It's very fitting for me to emerge back into the world of baby equipment in springtime, when manufacturers can barely hold back their enthusiasm for their new product lines. Will there be a surge towards bright colours and funky patterns in 2008, or will that slighlty serious beige and black still hold on to the top selling spots?

Susanne Chishti has been shortlisted as best Female INventor 2008 for her Yes! Superbaby accessories. The mother who noticed that her babies were always pulling on everything she wore, came up with the idea after trying to juggle a demanding baby with other tasks.

An extensive new study from Canada has concluded that babies born to older fathers, even those in their sixties, are no more likley to have health problems than those with much younger dads.

Claiming the top spot in the recent Which? pushchairs ‘on test' report, Maclaren the creator of the umbrella fold buggy continues to lead the industry in innovation, quality and design.

The Easy Maxi SPP Group 0+ car seat is continuing a run of successful write ups with a new award from the website Mumsnet.com.

Concord, the award winning car seat and travel system designer and manufacturer has launched its first ever highchair.

May 11th sees the launch of Breastfeeding Awareness Week and to help ensure you can off your customers products that  really make feeding a pleasure, Made in Water has launched a range of new and supportive products.

Seven in depth trials by Universities in the US and Holland have shown that acupuncture during IVF boosts a woman's chance of conceiving by 65 per cent.

X-adventure, has launched a new three-wheeler designed for busy parents who want a nippy, flexible and well sprung pushchair at a good price. It has a lockable front wheel which makes it suitable for walking over rough ground, or darting round supermarket corners.

A two year old little boy  has caused £5,000 worth of flood damage to his parents' house after jamming the cap of a tube of toothpaste into a plughole.

To compliment the success of mother & baby singing group Thula Mama, Harrogate stand Q38 will  launch a new collection of natural clothing from the same company called Soul Cool Baby.

Innovative nursery product company Cybex will be launching a brand new range of lightweight buggies at Harrogate Nursery Fair, where they will be found on the East Coast Nursery Ltd stand A5. Available in vivid colours, there will be a choice of three models, each with features that will ensure they become a 'must buy', as they combine function with great looks.

The new ‘Lady With A Baby' range of hospital and changing bags from Samsonite offers women what they've wanted for years. A choice of truly feminine and chic bags with the practical space for living with a little one. There are three styles available; Boutique Shoulder Bag rrp £50, Boutique Baby Purse rrp £35 and Boutique Baby Holdall (shown) rrp. £60.They each come in three colours - Monchrome (shown), Pretty in Pink and Olivia.

The Harrogate Nursery Show will see the launch of Rochingham's new cot mattress collection ‘My First Little Bed, from Silentnight Beds'. This collection combines the expertise of Rochingham and Silentnight and has been developed with both baby and parent in mind.

Babyhut, who introduced the Award Winning Tri Cotti baby sling to the UK, has introduced two new Fair Trade designs to it's reportoire. The BB Sling, (shown) is a ring sling offer extreme versatily with comfortable and adjustable styling. The BB Slen, is a woven wrap sling which is highly durable and again very flexible. Most importantly both are manufacturered under Fair Trade operating guidelines so your customer can be confident that the supplier receives a good deal. 

Stokke, the top quality Norwegen children's furniture company is very pleased to announce the appointment of a new UK/IRL County Sales Manager. Alex Livesey brings his vast experience to the Stokke team and will be overseeing sales and marketing for the whole of the UK.

Bambino Merino has just been awarded a Best Buy Award by Practical Parenting magazine for a merino wool baby sleeping bags. For use all year round, these natural  100% pure merino wool and cotton sleeping bags ensure a baby stays at a comfortable temperature no matter what the weather.

Still celebrating our second year as Mother & Baby magazines best loved nappy brand we will be unveiling our new TotsLife range and a fresh new look at this years Harrogate Nursery Fair.

Gro-group®, who will be exhibiting at Harrogate for the seventh consecutive year, will launch three new, innovative and stylish parenting products at the show.

In just over a year Clearly Herbal  natural baby wipes, which are designed to be kind to baby and also for the environment, are showing signs of rapid sales success all over the UK  in high street stores. The demand has been encouraged by an intensive advertising and marketing campaign in the consumer media.

Q - When and where were you born? 

A - 1953, Leicester 

Q - Education?      

A - Uppingham School, Trent Poly, Sheridan College, Ontario

It doesn't happen very often, but every now and then one of your big sales items has a glitch. It can be resolved if handled well so what sort of support can retailers expect from the suppliers of such goods? We asked six major manufacturers to deal with our very own customer complaint.

In addition to our continued pressure on the Treasury to amend the VAT rules on child car seat bases we are also addressing a problem that presents a significant barrier to trade in the nursery industry in the UK. This is brought about by the inclusion in the Furniture & Fire Regulations 1988 of certain childcare items, notably infant carrier car seats and pushchairs. As all retailers and suppliers know these products have to be specially prepared in the UK to meet Fire Retardant (FR) tests specified in the 1988 regulations.

Standards Committees and BPA member experts have been very busy over the last few months. There is a lot of work in the pipeline that will find its way into the public domain over the rest of this year and early next year. Some of the more imminent standards that have been approved and will be published in May or June time as new BS EN Standards are as follows:

For those exhibitors interested in consumer as well as trade marketing and PR, the BPA has come up with a unique solution for its 2008 show to appeal to both sectors.  Its pre-show press preview will be a highly exclusive and prestigious event for BPA Baby & Child exhibitors and the national and nursery press.  Its aim is to ensure that journalists are provided with a unique and special opportunity to view the exciting range of products that will be on show at BPA Baby and Child.  

The BPA has pleasure in announcing the appointment of Christine Scippo as Marketing & Communications Executive for the Baby Products Association.

Customer Service is well recognised as key to the success of big stores to ensure customers are satisfied and keep coming back. But what about the smaller shops? How can an independent retailer with limited space and large overheads, hope to compete with such steep competition?

There is not other moment in your life that is anything like those first few days after having a first baby. It's a magical time when new parents feel an intoxicating sense of deep pleasure and delight at their own good fortune. The giving of a gift or keepsakes marks the specialness of this new phase. Whether the giver feels drawn to tradition or wishes to make a more modern grand gesture, all baby gifts are exciting.

As a nursery favourite and adored by gift buyers worldwide, little white bunny Miffy is the epitome of cute. DRi Licensing's much loved character is the star of an exciting range of quality gifts and collectables created especially for the nursery sector.

Fresh and bright, our brand-new TAGGIES^TM Colours Collection in bold, exclusive designs explodes with colour! Made from baby-soft fabric each Little Taggies is edged with colourful, engaging tags that little ones love! There are matching Colours Take-A-Long Taggies too! Taggies are one of today's best-selling baby accessory brands!

Two enterprising mums, who appeared on TV's Dragon's Den, have launched a range of unusual new products for toddlers - turning bathtime into a fun filled experience for both mum and tot.  The organic, double-layered Cuddlebug and Cuddlemoo towels keep your little ones snug as a bug or cosy as a cow, whilst incorporating play into the sometimes stressful task of getting them out of the bath and ready for bed.

A baby's mental and physical  development is rapid. The first year of life is jam packed with exciting milestones from grasping an object to rolling over, a first smile then wave, pulling up against a chair , and in some cases not only walking but running about too. Human development is quite breath-taking, but a baby needs to stimulate the senses in order for that develpment to take place.

As the leading UK distributor of developmental nursery toys, East Coast Nursery Ltd have a wide range of early learning toys, designed to encourage learning through play.

The Traditional Wooden Toys collection from Great Gizmos simply offers a selection of no-nonsense, honest toys with heaps of play value.

Haptic, exclusive UK importer and distributor for fast-growing Baby Accessory Brand Taggies has added Taggies Toys from Mary Meyer Baby to its exclusive range.

Tomy stakes its claim on being Britain's most exciting nursery and pre-school toy company as it extends its distinctive Discovery developmental toy range. 

New figures show that sales of licensed toys have gone up by ten per cent in 12 months to a staggering £2.2 billion.

A new arrival blossoms on the nursery scene this year, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar range of plush from Rainbow Designs is the perfect way to transform little ones' imaginations.

East Coast Nursery Ltd have had a long and successful relationship with Disney, and continue to develop licensed nursery products featuring everyone's favourite bear Winnie the Pooh. The two latest designs to be launched at Harrogate are called 'P is for Pooh', and 'Simply Sewn'.

Aspirational nursery product manufacturer Izziwotnot has introduced a striking, fun and fashionable new range of co-ordinated luxury embroidered linens, window dressings and accessories featuring favourites from the high profile GoochiCoo2 range of cartoon characters.

A brand new premium range of products designed by parents, for parents, has hit the shops in the form of Brother Max.

The Maxi-Cosi Mura has been designed with a different focus: the child.  The Mura offers an innovative package where comfort, spaciousness and flexibility are the key selling points.

CONCORD, the innovative German designer and manufacturer of car seats, travel systems and now designer nursery and home accessories will be showing its most inspiring range ever at Harrogate Nursery Fair.

The name John Crane Ltd is now not only synonymous with high quality, traditional wooden toys, but TOLO® and TOLO® Baby ensure the company's popularity across the superior plastic and plush sectors too.

Graco will be showcasing its new 2008 collection at Harrogate  this year, including sneak previews of the new imonitor^TM, the Quattro Tour Sport, a brand new Group 2/3 car seat and the Cleo. In addition, Graco will be launching its new website which features the entire product collection alongside a complete nationwide stockist list.

This year, Hippychick, the company rapidly carving out a niche for itself as a champion of outstanding products for active families, unveils its most ambitious collection ever.  Always keen to source inventive yet practical products Hippychick have recently added several new product lines.

On show at the Harrogate Nursery Fair will be our new travel system, Trio For Me, full of innovative features and contemporary styling it has a carry cot, car seat, forward & rear facing stroller and comes complete with matching accessories. Along with the multi-award winning Polly highchair you will be able to see the rest of the successful 2008 Juvenile range of products.

In its first showing at Harrogate, Yes! SuperBaby will present its revolutionary new range of "wearable playtime accessories.

Aroma Home makes its Nursery Fair debut at Harrogate.  Established in 1997, Aroma Home is an innovative and design-led British company producing a wide range of contemporary, fun and high quality holistic scented gifts. Many of the products are heatable and use local Cotswold wheat grain and pure essential oils to bring well-being and mood enhancing senses to daily life. 

New for 2008 from Sunshine Kids is the Monterey High Back Booster seat. Groups 2 and 3 compatible the Monterey has a host of exciting features and is suitable for children from 13.6kg up to 36kg in weight and from 96.5cms to 152cms in height.

Bully for Tippitoes! Champion of the discerning but prudent consumer, Tippitoes, successfully launched a Stroller earlier this year. Why? Easy, it was told that the demand "was out there". It was, so the fast growing Company keeps rolling on and you can see ( and have ) this super Stroller  in new pretty pink trim (catch a glimpse, or cast a lingering look, at Harrogate).They won't be holding their breath where this one is concerned, it's a beauty.

Harrogate will see Petite Star unveil three brand new colours for  their  triple  award-winning Zia exclusively for Independent Retailers.

Clippasafe, the leading manufacturer of child safety products, will unveil a host of new products at Harrogate, including: DVD/Digibox Protector - an adjustable screen which fits across the front of the DVD or Digital/Satellite Receiver to prevent children from playing with the buttons.

Harrogate sees the launch of a completely revolutionary patented absorption ISOfix system from Jané that will change the industries perception on ISOfix.

Thula Mama are launching a beautifully cute new collection of Soul Cool Baby natural clothing sets that complement their highly acclaimed CD of the same name and the Thula Mama singing groups that are currently being rolled out across the UK.

Still celebrating our second year as Mother & Baby magazines best loved nappy brand we will be unveiling our new TotsLife range and a fresh new look at this years Harrogate Nursery Fair.

Be sure to visit Bettacare on Stand C38.  They have been supplying quality products for over 20 years and are a well known and respected name in the mother and baby market.

Cheeky Rascals has got lots of new products to show you at Harrogate, including the new entry level BuggyBoard® BASIC and the ultimate baby carrier - the M1^TM from Lascal® (both products featured in Product News). We'll be introducing the first ever range of pedal nappy bins from Korbell® which are reusable, odour-free and include an "endless" bag system so you only use the amount you need without any pointless waste.

Britax will be introducing a number of major new product developments at this year's Harrogate Nursery Fair. In particular, Britax is set to make an important revelation in the baby transportation market. The new product, which will be unveiled in full at the show, is an innovative new carrier that allows babies to lie-flat in a comfortable, well protected environment that can be transferred from the car to wheels.

PurFlo® is currently dotting the ‘i's and crossing the ‘t's on a series of influential contracts with leading UK retailers, for SleepSac^TM and the PurFlo® mattress. And while the huge investment in its Euro-expansion plans continues to bear fruit, PurFlo® is well on the way to gaining a substantial foothold on the US market.

Infantino are excited to be back at Harrogate after a successful launch in 2007 and there will be plenty to show in 2008 as Infantino launch 3 totally new carriers, a range of new travel accessories and a number of great new infant toys. New for 2008 will be a range of ‘extended wear' carriers designed to provide maximum comfort and support for parent and baby alike.

In keeping with its commitment to deliver the most innovative products for today's parents, Summer Infant has developed the  3-Stage Super Seat  which defines  a new category in infant support and activity by providing for  three stages of development in one product

The team at Cuddledry has come up with some funky toddler bathtime products which are set to fly and charge off the shelves!  Already featured on BBC TV, the organic Cuddlebug and Cuddlemoo towels keep little ones snug as a bug or cosy as a cow, whilst incorporating play into the sometimes stressful task of getting them out of the bath and ready for bed. 

The new ip-op in great new colours will be centre stage on stand A4, sharing the limelight with a new twin pushchair developed by Bebecar: the Vector Duo. Designed around the Vector chassis, the brand new tandem comes with independent seat units that can face in either direction, and will be manufactured to the usual high standard at the Bebecar factories in Portugal.

Buggysnuggle, who have now been supplying retailers across the UK for 10 years will have a host of new designs being launched at Harrogate this year. In addition visitors to the show will see two new embroidered designs and several new colourways for existing products updating the range for the coming season.

East Coast Nursery Ltd will have all their existing and new products displayed on stand A5. Cybex, makers of the award winning Solution Car Seats, will be launching a new range of vividly coloured lightweight buggies.

A visit to the Flair stand (Hall C Stand 31) will reveal a bright new look for the infant developmental brand Sassy that is as fresh and attractive as the spring floral displays in and around Harrogate at this time of year.

Manufacturer Lascal® created the concept of the BuggyBoard® and now offers a range of design-led, innovative products all manufactured to the highest quality.

In 1973 Prince Lionheart® turned on the light, crafting handcrafted rocking horses, and years later...our light is still shining bright.  For more than three decades, Prince Lionheart products have been found in the homes of millions of families, making us one of the most recognized and trusted brands in the industry. We developed our philosophy the same way we developed our business- by listening to our customers and understanding their needs. It is an essential part of who we are, and the quality, beauty, and function of what we offer.