Online and in the shops: Fruitful exercise
Try to sneak some fruit and vegetable powders into their meals or let them create their own colourful creations for some extra goodness without the fuss with Fruit & Shake, €12.50, a fruit and vegetable powder which can be sprinkled over yoghurt, cereals or desserts. The Higher Nature Kids range is available from health stores and pharmacies; www.wholefoods.ie/
The Cocoonababy nest was originally developed for premature babies on the neonatal ward of the North Hospital (Hôpital Nord) in Marseilles, France. As time went by, the medical team realised that full term babies would also benefit and a nest for full term infants, for use in the first four months was developed. The semi-foetal position helps baby sleep longer, avoid startle reflex, limits the risk of flat head and helps with reflux. The Cocoonababy is now available from Jelly-Bean in Douglas, Cork, €169; www.jellybeangroup.com
If you were taken by the Scatterpillar softies toy range, featured on the Late Late Toy Show, you will have another chance to see them at Showcase, Ireland’s creative expo, in the RDS, which opens this Sunday Jan 19. Jacinta Leigh created the first toys in the range from her own children’s drawings and out-grown clothes. She will also design soft toys, cushions or embroidery on canvas to create a special keepsake, using your child’s art and clothes. Prices are from €75 at www.giveirishcraft.com or see www.scatterpillardesigns.ie
Toyota Ireland’s annual Dream Car Art Contest celebrates Ireland’s artists, inventors and designers of the future. The contest, which has international heats across the world, is open to children up to the age of 15 and invites them to share ideas about the future of mobility by drawing or painting their dream car. Entries will be taken until Feb 28; for details see www.toyota.ie

