We’ve just added a new feature to our website which will allow you to shop in either Pounds, Dollars or Euros, so you can choose your local currency if you’re in Europe the UK or the U.S.  We’re also looking at other markets, so stay tuned….

Just click on your chosen currency symbol and all prices will be displayed in the relevant currency.

We hope you like this new feature and that it makes shopping with us even easier.

Love from all at KIDSEN

There’s just four days left to enter our Photo Competition to win a Brio Sleep Bed. Worth over £250, The Sleep is an extremely versatile bed that can transform from a cot to a daybed and then to a junior bed very easily, so it can be used from newborns up to around the age of seven.

To find out more about the Photo Competition and the Brio Sleep Click Here.  The competition closes on August 15th, so be quick!

Good Luck!

So, it’s that time again.  The time when the festival season gets into full swing.  If you thought your festival days were over when little Annika or Andreas came along, then you’d do well to check out our mini festival guide.  These are the best family friendly festivals that are sure to be great fun for the whole family!!

1. The Big Chill – When: 5-8 August. Where: Eastnor Castle Deer Park. Malvern Hills, Herefordshire Who: Massive Attack, Thom Yorke, Roots Manuva, Gregory Isaacs, Lily Allen.. What: For yummy mummys and daddys who still enjoy good times and with a dedicated “Club Mum Area”, a kids tent and boutique babysitting facilities, the Big Chill makes that possible.

2. Belladrum – When: 6-7 August. Where. Inverness-shire. Who: Amy MacDonald, Feeder and Divine Comedy. What: A laid-back festival, set against the backdrop of Scotland’s beautiful highlands.

3.  The Green Man – When: 20-22 August. Where: Brecon Beacons. Who: Flaming Lips, Doves and Billy Bragg. What: A child friendly festival with designated family camping area, a film tent  and comedy line up. There is even a boutique babysitting service available. Best of all you are encouraged to bring your own instruments to join jamming sessions around the campfire.

4. Serenata - When: 27-28 August. Where: The Smedmore Estate, Kimmeridge. Dorset. Who: Katherine Jenkins, Russel Watson  What: Britain’s first classical music festival. Family friendly with its own dedicated kidszone, cafe and even a kids classical concert.

5. Notting Hill Carnival - When:  29-30 August. Where: Streets of Notting Hill, West London. Who: Everyone who loves music. From Soca, and Samba to Hip Hop & Steel Bands. What: Europe’s biggest street festival, celebrating an array of sounds, food and culture. Sunday the 29th is kids day, with 20 miles of beautiful costumes, food and music.

Don’t Forget Your Essential Festival Gear!

Amidst all the celebrations don’t forget to keep your little one’s ears protected. They have extremely sensitive hearing and very little protection against noise. Peltor KID’s, effectively block out harmful noises without shutting out other ambient sounds – allowing your little one to enjoy the atmosphere. The ear protectors come in lime green and pink – both for high visability and fun!!

Peltor Kids Ear Defenders are available at KIDSEN.  Click Here for Details.

The holiday season is here!  (Well almost).  If you haven’t booked a break yet, you could still get away by renting one of these two amazing holiday homes courtesy of some very fortunate friends of KIDSEN.

The house above is a gorgeous French Farm House that sleeps 8 people – perfect for a group get-away.  It even comes with an option of a baby sitter and a cook!

But who’d want to go to France, when you could spend the summer in Beautiful Sweden (because let’s face it, summer is definitely the time to go to Sweden).  In which case, check out another friend’s place – a classic Swedish pad  just outside of Stockholm.

Click Here to find out more about the holiday home in France

Click Here to find out more about the holiday home in Sweden

France Vs Sweden

This month, KIDSEN had the pleasure of welcoming Pippi Longstocking to our  latest in-store event.   She was met with some big smiles – and not just from us!  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed her cheeky storytelling, cheery singing and creative drawing sessions.

Created by the legendary Astrid Lindgren, Sweden’s favourite children’s character is as popular today as she was when Pippi was first written in the 40’s. Nine-year-old Pippi is unconventional and assertive. She lives alone with her horse (Lilla Gubbe) and monkey (Herr Nilsson), performs her own acts at the circus, bakes cookies on the floor, and is stronger than anyone in the world! What a refreshing role model for young girls….

If you would like to be notified of our next in-store event, please drop us a line at events@kidsen.co.uk and we will email you details.

Find Pippi At KIDSEN
KIDSEN stocks a vast range of Pippi Longstocking items, from cookie cutters and miniature Pippi Characters through to Villa Villekulla itself. WE have recently also started stocking ‘Do you know Pippi Longstocking?’ – a great introducion to the orginal Pippi. No fakes here!

The sun is shining, the parks are beckoning and according to Boris and Cameron it’s time for everyone to jump on their bike.

If you want your little one to join the two wheel gang, then take a look at the new Early Rider Range.  There’s no pedals and no stabilisers meaning right from the get go, your child focuses purely on learning to balance.

You can check out  Early Rider’s instore at KIDSEN now.  Expect them on our website from 6th July Onwards. 

Lots of big news this week.  The Emergency Budget was announced, England got through to the Final 16.  And then we found out that we now face Germany.  But the big story on the lips of those in the know is that Kidsen has just started it’s mid season sale.  Consider yourself now in the know!

Our sale started in store today at 10am and at midnight last night online.  We have some fantastic summer clothes at up to 40% off, but you’ll have to be quick – once they’re gone, they’re gone.  A bit like some of the teams in this world cup!

See Our Mid Season Sale Here

British celebrities have always been fans of Mini-A-Ture and their wonderful children’s collection. Now, renowned photographer Mary McCartney (and daughter of  ex Beatle Sir Paul McCartney) has joned the Mini A Ture design team to help raise money for charity with her very first t-shirt designs.

She has created two very personal pieces, which have been inspired by her own family. The Unisex Tees feature a hummingbird which symbolizes the love of her late mother, Linda McCartney, as well as a range of words that remind her of her three boys: darling, dearest, honey, sweetheart. Furthermore, in line with Mary’s passionate stance on environmental issues, this season’s charity T-shirts have been made using organic cotton.

We are very happy to lend our support to this project and we now have both t-shirts in stock, both online and in our store.

All the proceeds from the sale of the Tee will go directly to  Sunway Children’s Home, a small orphanage in India, which MINI A TURE has supported since 2005.

To see the Mary McCartney White Striped T Shirt Click Here

To see the Mary McCartney Yellow Striped T Shirt Click Here

Read More About the Sunway Children’s Home:
http://www.sunwaychildren.dk

What is it?
A Swedish Tradition of Having Coffee and Cakes with Friends.  It’s an institution in Sweden – the culinary equivalent of a Siesta.

Why do we love it?
Swedes will literally down tools and go and have a Fika.  Nothing gets in the way.  The Fika tradition is spreading – there’s even a coffee shop called Fika now open in New York.  We love the idea of getting together with friends and having quality food and great coffee.  Bliss!

Where can I have a Fika?
Fika is all about indulgence and atmosphere.  Our two favourite places for a Fika in London are the Scandinavian Kitchen and Bea’s of Bloomsbury.  Try them – you will not be disappointed!

Above: The Wonderful Food and Great Atmosphere at Scandi Kitchen, just behind Oxford Circus.  Totally authentic Fika right in the heart of London.  A long time favourite haunt of the KIDSEN Team.  We unashamedly love everything they do!

Below: Tasty Treats Await at Bea’s of Bloomsbury on the Theobald Road. Lovely!

For more information on Scandinavian Kitchen Click Here

To read more about Bea’s of Bloomsbury Click Here

Having a baby is the start of a wonderful journey. It’s a journey that will be filled with lots of surprises, plans decisions and questions. What will we call our baby? What colour should we paint the nursery? Will the baby sleep beside his mum or in a separate cot? And finally, what would be the best way to take him out into the world: a pram, a pushchair or simply a travel system? Though all the decisions are important, selecting the right baby travel system is probably one of the more critical decisions as your baby is going to spend its formative years in the pram you select.

So if you are thinking about which pram or pushchair to buy, there are a few key things that you may wish to consider:

Your Lifestyle: The kind of lifestyle you lead is likely to have some influence on your buying decision. For example if you rely heavily on public transport, a lightweight, folding pram or a pushchair would be the best for you. If you have your own car, compare the size of the pram to that of the car boot. How is your home – do you have space for storing the pram inside? If so, a pram or a pushchair where the seat can easily be folded would be advantageous. If you walk a lot go for a pram that is sturdy and has lockable wheels. Swivel wheeled prams provide better handling over rough surfaces and can be useful if you’re going off the beaten track. Whichever type of pram you buy, make sure the handles are adjustable. This ensures the pram provides better ergonomic support and is also great if you and your partner or anyone else is of a differing height to you.

Your Baby’s Needs: Obviously it’s incredibly important to ensure your baby is 100% comfortable. Newborns require a great deal of sleep (even if they don’t always take it) so look for a pram, baby travel system or pushchair with lie-back support to maximize the chance of them sleeping when you need them too. Think where your baby will sleep, this will help you to decide which pram will be the best for you. Prams with turnaround seat units are good as your baby can either face the world when they’re older or see you when they’re younger – thereby reducing any anxiety from both you or them!

Once you have considered these, you need to weigh these points up against the different types of buggies that are available. Essentially, you will need to choose between a pram, pushchair, pram / pushchair combination or a travel system.

Prams: The pram is generally bought by people for a new born baby as it  provides a comfier sleeping environment and allows the baby to face the pusher which is often comforting for both mum and baby. Some 2 in 1 systems allow the carry cot or pram body section to be removed from the chassis (frame) and used as a crib or Moses basket.

Pushchairs or Strollers: Pushchairs or Strollers tend to be bought when the child is older. They allow the child to sit upright and face forwards. A good pushchair will have the option to recline allowing older children to still lie back and take a nap when needed. The advantage of pushchairs is that they tend to be lighter than more traditional prams and they also take up less space. For this reason, many parents use them for when they go on holiday as they are easier to transport. Some Pushchairs can also be used with an infant carrier (car seat) as a travel system (see travel systems below).

Pram and Pushchair Combinations: These combination models can be used both for a newborn as well as a toddler. The carry cot / pram will let your baby sleep for the first few months while the pushchair will support your baby when he or she begins to sit up. This type of combination system is a great way to go from birth to toddler without having to “upgrade” your pram. When looking at prams and pushchairs you may want to look out for the following features:

• Fixed or swivel wheels – Swivel Wheels will give you added maneuverability

• Reversible seat unit – allows your baby to both face you or look outwards

• Folded Prams – makes the whole unit very compact

• Large Wheel Chassis – can handle bumpier terrain better

• Shopping Basket or Tray – space to store your shopping or baby essentials

Travel Systems: So called because they allow you to go from the pushchair to the car with ease. The car seat is included with the pushchair and traditionally the car seat attaches to the frame of the pushchair. When you’re ready to move your baby into the car you “unhook” the car seat and fasten it into your car. The obvious advantage of this is that a sleeping baby can be transferred from the car to the pushchair without removing them from the seat. For the ultimate in travel systems you may want to consider the new 3 way travel systems which include a pram, pushchair and car seat. All three options are interchangeable, giving you the ultimate in flexibility both in transporting your baby and providing a buggy that grows with your child since this will see them through the newborn and toddler stage too.

Safety of Your Baby: The safety of your baby is paramount when selecting or operating your chosen pram so keep the following points in mind:

• Read the instructions very carefully and make yourself acquainted with all the parts before you actually use the pram.

• Be acquainted with all the mechanisms before using. Check that the locking devices are full secured.

• Before folding the pram release all locks carefully.

• Every time you stop use the brakes, even on the flat surfaces.

So these are a few important guiding principles that you may wish to keep in mind before selecting the right pram for your little one.

Summary: You can choose from various travel solutions for your baby like prams, pushchairs, pram and pushchair combinations, and complete travel systems. Finding the right pram is about understanding your own lifestyle and the needs of your baby, whilst being mindful of safety considerations at tall times.

About Us: Kidsen is UK’s first Scandinavian children’s store which has special collections of baby gifts, designer baby clothes, nursery furniture, prams (including a unique 3 way travel system) and much more. The store also offers a convenient online shopping option