Every pregnant woman in Northern Ireland are to receive a new Health in Pregnancy Grant one-off payment of £190, for babies due after 6 April 2009. Expectant mothers are being advised to apply now for the Revenue and Customs grant. The new money can be claimed from week 25 of pregnancy, after receiving health advice from a midwife or other health professional. The grant will not affect other benefits and tax credit and is payable for each pregnancy, not each baby.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was on hand at Spring Fair recently on the Snowtime stand, which supplies Christmas tree lights and trims. The star of  BBC TV interior design show Changing Rooms, has been heavily involved in the development of a new collection that bears his name and his talent for colour combinations and extravagant gestures. 

Bottles, teats and soft toys are not products that parents are cutting down on in this time of credit crisis according to Vivienne van Eijkelenborg, Managing Director of the Dutch baby product company Difrax BV.

'Play England', the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the ‘Play Safety Forum' has just launched new guidance for play providers and play space designers on how to manage risk in play provision. This guidance promotes a sensible and practical approach that will help children experience adventure and challenge in their local play space.

East End hearthrob and bad boy Sean Slater caused a stir in a gripping Eastenders storyline this Christmas when he discovered he's not the biological father of baby Amy.

Tippitoes has put its considerable weight behind the highly desirable Baroo brand. From now on the bedding range is available through Tippitoes to all its independent customers in the UK and Eire.

The Baby Products Association is offering a discounted BPA Retail membership rate of £45 for 2009 in recognition of the current tightening economic situation for retailers.

Cheeky Rascals has announced an exclusive UK and Channel Island distribution deal with Playgro which was sealed last month. The Playgro portfolio covers infant developmental toys, feeding, bath time, baby care and bedding. It is a fun and dynamic range that will be a welcome addition to Cheeky Rascals' existing brands.

Celebrity mum Debra Messing of Will & Grace is a big fan of Wee Gallery's children's room décor. Using high contrast, black and white, animal-themed art cards, wall graphics and mobiles, the pieces stimulate a baby as well as embellish a designer room.

Chatterpants is a new kids clothing brand in bright colours, practical designs, natural, environmentally friendly, ethical fabrics full of the desire to celebrate children's artistic talents! Each design is made from bamboo which is less detrimental to the environment than cotton farming, since it requires fewer chemicals and pesticides, less water, is kinder to soil. Bamboo also feels super soft yet is hardwearing.

The infinity pro car seat by kiddy, has had a cracking start to 2009, by achieving the highest score possible for two test criteria on a report for Which magazine's website www.which.co.uk. The Group 1 design achieved 100% for both ‘side impact protection' and ‘avoiding incorrect use', in a test of 54 international models.

At Babybase we have ten years' experience of looking after the needs of independent retailers all over the country. We stock a wide range of well known branded goods and our next day service is second to none. If you would like to receive our up to date price list and learn more about how we can make your life easier, please ring us on 01886 887758 or email babybase.limited@talk21.com. We welcome all customers, large and small, and look forward to adding you to the list of our satisfied customers.

Lamaze showed off its new range of developmental toys for newborns upwards at the RC2 stand at Toy Fair last week. There are 14 to choose from each maintaining the developmental features long associated with the brand. Following tradition, many of the toys have been designed to grow with a baby, satisfying different developmental needs as baby progresses through the varying stages.

The Angelcare Movement & Sound Monitor AC401, which was introduced last year, has been a tremendous success and has established Angelcare as the leader in movement monitors.

Playtime takes to the head of the Activity Table with Gopak's all new product that features the qualities of its acclaimed Contour table - adding three stunning and stimulating visuals for kids.

There's a quiet revolution going on for teething babies....she's called Sophie la Girafe. Sophie the Giraffe has been a favourite teething toy in France for more than 40 years, and since her creation in 1961 she has wowed over 10 million babies with her natural beauty and retro charm. These days in France 6 out of 10 newborn babies are given their own Sophie la Girafe. Designed to stimulate all 5 senses and soothe teething gums, Sophie the Giraffe is a safe and all-natural teething toy.

The year has started with a frenzy of political activity, with each of the two major political parties vying to demonstrate that they are doing more than the other to address the current economic crisis. 

There is much being published at the moment about how to survive the recession, ride it out and get to the other side. I have written my fair share over the last few months and although it comes at us with relentless monotony, some of the advice is very valuable and we all would do well to get back to basics in these troubled times.

John McQueen, Founder of the Bankruptcy Association, has been heavily involved in the world of bankruptcy for more than twenty five years. During this time he has advised tens of thousands of people on how to manage their way through bankruptcy. Here he explains the reality and the implications of a situation facing many thousands more this year.

Robynne Cole, Managing Director of Sierra Distribution Ltd which manages The Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bedside Cot, had adopted three older children, then miscarried eight times before the much-wanted birth of her first natural son Noah James just over two years ago. So on 27th November 2008 when she was suddenly hit head-on by a drunk driver and three inebriated passengers while driving back to a self-catering apartment in rural Scotland, her first and only concern was for little Noah. In her own words she tells what happened.

Three quarters of headteachers admitting three year olds to nursery or school, are concerned by the sharp decline in their ability to communicate. So when the report of a research project on the effect of buggy direction was released last month in the UK, by independent charity the National Literacy Trust, it sparked a wide debate on whether this was a contributing factor. Here Liz Attenborough, who manages the early language campaign ‘Talk To Your Baby' which carried out the research, explores the implications of its findings for nursery retailers.

In November 2008, the European Commission published a Green Paper on Consumer Collective Redress. This started a consultation process on how best to handle group or class actions in Europe, hoping to encourage the European Consumer to look for products beyond national borders.

Baby monitors turned digital before DAT radio took off in the UK, and although digital transmission gives a clear sound signal, avoiding interference from competing monitors or televisions, they can contribute towards the level of ‘electro-SMOG' in our homes. That is the degree of electromagnetic energy around, produced by anything electrical such as the fridge, television, radio, computers and at low levels a baby monitor.

The Tomy Walkabout Platinum Digital Monitor is the ultimate monitor for parents wanting the very latest safety, reassurance and practical features to aid their baby's comfort while they sleep.

Lindam's Clarity Digital Video Monitor combines sharp styling with equally sharp sound and vision at a range of up to 150M to give parents peace of mind wherever they are in the home. The parent unit is portable and runs on mains electricity or the rechargeable Li-Ion battery included. The built in microphone and easily adjustable infrared camera of the baby unit provides audio and visual monitoring to the 2.36 inch parent unit's colour screen. On top of the monitor's fantastic specification are features of a night light and lullabies to sooth and comfort baby.

Praised by Midwives Online with a Health Professional Positive Review Award, Clippasafe's innovative Bump Belt has been helping protect unborn babies and mothers-to-be whilst travelling by car for over a decade.

The most important purchase any new parent will make is undoubtedly a car seat. Pushchairs, cots and slings are all important but quite simply, if there is no car seat their new arrival will not be leaving the hospital by car.

There is nothing more stressful that a fretful baby who is restless and agitated at home, and that's a fretful and agitated baby when you're traveling. Whether you're on holiday or desperately trying to get to your destination, a baby who isn't well attended or comfortable can make your life miserable.

Travelling with a baby is guaranteed to disrupt even the most flexible of sleep patterns.

The most versatile and compact steam steriliser on the market.

As we all long for those warmer Spring days to come we inevitably have to accept that this is the Great British weather that we're talking about. That's why Maclaren have brought out the Universal Packaway Footmuff.

If you want to stock travel accessories, look no further than Outlook's award winning product range for comfort and sun protection whilst on the move. The bestselling shade-a-babe^TM is a buggy shade which blocks 99% harmful UV rays, reduces glare, acts as a windshield, and keeps irritating insects at bay whilst giving great visibility and ventilation.

Every parent knows that a day out with baby is a challenge. You never know what to expect. Where are the nappies? Wipes? Drink? And worse still, where did I leave my keys?

Cometh the hour cometh the pushchair ... can there be a pushchair more of its time than Petite Star's recession busting newcomer, City Bug?

Hauck Group have responded to popular demand and are pleased to announce the arrival of the NEW Dream'n Care Travel cot size 89 x51cm. A stylish neat travel cot meeting all the demands of parents today. Suitable for any size home, easy to erect fold and store.

2009 will see Tippitoes leading the way with bold colours and to start the year, the company has the exciting Max Viz Stroller and Red Baby Carrier.

Funky dribble bibs Skibz make the ideal travel accessory for your baby or toddler. Skibz unique double-layer backing system is so absorbent, the bib can be worn for much longer periods than ordinary bibs and need changing less frequently - one less thing to cram into baby's travel bag when you set out on your journey!

Comfortable dinning out for both parent and baby with Chicco's new and unique 360 Table Seat. Once fastened securely to the table the seat revolves through 360 degrees to find just the right position to feed baby easily. The new and innovative Chicco 360° is the only table seat that can rotate through 360° so that parent and baby never lose sight of each other. The exclusive revolving seat system, covered by a Chicco Patent, allows you to choose the ideal position for every moment of the day.

The 2009 Littlelife child carriers incorporate key safety and comfort feature that set them apart in terms of technical detail and performance. You will find that Littlelife carriers are superbly comfortable for the parents, as well as snug and cosy for your child.

In October last year the Environment Agency, the public body set up to help protect and improve our environment in England and Wales, published a report which compared the impacts of using disposable nappies for the first two and a half years of life, with using a shaped cloth nappy system for the same period.

Korbell®'s non-smelling nappy bin is hygienic, easy to use and uses biodegradable liners to help reduce landfill. There is no unnecessary wastage as the liners are simple to cut to size with the safe super cutter located inside the bin. The pedal system makes it truly hands free, avoids mums bending over, having to let go of baby, and risking contamination when disposing of the nappy. There is an interior lid which can be locked to prevent small fingers from getting caught.

Bambinex award winning washable nappies are the ultimate in comfort and absorbancy, packaged superbly for the retailer, our nappies are a must. Offering great margins and small minimums make this brand a truly favourable one.

New Milton Antibacterial Fabric Solution is clinically proven to kill harmful germs (including bacteria and fungi) which can survive on fabrics even after a 45° wash cycle, causing bad odours and infections.

Now more than ever, the need for child safety harness is ever increasing, and with being awarded Bronze Best Travel Product in the 2008/2009 Mother & Baby Awards, is testimony the 2-in-1 Harness Buddy is the right product.