Online and in the shops

Car seats: The new Maxi-Cosi AxissFix car seat offers rear-facing travel for children up to 87cm in height (about two years old) and it can swivel a full 360 degrees on its IsoFix base, which makes life easier for parents when securing babies or toddlers in the seat.

Suitable from around four months, up to age four, the seat has four recline positions and side-impact protection. It costs €399 and is available in three colours, black, pink and blue, exclusively from Mothercare; www.mothercare.ie

Travel accessories: Parents could also check out the new mGo by Mothercare travel accessories range. The mGo universal connector attaches to all pushchair models and a variety of accessories can then be connected to your pushchair like a hanger clip, mobile holder, cup holder, snack pot, or toddler handle.

Prices start at €3.49 and accessories are available in blue, yellow, pink, black or white. Additional items in the range include car seat and pushchair liners with fun graphics of giraffes, dinosaurs or zebras, prices from €14.99; www.mothercare.ie

Toy range: Chad Valley has launched a new ‘PlaySmart’ toy range for children aged two to eight years old. Designed to make learning fun, while developing key skills, there are 19 toys to choose from, including books, jigsaws, games and early skills packs like this reading, writing and spelling set, which has a wipe-clean pen to practise 50 commonly used words, building vocabulary and encouraging sentence-making. Prices start at €8.69 and a number of items are available in a 2 for €20 offer at Argos; www.argos.ie

Store it: Colourful and robust IKEA’s Stuva storage system is designed to be the right height for children, so they find it easier to get dressed themselves and put clothes and toys away.

Depending on space and storage needs, there are lots of different combinations to choose from and everything can be adapted or added to as children grow.

Customise storage to suit by selecting different frames, drawers, door and interior fittings, with prices for frames starting at €25, or choose one of the ready-made combinations. This Stuva loft bed combo, with desk, shelves and wardrobe is €390; www.ikea.com