BabyCentre, the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, has launched the 2013 Social Mum Report in partnership with comScore. The report analyses how mums - who are more likely than the general population to use social media regularly - consume information and make purchasing decisions as a result of their activity on social platforms.

Hippychick has raised over £10,000 for its first ever official Charity of the Year –Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK. Make-A-Wish has been granting wishes to seriously ill children for over 25 years and has committed to granting over 1,100 magical wishes this year. Hippychick’s fundraising achievements will make a significant contribution to aid the charity in reaching that goal.

The BPA is delighted to invite members to its Annual General Meeting on 26th June 2013 and has a great line up of speakers making this a truly not-to-be-missed event.

Britax have appointed Jeff Ward into a new role as European Commercial Director to oversee the sales, marketing and customer service functions across the region.  He will be based at the European headquarters of Britax, located in Ulm, Germany.

Tippitoes are delighted to announce that highly respected Melvyn Wolff has joined us in the role of Technical Manager; he brings with him a wealth of knowledge gathered over  many years working at the cutting edge of technological advance within the Nursery Industry. Most recently, of course, he was technical manager for nursery products at SGS United Kingdom one of the world’s largest testing organisations and this expertise will help us build on Tippitoes strong reputation for quality.

The Toy Retailers Association has kicked off the year by charting a new course for its prestigious Dream Toys media event, held every October, and designed to promote the industry at the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

Once again, the Baby Products Association (BPA) is working with UK Trade & Investment (UKTi) to support British companies wishing to expand into worldwide markets and has been allocated nursery sector funding for Kind und Jugend, Cologne in 2013.

Munchkin, Inc., leading designer and manufacturer of clever infant and toddler products and parent company of U.K-based Lindam Ltd., today announced that Robert Mann has joined as Managing Director – Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Mann brings more than two decades of sales, marketing and operations experience to his role, which is to help drive corporate growth and strengthen key relationships with retailers and distributors, while defining product lines.

Award winning wholesaler Baby Brands Direct has just launched a brand new competition on-line. All you have to do is log in, read a short article about Motorola and then answer 5 simple questions! Answer all 5 questions right and Baby Brands Direct will give you a voucher code which can be used at check out to receive a FREE Motorola Baby Monitor. The competition runs for 2 weeks and there is £1000 worth of stock up for grabs, but hurry as once the stock of FREE monitors has gone, it’s gone! All in all, there are some great deals to be had at Baby Brands Direct on many big name brands!

Award winning wholesaler Baby Brands Direct has just launched a brand new Prize Draw on-line. Simply log in and answer 5 simple questions about Peter Rabbit and you will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky winner will win a box of Peter & Jemima bean rattles and a box of 6 potter chime balls worth £150. The free prize draw closes on the 16th December, and all the answers can be found on-line by simply reading the accompanying blog! All in all, there are some great deals to be had at Baby Brands Direct on many big name brands!

SnoozeShade, the award-winning range of sun and sleep shades for prams and pushchairs, is giving Tamba (Twins and Multiple Births Association) a helping hand by donating £1 from every sale of its SnoozeShade Twin for side-by-side pushchairs.

As a direct result of the Government’s Red Tape Challenge, the Baby Products Association (BPA) advises members that the Wheeled Child Conveyances (Safety) Regulation 1997 is amongst the latest collection of regulations to be revoked on 1st October 2012. Therefore, as of Monday this Regulation no longer has any effect. Please be advised that there is a recently revised safety standard; BS EN 1888:2012 Child Care articles. Wheeled child conveyances. Safety requirements and test methods.

Clarion Events have appointed Cybher to create and drive social media for The Baby Show. Over the last few weeks they have been responsible for streamlining and fully integrating the existing social channels as well as launching the new daily Baby Show Blog and a collection of style inspiration boards on Pinterest.

Azaria has launched its annual Family Report. This year, the family specialist PR agency looks in to ‘how the family communicates’ and has polled 1,000 parents to offer a true representation of the modern family in the UK.

Myleene Klass the 34 year-old singer, pianist, children's fashion designer and mum of two has road-tested the biggest indoor buggy assault course to launch the largest Mothercare store in the UK.

Following its launch two years ago, Clarion Events has confirmed The Baby Show for Trade will no longer be taking place at Olympia. Clarion Events has undertaken extensive research, market assessment and customer discussion over the last few months with both exhibitors and visitors and concluded that the event is no longer sustainable as it currently stands due to the growing industry focus on the European trade show in the autumn.

Brother Max’s latest product innovation – the 2-Drinks Cooler Sports Bottle - has already made its TV and radio debut and it only hit the shops last week.

One very familiar stand you won’t find at Harrogate this year is Haptic and Taggies. Eight years after launching Taggies to the UK and Irish markets exclusive importer and distributor Haptic has dropped the brand.

This year’s Harrogate is all about the independents for BabaSlings Ltd. As their only domestic trade show appearance in 2012, the company will be supporting the launch of theQube display unit and retailer initiative with a year’s free product for one lucky shop!

In April’s Glamour magazine, Dannii Minogue talks about style tips she learnt from her mother and here’s what Dannii had to say about Mother’s Day: “If you’re looking for a gift for a new mummy you can’t go past an Il Tutto baby bag. Il Tutto means ‘everything’ in Italian, and you can pack everything but the kitchen sink in the cleverly designed pockets. They’re like a mobile nursery, disguised as a designer handbag.”

Entering its twelfth year as one of the most trusted names in car seats and accessories, Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products is proud to announce that effective March 8, 2012, it will be changing its name to Diono in the United Kingdom. The new name, website and packaging demonstrate Diono’s commitment to continued growth and accelerated international expansion.

The brand behind the multi award-winning ‘ewan the dream sheep’, easidream, is delighted to have received the stamp of approval from a new and very special fan...Yummy mummy and singer-extraordinaire, Lily Allen!

Jenni Falconer knew about the Nuna LEAF before it even launched in the UK as her brother had bought one from Europe last year. She has one for baby Ella and LOVED the adult LEAF and wants one for her and her husband!

OiOi, the designer changing bag brand, are excited to announce that, through the launch of their UK based wholesale business, they are now able to offer retailers in the UK and Ireland their full range of gorgeous changing bags for mums and dads directly.

Kiddicare.com, acquired by Morrisons in 2011, has today agreed to take over the leases of 10 former Best Buy stores from Carphone Warehouse.

Nuna, the stylish and elite baby gear line that sold out within a week of being delivered to John Lewis looks set to be a major trend-setter this year. At its exclusive launch in the luxurious environs of Hotel Sofitel in London earlier today, celebrities and press were impressed by the apparent simplicity of the range, cleverly designed to lighten the load for new parents.

TOMY is the number one toy company in Japan and by 2015 its aim is to be the largest toy company worldwide following the acquisition of RC2 earlier this year. This goal is totally achievable with the company’s core growth strategy in place to transform itself into a global giant by maximising its ability to deploy its global development capacity and capitalise on overall efficiencies.

Recent news reports highlight the sales of potentially dangerous ‘bling’ baby soothers and other baby products such as feeding bottles and the Baby Products Association (BPA) warns parents not to put their children at risk by purchasing such items, which are often sold on websites, independent shops and market stalls.

Baby Brands Direct is delighted to announce they are now exclusively stocking the safety brand Lindam. A spokesperson for the company said ‘we were extremely keen to expand our range of nursery products to include a wider range of safety lines, so we were especially pleased to bring back to the independent market brand leader Lindam.’

Tippitoes’ hugely successful Boys Toilet Trainer, a revolutionary aid designed to help with toilet training is now launching in Boots.

OXO Tot is set to hit the big screen this month when it makes a special appearance in the latest American blockbuster “I Don’t Know How She Does It’, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker.

The Gro Company - the UK’s leading baby sleep brand - has launched two new twin packs to its multi-award winning Grobag Baby Sleep Bag range. Available exclusively to independent nursery retailers, the two new twin packs are designed to meet consumer’s need to make their lives as easy as possible, whilst also providing excellent value. They also provide an excellent commercial opportunity for the retailer.

The washable nappy and baby goods brand "Lollipop" is now under new ownership. Lollipop Baby Products is a new company, trading since May this year and are thrilled to have joined up every aspect of the supply chain of their products, from fabric manufacture through to end retail.

Kiddicare.com, the UK’s largest online nursery retailer, is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Harrow to Chief Operating Officer. The new role is designed to help the business deliver its objectives following the takeover by Morrisions in February this year.

Phillip Schofield and Jenni Falconer had fun guessing the correct use of the Lil Rinser when it appeared recently on ITV1’s ‘This Morning’ daytime show.

ITV1’s flagship breakfast show, Daybreak, visited Britax Headquarters in Andover last week to film a live crash simulation for the programme.

On-line wholesaler Baby Brands Direct is delighted to announce they have just signed an exclusive agreement to distribute the Beaba brand of baby products in the UK. This collection of truly practical, multifunctional, compact and stylish accessories has been inspired by mums and designed to make life just that little bit easier. This beautiful and popular brand includes a wide range of baby feeding essentials including bottles, teats, soothers, highchairs, booster seats, food preparation equipment and accessories, hygiene and bath time goods, change bags and safety equipment, rockers and also a range of sunglasses!

Harrogate Nursery Fair has launched an eye-catching new website where both exhibitor and visitors can easily access news and information about the UK’s favourite nursery trade show.

A new innovation from Smart-Trike sees an exciting world first…a tricycle that is stroller certified and available from six months. The unique Recliner Stroller 4 in 1 is the only trike to have passed the strictest bumping and shock absorption tests, supports from six months and cleverly transforms as the child grows. It offers parents 4 stages to support so that baby can learn to enjoy the great outdoors, ready to adapt as the baby grows to excitable toddler and wants to wheel around!

Bushbaby award winning baby carriers, clothing and accessories are now available direct to the nursery industry from Bushbaby. Tony Beck, will be joining them as an agent covering the Midlands, Northern England and Scotland.

Baby Brands Direct is delighted to announce that breastvest has appointed them as their exclusive wholesale distributor for their innovative breastfeeding product. breastvest is a revolutionary item of breastfeeding underwear which was created, designed, tested and approved by breastfeeding mums.

Thousands of unused pushchairs are lurking in the nation’s homes and garages but parents still have their favourites and seem reluctant to dispose of them, a survey has found.

Argos and Lindam are proud to be supporting Child Safety Week 2011.

Artsana UK is delighted to welcome Mitch Levene as the new MD of Chicco, replacing David Welsh.

It's well documented that Victoria Beckham is going all out on the 'pink'  for her baby girl, due in a few months' time. At her baby shower, the world saw just how 'pink' she'd gone with family and friends sending an array of pink gifts. Among the gifts Dorel was thrilled to see one friend had chosen to give Victoria a Quinny Buzz, in Pink and a pink Hoppop bath.

David Welsh, The UK Managing Director of Chicco, has elected to move on after 20 years at the company.

The Baby Products Association (BPA) is delighted to announce that its request for additional grants from the Tradeshow Access Programme Support Scheme for Overseas Exhibitions (TAP) has been granted, allowing a further five members to receive support to exhibit at Kind und Jugend this year.

All conditions of the Kiddicare.com sale to Morrisons have been met, before the March 23^rd deadline, and the sale has been fully completed.

The partners of kiddicare.com, the award winning multi channel online retailer, are delighted to announce the sale of kiddicare.com to Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc (“Morrisons”) for a total consideration of £70 million, together with the rights to its highly regarded technology platform.

Kiddicare, the UK’s largest nursery retailer, has been voted top of the shops by parents at the prestigious annual Mother and Baby awards ceremony. Winning a triple accolade, Kiddicare was hailed the star of the night, taking home the awards for Best Nursery Retailer and Best Online Retailer, as voted for by Mother and Baby readers, and Best Nursery Product, tested by Mother and Baby’s team of mums.