Storksak and Babymel Changing bags now at indybel.com

We have just added a great new range of changing bags to the store. Storksak and Babymel changing bags are the creation of hip London designers Melanie Marshall and Suzi Bergman. Creating bags that are highly fashionable without sacrificing function, Storksak has carved out a new niche in parenting bags. Celebs love these cool, high quality and fully functional bags and celeb parents such as Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts have all been pictured sporting Storksak bags!

Babymel is the little sister of Storksak. The changing bags are more moderate in price but just as cool and functional. We love these new bags all of which can be purchased in Spain from http://www.indybel.com/ in a range of colours. Here's a little preview of the bags, to find out more or to buy one just click on the bags ... Changing bags also make great gifts for new and expectant mums!

Babymel Amanda 69€

Babymel make some of the hippest changing bags around and the Amanda has long been one of their best sellers. The new Amanda has been updated to make it larger and roomier and to include one insulated bottle pocket. A very stylish and affordable bag ... great gift!

Babymel Big Slouchy 59€

The Slouchy is a brand new style for Spring Summer 2011, featuring a simple modern shape, original print and shiny laminated canvas material. Great value too ... a must for the modern mum! In black or Red ....

Babymel X2 79€

A great idea! Twice the Baby, twice the Bag! If you are having twins or a second baby, this brand new concept from Babymel is perfect for you! Two separate bags which can be clipped together or separated as needed so you can pack for each baby but still have the convienience of one bag! Brilliant...

Storksak Dori 109€

Trimmed with chic tan leather, this bag is as stylish as it is practical. Featuring two large external pockets, two zipped insulated bottle pockets and a comfortable webbing shoulder strap. Roomy interior with five large storage pockets, a detachable key clip and padded mat.

Storksak Jess 115€

Casual and roomy, this classic satchel style favourite from hip London designers Storksak is perfect for carrying all your essentials, whilst big enough for an extra change of clothes or a picnic rug! Boasts 3 outer pockets, 6 inner pockets and insulated bottle holder and padded mat.

Storksak Jools 120€

A smaller, lightweight bag perfect for the busy mum and quick trips. It features two large outer pockets including a front zipper pocket, thermo-insulated bottle pocket, padded changing mat and detachable inner sak. It also boasts an adjustable shoulder strap and wipe clean linings throughout. ...

Storksak Tania 130€

Ultra modern & roomy, practical and spacious. This super lightweight bag is made by hip London changing bag designers Storksak. Features a multitude of storage pockets, built-in stroller straps and avaliable in petrol blue and graphite.

Back to Front ....

Currently my 4 year old sits in the back of the car in either her main car seat or a booster seat.
As I am now expecting twins I have to think ahead to how I'm suddenly going to go from one child, a buggy and a dog in the car to 3 children, a double buggy, and if possible a dog in the car!! The obvious awnser would be to get a bigger car but unfortunately for the time being that is not really an option!

I reckon that I could get two baby car seats in the back with my daughters booster seat in the middle but it's not idea. While my daughter will probably enjoy this at times, I can imagine that at other times the option of sitting in the middle of two screaming bundles won't be very attractive, so I started wondering if it's legal in Spain to sit a toddler in the front?

Luckily I have a friend whose husband is in the Spanish police so I asked them. After double checking he confirmed that it IS legal for a child to sit in the front so long as

* They are sitting in a proper ( ie not booster ) carseat which has been certified as going through the safety checks
* The airbag is turned OFF

Finding out what's legal or not is hard in Spain so I thought I'd share this bit of info. I don't particularly want my daughter sitting in the front all the time and it's not ideal either but at least we now know that it is a legal option. ( I can't imagine I'll be brave enough or energetic enough to go out with the 3 of them alone for a long time anyway!!! )

At least I have my trusty See Me Driving mirror which I am totally addicted too and which allows me to keep an eye on my daughter in the back. Don't forget www.indybel.com stock a wide range of driving accessories for mums in Spain, including the See Me Mirror, Easy View driving mirror and another favourite of mine, the Stow n Go, absolutely essential when travelling with children and all their bits and bobs!

So problem solved, but not sure where the poor dog will go :(

Holo - a hole lot of fun during pregnancy!

One of my pregnant friends has always slept on her tummy ... since finding out she was pregnant she has continued to sleep on her tummy but now that she is getting a bit bigger she's beginning to find it a bit uncomfortable. So she was delighted when I told her about indybel latest product ... the holo!




The holo is basically ... a lilo with a hole! The brainchild of a pregnant mum to be who found a holiday to Spain uncomfortable with her bump, the holo is now taking the world by storm! So okay obviously it's a summer product and a holiday product first and foremost but the holo is not just for relaxing in the pool while pregnant .... oh no, you can also use it to sunbathe on your back, meaning baby is away from the evil sun's glare ... and you can use it lie by the pool and read a book on your front ... a pleasure many have to forgo during pregnancy.
The holo is very compact, it can be easily inflated and deflated which means taking it to the beach daily is no problem and it fits perfectly in the suitcase too ....

Okay so that's holiday's covered, but what about the rest of the year? This to us is where the true beauty of the holo shines through .... it's a fantastic product for resting in your home ... if you are one of the many ladies who prefer to life on your front and watch TV or read a book or even take a nap then the holo is just as useful in your front room as on the beach ....

And that's not all .... it can be taken to massage session or used for physio or osteopathy, meaning that finally pregnant women and their bumps can lie comfortably during treatments. It's already being used by experts in these fields to treat pregnant women with great results ... so good news all round really ....

So that's the holo .... let's see now ..... perfect for the pool, the beach, the garden, the lounge, the bedroom, the spa! What else could you want!

The holo is avaliable in Spain from http://www.indybel.com/ for retail in our store and also for wholesale so if you happen to be a Spanish retailer and are looking for the next must have pregnancy product, get in touch!!

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!

Cash on delivery

Up until recently we only offered paypal and wire transfer as payment methods when you buy online at indybel.com

We offer paypal as we believe that it is a secure method for our customers and we know many people already have paypal accounts these days and find paypal an easy system to use ... However we also realise that many of our customers prefer to deal in cash rather than credit and so are now delighted to be able to offer our customers the payment option of ...

CASH ON DELIVERY!!!!

Customers in Spain can select Cash on Delivery now in our payment section and choose to pay the courier when he/she arrives with your products.
It's really as simple as that! Just make sure you choose a delivery address where you will be when the courier arrives and that you have enough cash on you!

So far cash on delivery is proving to be really popular and more and more customers are choosing this option as opposed to the credit card options, showing that consumers would rather pay for their goods with cash. As ever our aim is to make the shopping process as easy and comfortable as possible for our customers, so we are delighted that feedback suggests cash on delivery has been such a success ...

Keep an eye on our site as more PAYMENT OPTIONS will be coming to indybel in the next few months ....

Travelling with the Trunki

Well, as Indybel started to stock the Trunki towards the end of last year, it seemed only right that I put my money where my mouth is and invest in one as we were off to the UK for New Year. My daughter chose Harley the red Trunki and so began our Trunki adventure ...

The first great thing I found about using a Trunki is that it's fun for toddlers to pack. My toddler anyway had great fun packing all her favourite toys into her Trunki the night before departure, and then I had less fun unpacking them all and repacking more sensible one's ... still it got her into the spirit of the journey and there is also a huge amount of room in the Trunki's ... I got a load of toys and travel games in, along with favourite dolly and favourite teddy and a number of travel items such as spare knickers, spare clothes, extra layers, sandwiches and so on ....

When we arrived at Malaga airport the next morning my daughter proudly insisted on pulling her own suitcase and as a retailer I was amazed by how many people were pointing the Trunki out to one and other and how many children were eying it up too! My husband was busy telling everyone 'we sell it you know!' ...

Post check in, we said goodbye to my hubbie who was staying in Spain and as a lone parent on a long journey with a toddler the Trunki suddenly came into it's own. Firstly my little one loved pulling it and wouldn't let me pull it for her, which was a great relief as I still had memories of our last journey when I was carrying both my and her bags and toddler too! So now she had something to focus on. When she eventually did get bored of pulling as we were about to start the walk to the gate and onto the plane, she decided to rideon the Trunki instead. Again as a parent this was great, I was able to pull her along without taking the weight of either her or her luggage. More importantly she had great fun all the way to the plane and didn't get bored while we were waiting in the queues and standing around in the cold.

Once on the plane, I was pleased to find our Trunki fitted perfectly under the seat and once we were up in the air my daughter was able to open it up and spent a happy two hours with all her toys.

Our journey home again was pretty much the same!

So, a slightly biased but also genuine assesment ....

Is it worth it .... ABSOLUTELY

Will I be taking it on my next journey .... OH YES!

Marks out of 10 .... A DEFINITE TRUNKI TEN OUT OF TEN ....

To find out more about trunki, visit the indybel trunki page by clicking here!

Trunki comes to Spain ....

Ever since we saw Trunki on Dragon's Den some years ago we've been big fans!

For those of you who aren't sure what we are talking about, Trunki is a suitcase for toddlers ... the fab thing about Trunki is that your toddler can pull them along, ride on them or carry them. There is tons of room in them, they are hand luggage approved and they are most importantly mega cute ...

Yet despite Spain having the busiest airports in the World, up to now it's been virtually impossible to buy a Trunki here in Spain ... yes, we said up to now, because happily Indybel now stock the Trunki.

Of course I bought one straight away for Bella and she loves it. We haven't travelled with it yet but she rides up and down the living room on it and it's a huge fav already. We are planning to take it the UK with us at Xmas because I'm told that it's a great way of keeping kids occupied at the airport too. Another friend also told me they are fab for overnight visits to the grandparents or family.

Since we started stocking Trunki they've been hugely popular ... customer loved them at the recent Mother, Baby and Toddler show and only this morning I delivered one to a playgroup, only to come away with orders for more next week ...

So, if you are thinking of travelling anytime soon ... don't leave home without a Trunki!!

Buy your trunki in Spain now at http://www.indybel.com/

Indybel News for October

This month we are delighted to announce the arrival of several fab new products ...

JoJo Maman Bebe Sleeping bags in 2 sizes and 2 togs ... safe, snug and sweet ...

Bebe au Lait ... the orginal breastfeeding covers from LA ... with pop out necks so you can see you little one while they feed

BabyPotz ... BPA free weaning pots in 5 different sizes and with 50 in a pack

Trunkie ... stress free travel with our limited edition tiger and ladybird trunkies, so cute and toddlers love them too!

Plus, all our autumn / winter Seraphine and JoJo Maman Bebe maternity wear is now in, key peices include gorgeous little black dresses and swishy cardigans!

All the above can be seen on our site www.indybel.com or come and visit us on our stand at the Mother, Baby and Toddler show next weekend where we will also be running a really exciting competition whereby everyone who buys something over the weekend will be entered into a prize draw. The lucky winner will be drawn at the end of our fashion show on the catwalk and will receive a bag of Indybel goodies curtosy of our generous suppliers including Baby Kangaroo and Cuddledry!

Look forward to seeing you there and don't forget to catch our maternity fashion show on the main stage at either 12.30 or 4pm

XXX

Coming soon to Spain ... Bebe au Lait

No more worrying about breastfeeding in public ... www.indybel.com will shortly be selling the gorgeous Bebe au Lait ( previously known as Hooter Hiders! ) nursing covers ...

Made with gorgeous and stylish fabrics and with lots of clever features, Bebe au Lait also includes a handy pop out top so you can monitor your baby while breastfeeding but still feed with total privacy.

My sister recently bought one in the UK where they are now one of the top selling baby items and says she couldn't live without!

Baby au Lait will be avaliable from http://www.indybel.com/ in Spain in the next few weeks in 3 different designs.

They make great gifts too!

Last Chance Summer Sale!

Don't forget our fab summer sale ends this Thursday Oct 1st as we officially enter autumn here in Spain!!

Which means this week is your last chance to take advantage of some great special offers ... 25% off everything in our summer range including ...

Baby Banz sunglasses and hats
Shade-a-babe
Buggy Brolly
Cuddledry toddler beach and bath towels
JoJo Maman Bebe maternity swimwear and sun protection tent
Imse Vimse resuable swim nappies

all avaliable in Spain at http://www.indybel.com/ ... delivery throughout Spain and the Islands ...

Take advantage of our great savings to stock up for the winter sun and next summer too ...

Time to start thinking togs!

Last night for the first time in weeks I put socks on my toddler when she went to bed and covered her with a sheet ... my husband wanted to get the duvet out but I don't think winters here quite yet!! The evenings have got noticably cooler though ... a welcome relief after months of sweating at night ... and little one's do feel the changes, so it's important to monitor the temperature in their bedrooms and adjust their sleeping outfits accordingly.

All this reminded me that our indybel delivery of new JoJo Maman Bebe sleeping bags should be here any day now! Like everything else, baby sleeping bags are not always easy to find in Spain. We are really excited about our latest products ... these gorgeous sleeping bags come in three different designs and two different togs ( 1.5 for warmer temperatures of 22 - 24 degrees and 2.5 for the cooler months when the temperatures even in Spain do drop below 21 degrees at night! ) We are also going to be selling them in two sizes, 0-6 months and 6-18 months ... all the details will be on our site in the next week or so, so if you are thinking of buying a sleeping bag for your little one this winter don't forget to check ours out. They are a lot cheaper than Grobag, but of the very same high quality!

Here are the 3 designs we're expecting ... all three are perfect for either girls or boys. nb the colour of Carousel is beige/cream.

Noah's Ark Sleeping Bag, coming soon to http://www.indybel.com/ in 2.5 tog size 0-6 months

Carousel Sleeping Bag, coming soon to http://www.indybel.com/ in 2.5 tog, sizes 0-6 months and 6-18 months

Rainbow Sleeping Bag, coming soon to http://www.indybel.com/ in 1.5 tog, sizes 0-6 and 6-18 months

All designs gorgeous for girls or boys!!!

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!

Happy Birthday Indybel!

It's August which means http://www.indybel.com/ is one year old!!

As with a baby we've had our teething problems this year, we've lost a lot of sleep, we've spent a lot of money!! and our daily workload has increased month by month ...!

Yet despite some difficult desicions and a few set backs we've had a great first year. Launching in the middle of a credit crisis was never going to be easy, but we are still here and surviving and growing and have had an amazing response from customers all over Spain and beyond!

We wouldn't still be here without your support ... so thank you for all your lovely messages, ideas and of course for buying from us! Keep checking back on us, we've got lots of ideas for the future, and have full intentions of growing, evolving and fingers crossed announcing our second birthday this time next year!!

Fab Birthday Competition!!

By the way we are running a great competition on the main site indybel.com in honour of our birthday ..... EVERYONE who buys something this August will automatically be entered into our prize draw which will be drawn on Sept 1st 2009. The winner will be sent a great prize from http://www.indybel.com/ .... so to enter simply visit the main site and buy something NOW!!

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

Potty Training Part 2 ... An alternative guide!

Well for those of you who may have read Potty Training Part 1 ( posted at the beginning of May ) and were wondering how we were getting on ... I am proud to say that 3 weeks later I really think we have cracked it!

Yes there have been a few accidents along the way ( and they'll prob be a few more too ) ... the car seat needs a good clean! But bella has been out and about in knickers only for a good few weeks now and is happily depositing all her 'waste' in the potty! She's still in nappies at night but my philosophy is one thing at a time and I'm not quite ready to tackle nights just yet!

However overall it wasn't the 'complete and utter nightmare' that I was expecting it to be. I didn't follow the books, in fact I probably went against most of the more conventional advice and just made it up as I went along. I used instinct as a guide and it seemed to work! So for what it's worth, here's my alternative guide for potty training your little one in Spain!

Relax and don't stress!

I honestly believe that you need to relax and take your time with potty training. If you stress I think it rubs off on your little one and they get stressed, so it's really all about having patience. It is difficult not to get a little frustrated with your toddler when after 2 days of peeing in the potty they suddenly pee all over the car seat without uttering a word or tell you they don't want the potty and want a nappy, but I really believe the key is to smile serenly and take a deep breath and make it all out to be a fun game. I used the words 'grown up girl' a lot and told my daughter what a big girl she was becoming which she loved. I think it's really important not to get stressed if you have a few bad days and if you want to then go back to nappies for a day ...it's not the end of the world, your child won't take a backward step, and you can try again the next day.
I have a couple of friends who got very stressed by it all and refused to entertain the idea of going back to nappies here and there ... and I think it just makes life more difficult. Take it all at your own pace and it will happen naturally ....

Invest in the 'right' potty!

Sounds odd, but I think the choice of first potty is very important. It also seems that toddlers become quite attached to their first potty so it may even be worth buying 2 exactly the same, one to take out and one for home.

I bought Bella's first potty from Indybel ... it is a high backed one ( almost like a chair ) and I have to say she loves it. She will sit in it for ages and seems to find it really comfy. I also really like the BabyDan high backed potty ( pictured ) that we sell at Indybel because you can take the middle out and it's small and easy to despose of the waste and clean. Bella having watched me do this a hundred times, now loves doing it herself ... she takes the middle out, tips whatever she's done down the toilet, washes the bowl and pops it back in the potty ... all by herself!!! This potty is great for letting children help you as it's small and light enough for them to carry easily.

I bought a second low backed cheaper potty take out and about but she hated it and refused to use it. In the end I found a cheaper high backed potty and now keep this in the car. She chose the cheaper potty herself and also loves it. It might be worth taking your child to the shop and letting them choose their own potty ... this is all part of the excitiment and fun of potty training for them ...

Positioning of the potty!

Postitioning is really important. Your toddler needs to know where the potty is and get to it quickly. It's therefore important to chose a place where you can keep the potty for a while and it becomes the 'potty place'. Some people start with keeping the potty in the bathroom but for us this didn't work as Bella got bored at the beginning sitting on it and waiting for a wee wee ... now we have it in the lounge in front of the TV! Sounds daft but it works .... she either watches TV or reads while on the potty and there is no stress of me standing there waiting as I can be in the kitchen or other end of the lounge knowing that she's occupied and not stressing about doing her wee wee!

Buy lots of knickers!

At the beginning you really need a lot of knickers, although as a friend recently remarked to me, once they are trained you realise just how many you have! If you live on the Costa del Sol then take a trip to Dunnes where they sell packs of 6 knickers for just 3.50€ ... and their pretty cute too! Prenatal also do packs of 3 .....

Don't be afraid to put the nappy back on ...

Potty training while at home is one thing and can be relatively relaxed .... going out is a whole other ballgame!!

Most books etc tell you to just go for it and go out without a nappy or not go out at all, but I found both these options very stressful at the beginning. I didn't trust bella to tell me if she needed a wee, she wasn't great at using toilets and I didn't see how in a shopping center or in the park we'd be able to get to a toilet in time. So for the first couple of weeks I let her go nappy free at home and nursery and when we went out in the afternoons I put a nappy on her. I took it off as soon as we got home. NOTHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED!!!! She didn't regress ... if anything I could tell she was getting the whole idea as she'd say something like 'now I'll do my wee wee in the nappy' .... Again I think it was just important that Bella and I took it at our own pace and in our own way ... I didn't want to stress her out by getting stressed about toilets on our trips out, so we used nappies while out and about for a few weeks until I was confident she'd def tell me when she wanted to use the toilet.

This last week we've started going out without nappies and I'm much more relaxed because I know she's ready ... I'm sure there will still be accidents buy now I know that I have an out and about potty that she likes too, it's easier .... just don't forget to take lots of knickers with you when you go out!!

Ask the nursery for help!

If your child is at nursery then don't forget to ask them to help you. Being at nursery has been great for bella as there she can watch the other's go on the little toilets and copies them ... she has also learn't to pull her knickers up and down at nursery which she wasn't very good at, at home and really only had one or too accidents there before becoming potty perfect!

Don't feel bad if it doesn't work first time ...

There is no right or wrong age for potty training. We tried a few times over the past 6 months but I could see that bella wasn't ready, so we stopped, waited and then tried again. Let your toddler guide you, if they are not ready then don't force them.

Find a reward system that works for you ...

It's not obligatory, but finding a little reward for those first wee's and poo's makes potty training more fun for your toddler.

I used the 'My Potty Book' which we sell at Indybel. Firstly Bella loved the book anyway as it tells the story of a little girl and her teddy leaning to use the potty ... and shows things like big girl knickers etc which she found fun.

The book also comes with star stickers which you can give your toddler when they do their business! Bella loved these and loved collecting them. I was worried she may want a reward at nursery or when we were out and about and I'd forgotten the stickers, but it doesn't seem to bother her at all, she just accepts that she gets a reward at home and that's it. Now 3 weeks on she's not asking for the stars every time either, so I can see that it will be relatively easy to phase the rewards out over time ...

The problem with poo poo's ...

Myself and my friends seem to agree that while wee wee's are one thing, pooing is a whole different ball game. Most toddlers seem to grasp the concept of weeing on a potty fairly easily but waiting for pooing to sink in is a bit more stressful. Bella seemed almost to wait till the nightime nappy went on to do her poo for the first few weeks, while another friends little one stopped pooing altogether and got very stressed, and another one just did poo after poo in his pants! I think it's a matter of patience ... try to encourage your little one to do their poo in the potty and eventually they will ... then it's lots of praise and pressies!! It will sink in but I think you have to relax and almost treat it like stage 2 and let it happen as it happens .... and it will ....

Good Luck ... and when you get stressed, just calculate all the things you can buy with the money you'll save on not buying nappies !

http://www.indybel.com/ sell the Babydan high backed potty in several colours ... toilet trainer seats, steps and the My Potty Book for Girls and My Potty Book for Boys ... for more information about buying these products in Spain please visit the Mums Essentials and Bookshop sections of http://www.indybel.com/

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!!

Swaddling

As in the UK, swaddling is suddenly popular and fashionable again here in Spain with more and more midwives, hospitals and mums realising and recommending the benefits of swaddling. But what exactly is Swaddling and how do first time mums learn to swaddle?

What is Swaddling?

Swaddling has been used for thousands of years to help newborns adjust to life outside the womb. The idea is basically to ‘swaddle’ or wrap your baby so that they feel warm, secure and comfortable when sleeping. Many midwives throughout the world are fans of swaddling and often teach new mums to swaddle in the hospital.

The popularity of swaddling has risen again in recent years due to research that has suggested swaddling aids more peaceful sleep in babies as swaddling recreates the secure environment felt in the womb and prevents babies waking themselves with reflex movements.

Studies have also suggested that swaddling can help to enhance development in low birth weight babies, reduce the risk of cot death, sooth over stimulated babies and also help to reduce symptoms of colic by applying gentle pressure to their abdominal area.

Swaddling - A mums experience of Swaddling

One of my good friends who now runs the website http://www.kidsinmarbella.com/ swaddled her son until he was 5 months old. Here she shares her experience of swaddling ...

"I hadn't really thought of swaddling before. My son was wrapped up tight by the hospital staff after he was born, but I thought nothing of it, but looking back it made sense considering where he had been for the last 9 months!

I started the swaddling in earnest when I was running out of ideas and family members magic rocking knees, to try and stop my son crying with what we think was a touch of colic.

I read somewhere that swaddling babies with colic can help, so it was well worth a try. It comforts them, reminding them of the safety of the womb, all wrapped up, warm and safe and this definately helps to calm them down

I swaddled my son till he was 5 months which is slightly longer than recommended but he loved it, in fact he couldn't sleep without it and it guaranteed me some time off.

I would definately recommend trying it to anyone whos baby has colic or has problems sleeping, there is something primative about swaddling, that gave both me and my son a feeling of comfort."

How to Swaddle?

You can swaddle with a normal sheet or blanket, but many new mums find 'ready made' swaddling blankets or robes easier to use as they are designed to 'swaddle' your baby in just a few easy movements ... particularly handy if your baby is resisting, overtired or irritable.

At http://www.indybel.com/ we now stock the JoJo Maman Bebe organic swaddling robe.( pictured above )

The JoJo Maman Bebe swaddling robe is pre-folded and easy to use with Velcro™ fastening. It helps babies feel snug and secure.

Suitable from birth.

100% Organic Cotton.

Useful Swaddling Tips

Always ensure your baby’s swaddling is not too tight by checking you can slip your fingers down the top of the sheet.

Additional sheets and blankets are not normally required on top of swaddling, unless in very cold temperatures. You may however want to adjust the clothing your baby is wearing beneath the swaddling robe to the time of year.

If your baby resists swaddling you can try swaddling from the chest down so the baby's hands and arms are free to move around.

Potty Training ... Part 1!

My daughter is now 2 and a half so it seems about time that she start to master the potty and I can stop forking out huge amounts of money on nappies. ( Yes, I would have used cloth but our company didn't exist when she was born! )

So where to start with potty training? My business partner 'trained' her daughter at 18 months, as with another one on the way she needed to do it as soon as possible. While this is quite early there are def advantages to at least trying to potty train when younger. Cost is one of course, but also toddlers are less aware of their bodily functions and less embarresed about going to the toilet at a younger age and are also more likely to do as they are told! Potty training a head strong 2 and a half year old suddenly seems a rather difficult feat, especially as this particular toddler seems to have suddenly formed a new love affair with her nappy and is reluctant to let me take it off.

But the time has come and the weather is perfect for letting little one's run around semi naked and so this week I have begun to take her nappy off in the afternoons ( at morning she's at nursery ) and encourage her to use her potty.

The first afternoon was a bit of a non event. She sat for hours on the potty with her new potty book which she loved, but no wee wee ... not a dribble! This made me think that maybe she can control her bladder and is waiting for the nappy to go on before doing anything ...oppps seriously the wrong psychology and another reason why earlier may be better!

The next day though we had a result ... two wee wee's in the potty and a bit on the patio. She was rewarded with wee wee sweeties ...
Later that evening though she did a wee wee all over mummy's lap ... okay not so good ... I realised that in the excitment of achieving a wee wee on the potty I had forgotton to keep asking her if she needed to use the potty and so had got what I deserved!

The next day I introduced the concept of knickers, hoping that this exciting new garment of 'big girl' clothing would encourage her to use the potty. For ages nothing happened even though I had taken on the persona of a parrot squarking 'would you like to do wee wee poo poo on the potty ...tell mummy if you want to sit on the potty' ... every 5 minutes ... then of course when I was in another room she said 'potty' and promptly did a wee wee all over the floor! Oh and there was another one on my lap again that evening ... ( I'm doing a lot of washing these days! )

Okay ...I am now appreciating that this is not going to be so easy. I am going to to try a different method which involves sitting her on the potty every half an hour or so instead of asking her, and we'll see if we get better luck! In the meantime any tips much appreciated!

Indybel sell the Babybjorn Potty above in a variety of colours and potty book

to find our more visit http://www.indybel.com/

Bambino Mio Cloth Nappies

Since our launch in August we've been overwhelmed by the interest in our natural nappy range. Despite the initial costs involved in buying natural nappies being quite large, we've had a huge number of enquiries about our nappies and a record number of sales. This is great news as it shows mums in Spain are really interested in the benefits afforded by using cloth nappy systems. These benefits include helping the environment and saving a huge amount of money over the two years or so that your child will be using nappies.

So far we've stocked the Imse Vimse range which we feel to be the best all in one natural nappy system on the market. Imse Vimse nappies are 'all in one' ( ie no covers, cloths etc ), so they look a little like disposables and are very easy to put as they follow the same design. They are oraganic and come with a number of accessories including bins, washing nets, sanitiser,

liners and booster pads.

Due to the interest in our nappies we are now delighted to offer a second alternative ... Bambino Mio. Bambino Mio is an award winning brand that has been a front runner in the natural nappy market for some years now. Bambino Mio nappies differ from Imse Vimse in that they are similar to the more traditional cloth nappy system and so you get a number of cloths and waterproof covers. But don't worry there are no pins ... today's nappy sytems are comfy and hygenic and use velcro or button fastenings.

We are delighted now to be able to offer our customers in Spain these two high quality and top of the market real nappy systems. Both are excellent quality, cost effective and highly recommended by parenting experts. We hope that by offering two completely different systems that vary in style and cost, we are able to cater for all our customers needs and lifestyles.

To find out more about our Imse Vimse and Bambino Mio resuable nappy systems in Spain please visit http://www.indybel.com/ and check our our Natural Nappy section in the baby store.

JoJo Maman Bebe arrives in Spain ....

We are delighted to announce that we are currently the first and only Spanish stockists for the popular and well renouned UK baby brand JoJo Maman Bebe!

We have long been fans of this hugely successful brand which has several UK stores as well as a thriving online business throughout the world. JJMB are well known for the quality of their products, innovative products and organic products and we are therefore delighted to be working with them in Spain and hope our customers will enjoy the chance to order JoJo Maman Bebe quickly and easily here in Spain.

We will be launching the range with a small selection but hope to grow by the autumn. Products now on the indybel.com site include a family sized UV tent, gorgeous maternity tankini's which are part swim suit, part bikini! A lovely maternity kaftan which can be worn on the beach or over trousers and the popular organic swaddling blankets ... if these items are popular we hope to expand to include the gorgeous organic clothing range for newborns in the autumn and many other popular JoJo Maman Bebe items.
We are really excited about bringing this brand to Spain and hope our customers will love the products as much as we do!

Check out JoJo Maman Bebe at www.indybel.com in Spain NOW!