Special Delivery from Santa!

The anticipation of Christmas can be almost as exciting as the day itself, so let Itsyourstory add to the thrill with this unique photo-personalised letter from the big man himself.

Each letter is personalised to feature the child's address, the name of two of their friends, their age and a uniquely personal PS at the bottom of the letter. This will create even more magic as it is written by the sender and relates to something personal in their lives eg – how well they’re doing at school, getting a new pet etc. The letter also reveals which friend or family member has asked Father Christmas to get in touch.

Priced at just £4.50, the Father Christmas photo-personalised letter is available exclusively from www.Itsyourstory.co.uk. Customers can choose from two letter designs featuring the child alongside Rudolf or Father Christmas. The letter arrives in a Christmas-themed envelope addressed to the child and complete with a North Pole stamp. What better way to build the excitement in the run up to Christmas!

Orders will be taken from September. Last delivery date before Christmas is December 18th.

(EDITOR: Orders are being taken now, from 1st September! So what are you waiting for? Click on the above link and start early with your Chirstmas purchases!)

Who needs Selection Boxes this Christmas? Not us!

Forget naff selection boxes and same old, same old tins of chocolates this Christmas – treat your loved ones to a unique Christmas Confectionery gift from BabyBlooms.

The Chocolate Flower Bouquets are a beautiful gesture and the festive bright colours will brighten Christmas morning. Priced at £34.00, the Hearts and Flowers Chocolate arrangements comprise tasty chocolate flowers and hearts and will delight the lucky recipient. Eight chocolate Lollipops and 24 sweet dragee hearts mean there are enough to share (if you want to) and the arrangement comes luxuriously packaged so are perfect to send directly to loved ones you won’t see this Christmas.

What better way to wow your Christmas guests than with the collection of brand new sweet and chocolate trees from BabyBlooms. Looking just like a real topiary creation, the sugary shrubbery is a truly unique way to welcome your loved ones on Christmas day and make an ideal gift for relatives and friends with a sweet tooth.

Treat yourself and others to the Chocolate Truffle Tree which features perfectly rounded scrumptious truffles in the shape of a delightful tree decoration. The Malteser Drizzle Tree includes everyone’s favourite light chocolate treat and guests will love to help themselves. Younger loved ones won’t be able to resist the Haribo Tree – this delicious arrangement includes all your favourite Haribo sweets including cola bottles, fried eggs and many more.

Each tree comes in two sizes which are priced from around £30. Prices available on request from www.babyblooms.co.uk. So go on treat yourself to an extra special tree this Christmas.

Gorgeous gifts for your little ones this Christmas

If you have run out of places to shop for your little ones this Christmas, look no further than BabyBlooms (www.babyblooms.co.uk). 

Renowned for their baby clothing bouquets, BabyBlooms also have an array of unique gifts for children of all ages.

The adorable Pull Along Toys are sure to become your baby’s constant companion. Choose from a Hedgehog with a delicate leaf on the end of its lead, a Ladybird with a pretty flower, a Dog with a soft bone and a Cat with a cute fish attached to its lead. What’s more, you can remove the sturdy, wooden wheels to create a cuddly soft toy. Each Pull Along is priced at £16.99.

Little ones will love the collection of stylish, soft animals. The handmade cotton large multi-coloured Elephant is made of strong woven cloth that will survive the rough and tumble of toddler play. The brightly coloured check fabric will also make a beautiful addition to any nursery this Christmas. Priced at £22.00, the Elephant can also be complemented with the colourful Giraffe which is just £13.00.

Treat the little girl in your life to the Fold & Go Dolls House and keep them entertained at home and on the move. The perfectly pink house features two wooden dolls and a selection of detailed wooden furniture. The house comes with a handy carry handle and folds down so girls can carry and play with it anywhere. Priced at £35.00.

The Billy Magnetic Dress Up Set is a great stocking filler for little boys. Priced at just £11.99, you can dress Billy up in a range of outfits including a Police Officer, Superhero, Knight, Fireman, Construction Worker or Pirate he is ready for adventure at a moment's notice. The set includes, a magnetic wooden dress-up figure with stand and 26 magnetic pieces of clothing for pretend play. Suitable for ages 3+, the price also includes gift wrap.

Traditional rag dolls always make treasured gifts whatever the occasion and BabyBlooms have a lovely range in all shapes and sizes that make great stocking fillers. The beautiful Ballerina Doll comes in both 19cm (£5.50) and 40cm (£12.50). Her pretty pink outfit and features will make her a budding ballet dancer’s best friend! The Blue Rose Rag Dolls also come in two sizes and for those still feeling patriotic at Christmas, the 40cm Rag Doll Soldier is kitted out in traditional red and black uniform and wears a dinky furry hat (£12.50)!

To view the full range of toys and gifts available for all the family, visit www.babyblooms.co.uk

Rocking around the Christmas tree

Stunning new Rockers from Little Bird Told Me

If you’re looking for the ultimate gift for baby and the type that can be passed down through generations, look no further than the stunning collection of infant rockers and rocking horses from Little Bird Told Me.

This Christmas sees the addition of two brand new rockers to the Little Bird Told Me stable and parents won’t be disappointed. The gorgeous Ruby & Belle Rocking Horse is the perfect playmate for little girls. Ruby is a beauty of a horse and features stunning vintage printed fabric in vibrant pinks and a scrunchy faux suede mane and tail. Ruby carries her pretty little friend Belle wherever she goes in an appliquéd pocket on her body. Belle is an adorable rag doll that can be played with separately too. RRP £125.00 and suitable from 12 months.

The Baby Bear Infant Rocker is part of the new Hey Bear, it’s me Bear range and is an ideal first rocker for babies aged 9 months plus. This huggable rocker carries his friend Birdy Bear in his pocket who has lots of stimulating features to delight baby. The sturdy quality wood rocking frame make this a safe and comfortable rocker for novice riders. RRP £88.00.

Little Bird Told Me have designed rockers with both babies and parents in mind. Their newest rockers will transform any nursery into a stylish haven and become the envy of every nursery around. The ultra-modern Dylan & Boo Rocking Horse is set to become a style icon. Dylan is a charming horse who carries his lovable little friend Boo Bear wherever he goes. Dylan's distinctive grey fabric has been designed exclusively for Little Bird Told Me by designer Rosalind Maroney. The cute button print is complemented by a soft, tactile fine wale cord mane and tail - a real show-stopper of a horse, Dylan will be the envy of every nursery. Suitable from 12months plus, Dylan & Boo retails at £125.00.

For parents who prefer to make a splash with colour, the new Doodle & Crumb Infant Rocker is for you and your baby. Suitable for babies aged 9months plus, Doodle is a fun and friendly horse who carries his little friend Crumb the bean horse wherever he goes. His vibrant red button print fabric is also designed by Maroney and is complemented by a faux suede mane and tail. The sturdy dark wood frame comes with detachable foot rests for novice riders. Doodle & Crumb is a totally unique rocker whose contemporary style will stay fresh for years to come. Priced at around £85.00.

Create real nursery envy with the super-stylish Jasper Rocking Horse. The irresistible Jasper is the ultimate gift for older babies this Christmas. Jasper features a classic woven check fabric in shades of chocolate and has a stylised leatherette saddle with stirrups to support little ones. His soft and scrunchy mane and tail are made from strokeable faux suede and he stands proudly on a sturdy wooden bow rocking base. There really is no other rocking horse like Jasper available on the market.

Priced at around £200 he will become the talking point of any nursery and be adored by adults for his charm and sophistication as much as little ones will love him for his play value. Jasper stands at around 55cm and is suitable for infants aged 18months plus.

Cuddly and lovable Bobble & Pip is an Infant Rocker that babies will fall in love with. Bobble's luxurious bouclé fabric body just wants to be stroked and the cute Pip Bean Horse is soft and huggable. Tuck Pip into the pocket on Bobble's side and off you rock! Suitable from 9 months plus and priced at £85.00.

For those who are looking for a fun and funky addition to a child's nursery this festive season, look no further than the Softly Snail Infant Rocker. Suitable for 9 months plus, Softly Snail comes in pretty pink plush fabrics and carries her cosy little house on her back. Her soft house creates a snug, supportive seat and offers a fun storage space to put toys. The rocker also features lots of additions to keep baby amused including hidden squeaks, chimes and crinkles and comes with a separate rattle toy for little hands. Priced at around £85.00.

If you love cute characters then the Caterpillar Infant Rocker is for you. Suitable for 9 months plus, Curious Caterpillar comes in fresh plush fabrics of green, blue and red and has lots for a baby to discover. A soft apple creates a comfortable seat and comes with a lift-up flap which reveals a handy storage section for toys. A separate chime toy peeps out of the apple for little hands to explore. The rocker also features lots of additions to keep baby engaged including hidden squeaks, chimes and crinkles. Priced at around £85.00.

To see these and the whole collection of Infant Rockers and Rocking Horses, visit the Little Bird Told Me website www.littlebirdtoldme.co.uk. Selected rockers are also available from John Lewis, Harrods and Jojo Maman Bebe and selected independent retailers. Last date for website deliveries is 18 December.

Have a ‘Bear-y’ Special Christmas with Little Bird Told Me

Just when you thought Little Bird Told Me couldn’t come up with any more brilliant baby toys, up they pop for Christmas with one of their most loveable and innovative ranges to date.

Hey Bear, It’s Me Bear… is a brand new range of infant toys to inspire and engage little hands and minds. The collection of whimsical characters in this huggable bear family will delight both children and their parents. The loveable bears feature a mix of traditional, textured bouclé fabrics combined with soft, strokeable contemporary fabrics to add zing to any nursery and playtime.

The Bear family is made up of Papa Bear – a real softy inside and out, Mama Bear – who likes to be hugged all day long and Baby Bear – who makes playful adventures more fun! The loveable bears and their friend Birdy Bear are a constant throughout the collection which is sure to be the most sought after nursery must-have.

The Baby Bear Infant Rocker is the ultimate present for baby’s first Christmas. He features a plush huggable body with strokable textured bouclé fabric with lots of crinkles to delight little ones. In his pocket, Baby Bear carries his little buddy Birdy Bear who has a rattle in his tummy and crinkly wings. The rocker is a perfect safe ride for young novice riders and is priced at around £88.00.

Keeping young babies amused is hard work and the 3 in 1 Nursing Cushion is therefore a perfect gift for new mums and baby. The versatile cushion has soft shiny red fabric on one side and beautiful textured bouclé material on the reverse. It acts as a support for baby while seated or during tummy-time play and features two separate activity toys that can be attached to the cushion to engage baby. RRP £36.00.

The cute Birdy Bear Activity Toy (RRP £22.00) is sure to become baby’s best friend. Suitable for babies aged 6 months plus, Birdy Bear is brimming with fun features to delight little ones. His cuddly cube body comes with scrunchy wings, a rotating emroidered spiral, rattles, squeaks, crinkles and more. Make Birdy Bear top of baby’s wish list!

If you are looking for a big present for the youngest member of the family, you can’t go wrong with the luxury Baby Bear Multi-Activity Playgym (RRP £70.00). The super-soft, padded playgym is crammed full of fun features for extended play and discovery. It even comes with a Tummy-Time cushion, three bear activity toys and a Birdy musical toy, all of which can be played with separately. Suitable from birth.

A perfect trio of stocking fillers are the cuddly hug toys. Little ones will fall in love with Papa Bear (RRP£16.00), Mama Bear (RRP£14.00) and not forgetting Baby Bear (RRP£10.00). The soft textures and cute characteristics will make each toy a constant companion for your baby. If you want to keep baby entertained on the go, the Chirping Birdy Bear Travel Toy (RRP£14.00) attaches to prams and car seats and will happily chirp away to soothe your child. In fact, you can create a comforting Hey Bear, it’s Me Bear... world when travelling.

Treat new mums to the Baby Bear on Board sign (RRP£7.00) who will swing merrily in your car window telling drivers about your precious cargo – in the most stylish of ways! The Soft Activity Spiral is added to the collection. Wrap it around car seat handles or even cots and let the soft multi-coloured textured toys entertain baby with mirrors, crinkles, rattles and chimes. RRP£18.00.

How well do you know your monarchs?

History Heroes is a brilliant new card game designed to test the whole family’s knowledge of British monarchs from William the Conqueror in 1066 to today’s reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

Created by Harry Hastings, a teacher from Sussex, the game provides a fun, interactive way for children to learn about the kings and queens of England, and for adults to brush up on their history lessons, by challenging them to identify monarchs either from a series of facts, from a portrait or from the dates of their reign, thereby capturing their opponents cards in the style of Top Trumps.

Do you know which king was the last to lead his troops into battle or who was on the throne when the Great Plague struck?

Did you know that Henry I had a record-breaking 25 illegitimate children or that Queen Victoria survived five assassination attempts?


And would you be able to name the tallest monarch or identify the king famed for his red face and red hair?

With a total of 42 monarchs to identify, each with six different clues, ranging from easy – ‘Who won the Battle of Hastings?’ - to difficult – ‘Who lost the War of Jenkins’ Ear?’ – the game can be enjoyed by all ages and, with six different ways to play it, can provide hours of fun at home, on long car journeys or simply as a way of helping children with their history homework.

Beautifully illustrated by the well-known cartoonist Bill Stott, History Heroes is the first of a series of similar games created by Harry Hastings, covering famous Battles, Shakespeare, Inventors, Scientists and Explorers.

Harry Hastings History Heroes is priced at £7.99. For stockist details, or to buy direct go to

www.historyheroes.co.uk

Baby&More gives baby much more this Christmas

Nursery specialists Baby&More have a range of Christmas gifts for people looking for something different for baby. From impulse stocking fillers to lust-after items, the website is a one-stop Christmas shop for little ones.

The brand new 7 A.M Enfant collection has finally hit the UK. Already popular with Hollywood A-listers, this range features tons of winter essentials to keep baby (and you) warm and snuggly during the festive period. The innovative luxe Blanket 212 is a real investment buy. The super-cosy muff is suitable for both car seats and pushchairs.

The patented zip mechanism allows parents to extend the width and length of the footmuff so there is no need to but new footmuffs as your child grows. The product literally blankets baby in comfort and warmth and can be zipped back to create a pushchair liner. An adjustable hood can be cinched to baby’s face for those days when your child needs more protection against the elements. Choose from a range of colours to complement your pushchair and other items in the 7 A.M range. Priced at around £135.00.

The brand new WarMMuffs™ from 7 A.M make a lovely gift for mums of winter babies. They secure easily to any pushchair and allow parents the flexibility of using bare hands to strap in and lift baby. The WarMMuffs™ feature a faux fur lining for extra cosiness and the on-trend colourways of the waterproof outer shell mean you don’t have to sacrifice style to be warm! RRP £30 (with fur) £25 (no fur). The collection includes an array of on-trend winter essentials and cool changing bags too and the full range can be seen at www.babyandmore.co.uk.

The Lots to Say Soothers from the Booginhead range are a brilliant stocking filler. With cool slogans including ‘Just Chillin,’ ’volume control,’ ‘Hi’ and ‘Snooze,’ these dummies will soothe baby on Christmas Day as well as making a real talking point. RRP £5.99 for packs of two.

The Mum2Mum Wonder Bib range are great for jazzing up any Christmas outfit. Choose from an array of colours including pink, navy, yellow, orange, red and many more shades. Made from soft, super-absorbent towelling, the bibs come in different styles including the stylish bandana ideal for dribblers, the standard bib which is perfect for meal times and the sleeved bib to ensure messy toddlers stay clean during Christmas dinner. Suitable from 4months to 3 years and priced from £4.00.

All products available from www.babyandmore.co.uk