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Just ‘cos it’s Winter your kiddo doesn’t suddenly become an inside creature right? Stir craziness hits all time highs around July when the seemingly eternal cold weather makes outdoor adventures seem too hard. Especially when your little persons usual act is to de-robe their layers after 3 mins on the playground #ammiright? And just ‘cos it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean you want to skip your morning walk, even if you have a teeny babe in tow.

The solution to all your Winter problems (ok maybe not all, but, ya know some) is to get your babe sorted with a beanie! During Winter our heads are usually the only part of our body left exposed, and for that reason we lose most of our body heat via said noggins. Beanie equals lost body heat problem solved.

Beanies are also a super cool fash’ accessory. Our beanies are practical of course, but are also stylish (and great value, but we don’t want to brag) We’ve got beanies even your biggest little kiddo will be happy to wear.

But choosing a beanie is hard? What type to choose? Will it fit my child’s man-sized head? Won’t they just pull it off? It makes their head itchy / hot / sweaty etc.

That’s where we come in. Your trusty advisors for all things baby & kiddo. We have lots of babes between us (therefor lots of beanies) and we have road tested alllll the brands. Our beanie collection is epic. A one stop shop if you like. We are self proclaimed beanie experts.

You can jump right ahead and see all our beanies clicking here or read on for our run down on choosing a beanie:

If you have a newborn or a teeny babe, may we suggest a cotton hat for around home, car trips and going out and about without actually being outside. Teeny babes can’t regulate their own body temperature and during Winter a soft, gentle hat made from natural fibres will help them stay cosy warm (and look cute). Especially when they’re sleeping and they aren’t snuggled up against your body. Plus photo’s of your babe in a sweet little hat will be some of your faves to look back on. Check them out here

If you are heading out and about, you will want something a bit warmer for your baby. We have a HUGE range of beanies that are just perfect! First up the Wilson & Frenchy knit beanies are a Cotton x Wool x Bamboo blend and honestly, they are heaven. This natural fibre blend is gentle, breathable (thanks Cotton) and crazy soft (thanks Bamboo) but till super warm (thanks to that little bit of wool) These beanies are generously sized and the style is slouchy. They have a great amount of stretch, so there’s no need to size up. Go by the age size and you should be right. You can see them here

Second, we love the Toshi range. These are Organic Cotton – which makes them super, super gentle. Great for hot little heads, and babes with sensitive skin. Use the size guide in the product, but you can size up with Toshi. The style is a bit more structured as not as generous or stretchy. Shop them here

If it’s super cold where you live, we highly recommend this Handmade Merino Wool blend, chunky knit beanie range. Merino wool is super warm, and these will keep heads nice and toasty. The come in baby to big kid sizes & the matching mittens and Scarves are super cute too! These beanies are true to size, and unless your babe is particularly petite or bigger you can go their usual size. They are quite chunky and sizing up unnecessarily will bother them (trust me, learned the hard way)

If you are looking for a beanie for a bigger kiddo, we have some super stylish & fun ones to choose from. While still being warm and practical if you “growing up too fast” kiddo is starting to have more say than you would like, we think these beanies will do the trick. The Kapow beanies are super warm, hot heads will not love these ones as much. BUT if you’re in a cold cold climate – you’re onto a winner with these! The styles are COOL and the sizing is true. But with the earmuffs we don’t suggest sizing up. Hello Stranger beanies are for the super cool older kiddos. The sizing is generous and stretchy and if you grab one of these we’ll even throw in a Tote Bag.

If your little person is a hot little bod prone to heating up easily OR has a sensitive head, we suggest the Toshi 100% organic cotton range. The fibres are natural, gentle and importantly breathable. They’ll feel comfortable to wear & while keeping them warm, they won’t make them too hot.

Question about sizing? We’ve tried to give as much info in the product descriptions as we can, but if you need any further help get in touch via email, Instagram / FB DM or call one of our stores. All contact info is here.

We hope you find what you’re looking for, and we’d love you to share your Winter adventures feat. Beanies by tagging us @daisyandhen

Big love,

Gina and the team x

Easter is one of my absolute fave times of the year. I just truly love the magic of it. Here I am 5 years ago with Henry, on his first Easter:

Waking early to the delight of your little people, the big Easter Egg hunt and subsequent divvying up of the collected goodies and having chocolate for breakfast.

Now as a school Mum I especially LOVE that Easter coincides with school holidays. It usually represents at least a little bit of downtime for my fam (and I hope for you too) This year we have booked 2 heavenly weeks by the sea, a first for us – but something we have worked so hard to achieve.

I’ve always loved that with Easter, the change of season seems to coincide. By this time of the year I’m hanging for trackies, nanna rugs and couch snuggles. I love eating all the Hot Cross Buns and naturally allll the Easter Eggs and I love eating them as a combo, have you ever tried this? I just love a good hot lunch and some indulgence too.

Easter – what’s not to love right?!

And of course at Easter, I love to spoil my little person. I love the sparkle and wonder in his eyes. In addition to Easter Eggs, for me Easter gifts include some practical things, and a few FUN activity type treats for the holiday period.

I would love to share some of my faves suggestions you…

New PJ’s for Easter With the change of season, Easter is literally the perfect time of the year for some fresh Winter PJ’s. Nothing like those angelic post bath clean faces, freshly combed hair, and bedtimes stories all tucked up in new jammies. Magical. Shop the PJ's here

It wouldn't be Easter without a Jellycat Bunny of course. We love these all year round, but they become just that extra bit special at Easter time. Suitable from birth these make the perfect keepsake first Easter gift. But trust me when I say older kiddos love these equally as much – we watch their eyes light up in the store all the time. Machine washable, with long, soft, floppy ears for holding onto, one Jellycat is just never enough.

I LOVE Easter Eggs as much as anyone, but I do not love the associated sugar high come down so much. There’s no denying the chocolate but I like to disperse the eggs amongst some other small & fun chocolate alternatives. These are the same price as an Easter Egg but are fun, engaging and some are even reusable.

As a basket collector from way back, I love to gift something to use for hunting & gathering, that will be cherished and used over and over again. Our range of baskets, are designed to meet the intrinsic desire of your little people to hunt & gather. Whether that be toys, rocks, leaves or Easter Eggs. These baskets will get a workout on Easter morning but trust me – they will be used for everrrrr!

What’s a better Easter gift, that something that can provide some downtime for the whole family after lunch. We love a puzzle for some serious family fun time. Especially after what is usually a hectic morning – I am all about something that will promote some stillness and use of mental energy.

Perhaps your little person is too young or you just don’t want to give chocolate at all? We have an amazing range of Easter themed toys that make an amazing alternative. Lot’s of perfect first Easter gifts here too. These are toys, that will be played with all year round but just have something about them that makes them a bit Easter-ey.

If like me you are getting away over the Easter holidays, then may I suggest gifting some activity sets? You will thank yourself later when you’re couch side about to pour a wine and you need something to occupy the little people. These portable, compact and fully self contained activity sets will set you up for some peace during the holidays. Especially as it almost always rains at Easter!

And I am going to sneak these in, cos some themed and fun to wear Easter clothes is COOL!

So those are my best picks, I hope I’ve given you some inspo for this Easter.

Wishing you all a safe and magical holiday period.

Gina and the DH girls xo

There’s something so magical about a little babe’s first Christmas.

Whether they are 1 week or 51 weeks old, the first time you celebrate Christmas with your own little person just feels so much more magical.

We love the idea of gifting your little babe something extra special for their first Christmas. Not just something they will love and treasure for the year (and years) ahead, but also a timeless keepsake for the years to come.

We’ve curated our best ever collection of beautiful gifts [in all price points] that we think are just perfect for a babe’s first Christmas. We hope you love them as much as we do.

A Ride On or Push Along Toy

Starting with the Ride on Reindeer, and golly gosh I just don’t know if this one can be topped! It’s a Deer, so naturally it’s the perfect Christmas gift (just imagine how instaworthy this beauty will look under the tree!) Georgia from Glenelg says it perfectly: “Depending on their age they may still be too little to ride it, but I like to think that Christmas is the perfect opportunity to get the key toys they are going to use for the next year”

And this is a beauty, it’s the kind of toy that is made to last forever, just like all the others in the collection. There are so many to choose from.
You can see our full range of Ride Ons & Push Alongs here.

A keepsake doll

We love these beautiful keepsake dolls as a special gift. These are exquisite décor for the nursery, and also in a ‘big girls room’ in years to come (if you choose to keep it special and out of reach) But they are also designed to be loved and would make the perfect doll for treasuring now too. The fabric dressed dolls will be a little sturdier and the tulle style ones are just a little more precious. We have a huge range of these from sparkly princesses to boho beauties.

You can see the full range here

A wooden heirloom vehicle

Like our dolls, these vehicles make the most beautiful heirloom gifts. The quality is amazing, and they are absolutely designed to be loved and played with (read: wheeled and driven all over the house) These are the kind of toys that will hold up to that for many years. They are the ones that outlast the childhood and get packed away with the most treasured things. You know the box that Nana has filled with toys from your parents childhood? These wooden vehicles end up in that box. And one day you’ll be the Nana and you’ll be telling your Grandie how you got this truck for your babe’s first Christmas.

See the full range of these beautiuful vehicles here

A Dinkum Doll

The Dinkum Dolls truly are the best mate for your little babe. They are made from the softest, snuggliest cotton outer, making them perfect for all that life entails. They feature the sweetest embroidered details, from their eyes and mouth, to the little rainbow over their heart.

It’s up to your child to choose who their Dinkum doll is, and with their loveable faces, posable bodies and huggable selves, there is no end to the fun and imaginative play ahead. We love these as ‘the doll’ for your babe’s childhood. The one they love the most and the one that accompanies them on allllll the adventures (that you can’t leave home without – sorry!)  We love everything about these, especially all the beautiful doll things that go with them. May we suggest a Strolley, A cot or even a doll bassinet!

Haley from Tanunda says: “I’m quite sentimental and these little dolls remind me so much of the doll I had as an 80’s child. I still have mine and so I will definitely be getting Mahli one to match”

See! Case in point, Haley treasured her doll so much she still has it! Dinkums will be this doll for your little one.

You can see our huge range of dolls & accessories here

A Special Jellycat & Book

There’s a reason we share the Jellycats nearly everyday. They are truly so loved by everyone and for good reason. With the softest, most tactile fur they are a sensory delight. They soothe, calm and offer comfort for little babes. With a huge range of creatures there is something for every babe (or every nursery theme!) Whether you go with a small one for a stocking filler or a big one for a real keepsake, this is a toy that will be so treasured over the years.

May we also suggest this is a great suggestion for a relative to gift too. We all know from experience how much our littles LOVE these, and yours will too.

 Check out all of our amazing Jellycats here (we are the biggest stockist in SA!)

A Wheely Bug

So much fun! And cute (back to that Instaworthy Christmas tree!) Coral from Tanunda gifted her little Esme one last year and says: “Esme absolutely loved hers and used it so much more than I ever thought she would. Even now at 2.5 she gets around on it, and it’s often a part of her imaginary play world too”

Developmentally these are bang on perfect for that 10-12 month mark, and are truly something your little one will get so much joy from.

The wheely bugs are here with all the other amazing Ride Ons & Push Alongs.

A Roly Poly Koala

“Toys” in the sense of things an under 1 babe will interact with are a bit limited, but we’ve put together a little collection of interactive toys designed specifically for this age. Including the cutest Koala ever! Last Christmas Mumma Merf’s 4^th babe was a wee 1 month old and this was her gift. Cassie says: “It was so perfect for her, especially for encouraging tummy time. The moving face and sweet chime kept her engaged. She still uses it now (just turned 1) as a cause and effect toy. She gives it a little push and watches it rock back”

You can see our little collection of toys designed for little babes here

The Giant Noah’s Ark

This one is truly larger than life. The most beautiful keepsake wooden toy that is truly an heirloom & made to keep forever (and hand down) This is a toy you will never part with!

The ark will take your breath away & captivate your babe's imagination - open ended imaginative play at it's absolute finest. We can guarantee your little person will be playing with this well into their school years.

This is the bees knees of our wooden toy range!

If you love the idea of the Ark but want to go for something a little smaller, theres lots of others in the range. You can see them all here

If you have any questions please hit us up via Social Media, email our team on hello@daisyandhen.com.au or call our stores (Tanunda: 0885630116 Glenelg: 0882940056)

We would be so thrilled to help you choose the perfect gift for your babe's first Christmas.

Wishing you the most magical festive season ahead.

Gina & the Daisy and Hen team xo