It's all systems go at Cologne this month and the show is bigger than ever before. With increasing size and number of exhibitors, there will be no holes bars as all the major names in the nursery trade and many smaller ones, impress and entice you to take on their new baby ranges. See our preview pages on page 27 for more.

Emmay Ltd, the UK distrubutor of DreamBaby products has just announced its acquisition of Toddle Time.

Aprica has announced the appointment of Gary Whittaker as UK Sales Manager.

Joseph Clough, who hails as a ‘Celebrity Mind Coach' with expertise in hypnotherapy and NLP, recently commissioned a survey of1500 Brits about how happy they are. Despite the economic situation it seems over two thirds of the public are optimistic about their financial situation, with 53% of people claiming to be 'happy with life'.

The BPA says that it is experiencing an increase in visitor registrations for the BPA Baby & Child show in October.

TP Toys, the UK's leading manufacturer of children's outdoor play equipment, has just started to run competitions exclusively to those who connect with the TP Toys' group on the social networking site, Facebook.

Working with ebay, a new web-based sales system called ‘Auction People' has been launched to help make it easier to money out of surplus stock, returns, or refurbished items.

Lollipop Children's Products, known for their washable nappies has reached the last  12 in the 2008 Barclays Commercial Bank Green Leaders in Business Awards.

Celebrity parents, including a host of footballers, are clamouring for Concord's prestigious new travel system, the Neo Carbon.

According to market research by the British Chiropractic Association, back pain in the UK has risen by a staggering 5% since last year and in another poll, the BCA revealed that nearly half (44%) of 16 - 24 year olds suffer from back pain.

Modern mums are taking a leaf out of their grandmother's books and are relying on strict 1960's routines to raise their children, according to a new survey.

Launching at the MODA Footwear show in Birmingham. Pediped^TM super comfortable shoes for children, are now official available over here.

Mamas & Papas new product, the ‘Easy Fit Parasol Clamp' fits any pushchair or pram with tubes from 10mm oval up to any extrusion 35mm x 25mm, and  alleviates the common problems associated with universal parasol canopy clamps. Mamas and papas is so confident of its significant design edge, they've entered it into the  Innovation Awards at Kind & Jugend, the ‘Oscars' of the international nursery industry.

FunToSee's stylish new Mini Wall Art range offers a tasteful touch of colour and fun to baby's and toddlers rooms.

The directors of Babéco who appeared on Dragon's Den in July, are celebrating after receiving backing from a major company for their innovative baby product, the Baby Station.

Rob Holmes, Chairman of gro-group®, is delighted to announce the arrival of their new Sales and Marketing Manager, Ian Fitzpatrick.

Tippitoes is once again delighted to be exhibiting at Kind und Jugend and much has changed since last years event. Visitors will see how Tippitoes has continued to expand its choice of products as well as offering exceptional quality at affordable prices.

Credit crunch,bank losses, recession - the economic gloom goes on and trading conditions are getting tighter. In times like these every penny counts and good credit control is critical. Michael Morse of Godloves Solicitors says it's vital to keep your finger on the financies to avoid expensive mistakes.

As I write this article it is cold, miserable and tipping down with rain. Despite global warming and the threat of a hotter dry climate, here we are in mid August and not for the first time this week; it feels like a rainy day in November. If I cast my mind back the many decades since I was a child I can recall many a walk down a rain swept esplanade in the middle of summer, cold and miserable and waiting for the sun to come out.  So nothing really changes does it?

You may recall that for the first time in the 25 year history of BPA Baby & Child the Association is holding a preview day for the media. Members of the consumer press, national press, trade press, TV and radio were invited to the special day at London's QEII Conference Centre on 3rd September.

We have witnessed a steady influx of new members to the BPA over the last few months and currently have seven applications being vetted and processed. In addition we would like to welcome the following members that have joined us recently:

There is no doubt that the Nursery marketplace is a battleground. At the best of times it's a market in which there is a plethora of brands and strong competition for the consumer purse. As we enter this phase where ‘credit crunch' is on everyone's lips, the conflicts inevitably become even more tightly fought.

There are many infant toys on the market from all sizes of suppliers, but with companies feeling the effect of the down turn in the economy, they are keen to welcome new avenues to sell their goods.

As little ones grow from tiny babies to toddlers, it's important to make sure that they are travelling in safety. Developments in child seat safety and the introduction of improved child seat legislation in 2006 have reinforced the importance of having the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. However, replacing child seats as fast as children grow can prove confusing and costly.

All my life people have come to me with their problems and issues.  Someone even nick-named me ‘Auntie Clare' at school once! So when it came to the career crunch, what was I going to be?  Nurse? Teacher?  Massage Therapist?  Counsellor?  Healer? 

It's great to see new ideas coming through into the nursery this year, with many of the exciting brands showing in Cologne. Across Europe there have been some fresh innovations. The Smallworld design Babymade, by Marlip of Denmark has brought a new interpretation of ‘baby 'to their bedrooms with a minimalistic, stylish feel. The Egg-Max children's cradle by Kotura Design in Germany has also been a big success, offering a unique, secure and comforting ‘egg-shaped space' for a baby to sleep. It's made partly from acrylic and partly from stone to form a a wonderful material that requires no painting. Also from Kotura, the Lunnetta cot has turned heads. This cylindrical bed has a drop side that can be pushed down to any height allowing a parent more flexibility when lifting the baby out. It looks quite stunning as the centrepiece of a new baby bedroom.

Great Gizmos is now distributing Royal Doulton's Bunnykins range - a wonderful collection of children's melamine tableware .

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. The toy can be removed, to reveal a useful play or food tray, then using the straps provided the toy can be fixed to a stroller bumper bar.

For peace of mind all parents need a thermometer as part of their first aid kit. The Brother Max 3 in 1 thermometer digitally measures ear, forehead and room temperature fast and accurately in just 1 second.

The new Dilham furniture collection is designed with Shaker inspiration. Available in White or Antique it has a fresh, modern look.

New for the nursery in 2008 is the Woodlands Collection from John Crane Ltd, the new addition to an already strong TOLO® Baby range. The Collection offers new colour-ways and charming new packaging with a forest theme.

The world's largest selling and buying opportunity for baby products and clothing is here. Around 750 companies from 40 countries will descend in Cologne. Oliver P. Kuhrt, Executive Vice-President Koelnmesse says, ‘In terms of breadth and internationality the product range at Kind + Jugend is unrivalled. The spectrum covers children's furniture, car safety seats, textile outfitting, prams, hygiene articles as well as toys, baby and toddler fashion along with maternity fashion.

"Go to sleep Upsy Daisy"... "Go to sleep Iggle Piggle"... So ends every episode of the new record breaking IN THE NIGHT GARDEN, pre-school, television programme from BBC Worldwide.

Following the success of gro-group's debut at the Kind & Jugend Nursery Fair last year, the company is delighted to be attending again this year, to present its portfolio of award winning products to customers and potential new distributors from around the world.

Yes! SuperBaby are launching their new Miracle Collection at Kind & Jugend, Hall 11.2, Stand E23. Yes! SuperBaby's innovative range of products are designed to keep little ones entertained and excitingly the new Miracle Collection has been shortlisted for the Nursery Industries most important award the Kind & Jugend Innovation Award in the Catgegory "World of Baby Toys".

Bébé Confort's best selling pushchair the Loola Up is now compatible with the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix.

At a time when most suppliers have had to increase prices Boori UK has reduced Country Collection and King Parrot wholesale prices by an average of 10% across most of the range. The company is also running summer promotions offering free mattresses with all cot beds, and free toy boxes or tidy drawers on room set purchases.

At Cologne, Rochingham will be showing their newly launched 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. Beautifully soft and natural, the range is guaranteed to leave babies cosy and snug, and parents secure in the knowledge that their child is safe and supported on a mattress from the UK's best loved bed brand.

We can't wait to show off our new stuff at Kind + Jugend. There's the chunky funk of Modo, nursery furniture with retro style and simplicity, including an inventive 2 in 1 crib. Look out for a trio of new highchairs, including the 3sixti, a modern spin on meal times with a dash of personality.

Totseat, the award winning washable, squashable fabric highchair, is launching its newest funky fabric design - Chocolate Chip - at Kind & Jugend. The new design, featuring circles of pastel colours on a milk chocolate background, compliments the existing range of Lime, Pink and Blue stripes which have taken the UK and Europe by storm. Also launching is a new range specifically for export, developed in response to customer demand.

Infantino return to Kind & Jugend with a bigger stand and better display to showcase the highly successful ranges of soft infant carriers, travel accessories and award winning infant toys and introduce some exciting new options for 2009.

Britax's forthcoming 2009 collection features the next generation of safe, stylish and easy-to-use child car seats and wheeled goods.

The nursery sector leader's 650 sq. metre stand, located in Hall 10.2, Stand D 10/E 19, is its best ever at Cologne.

Since the introduction of the Taggies 'Colours' range, UK retailers have been selling them by the hundreds. Both Little Taggies blankets (rrp. £16.99) and the matching Take-A-Longs (rrp. £8.99), have proved popular in all four of the vibrant 'colours' designs. Every product is made from velvety soft microfleece surrounded by the irresistible Taggies ribboned tags that babies just can't help stroking. Until now the range has been available in four modern and fresh designs that rely on a mix of blue, red, green and orange.

The brainchild of Australian fashion designer Lisa Bennetts, OiOi began over 10 years ago with the birth of Lisa's daughter Isabella, who inspired Lisa to create a fashion label that empowered mothers to have the confidence to look and feel amazing.

Clippasafe, the leading manufacturer of child safety products, will unveil two new products at Kind + Jugend, Hall 10.2 Stand E78.

Kids II, Inc. has made a commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Bright Starts® Pretty in Pink^TM Collection to breast cancer research. The collection of baby gear and toys includes the Bright Starts® Pretty in Pink^TM Activity Jumper, a contender for the 2008 Kind + Jugend Innovation Award.

Having proved success across the USA & Australia, the Goldbug range of Baby Accessories has recently been launched into the EU. The Innovative Out-&-About and Travel Accessories have all been chosen to enhance kids' safety and comfort as well as parents' peace of mind. Goldbug Europe, based in London, is the official European distributor of the Goldbug range and other fine baby accessories.

KoolSun Sun Protective Clothing will be launching a brand new range of SPF50+ Beachwear at Kind und Jugend.

Cuddledry is a brand which has seen huge demand from around the world, not only for its award-winning baby bathing apron, but for each new product it launches. Their gorgeous Cuddlebug and Cuddlemoo toddler towels will be new at Cologne, and also they will be launching the funky new version of the original apron towel - the ‘moo-tiful' cowprint Cuddledry.

For the first time Perfectly Happy People are exhibiting their highly successful Widgey® Nursing pillow. Already selected her for the shortlist Innovations Award of the Kind & Jugend Nursery show, Perfectly Happy People are now expanding into the international market targeting a new European distribution chain.

According to a poll of just over five hundred mothers in May this year by Naty, more and more people in Britain today see global warming as the major concern for the 21st century. In fact it showed that mothers rank environmental pollution and climate change as a greater worry than terrorism or worldwide recession.

A child's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's, so testing water is vital to find the correct bathing temperature. Designed to give an immediate visual indication of scalding water, Clippasafe's Floating Dolphin Bath Temperature Indicator is a safer and more convenient method than using a hand or elbow.

Give babies the best start in life by using Green People's award winning natural and organic toiletries: pure, gentle organic formulations for young delicate skin.

The bath toys come as a five piece set and are a fun introduction to the materials we use to wash ourselves.

Dedicated to bringing parents the latest innovations, Prince Lionheart have developed their revolutionary new baby bath. Designed with baby in mind, the new washPOD^TM from Prince Lionheart provides a secure and warm environment - just like that of a mother's womb. Simple to use, the washPOD^TM and the water work together to support baby, all the parent has to do is offer gentle support for the babies head.

Bathtime is always a great opportunity for parents and babies to enjoy some quality playtime together before bedtime, and with Sassy bathtime means good clean fun!

How can you resist? Try this best-selling mild and gentle natural babycare range - everything you need including our new degradable eco nappy sacks, bodywashes, bubblebaths, body lotions, creams and biodegradable wipes. The range has won several prestigious awards, has a loyal following amongst mums, looks so cute on your shelf and offers great value for money.

Tigex's award-winning practical bath time products are designed to enhance baby's wellbeing and development. The ingenious suckered Bath Support (Practical Parenting's Best Value, September 2008) is ergonomically shaped to safely and comfortably hold babies (0-8 months) in a semi-reclined position with sensitive eyes and ears clear of the water, leaving mum's hands free to wash and play with baby.

Summer Infant is continually striving to bring new and innovative products to market. Our products are fresh, contemporary and of the utmost quality providing practical solutions for parents. Bath time is an area in which we excel and in which we have bought some fantastic developments to you, including the market leading Baby Bather, the award winning Fold Up Tub, exciting new bath toys such as the Bubble Maker and Stacking Rings as well as practical accessories in the shape of the Turtle Temperature tester.