A baby’s first Christmas is a really special time of celebration, enjoyment and magic for the whole family; although it does have the potential to be a stressful time as well, as all of you attempt to balance the festivities with the baby’s routine.

We do remember our little ones’ first Christmas, so we thought we’d share our top tips for a super festive and happy all round baby’s first Christmas!

• Christmas is often all about seeing friends and family, especially those you might not see so often, but for your first Christmas with baby don’t overstretch yourself. Make plenty of time for your little family unit to relax so you don’t tire out baby, or yourself.
• Baby is sure to get loads of presents, so don’t be afraid to ask for practical ones if well-wishers ask what you’d like. Asking for clothes or toys that baby can grow into means that they are sure to get plenty of wear before he grows out of it; there’s only so many times he can wear different variations on a Christmas pudding outfit!
• And of course, be sure to mention that you’d prefer ethical Christmas presents for baby, such as fair trade and organic cotton clothes and toys. Babi Pur has a huge range of ethical toys, blankets, clothes and accessories that mum and baby will love.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends if it all gets too much – they’ll be more than happy to help you out if they can.
• Buy a few small keepsakes, like a special bauble, decoration or stocking; you’ll be able to bring it out year after year and reminisce with your child as they get older.
• Don’t forget to take LOADS of pictures of your baby’s first Christmas. In our digital age, you can never really have too many and they will make a lovely keep-sake for your child as he gets older. You could even have them made into an inexpensive photo book later on.
• Use one of the nicest pictures to print out and make into personalised “thank-you” cards for all of your baby’s Christmas presents.
• And lastly, have lots of fun! Don’t worry about the little things; just relax and enjoy your first Christmas with your beautiful new baby.

What special things did you do to celebrate your baby’s first Christmas? We’d love to hear from you, so share your tips in the comments box below!

All images have been supplied by our lovely customers.. here's some more...

Happy first Christmas!

Here at Babi Pur Towers, we’re well and truly getting the Christmas tingles, but we got to thinking about the environmental impact of Christmas, as well as the ethical implications for many of the toys and gifts we’ll all be happily giving, and receiving.

We’ve made a pledge – that each Christmas will be more eco-friendly than the last. We believe it’s possible to have a fun, festive and green Christmas! And here are some of our top tips for a brilliant eco Christmas.

Decorations

For a real taste of a green Christmas, why not have a go at making your own Christmas decorations this year. Colourful, recycled paper chains make great festive garlands and kids can use last year’s cards to make fun tree decorations, along with home-made Christmas gingerbread or chocolate treats.  You can make beautiful garlands to hang on the Christmas tree using popcorn and dried cranberries. You’ll need a long piece of cotton with a needle at one end, simply thread the popcorn and cranberries on to the cotton and don’t forget to make extra for eating!  This year we’ve been collecting acorns and seeds to make a natural Christmas wreath.

As for the tree, some people would argue that a good artificial one is the best eco-friendly Christmas tree but only if it is re-used for many years. Despite being made of plastic, an artificial Christmas tree is not recyclable or biodegradable but they’re quite often made from recycled plastics.

There’s nothing better than the smell of a real Christmas tree! A real tree is carbon neutral, but it’s worth keeping in mind that most of the seeds for European Pine Tree plantations come from impoverished regions of Georgia where working conditions can be dangerous and very poorly paid.  If you’re thinking of getting a real Christmas tree this year why not try to get hold of a Fair Trade tree or purchase it from a sustainable local grower.  You will need to dispose of it properly – ask your council for details.

Presents

Of course, we think that every gift should be an ethical Christmas present and these days you don’t have to look far to find great fair trade, organic, handmade or recycled gifts. Here at Babi Pur we have a huge range of ethical Christmas presents for babies and children – from handmade sledges to organic hats, there’s something for every little angel.

A recent study found that over £650 million is spent every year on gifts that are unloved or unwanted, which we think is enormously wasteful. To avoid your present ending up gathering dust in the attic or even worse, thrown into landfill, why not consider gift vouchers or even a charitable donation? Oxfam for example, now have a range of ethical Christmas gifts that help families in poor countries – for example £5 will buy a family a share in a farmyard or £9 will buy enough safe water for 10 people.  Find out more here

 Food

Christmas is time for complete calorie indulgence, but there are small steps we can all take to help make our Christmas dinner a deliciously green one!

About 10 million turkeys are popped into ovens across the country on Christmas day, but of course you can help the eco Christmas cause by buying a free-range and organic one. So much the better if it comes from a local farm to reduce food miles. Fruit and veg can also be organic and local where possible and don’t forget that all that tasty festive chocolate should be fair trade!

And why not bake and make things at home to reduce packaging? The whole family will love getting involved in the kitchen – you can bake mince pies, Christmas cake and even edible gifts for friends and family.

Waste

Of course, there’ll be lots of extra waste at Christmas time – the cans, bottles, paper, food and glass should be quite easy to sort out; most local councils now collect all of this recyclable waste, check with yours for details if you’re not sure.

But don’t forget about all the other items that get chucked out at Christmas. Batteries need to be disposed of properly; they can’t go into landfill because they contain toxic waste. You can find battery disposal points at most electrical retailers or supermarkets. An even better eco Christmas solution is to use rechargeable batteries.

If you’ve been the lucky recipient of new electrical equipment such as a laptop, i-pod or mobile phone, then don’t forget that these should be disposed of carefully – they can’t go into landfill either. If they still work, then consider listing them on a “free-cycle” site so that someone else can use them.

 Those are just some of Babi Pur’s green Christmas tips. Send us your advice using the comments box below – we love to hear about your eco festivities!

And don’t forget to save some energy! Turn off the TV and head out for a frosty festive winter walk or a play in the park; it’ll make room for another yummy home-made mince pie!

Christmas is an exciting time for babies. There’s so much colour, fun and excitement to capture their little imaginations, and they love the magic and sparkle of new toys and Christmas baubles; not to mention being spoilt rotten with heaps of baby Christmas presents from Santa!

If you’re wondering what on earth to buy your little bundle of joy this Christmas, then look no further. Here at Babi Pur we’ve put together a brilliant list of Christmas gifts for babies, so they’re sure to love the present just as much as the wrapping paper.

1: Crochet rattling Pixie Dolls

These bright and fun Crochet Pixie Rattles by Pebble make brilliant Christmas presents for babies, who will love the bold colours and soft and squidgy texture; They're a perfect size for little hands they’ll soon be shake, rattle and rolling!

Pebble are a fair trade co-operative in Bangladesh, who provide fair and steady employment for local women, so these lovely rattles are the perfectethical Christmas gift for babies!

Choose from six different colours – Pink, Red, Purple, Green Blue or Yellow.  Price: £8.99 each

2: Piccalilly Hooded Playsuit

Baby will be looking smart for Christmas dinner in this gorgeous Picallily Organic Cotton Playsuit. It’s a fabulous grey and zingy green colour and dotted all over with cute stars. Brilliant for looking cool and keeping warm, and because it’s made from organic cotton it’s a brilliant choice for an ethical Christmas baby present! Price: £29.99

3: Alphabet Watercolour Paintings

For an extra special Christmas gift for babies, these lovely Alphabet Paintings make great keep-sakes. They are brilliantly hand-painted to order by an artist local to Babi Pur Towers.

Choose from two different designs – one features tractors, rockets and fire engines and the other has fairies and flowers.

Price: £59.99 (mounted and framed)

4: Sophie the Giraffe

Gorgeous Sophie the Giraffe is full of cheeky fun! This beautiful handmade toy is made from natural, non-toxic rubber and is safe for baby to grab, bite, chew and chomp on. This is the perfect Christmas gift for a teething baby.  Price: £13.00

5. Totsbots Easyfit Christmas Printed Nappies

If your're buying for a lucky cloth bummed baby this year you can be sure that these gorgeous limited edition printed nappies will go down a treat!  These fun Christmas printed Easyfit nappies are available in three prints Robin, Gingerbread and Rudolph or you can save 10% by buying the trio pack which comes with a certificate and a lovely gift bag! Price £17.99 or £47.99 for the trio pack

6: Leather Baby Shoes

Who wouldn’t love some new shoes for Christmas? These beautiful leather baby shoes by Inch Blue are designed to stay on tiny feet while letting the delicate skin breathe.  They’re also made here in Wales, so while financial un-rest is being reported all over the world baby can sleep easily knowing he/she’s supporting the UK economy!  Price £16.99

Check out our whole range of Natural Baby Shoes.

7: Toddles Cuddle Rabby

This big, cute flopsy rabbit by Keptin Jr makes a perfect festive friend and a brilliant Christmas present for babies. The Toddles Cuddle Rabby is hand-made from super soft organic cotton with a recycled fibre filling.

Available in red or navy.  Price: £21.98

8: Fair Trade Clock

Brighten up any nursery and give a Christmas gift for baby that will last, with one of these colourful Fair Trade Clocks by Lanka Kade, a fair trade and ethical toy company based in Sri Lanka.

Choose from several designs, including Price: £19.99

9. Knitted Snake Rattles by Pebble

These gorgeous knitted snakes by Pebble are Fair Trade and would make a wonderful stocking filler for babies and toddlers too, they're light enough for babies to grab them by the tail and shake them about to hear the gentle rattle inside!  We love the beautiful colours and stripes. Price £8.99

10: Frugi Knotted Baby Hat

Little heads needs cosy hats to keep them toasty, and of course looking cute! The adorable Knotted Hat by Frugi will melt any cold winter heart. Choose from a brilliant green dinosaurs with blue stars print or a cute mouse print with pink stripes and spots print.

All of Frugi’s baby clothes are made from organic and fair trade cotton and no harsh chemicals or dyes are used, so it’s a perfect little Christmas gift for babies.  Price: £6.99

Frugi also make a matching playsuit, so baby can be top-to-toe gorgeous!

All the above items can be bought online at Babi Pur, Click HERE to shop now!

We’ve got loads of brilliant ideas for fun and ethical Christmas gifts that kids will love!

It’s that time of year again; the count-down to Christmas has started! Here at Babi Pur towers, we’ve been so busy ordering and unpacking, that our heads are already in a Christmas spin! But it’s all worth it because we’ve hand-picked the very best selection of fun, fabulous and ethical Christmas stocking fillers for kids.

The origins of hanging out a stocking at Christmas aren’t really known, but it is now so firmly associated with Christmas Eve and the magical legend of Santa Claus that there will be countless little (and large) stockings strewn across beds, fireplaces and arm chairs this year, eagerly awaiting their precious presents.

So, look no further for Christmas stocking filler gift ideas; here’s our wish list – a selection of ten of the best brilliant, and ethical stocking fillers from Babi Pur.

1: Cosy Hats

Every little head needs a hat to keep out the winter chills, and our gorgeous Flapper Hats by Picalilly will do just that!

The Piccalilly Organic Cotton Cornflower Flapper Hat is pretty and pink or the Piccalilly Organic Cotton Tomato Flapper Hat is a bright and bold blue.

Priced at £13.99, they are made of the softest Fairtrade and organic cotton without the use of nasty chemicals.

2: Anamalz Wooden Animal Figure Toy

Kids will go ape for these adorable wooden animal figures from Anamalz Toy Company. They are all hand painted and have bendable limbs for hours of happy play.

The range includes the seriously stripy Anamalz Zebra, the friendly Anamalz Rhyno, the smiley Anamalz Moose, a cuddly Anamalz Lion,

a bouncing Anamalz Kangaroo, a great Anamalz Grizzly Bear and a cracking Anamalz Croc.

Priced at just £4.99 and made from sustainable maple wood, these brilliant Anamalz make a great addition to any zoo!

3: Wooden Jigsaws

Kids will never tire of puzzles, and these little jigsaws help toddlers to learn puzzle solving, counting and colours too.

The Lanka Kade Fair Trade Wooden Butterfly Jigsaw is made of pretty pinks and purples and the Lanka Kade Fair Trade Baby Snail Jigsaw stands out from the crowd in fabulous primary colours.

Priced just £4.99 and made from sustainable rubber wood by a Sri Lankan Fair Trade organisation.

4: Penguin Ecotronic Eco Torch

Your little eco-warriors will love this cute Penguin Ecotronic Eco Torch to show them the way in the dark! Powered by a gentle squeeze instead of batteries, there’ll be no end to the power.

As well as being a playful design, this torch is great to start teaching kids the basics of green energy!

Price £6.25. Packed in 100% recycled biodegradable packaging

5: Wind-Up Bouncy Bunny

Kids will love this cute little bunny that doesn’t stop bouncing. Just wind him up and watch him go!

From Plan Toys, the Wind-Up Bouncy Bunny is a lovely wooden toy made without harsh chemicals or toxic paints.

It’s the perfect ethical stocking filler, priced at £2.99

6: Haba Ball Marble Tin

Even if you lose your marbles, make sure the kids have plenty to keep them amused with this brilliant value Haba Ball Marble Tin.

Containing 36 glass marbles of different patterns and designs, these are perfect for use with marble run for some good old-fashioned Christmas fun, or encourage kids to stretch their imagination and design their own marble game. Price £6.49

7: Fish Castanet

Get an early start on the Christmas concert with these cute and crazy Plan Toys Fish Castanets. They’re a perfect size for small children to get their hands on, and they’ll love the simple clapping noise they make.

From Plan Toys, these little fishies are made from sustainable rubber-wood without the use of toxic paints or glues. Price £4

8: Mini Rag Dolls

Little children will love these adorable Imajo Fair Trade Rag Dolls that are the perfect size to pick up and take along everywhere; they’ll soon be the best of friends.

They are all made by a Fairtrade organisation in Sri Lanka, the dolls come in five cute characters – all with different clothes and hair. Price £8.99

9: Plan Toys Wooden Cars

All budding  drivers will love to zoom around with the cute and colourful Plan Toys Cars.

Beautifully painted without toxic chemicals, paint or glue, these three little cars make a great addition to the Plan Toys Parking Garages.

Price £7.99 or only £4.oo when bought with the Parking Garage!

10: Skipping Rope

Get bums off the couch with these colourful and fun skipping ropes. These Fair Trade Eco Friendly Skipping Ropes by Lanka Kade come in several different designs, from footballers to fairies and frogs to flowers, so boys and girls will love them.

They are handmade in Sri Lanka by fair-trade organisation Lanka Kade. Priced at £5.50 and packaged in a lovely gift box, these make the perfect ethical stocking gift for kids.

The handmade and ethical toys that are at the top of every child’s Christmas Wish list

We all remember an extra special Christmas present we received as a child; our first dolls house, train set, or shiny new bike all hold great memories of fun, excitement and a magical time.

In an age where computers or cheap foreign imports are filling the toy shops, at Babi Pur, we believe in a revival of great quality and traditional Christmas toys and gifts. We think they’re not only better for kids, who will be able to enjoy their beautiful and hard wearing designs for many years, but that the planet will also thank us for them.

We’ve been working hard to hand-pick some stunning traditional and ethical Christmas toys that kids, and grown-ups, will adore; and here’s our list of the best traditional Christmas toys. We give you…..

 Babi Pur’s Top 10 Ultimate Christmas Toys

	1. The Bike Being given their first bike is an important milestone for any child, and these brilliant Early Rider Classic Wooden Bikes will ensure it’s an extra special Christmas gift. These cool balance bikes with chunky tyres and flame design are guaranteed to have any early rider brimming with confidence, without the need for clunky stabilisers. Made and designed by a British engineering company, these bikes are timeless classics that all kids will love as their first bike.
	2. The Wooden Play Garage Both little and big kids will love this fabulous old fashioned Christmas toy with a bright and modern twist. In 2008 the Wooden Parking Garage by Plan Toys, won the Platinum Award at the Oppenheim fair, and was awarded an A+ rating from learning website education.com. This brightly painted garage is simply designed but beautifully made. It has three floors with a ramp to connect each one, a helipad at the top and a working lift to get the cars up and down. One car is included with a parking attendant figure, but why not check out our brilliant Parking Garage Saver packs? You can add matching accessories such as additional cars, roads, helicopters and rescue centres.
	3. Dolls House For years to come, kids will adore this beautifully made First Doll’s House, so it’s the ideal traditional Christmas present. The open plan design means that children can access it from all sides and easily reach all the rooms; and the beautiful but simple finish means that kids can easily let their creativity shine across the house. Dolls houses are great for imaginative play and help kids with role playing and socialising. They are made by the eco-friendly Plan Toys from sustainable rubber wood and without the use of toxic chemicals, paints or glues. Price: £79.99 Furniture and dolls are not included, but available to buy separately. You can find our range of accessories here and at the moment you can get 20% off all Dolls House furniture and accessories when you buy My First Dolls House. Just enter discount code "doll" at the checkout
	4. Fair Trade Wooden London Bus Lanka Kade is a Sri Lankan fair-trade organisation that uses traditional production methods and we think their toys are some of the most beautiful and well crafted traditional and ethical Christmas toys around. The rubber wood used to make these toys comes from old rubber plantations that would otherwise have been set alight. This adorable brightly coloured London bus will become a firm family favourite. The top and first floor even come apart so that kids can reach all the little people inside. It is beautifully crafted and brightly painted and will last for years to come.
	5. Wooden Play Kitchen & Market Stall This colourful Wooden Kitchen & Market Stall by British traditional toy manufacturers Millhouse is sure to inspire children in the creative art of healthy living. It has loads of interactive features that kids will get stuck into. On one side it’s a brilliant play kitchen and on the other it’s a colourful market stall, complete with baskets of fruit and veg. It even comes with some seed packets and compost so your budding gardeners can have a go at “grow-your-own”. This great addition to a play room is made in Britain from sustainable wood with a durable and high quality finish.
	6. Fire Engine, Station & Firefighters This fantastic Fire Engine, Station & Firefighter set will provide children with hours of fun.  The Fire Engine itself is a large toy with two ladders and fire hoses, there are four firefighters armed with walkie talkies, a megaphone and axes.  The Fire Station comes with its own furniture and a sliding pole means the Fire fighters can slide straight into action, into the Fire Engine and off the scene of the fire (or to rescue Mrs Jones’ cat) The Fire Engine, Fire Station & Firefighters are also available to buy separately.
	7. Alder Wood Toy Kitchen Set This stunning Alder Play Kitchen Set is handcrafted for us in Germany, and we think it’ll be top of any child’s wish list! It’s made from a beautifully coloured solid wood from local Alder trees and the quality is evident in the careful finish and quirky design. It’s a very special toy that will be handed down and loved for generations to come.
	8. Daisy Dollie Pram The Daisy Dollie Pram by Millhouse is designed and manufactured in the UK.  It’ll make a lovely and cosy bed for a lucky dolly, and there’s also enough room to cart around blocks and toys too! A long lasting toy, we think it’s sure to be popular with little children and also babies taking their first steps
	9: Marble Run The marble run is one of the oldest traditional Christmas toys, and one that provides hours of entertainment for kids of all ages as they work out new ways to send little glass marbles flying across the room. Our Haba Marble Run Master Building Set is the absolute ultimate in marble run building. Kids will need all of their imagination, creativity and building skills to piece together this clever set. There are loads of great features like a zig-zag track and a musical tunnel. We’re hard pressed to decide whether it’ll be kids, or their parents, who will love it the most! This marble run is beautifully designed and made in Germany using sustainable methods and materials.
	10. The Ultimate Davos Wooden Sledge If weather predictions for this year are true, then kids will get a lot of use out of this Classic Wooden Sledge/Toboggan. Sturdy, tough and a beautiful and simple design these sledges will hold up to 150kg, which is approx 2 average adults or three children. Made in Germany, these beautiful sledges are one of the finest traditional Christmas toys that families will treasure for years.

I'm not sure how he fit it down the chimney but 3 Christmases ago St Nick delivered a lovely wooden toy kitchen to our house.  Our children were delighted with their wooden kitchen and it proudly stands in our actual kitchen today and is still a focus of their play.  They love to play pretend baking and serving games cooking different things and incorporating all sorts of other toys into their play.  The kitchen is often the heart of a family home and children love to copy their parents and mimic all the bustling and goings on.  It's easy to see why toy kitchens are so popular and in particular well built strong wooden ones.  3 years on and our wooden play kitchen still looks great and is regularly played with, truly a good investment.

Here at Babi Pur we've just had a large range of wooden play kitchens delivered to our warehouse.  We've picked a selection of the best quality wooden kitchens available including solid wood kitchens from Pintoy, kitchens made in Britain from Millhouse and a very special solid alder wood kitchen made in germany.  You can browse our play kitchen category here where's there's also lots of scrummy play food.  Below is a selection of just a few of our Wooden Play Kitchens and accessories.

From left to right

Healthy eating Kitchen and Market Stall £109.99 - This Play kitchen has two sides, flip it around and it turns into a market stall with wooden baskets and a big chalk board to write todays specials and prices on.  Made in Britain and excellent quality.  There's lots more styles of toy kitchens from this range too.

Pintoy Kitchen and Utility Island £89.99 - This Pintoy kitchen is a similar style to the one we have at home.  Designed to be played with from all sides it has a cooker one one side and a washing machine with sink on the other.  Pintoys are made in Thailand from rubber wood which is eco friendly and sustainable.  Pintoy also have a range of stand alone kitchen units.

Hand Made Alder Wood Kitchen £189.99 - This one is a little bit special.  Hand made in Germany from solid alder wood and finished in natural oil.  This really is one to keep forever and pass on to future generations.  We love the colourful wooden knobs, they just look so adorable.

Kitchen Play food Favourites from left to right

Haba food basket £17.99 - Amber who is our customer service manager at Babi Pur just described this basket to me as something really beautiful and special.  You can't get more praise than that!

Rise 'n Shine Toaster £17.99 - A great value wooden toy with butter you can cut and a toaster that pops up . .  oh and some scrummy honey too.

Plan Toys Tea Set £17.99 - Always a best seller!  We drink so much tea at Babi Pur towers and children just love to copy all this tea drinking that goes on.

So if you're looking for quality wooden play kitchens and play food for your little chefs then head over to the the play kitchen section at Babi Pur now

The Prize

One lucky winner will win £200 to spend with Babi Pur or your Christmas shopping with us refunded! (up to the value of £200 and any excess made up with vouchers)

How to enter: All you need to do is leave a comment below with your answer to the following question.........

"Which 3 items from the Babi Pur website would make it to the top of your Christmas shopping list?"

Extra entries: For bonus entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following you've done:

• SHARE  this comp on your Facebook wall by clicking here
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• BLOG Blog about this competition - mention us on your own blog
• TELL YOUR FRIENDS about this competition on any relevant UK forum (separate entry for each one)
• CREATE AN ACCOUNT (if you don't already have one) & tick to receive our newsletters here
• COMMENT leave a comment on any posts on this blog

Wooden Building Blocks are great for children!

In this fast-paced technological age, wooden building blocks can seem old fashioned and clumsy; but with the continuing trend for honest and uncomplicated vintage toys for children, more and more parents are recognising the virtues of simple, coloured wooden toys and building blocks.

Wooden blocks are often associated with younger children, but here at Babi Pur, we’ve found that kids of all ages love them; at the age of six our oldest still has hours of fun with her blocks.

Plan Toys 60 blocks	Plan Toys Hollow Blocks	Touch, Feel & See activity Blocks

Kids love to play with wooden blocks for loads of reasons, not least because they’re drawn to their bright colours and simple symmetry. Experts agree that simple wooden toys and building blocks are brilliant toys for kids because they can help to:

• Teach language skills – In their simplest form, wooden blocks can help with numeracy, literacy, shapes and colours. They can also help children with self expression if they’re encouraged to share what they’re doing and creating.
• Build self-esteem – wooden blocks are great for teaching children about self confidence because they are in total control of what, how and where they build and play. Blocks are simple so children don’t need their parents’ help, which can be a great confidence boost.
• Develop dexterity – by playing with blocks, children can master dexterity, patience, gentle playing and balance. When children play with wooden blocks they use the same muscles in their hands as they do when they write or eat.
• Encourage creativity – there is an almost infinite number of things that children can build, create and make with a simple set of wooden blocks and this really helps them to expand their imagination.
• Family fun - wooden blocks are great for kids of all ages, and all the family can get involved.

HABA Ball track construction set	HABA domino rally

And for older children, why not combine wooden building blocks with a brilliant wooden marble run? Kids love constructing marble runs and they can help teach them about logic, maths and science not to mention patience and perseverance. Using wooden blocks to extend the run will add another dimension and encourage kids to think outside the box.

A lovely wooden marble run can keep kids entertained for hours as they figure out new ways to see their marbles flying across the room, which means you can keep hold of yours!

Find Babi Pur’s range of beautifully made Haba wooden marble runs and marble toys here.

Here at Babi Pur we have a fantastic range of colourful wooden blocks and wooden toys, ranging from simple building blocks to more elaborate shapes and themes, that are great to mix and match.

Find our whole range of toys here and don’t forget to check back often because we’re always adding lovely new items. As well as wooden blocks and toys we also stock a variety of ride on toys, jigsaws, dolls houses, train sets and much much more!  We even have a pocket money selection of toys that are ideal for Christmas stocking fillers!

Happy building!

Now's the time for lots of outdoor winter fun

We’ve well and truly said goodbye to summer here at Babi Pur Towers. Instead of basking in warm sunlight flooding through the office windows, we’re listening to the gentle pitter-patter of rain on the roof.  And often, the onset of autumn can be just as strange for kids, as they suddenly find themselves stuck indoors rather than running around the garden and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of summer.

But, winter doesn’t have to mean being glued to the television.  Here’s our great guide to outdoor winter fun that the whole family will love!

•  Back to Nature – if the weather is cold but fine, take the family out on a nature walk in your local area. Even urban landscapes offer great opportunities to learn about the changing seasons and winter wildlife and enjoy some outdoor play time. Encourage your kids to take snaps and make notes so you can all research different plants and animal types when you get home.
• Winter Garden – the end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of gardening. Encourage kids to help you prepare the garden for winter by tidying up and even planting winter plants and veg. Get kids to make a “winter wildlife” area in the garden by piling up leaves and twigs to encourage insects and small animals to hide there. They can check it regularly to see what they can find.
• Garden Games – now is a great time for fun outdoor games like hide and seek, ball games and frisbee if your garden’s large enough, because it’s not too hot and all that exercise will soon warm up cold kids!
• Park Life – exploring your local parks with new autumn eyes is the key to outdoor play if it’s fine and dry. Get kids to notice how different the trees and plants look and spot animals like squirrels gathering their winter supplies.
• Go local – find out what’s going on in your local area and take the kids out to enjoy the outdoors. Autumn and winter are great times for events like farmers markets, Christmas fairs, winter fun days and Santa events.
• Wet Walks – Kids love to splash around in puddles, so don’t let the wet weather put you off heading for some outdoor winter fun. Wrap up in wellies and waterproofs and encourage kids to build shelters and splash about. It’ll be nice and quiet, and best of all you’ll need a warming hot chocolate when you get home!
• Snow time – snow is magical for many kids as they don’t see it very often, so they will absolutely love playing in it. Whether it’s making snowmen, throwing snowballs or learning to sledge, a little bit of snow means a lot of outdoor winter fun for all the family!

		Weather experts are already predicting snowfall during November, December and January, so now’s the perfect time to order a beautiful wooden sledge so you’re all ready to go when the first snowflakes fall. Here at Babi Pur we're thrilled with our stunning traditional Davos wooden sledge that is handcrafted in Germany by winter fun experts! Made of solid beech, it’s a generous size and can happily accommodate up to 150kg in weight. Sledges are in stock to buy online now at Babi Pur!

Frugi Big Spot Reversable  Fleece	Frugi Star Reversable Fleece	Organic Cotton Padded Snowsuit

Happy winter!

Our children absolutely love to role play, and here at Babi Pur, we do all we can to encourage them. Children love to step in and out of different worlds and situations, and role play lets them do just that. As well as inspiring their creativity and imagination, it helps with social development and teaches them loads of new skills that they learn without thinking about it.

One of our favourite types of role play toys for kids are kitchen and food toys.  Play kitchens are great role play toys because children love to mimic and recreate the adult worlds around them.  They can adopt different characters and personalities which allow them to try out new behaviours and social situations, and they’ll begin to gain an understanding of who their parents are, what they do and the world that they inhabit. 

Role play with play kitchens also teaches basic maths and numeracy skills and as they use the different food, utensils and gadgets, they’ll even learn new words, shapes and colours; and play kitchens and food toys are great tools to start young children thinking about healthy eating and nutrition.  And it’s something that the whole family can enjoy together!   Babi Pur’s range of play kitchens and play food has just arrived, in plenty of time for Christmas wish-lists, and we think they’re stunning.

We stock everything from full wooden play kitchens to small play food and utensil accessories and there’s also a gorgeous range of food themed rattles and knitted toys for babies to get them started on their role play adventure!  Our wooden toys are all beautifully crafted, of high quality and very durable. They’re painted in fabulous bright colours with non-toxic paint and glue and most are made from sustainable wood sources.

Here are some of our favourites:

Solid Alder Play Kitchen

This stunning wooden play kitchen is handcrafted for us in Germany, and we think it’ll be top of Santa’s list! It’s made from a beautifully coloured solid wood from local Alder trees and the quality of this play kitchen is evident in the careful finish and quirky design. It’s a special toy that will be handed down and loved for generations to come.

We’ve commissioned a limited number of these, so you can pre-order now in plenty of time for Christmas.  Buy online now!

Gourmet Chef Cookware Set

Children will adore this delightful set of play cooking utensils and plates, and they make a great addition to any play kitchen set. It is beautifully made from maple wood, and finished with a bright orange colour for the handles. All the paints and glues are non-toxic.  Buy online now!

HABA Play Food Basket

This adorable wicker basket is packed with bright and colourful wooden food toys. It contains some lovely wooden fruit and vegetables as well as milk, cheese, chocolate and bread! Makes a lovely accompaniment to a play kitchen and is also perfect for shop role play. All Haba wooden toys are made in Germany. Buy online now!

Whip it up Mixer

Any budding Delias or Jamies will love this kitsch kitchen gadget. They’ll soon be mixing, stirring and beating their magic ingredients and they’ll be stretching their imaginations to think of new concoctions. It’s beautifully designed and made with high quality wood and non-toxic paints and glues. Buy online now!

Wooden Toy Tea Set

Practice the art of the “Mad Hatters” tea party with this gorgeous wooden tea set. Made from recycled rubber wood it comes with a teapot, milk jug and cups and saucers all neatly arranged on a lovely wooden tray. All glues, paints and lacquers are non-toxic.  Buy online now!

You can find our complete range of beautiful play kitchens and play food HERE and we're constantly adding to our range!