents of babies and expectant mothers.

The challenges facing companies in the Nursery Industry are no different to any company in any sector today, namely, a low dollar rate, recession looming and a general tightening of belts cross the UK and worldwide.

Designed entirely from a safety perspective, and initially fashioned from a wedding dress, Totseat's unique design and functionality continue to prove their worth in fitting the myriad of quirky chairs now available in cafes, restaurants, resorts and even at granny's new bijou apartment. Its new zippered POS packaging has also proved a great hit - with mums - to reuse for wet things.

Premier KIDS is on the way and this year 20% of stands will be home to new collections. It's just the place to find the right look, style and price point to excite and delight your more discerning customers.

Daytime naps might be just a few short hours, but they can affect all twenty four hours of a child's day. Naps can improve a child's mood and reduce fussiness, crying, whining, and tantrums. Studies show that children who nap daily get sick less often, grow taller, and are less likely to be obese when they grow up. Naps also enhance attention span and brain development.

The companies exhibiting at Toy Fair represent every facet of the toy industry, from toy giants such as Hasbro and LEGO, to the many entrepreneurs just stepping out in the much-loved Greenhouse Area. Here's a low down on the companies you'll want to come and find.

Last year wasn't a particularly easy one with the UK falling into recession after the US and most of our European partners. In 2009 though, Business Consultant Jason Holden says there's every reason to be positive, and offers a few practical points to bear in mind.

Concord has launched its most innovative car seat ever!

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.

When it comes to becoming a parent, nothing is more important than the whole family getting a good night's sleep. And yet for many new mums the struggle to get their baby to sleep each night can go on and on for weeks, and if the issue of bedtime isn't addressed early, it can develop into a problem that seems to invade every aspect of life.

The Safe&Sound Cot Canopy^TM attaches to the top of all standard cots and travel cots to create a darkened environment to help little ones sleep well. Safe&Sound^TM ensures easy access to the infant and the parent/carer can cusomise the level of darkness appropriate for the child. Lightweight and portable, it's perfect for creating that instant night time feeling wherever, whenever.

Merino Sleeping range keeps baby warm without the risk of overheating Bambino Merino's 100% pure merino and cotton range of clothing includes sleep suits, body suits and pyjamas as well as a luxurious one-size sleeping bag. Produced entirely from natural fibres with no synthetic fillings or linings, the products are designed to keep baby warm without the risk of overheating. Natural merino is breathable and has the amazing ability to trap and release warm air as required to maintain an even temperature throughout the night.

When gro-group® founders Rob and Ouvrielle Holmes introduced grobag®, the UK's first baby sleeping bag, to the British nursery market in 2000, they never imagined that a global brand was in the making.

The Babytec Head & Body Sleep Support is the ideal mattress to help position your baby comfortably on their backs (the preferred and recommended sleeping position).

The Award-winning Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bedside Cot provides a safe sleeping environment for baby while also transforming into a free-standing bassinet, changing table, play pen and travel cot.

This unique lamp combines a conventional touch sensitive dimmer switch with an ingenious automatic fade function that when activated will gradually fade the lamp to off over a time period of approximately 15 minutes.

Sleep is such a vital commodity for our babies - and for parents too! Yet for those of us whose little ones are serial dribblers, our babies often wake up irritable and uncomfortable from sodden clothes and sore chins. Skibz are the funky new dribble bibs that fit snugly around the child's neck, preventing chaffed, sore skin and soaked clothing. Made from 100% pure soft cotton, their unique double-layered backing system maximises absorbency and enables your child to sleep comfortably.

• Sleep - The evidence is overwhelming that babies who are swaddled sleep longer and better. Swaddling inhibits the immature startle reflex, which disrupts sleep.
• Calm - Deep pressure is calming which is why swaddled babies cry significantly less. Swaddling is thus an excellent solution for a colicky baby.
• Feeding - Difficult feeders, especially those who fight at the breast, tend to feed better when they are swaddled (Journal of Human Lactation, 2001).

Sleep Sense - the book that is a must for parents suffering from sleep deprivation because their child will just not sleep through the night. It offers simple and sensible solutions and helps parents understand the relationship between sleep patterns and typical development. The book outlines reasons for interrupted sleep patterns and offers answers to solve these issues. For those desperate sleep-deprived parents there is also a quick fix trouble shooting section!

With excellent consumer reviews and a gold Practical pre-school award, the Sleepytot Baby Comforter has really taken off since its launch in September 2008. Designed to adapt to the changing needs of babies and toddlers, Sleepytot has Velcro tabs on its four paws, which enables the easy attachment of a soother or teether.

All families hit by job losses feel the enormous strain of financial cut backs almost immediately and some will have been under pressure for some time. It's never easy finding more than just enough money when there are more than two mouths to feed and with the rising cost of food and fuel bills, average households in the UK are looking for excellent value right now. People are getting accustomed to the idea of making ends meet and are looking for every way they can to do this.

TOLO by John Crane Ltd offer toys that will last a lifetime. High quality plastic and plush from Tolo will be handed down from generation to generation.

At a time when everyone is cutting back on spending, it is particularly difficult for new parents who rarely have a lot of money to spare. For them it is even more important to choose a brand that is not only affordable but also offers good design and guarantees quality. Tippitoes manufactures an exciting and state of the art collection of nursery and baby products and its range continues to expand. Tippitoes remains true to its ethos, which is to offer the ultimate in quality and value for money.

The Happy Snack Highchair has a spacious, well-padded seat with a fixed height, 3- position reclining backrest and a 5-point safety harness. The removable tray has 4 positions. It has a large storage basket to keep important items close to hand. Opens and closes easily and once open the wide frame makes it particularly stable. Freestanding when folded and its lightweight makes it easy to move. The frame legs can be split in half to reduce its closed size even further for storage or travel.

Sleeptight have been going from strength to strength over the last year, we have introduces a new line in boys storage to go with our very popular girls range, both of which are great value. Our manufacturing costs have been reduced and we beleive in passing the savings on to our customers in these hard times so several of our prices have recently been reduced permanently, particularly in the toddler bedding ranges and baby sleeping bags. Visit our web site or email us to discuss our products further.

As the recession starts to bite and prudence becomes the national mindset, various articles are starting to appear on subjects such as saving money and buying wisely. However we all know that buying cheap usually means buying twice and never more so than when it comes to buying a buggy. That's why Maclaren, so confident in the quality of their products, have introduced their unique Sovereign Lifetime Warranty^TM.

Great Gizmos will be catering for young ones this year with new additions to its Royal Doulton collection of melamine tableware.

A masterpiece of design and functionality, the new ®minui HandySitt® is ideal for parents who want a stylish and contemporary highchair that grows with their child.

Excellent value and great quality, the BuggyBoard® Basic is the entry level model of the tried and trusted BuggyBoard range. Designed for smaller prams and pushchairs, and perfect for umbrella-fold type strollers, the BASIC has many of the same standard features as the BuggyBoard MAXI, but at a budget price.

For the first year at least babies spend most of their time on the floor, so having a protective covering that is comfortable and keeps their interest makes good sense. Although a baby gym is not considered by most parents as an essential baby item, in reality, living without one is difficult.

A bright and colourful electronic play mat with different manual activities and fun sounds to aid baby with tactile skills and manual coordination. With the electronic panel you can choose between two play modes; animal sounds or fun nursery rhymes.

Tummy time play is increasingly recognised as an important activity for healthy infant development and Infantino has some great products designed specifically for tummy time activity. Helping babies develop good arm & neck muscles and giving them a break from the hours they spend on their backs, Infantino Tummy Time Play Mats are a great option.