Bimbomarket Uk - A childproof world

Returning to work after maternity leave

2009-10-08T16:42:00.002+01:00

Returning to work can be a daunting idea for a new mom who has to go back to work after a few months of maternity leave. It is hardly surprising that returning to work after 3, 6 or even 12 months of maternity leave can be, for many women, traumatic. Feeling concerned, anxious, guilty, frustrated and overwhelmed all at the same time is not uncommon in new mothers before being fully ready for work.

How to live serenely the return to work

Being anxious and puzzled when you return back to work is absolutely normal as the time you spent at home with your baby was considerable. Moreover, it may happen that, once you return, you will find all the dynamics and balances between your colleagues completely changed from the day you left them till the point you feel like you have to begin all over again.
In such a cases, it is easier to get discouraged as on one hand your recurring thoughts are always turned to you baby waiting for you at home in her pram and on the other hand the frenzied paces of your work become every day heavier and unbearable.

But don't despair. Working mothers face many challenges, but with careful planning you can make a smooth transition.

What to do:

- Ask in advance your head office a more flexible working hours and if you can take permits such as parental leave or a time off to deal with family emergency: this is a right that is guaranteed by the law and the contract
- Gather information about what happened during your absence and the projects underway
- Answer the little curiosities of your colleagues about pregnancy, breastfeeding and your baby’s growth: that will be an important moment to resume some important relationships
- Don’t be scared of facing demanding business tasks as they will help you take your place in the company again and increase your self confidence
- When you return to work after maternity leave is normal being anxious: that’s why it could be useful phoning home and making sure that everything is fine

What not to do:

- Do not let your company decide in your place but arrange together flexible working hours and permits
- Do not consider your substitute as a threat but let her help you to face the impending deadlines
- Do not talk at length about nappies and baby bottles: even if maternity represents a novelty for you and you want to talk about it with enthusiasm, you may run the risk to bore your colleagues
- At first do not postpone hard work as this will help your body and mind resume the daily pace
- In the event you are entrusted with a new task, do not be afraid of it but seize this opportunity to gain experience and grow professionally

Don’t give up!

Unfortunately, many mothers feel disadvantaged on the workplace or on the possibility to build a successful career and they are scared of being unable to reconcile efficiently work with family. Moreover, this feeling becomes consolidated due to their mistrust in the real capacity of public and private companies to offer specific services that support this new condition.
Above all, remember that the most important thing is not surrender and assert your own rights: in this way you will certainly live serenely one of the most beautiful moment of your life.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy

2009-10-07T16:07:00.005+01:00

Haemorrhoids during pregnancy result from blood vessels in the rectal area or vagina that become overly swollen. Surprisingly about the 30% of pregnant women suffer from this problem.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to varicose veins in part due to the increasing amount of blood circulating in their body during pregnancy and in part due to fluctuating hormonal levels. Increasing levels of progesterone help soften the walls of veins causing them to collapse and function improperly. Haemorrhoids during pregnancy result as the uterus puts more pressure on the veins supporting the pelvis including the inferior vena cava. They can also form from straining too much during a bowel movement. Because pregnant women often experience constipation during pregnancy, haemorrhoids often become problematic. This problem tends to worsen during the last months when the foetus’ weight increases and it may further aggravate during labour and childbirth.

It is important to timely report your healthcare provider if you are experiencing haemorrhoids because other conditions can cause similar symptoms and even if it isn’t a serious problem it can lead to complications like anaemia and anal fissures. Indeed, it is necessary to win over any kind of embarrassment and consult the doctor about the possible treatments.

Fortunately there are many simple and effective strategies for treating haemorrhoids during pregnancy depending on the seriousness of the disorder and its entity. In case haemorrhoids become a serious problem, doctor may prescribe specific drugs for varicose veins that do not harm the foetus as well as soothing creams. Instead, if haemorrhoids has occurred since a few time and do not cause excessive pain and inconveniences it is possible to treat them by following simple behaviour rules.

First of all get daily exercise, like walking. Exercise speeds up the intestines and helps venous blood return to heart. Exercise has to be always practiced with the due cautions by dedicating to those exercises that are more appropriate to a pregnant woman and avoiding excessive strains. The ideal solution would be walking a lot, taking advantage of walking the dog or if you already have the baby carrying him in the baby carrier, in the pram or in a lightweight stroller.
Avoid constipation: follow a high-fibre diet, drink plenty of water (eight to ten glasses a day). This will help keep you more regular and reduce the amount of constipation you experience during pregnancy. Avoid also to get excessive quantities of foodstuff that can irritate intestine mucous like fatty foods, coffee, sugar, spicy food and obviously alcoholics. As regards your personal hygiene, use only mild soap, lukewarm water and rub gently. You should avoid using a too much hot or cold water.
Finally, try to avoid wearing tight clothes that may lead to local irritations and inflammations.

The most important thing in such a delicate pathology is win over the embarrassment of facing and talking about the problem. If not neglected, haemorrhoids do not bring particular complications and disappear completely within 40 days after childbirth. In case the situation gets worse, it is possible to undergo a little day surgery with local anaesthesia that can be the final solution to the problem.

Don’t worry, this is only one of the many little discomforts you may experience during pregnancy but it is worth bearing it to become mother!

Peg Perego and Inglesina: finally the new collections are arrived!

2009-10-02T10:52:00.003+01:00

On Bimbomarket the new Peg Perego and Inglesina collections are finally arrived!

The new Peg Perego collection 2010 proposes you new travel systems like the fantastic Trio Pliko Switch Modular ES but also many new pushchairs, car seats and prams.

The new Inglesina products distinguish for their elegance, the originality of colours and fashionable design. Come and visit Bimbomarket: you will find all the new colours of the trio Zippy, Zippy Free and Otutto as well as novelties like highchairs, prams and meal time accessories.

The new Peg Perego and Inglesina collections are waiting for you on Bimbomarket, the childproof online shop!

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy

2009-10-02T09:00:00.003+01:00

In modern society, alcohol abuse has always been considered to be a typical male behaviour assigning to women a lower and restrained consumption.
However, at today people drink alcohol for a variety of reasons, the “fashion” of drinking, the need to use it as a mean to reduce and bear stress, emotional upset and daily problems and these factors may lead women too to drink excessive quantities of alcohol even when they are young and during their fertile age.

The risk of prenatal damages due to alcohol consumption has not to be ignored and it has always been a difficult issue. Indeed, alcohol consumption during pregnancy (both on a regular basis both occasionally) may lead to severely harm the foetus potentially causing life altering birth defects. Heavy alcohol drinking can also lead to miscarriage, premature delivery, or stillbirth.

Alcohol effects on a foetus

When you drink, the alcohol quickly travels through your bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and reaches your baby. Your baby breaks down alcohol more slowly than you do so it is more exposed to its harmful effects. In other words, when you consume alcohol, so does your baby.
Among the more common foetal damages the alcohol can cause include:

- Fasd - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: is the term experts use to describe the range of problems related to alcohol exposure during pregnancy. The most severe result of alcohol use is foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong condition characterized by poor growth (in the womb, after birth, or both), abnormal facial features (microcephaly, micro ophthalmia, hypoplasia) and damage to the central nervous system.

- Arns - Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder: a less severe syndrome than Fas that hits the babies whose mothers drink moderately. The consequences may range from behavioural and intellectual disorders (minor intelligence quotient and motor or memory impairment) or may trigger autistic behaviours.

Factors that raise the risk

It is important to understand that not all the foetal exposures to alcohol necessarily lead to harm severely baby’s health even though the possibilities are very high. Indeed, the risk to give birth to a baby affected by the above-mentioned pathologies can considerably raise because of the following factors:

- the alcohol quantity taken during pregnancy
- if the consumption was chronic or occasional
- the interaction with other substances like medicines, hard drugs or smoking
- genetic predisposition
- living conditions
- nourishing

Prevention and treatment

Permanent damages to foetus caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy can be avoided with a careful prevention.
Indeed, expecting mothers and their partners should be properly informed about the risks for the baby caused by alcohol and they should also be aware that the current scientific knowledge do not define the quantity of alcohol proven to be safe without laying baby’s health open to risks. Moreover, mother should know that even after childbirth she will face new difficulties renouncing for example to natural breastfeeding and applying to artificial milk.

In case the mother-to-be has overindulged in alcohol consumption during pregnancy, doctor’s intervention can be fundamental as he can motivate her to give up drinking or advice her to refer to an alcohol addiction treatment centre.
Indeed, a timely treatment can help the foetus develop healthy even though it was already exposed to a great quantities of alcohol.

My child still wets the bed!

2009-09-30T12:25:00.003+01:00

Involuntary urination while asleep is absolutely normal in small children. Under 2-3 years the baby is not able to recognize the stimulus and control the bladder yet, that’s why nappies exist. The capacity of controlling the bladder develops progressively during growth and it should be completely acquired within the fifth year of life. After that age at which bladder control would normally be anticipated, the incapacity to control it is called Enuresis. Bedwetting is one of the most widespread paediatric-health issue and it is very common especially at night when the baby sleeps in the baby cot. Usually the baby that suffers from nocturnal enuresis has no problem to stay dry during the day and control the stimulus.
Studies show that children older than 5 who still wet the bed at night account for the 15%, a percentage that gradually diminishes as age grows. The real causes of nocturnal enuresis are still unknown. It is probably a combinations of psychological, hereditary and hormonal risky factors. An insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production may be also a cause: a portion of bedwetting children do not produce enough anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to produce less urine.
Often, even if the baby has already learnt to control his stimulus, it is possible that some relapses happen due mainly to psychological disturbances caused by events like the beginning of nursery school, the arrival of a brother/sister or parents separation.

The medical name for bedwetting is nocturnal enuresis. The condition is divided into two types:

• primary nocturnal enuresis is the most common form of bedwetting. Bedwetting counts as a disorder once a child is old enough to stay dry, but continues either to average at least two wet nights a week with no long periods of dryness or to not sleep dry without being taken to the toilet by another person. It may be due to a not complete bladder development or to an insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production. In both cases, with doctors’ advice, the problem tends to diminishes until it completely disappears. Most children grow out of bedwetting naturally.
• secondary nocturnal enuresis occurs after a patient goes through an extended period of dryness at night (roughly 6 months or more) and then reverts to night-time wetting. Secondary enuresis can be caused by emotional stress or a medical condition, such as a bladder infection.

In any case, bedwetting is a disorder that does not have to bring particular concerns to parents. If the problem becomes unmanageable and the baby starts to suffer from psychological consequences, it is advisable to talk with the doctor about ways to help your child and if needed prescribe anti-diuretic hormone drugs.

Besides all the standard medical prescriptions, here are a few simple devices that can help solve the problem if followed properly.

One of the most important points to remind parents is that scolding and punishment do not help your child stop bedwetting. Indeed, these behaviours not only have negative repercussions on your baby’s psychological health status but they are useless and unhelpful as nocturnal enuresis is absolutely involuntary and impossible to control. Mothers and fathers, thou, have to be supportive and sympathetic with their child, avoiding to scold him when he wets the bed or at the same time praise him too much when this doesn’t happen. Praising the baby excessively or rewarding him with new toys are wrong behaviours as they may lead to generate an insane sense of duty that will become frustration in case he wets the bed once again.

A well-balanced diet may also be a solution to solve the problem or at least limit its dimensions. Try skipping drinks before bedtime. Avoid drinks with caffeine, like colas or tea. These drinks speed up urine production. Avoid also chocolate as well as all non healthy food. Indeed wholemeal products are advisable as well as the use of herbs like maize, parsley, plantain, oat straw and diosma. Make sure your child uses the bathroom just before bed.

So, mothers, don’t worry: by following these few simple steps and by listening to your doctor’s advises, your baby will soon stop wetting the bed.

Why my child always says "no"!

2009-09-24T16:59:00.002+01:00

When babies are nearly two years old, even the most peaceful ones, start to adopt a resistant behaviour towards their parents that often concretizes in the frequent use of the word "no".
For this reason, experts define this stage as the "no phase" that corresponds to a transient and natural state of the psychological infant development that is going to last approximately up to 3-4 years.
It is very important for you being aware that this attitude of your child is absolutely normal during his growth process and it is wrong blaming yourself for being unable to raise him properly.

Why does this behaviour arise and how?

Usually, the typical attitudes of the baby that is going through this stage are:

- Every request made by parents or any other adult finds the clear refusal of the baby
- If he is refused something, he reacts with anger and with real crisis, screaming, kicking or laying on the floor .
- He disobeys every day more, showing an increasing will of challenging adults and their authority.

By discovering the existence of the word "no", the child discovers somehow to be an independent human being, with an own personality, will, thought and attitude; moreover in this period the child also starts to use the personal pronoun “I” and stops to refers to himself in third person (David goes on the baby swing) making parents realize that day by day he is becoming more aware of his individuality.

It is also important to understand that by saying "no" the child starts to make his first big steps towards the conquer of his autonomy dissociating himself from parents for the first time.
A further reason why the child adopts this behaviour is the wish to verify till what extent he can impose his will on parents’ and which are the boundaries he can or cannot exceed.
For this reason, parents’ reactions take on a significant value in their child’s education. Indeed, on one hand a too strict behaviour may tend to exacerbate his resistant attitude or to repress his natural strive for independence and on the other hand being too much permissive may lead to confuse the child preventing him from creating those few rules that will help him in life.

What should I do?

In order to face and overcome successfully this natural stage of your child, it is important to follow a few simple advices:

- Take a deep breath, keep calm in confrontations
- Avoid challenges trying to do not be too strict and imperative
- Give your child some alternatives to gain his willingness and availability
- Set few simple rules rather than refusing him everything (for example taking all his toys out of the basket, going to sleep at a determined hour or to move about nervously in the highchair when it is meal time).
- Learn to face his scenes rather than being affected by his blackmails and his tantrums in public spaces.

Finally, it is important to remind that this behaviour is just a transient phase that will end up by itself with passing of time so it is necessary to face it in the best way possible with calm and the proper predisposition and serenity..you will see this phase ending up in less than no time.

Infant eczema

2009-09-23T13:25:00.006+01:00

Infant eczema refers to an inflammation of the baby’s skin and it is one of the most common skin complaints in infants and small children. It causes itching, oedema, vesicles, lichenification, peeling and redness in the affected area. The eczema may arise for many different reasons and may be caused by inhalation, contact or by certain food.

The typologies of eczema that may arise in infants are mainly three.

Atopic dermatitis

The skin of a patient with atopic dermatitis reacts abnormally and easily to irritants, food, and environmental allergens and becomes red, flaky and very itchy worsening in the evening. This kind of eczema affects babies particularly during the first year of life. The real causes of atopic dermatitis are unknown, but the disease seems to result from a combination of genetic (hereditary altered Omega 6 metabolism), environmental (presence of particular allergens) and psychosomatic factors as it occurs in many skin pathologies. In atopic dermatitis, the skin becomes extremely itchy and dry, causing redness, swelling and cracking due to a lacking activity of the delta-6 desaturase enzyme involved in the metabolism of the essential fatty acids Omega 6. During breastfeeding period, atopic dermatitis arises soon after the third month causing itching and redness that are mainly localized first on cheeks and forehead and then on the trunk and in the forearms and legs’ flexion folds. In babies aged more than one year patches also affect neck’s folds, hands, elbows and knees. Instead, in teenagers eczema may occur on the nape, on the eyelids and on mouth’s corners.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to specific substances that get in contact with the skin. Contact allergy occurs predominantly from the allergen on the skin rather than from internal sources or food.
The dermatitis is generally confined to the site of contact with the allergen, although in severe cases it may extend outside the contact area or it may become generalised. Some typical substances that cause allergic dermatitis are nickel, chromium, cobalt, perfumes and preservatives contained in products like cleansers and creams. Products like toothpaste, medical plasters and some kind of shoes too may cause an allergic reaction on baby’s skin.

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when chemicals or physical agents damage the surface of the skin faster than the skin is able to repair the damage. Babies and newborns are often affected by two kinds of irritant contact dermatitis. The first one is also known as napkin dermatitis as it hits particularly the nappy area. This phenomenon is mainly due to the contact of the skin with dirty nappies and it generally arises when the baby is already able to sit down by himself such as after the fifth month.
Instead, perioral dermatitis is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth but it is rare and hits particularly young women and less frequently babies and adult men. Often, when this kind of dermatitis occurs in small babies many parents blame the soother for being the cause of the irritation but the real causes of perioral dermatitis are still unknown.

Infant dermatitis are treated mainly with cortisone, steroids used locally, soothing and skin’s moisturizing. Anyway, treatment has to be decided by the dermatologist following a specialist examination and under no circumstances it has to be improvised. Often, many parents blame certain kind of food for causing the eczema and start to reduce or change their baby meal and daily diet without following a reasonable criterion. But this is a behaviour that should be absolutely avoided like any other do-it-yourself solutions.

Postpartum depression

2009-09-17T12:16:00.002+01:00

Childbirth is a time of great change for a woman and the adjustment to these changes can contribute to depression. There may be an obvious reason, but often there is none.
It may happen that new mothers start to feel sad without any understandable reason or inadequate to face the responsibilities in front of them.
It is important to make clear that these kind of feelings in most cases are natural and physiological and often they are due to the great tiredness the delivery brings and the levels of hormones that quickly return to normal.

Typologies and treatment

- The "baby blues" are a passing state of heightened emotions that occurs in about half of women who have recently given birth. A woman with the blues may cry more easily than usual and may have trouble sleeping or feel irritable and sad. This state may last from several days to 2 weeks and symptoms generally go away on their own with the patience and love of family and friends.

- Postpartum depression is a depression that occurs soon after having a baby. Some health professionals call it postpartum non psychotic depression. Symptoms include depressed mood, tearfulness, inability to enjoy pleasurable activities, trouble in sleeping, fatigue, appetite problems, suicidal thoughts, feelings of inadequacy as a parent, and impaired concentration. If you experience postpartum depression, you may worry about the baby's health and his well-being. You may have negative thoughts about the baby and fears about harming him.
Symptoms may last from few weeks to one year; in this case doctors may prescribe antidepressants (with the consequent interruption of breastfeeding) and psychotherapy to be carried out even after symptoms disappearance.

- Postpartum (puerperal) psychosis is the most serious postpartum disorder. It requires immediate treatment.
This condition is rare. A woman with this condition experiences psychotic symptoms within 3 weeks of giving birth. These include false beliefs (delusions), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), or both. This condition is associated with mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Symptoms can include also inability to sleep, agitation, and mood swings. In such a cases baby or mother’s life can be seriously at risk. The best solution is the hospitalization and a targeted treatment.

Postpartum Depression Causes

The risk factors that may lead to the arise of this phenomenon are hormone imbalances, mental illness before pregnancy, traumatic events during the latest period, conflict in the marriage, loss of employment, or poor social support from friends and family. Often, post partum depression occurs in single mothers who are emotionally weaker.

Prevention

Even though postpartum depression is primarily linked to your physiology, your emotions and feelings, it is possible to prevent or at least minimize depression’s onsets by acting in particular at a psychological level.

For example, it may be useful limiting visits in the days soon after the return at home, sleeping during the same hours the newborn sleeps too, finding moments to dedicate to rest and your baby like nappy changing, follow a well-balanced diet, strengthens the relationship with partner, family and friends.
It is also extremely important to ask for help whenever you need it and keeping a realistic attitude towards yourself and the baby, being aware that you are going through a period of ups and downs but that within a few days any discomfort will disappear leaving the way to the joy and happiness maternity can give you.

It may also be important receive some help from family and friends, for example in doing housework, taking the baby out in the pram or simply listening to you and giving you the support you need.

The new Chicco collection 2010 is now available!

2009-09-16T17:11:00.005+01:00

On Bimbomarket the new Chicco products of the collection 2010 are now available!

The new collection will offer you even more quality, safety and innovation to follow your baby’s growth in every phase.

Many new products of the leading brand for baby products: pushchairs, travel systems, highchairs, car seats and many other products are now at your disposal on Bimbomarket catalogue.

Come and visit our web site to find out! We are waiting for you!

Sleeping during pregnancy

2009-09-16T14:11:00.001+01:00

During pregnancy, sleeping patterns go through unavoidable changes. Actually, you may sleep more than usual during the first trimester of your pregnancy: this is absolutely normal as your body is working harder to protect and nurture the developing baby. The placenta is just forming and you body needs to make more blood and consequently, your heart is pumping faster. Moreover, it’s normal that moms-to-be dedicate too much time to the typical activities before birth, as they feel enthusiastic and anxious at the same time: as a consequence, they may feel more tired than usual. Choosing the nursery furniture, the pram, the stroller and all the products your baby is going to need can definitely be a tiring activity causing fatigue. Apart from tiredness and sleepiness during the first trimester, there are other common physical symptoms may interfere with sleep, such as the frequent urge to urinate: as your baby grows and the uterus gets bigger, the pressure on your bladder increases. This means more trips to the toilet, day and night. Also, the increase of the heart rate makes your heart pump more blood and as more of your blood supply goes to the uterus, your heart will be working harder to send sufficient blood to the rest of the body. In the second trimester you may experience difficulties in finding a comfortable position and insomnia may arise causing bigger troubles during the third trimester. Indeed, in the last phase of pregnancy, new symptoms may cause more discomfort making sleep even more difficult, like heartburn, leg cramps and backaches, nausea and even your baby moving. Your sleep problems may have other causes as well. Many pregnant women report that their dreams become more vivid than usual; stress can also interfere with sleep, too. You may be worried about your baby’s health or anxious about your ability as a parent or feeling nervous about the birth itself.

The first thing to do is assuming a comfortable position. Early in your pregnancy, try to get the habit of sleeping on your left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on the left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. But do not worry if you might turn onto your back: most likely, during the third trimester, your body will not shift into the back position because it is going to be uncomfortable anyway. Also, sleeping on the left side makes your heart’s job easier because it keeps the baby’s weight from applying pressure to the inferior vena cava that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs. If this vein is compressed you can experience low blood pressure, dizziness and tiredness. Furthermore, this position helps you relieve swollen legs and hydric retention and definitely encourages the passage of nutritive to the placenta. If you can’t sleep on your side because you are not used of it, try experimenting with pillows to discover a comfortable sleeping position. Some women find that it helps to place a pillow under their abdomen or between their legs. On the market you can many models of pillow specially designed for expectant women.

Another important thing to consider in order to have a good night sleep is definitely nutrition. Often, the problems your stomach may experience at night time depend on your digestion and for that reason, try to avoid eating a full meal within hours of going to bed and certain foods, especially acid, fried, dressed or too spicy foods. Even if it can sound superfluous, it is very important to avoid alcohol and cigarettes. These two substances, apart from representing a serious threat to baby’s health, also provoke severe sleep disturbance. It is essential to avoid excitant substances, such as coffee, tea and in general, drinks with caffeine, like coke for example. It is very important to drink plenty of water, but it would be better to drink more during the day and not in the evening, so you do not wake up during the night because you need to go to the toilet. Get a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

Another factor that influences on sleep is undoubtedly the sleep environment. The bedroom must be equipped with all the comforts a mother may need to relax to best satisfy all her needs. The room must be very cosy and must have the right temperature and the right level of humidity.

In order to have a good night sleep, it is necessary that you feel relaxed and calm: try to have regular sleeping patterns so you won’t feel tired during the day causing you needless stress. It is advisable to have a nap in the afternoon which mustn’t be longer than one hour because if you sleep too much during the day, you may increase the risk of experiencing insomnia during the night. Your mind has to be free of all worries and don’t let anxiety takes over you disturbing your peacefulness.

Of course, there are times when you just can’t sleep. Instead of tossing and turning, worrying that you are not asleep and counting the hours, get up and do something: read a book, watch TV, catch up on letters or email, eventually you will probably feel tired enough to go back to sleep.

Three day discount on all toys!

2009-09-15T16:38:00.005+01:00

If you are thinking about getting a present for your child, this is the perfect moment to buy it.

In the next three days, all the products in Toys department of Bimbomarket will be available at a special price!

On Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September you will be able to buy all the toys available on Bimbomarket with a special 15% off!

What are you waiting for? To take advantage of the discount you only have to visit Bimbomarket web site, choose the toys you wish to buy and place an order.

Bimbomarket, a childproof world.

(*)The promotion cannot be accumulated with any other existing offer: Valid: 16th, 17th and 18th September 2009.

Losing weight after pregnancy

2009-09-10T17:05:00.003+01:00

Giving birth to your baby is undoubtedly one of the most exciting experience you can go through, an overcoming joy able to make you forget all the discomfort and pain felt during pregnancy and delivery.
Unfortunately, one of the possible consequences of this extraordinary event is the overall weight increase that all new mothers would love to immediately get rid of even if it is considered to be a normal and necessary physiological effect especially during breastfeeding.
But don't be too impatient. You will regain your pre-pregnancy shape very soon.

Few tips to get your figure back after childbirth

Those mothers that lose weight immediately after birth or during breastfeeding are only a small minority: the most efficient way to regain pre-pregnancy shape is moving your body, follow a well-balanced diet as well as a few simple advices:

- Do not diet during breastfeeding: indeed, your baby will need lots of specific nourishing like calcium, iron and proteins; moreover during breastfeeding you will waste more calories compared to those necessary to your body and you will produce hormones that help losing weight by reducing uterus volume. Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day so the longer you breastfeed, the more calories you burn.

- Diet is important, but it's only one part of your post-pregnancy weight loss plan. You also need to incorporate aerobic and strength training exercises after pregnancy to burn calories and keep your muscles and bones strong. Or you can simply go out with your baby in the pushchair: taking at least a 10 minute walk will help you to burn calories.

- Drink plenty of water throughout the day so to prevent you from getting dehydrated. Replace your high sugar beverages such as sodas and juices with some water and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

- Eat and cook healthy: avoid too much salt in your diet as it causes water retention and avoid sweets, fried food, fizzy drinks and alcoholics; eat vegetables every day and make some snacks during the day to help you be less hungry.

- Get some rest: it is important to sleep at least 8 hours a night as during sleep the body produces leptin a protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, helping increase the feeling of satiety.

- Share your object: the complicity of your husband, your friends or your parents’ support will encourage and help you succeed in the difficult moments and discouragement.

Listen to your body

Remember always that your body has changed for giving birth to your baby so it is not necessary being stringy to like yourself and the people around you in spite of what our society lead you to believe.
Indeed, if regaining pre-pregnancy shape can make you feeling better, remember that the weight loss has to be gradual. So don’t rush, it took 9 months to gain the weight; give yourself at least that long to take it off. Listen to your body, try to find a few moments to dedicate to yourself and have some rest between baby meals and nappies: you will face more positively the challenges of life!

Sex during pregnancy

2009-09-09T14:39:00.007+01:00

Pregnancy, very often, brings heavy consequences on the sexual activity of future parents. The reasons that lead parents-to-be to stop sexual intimacy during pregnancy depend on many different factors. Perhaps because our culture’s tendency to dissociate expectant mothers from sexuality.

Sometimes, parents-to-be may feel awkward in having sex as the sexual act is considered inappropriate or amoral. With regard to the woman, due to the innumerable body changes, she thinks that she’s not longer attractive and she actually refuses sexual intercourses with her partner.

Some parents think that sex can be harmful and the baby could be hurt somehow and they decide to abstain from having it. In this respect, it is important to make the point that if you are having a normal pregnancy, sex is considered safe during all the stages. The fetus inside the womb is very well protected by the amniotic sac which is impossible to break during a normal intercourse. Also, you may be afraid of transmitting microbes that can cause infection to the baby. This concern is absolutely unfounded under a medical point of view: the womb’s neck is completed isolated by a mucous membrane that blocks the access of any type of microbes, protecting baby 100%.

But there are some circumstances that can make sex during pregnancy unsafe: women who have the following health complications should talk to their health provider before engaging in sex:

• A history or risk of miscarriage
• A previous preterm birth or other risk factors for preterm birth
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding, discharge or cramping
• Placenta previa (when placenta is low and cover the cervix)
• Incompetent cervix (when the cervix is weakened and opens too soon)
• Twin pregnancy.

If your pregnancy is considered to be high risk, you may need to be more caution than other women. As for the baby, he or she has no idea what mom and dad are doing. The baby is protected by a cushion of fluid. Many women find that pregnancy makes them want sex more than they did before they became pregnant. This sex drive is caused by hormonal change and some of them feel sexier than ever.

During a low risk pregnancy, there is no reason why the parents-to-be shouldn’t have a normal sex life, in order for them to live this amazing and precious moment with absolute serenity, without the stress that can arise due to useless deprivation. Soon after birth, sexual activity will definitely stop and the sexual abstention will be mandatory. In fact, after birth, whether natural or by c-section, it is better to avoid sex for at least 4 weeks or until a woman feel comfortable and ready for sex again. The best thing would be to wait until after your postpartum check up because most of the time, a women undergoes a small surgery incision during birth, that prevents women from having sex during the postnatal period. You and your partner need to keep the lines of communication open regarding your sexual relationship. Talk about other ways to satisfy your need for intimacy, such as kissing, caressing and holding each other. In this period , an obstacle can definitely be the psychological status of the new mom that could lead her to depression. Do not underestimate the fatigue and the stress you may experience when a newborn arrives: feeding, baby bottles and nappy changing will necessary make you wake up at night time and then, tiredness may take over desire.

A myth to explode is definitely that during breastfeeding it is not possible to fall pregnant and you can easily have unprotected intercourses. Breastfeeding, thanks to the high level of prolactin, is able to reduce ovary activity but it doesn’t stop it completely and very often, soon after birth, ovulations start periodically again.

New Chicco Travel Systems have finally come: Enjoy fun and Living!

2009-09-04T17:34:00.002+01:00

From today, only at Bimbomarket, it is possible to purchase the latest Chicco travel systems, Trio Enjoy Fun and Trio Living.

Trio Living Chicco

Practical, handy and lightweight, Chicco trio Living grows with your baby step by step, from birth up to 3 years. This amazing travel system includes:

• The stunning Living pushchair with double configuration: reversible seat unit that can be positioned front or rear facing;
• A practical carrycot that, fitted to the frame, becomes a comfortable pram;
• Auto-Fix Fast car seat, complies with ECE R44/04 for Group 0+ (from birth up to 13 kg).
Trio Living is available on Bimbomarket in ten different colours at the amazing price of € 599!

Trio Enjoy Fun

The comfort, the handiness and the unmistakable design of Chicco travel systems are the main features of Trio Enjoy Fun, available in six different colours at the fantastic price of € 299!
Made with particular hi-tech materials, very resistant, Trio Enjoy Fun represents the perfect solution to transport your baby if you have a busy and dynamic life style.

Trio living and Trio Enjoy are waiting for you on Bimbomarket, the childproof superstore!

Conservation of stem cells from umbilical cord blood

2009-09-03T17:22:00.004+01:00

Stem cells are immature primitive cell types that have the ability to divide and create another cell like itself and also divide and create a cell more differentiated than itself. These cells are the most important mean the human body has to regenarate its tissues and once they specialize, they replace those cells that are nearly ending their life cycle.
Their preservation represents a resource of utmost importance as it has been shown that thanks to these cells it is now possible to successfully heal severe diseases that in the past did not leave any hope to survive.

Stem cells and umbilical cord

Stem cells are mainly found in the spinal cord and in the umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is rich with blood-forming cells that are no longer needed by the baby after delivery. They are more vital and active and have major capacity to develop into different kinds of tissue. It is also easier to extract them and their collection does not entail any invasive intervention on the mother as well as on the baby.
For this reason today new mothers increasingly are deciding to preserve their newborn’s stem cells as this could be the only solution he or any other genitically compatible relative have to heal in case they are hit by a life-threatening disease.

There are subjects that are more at risk and may have higher chances to need these cells in the future, particularly:

- Families that have a genetic predisposition to diseases that can be treated and healed only by using stem cells.
- Babies born thanks to the fertilization in vitro as in this case it is extremely difficult finding suitable donors.

How are the stem cells collected and preserved?

Collecting and preserving stem cells from the umbilical cord blood is very easy.
Indeed, at the moment of birth it is sufficient to use a simple Umbilical Cord Blood collection kit to take a sample that will be sent to specialized laboratories to be processed and stored in liquid nitrogen.
It is important to restate that the process is simple and painless to you and your baby and takes a maximum of 10 minutes.
Afterwards you will be free to take care of your baby, start the breastfeeding and go back home with your baby in the pram only after a few days of rest in the hospital.

Where to carry out the blood drawing

Those mothers that intend to preserve the umbilical cord stem cells have to inquire about this practice in the hospital they will give birth in especially if it supplies this blood collection service. If there is the possibility to do it, you can forward the inquiry so that the staff can get everything prepared at the moment of delivery.
Unfortunately, this practice is not sufficiently widespread in all the countries and hospitals all around Europe; furthermore even in the hospitals that supply this service, it is not conveniently suggested nor signalled by doctors and nurses. For this reason, we suggest you discuss carefully and timely the collection with your midwife or doctor before you actually give birth.

EU Directives

The European Union Tissue and Cells Directives (EUTCD) set out to establish a harmonised approach to the regulation of tissues and cells across Europe. The Directives set a benchmark for the standards that must be met when carrying out any activity involving tissues and cells for human application (patient treatment). The Directives also require that systems are put in place to ensure that all tissues and cells used in human application are traceable from donor to recipient.
EU Directives allow umbilical cord blood storage in Private Banks that collect donated cord blood from pregnant mothers and couples that recognize that their newborn’s cord blood can potentially save his life and store it cryogenically.

Since the practice of the umbilical cord blood storage could be very expensive, in the last few years many associations are born to help poorest families to get access to cryopreservation of their baby’s stem cells. Indeed, considering that it is an expense made once for 20 years of preservation, many mothers consider it a real life insurance and they are even ready to reduce family expenses or to buy cheaper baby products just to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sore and cracked nipples

2009-09-02T17:00:00.005+01:00

Breastfeeding is definitely one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can encounter in her life. But many women have stopped nursing their babies long before they intended to because of some very unpleasant and, sometimes painful, problems like sore nipples, that occur during this amazing period and push mothers to use baby bottles. These problems are very common during breastfeeding: the most frequent cause of pain is incorrect positioning or latch and most often when this happens is because the baby is not taking a large mouthful of breast tissue and the wrong technique that the mother uses to nurse her baby. Soreness is also caused by other factors like long feeds and the specific characteristics of mother’s skin. Moreover, inverted nipples can increase the risk of soreness.

However, there are preventative measures mothers can take in order to avoid the appearance of sore nipples or help them healing:

• Don’t try to put your baby’s mouth and don’t let your baby suck up your nipple like a piece straw. Instead, wait until he opens his mouth wide, and then gently pull his head to your breast.
• Support your breast with your free hand. Sometimes baby will really clamp down on their mom’s breast if they are thinking they are going to lose it!
• Make sure your baby’s body is well supported around your body so that he can concentrate on sucking rather than having to worry about the rest of his body dangling.
• Try using a pillow to support your arms while you are holding your baby.
• Do not pull your baby off the breast, always break his suction by placing your finger in the corner of his mouth before removing him from your breast.
• Wear breathable, natural fabrics and avoid plastic liners in nursing pads. Try wearing breast shells inside your nipples and keep the fabric of your bra from rubbing against your nipples
• Saline soaks can be very healing too. Just melt some in a cup of warm water and apply it a pad three or four times a day.

Some mothers find hydrogel pads soothing and healing to nipple trauma. Do not believe people who tell you to apply alcohol or do stretching exercises for your breast, in fact these “treatments” are absolutely wrong as they can damage the tissues. Ask your doctor about using medication if you need to and talk about the possibility of using an antibiotic ointment.

Among the numerous breastfeeding accessories, some of them are more useful than others, like nursing pads to be placed between the nipple and the bra. They do not just absorb the excess of milk but protect the breast from rubbing it against the fabrics making the irritation even worse.

Even if sore nipples can be very painful and annoying, don’t stop nursing your baby as you can still breastfeed. But do not suffer: in fact, if you correct baby’s posture and you follow the advices mentioned above, cracked or sore nipples go away in a couple of days. If your nipples are so painful that you simply dread putting your baby to the breast, just take a short break and use a breast pump for 12 to 24 hours. Do not underestimate sore nipples as they can lead to small infections or mastitis. So, it is extremely important to keep your breast dry and clean and just remember to wash your hand before each feeding.

Pregnancy at work: mothers’ rights

2009-08-28T08:41:00.002+01:00

Until a couple of years ago, being a woman was synonym of wife and mother since she used to spend most of her time at home looking after the kids. Nowadays, life is definitely more hectic and the role of a woman has changed: she is not only a wife and a mother anymore, because most of time a woman must go to work too. Mothers in our society often have no choice. They will not be able to stay at home with their new bundles of joy for very long after delivery.
As a consequence, when you find out you are expecting a baby, you will have thousands of doubts on how to handle and conciliate maternity and work.

Maternity’s rights

To live this amazing period of your life in the best way possible, it is essential that you are aware of your rights as an employee, in order to be protected. The law, in fact, helps and protects employees during maternity and breastfeeding. So let’s have a look together at the most important points:

- As soon as you know you are pregnant and once your employer knows about it, he must make alternative arrangements to guarantee both your and your baby’s safety when you are at work and also, you are protected from unfair treatment including a potential dismissal connected with your pregnancy. If you are off work because of a illness related to your pregnancy, your employer must pay you in the same way as for any other type of illness.

- You are entitled to take up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave. You are not allowed to work for the first two weeks after the birth. During your maternity leave, your employer must continue to give any benefit he would give you like if you were at work. You are an employee throughout the 52 weeks of your maternity leave. But you must give the correct notice in order to get the Statutory Maternity Pay: tell your employer when you want your maternity leave to start and it can be anytime from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. When your midwife gives you the maternity certificate around the 21st week of your pregnancy, you must give it to your employer. Just remember that you can change your mind about the day you want your maternity leave to start but you must give at least 28 days notice.

- You are entitled to reasonable paid time off to attend ante-natal appointments or classes advised by your midwife. Your employer can only ask for a proof after your second appointment.

- Breastfeeding: after birth, when it’s time to go back to work, there is no need to stop breastfeeding just because you are returning to work. Many women find ways to continue breastfeeding and the employer have some obligations towards breastfeeding mothers. You have the right to ask your employer for flexible working hours, arranged around breastfeeding. Or, you can arrange for childcare close to work in order for you to breastfeed during breaks or before and after work. You can decide to express milk so that someone else can breastfeed your baby while you are at work. Employers can help breastfeeding mothers allowing mothers to have a break allowance so that mothers can express milk and the policy to support breastfeeding includes: provision of a clean, warm and private room for expressing where the mother can keep the pram or you can change nappies without the need of leaving the work place.

- Parental Leave: Parental leave is the right to take time off work to care for your child or make arrangements for your child's welfare. It is available if you have worked for your current employer for at least a year by the time you want to take the leave. Each parent is eligible for 13 weeks' leave, which you can take at any time until your child's fifth birthday or, if you have adopted a child, up to five years from the date of placement. Both parents are able to take 13 weeks, even if both of them are not living with the child at the time. However, they do have to have formal parental responsibility for the child, and they have to use the leave to care for their child. In the case of parents of a child who receives disability living allowance, the leave is 18 weeks in total and it can be taken up to the child's 18th birthday. But there is no automatic right to paid parental leave. Any payment would be at the discretion of your employer, so you may want to ask if they are prepared to make one.

Rest is also very important

Working during pregnancy then, it is possible and riskless. But due to the many changes that your body will experience during pregnancy, it is advisable for expectant mothers to take precautions while at work. Just remember to have some breaks during the day: sit down if your job requires you to stand or stand up and walk at least every two hours if you have to sit all day. Employers must, if possible, provide a suitable place for you to rest when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This should include somewhere to lie down.

How to choose the hospital where you will give birth

2009-08-20T16:24:00.004+01:00

Choose the hospital where you will deliver your baby is a very important decision that each mother soon has to make. There are so many different aspects and factors to consider like for example what kind of assistance you are seeking, what kind of delivery you want and the comfort of being in a hospital near home. Depending on your personality and on the state of the pregnancy, each woman has different needs anyway even though the final goal is the same: identify the ideal hospital in which she can feel comfortable during a such important and delicate moment.
In order for you to choose the location which is most acceptable for you, we would like to give you some advice to take into consideration that, together with your instinct and your doctor’s advices may help you to make the right choice.

Public Hospital or Private Clinic?

One of the first questions you have to answer is definitely understanding if you would prefer a public hospital rather that a private clinic or the other way round.

Hospitals: they are definitely the biggest and more equipped structures in case of emergencies, for both mother and baby; when it comes to choosing a hospital, your pregnancy should be regarded as a "medical condition," therefore the choice you make should be based on medical adequacy. Your natural inclination might be towards a small and friendly hospital, but choosing a big hospital that has all the adequate units to deal with any problem that might arise has clear advantages. A big hospital doesn't necessarily mean that the staff will be unfriendly or that it will be an unpleasant experience. Hospitals that use the latest neonatal-care technology are also a plus, in case you are worried about more severe complications. Probably the most important consideration in choosing a hospital would be the amount of experience this hospital has. The more experience a hospital has in dealing with special conditions and complications, the better they get at reacting to such situations. Moreover, it would be advisable to choose a hospital not too far from home as it will definitely be easier to reach.

Private clinics: they are in general smaller, comfortable and have a more relaxed atmosphere than a medical institution and you can also keep the baby next you in her/his cot. but everything will be at your expense. Though some clinics may be equipped to handle emergency cases, your midwife should be prepared to transfer you to a hospital if the need arises. Private clinics are a good option for those who want less medical intervention, but do not want to give birth at home. Be sure to check out how the centre in your area is run, what facilities are available and the staff before finalizing your choice.

What you have to consider when choosing

After you have decided what kind of hospital is more suitable according to your needs, it is very important to consider some other aspects regarding the actual delivery: to help you making the final decision.
But what are actually these important factors to take into consideration? Let’s have a look together:

- the possibility of having an active labor, in order for you to choose the best position during birth. The positions that you choose for labor and birth are important. They will help you be more comfortable during the labor process. Some positions will also help speed the process of labor. Many of these positions can be done with or without the help of your partner, husband, doula or nurse. Practicing them prior to labor will also make them seem familiar and more comfortable and natural. Birth positions may vary: you can choose a normal delivery on the bed, sideways, standing or even water birth.

- Episiotomy and oxytocin: an episiotomy is a surgical incision in the perineum (the area of skin between the vagina and the anus). It is also a large controversy in childbirth today. Episiotomy is not always necessary and should not be considered routine. So make sure that the hospital you are going to choose does not consider it as a standard procedure. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps to provoke uterus contraction and then start the labor; it is given to women with the intention of increasing the contractions.

- Epidural and anesthetics: the decision to have an epidural in your labor is best made once labor is well established. Before labor it is best to keep an open mind about all of your options, including an epidural. If you are at the hospital and you would like to have an epidural, you will probably have a consultation with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist before getting an epidural.

- Caesarian section: is a surgical procedure in which incision are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies. It is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby's or mother's life or health at risk, although in recent times it has been also performed upon request for childbirths that could otherwise have been natural.

- Make sure the institution you choose is well equipped in case of emergencies and if there are neonatologists and pediatricians available 24/7.

- Minors factors: it essential to be able to immediately breastfeed your baby and let your partner assists you during labor and birth. Check with how many mothers you will share the room, visiting time and if it is possible to keep the pram next to you.

If after having considered all these factors you still have any other doubt, just let your instinct guide you and choose the hospital where you feel more comfortable and best satisfies all your needs; moreover, just remember that you can ask to visit the hospital and see with your eyes where your baby is going to be born, it can be really worth it!

Pros and cons of Epidural Anesthesia

2009-08-13T16:16:00.004+01:00

When a woman is expecting a baby she has just one thought in mind: make the birth become a perfect moment! She will have hundreds of things to do like furnishing her baby’s room or buying everything she may need to ensure him comfort, wellness and safety like baby nappies, pram, pushchair, bath accessories, baby control and a lot more.

Besides all this, it comes the moment when every mother starts wondering how the delivery will be and the pain she will feel. Indeed, giving birth to the own baby without suffering too much it nearly seems a dream!
For this reason, many women today prefer to give birth with the help of the epidural anesthesia that doctors consider to be safe and effective as not only it provides rapid pain relief during labor but also it allows the mother to clearly feel contractions and pushing times.

What is epidural anesthesia?

The epidural anesthesia is a form of regional anesthesia involving injection of drugs through a catheter placed into the epidural space. The injection can cause both a loss of sensation and a loss of pain by blocking the transmission of signals through nerves in or near the spinal cord. In general, the injection is made in the mid-lumbar, or lower back region of the spine outside the membrane called the Dura Mater.
It is important to make clear that there is no danger to damage the spine as it is protected by a thick membrane. A particular type of needle, long and thin, is inserted between the second and the third vertebrae (or between the third and the fourth) near the peripheral nerves that gather the painful stimuli that will be transmitted to the spinal cord.
Thanks to this needle it is possible to infiltrate gradually the skin with anaesthetic conducted by a catheter; at the end of this operation the needle is taken out.
In this way, the mother does not feel pain not even during the preparatory phases but it is important that she keeps on lying on one side.

Effects on the baby

Some currents of thought affirm that for the baby the epidural anesthesia is even safer than the traditional method. Let’s see why:

- If the labor lasted for too long, it could arise a reaction to stress so strong to affect baby’s health
- In case of complications and a possible emergency Caesarean section, doctors would not waste precious time as the woman is already anesthetized and immediately ready to bear a surgery
- Epidural anesthesia shortens cervical dilatation length making labor faster
- Mother’s more relaxed body during labor entails a major oxygen contribution to the baby as well

As regards the expulsive phase, the opinions regarding its time diminution are dissenting: according to someone, compared to average, the epidural anesthesia lengthens the time of the expulsive phase as the mother does not cooperate in an effective way since she does not feel pain. Instead, according to other specialists, a capable obstetrician can make the expulsive phase even faster as everything depends on his expertise in analgesia deliveries.
Indeed, it is important to point out that a baby born with the epidural anesthesia, may show a fundamental reflexes disorganization and a delayed onset and shorter duration of breastfeeding: this difficulty may persist up to the first month.

Effects on the mother

Thanks to the help of the epidural anesthesia, many mothers experienced a different delivery without feeling pain as it may happen that some of them can’t bear the pain of the contractions for their strong intensity. Indeed, the epidural anesthesia helps the mother to relax as she does not feel pain anymore and does not contract muscles.

The epidural anesthesia, thou, does not give only benefits but also a few negative aspects.
In fact, if the woman decides to use this technique she will need a catheter to drain urine and she won’t be able to stand up all along the labor. Moreover, it can arise trembling episodes but that can be easily borne.
It is also important to point out that the epidural anesthesia does not always give pain relief: indeed some women reported shooting localized pain meaning that the anesthesia did not work properly.

Mothers, be informed!

Even if many doctors consider the epidural anesthesia a technique highly effective and safe, there are countries where this practice is less requested. On the contrary, in countries like United Kingdom and France this is very popular and widespread.
In some countries, the factors that contribute to discourage women from using it are both a lack of personnel and a 24h dedicated service in the hospitals both the psychological conditioning caused by the prejudices regarding the problems that may arise after the injection.
For this reason, the best solution is always get informed about this practice with the family doctor and the hospital where you are going to give birth.

How to protect your baby from the sun

2009-08-05T17:14:00.003+01:00

Sunlight has undoubtedly positive effects on human health as it helps the development of the Vitamin D which acts like a hormone, regulating the formation of bones, it stimulates metabolism, it strenghtens the immune system and improves the mood.
However, an excessive or incautious exposure to sun rays may cause serious damages especially on babies delicate skins.
Indeed, baby’s skin is thinner compared to adults’ so it is more likely to be penetrated by sun rays. Furthermore, it doesn’t have the proper receptors that allow the baby to perceive the heat and her defensive cells still do not work properly. So, it is necessary to follow few simple rules to avoid that the delicate baby’s skin suffers from serious damages later in life. It has been shown that damages to the skin can arise even after many years of prolonged sun exposures.

Here is few simple rules that will help you to protect your baby from the negative effects of sun rays.

Avoid direct exposure to sun

If your baby is younger than six months, keep her out of direct sunlight. After six months she can be exposed only with particular attention. Limit the exposure to sun between 11 am and 4 pm when the sun rays are stronger and the baby’s skin is not protected at all even under the umbrella where the ultraviolet rays can bounce back from surfaces like sand or water. Wait 4 pm before having a bath or playing on the beach and take the due precautions anyway. Be sure to dress your baby in lightweight cotton clothing, to protect her eyes with child-sized CE approved sunglasses with UV protection and to cover the head with a cool hat.
In any case, babies do not have to stay in the sun for too long even during the coolest hours.

Use high protection factor sunscreen

Apply always a high protection factor sunscreen on babies skin. On the market you can find many different sunscreens for children but the best choice is the highest protection factor you manage to find. Under no circumstances, has to be applied on your baby’s skin a sunscreen with SPF inferior to 15 even if she is already tunned or she has a brown skin.
Even though the sunscreen milk is water and sweat-resistant, re-apply it more times during the day at least every 2 hours and right after bath. At home, after the bath, it is advisable to apply generously after-sun milk and moisturizing cream.

Adopt the right nutrition

In order to avoid the typical troubles and damages the sun may provoke to human body, it is advisable to follow a light diet, rich in liquids and mineral salts. It is important then choosing low fat foods like corns, yogurt, fresh dairy products like mozzarella or ricotta cheese, tomotoes, eggs, fish as well as a lot of vegetables and fruit. Make your baby drink a lot: babies easily run the risk to become dehydrated because they “forget” to be thirsty. If the baby still drinks from the baby bottle, you will have to remember to refill it often. If the baby is older, you will have to remind her from time to time to drink a little bit of water.

Pay attention to the sun in the town

Often we forget that the most dangerous sun is not only on the beach. We have to pay special attention to ultraviolet rays when our baby is playing in the park, when she is on the swing, when we are walking in the street with the pushchair and during all the other occasions we are outdoors. It is always necessary to avoid exposure during the hottest hours of the day and dress our baby with suitable clothing. If the sun is particularly hot, it is recommended to apply on our baby’s skin some sunscreen even in town. Pay also special attention to the journeys in the car as the car seat could be reached by the sun and the baby be exposed to sunrays for too long.

Exercising during pregnancy

2009-07-29T15:23:00.006+01:00

Often we wonder whether it is right or not exercising throughout pregnancy. If any complication do not limit your ability to exercise, fitness can be a big plus for both you and your baby.
Exercising during pregnancy can have indeed positive effects on your mood, it helps to relax and relieve the stress and especially if performed during the first trimester, it increases blood flow and its capacity to transport oxygen and nutritional substances necessary for the foetus to grow.
Furthermore, exercising enhances cardio circulatory and respiratory systems efficiency allowing you to ease labour and delivery. That’s not all: by exercising on a regular basis, fitness can increase blood flow to lower limbs, avoid an excessive increase of body mass and reduce the risk of complications like gestational diabetes and backache.
Obviously, it is necessary to always keep in mind that pregnancy is a very delicate condition and everything has to be made with due cautions, as well as exercise. During pregnancy, you will need to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor early on and make some adjustments to your normal routine. No exercise has to be performed if complications or particular risks arose.

Which exercises are the most suitable for pregnant women?

Walking

The easiest and probably the best exercise for a pregnant woman is walking, an excellent way to tone muscles, get fresh air, keep the body regular, and help to sleep soundly at night. To get started, walk half an hour a day and choose places far from traffic and smog like public gardens or parks. Taking a walk is ideal to enjoy a few moments of relax. You can continue into your last trimester and right up until birth as long as it is comfortable for you. Moreover, walking can help you to regain your pre-pregnancy body more quickly: a good walk with your baby, with the pushchair or with a baby carrier, could be a useful and pleasant experience.

Bicycling

Making a cycle ride could be a good idea too for pregnant women. It is instead necessary to consider that with bike you have more chances of falling so it is recommended to avoid riding in the street or on uneven floors. In this case as well, the ideal place is a park, where the air is purer and there are no cars around. Instead, a stationary bike can be useful to prevent water retention in legs.

Swimming

Many health care providers and fitness professionals say swimming is the safest exercise for pregnant women, especially after the first months. Indeed, if up to the fourth month it is advisable taking light exercises, in the following months, considered the increase in weight and the consequent and gradual reduction of mobility, the most suitable exercise can be just swimming.
Swimming is an exercise easy to perform even when the body mass is increasing as it keeps your body toned without adding weight and stress to your joints until the last months of pregnancy. Besides swimming, you can also perform other activities like aqua gym and swim gym.

Specific exercises

Some gyms and hospitals organize specific pre-natal classes that include exercises to relax, to provide relief to the backbone and improve abdominal muscles. Specific exercises have been conceived to bring benefits to pregnant women avoiding at the same time excessive efforts. These exercises aim to stimulate cardiovascular system in order to enhance the transport of nutritional substances to foetus. Moreover, they are particularly effective for the prevention against water retention and varicose veins. You can also perform some specific post-partum exercises to regain pre-pregnancy shape after the stress that the event inevitably caused it. Weight increase, spine overloading and breastfeeding and everything a pregnancy may involve can both physically and morally exhaust woman’s body. But don’t worry, be patient and in a few time things will get back to normal.

Choosing the car seat

2009-07-23T13:20:00.007+01:00

Baby car seats belong to the so called child restraints on vehicles since a child is not able to sit on the seat of the car firmly and steadily like an adult does: as a consequence, car seats the most safest instruments to transport our little one in the car in order for him/her to seat on the back seat in total safety.

It is essential, when we choose a car seat, to make sure that it is homologated according to the current laws, to be more precise it must be made of resistant materils, sprayed with non toxic paint and it doesn’t have to have sharp corners that may represent a danger for your child’s safety.
A car seat structure, normally includes: anatomic backrest, comfortable seat and 5 point safety harness.

Car seat groups

Considering all the different types and car seats and brands like Chicco, Inglesina and Peg perego that, nowadays, you can find on the market, there are many, many other things to take into consideration before deciding which car seat suits your child's age, size and weight as one of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle.
For this reason, we would like to help you deciding with this small guide to show you the different typologies and groups:

-Group 0
From birth up to 10 kg (9 months)
It is actually the carry cot fitted on the seat thanks to the special kit that allows you to keep your baby in a horizontal position without the need of using the car seat for the first few months. It must be fitted on the rear seat.

- Group 0+
From birth up to 13 kg (12 months)
Like a proper cot, they can be used in the front or rear of the car. It is safer to put them in the rear. Do not put them in the front passenger seat if there is a passenger airbag. Rearward-facing seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats. So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible. Only move them to a forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.

- Group 0/1
From birth up to 18 kg (4 years)
This type of car seat has a spacious and comfortable seat; it can be fitted either front or rear facing: up to 13 kg it must be fitted rear facing, from 13 kg onwards it can be fitted front facing on the back seat much safer than the front seat as your child is now growing and it can be dangerous.

- Group 1
From 9 kg to 18 kg (from 9 months to 4 years)
Once children have outgrown a rearwards facing seat, the best option is to use a Group 1 seat with an integral harness, the large area of the harness helps to reduce the risk of injury if there is a crash. The bottom attachment between the legs will also prevent the child from sliding under, and out of, the harness. They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.

- Group 1/2/3
From 9 kg to 36kg ( from 9 months to 12 years)
This car seat is equipped with a practical adjustable headrest that prefectly adapt to your child’s body. It must be fitted on the rear seat front facing. The backrest cannot be reclined but it is removable to be used as booster seat when the child reaches 22 kg.

- Group 2/3
From 15 kg to 36 kg (from 3 years to 12 years)
For this type of car seats, you can choose between the ones equipped with backrest and the ones with just the seat (booster seat). It must be positioned front facing on the rear seat.

- Isofix car seats
Isofix car seats are equipped with the most innovative and safest way to anchor the car seat in the car. The Isofix system has been designed to make the car a children safe environment, even if they are not able to use the cars main restraints or seats. The Isofix system is a system of anchorage locations fitted to the seats of a vehicle to which a child’s seat or booster cushion affixes. The ISOFIX system has two anchorage points at the rear of a standard seat to which a ISOFIX enabled child seat affixes. Before buying an Isofix car seat, make sure that your car is equipped with Isofix anchorage points.

Drive carefully

Before any further information or advice on car seats, always remember to drive carefully and to pay lots of attention to other drivers’ because often, they are the cause of unpleasant accidents. Furthermore, when you drive and your child is in the car, make sure that the all the fitting systems work properly and never leave your child in the car seat without fastening the seat belt.

Bimbomarket DOES NOT go on holiday!

2009-07-22T16:23:00.006+01:00

Bimbomarket never leaves you alone, not even in summer!

During summer holidays, as like any other month in the year, Bimbomarket will guarantee a 100% timely service.

All our products, our express deliveries and our customer service courtesy will remain at your disposal for all summer, even in August!

Moreover, until the 2nd of August, a fantastic discount for all your purchases!

Visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/ie/en/ to choose your favourite products and use the discount voucher BMSUMMER: you will get an amazing 10% discount!*

Bimbomarket, a childproof world…..

…even in summer!

*The discount is valid on all the catalogue except Travel Systems and Nappies.The offer is valid until 02/08/2009 and cannot be accumulated with other existing offers.

General guidelines to use and choose the soother

2009-07-22T14:20:00.004+01:00

The soother, also known as dummy, pacifier or comforter, is the best friend of most of the newborns. According to some estimates, about 70% of newborns use the soother on a regular basis. Nothing strange if you consider that babies has a natural instinct for suction even before birth. Indeed, it may happen during the ultrasound scan to see the baby sucking his thumb and after birth dedicating most of his waking hours sucking mother breast, the baby bottle or the soother.
The soother debate has raged for a number of years as it seems that it may lead to palate and dental arch malformation but actually the soother does not damage baby’s health: it is sufficient to choose the right one in the right way.

How to use the soother

One of the first good rule to follow is to do not let using a soother become a habit and limiting its use to 3 years. Actually, parents should try to wean their child off the soother starting from 2 years to encourage a gradual detachment from it. It is instead useful using the soother whenever the baby is in a situation of discomfort such as when he can’t get to sleep or in the event of gas colic.
In some situations, having something to suck is for the baby a way to calm down and settle. It is advisable to always have at hand more than one soother so to renew them often and replace the consumed one with a new pacifier immediately. Take always a new one with you so to be able to replace it easily in case it gets damaged or gets lost.
The soothers you use for your baby should be all of the same model as the baby gets used to one kind and then it is very difficult convince him to change it overnight.
Keep the pacifier as clean as possible in its holder and sterilize it before any single use.
Never dip the soother in sweet foods such as honey or sugar as this can lead to rapid tooth decay.

How to choose the soother

Depending on the shape of the teats, there are 3 different kinds of soother: cherry, drop or anatomic shape. In order to avoid the arise of dental problems, specialists usually suggest to use soothers with anatomic teats that better adapt to baby’s mouth. However, long-term use of anatomic soothers is not recommended as well.

The soothers teats are basically made from silicone or rubber. Silicone is more resistant to perforations than rubber and it is particularly suitable for babies who still do not see their first teeth coming through. Instead, when the baby starts to byte the soother with his teeth, a more resistant material like rubber results to be more suitable.

Instead, the shield that supports the teat could be made from silicone, rubber as well as from plastic. The soothers with soft shield are proved to be particularly suitable for younger babies especially if they are used during the night. The shields can have different shapes but the most common are the round and butterfly-shaped ones. The first ones are usually made from rubber or silicone, extremely soft that do not annoy the baby. The butterfly-shaped shields are made from rigid plastic and may result to be annoying in case of pressure. Instead the latter are at the same time less cumbersome and are characterized by joyful colours that make them particularly loved by older babies.

Anyway, to buy a good soother rely on the best brands specialized in baby products on the market: in some cases quality has to be the first criteria to follow.

Post-partum checklist

2009-07-17T13:31:00.012+01:00

After so many months of waiting and the experience with labour, your baby is finally born and for you, like any other mother, this is going to be a magic moment. Hear him crying for the first time will be truly a miracle and you will look forward to holding him in your arms.

During the first days after the birth, your doctor will take care of your post-partum health status to make sure your body is healing the way it should. So take the advantage of these few days to start familiarizing with your baby and have some rest.

New born first exams

Soon after birth, when you will be looking at your baby sleeping peacefully in his baby cot your clear first question will be: “How is my baby?”. This legitimate concern is immediately reassured by doctors and midwives who examine the baby from head to toe to check his vital functions and exclude possible complications.

Let’s see in details what do the routine examinations of our newborn baby involve.

- Apgar score: a simple method to quickly and summarily assess the health of newborn children immediately after childbirth. The test is generally done at one and five minutes after birth and according to the result, newborn vitality will be considered to be normal or low. The ideal score is 10/10 that corresponds to pulse rate >100, a loud crying, good reflexes and pink skin. If the score is between 3 and 7 it means that the neonate requires medical attention and may risk to suffer from long-term damages

- A full check up of his general look and his organs functionality

- Neurological examination: it is carried out to check muscle tone (hypertonia) and response to stimulation

- Sight and hearing control

- A small blood sample is taken from newborn heel: blood drops are absorbed on a filter paper that is sent to the laboratory to be analysed. This blood sample is essential to make sure the baby at the moment of birth does not suffer from any inborn diseases like hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis on which it is possible to intervene if recognised promptly

- In case your doctor is still doubtful about your baby’s overall health conditions, a closest examination during your stay in the maternity ward will be carried out.

Mother’s checklist

After the birth of a baby, the body has to heal from childbirth, rebuild its strength, and get back the shape that it had before pregnancy. Your stay in the maternity ward will be about 5 days long and it will help you to have some rest and recover.
Your health status will be constantly monitored day after day.

- First of all, doctors will assess your general health status, possible blood losses (lochia) and intestine function

- Secondly, doctors will check breast, nipples (that will have to be strong enough to stand breastfeeding and possibly breast pumps) and uterus conditions as well as suture and body temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure

- In case of excessive blood loss after childbirth, it will be checked haemoglobin concentration in red cells

- Lastly, the doctor will make sure symptoms like fever, urinary problems, dizziness, breathlessness, breast pain or excessive anxiety do not arise during these days

After all this, finally you can hold your baby and wait for your relatives and friends to visit you. Even though their visit will make you happy, take the opportunity of your stay in the hospital to have also a rest and spend some time alone with your baby so that you can bond better with each other.
Remember that in less than no time you will be back at home again and shortly you will take him out for a walk with your new pushchair!

Fever in children: remedies and advices

2009-07-15T11:55:00.003+01:00

When a newborn baby has got fever, mother and father are very concerned and go into panic and it remains the most common concern for which parents bring their child to the emergency department. Fever is a natural reaction of the body caused by viral or bacterial infections. Fever has traditionally been defined as a rectal temperature of 38° C and the increase in the body temperature stops germs from growing and develop, increasing the efficiency of the immune system. Therefore, if a baby shows an increase in body temperature, there is no need of concern: his/her immune system is just trying to fight against possible infections and most of the time, after a couple of days, the fever goes away. Seeking medical advice is not necessary all the time, but only when the temperature is extremely high, for more than 3 days and it shows other symptoms such as respiratory difficulties, unconsciousness, dehydration, purple or red rash.

How should I take my child’s temperature?

On the market you can find many different kinds of thermometer. If you are using the classical glass thermometer make sure that it is reinforced to avoid it from braking. The digital thermometer is very different: it is safe and resistant in case of accidental falls. Anyway, they are both very precise, suitable for children and not so expensive. Ear, skin and infra-red thermometer are much more expensive.

In order to get the most accurate result, it is advisable to take the temperature rectally (especially if it is a young baby) or underneath the armpit (if the child is a bit older) but in both cases, it is important to buy a specific thermometer for children. Depending on how you take the temperature and the kind of thermometer you use, the result changes too: from the rectal and ear temperature, you have to subtract 0,5° C.

What to do to lower the temperature

If the baby’s temperature is above 38,5° C underneath the armpit or 39° C rectally, it is necessary to give anti-fever drugs. The most common drug used to lower the body temperature is paracetamol, available as a syrup or suppositories. The dosage and the way of consumption must be advised by the paediatrician. If the temperature does not go above 39°C and the baby does not show particular discomfort or worrying symptoms, usually there is no need of any pharmacological therapy and fever goes away spontaneously in a couple of days.

If you do not give any medicine to your baby, however there are some remedies to help your baby feel better and reduce body temperature. The main remedy is to make your baby drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration that usually appears with dry lips: a lack of urination and tears can also indicate dehydration. It is possible to fill the baby bottle with water, fruit juices or tea. Further more, do not cover your baby too much in order to let the body spreading heat. In such a case, it would be better to dress him/her with light clothing and cover him/her only if he/she starts to shiver.
Even though it is not strictly necessary that the baby remains in his/her cot, it is advisable to prevent him/her from doing any physical activities which might increase the body temperature and discomfort as well as the energy the body needs to fight against the infection.

With regard to the remedies to lower the body temperature, often bath sponges with lukewarm water are very useful. But not everybody knows that bath sponges with lukewarm water have to be done only after the consumption of fever reducers, otherwise the decrease of the body temperature is only temporary and after awhile, the temperature increases again. If you need to bath your child with sponges and lukewarm water, you only need to put some water inside a bucket, wet the sponge and gently sponge down your baby’s body.
Do not do any other physical treatment to lower the temperature as they may have only temporary effects and cause discomfort. Attention: never ever use bath sponges with alcohol! Unfortunately some people still believe that it may bring a positive effect but, in reality, it can only cause further problems if the baby inhales the fumes.

Child’s growth and development: some advice and tips on child care

2009-07-09T17:05:00.004+01:00

Taking care of a baby is not easy at all as all newborns have special needs, very different from adults’ needs. Very often, first time mothers have to face thousands doubts on what is actually right or wrong to make their baby grow up in the best way possible. Obviously, in these circumstances, the ideal solution would be seeking professional advice but if you are still not sure about something or if you need further information, here are some tips on child care.

Nursery

To protect your baby’s health, it is extremely important to follow some rules regarding nursery maintenance. Make sure that the room temperature is around 20° C and it doesn’t have to be below 20° C. It is important to regulate the humidity level that has to be around 50 – 60%. For this reason it would be advisable to have a humidifier for children. They have been specially designed to guarantee the right level of humidity in the room where your baby is going to sleep.

The environment has to be safe and cosy: your baby was so used of the womb that she needs to feel the same way she used to feel inside your tummy. In order to guarantee that, leave your baby to sleep in the pram and do not put her in the cot during the first months as she may feel lost.

The sides of the cot have to be tall enough and it is very important to use an anti-suffocation and anti-mite mattress. The best position to avoid the risk of SIDS is sleeping on the back.

Umbilical stump

One of the main issue that all mothers have to face is taking care of the umbilical stump. At birth, it is cut about 5-10 cm from the skin, wrap it in a sterilized lint and hold it firm with an elasticated net. The lint has to be changed daily for a period of 7-8 days, after that, the stump falls spontaneously. From now on it is essential to treat the wound with oxygenated water for at least 4-5 days until the wound has healed.

Bath time

The baby bath and bathing your newborn baby can be an exciting and scary experience during the first few weeks of life because most babies are very fragile and quite slippery when wet. During the first one or two weeks of life, your baby will need an actual “bath” until their umbilical stump falls off. For most newborns this occurs right around age 10 days. Until then it is fine for you to sponge bath your newborn. Try to keep the baby’s water worm but not hot. A good range is between 35 – 37° C. Gradually slip your baby into the tub feet first, using one hand to support the neck and head. Wrap your baby in a baby bathrobe. It is better not to apply baby powder as it could be dangerous to be inhaled. So it would be preferable to apply a mild baby lotion.

Baby bottles, teats and soothers

All the objects in contact with your baby’s mouth must obviously be clean. At the end of each feed, it is very important to wash them carefully and before the next feed, they must be sterilized. In order to do that, you can choose the classic old remedy which is boiling all the stuff for at least 15-20 minutes or you can rather get a sterilizer you can find on the market. The soother has to be used very carefully: do not put anything on it such as sugar or honey as it would increase the risk of tooth decay. It is recommended not to give the soother everytime baby cries because it may lead her to be totally dependent. Moreover, the soother should be used during the first years only as it may cause dental problems.

Walking and travelling

Go for a walk with the pram or with the pushchair is very good for your baby and it should be done daily. The best place to walk is in green areas, like a park for example, away from the city traffic so both you and your baby can breath clean air. During the first months, it is better to avoid long trips that take more than the time interval between each feed, especially if the situation doesn’t allow you to feed your baby. It is highly recommended not to travel during the hottest hours of the day especially because a tiny baby has less capacity to adapt to the outside temperature.

High-risk pregnancy

2009-07-02T15:22:00.003+01:00

Pregnancy is undoubtedly one of the greatest moment in woman’s life as she brings inside her a small life that will convey many different feelings.
Unfortunately, pregnancy can be complicated by un unlimited number of things. That means that some real or potential pathological conditions may compromise mother or baby’s health or even their life.

Risk factors

Many are the factors that may determine a high-risk pregnancy:

- mother’s age: a girl who is less than 15 years may run the risk to develop preeclampsia, a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine and water retention or the eclampsia, characterized by preeclamptic convulsions. On the same level, a woman who is more than 35 years may run the risk of an increase in blood pressure, gestational diabetes, complications during delivery or caused by anaesthesia, fibroids or the development of chromosome anomalies (like Down syndrome)

- weight-height relationship: if the mother weights less than 45 kg, the baby may born underweight. On the contrary, if the mother suffers from obesity, the baby may born overweight as well and the mother would suffer from gestational diabetes. Height is an important factor as well: if the mother is less than 1.60 cm tall, she could incur a preterm delivery as the pelvis is too small

- RH disease: if mother and foetus are both RH-negative they would not run any risk during the first pregnancy. Instead, if the next pregnancy is RH-negative too, the mother must be treated with injections of antibodies anti RH-negative to avoid haemolytic problems (meaning that the disease causes destruction of foetal red blood cells) or complications during delivery

- structural alterations of genital apparatus: ovarian or uterine anomalies may lead to abortion. Fibroids too (benign tumours of the uterus) may cause preterm deliveries, foetal malpresentation or complications during delivery

- maternal diseases: diseases like high blood pressure, kidney diseases, diabetes, congenital heart diseases, thyroids or coagulation problems, respiratory or autoimmune diseases may cause problems to pregnancy or during delivery

- teratogenic agents: namely the agents that cause a structural abnormality following foetal exposure during pregnancy. They include: radiations (X-rays, UVA, UVB), infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, herpes simplex, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, etc.), maternal diseases like diabetes, drugs and alcohol abuse

- abruptio placenta: the most common placental problem is when a normally implanted placenta abruptly separates or breaks away from the uterine wall too early, before delivery of the foetus. There is no known precise explanation as to the mechanism of abruptio placenta. But there are a number of identifiable factors that will raise the woman’s risk for abruptio placenta. This includes: previous history of abruptio placenta, maternal hypertension, maternal trauma (injury to the uterus like in car accident), smoking during pregnancy, maternal cocaine abuse.

In order to calculate if a pregnancy is going to be at risk, it is advisable to check the own family’s health history and consider factors like woman’s age, previous pregnancies (if there were any), the arise of diseases or genital anomalies or even the emotional component and the surrounding social/family environment.
An early recognition of a high-risk pregnancy is of paramount importance as it allows to intervene promptly, reassure the mother and offer the doctor precise directions for possible future interventions during pregnancy or at the moment of delivery.

Conduct

How should we behave if we are diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy?
If the risk is low, it will be sufficient to strictly stick to the visits that the doctor will prescribe; on the contrary, if the risk is high the best solution is undoubtedly the hospitalization to periodically monitor pregnancy and foetal development thanks to a professional team of obstetricians, neonatologists and anaesthetists.

Prevention

Some risk conditions can be reduced thanks to a good prevention:

- before pregnancy: it is sufficient to carry out some examinations to check possible hereditary diseases, chromosome anomalies or gene mutations and monitoring pathologies like diabetes or hypertension.
- after pregnancy: it is advisable to rely on a constant medical advice and on the visits prescribed and at the same time improve the own quality of life in few simple tricks like reducing coffee consumption, avoid smoking, alcohol and physical efforts, keep a healthy diet.

Being pregnant in summer: beat the heat

2009-07-01T13:06:00.004+01:00

When summer and the hot weather come, some people can really experience discomforts and misery. Dehydration, dizziness, low blood pression and movement difficulties are just some of the symptoms that occur when summer is particularly hot. But they are just small discomforts that, most of the time, do not have consequences but they can really be very annoying for people in particular conditions, like pregnant women. Facing a pregnancy in summer can be very uncomfortable but there is nothing to worry about for you or your baby. If you are pregnant and summer is very humid do not worry, you only have to follow some tips to help you coping with the hot weather in order for you to get back to enjoying the excitement of awaiting the arrival of your baby.

At the beach

With regard to sun exposure on the beach, it is very important to clarify that the body temperature is stable even when we are exposed to the sun. The heat perception can wrongly induce to think that body temeperature has also risen but this not what actually happens; even the temperature inside the womb does not change. However, hot weather and sun exposure can cause discomfort to expectant mothers who already find themselves in a state of hypotention. When blood pression lowers due to the heat, perspiration and dehydration can actually lead mother to collapse. What is the best thing to do to avoid this from happening? It is advisable not to expose yourself for long periods, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and, if you are at the beach, walk along the beach with your legs in the water to avoid that vasodilatation lead to vein failure and increase the risk of varicous veins on the legs. Also it is very important to protect the skin by using a high protection sun lotion: in fact, sun exposure can bring chloasma, also known as “mask of pregnancy“.Chloasma has the appearance of brown patches of pigmentation on the forehead, cheeks, neck and lips. It's caused by the increased production of melanin, the tanning hormone, which protects the skin against ultraviolet light in certain areas of the body. It will begin to fade once the pregnancy is over, within 3 months of your baby’s birth and it does not have any negative effects on the baby.

Everyday life

Fighting the heat during pregnancy does not only mean avoiding the heat from the beach and sun exposure. Annoying problems can also occur due to the heat while at home or taking a walk. First of all, it is advisable not to go out during mid-day sun exposure as the sun is more dangerous. However it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, like water, fruit juices, milk and drinks rich in mineral salts dehydration. For the same reason it is very important to make sure that your diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Get indoors at the first sign of weakness, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, or excessive thirst. Lie down and drink some cool water or electrolyte replacement liquid. If you don't feel better soon, call your doctor.

Clothing must obviously be light to allow the body to breath. The material of the clothing and maternity lingerie must also be breathable, preferably cotton or linen, which easily absorb sweat and don't wear constrictive clothing, especially around the waist. Wear comfortable shoes and, if possible, wear one pair of shoes that are a half size larger than your normal size; it is better to remove your rings if they seem to be tight. Some pregnant women experience mild swelling of the hands and have to get their rings cut off.

If the house or outdoor are unbearably hot, it is going to be quite refreshing going inside supermarkets, shops or shopping malls. A good idea for example would be visiting a shop that stocks baby products so you can get something for your baby. Make sure that the air conditioning inside the shops is at a regular cool temparature, if you feel a big difference between the temparature outside and the tempearture in the shop just find another shop where the temeprature is not too cool.

And you, expectant mothers, what are you doing to beat the heat of these days?

New Bimbomarket web site: simply beautiful, intuitive and easy to use

2009-06-26T11:36:00.011+01:00

New Bimbomarket web site is now online: so many novelties to make your shopping even easier and more pleasant. Visit www.Bimbomarket.it: you will find an amusing video on our new home page to welcome you and take you through all our new functions with a wonderful welcome discount!

Here are some of the new functionalities of the new new web:

New look

New Bimbomarket web site is beautiful as well as easy to use to make browsing a child’s joke even for not very experienced users. The new graphic design will stay faithful to the elegant and bright Bimbomarket design and, at the same time, it makes your shopping much easier.

Age group

On our home page there is a new important function: search by age. Thanks to this new element, you are able to view all the products of the wide Bimbomarket catalogue depending on the age group you have selected. Do you need to buy anything for your 4 month old baby? Just click on “ 3 months + “ button and you will have access to that part of our catalogue suitable for your baby’s age!

An easier way to search

Finding the product you are looking for and complete the order is much easier thanks to some new tools introduced to make searching more intuitive. By entering a word into the “ search “ field, our new web site will automatically suggest to you all the products related to that particular word: for example, by entering "Chicco pushchair", you will see all the different models of Chicco pushchairs available in our catalogue.
Moreover, thanks to the introduction of special filters, you can sort all the products by category, brand, age group and features. All filters can be combined to make the result even more selective and accurate in order to best satisfy the needs of every single child.

Highlighted Offers

All offers are now more visible, allowing you to find the best of all our offers. Also, you can search for the product you are looking for sorting by “ offers “, in order to view special offers only.

Clearer and more detailed product descriptions

In our catalogue, products are now grouped together by model and next to each of them there are small images representing all the colours available for that specific model. Furthermore, all descriptions have been enriched with more information, like the shipping costs, availability, estimated delivery date and customer’s reviews.
Therefore, in new Bimbomarket web site, anyone can leave a comment regarding products and the more hesitant customer are able to read all the reviews to help him making the right choice.

What are you waiting for? Our new web site is now visible: visit www.Bimbomarket.it and let us know what you think about it.

We will be waiting for your comments and suggestions!

Pregnancy massage

2009-05-28T15:07:00.004+01:00

Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to restore naturally body and mind. Just think how a caress can be beneficial to a person.
Every time in history, massage has been employed during pregnancy as well both as a support during labour and birth both as a sort of “language” of communication between mother and infant during the 9 months of expectation.
Indeed, during pregnancy every mother massages unconsciously the baby and she is given massage by the infant as well understanding his needs and desires he conveys with movements and positions.

Importance and benefits of pregnancy massage

Prenatal massage therapy can be a very instrumental ingredient in woman’s wellness as it is proved to be the most successful and natural method to prevent and address different problems without any risk or side effects.
The massage can positively act on many different levels:

- healing: relief from muscle cramps, lumbar pain, spasms, circulatory disorders in the lower legs. Indeed, belly weight can cause a worsening of lumbar hyper-lordosis and consequently backache, a sensation of heaviness in the legs and varicose veins. In this case, massage will relieve pain and improve muscle and joints functions as well as circulation

- antistress: it helps reduce naturally stress and anxiety during pregnancy. The possible risk is being affected by muscles rigidity and consequently by uterine stiffness bringing pregnancy problems like preterm birth

- physical and psychological wellness: thanks to partner’s help, the mother will be able to establish a deep emotional contact with her baby. In this way, the baby will feel protected by the harmonious relationship with them

Among the benefits that prenatal massage may bring, there are relaxation, insomnia and depression reduction, joints relief to better support belly weight, a pleasant neck and back relief both exhausted by the overall weakness and muscles imbalance.
Furthermore, the prenatal massage helps maintaining the right posture, getting the muscles prepared for delivery, reducing swelling of hands and feet and finally soothing headache and breast congestion.

Massage frequency before and after birth

Some doctors advise women against receiving massages during the first trimester of pregnancy because of the great physical and hormonal changes that naturally occur.
Only after the second trimester, when the future mother becomes acquainted with her new condition she will be able to benefit from the massage effects.
Indeed, during this period, the best frequency at sessions is about once a week from 10 minutes to maximum 1 hour.
Only during the third trimester, it will be possible even to double the attendance.

Soon after birth, it is advisable to wait at least 40 days before resuming sessions: indeed during this period, the uterus needs time to heal delivery’s wounds and to revert to its original dimensions and position as well as the intestine that during pregnancy get displaced.
Postpartum massage will help restore the body to its pre-pregnant condition, it will also speed up the recovery by bringing relief to abdominal muscles.

Side effects

Prenatal massage does not bring any particular risk to woman’s health but it is always advisable to consult the doctor before relying on a therapist, especially if you don’t trust enough his expertise.
Anyway, before starting any session, it is necessary to inform the massager about any possible problem you are experiencing during pregnancy.

The main situations in which the massage is not recommended are:

- Loss of blood or water
- Diabetes
- Temperature
- Morning sickness, vomit, diarrhoea
- Dizziness or palpitations
- High blood pressure
- Abdominal pain

Bonding with your baby

2009-05-27T16:34:00.008+01:00

yaBonding is the intense attachment that develops between parents and their babies. Bonding is a process that takes place soon after birth, when baby and parents are able to know each other and develop an “ attachment “.

The need of attachment is a physiological need that depends on the massive quantity of hormones released immediately after birth. In the specific, here are the hormones released by cells:

Oxytocin: about 30 minutes after birth, the level of oxytocin is very high especially when mother and baby share the first glances and it guarantees the establishment of the maternal behaviour and make mothers become attached to and nourish their baby immediately after birth;
Maternal adrenaline: is the hormone that makes birth sticked forever in mother’s mind and at the same time helps mothers to recognize every single signal of their newborn;
Foetal adrenaline: is the hormone that allows all the stimulations received after birth to be sticked in newborn’s mind;
Endorphin: it allows mothers to always remember birth as a very positive experience.
Prolactin: a peptide hormone primarily associated with lactation that stimulates the production of milk. Apart from this, it helps to develop the maternal instinct.

Many scientists have studied the development of the bonding in human beings and during the course of time, it has been highly demonstrated how it is possible to encourage or obstruct this process.
Granted that bonding is influenced by some aspects which are impossible to avoid ( parents’ characteristics, the type of birth, newborn and mother’s help ), there are some behaviours that favour the attachment between parents and baby. One of these consists in trying to hold the baby on the bare chest to promote a sense of protective closeness, especially soon after birth.

Touch is the first sense that baby develops inside the womb. During the 90 minutes subsequent to birth, baby is in a state of strong attention in which she can perceive what’s happening around her, especially through touch. For this reason, it is extremely important that, during the 2 hours immediately after birth, mother and baby have a skin-to-skin contact. Obviously, this contact can’t be possible if the health conditions of mother and baby don’t allow it, especially if there is the need of doing urgent medical surveys. Sometimes, it happens that newborn babies are put into heated cribs and they are entrusted to the care of doctors and nurses; or, it can happen that mothers are not able to hold baby in their arms. In this case, the best thing to do is to let the father take care of the baby which is very important as it is the first contact he has ever had with her.Studies have shown that if parents remain alone with the newborn, there is a higher chance for her to stop crying quicker.

Another sense highly developed in newborn is olfaction and at the beginning, both mother and baby use this sense to recognize each other. The first milk product, colostrum, smells like the amniotic fluid and the newborn feels safe just like he was inside the womb.
An essential factor to encourage bonding is breastfeeding soon after birth. Indeed, breastfeeding raises the immune defenses in babies and increases the quantity of oxytocin and prolactin released in mothers.

Even if the sight is reduced, newborns use sight to perceive what’s around them. Newborns’ eyes can only focus up to a distance of 17/30 cm, enough to focus the face of the parents who’s holding him. At the beginning, newborns are attracted by round, dark objects, as for example, mother and father’s eyes.

Hearing is also very important for bonding. A newborn quickly learns to recognize mom’s voice and as a related effect, he tries to get her attention by crying.

Some scientist have studied the development of bonding in animals and studied have shown that if the offspring is taken away from the mother and then reunited to her, she will refuse him.

Obviously, for human beings things are different: in fact, bonding and attachment and all the relationships related to them can take place later on too, without any consequence on parent-baby’s relationship. There will be many other occasions to cradle the baby, take her for a walk in the stroller, feeding her, rock her or just live special moments with her, such as bath, feeding time and nappy changing.

And what about you? Did you feel an overwhelming rush of love when your baby was first placed in your arms or you developed an attachement only later on?
We are curious to know more about your experience!

Rooming-in

2009-05-22T13:25:00.005+01:00

After birth, the baby is often removed from the mother not considering that most of the interactions that will affect the newborn’s life are in close relation with the time he will spend with his mum.

An early mother-infant contact will positively affect the relationship between them, the maternal attachment process, the success of breastfeeding and above all it will strengthen the capacity to face stressing situations.
Furthermore, the mother with her bacteria will facilitate a bacterial colonization, vital for the baby to defend himself against diseases.

What is rooming-in?

Rooming-in is the practice whereby a mother stays with her newborn throughout the period of her postnatal hospital stay. Rooming-in has proved to hold psychological benefits and it promotes greater bonding giving the mother the opportunity to learn and develop confidence in feeding and caring for her new baby.

Mother and baby are separated only to allow nurses and doctors to give the baby the necessary medical assistance she needs but at the same time they have also the greatest task to do not be too intrusive and let the mother feel free to show her personal emotions after birth.

It is extremely important that the mother is given proper support by nurses when she is welcoming the baby with the right discretion and attention especially if specific clinical conditions of both mother and infant don’t allow the mother to take care autonomously of her baby.

According to a wider meaning of Rooming-in it is possible to include in the same room the dad and other family members so that if the mother needs some rest they can hold and take care of the baby.

Positive aspects

Undoubtedly, the practice of Rooming-in allows to carry out the close symbiosis that lasted 9 months and that both mother and infant need to be in contact with each other since the very beginning.

Furthermore, taking care of her baby as soon as possible means for the mother to familiarize with the daily problems (sucking, breastfeeding, nappy changing, etc..) and face them easily also counting on the precious help of nurses.
A further positive aspect of Rooming-in is the possibility to count on the maternal instinct to promptly recognize a possible newborn’s neonatal adaptation syndrome and any signs of possible pathologies. In this way, it would be possible to promptly intervene.

Moreover, Rooming-in is proved to be a valid organizational pattern to encourage breastfeeding in particular the so called “on demand” that means feeding the baby whenever she is hungry.
In doing so the need to assume additional liquids apart from mother’s milk reduces considerably and it may represent an occasion to establish a deep mutual relation between mother and infant.

How long should the Rooming-in last for?

Every mother is free to decide whether to practice the Rooming-in and its length; indeed no rules from medical staff are actually imposed in this respect.

It is also scientifically proven that the more time the baby spends with her mum, the less the infant is confused by different sensory stimulus: just enough to think that newborn babies have a overdeveloped sense of smell (they recognize mum’s and maternal milk smell) and a restricted field of vision of 20/30 cm that actually is the distance between mum and baby’s eyes when she is attached to breast.

“Open nursery”: a valid alternative

A valid alternative to Rooming-in may be the "open nursery": it means that nursery’s rooms become accessible at any moment to mums and dads who can enjoy a prolonged contact with their baby.

The "open nursery" allows first-time parents to get the proper experience and practice in taking care of their baby as regards hygiene, umbilical cord treatment, breastfeeding and so on along with nurses and doctors’ support.
In addition, this practice also allows the mother to have some rest and a moment to dedicate to her family whenever she desires.

Exanthematous diseases in children

2009-05-21T09:05:00.009+01:00

Exanthematous diseases are infectious diseases having as a prominent feature a skin rash, apart from other symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever (the thermometer can measure up to 40° C). They are highly contagious diseases and they are very common among people who don’t have a developed immune system, that is children. Exanthematous diseases are spread through respiration especially in places attended by children, such as nurseries and schools. Usually exanthematous diseases are not dangerous and can be easily cured, but paradoxically, they become dangerous if the contagion happens in adulthood because they can bring numerous complications.

Among exanthematous diseas in children the most common are measles, chickenpox, scarlet fever and rubella. For some of those diseases, vaccination is available to protect children from the contagion.

Measles

It is an infection of the respirastory system caused by a virus, specifically paramyxovirus and is highly contagious. The infection has an average incubation of two weeks, after that, the so called pre-exanthematous period starts in the form of tiny red spots that, starting from the face and the neck, quickly spreads to cover most of the body. There is no specific therapy to cure measles, the only thing to do is to keep the child in the cot, and give him medicines to soothe, somehow, fever and cough. Children affected by measles have to eat light food, drink plently of liquids and assume Vitamin C. Measles, even though is an exanthematous disease and not dangerous, can bring various complications such as encephalitis, pneumonia and corneal scarring. But a vaccine is available and it can be somministrated to young babies too and it’s really helping to reduce the diffusion of this disease.

Chickenpox

It is caused by Varicella Zoster virus. Chickenpox han an incubation of two or three weeks and during this period, it’s not contagious. It generally starts with a vesicular skin rash appearing in two or three waves and fever. The tiny spots that appear after three or four days become itchy raw pockmarks, small open sores which heal mostly without scarring. Even in this case, a pharmacological therapy only helps to relieve the symptoms: for instance, it is possible to give paracetamol for the fever or an antihistaminic for the itch. The virus stays in the body and it can spread again ( usually in adulthood ) in the form of the so called Herpes Zoster. Vaccination is available for children from 12 month onwards.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with GROUP A streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria make this toxin (poison) that can cause scarlet-colored rash from which this illness gets its name. The bacterial infection that cause scarlet fever is contagious. A child who has scarlet fever can spread the bacteria to others through nasal and throat fluids by sneezing or coughing or it can be passed through contact with the skin. The infection has an average incubation of 3 – 4 days, after that, there is a phase in which symptoms start appearing: a child with scarlet fever may have chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. The rash is the most striking sign of scarlet fever. It usually begins looking like a bad sunburn with tiny bumps and it may itch. The scarlet fever rash usually fades on the sixth day after sore throat symptoms began and the infection itself is usually cured with a 10 day course of antibiotic but it may take a few weeks for tonsils to return to normal.

Rubella

Rubella- commonly known as German measles – is an infection that primarly affects the skin and lymph nodes. It is caused by Rubella virus ( not the same virus that causes misleas ). It has an average incubation of two or three weeks. Rubella infection may begin with one or two days of mild fever and swallen, tender lymph nodes, usually in the back of the neck or behind the ears. A rash then appears that begin on the face and spreads downward. Rubella is not a dangerous disease and it fades spontaneously after a couple of days. When Rubella occurs in pregnant woman, it may cause congenital rubella syndrome with potentially devastating consequences for the developing fetus. To avoid this risk, it is highly advisable for young women to get vaccinated in case they haven’t been affected by the infection before puberty.

Other exanthematous diseases in children are Fourth disease, Fifth disease and Roseola.

Exanthematous diseases are very common among children and, properly cured, they don’t cause permanent consequences. The right thing to do is to seek medical advice immediately in order to have all the information you need to make your child better.

If you have experience regarding this matter and you want to share it with other mothers, just write us!

Help! My baby won't eat!

2009-05-15T14:23:00.006+01:00

Lots of babies, once they have reached the age of 1 year, go through a critical stage in which they refuse to eat. This makes parents worrying and drives them to seek help to specialists in educational psychology dynamics.

Indeed, mums get seriously worried when their babies start to refuse food and transform meal time in real food fights especially if they have always eaten heartily overcoming the weaning time smoothly.

Why does she refuse to eat?

During its first year, every child triples its weight: this is a growth rhythm that has no equal in life.
It is logical that in order to meet such a huge calories requirements, the baby will always eat heartily seldom refusing the baby bottle.
From the first year on, growth starts to assume a slower pace, calories requirements diminish and consequently the amount of food the baby needs diminishes as well.
The baby will naturally eat less and you, like any other mother, will inevitably start to worry about your child’s health.

Food’s refusal is a problem that goes far beyond the change in the baby’s growth pace: indeed it may depend on many different reasons such as baby’s age, emotional condition and attitude.
Nutrition is indeed where the baby reflects her inner emotions of life and consequently the parent-son relationship. That means that often at the root of lack of appetite there may be a child’s desire to communicate an intimate trouble that parents must meet properly.

Just think about that baby’s nutrition starts soon after birth with breastfeeding that takes on a special significance: in its first months the newborn is used to have mother’s milk while she holds him in a safe hug.
When this close intimate relationship ceases, food’s acceptance or refusal may takes on important psychological meanings.
Meal time has to be a joyful moment as the breastfeeding was: it is necessary thou to create an atmosphere of confidence and avoid to make those mistakes that risk to compromise the moment of meal.

Another reason that may lead the baby to refuse the food is a overly concerned family that convey anxious emotions and feelings.
Indeed, mealtime is not only aimed at nutrition itself but the moment in which mother and baby have an important and delicate relational exchange and the baby absorbs all the emotions that parents convey.
No needs to say that a hungry baby who eats everything her mum cooks, gives mother a great sense of satisfaction and acceptance of her role.
In order to satisfy this need to feel approved, mother may risk to give meal time excessive importance. Indeed, since babies also communicate their feelings with food, it is highly probable that they refuse to eat to show a discomfort when a negative behaviour of their parents occurs.
Children clearly perceive if their mother is concerned about meal time and they may feel so annoyed that they refuse even to sit at the table for this reason.

In this case, the best approach may be that mother learns to recognize and respect her baby’s refusals and to understand that she, as anyone else, may have her personal tastes.

Here is some specific suggestions:

- Use natural products in your cooking according to the time you have at your disposal and what is available on the market in that season. A home-made food is the greatest gesture of love.
- During the first months, do not force your baby to eat. It is not necessary that weaning starts the 6th month and a slight delay will not affect your baby’s overall nutritional contribution.
- Once the weaning time has started, pay attention to respect your baby’s needs complying with her tastes and feeling of satiety. Coaxing or forcing her will just have the opposite effect.
- Make your baby sit in a comfortable position so that the food is within reach.
- Get her used to a more diversified diet even though she doesn’t seem to accept positively the change. In this particular period, most of the babies tend to require always the same kind of food and then suddenly abandon it for what they have always refused.
- If mealtimes are pleasant your child may begin to eating with all the other family members. It may be useful to sit at the table all together. Try to offer your child a spoon of your food and let her play with it.

Expecting twins

2009-05-13T14:49:00.011+01:00

If you are expecting twins and don't know what to expect, you are not alone. Many women pregnant with twins have no idea what to expect, but that doesn't mean they - and you - can't learn. So here is some information to help you understand what's happening when you're expecting twins.

Pregnancy and Birth

About 1 out of 3 expectant women give birth to twins.
The factors that cause a twin pregnancy are very difficult to establish. But some of them increase the possibility of twin deliveries.

1. Hereditary predisposition
2. Women’s age: the older a woman’s age, the greater is the chance to give birth to twins. In particular, you are more likely to become pregnant with twins naturally when you are in your 30s and 40s.
3. Some medicines, such as gonadotropin and clomephene, utilized to cure some forms of sterility.

Twin birth is an overwhelming event that fill parents’ heart with joy but, at the same time, it brings major difficulties to the mother. These difficulties appear during early pregnancy that also carry greater risk than singleton pregnancy. This is inevitable because human beings, compared to other mammals, normally give birth only to one foetus and twin birth is considered an exception. Moreover, symptoms such as nausea and morning sickness are accentuated. As twin pregnancy is actually a particular pregnancy, it is advisable to seek extra guidance in a specialized antenatal clinic for multiple pregnancy, without abandoning the trusted gynaecologist that represents a very important support in this special moment. Anyway, twin pregnancy doesn’t have to be considered only as a troubled pregnancy but simply as a delicate pregnancy that has to be faced with particular caution.

Breastfeeding and nappy changing

Soon after the birth of twins, a mother needs absolute rest. From now on, she must concentrate all her energies towards the babies and it is essential for her to receive help from her partner or relatives. But breastfeeding is a task that is only up to her and in this case, it’s a very onerous task. The amount of milk that a mother can produce is directly proportional to the newborns’ request and when they are two, mother’s commitment is doubled. Twins have to be fed at the same time in order to synchronize their feeding time. It is advisable to feed twins contemporaneously even if only one baby is demanding it and it is extremely important to alternate the breasts, because most of the time, one is fuller than the other one. Usually, even if the fatigue is double, there is no problem at all in breastfeeding twins. Problems come when babies are more than two! In that case, commitment increases in an exponential way and a woman apart from her family’s help, has to resort to bottle feeding. At this point, mixed feeding is the only solution but a mother will need a big help even just for preparing bottles because it requires a certain organization.
Twins eat together and consequently they will be changed together, as nappy changing is usually after feeding. If the mother can count on help, babies can be easily changed at the same time. With regards to bathing, it is better to bath one baby at the time at least up to 1 year.

Sleep time

Since they eat together, twins usually falls asleep at the same time. But, especially during the first months, it is highly probable that they might wake up at night time one at the time. As a result, the mother may not be able to sleep 3 hours in a row. If that is the case, father’s help is absolutely essential. In any case, it is very important to reduce night feedings and avoid attaching babies to the breast every time they cry.
As they shared mom’s belly for nine months, during the first weeks of their lives, twins need to sleep together in the same cot in order for them to feel secure. After this period, they can start sleeping separately, but it is better to keep the cots next to each other.

Transportation

Transporting twins, especially with other siblings, may be very difficult and because of that, it is necessary to choose the more practical prams and pushchairs on the market in order to meet all the family’s needs. If parents go for a twin pushchair, it’s important to take the measurament of doors, lift and car boot to make sure the pushchair will fit smoothly. When it’s time to go for a walk, an ideal solution would be to transport one baby in the stroller and the other one in the baby carrier. When travelling in the car, twins has to be positioned one on the front seat and one on the back, always remembering to deactivate the air bag of the passenger seat.

When is the right time to wean your baby off her dummy?

2009-05-06T13:46:00.011+01:00

Mums and dads know very well how important the soother is in their baby’s life: from the first months onwards, a baby turns most of her attention to this object also showing particular interest. The reason is very simple: sucking satisfies the natural and primary need of nutrition and it’s an antidote against fear and feeling of loneliness, very common feelings for both newborns and toddlers.

The dummy reminds of the shape of mum’s nipple, allowing the baby, when the mother is not around, to soothe and comfort herself; it represents a valid psychological help as a sobstitute of the mother figure.

The dummy has the following positive effects:

It induces sleep;
It helps to relieve tension;
It makes the baby feel protected and secure;
It causes pleasure: in the period that starts from birth up to two years ( named “ oral phase “ by psychologists ), the mouth represents the main source of pleasure and the sucking is a valid way to explore the world around her.
By using a flat teat that adapts to the mouth’s roof, the risk of deformation is highly reduced.

Sooner or later, the moment in which a baby will have to abandon the dummy comes: sometimes, it is spontaneously abandoned by kids around 2 or 3 years of age ( usually within 4 years ), that is when a child becomes more self-confident and independent, but in general, it is absolutely impossible to establish when it’s the right moment to wean a baby off her dummy, because it depends on babies. In any case, it doesn’t have to be a sudden interruption because it will only cause the opposite reaction: baby will be obsessed by the idea of having lost a so important and essential thing and soon, she will replace the dummy with the thumb.

Advices to gradually wean your child off

The first and most important advice is to be very patience and understanding, avoiding hurry and strictness. A good tactic is to show the child a tiny box or a proper dummy holder in which he can keep the dummy in order to use it only in particular moments. From now on, the dummy will be given only if requested ( for instance, at sleep time ).
Other tactic is to propose the child to give the dummy to his favourite baby toy that needs it more because it’s still a baby.
A more drastic remedy, more incisive is to associate the detachment to a proper ritual, like for example, throwing it into the sea, into a lake or into a river, or simply giving it to someone as a very important gift.
Moreover, another valid tactic is to set a limit to the use of the dummy in specific situation ( for example when the mother is not around ) or focus the attention on other activities that babies are not able to do with the dummy ( like singing ).
Apart from the tactic chosen, the mistake to avoid is to concentrate too much on “ the dummy matter “ even because the abandonment of the dummy has to take place only when babies feel psychologically ready to avoid inducing them to start sucking the thumb, with negative consequences for the mouth roof and teeth.

Come and find out the fabulous products of Baby Più for your baby! Only at Bimbomarket!

2009-04-28T13:25:00.003+01:00

Baby Più creates early childhood articles and accessories with exclusive design, first choice fabrics and great care tailoring.
Timeless products, especially designed for you and your baby, will amaze you thanks to their beauty and particular nature, like for instance the elegant and fine cribs, made of wicker and wood or the bedding sets with bumbers for cots.

Let’s find out together the beautiful Frugolo crib with veil made of wicker, well-finished and elegant, especially created for your newborn baby: wheel crib to easily move it around the room, it includes latex mattress, pillow, veil, cushion bumpers, coating and duvet.
And what about the soft and cute Baby Più bedding sets?
Frugolo duvet set, for example, comfortable and cosy, is the best solution to protect and warm your baby up during winter time. Removable and washable lining, characterized by soft and hypoallergenic paddings to allow your baby to sleep peacefully, comfortably and safely. Frugolo duvet set includes sheet, pillowcase, cot bumpers and soft padded duvet.

We are waiting for you on www.bimbomarket.it/gb/en/ to find out together all the amazing Baby Più products!

Thanks to the innovative Chicco products, baby food will always be ready! Only at Bimbomarket!

2009-04-23T16:53:00.002+01:00

Finally the nice weather has come and there is not better occasion to organize family trips with your little ones!
For special occasions such as these ones, Chicco has created two products, essential in your baby’s life! We are talking about the Stay Warm Thermal Feeding Bottle Holder made of stainless steel and the Feeding Bottle Warmer Stay Warm Home + plug for cigarette lighter socket.

With the first one you will be able to keep baby milk in the feeding bottle warm, indeed it has been specifically designed to fit all Chicco feeding bottles of the Easy Feed, Simply Fun and Well-Being ranges into the appropriate plastic protection and keep the food warm up to 5 hours. By removing the internal protection, it can be used as a normal flask for hot and cold solid food or cool drinks. The base, in non-slip material, helps to avoid accidental spillages from the feeding bottle holder.

With the Feeding Bottle Warmer Stay Warm Home + plug for cigarette lighter socket you can prepare feeding bottles and blanded food at the ideal temperature for the child’s meal easily and in a few minutes, both at home and when travelling. During the warm-up process a red light will turn on if it’s electric-powered, a green one if the bottle warmer is plugged into the cigarette lighter socket of the car. The best solution to have baby food and bottles ready wherever you are!

Come and find out these amazing products on www.bimbomarket.it/en, where you can find many other products of the best brands at the best prices as well.

Get ready to go!

2009-04-21T12:08:00.001+01:00

Bimbomarket takes care of your baby’s first journeys with a wide choice of products!

There is no special caution for mums and dads to take when they are organizing a journey with their baby: what is important is choosing a destination that suits your baby’s needs and getting everything ready on time before leaving.

Bimbomarket’s catalogue stocks a wide choice of products for a child-suitable journey to make it even more pleasant and safer.

The Giordani Mignon Basic travel cot is the perfect match between handiness and comfort. It is practical, compact, lightweight and easy to fold and assemble. It comes with a handy carrier bag to carry it everywhere and a two side padded mattress: upper side with padded cotton and lower side with rigid fabric. Its dimensions (when open cm 125 x 63 x 78 when closed 23 x 20 x 83) guarantee a maximum handiness.

When you are eating out, you can’t do without the Stay Warm Thermal Food Container in stainless steel that allows you to keep baby’s food always warm. The 2 x 250 ml containers are suitable for storing a complete meal, allowing you to keep blended food, broths and baby food warm inside the food container for 5 hours.
At the end of the weaning period, the stainless steel container can also be used as a thermos flask to carry hot or cold solid food or cool drinks.

The Stay Warm Thermal Food Container complies with EU standards EN 12546 just like any other baby products for meal time that Bimbomarket proposes in its catalogue.

New Phil&Teds Vibe stroller: the only one that offers 4 solutions in 1! Find it out on Bimbomarket!

2009-04-17T14:06:00.002+01:00

Bimbomarket the leading online megastore for baby products is proud to present all its faithful customers a fantastic news!

In our catalogue you will find a stroller that will literally revolutionize the life of all the families with two children with a small age gap. Phil&Teds Vibe stroller was born to adapt to your family’s life!

This innovative stroller actually evolves with your growing family and it follows you especially when another brother or sister arrives. Vibe is modern, stylish and versatile, well designed and practical.

The features include: lightweight aluminium frame, a multi-position reclining backrest (fully adjustable seat angles from upright to totally lie-flat), soft, washable, waterproof fabric, extra padded seat, flat folding, ultra compact lockable swivel front wheel and steering system.
But the real novelty is indeed the second seat that will allow you to carry two children together just in one solution.
Indeed, if the second seat is used on the front of pushchair it can hold up to 25 kg; instead if the second seat is used in the rear and lower position can hold up to 15kg.

Come and visit our web site to find out this new Phil&Teds Vibe stroller and many other baby products at an unbeatable price!

Momma is the new protagonist on Bimbomarket!

2009-04-17T13:23:00.003+01:00

Innovation, technology, movement and colour. mOmma is a revolutionary line of baby products that encourages babies to discover their surroundings with unique products in terms of innovation, shape, movement and colour, thus transforming each moment of your baby’s day into a moment of growth and pleasure.

Momma products range from the Roly-Poly, whose movement is one of babies’ favourite games, it entertains them during mealtime and stimulates their reactivity and concentration, to high chairs, changing bags, useful for busy parents.

On www.bimbomarket.it/en , you can find all the latest releases from Momma such as Easy high chair, maximum comfort and ease of use thanks to the handy reclining backrest which makes it perfect for both eating and resting; Travel Chair table seat that can be easily fitted to most tables and it turns out to be very handy when you are away from home and Up’N Down booster seat that can be adapted to the various needs of baby and it is suitable for standard as well as non-standard tables and it’s perfectly comfortable and safe for babies.
Momma is also Go! Backpack and Style changing bag to facilitate feeding and hygiene of babies and toddlers.

On Bimbomarket you can find out about all Momma products: style, handiness and originality to transform each moment into a moment of growth in total safety.

On Bimbomarket 2 new products for your baby’s relax!

2009-04-07T16:44:00.001+01:00

Bimbomarket’s online catalogue is growing fast!
From today on be ready to find something completely new and exciting on our catalogue: Makeridea’s new collection of baby products, a fast-growing company established in 1997.

Among mums’ most appreciated products there is the innovative Cullababy rocking device easy to install and suitable for all the cots to rock your baby until she falls asleep. It doesn't require a particular fitting system. You only have to remove 2 of the 4 wheels of the cot on the opposite side of where the drawer opens to produce a swinging motion. Thanks to a microphone, it immediately picks up baby's cry and starts the swinging.

Makeridea has also conceived the colourful Baby Walker 3 in 1 to entertain your baby: equipped with an electronic toy and a washable seat! This walker is indeed one of the safest in its kind with a comfortable high back for baby's back protection, a system that slows down the wheels' speed and safety wheels to prevent the baby from falling down the stairs or overturning while she is walking.
Finally it can easily become a rocking chair!

Come and find out all these new Makeridea products on our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/

Check your baby with the new Makeridea baby monitors you can now find on Bimbomarket.

2009-04-06T16:38:00.002+01:00

Bimbomarket is happy to introduce Makeridea new babyphone and babymonitor to stay in contact with your baby all the time.

Bimbomarket, the leading online megastore for baby products, enriches its baby monitor catalogue with Makeridea products, introducing “babymonitor” and “babyphone” , 2 valid and safe instruments to check on your baby all the time.

Makerideas baby monitors are compatible with any cot on ther market and they catch every single noise in your baby’s room and in case she starts crying, a curtesy nightlight will activate automatically.

Thanks to babymonitor and babyphone, no interfearence at all: 8 channels that can be selected. It operates with batteries to make it more practical. Babyphone includes a practical handset; 350 m range.

Makeridea babymonitor combined with “dondolino” device allows you to activate the device to rock your baby to sleep and sooth her if she cries.

Thanks to Bimbomarket and Makeridea products you don’t have to worry because you are sure to have the best for your baby.

A new highchair is coming: Tatamia, the multipurpose all in one baby seat!

2009-04-06T11:15:00.003+01:00

Peg Perego has just launched a new multipurpose highchair.

This amazing baby seat is so much more than a highchair, it will simplify your house by replacing three pieces of gear to meet every phase and needs of a child’s life from newborn to toddler.

For newborns, Tatamia will be a comfortable bouncer with reclining backrest and footrest to offer the baby protection and comfort. It quickly converts from swing to baby bouncer to cradle the baby and it is equipped with a special hooking system in the seat unit that allows you to recline it.
For meal time, it becomes a practical and clean highchair with a wide, spacious, padded seat covered in soft easy to wash eco-leather. Wide tray, 5 point safety strap and anatomic front bar strap that retains your baby in complete safety. Tatamia is undoubtedly one of the safest highchair in its kind.
For toddlers, it can be used as a chair that will allow your child to seat at table with his family. Indeed, up to 3 years Tatamia will follow your child during meal time but you can easily remove the tray and make it a comfortable chair to use with the passing of time.

Tatamia has 9 different height positions, can be easily folded into a compact unit that requires very little space but above all it has 4 wheels to move it all around your house.

Come and visit our web site to find out this amazing Peg Perego highchair and many other products of the best brands!

Your baby always close to you thanks to Graco iMonitor!

2009-03-31T11:29:00.002+01:00

On Bimbomarket, here’s the most advanced baby monitor to always keep an eye on your baby.

Monitors have come a long way and the iMonitor video vibe digital baby monitor is the most advanced way to stay in clear, constant contact with the little person you want to see and hear from most.
Thanks to the exclusive vibe technology, it makes Baby's naptime more relaxing for Mom too: this vibration feature frees you up to do housework, listen to music, work out, or even nap, knowing you'll always be able to feel when your baby wants you.

And, thanks to advanced, 100% digitally encoded technology, you can see and hear your baby with crystal clear digital picture and sound clarity; with complete privacy. The high resolution, 6 cm colour video screen has real-time digital zoom for a clear, up-close view, the camera has night vision for a clear picture even in total darkness. Action range up to 180 m and high resistance to interferences thanks to WiFi technology. Power saving screen to prolong battery life.

Graco iMonitor is definitely the most advanced and safest system that allows you check on your baby and on Bimbomarket you can also find the explanatory video in order to make the most of this product.

On Bimbomarket, apart from Graco iMonitor, you can also find many other products: strollers, high chairs, car seats and all you need to help your child grow.

• High quality images and clean sound • Action range: up to 180 m • Vibration: to hear your baby • Total privacy • High resistance to interferences from WiFi • less than 1 second delay during transmission • 6cm colour monitor • Digital clock with alarm • Menu on the screen • Lights for sound level • Real time digital zoom

On Bimbomarket a new line of products is coming: "Built Baby" innovative and practical!

2009-03-25T16:46:00.001Z

Bimbomarket is glad to introduce a fantastic news to its faithful customers: the new line of "Built Baby" products!
These innovative products are practical, colourful and completely made from elastic neoprene (the wetsuit material) and water resistant nylon. They are also soft, easy to wash and free from vinyl or PVC but above all they insulate food and drink for up to 4 hours depending on external temperatures.

Let’s have a closer look at these products!
The Gourmet Getaway Lunch Tote, thanks to its linear design can keep snacks and bottles cool and when is empty it folds easily and takes up a minimum space! Perfect for your children’s trips or at school.
The Tidy Bib, made from soft , absorbent, easy to wash rubber, a waterproof under layer that avoid liquids from passing through and a fold down scoop bib to catch falling food!
The Cushy Tushy Changing Pad, specially designed to change your baby even in the most uncomfortable place! Its unique "T" shape will allow you to easily lie down your baby on every surfaces.
The Thirsty Tote can keep drinks cold and protects the baby bottle. Thanks to its special soft fabric it stretches to fit every models of baby bottles, juice boxes and sippy cups.

Come and visit our web site to find out the new collection of "Built Baby" products and many others of the best brands on the market.

The new Trio Chicco Scoop travel system has landed on Bimbomarket ! Come and find out!

2009-03-25T15:18:00.003Z

Bimbomarket is glad to introduce an absolute preview to all our customers: the latest Trio Scoop by Chicco at the unbeatable price of € 429!

On our web site, you will be able to choose your favourite one among 5 models: Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Chicco Trio Scoop travel system, compact and lightweight, has been designed to follow your baby’s growth from birth up to 3 years: in fact, it includes a carry cot, a lightweight pushchair and a car seat, all in one product!

The pushchair, with a fresh and modern design, is characterized by a wide and comfy seat that has a special head support and a padded, reclining backrest. Moreover, it has rear wheel suspensions, twin brakes and front swivel wheels.

The carry cot, thanks to the Click Clack system, can be fitted onto the frame with just one hand, it comes with a rigid plastic handle and a wind-proof hood.
Auto-Fix Plus car seat complies with Group 0+, is characterized by Ergos system, a special perspirant support cushion to help babies keep the right position and ensure maximum comfort.

But you haven’t heard the last of this! Let the wide range of accessories surprise you: footmuff, rain cover, shopping basket, matching changing bag inclusive of changing mat.

We are waiting for you on our web site to find out more about Chicco Trio Scoop travel system together!

On Bimbomarket, design meets functionality thanks to Inglesina Zuma high chair.

2009-03-17T16:29:00.003Z

On Bimbomarket find out the new Zuma High chair, the fusion between design and technology.

M’Home collection, that includes high chairs, bouncers and bath dressers, perfectly matches your house furnishings.

Among the high chair world, Zuma is the high chair that compliments the most modern lunch spaces. With good design at its heart, it offers the best practical and functional characteristics avaialble in today’s market. Zuma unites sophisticated design with technical excellence.

Zuma high chair is available in many colours, find out in the video the one that best suits your needs, to donate a bit of vivacity to your furnishings.

On Bimbomarket, the leading online megastore of infancy products, you can find Zuma and all the other Inglesina products such as strollers, car seats and many other accessories for your babies.
Find out about the other offers of Bimbomarket on www.bimbomarket.it/en , where you can find the best products of the best brands at the lowest price on the web!

Coming soon on Bimbomarket a fantastic news: the Foppapadretti Lu-Lu highchair!

2009-03-17T15:56:00.003Z

Thanks to the amazing Foppapadretti Lu-Lu highchair, meal time won’t be the same anymore!

This highchair is indeed an elegant masterpiece of function and design. Attractive, practical and innovative it is also very comfortable but above all Lu-Lu changes and lasts a lifetime! Lu-Lu has everything: design, top quality materials, it is ergonomic and strong and this helps guarantee excellent performances and exceptional duration.

Lu-Lu is both a chair and a highchair. The seat and the footrest can be adjusted to different heights, it is equipped with a practical handle on the back and front wheels to move it easily. But you haven’t heard the last of this! It complies with current European safety standards, it is provided with a 4 point harness and a reversible, non-toxic, washable padding.

Soon you will find this amazing product on our web site! Come and visit www.bimbomarket.it/en to find out about all our baby products at a special price!

Choose the handiness of the Giordani Mignon Basic travel cot! Find it out on Bimbomarket!

2009-03-10T16:39:00.001Z

Choosing the right travel cot is not easy at all: the market offers many different models for every taste and price.
Bimbomarket, the leading online megastore for baby products, proposes you a unique solution: the Giordani Mignon Basic Travel Cot suitable from birth until 4 years.

This amazing travel cot will allow your baby to quietly and safely sleep and play. The Mignon Basic Travel cot is practical, compact, light and easy to fold and assemble. Two side padded mattress included: upper side with padded cotton and lower side with rigid fabric. It is also equipped with a handy carrier bag to carry it everywhere and with a central leg for a maximum stability.

Come and visit our web site to find out this product and all the baby products of the best brands: Chicco, Brevi, Giordani and Peg Perego.

Summer is coming, let’s start playing!

2009-03-09T16:34:00.004Z

Summer has already arrived at Bimbomarket thanks to the amazing outdoor toys from Smoby: houses, slides and swimming pools to best entertain your child outside.

Fun, freedom and fantasy, but also safety and quality are the essential features of Smoby toys, especially designed to offer the possibility of freely playing outside stimulating your child’s fantasy, movements and socialization.

Roomy houses, completely accessorised and full of realistic details, slides for gardens and the funny pool full of colourful balls to spend exciting afternoons outside with your children. Made out of soft polyethylene, longlasting and easy to assemble, they will guarantee special moments to your children.

Bimbomarket, the leading online mega-store of baby products, it’s already thinking about summer time with its outdoor toys and the new collections of pushchairs, car seats and many other products to guarantee your child’s wellbeing!

Find out our online catalogue on www.bimbomarket.it/en and join our community of parents and experts on our blog or become a fan on our Facebook page .

A fantastic news on Bimbomarket web site: the Imse Vimse Washable Diapers!

2009-03-03T16:40:00.003Z

Bimbomarket, the leading online megastore for baby products is proud to present one of the mums’ most favourite product: the All in One Washable Diapers!

This innovative nappy has been created to be eco-friendly and careful to your baby’s wellness; its organic cotton guarantees a continuous perspiration compared with the standard disposable diapers that irritate the skin with their chemical components.

The Imse Vimse All in One Washable Diapers are practical, functional, do not need any extra covers, are ready to use and they will allow you to save money because you can use them again!
Its anatomic shape, the adjustable hook and loop closure, its soft and stretch fabric make it unique and easy to wear and take off. It is also made out of waterproof, but breathable outer fabric and of diaper soaker layers 100% certified organic cotton terry.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en to find out this product and all the baby products of the best brands: Chicco, Inglesina, Giordani and Peg Perego.

Bimbomarket thinks to your baby’s relax!

2009-02-24T16:49:00.002Z

Fisher Price 3 in 1 Rocker Swing at special price on Bimbomarket, the leanding online megastore of baby product.

If you want keep your baby always next to you and give her relaxing moments, we have the right solution for you: 3 in 1 Rocker Swing is not just a swing but it can become a bouncer or even a rocking chair for toddlers.
Since birth, 3 in 1 Rocking Swing allows your baby to satisfy her needs of cuddles and smiles, gently rocking her thanks to the 2 different swinging speeds that reproduce the natural movements of parents. 5 different melodies to soothe your baby. It can be used both as a chair or as a rocking chair.

Bimbomarket offers the comfortable and practical Fisher Price 3 in 1 Rocker Swing and many other products for babies such as pushchairs, high chairs, car seats, travel cots, toys and pregnancy product at a “ special price “.

Bimbomarket, a childproof world!

Give your baby sweet and relaxing moments with the Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing. Come and see it on Bimbomarket web site!

2009-02-24T15:11:00.003Z

Bimbomarket, the European leading online megastore for baby products, suggests you a wonderful idea that will make your baby happy!

The Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing will give your baby safe relaxing moments while your are doing housework.
The swing can rock the baby with to 2 different swinging movements and it soothes her with the wonders of aquatic sights and ocean sounds!
It is equipped with a wide back pocket to store all your baby's toys, of a colourful toy bar brightly coloured to stimulate baby's sight and touch, of music and sounds. You will be able to choose between 6 different speeds, 8 melodies and 3 sounds from the nature. The Acquario mobile included comes with 4 soft fluffy toys with relaxing lights.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/ to find out this and many other baby products at a special price!

BIMBOMARKET OUTLET: don’t miss the best brand at 60% discount!

2009-02-20T11:12:00.007Z

Bimbomarket, the European leading online megastore of baby products, has got a wonderful news for all its customers!
On our web site, we’ve just launched an Outlet department where you’ll find hundreds of products of the best brands at an amazing 60% discount!
Only for you, the fantastic opportunity to fulfil your wishes by purchasing lots of products for your baby with a reduction of 60%!

Visiting Bimbomarket Outelt, it will give you the possibilities of choosing your favourite products among all the products offered such as pushchairs, toys, car seats and many other articles. You’ll be able to ascertain how much money you’re actually saving, comparing the actual price with the outlet price: the discount, in fact, it has already been applied!.

Finally, you can purchase everything you like, combinig quality, realiability and convenience!
Hurry up! The discount are available only for limited stock, don’t miss this amazing opportunity!

Bimbomarket, a childproof world!

Bimbomarket presents the amazing collection of Graco swings

2009-02-17T12:04:00.002Z

Bimbomarket, the leading online megastore for baby products, suggests mothers a new solution: the Graco swings to give their baby playful and relaxing moments while they are doing housework.

All the Graco swings the Baby Delight, the Lovin’Hug, the Silhouette, the Sweetpeace and the Swing’n’Bounce are extremely safe and practical.
They all fold compactly, they allow the mother to easily lay the baby down and they have a washable seat cover. It is also possible to change both the swivelling speed both the seat position, they are equipped with padded seat belts to always make your baby feel safe and avoid him to fall.

You can choose the one that best meets your needs and taste: each one distinguishes for particular characteristics from a removable toy arch, a mobile with little puppets, the music or a calming vibration until the rocking movement that simulates the mother’s hug.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/ to find out all the amazing Graco swings and many other baby products at a special price!

Relax and fun are guaranteed with Fisher Price swings

2009-02-17T10:30:00.004Z

Give your baby cuddles, relax and fun thanks to Fisher Price swings on Bimbomarket.

Because parents often find their hands full with a new baby, a baby swing acts as a perfect "that extra pair". Safe and comfortable, a swing’s soothing motion can calm or entertain baby, depending on what your child needs at that moment.
Thanks to their colours, sound effects and different speed options, they ensure all your baby needs.

Bimbomarket, the widest online store of infant, children products and toys, offers in its catalogue 7 different types of swings, proposing different colours, game/colour combinations, speeds and prices. "2 in 1 Cradle swing"; "3 in 1 Rocker Swing", bouncer and swing suitable from birth up to 18 kg, now available at the special price of € 99; to stimulate your baby’s imagination you can choose among "Ocean Wonder Aquarium Cradle Swing" to entertain your baby with funny "water shows"; the full-optional "Sensory Program" thanks to its colours, lights and toys, stimulates your baby’s sight, hearing and touch in many different ways and at the end, "Rainforest Jumperoo", it ro
tates 360° and allows your baby to explore the activity centre by reaching all the toys around her, playing with the forest characters.

Fisher Price swings and toys are available on www.bimbomarket.it/en/ web site with many other infancy products. Pushchairs, cribs, car seats, high chairs, products for hygiene and bath time, nursery furniture and appliances to cook your baby’s food of the best brands such as Chicco, Inglesina, Brevi, Giordani and many more, with offers and promotions especially thought for mothers and their baby’s wellbeing!

Bimbomarket presents the new amazing highchair Slex!

2009-02-09T16:52:00.002Z

Bimbomarket, the leading online mega store for baby products, presents the colourful and original collection of Brevi Slex highchairs.

Slex is the innovative highchair that brings your child closer to his family life from the first months and stimulates growth by encouraging interaction. With the new highchair Slex your child can finally eat at the table and sit at the same level as the adults to grow up safe and curious.

This innovative multi position feeding chair can be adjusted according to your baby’s needs and height constantly guarantying a natural and correct posture of his backbone, neck and shoulders. The footrest is adjustable and removable to ensure correct foot support and for a more comfortable rest.
But you haven’t heard the last of this! Slex will follow your child in every phase of his growth and it will quickly transforms into a comfortable chair whether for reading or relaxing.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/ to find out this and many others amazing baby products from the best brands Chicco, Peg Perego and Giordani.

Meal time at special price on Bimbomarket

2009-02-09T15:10:00.001Z

Brevi multi-functional food processor “ Viva la Pappa “ in a fantastic offer on Bimbomarket.it!

Making delicacies and meals for your baby has never been so easy and convenient! On Bimbomarket.it, the food processor “ Viva la Pappa “, designed to make and warm up baby food, is now available at the special price of € 99. All the functionalities, necessary to help mothers and fathers to make baby food, can be found in this unique product.
Using Brevi “ Viva la Pappa “ is easy and intuitive. You only need to close the lid and push the on/off button to start cooking and reduce food preparation time. It steam cooks to guarantee the best hygiene, it’s quinck and keeps intact all the nutritional values. It allows to blend and liquidize in a simple and practical way. The processor is separated from the boiler for an independent use. The blade unit is incorporated for maximum safety. Thanks to the practical jar holder, it is possible to defrost or warm up baby and other foods and preserve their tastes and nutritive values. Brevi food processor is one of the many products sold at special price on Bimbomarket.

On www.bimbomarket.it/en/ you can find all the products you need to take care of your baby: pushchairs, car seats, Trio travel systems, high chairs, cots, nursery forniture and toys of the best brands.

Thanks to the new Bimbomarket cot linen sets, quality is in the norm!

2009-02-04T10:06:00.002Z

Bimbomarket, the first online megastore of baby products, apart from offering a wide range of product of the best brands such as Chicco, Peg Perego, Brevi and Giordani, is welcome to introduce you our Bimbomarket amazing products.

An example? The wonderful cot linen set and other accessories for the cot, especially designed thinking about your baby’s wellbeing!
Come and find out about this soft cot set inclusive of: duvet, duvet cover, 2 sheets and 2 pillow cases, all exclusively 100% cotton! Or the linen set, to gently embrace your baby.
But you haven’t heard the last of this! Among Bimbomarket products you will find lots of accessories for your baby’s cot, such as soft padded cot bumpers or cot reducer to be positioned inside the cot during the first months to prevent your baby from hurting himself while sleeping.

Let Bimbomarket products win over you; your baby will feel comfortable and safe.

Visit www.bimbomarket.it/en/, on our catalogue you’ll find many other products of the best brands at the best price!

Bimbomarket presents the new collection Chicco Trio Enjoy Evolution!

2009-01-27T12:28:00.001Z

Thanks to the new Chicco strollers Trio Enjoy Evolution, your baby will feel safe until 3 years old!

On Bimbomarket web site, the leading online megastore for baby products, you will be able to choose among many light, modern and colourful models of Trio Enjoy Evolution.
This amazing travel system is made of a particular technical resistant fabrics and it is composed by the stroller, the carrycot in polifill thermotec padding and the car seat that complies with ECE R44/04 for Group 0+.
The stroller has a removable backrest that can be fixed to the frame, inserted into the fabric and attached to the arm rest. The aluminium frame makes it practical and easy to handle. The Trio Enjoy Evolution is a full optional stroller inclusive of shopping basket, winter/summer canopy, foot muff, rain cover and changing bag inclusive of changing mat.
The car seat that comes with this travel system is the innovative Synthesis XT-PLUS suitable from birth until 13 kg. The side absorbers will give your baby the best protection in case of accident.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/ to find out this amazing offer and many other baby products at a special price!

Chicco Trio 4ME travel system: all the comfort from Chicco on Bimbomarket catalogue!

2009-01-26T13:39:00.001Z

The practical and comfortable Chicco travel system among the offers of Bimbomarket online catalogue.

The comfort, practicality and versatility of travel systems that include carry cot, stroller and car seat. Chicco strollers are in Chicco Trio 4ME travel systems as well, available on Bimbomarket, the first online megastore of baby products.

Chicco Trio 4ME Completo travel system, follows your baby’s growth from birth up to 3 years: special attention to details that only mothers can give. The travel system includes: a carry cot as comfortable as a crib; Group 0+ car seat, suitable from birth up to 13 kg and a stroller with 5 position reclining back rest and the exclusively reversible seat unit.
To the above mentioned features, Chicco Trio 4ME Full-Optional travel system add, included in the price, the essential Kit Trio Car to safely anchor the carry cot on the seat to transport your newborn baby. Both travel systems are inclusive of accessories such as rain cover, Mommy bag and Kit Comfort.
To find out about all offers on travel systems and Chicco strollers, you only have to visit www.bimbomarket.it/en/ or call our customer service team at the number 0039 06 40 04 28 62.

Bimbomarket offers quality , practicality and convenience thanks to promotions and unbeatable offers to all our customers!

An amazing news on Bimbomarket web site: the new Giordani Free stroller!

2009-01-15T12:04:00.002Z

Bimbomarket presents the new lightweight Giordani Free stroller.

Just for you, new amazing models characterized by a modern look with great attention given even to the smallest details.

Free Stroller has been designed to meet your needs both in the city both when travelling. The stroller is equipped with an easy and quick umbrella folding and unfolding system and thanks also to the strap you will be able to hold it in extreme comfort. 5 points harness, adjustable backrest, removable cover thanks to the zip, wheels with suspensions and aluminium frame to guarantee the maximum lightness while walking. But you haven’t heard the last of this! You will be amazed by the accessories included: a wide shopping basket, the rain cover and the carry bag.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/ to find out this amazing news and many other baby products at a special price!

Find out about Giordani GX Compact stroller on Bimbomarket

2009-01-13T13:50:00.001Z

Bimbomarket proposes in itscatalogue the new lightweight and practical Giordani GX Compact stroller.

The right stroller is an essential helper of all mothers during teir babies’ growth.
Bimbomarket , the biggest on-line shop with the widest range of baby products, is happy to propose you Giordani GX Compact stroller.
The famnous italian brand has designed a lightweight stroller that satisfies both mother and baby’s needs. Big wheels, adjustable height handle bar and inclusive of footmuff and rain cover. Giordani GX Compact is an essential product to take care of your baby. Designed to satisfy the needs of busy mothers that have to move in a practical and quick way, GX Compact also has a sporty and modern look.

Suitable from 0 to 36 months.
Maximum weight: 15 kg
Dimensions when open: cm 101 x 90 x 50
Dimensions when folded: cm 95 x 39 x 50

On Bimbomarket web site, you can find all Giordani collection and many more products: car seats, high chairs, travel system and toys of the best brands.

By visiting http://www.bimbomarket.it/en or by calling our customer service at 0039 06 40 04 28 62 you’ll be able to find out about all our offers and promotions.

2008-12-23T14:38:00.000Z

Make your child happy with "My Interactive Winnie The Pooh", only at Bimbomarket!

2008-12-18T16:30:00.000Z

Bimbomarket, the first online megastore of baby products, is happy to introduce you a cute gift for your child, to put under the Christmas tree: "My Interactive Winnie The Pooh" from Fisher Price.

This soft bear is a fluffy toy that operates thanks to the child's touch: it's included of a sensory device that will understand when your child wants to play.
Pooh moves and swings backwards and frontwards while sings one of the its 3 funny songs and, at the same time, it encourages your child to do the same thing. A cute toy, safe and stimulating that will entertain your child with songs, making him happy and comfortable.

Visit www.bimbomarket.it/en/, lots of offers and promotions are waiting for you!

At Christmas choose Baby Trainer Ergo Gym as a present for your child

2008-12-16T09:12:00.001Z

This Christmas Bimbomarket proposes you a fantastic offer: Chicco Baby Trainer Ergo Gym!

Give your baby a funny and unforgettable Christmas with this stimulating and dynamic activity center!

Thanks to its adjustable structure, Chicco Baby Trainer offers 4 play positions that adapt to every different phases of child growth and the adjusting joint system allows different configurations: gym, baby seat, activity mat and table-panel for older babies.

All the activities are accompanied by lights and melodies that can be activated by your baby’s feet and hands movement.

To help your baby grow in the most funny way buy him as a present the Chicco Baby Trainer Ergo Gym! or choose between many different dynamic and interactive toys on Bimbomarket catalogue.
At Christmas you will find many special offers at incredible prices on “Top Products” and more that 20% discount on many other toys and baby products.

Come and find out how your Christmas can be special: visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/

Make your baby’s Christmas amazing with Baby Jogging! Find it out on Bimbomarket web site!

2008-12-11T11:00:00.000Z

Bimbomarket the online leader store in baby products presents the amazing gift idea to put under your Christmas tree this year!

Baby Jogging is the new toy of the Ergo Gym Line of products by Chicco born from the efforts of ergonomics experts to satisfy the motor and sensory needs of the youngest babies.

Baby Jogging helps your baby to move its first steps in complete safety. The toy offers 6 different positions that adapt to each baby's build always allowing a natural and correct posture. Every step that your baby takes is accompanied by lights and melodies. Depending on its pace's speed, the lights progressively enlighten and the rhythm of melody increases or diminishes.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/. You will find out many fabulous offers at special prices for a magic Christmas!

A wonderful Christmas with Bimbomarket !

2008-12-10T13:35:00.001Z

With Fun 2 Learn 2 in 1 Learning Cash Register, playtime becomes real, instructive and convenient !

Are you bored of the same toys ? Are you looking for a toy that stimulates your child’s imagination, that helps your baby to learn numbers and letters at the same time ?
Fun 2 Learn 2 in 1 Learning Cash Register is exactly what you’re looking for !
One side encourages maths skills with numbers, counting and addition. Flip the tab to shop for letters, colours and matching. Use the scanner for role-play fun or a fast-paced game as you load up, your cart, enjoy music, sounds and surprises, and learn !
All Fisher Price toys are designed to develop your baby’s imagination and skills in a stimulating and involving way.
Surprise your baby in the funniest and most colourful way !
On www.bimbomarket.it/en you can find lots of offers and promotions on Fisher Price, Chicco and Giochi Preziosi toys for an exciting and convenient Christmas !

2008-12-03T09:42:00.000Z

Here comes Chicco Polly Magic high chair on Bimbomarket!

The latest Chicco Polly high chair is available, from today, on Bimbomarket web site at an unbeatable price.

Innovative, well-finished and versatile: it’s the new Chicco Polly high chair that, thanks to its 3 configurations, guarantees comfort, well-being and safety to your baby from the first days up to 3 years.
Another unmissable offer on Bimbomarket web site, the biggest on line store of baby products, toys and accessories for babies.
Also, on the web site, it’s possible to watch the video of Chicco Polly high chair to find out all its features: 3 different positions to accompany your baby while growing, removable tray ideal to carry food, the special toy, funny and clourful to stimulate your baby’s senses and to sooth sore gums during teething.

Christmas 2008 is the right moment to make the most of all the offers and promotions of Bimbomarket, on products and toys for children.
On www.bimbomarket.it/en or by calling the number 0039 06 40 04 28 62, you will find out all the initiative for an amazing, funny and convenient Christmas!

Bimbomarket S.r.l.

r.camilleri@bimbomarket.it
www.bimbomarket.it
Tel. +39 06.400.42.866
Fax +39 06.23.32.9457

Bimbomarket presents the new Travel System collections by Sweet Years!

2008-12-02T15:06:00.000Z

Bimbomarket the online leader store in baby products presents the new Travel System collections by Sweet Years at a special price of 769 euro!

This amazing travel system is inclusive of reversible stroller, carry cot, changing bag, car seat Group 0+ and is extremely light and compact when folded.

Let’s go into details. This travel system is characterized by a safe brake system, small fixed or swivelling wheels, safety harness, many position reclining backrest and a water-proof adjustable footrest. One hand fitting system and compact folding.
What about the accessories included? In the travel system by Sweet Years you will find included the hood and a removable footmuffs for the carry cot, hood ad foot muffs for the car seat, shopping basket and rain cover and a practical changing bag to have everything always at hand.

What are you waiting for? Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/. You will find out many fabulous offers!

On Bimbomarket web site the new collection 2009 of strollers Trio 3per8 by Giordani!

2008-11-28T09:42:00.000Z

A new amazing occasion for our customers!

Bimbormaket, the on line leader store in baby products sale, it is glad to present the brand-new collection 2009 Trio 3per8 by Giordani!

From today on, it will be possible for you to purchase many different and coloured strollers by order. Choose your favourite between the models Tender, Safari and Tecno at 319€ or Fiocco and Quilty at 339€!

This innovative travel system is characterized by 3 parts designed just for your baby’s safety: stroller with detachable seat and rear footstep for second child, lightweight aluminium, fully padded seat and ergonomic adapter; carry cot designed for sleeping and relaxation, at home or out walking, it is compact and easy to carry around; finally the car seat group 0+ (0-13 kg) compatible with ISOFIX base. Curved, compact and padded. Designed to safely embrace baby.

You haven’t heard the last of this! All these amazing models differs in including the Kit Trio Car!

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity! Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en/

Free shopping cost for all Chicco travel systems to France on Bimbomarket

2008-11-28T09:38:00.000Z

Great news for Bimbomarket customers!

Bimbomarket, the most successfull web site of Baby Products at competitive prices, is now offering another bargain: for all the customers that will buy a Chicco travel system from France, the shipping cost is free! You can choose your favourite travel system among the several models of Chicco collection.

Your online purchase, made by Credit Card, Bank Transfer or Paypal, will allow you to receive your Chicco Travel System at home comfortably and without any additional cost.
Our customer service team and the quality of our products are still the two tenets that helped to make Bimbomarket the first online megastore of baby products in Italy and in Europe.

Don't miss this chance, come and find out our online catalogue with the best brands that Bimbomarket offers you!

Bimbomarket presents “2008 Points Collection” with new amazing prizes conceived just for you!

2008-11-28T09:36:00.000Z

Bimbomarket, the biggest on-line shop leader at European level in selling baby products, reserves to all its customers an extraordinary point collection with amazing prizes!
“2008 Points Collection” boasts the best brand prizes in this field such as Chicco, Peg Perego, Inglesina and many others. Participating to the point collection is easy and free!
For every customer that will purchase products from 01/01/08 to 30/11/08, an electronic point for each euro spent will be accumulated, considering as purchasing the total amount of each order.
Furthermore, it will be possible to check how many points have been accumulated by sending an email to collectingpoints@bimbomarket.it, so that the transparency of each personal situation would be ensured at best.

Once you have accumulated enough points, it will be possible to claim one or more prizes among highchair, car seats, baby pushchairs, cribs and many other products simply by sending an email to collectingpoints@bimbomarket.it. For each prize claimed, the points will be deducted automatically from the total amount of your points. All the points left, are valid until 30/11/2008.

Surprises are not finished yet!
Don’t let slip the amazing Iperclub Holiday Voucher 2008 for the whole family with 1000 points offered by Bimbomarket. The Holiday Voucher can be claimed anytime and it's not influenced by other prizes.

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity! We are waiting for you on www.bimbomarket.it/en/

Bimbomarket is happy to introduce the new Peg Perego Trio P3 Switch 2008/2009! Come and find out!

2008-11-28T09:33:00.000Z

Bimbomarket, the online shop leader in baby products, proposes the new collection of Trio P3 Switch Travel System by Peg Perego at an amazing price, only € 579,00!

The new collection is characterized by a modern and fashionable design and you can choose among lots of fantastic new colours!

The travel system includes 3 innovative components:

Panorama carry cot, with soft and transpiring Comfort Dry internal padding; Pliko Switch stroller, a full optional and reversible stroller, ideal for any season, inclusive of foot muffs and zipped rain cover; finally, the extra comfortable Primo Viaggio Tri-Fix car seat, Group 0+ car seat for children up to 13 kg.

And it doesn’t end here! Peg Perego travel system includes Ganciomatic sysytem, the exclusive system that allows you to fit the carry cot or the car seat straight onto the frame of Pliko Switch stroller.

What are you waiting for? Come and visit www.bimbomarket.it/en/!

On Bimbomarket web site come and find many products for your baby’s safety. Don't miss them!

2008-11-28T09:25:00.000Z

Bimbomarket, the online store leader in baby products, gives you the possibility to protect your baby with a wide range of products conceived just for your baby’s safety.

You can choose between many products that will allow your baby to discover safely the environment around him in order for you to feel more comfortable and secure.

Our line of products dedicated to the baby’s safety is characterized by high quality and reliability!
The Baby Control Video Watch and Listen will allow you to watch your baby and listen to him at night time or while he's playing. The Fisher-Price Aquarium Monitor soothes and entertains the baby with ceiling light show and nature sounds!
And what about the Safety Kit? The products set that helps preventing small accidents in the house to be kept always at hand!
Finally, don’t miss the Bed Guard Safe-Sleep a magic fence decorated with moon and star visible at night time too to never let your baby feel alone.

What are you waiting for? Come and visit our products on www.bimbomarket.it/en/!

At Christmas don't get caught unprepared! On Bimbomarket you can find many gift idea for your baby!

2008-11-28T09:09:00.000Z

Let’s buy in advance a nice gift for your baby! On www.bimbomarket.it/en/ you will find many ideas that will make your child happy and will help him to grow having fun.

Bimbomarket, the biggest on-line shop for baby products, put at your disposal a wide range of products designed by the best brands such as the fabulous collection by Fisher Price!

Any example?
The colourful carrycot Rocket! A talking play set equipped with music and sounds effects that will catch your baby’s attention. Or the innovative Bounce and Spin Zebra, perfect to encourage its movements’ development. And what about the funny Eeyor Clapping Ears? A soft interactive fluffy toy that activates by pushing its little leg.

If you want to cuddle your baby, Fisher-Price has created 3 new fantastic products!
The Swing 3 in 1 that can be used either as a swing, car seat or as a relaxing swinging baby bouncer! Or the beautiful Swing Aquarium Sounds and Lights with two different swinging ways that will entertains the baby with aquatic shows. Finally, the Bouncer “Cresci con me” a fantastic bouncer that transforms in swinging bouncer equipped with a toys’ bar to stimulate your baby's sense of sight, sound and touch with bright colours.

What are you waiting for? Let’s come and find out the fantastic world of Bimbomarket and you will surprise your baby with a special gift!

Christmas is amazing with the special offers by Bimbomarket!

2008-11-26T10:23:00.000Z

At Christmas, surprise your baby with the amazing “Top Selection” toys, the most popular toys sold in Italy for Christmas time with a discount up to 30%.

The amazing Chicco Rodeo is the only rocking horse that can become rideable and that follows your child's growth; the Bounce ‘n’ spin Zebra by Fisher Price that helps to develop its coordination skills; the Bilingual Talking Videophone by Chicco to help your baby start develop the language and compare the Italian sounds with the English ones; the Learning Cash Register that encourages math skills with numbers, counting and addition. These are just few examples.

Come and visit our web site www.bimbomarket.it/en or call our call center 0039/06-40042862. You will find many different amazing and funny toys with the “Seen on TV” special offer discount up to 30%.

In our web site you will find also many offers and suggestions as regards of baby products designed by the best brands at unbeatable prices for a safer and cheaper Christmas.

Bimbomarket S.r.l.
marketing@bimbomarket.it
www.bimbomarket.it/en/

Bimbomarket presents GEMS, the new strollers collection by Cybex!

2008-10-29T09:46:00.000Z

Bimbomarket, leader in the on-line selling for baby products is pleased to present GEMS, the new stroller collection by Cybex!

This amazing brand-new collection is characterized by an elegant fashionable design that suits every personality or taste.
The three models of baby pushchairs Ruby, Onyx and Topaz have been designed paying particular attention to your baby’s safety and they are the perfect accessory for every occasion: casual or fashionable or elegant. What all the three models have in common is a soft fine shape that characterize all the products by Cybex. Handiness and modern design will conquer you!

Don’t miss this fabulous occasion, come and visit the new collection on www.bimbomarket.it/en/!

New Neonato Trios and convertible systems: all made in Italy!

2008-10-13T16:03:00.000+01:00

Great news for expectant mothers that are looking for a convertible system (carry cot, babypushchair and car seat) for their newborn.

Among all the brands available, we would like you to focus your attention to Neonato, a young italian company, born at the end of the 90s to offer a wide range of high quality products, designed for the fussiest mothers! Neonato means 100% Made in Italy, the best guarantee of quality! Bimbomarket would like to introduce you the latest models: Trio Reverso, Trio Zeta System, Trio Synchro and Trio Multisport.

Trio Reverso, inclusive of carry cot, pushchair seat, BOOGIE car seat ( Gr 0+ ), changing bag, rain cover and carry cot mattress, comes with the exclusive QUICKY SYSTEM and VIA-VAI REVERSE SYSTEM, unique in its kind.
Trio Zeta System’s best feature is the Carry Cot with the exclusive QUICKY SYSTEM, rocking base, reclining back rest, anti tip-up handle. Very wide, in fact measures 835 mm x 343 mm. Ventilated base with matching liner.
Trio Synchro comes with a lightweight aluminium frame, folds easily and compactly: on/off system on the front and rear brakes can be activated by mothers, pressing a special button that lock and unlock the wheels without using a break pedal lever.
Thanks to Trio Multisport’s special fetures, mothers will fall in love with its sporty look: lightweight aluminium frame, elliptic tubes, front swivel wheels and brakes on rear wheels, all around shocks to ensure extra comfort for the newborn.

Well…You won’t know what to choose…