Going on holiday to Spain with a baby ... or two!

My sister is coming out next week for an impromtu holiday with her two very small children and so suddenly needs a huge amount of baby stuff! The dilemma she is facing is similar to that which many families face when taking babies on holiday .... you don't and can't travel with too much and you don't want to have to buy everything when you get there ... so what do you do?

Most hotels will supply you with the basics but there are still things you might need. If you are hiring an appartment as my sister is you will often need to find the basics yourself. My sisters main 'want' was a cot for her 18 month old. We can lend her one cot for her newborn but she still needs a second one. So I started to do some research and came across a company called Holiday Hires who hire out baby equiptment throughout the Costa del Sol.

They have a wide range of baby stuff at affordable prices including wooden and travel cots, high chairs, push chairs and safety items. Holiday Hires do not just hire out baby stuff, if you are coming on holiday to the Costa del Sol you can also use them to hire mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters as well as more general items that you might not think you are going to need on holiday, but suddenly find you can't do without .... eg fans, kettles, fridges, microwaves, fold up beds and even Wii machines!!! So keep their details handy if coming out here on holiday.

My sister's wooden cot costs 35€ for 7 days hire which is pretty good and comes with a mattress and sheets. Holiday Hires were also really quick to get back to me after our initial enquiry and very helpful re drop off and pick up times.

Their team also assemble anything that you order and that's all included in the price! To find out more about Holiday Hires take a look at their website http://www.holidayhires.net/ and have a great holiday!!!

Safe Socks for Pregnancy!

Indybel are delighted to now be Spanish stockists for an exciting new product .... Pregnancy Travel and Support Socks!

Maternity travel socks are designed to reduce the risk of DVT in pregnant women and new mothers. Ideal for travel during pregnancy or general relaxation as aloe vera plant extract in the socks eases swollen ankles and supports tired and aching feet.

During pregnancy and after the birth of a baby it is important to feel comfortable when you travel. My Baby Specialist travel socks are designed with a compression factor of 17 to maximize support, comfort & safety during your journey. They are specially designed to reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Made from soft cotton & Lycra with aloe vera plant extract, they can also be used on a day to day basis to support swollen ankles and soothe tired, aching feet .... Perfect for all stages of pregnancy and after the birth of your child. Ideal for the expectant mum who travels a lot for work or those going on holiday. Also a great item for expectant mums suffering from swollen ankles and aching feet .... also an original and clever gift idea! Avaliable in two colours and sizes Natural and Black ...

So whether you are a jet setting mum to be who has to travel for work ... or pleasure! Or are expecting and will be travelling to visit family and friends ... or if you just suffer from swollen ankles and aching feet ... Pregnancy travel socks could be the solution for you!!

Order them now from http://www.indybel.com/

Looking for The Perfect Baby or Christening Gift in Spain?

Recently I went to a Christening and was desperately trying to find a really special and unique gift. The photo albums, silver frames, spoons and memorablilia in the shops are lovely but I was looking for something more personal and a little bit different for my friend's baby.

In the end someone mentioned a baby momento plate to me. Personalised birth momento plates are basically hand painted plates with a picture or character and the baby's name, date of birth and birth details such as weight, time of birth, length etc ... I loved this idea and commissioned a special plate for my friend's little girl featuring Tinkerbell and the baby's details. Our Christening gift was an instant hit! Everyone loved the plate which looked amazing ... really cool design and lovely glittery paints ... and featured all the baby's details which will now never be forgotten. My friend is going to mount the plate on her daughter's bedroom wall.

What was really great about this gift was that firstly it was so personal, a real baby keepsake, and secondly I was surprised by how quickly the plate was made. After I had specified the details we received a call 4 days later to say the plate was ready. Price wasn't an issue but at 39.99 euros I thought it was very reasonable considering the amount of work in the peice. A few weeks later another friend was looking for a present for a couple who had just had a little boy and I instantly thought of the plates. She loved the idea too and ordered one straight away ...

Ever the businesswoman I began to think that other customers in Spain might like these plates, either as a lovely gift to celebrate a new born, a christening or baptism gift in Spain or even a lovely present for a child's first, second or third birthday ... using of course their favourite character on the plate!

So .... we are now delighted to offer Personalised Baby Birth Plates for sale at http://www.indybel.com/ in Spain .... Customers can choose their own charater and text and our artist will do the rest ....
I can personally promise that you will be delighted with the result too!

To find out more or to order a baby birth plate in Spain for a christening, new born gift or a birthday click here!

Baby and Pregnancy product sales at indybel.com

This July we have some great products in our summer sales ....

The Flexibath is Product of the Month and reduced from 39€ to 33€ .... PLUS a free gift!!!

We know summer in Spain is an expensive time for parents so we've also reduced our ....

Imse Vimse Washable Swim nappies, JoJo Maman Bebe UV sun protection tent, cuddlemoo toddler towels, Babybanz Sunhats and Seraphine Maternity denim skirt ....

Plus in our sales section we still have our great Birthing ball and Inch Blue speical offers on plus our Natalia baby massage oil, Skip Hop changing bags and limited edition Trunki's are all REDUCED ....

To check out all these great offers while stocks last visit www.indybel.com for pregnancy and baby in Spain ....

June Special Offers

This June we have taken 15% off our Customer's Top 5 Favourite Summer Products!!

Flexibath WAS 39€ ..... THIS MONTH 33€

JoJo Maman Bebe UV Family Sun Tent WAS 54.50€ .... THIS MONTH 46.30€

Baby Kangaroo Sling WAS 39€ .... THIS MONTH 33€

Shade-a-babe WAS 37.50€ ..... THIS MONTH 32€

JoJo Maman Bebe Maternity Kaftan WAS 31.50€ .... THIS MONTH 26.80€

Check out these great savings now at http://www.indybel.com/

Offers last until 30th of June or until stock runs out!

Flexibath News - New Colours

The Flexibaths were flying off our stand at the Salon Bebe show ....




Parents loved the Flexi Bath which folds up in one easy movment meaning it can be used all round the house, popped in the car for holidays, weekend's away or for use on the beach and stored neatly in a bathroom cupboard, under a cupboard or under a bed ....





We now stock the Flexibath in a number of hip and trendy colours including Pink, Blue, Green and Red as well as Clear and White ....

Check out the new colours at http://www.indybel.com/ ( Flexibath in the Baby Store, Bath section )

New Product News .... The BabyDan Security Starter Set

Babyproofing can be a bit scarey ... there are so many hazards in the home it's difficult to know what to proctect your baby from first without being overprotective ... as parents we want to make sure our little one's are safe but at the same time it's important to let them explore and yes even have one or two little tiny accidents. I don't mean I let my toddler zap her fingers in plug sockets or stick her head in the oven, but the odd fall or knock warns your toddler to be wary of corners and hard floors and reminds them that they are not invincible!

When we started babyproofing our home I bought a whole array of products ... some good, some bad. We went through several table corner pads until we found some that stuck and as our toddler wasn't particularly interested in the toilet or fridge we never needed those locks, although we did need some for the kitchen cupboards, esp those full of cleaning products and the drawers where she seemed to delight in getting her fingers caught!

It's expensive buying so many products, so I'm really pleased that at indybel we now sell the BabyDan Security Starter Set ... this 21 peice box set contains everything you need to get started .... corner cushions, door stop, cupboard locks, plug covers and so on ..... once you know what you really need you can always buy more, but this is a really economical way to start!

Find the BabyDan security Starter set in Spain in our Babyproofing section in the Baby Store at http://www.indybel.com/

Baby Show comes to Torremolinos ....

Whether you are an expectant, new or seasoned parent in Spain here's a great date for your diary!!

The Salon Bebe y Nuevas Familias show is coming to the Palacio de Congresos Y Exposiciones in Torremolinos this May.

The three day event ( 21st - 23rd May ) will feature a large number of exhibitors, shops and baby experts as well as housing an extensive toddler play and entertainment area, baby feeding area, baby changing area and pregnancy area. There will also be yummy on site catering and the first ever Baby Olympics to hit Spain .... we'll post more about the Baby Olympics later but let's just say it's an event not to be missed and a chance for parents to compete for some amazing prizes!

The event promises to be informative and a lot of fun too ... To find out more or to download a discount voucher for entry check out

http://www.salonbebe.es/

Indybel will have a stand at the Salon Bebe show and look forward to seeing you there .....

March Movers and Shakers ....

This month we have lots of brand new products at http://www.indybel.com/ .... you can find out all about them in more detail on our main site, but for those who want a sneak peak, here is our top ten of brand new must have baby and maternity product movers and shakers .... some are new to Spain and some just to Indybel, but either way it's all happening this month!

In at number 10 it's the ........ Flexibath .... cool, stylish, sleek and foldable ... this is the ultimate baby bath for the twenty first century!



At number 9 we have the Theraline Pillow .... comfy, safe and helps protect your babies head ....

At number 8 the beautiful, stylish and affordable Tarok Cot from BabyDan.....

Looking to send a memorable and totally gorgeous gift to a much loved family member who is expecting a baby in Spain? Look no further than number 7 ... the Sofie Crib

At number 6, another stylish nursery addition ... the sleek Scandinavia Cot by BabyDan

The latest BabyBjorn carrier is known as the Comfort Carrier because the emphasis is on comfort for both baby and parent. With the weight carried on the hip, this clever new design carrier ensures no back pains on long walks .... we love it at number 5!

The perfect gift or just treat yourself, with number 4, our new giftwrapped organic Hug Me bodysuits for newborns ... so cute!

At number 3 is the fanatastic new playpen from the king of playpen makers ... BabyDan. The Felix playpen can be used on two levels so it can be a downstairs cot or playpen meaning it is perfect for use from birth to 3 or 4 .... We love it, love it, love it !!!

Want to combine stylish eating with easy to fold and compact ... then you need the BabyBjorn Appeitite chair ... it's also strapless with the specially moulded seat and security table designed to keep even the most mischevious of little one's in place ... our number 2 ....

Finally, our March number 1 new product of the month is the .... BuggyPod! The stylish and clever solution for coverting a babies pram to add a cosy space for a toddler. Far more economical and weather proof than just a step!

The Future is the .... FlexiBath

Baby baths are traditionally rather cumbersome ... when my daughter was born we invested in one of those drawer units with a bath in the top ... well ... never again!

What a strange invention. Ok, so here you are recovering from a birth ( or caesarian in my case ) and you have to heave bucket loads of water into your childs bedroom, lift them to chest height to tip them into the bath. Then bath the baby ... then attempt to drain the bath through a rubbish tube which constantly gets stuck, then end up heaving the bath and water from the unit and carrying it into the bathroom to drain .... of course in the end we just took the bath out of the unit and had it in the bath ... we may as well have bought a plastic tub!

There are of course several plastic bath tubs that fit in and on your own bath on the market but they are difficult to store which is why parents sometimes opt for the unit option as we did. Most bathrooms don't have room for an extra bath and you don't want it sitting on the floor as it's not the most hygienic place in the house ... so baby baths are a bit of an issue ...

UNTIL NOW

The lastest baby bath on the market, and really it's such a simple and clever idea we can't believe it hasn't been done before ...... is the FlexiBath!

The Flexibath does as it's name suggests ... it's flexible, it folds up .... so you can bath your baby and then once dry, fold up and store the bath meaning it's nice and clean and tidy and ready for the next bath. Not only that but inbetween babies you can keep it safe and clean rather than with conventional baby baths which just end up in the bin as you get fed up of them sitting around in your home getting dirty and so end up forking out again when baby number two comes along.

So score 1 to the FlexiBath for compact hygienic storage qualities ....

But, that's not where the genius of the FlexiBath ends .... it's just full of lovely little features to make life easier, like oh let's see ...

* It's non slip ... simple but yet effective!

* It's got it's own temperature indicator, so stressed out parents can see if the water is too hot or too cold ...

* Thoughtfully the makers have done a lot of research and so this bath is BPA and PVC free ... in other words it's safe ... there will be no nasty little chemicals leaking from this bath onto your little one's skin ....

* And it's big, but not too big ... big enough for a child of 3 or 4 though, so in other words you can use it for years longer than most baby baths, you can bath 2 children together in it and it's still perfect for newborns too ...

* It travels well ... the fold up mechanism means the FlexiBath can go on holiday with you, on camping or caravaning trips, it can go for nights at the grandparents with little fuss meaning you don't have to buy double the stuff and it will just slide neatly into your car boot ...

Is it any wonder that already the FlexiBath is the winner of 3 awards including the 2008 Kund Jugen Innovation Award and has been called the 'must have' product of this year by the parenting media and on TV?

I'll certainly be recommending it from now on!

http://www.indybel.com/ now sell the FlexiBath in Spain. To find out more click where can I buy a FlexiBath in Spain?

Cuddledry Baby Gift Box ....

Recently we've noticed that many of our customers seem to be looking for gifts for friends or family in Spain who have recently had a baby. We are therefore really excited to now be able to offer the brand new Cuddledry Baby Gift Box. Fans of the Cuddledry brand ( you may remember them from Dragon's Den ) will be aware of the fantastic quality of all the cuddledry products which are organic, innovative and award winning!

We currently stock the best selling Cuddledry Apron towel and the cute and cuddly Cuddledry Toddler Towel. Both these items have proved constantly popular since we launched nearly two years ago. We now also stock the Cuddledry Baby Gift Box, a unique and inexpensive gift which is presented in a gorgeous gold gift box. The contents include a natural wood baby hairbrush, a cute natural ducky nailbrush and an organic cotton and bamboo supersoft first facecloth. At just 15.99€ and with more and more new mummies loving natural products, this lovely gift is the perfect choice.


To buy your Cuddledry Baby Gift Box click here!

Christmas Fayre, San Roque

Christmas is def in the air and for us parents in Spain it's a busy time with present buying, food buying and taking the kids to see Father Christmas! Children are notoriously difficult shoppers so Christmas Fayres which offer a mix of shopping and children's entertainment are a blessing for parents and a great day out!

This year Indybel will be taking part in the Christmas Fayre at San Roque. We'll be taking a great selection of our most popular maternity, baby and toddler must haves and gifts, so please do come and visit us ..... we'll have lots of Christmas Special offers on our stand too ....

Here's a little more information about the Fayre from the organisers ....

Xmas Fayre

San Roque International School

28th Nov 12-4
For the first time we will open our doors for a day of festival fun. It will provide an opportunity for the whole family to come own an enjoy so many different activities.

We have over 50 vendors participating from ladies fashion, jewellery, photography, books, toys, kids clothing and accessories to name a few.

Not only do we have big brands participating we are also dedicated to inspiring chilldren so we will be running creative workshops a bouncy castle plus a visit from Father Xmas himself with presents and photos.

Entrance is free, so why not come down for a browse around the stalls and have something to eat and drink.

Mother, Baby and Toddler Show ... lots of fun!

Thanks to everyone who came along to meet us and of course buy from us at the Mother, Baby and Toddler show in Estepona on 9th , 10th of October ...

We had a great fun, and it was particularly nice ( being an online business ) to finally meet some of our customers, particularly those of you who came especially to meet us!

Here are a few pics of our stand which looked lovely ... thanks to hubbies for all the lifting, carrying and putting together ...

The most popular products on the day were

1. The Indybel Portable Take Anywhere Highchair, which was flying off the stand literally! As a special offer on the site we are now giving a FREE chair to all customers who spend over 75€!!! Can't say fairer than that!!

2. The babydan playden, a product close to my own heart and which I adore, so I was glad to see others loving it too ... we think this is one of those products that you fall in love with when you see it, but online sales are good too ... I can't rate this playpen enough, it's roomy and comfortable, stylish and safe ... and it also converts to a stairgate, fireguard or room divider ... what more could you want? Well, nothing if the sales at the show are anything to go by!! We had the playpen on special offer during the show, and as it was so popular have currently reduced it on the site for a limited period too ... so buy yours now!!!

3. All our lovely Natalia organic mother and baby skincare products were very popular over the weekend. We've only got a limited supply left now and so as a special gift our customers have taken up to 50% off ALL our Natalia products ... check it out now ... while stocks last!!!!

You can see and buy all of the above on our site http://www.indybel.com/

Finally a massive thank you to all the models who took part in the Indybel Maternity Fashion show and made it such a huge success ... they were all fantasically beautiful, confident, professional and amazingly energetic for girls in the later stages of pregnancy! Our maternity wear as modelled by the girls was also a big hit at the show with the Seraphine Tessa dress being the most popular item and it's easy to see why ... this gorgeous little black dress is sooooo comfortable and looks fab dressed up for a Christmas party or dressed down over leggings, jeans or with boots and a cardy ... we've only a couple left in stock so grab yours now before they've all gone!!

Perfect potz take the worry out of weaning!!

When I weaned my baby here in Spain the biggest headache was finding little pots to store the food. When you are weaning it is more practical both time wise and financially to make large amounts of puree's up at once than to cook everyday. So you need lots of little different sized pots which are also freezable and easily washable. I couldn' t find anything much in the shops here, you either got 4 or 5 pots which cost a fortune or a few plastic pots which were cheaper but less safe.

In the end I got my mum to send stuff over from the UK where there was an assortment of stuff avaliable. So she sent me little ice cube pots with lids, a set of 8 or so pots which were far cheaper than here and so on ... but to this day as far as I am aware, weaning pots or those for taking food out and about are still not easily avaliable in Spain. The best pots for taking food out I could find were mini tupplewares which again were both expensive and too big, so impractical!

So it is with huge delight and excitment that Indybel have discovered Babypotz ( pictured above and below ) ... these fantastic baby weaning pots are currently taking the UK and Ireland by storm. The brainchild of mum Lesley O'Mahony, Babypotz are everything you need them to be! Which includes BPA free and microwave, dishwasher, freezer and sterilizer safe... More than that they come in a boxes of 50 pots ( divided into 5 different handy sizes ) so you'll never run out. And believe me, as a mum who has weaned, you need a lot more pots about than you think! Each pot has it's own lid too so you can seal them securely in the freezer and take them out with you as they are.

Babypotz in our opinion are one of the best baby products we've seen for a while. They are practical, safe, look great and are also fantastic value for money. http://www.indybel.com/ will shortly be selling Babypotz on our site for 22.99€ for a box of 50 pots, that means each pot will only cost you 46 cents!!!

Check out http://www.indybel.com/ soon to find out more about Babypotz, or to reserve a box simply email info@indybel.com telling us how many boxes you'd like to reserve!

A customer service rant!

At Indybel we believe absolutely 100% that good customer service is one of the most important parts of our business ... aside from the fact that we enjoy chatting to and helping our customers, we firmly believe that if someone makes the effort to contact us then it's the least we can do to respond to them and try to help them as much as we can. So, we always respond to emails straight away, try to help customers who have queries about our products and make sure we've done everything we can to ensure our customers are happy and satisfied. We still do this for people who are not our customers as it's just good manners. For example a lady emailed last year trying to find a particular dummy in Spain and we spent a good few hours researching dummies for her on the internet. Other customers have emailed us asking if we can help find products that we dont' stock, and even though it means no revenue for us, if we can help then we certainly will and frequently do.

So it always annoys me when other retailers don't see the importance of customer service and when I'm on the customer side it makes me even more esperated.
There is one shop in particular that does seem to wind me up the wrong way time and time again and yet I still go back ... and rant!

El Cortes Ingles is Spain's largest department store with stores dotted around Spain in all the major towns and cities. On the whole they have some nice stuff and I like the supermarket there and it's a good place for a browse on a rainy day, but after a few years of going there I can honestly say that in my experience the customer service is not good.

On the whole you seem to be greeted by unsmiling, unhelpful and unknowledgeable sales assistants who aren't that keen to 'sell' or help. The baby dept in particular has always seemed particularly unhelpful to me, but I had to go there last week to source a new mattress for my old pram in preparation for my sisters visit. As I bought the pram there and it's a major Spanish brand Jane, I thought they would be able to help me, but after a lot of shruggling of shoulders they told me that they don't sell mattresses and don't know anywhere that does ... oh I said, but I saw a mattess in another shop down the road ... to looks of great surprise ... eventually they mentioned a shop in Malaga that might sell the mattress but there was no question of them phoning the shop for me to make an enquirey. At my assistance they reluctantly got out their Jane catalogues and flicked through them but couldn't help and when I asked if the Jane website might sell them they didn't know. Maybe it's me, but surely assistants in a baby dept should know more about baby products? I recognise some of these assistants from 2 or 3 years ago, so it's not like they are new. The general attitude is of not really caring ... if it's there they are happy to sell it to you, if not then they don't want to know.

So I gave up on the mattress and went to the toy dept with my toddler. She wanted a slide. There were two possibles on display. One at 34 euros and the exact same one next to it with added stickers at 40 euros. I waited about 15 mins for a sales person and then asked to buy the 34 euro slide. Oh no, he told me, we don't have this one in stock, it will take 5 days to order. 5 days to order a 34 euro slide ....??? Why bother having it on show then? I'm pretty sure the consumer has the right to be able to buy goods on display if it's suggested they are for immediate sale. So I asked him if I could purchase the exact same 40 euro slide for 34 euros as they didn't have the 34 euro one in stock ... not a chance!!

Feeling dejected I headed to the supermarket. The thing that really annoys me about the supermarket in the Cortes Ingles is that you are only allowed in one end and it' s the far end the furthest away from every staircase, escalator and lift ... so you huff and puff all the way there with your bags and a toddler and then have to go through the rigmarole of having your bags bagged up ... then if you exit without buying anything you are only allowed down one tiny weeny ailse ...

I do know it's my choice to shop there, but I also feel that good customer service, especially in such a large institution, is a right and not a priveldge. If small shops can manage friendly helpful service why can't huge institions who have access to staff training programmes and management programmes? When I go back to the UK I can't help but sometimes compare the customer service in shops such as El Cortes Ingles to their British counterparts such as John Lewis and Marks and Spencers and sadly there is a lot lacking here in Spain. I think in time these shops will have to begin to take customer service more seriously but until then I will either just have to practice deep breathing exercises or shop elsewhere!!

Sizzling Hot Summer Sale!

Yes it's August and so we have now launched our Sizzling Hot Summer Sale!!

Everything .... yes EVERYTHING in our summer section is now in the sale ... so from maternity beach wear, to toddler towels, to baby sunhats, to the fab shade a babe and even our UV tent ...

All summer items are now less 25% meaning YOU can make some massive savings if you buy now!!

Summer in Spain lasts well into October so this is a great opportunity to buy some brilliant summer baby and pregnancy products that will last well into the autumn ...

Check out all our sale items at http://www.indybel.com/ now .... our sale items can either be found in the Beach and Sun section of the Baby Store or head straight to the sales section on the main menu at the top ....

Customers Questions - "Do I really need to buy maternity clothes?"

We get lots of emails from our customers in Spain and throughout Europe asking questions about being pregnancy and baby in Spain. We thought it might be fun and useful to post a few of those questions ... and our replies ... just in case they might help others too ....

"Hi, I'm 5 months pregnant and just starting to grow out of my normal clothes. I don't see a lot of point in buying expensive maternity clothes when I can just buy cheap T shirts and leggings in larger sizes ... I love some of the maternity clothes on your website, but do you really think it's worth buying maternity clothes? "
K. Johnston Alicante

Hi there K ... thanks for your email.

Well ...maternity clothing is very much a matter of choice and yes it's true you can get away with buying cheaper clothing in bigger and bigger sizes which is actually what I did during my pregnancy. However what I did find was that these cheaper tops were pretty poor quality and didn't last very long, nor was their length long enough to cover my bump properly. While it worked ok for tops, it's also difficult and more pricey to buy bigger and bigger bottoms. We don't necesarily believe you need a whole new maternity wardrobe, but a few staple items do make the world difference, especially if you need smartish clothes for work.

Don't forget, maternity clothes are not just about supporting your bump, they can also make mum to be feel great, glam and stylish, especially on those 'bad bump days'! A good maternity swimsuit for example will make you feel sleek and toned and show your bump off proudly, whereas the non maternity version might make your pregnancy body feel bulky and flabby.

A few staple items might include a nice pair of maternity jeans, a nice top, a skirt and a dress that can be either dressed up or down. If you work you may need a pair of nice black trousers or another skirt. You can then add items as and when you need them and dress your wardrobe up with non maternity items, such as long scarves and belts to hide or show off your bump!

A good friend of ours who is pregnant with number 2 recently commented that she didn't buy any maternity clothes first time round but did invest in several of our Seraphine items second time round. She said that rather than spending more money she saved money as the good quality maternity items took her through the nine months and will take her beyond, and they make her feel and look great. It actually worked out cheaper and easier than spending a fortune on different sized normal clothes and having to restock every month as she put more weight on.

We did find the maternity wear in Spain fairly uninspiring during our pregnancies which is why we now stock the gorgeous, affordable, stylish and high quality Seraphine and JoJo Maman Bebe ranges.

Best of luck with the rest of your preganancy and let us know how you get on ...

indybel x

Mother, Baby & Toddler Show ...

Finally southern Spain gets it's first Mother, Baby & Toddler Show .... !

This great show is long overdue as there is so much advice and info avaliable for parents in Spain, but often it's difficult to find the information you need and it's certainly never all in one place. The Mother, Baby & Toddler show takes place on the 9th and 10th of October at the Palacio de Congressos in Estepona and promises to be a really exciting and 'must be there' day out for all parents and children on the Costa del Sol. Indybel will of course be there with all our products and we'll also be presenting a maternity fashion show on the Saturday morning with key peices from our Seraphine and JoJo Maman Bebe autumn collections. We are very excited about this and will post more information about our fashion show here nearer the time.

In the meantime though, here are a few facts about the show itself .... pencil the dates in your diary and book your place now!!

Mother, Baby & Toddler is a brand new, two-day event, designed to be an invaluable source of information, help and advice for mums-to-be and families with babies and toddlers living on the coast.

As well as providing free seminars, workshops, live debates and question and answer forums, Mother, Baby & Toddler offers a great day out with maternity and children's fashion shows, baby cookery demonstrations, a children's play area with live entertainment, a free crèche to give mums a well-earned break to browse the stands, have a quick manicure, a coffee with friends or simply relax and make use of the free massage services on site.

Mother, Baby & Toddler brings together all the products, services and activities available for mums-to-be and new mums on the coast - from midwife services, choosing where to have your baby, baby and children's health issues, purchasing all the essential items, activities for pregnant mums and babies, decorating the nursery, buying clothes and toys, choosing a nursery, a school, nutritional and developmental help and support plus information on myriad other topics. Mother, Baby & Toddler is a one-stop-shop for expectant mums and young families, a place to come to find out everything you need to know about how to raise a healthy, happy and confident child.


Vital Information!!

Tickets - There will be a small charge on the day OR you can register NOW for your FREE ticket!

Dates - 9th and 10th of October 2009 / 10am - 8pm

Website - To find out more or register for your free ticket go to http://www.motherbabyandtoddler.co.uk/index.htm

Contact - lisa@motherbabyandtoddler.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sales and Special Offers at www.indybel.com

We now have a Sales and Special Offers section on the site .. don't forget to keep checking this section as we will be constantly adding and changing the contents!!

Currently the Babydan playden is in this section and is reduced from 189€ to 152.50€ ...!!!! Get yours now while stocks last!!

Keeping your baby safe in the Spanish Sun ...

The long hot summer is one of the many reasons we all love living in Spain, yet it’s important to protect babies and toddlers from the harmful rays while still enjoying getting out and about and having fun on the beach and at the pool.

To make the most of this summer in Spain, follow our tips for a safe sunny summer!

Babies, Toddlers and the Sun in Spain … The Facts!

Well the good news is that summer does mean we can spend more time outside and research does suggest that babies and toddlers who spend lots of time outdoors each day are happier and sleep more soundly! However exposure to the Sun’s Ultraviolet rays, also know as UV rays causes the skin to burn and dry out and can lead to skin cancer. In fact Cancer Research in the UK recently stated that sunburn during childhood can double the risk of skin cancer melanoma’s in later life.

It’s no surprise that young skin is far more delicate and therefore vulnerable to the sun than adult skin. A baby’s skin is actually only a 5th as thick as an adults skin meaning children therefore burn a lot more quickly than an adult when exposed to the sun. Children with far or red hair, pale eyes and freckles are at most risk but all children should be completely protected from the sun when outside, with babies being kept in the shade as much as possible. A baby’s skin is so sensitive that it can only take 10 -15 minutes of exposure to the sun for a baby to burn.

Sadly twice as many adults get skin cancer now than 20 years ago, so protecting your baby or toddler is of huge importance. Enjoying the summer is about balance … let your baby or toddler enjoy their time outside but ENSURE they are protected. Don’t forget however that babies under six months are less able to regulate their body temperatures and so will probably prefer to be in the shade or indoors during the hottest parts of the day to ensure they don’t overheat. Once babies are on the able to crawl and on the move however they are in danger of burning and must be constantly protected from the strong UV rays. Babies heads are most at danger and should always be covered with a hat or sunshade. Don’t forget too that babies need plenty of fluids in the hot summer sun.

Whatever the age of your child, experts recommend keeping babies and toddlers out of the midday sun altogether and indoors or in the shade between 11am and 3pm. Don’t forget the sun can still damage your child’s skin even if it is cloudy! Babies in particular with their thin and delicate skin burn easily on a cloudy day because it’s not just the visible sunny heat that does the damage, but the invisible UV light.


Protecting Your Baby and Toddler From the Sun in Spain...

· Choose a sun cream that’s specifically for babies or small children, these will be a high factor and anti allergy. Don’t forget sun creams do GO OFF so last years probably won’t be any good. Don’t forget to reapply sun cream throughout the day even if waterproof. If your child resists a lotion, then buy a spray as toddlers often find these more fun! Experts recommend applying cream approx 30 mins before first going out in the sun.

· Invest in some proper baby/toddler sunglasses … these might seem a bit of a gimmick but if they are proper UV glasses they will protect your child’s eyes from the glare of the sun and UV rays. Toy sunglasses can do more harm than good. Indybel stock the Baby Banz range of protective UV baby sunglasses in Spain. Click here to find out more ....

· UV tents are a great invention, not just for the beach but for back gardens too. Encourage your children to use the tent as a play area or use for babies to shelter on the beach. UV tents are particularly good as the sun is more intense near areas where there is water, or surfaces such as white walls or cement. If you spend a lot of time near one of these ‘suntraps’ a tent is a great way to ensure your child has somewhere to go that is totally protected. UV tents are a good investment for families who live in hot climates. Indybel now stock the JoJo Maman Bebe family sized UV pop up tent in Spain. Click here to find out more ....

· If you don’t have a tent ensure your outside space has lots of extra shade by fixing canopies from trees and umbrellas.

· Keep your baby and child covered … invest in loose, cool, cotton long sleeve clothing for running around or for your baby to wear when sitting in a hot buggy. For toddlers the UV protective swim ranges are a good investment and loose T Shirts are a must for running around. Don’t forget wet clothing looses up to half it’s UV protectiveness so change your child into dry clothing after their swim.

· Make sure your car has sun shades on the window as it is actually possible to get sun burnt through glass and try to cool the car down before putting your children inside.

· Babies can get heat rashes, burn’t and become uncomfortable in their pushchairs in the hot summer months. Minimise clothing and ensure you have a good sunshade which provides total protection to both the top of the head and the rest of their bodies from all directions. Small parasol type sunshades and hoods are not good enough to provide total protection. Indybel stock the Shade-a-babe sunshade which offers complete and total UV protection for babies in pushchairs and total piece of mind for parents in Spain. Click here to find out more ...

· Find and invest in a sunhat that your child likes and will wear. Encourage your child to wear a hat with a wide brim or front and back. The wider the protection over the forehead, eyes, ears and neck area the better! Baseball caps are better than nothing but do leave some areas exposed. Small babies with less hair are very vulnerable to head burn and must always wear a hat. Indybel stock the UV protective Baby banz sunhat range in sizes for both baby and toddler in Spain. Click here to find out more ....

www.indybel.com are dedicated to helping you protect your baby and toddler from the sun this summer. We now stock a range of UV protective products including sunglasses, wide brimmed sunhats, UV tents and the Shade-a-babe. To find out more about our products simply visit our site.