Skibz, makers of the stylish award-winning dribble bib that looks like a fashionable bandana, are launching a new organic range specifically designed for newborns and young babies.

Following the huge success last year, the Harrogate Nursery Fair is again providing a night out at the Majestic Hotel to say thank you to all the exhibitors and visitors who are attending the exhibition. 

Tommee Tippee, the UK’s leading brand of baby accessories, has been launched in the United States.

John Lewis is to start selling Kiddy car seats from this February at six of its largest retail stores including Oxford Street and Bluewater. The retail giant has decided to put its full support behind the Group 1/2/3 ‘kiddy comfort pro’, design, which has excellent safety features including the kiddy ‘impact shield’ for use up to 18kg, and a very long useful life.

BABYDAN has appointed Treasure Trove Nursery division as its Exclusive Distributor partner for Independents and Key Accounts. From February 1^st 2010 Treasure Trove Nursery will handle the sales, trade marketing and distribution of the full BabyDan range including Home Safety, Nursery Furniture and Bedding across England, Wales and Scotland.

Sunshine Kids has announced the appointment of established nursery industry agent Donna Read, who will cover Scotland for the company.

I'm sorry to have to inform you that Peter White has resigned from his position as Chief Executive of the BPA and will leave at the end of October to take up a new position as CEO of a larger trade association which looks a good and understandable move for him.

Jané has confirmed its position as a market leader in innovation and quality by scooping a Gold first prize for its Energy pushchair at the coveted 2009 Practical Parenting awards. This puts the Energy firmly in front as leading pushchair in its field.

Becothings, the company producing eco-friendly alternatives to every-day products, is thrilled to announce the launch of the BECOPOTTY into nationwide John Lewis stores in 2010. The BECOPOTTY is currently stocked in JoJo Maman Bebe stores and other independent retailers - www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Weybury Hildreth has been appointed by PurFlo as UK distributor for its healthy, anti-allergenic SleepSystem Mattresses and SleepSac's.

After just 1 year in the European market, JJ Cole Collections is proud to announce strong growth, with partnerships with some of the leading retailers in the European nursery industry.

Tippitoes is delighted to announce it has been awarded two accolades in the 2009/2010 Practical Parenting Awards. With a high volume of products entered, Tippitoes was up against stiff competition from the cream of the industry and ultimately scooped the top Gold Award in the Cot/Cotbed Category for its Littondale Cot and Silver in the Safety Gate Category for the Swing Shut Safety Gate.    

At the Practical PreSchool Awards earlier today, John Crane scooped the prestigious Overall Award for Toys and Games with the unusual entry of its Red Musical Instrument Set.

Come and talk to Becci and Sue at BPA Baby&Child, taking place on 11th,12th and 13th October 2009, at London's ExCel. Official sponsors of the Launchpad, you will find the Ni team at stand number LP63.

Yorks Trade Fairs are trade fair accommodation and travel specialists who are familiar with the various European Fairgrounds and the best hotels to use for convenience. The staff have a great deal of local knowledge about Cologne and can offer advice about the city, the Kind + Jugend Show, the best ways of getting there and where to stay.

The NATLL Good Toy Awards has announced its winners and PlayMais is delighted to accept a Gold Award in the creative toys category.

TrendyKid Distributors of Juvenile Products with offices and warehouses in the USA and UK are now able to offer UK businesses an opportunity to build their sales and brand in the USA by expanding their fulfillment services to the UK clients.  

Here's a first sneak preview of new Taggies Babywear which will be making its first appearance at this weekend's Bubble Kids Trade Show in London's Business Design Centre, Islington.

For the upcoming edition of FIMI, the most prestigious International Children's Fashion Fair celebrated in Spain, ASEPRI (Spanish Manufacturers Association of Children's Products) this week presented the ‘españa' trademark, an initiative which represents the value and essence of Spanish companies in the children's fashion and childcare product sector.

In response to the British Medical Journal's (BMJ) study about the use rear facing car seats until the age of four, the Baby Products Association (BPA) raises a number of issues relating to their use in the UK.

PJP www.pjpartnership.co.uk  has been appointed to launch the Aquasolari bed pad, said to be the perfect way of dealing with wet beds for toddlers, children as well as mums-to-be.

Since its launch at BPA Baby & Child 2008, Janet Theodore is stepping up the PR and marketing activity for its innovative Breast Feeding Pouch, by teaming up with Bedfordshire-based Kaleidoscope Communications.

Newly appointed sales agent, Natasha Dudnik will take over the London, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex area for John Crane Ltd with immediate effect.  Natasha, formerly the company's specialist Sales Consultant in Harrods, has been with the company for over six years so has a wealth of experience of all the company's collections.

A new survey* conducted by Maclaren Buggys and BackCare, ‘The Charity for Healthier Backs', has revealed that 83% of Mums suffering from back pain believe it has been caused or exacerbated by their children. Mums cite pregnancy as well as the day-to-day lifting and carrying of their children as the main reasons but the survey highlighted a significant proportion of these mums (73%) also link back pain to pushing, folding or lifting pushchairs. Sash Newman, Chief Executive for BackCare comments: "A pushchair is one of the most important pieces of baby equipment a parent buys - they will be using it constantly for years, not just months.  If you choose one that has the wrong handle height for you, is too heavy, or is difficult to fold and lift then you could be storing up some real problems for the future."

Hippychick is delighted to have been chosen as one of 10 finalists for the Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award in the National Business Awards South of England Regional Programme 2009.

Natures Purest, the organic nursery range company, has beaten off stiff competition to win ‘Best New Business 2009’ in the prestigious Leicestershire Business Awards. Natures Purest was announced as winner on the 24^th April at the Awards dinner, attended by 700 of Leicestershire’s business elite.

The recent alliance between Tippitoes and Baroo has been strengthened further with merged warehousing/distribution and sales support, providing additional customer benefits.

Children’s TV presenter Dave Benson-Phillips is returning to open the Childcare and Nursery Show for a second year because he enjoyed it so much the first time, organisers have revealed. 

Boori Nursery Furniture has appointed Alex Soultana (ex Tomy) and Scott Carruthers (ex Bugaboo) as sales representatives for their Southern and Northern areas respectively. Their roles will include staff training and product advice/updates for retailers.

Footballer Michael Duberry and his wife Natasha have launched funky new baby products website www.mummysonlinebabyshop.com

Hippychick will be supporting Baby Sense on their stand (P42) at The Baby Show, Birmingham (15-17 May), continuing to raise awareness and interest in the Baby Sense method.  The increasingly popular books and accompanying products took Harrogate by storm – if anyone who did not make it there would like Sales Manager, Peter Shaw, to visit them about this line please contact us on sales@hippychick.com.

Organisers of this year’s Childcare and Nursery Show are reporting a surge in uptake amongst exhibitors.  Nineteen new businesses have now booked space at the show in addition to those organisations already involved.

Hippychick are delighted to announce that sales of its flagship product the Hipseat are flying high with a 45% increase since 2007. 

The Baby Products Association is delighted to announce an industry victory regarding child car seat base VAT reduction – securing the only VAT reduction in this year’s Budget.

The Harrogate Nursery Fair was a major event for the newly christened Gro Company, with the Gro-clock also making its show debut: "It's designed to help children understand when it's time to sleep and when it's time to get up by using images of the sun and moon. It also comes with a free bedtime story book called ‘Sleepy Farm' which helps reinforce the message of getting a good night's sleep," explained the brand's Katy Gaulton. Customers were able to see the new Grobag Baby Sleep Bag designs for Autumn/Winter 09 and discover the company had also been appointed as the exclusive distributor of Norwegian brand Be Safe, pioneers in rearward facing car seats.

Following Harrogate, future important dates to add to your calendar are 11th-13th October, when BPA Baby & Child will be held at ExCeL in London. Please note if you're an exhibitor the priority booking discount deadline date is approaching fast so please contact us soon.

The BPA is delighted to announce the appointment of Tamsin Kirkpatrick as its new Marketing Executive.

John Crane Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Pilkington as Managing Director.  Simon moves from his current position as Managing Director of John Adams Limited and Toy Brokers Limited, to take up his new post from 1 April 2009.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and fdf (Foundation Degree Forward) have joined forces to offer more support to smaller businesses facing skills gap issues. In particular, they are promoting the kind of support available through Foundation degree programmes provided by universities and colleges across the UK.

This month sees the Baby Products Association (BPA) launch its 2009 award programme encouraging product innovation within the nursery sector - The BPA Concept & Innovation awards.

As part of its important work for our industry the BPA actively promotes new product development through its award programme.  In previous years the scheme has been highly successful; and for the finalists has proven to be a constructive channel for promoting and even launching their new products.

The name behind classics such as Paddington Bear, Miffy and the Beatrix Potter characters is ringing in the New Year with the appointment of a new Marketing Assistant following a third year of sales growth under the guidance of Managing Director Anthony Temple.

Further to its offer of a discounted membership rate of just £45 for 2009, the Baby Products Association (BPA) has had a positive response from many retailers wanting to join BPA Retail. However, many of those applying have been disappointed as they do not fit the membership criteria. 

It is the aim of BPA Retail to inform, advise and guide members and to promote and encourage a high standard of professionalism in the nursery trade. BPA Retail aims to provide an environment where ideas, issues and experiences can be shared, and provide a common forum in which there exists a certain safety in numbers and a facility to develop and promote best practice in our industry.

The innovative car seat manufacturer ‘kiddy' uses a unique ‘impact shield' on three of its top designs. This is instead of a more traditional shoulder harness, which as many parents will know, can be fiddly to thread and adjust. Well now the company, which exports to over thirty countries worldwide, is delighted to be able to show everyone exactly why their system is so safe.

Don't miss Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Leading Christmas tree, lights and trim suppliers, Snowtime, are pleased to confirm that TV's favourite designer, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen will be joining the team at Spring Fair from Monday 2^nd Febuary from 11am-12.30pm, on Tuesday 3^rd February from 10am-11.30am and again from 1.30pm-3pm on our stand K10/M11 at the NEC Birmingham.

Baby&More - UK distributor for the Wonder Bib range - will add a splash of colour to your shelves this spring with an exclusive 15% discount offer on all orders placed before the end of February 2009.

London, UK - January 2009: Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG) is delighted to announce the recent appointment of Rebecca Burton, who has taken up the role of Toys & Gifts Category Manager within CPLG's Entertainment division.

Tiny Dee has just been granted the license to sell the Tiny Traveller in new colours, designs and fabrics to offer retailers a fantastic range for their stores. In addition to the traditional navy option you can now get pink, sky and red alongside fashion options in cosy faux fur and fun cow print fleece! Each Tiny Traveller comes with a comprehensive information leaflet and can also be supplied with an information poster for in store display.

Directgov, the government's flagship digital service, is launching a new campaign to offer people real help with accessing public services and advice.

NScessity, the Surrey based specialist in safety and health related products for babies and children has been selected out of 85 companies by the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) and identified as a company with high growth potential.  As a result they have become part of the SEEDA funded High Growth Business Coaching Programme.

The preschool toy specialists, RC2, today announce its appointment as the worldwide master toy licensee for the BBC's flagship preschool TV series, Chuggington, which is also due to be aired internationally in 100 new markets in 2009.