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Little Light is the new kid-on-the-block on King William Rd, Hyde Park and whether it’s a special occasion or everyday wear they have curated the most swoon-worthy collection of clothing for your little people. What is your passion? Before we became shop owners, we were regular mums that loved to dress up our children in beautiful clothes and shoes, and some of our favourite kids brands are only available interstate or internationally. Call us old fashioned— we preferred buying in store rather than shopping online; to be able to see the colour and feel the texture of fabric is a must to us. Why did you start Little Light? As good friends, we have always wanted to open a business together. One day it just hit us— a children’s boutique filled with all the beautiful brands we love! Clothing, shoes, toys, even jewellery and homewares, pieces we’d buy for our own kids and recommend to friends and families, how good does that sound! And that was how it all started 🙂 Top Brands At Little Light we proudly stock some of the top Australian children’s brands, as well as some beautiful international labels. Good designs make us happy and we’d love to watch your children grow with our collection. Here’s our current branding— Tutu Du Monde Huxbaby Rock Your Baby Dukes And Duchesses Apparel Sunnylife Anchor and Fox Emu Australia Old Soles Ashdene Jellycat (UK) Louise Misha (France) Boxbo (France) Afternoon tea (japan) Gelato Pique (Japan) What to expect in store? At Little Light we are BIG on customer service, we do everything we can to make your shopping experience pleasant and satisfying. We have formal and casual clothing up to kids size 14, a large selection of shoes from newborn to size 33, plenty of handmade baby gifts to choose from, and we’ll gladly wrap your present up nice and pretty with a card and a gift bag 🙂 We have a playroom and in store toilet, and don’t be shy to ask us for the following: baby wipes and emergency nappies change table or nursing chair microwave spring water Best thing about being on King William Road? King William Road has lots of character and charm, it really is a landmark of Adelaide. I love the variety and living here, being surrounded by cafes and flower shops, jewellers and beautiful clothes stores is something we are proud of. Everyday we meet local families and everyone is just so lovely and very supportive, we are deeply grateful. Why shop with you? We stock some unique brands that you rarely see in physical stores. Every little toy or hair clip is hand picked by us, in the hope that some little one will love and enjoy it. We also have a homeware range, if there’s anything you’ve been looking for and couldn’t find, please let us know and we’ll try to source it for you. Location 1/175 King William Road, Hyde Park 5061 P. 8117 2764 IG and FB @littlelightadelaide littlelight.com.au

Do you have some WILD ONES that need taming before bed? You are going to want to eat this one up! Our favourite Aussie bedding brand Kip&Co has just released their limited edition colab with… Where The Wild Things Are! Grab your crown and wolf costume and come sail away to the wild things island. The collection is based on the iconic illustrations of Maurice Sendak’s 1963 book and includes kids bedding, apparel and oh so cute baby bedding. These goodies will be passed down to your kids’ kids and their grand kiddies. #wherethewildthingsare If you love the book you can now sleep and dress like a WILD THING! kipandco.com.au kipandco.com.au

As the weather heats up so does the search for the hottest swimwear this season. We put our fashion goggles on and have rounded up some of our favourites for a South Aussie Summer! From Rashies to one-pieces, boardies and bikinis we have the styles and the trends to get your KIDDO’s through with a slip, slop, slap! Goldie + Ace G’day Australia Scoop Back Bathers – $49.95 Cosmo Crew Tropical Rashie – $89.00 Zulu & Zephyr Mini Dolphin Hem One Piece – $60.00 Goldie + Ace Sunshine Board Shorts – $49.95 JOE SUN  SIRENA SWIMSUIT  OLIVE – $69.00 SEED SCALLOPED OCELOT BATHER – $34.95 COUNTRY ROAD CHERRY STRIPE BATHERS – $49.95 COUNTRY ROAD LEOPARD BOARD SHORT – $39.95 Cotton On Kids Lydia One Piece – $29.99 SEED COCKATOO YARDAGE BOARDSHORT – $39.95 Cotton On Kids Fin Short Sleeve Rash Vest – $19.99 PIP AND LENNY Cubs Swimmer – Mustard – $53.00 BODEN Pretty Surf Suit – Multi Jolly Floral – $50 ROXY  Candy Long Sleeve Back Zip One-Piece Rashguard – $44.99 Liewood Beige Swimsuit with Dinosaur Print – $59.95 TRIFID BOARD SHORT – GREEN – $64.95 MINTI ICYPOLES SWIMSUIT – NAVY – $65.95

We know that all great things come from SA, so, in this regular section we will be putting a spotlight on a local business that you can feel great about supporting. #supportsa PIP AND LENNY Who is behind the brand? Justine and Bec; midwives and mums to 6 children between us. We began this journey in 2017 with one rack of handpicked clothing, working out of Bec’s spare room amongst the splendid chaos that is our children.We now stock over 30 different brands, have moved into a warehouse and have ventured into designing our very own Pip and Lenny label. What do you do? We do everything from carefully and thoughtfully selecting and maintaining stock, picking and packing orders, maintaining social media and managing admin. We also spend endless hours learning about the fashion industry and have begun designing our own clothing for little people. Top Brands? Pip and Lenny the LabelSnuggle Hunny KidsSusukoshiOlas Supply CoQuincy MaeGrown Clothing Why shop with you? Being mums of small children ourselves, we can relate to our shoppers. We want to provide your children with ethically made, comfortable and practical, yet irresistible, stylish threads.We are passionate about supporting the hard working hands of small businesses around the globe and love to bring the best of these brands to our customers.We think shopping should be convenient and exciting, hence why Pip and Lenny aims to stock the most beautiful pieces in the one place, taking the hassle out of your shopping experience. pipandlenny.com.au@pipandlenny

Cakes are the cherry on the top of any kids party and are often talked about and remembered long after all the presents and guests have gone… If you’re not a Master Chef in the kitchen and have given all the Women’s Weekly Birthday Cookbooks away in a garage sale fear not… we have compiled a list of talented local bakers that will be able to make your little one’s cake dreams come true! Super Ego Cakes If you can dream it they can bake it, from popular unicorn cakes to monster cupcakes and everything in between. @Super_Ego_Cakes Dot Chocolate This talented team of bakers are a regular at popular markets and experts in custom biscuits, chocolates and slices. @dotchocolate Cakes By Anna Anna is a master cake maker and pastry chef specialises in party cakes, individual cupcakes and specialty desserts. @adelaidecakesbyanna Cloud Theory Marshmallows If you want something soft, fluffy and sweet to add to your party table the Cloud Theory crew can help. Custom and special occasion marshmallow treats perfect for any event or party. @cloudtheorymarshmallows How Sweet It Is From one tier to ten, no cake is too big or too small for How Sweet It Is to make the perfect centrepiece for your special day. howsweetitiscakes.com.au Adelaide Bakes If you want to learn how to make your own cake or macarons then Adelaide Bakes is the place to go. With adults classes throughout the year you can learn the tricks and techniques to pull off your own masterpiece, and really impress your kids! Adelaidebakes.com.au Sugar And Spice Cakes The team at Sugar and Spice have been operating for 19 years and with a talented team of award winning designers creating custom cakes is their speciality (they have even made cakes for Oprah.. And JLO) Sugarandspicecakes.com.au The Bake Space Blow your socks of cakes made with love and buttercream. The Bake space is a one stop shop with a range of cake toppers and party hire products also available. thebakespace.com.au Cake Studio Adelaide A small family run business with cupcakes, cake orders, edible image toppers, a range of classes and more! @cakestudioadelaide The Cake Lab What’s your flavour? Because the Cake Lab has it all! Especially if you’re looking for an impact! @thecakelab_adelaide

Family Friendly Luxury My intergalactic spaceship (AKA car!!!) for the day! This luxury SUV is so high tech and fast flying that you really do feel like you’re at the helm of an out-of-this-world, time travelling space machine! Yet, its features are so easy to use that even the most technologically inept person (that’s me!!!) can navigate it. The new Volkswagen Touareg Launch Edition had us all comfy and cosy as we flew up the freeway (ok, ok, not actually flying – I stuck to the speed limit of course!!! But it definitely felt like we were flying!) to the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens to make the most of the beautiful Autumn weather. Those twists and turns, and hilly roads are no match for this beast with its 8 speed automatic gears and 4 motion all wheel drive, and even though it’s a bigger SUV, it handles like a zippy small car. There’s a heap of boot space (my double pram plus a giant picnic basket fits easily with room to spare) and my babes in the back had plenty of room too, without their car seats having to be squeezed in. I LOVED the ginormous electric glass panoramic roof and so did the kids. They were delighted when those pretty Autumn leaves were falling. The Touareg has all the swanky features you’d expect from a luxury SUV, plus so many more like the buttery soft leather seats with heating AND cooling, handy compartments for EVERYTHING, tinted rear windows, navigation system, keyless access and start, auto headlights and rain sensing wipers, plus 4 zone climate control air conditioning. Not to mention all the high tech safety features (which suddenly become SO important when you’re transporting your most precious cargo) like Driver Fatigue Detection System, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, Park Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist. Seriously, this car is so clever it can almost drive itself! And then there are my two most favourite features… the HUGE display touchscreen that wraps almost around the entire dash – which also changes colour FYI. Yes, you can choose the colour of your dash display! How fun! And, the fully customisable massage function built into the seats! That’s right, a day spa in your car!! Now, I’m not keen on driving at the best of times, but I’d happily hoon around all day, even with three squawkers in the back seat, if I could have a luxury back and leg massage for hours on end! The comfort levels of the Volkswagen Touareg are incomparable, the safety and technology features are mind-blowing, and the overall driving experience is second to none. Every little aspect has been so well thought about and executed in this family friendly, luxury SUV. EXTRA FEATURES INCLUDE: • 8 speed Automatic & 4MOTION All-wheel drive • Front Assist with City EB and Predictive Pedestrian Monitoring* • Lane Assist with Adaptive Lane Guidance* • Park Assist* • Front and Rear Cross Traf c Assist* • Proactive Occupant Protection* • Electronically-operated tailgate with Easy Open & Close • Savona leather appointed upholstery# with massage, heated and ventilated front seats • 9.2” Discover Pro navigation system with gesture control • Rear View Camera* • Keyless Access and start • Front and rear parking sensors • Auto headlights and rain sensing wipers • Driver Fatigue Detection system* • Panoramic electric glass sunroof • Innovision Package: 15” Discover Premium, 12.3” Active Info Display, windshield projected Head-Up Display and additional Ambient Interior Lighting in 30 selectable colours *Safety technologies are not a substitute for a driver’s responsibility for the vehicle. #Leather appointed seats has a combination of genuine and artificial leather, but are not wholly leather. The new Volkswagen Touareg Launch Edition is now available. For more information and to book a test drive, please contact Solitaire Volkswagen. 30 BELAIR ROAD, HAWTHORN, SA 5062 37-41 MAIN NORTH ROAD, MEDINDIE, SA 5081 1300 857 671 SOLITAIREVOLKSWAGEN.COM.AU @Sweetlittlestory Meaghan Coles Photography 

Lions and Witches For Their Wardrobe Ever dreamed of being a pirate, armed with a mighty sword, ready to conquer the seven seas? Or maybe a robot all the way from outer space! All of this is possible with the imagination of a child. ‘Mini Mad Things’ is an SA business that makes ethical, fascinating costumes and enchanting accessories to aid kiddos in their imaginative play. Eleanor, the brains behind Mini Mad Things, says that the story began with a dinosaur costume made for a playful two year old. The collection of crazy costumes then grew from there to join the whimsical realms of children all over the world (they ship internationally). Importantly, young children learn by imagining and doing. The process of pretending helps to grow skills in many essential developmental areas. Healthy relationship building stems from social interaction at a young age. Cooperative play helps foster empathy and understanding of others feelings. There are no gender rules when it comes to dress-ups. Dinosaurs and fairies are for everyone; giving children the opportunity to choose their own role-play is character building. Not only does Mini Mad Things have a smorgasbord of options from superheroes, unicorns, hats, hair-clips, wands, jewellery and everything in-between, they also have a range of craft activities, which use ethical and recyclable ingredients. Make your own junk robot, bark painting, nature crown and more! We love that Mini Mad Things gives children the opportunity to be creative and to see the magic in the world, the way young minds should. minimadthings.com @minimadthings

Money Talks Joanna and Hayden are putting in their two cents when it comes to kiddos saving their pennies, because money doesn’t grow on trees, but it can in a Fundsy Conscious Money Box. Fundsy is the ‘passion project’ of the pair who live on the Fleurieu Peninsula with their 3 children Harriet (Hattie), Edward (Ed) and Walter (Wally). Whilst watching their kiddos grow up in the outdoors Joanna and Hayden decided they were eager to build a community where kids could share their ideas, achievements, stories and conversations; especially through social media. Fundsy Conscious Money Boxes divides savings into ‘spend, save, give and grow’ provoking thoughts beyond ‘right now’ and ‘instant gratification’. We spoke to Joanna and Hayden about Fundsy: Is Fundsy about simply teaching wealth to kids or is it deeper than that? It’s so much deeper than financial wealth, it encourages kids to consciously make decisions about how they spend their money. We want it to empower young people to be creative, feel confident, generous and capable with their money so they have the power to make a positive impact in their own life, at home, in the community and beyond! What was the inspiration behind Fundsy? As our eldest child came to the age where she began to understand a little bit about money, we decided we wanted finance to be a positive experience where she could learn about giving, saving and growing money. We knew the school curriculum would be limited and decided to take things into our own hands. And now we want to spread the message! Did your own upbringing have any effect on your effort to make conscious, positive financial decisions?  Yes! We had little education around money and finances growing up so I guess we want our kids to think broader, be excited and think positively about money. What was the best thing you ever saved up for as a kid? Showbags from the Royal Adelaide Show! What do you see in the future for Fundsy? We see a huge community of people who have changed their thoughts around money, sharing stories and ideas and making a positive impact in their homes, communities and the world. fundsymoneybox.com  Share your Fundsy journey on Instagram: @fundsy_conscious_money

Top 10 Books To Buy Mum for Mother’s Day From Dymocks Hyde Park Every day should be a celebration of Mum, however Mother’s Day is the landmark day of the year where we truly gives thanks to the strong, powerful, loving mammas who have stepped on our Lego, cleaned up our spew, encouraged us and raised us to be who we are today! Sometimes it can be difficult to decide how to reward such a feat so here are some fabulous book suggestions for Mum. let her sit back, relax and enjoy some reading from Dymocks Hyde Park Mum favourites. THE MISTER by E L James London, 2019. Life has been easy for Maxim Trevelyan. With his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he’s never had to work and he’s rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family’s noble title, wealth, and estates, and all the responsibility that entails. It’s a role he’s not prepared for and one that he struggles to face. THE MOMENT OF LIFT by Melinda Gates For the last twenty years, Melinda Gates has been on a mission. Her goal, as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been to find solutions for people with the most urgent needs, wherever they live. Throughout this journey, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, invest in women. In this candid and inspiring book, Gates traces her awakening to the link between women’s empowerment and the health of societies. QUEENIE by Candice Carty-Williams Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place. THE TIGER CATCHER by Paullina Simons Can true love ever die? The first novel in a beautiful, heartbreaking new trilogy from Paullina Simons, the international bestselling author of Tully and The Bronze Horseman. Julian lives a charmed life in Los Angeles. Surrounded by friends, he is young, handsome, and runs a successful business. Everything changes after he has a fateful encounter with a mysterious young woman named Josephine. THE SPARKLE PAGES by Meg Bignell ‘Is marriage just a series of texts about where the children are and whether we need milk until one of you dies?’ Susannah Parks – wife, mother, cleaner of surfaces and runner of household – is a viola virtuoso. Except she hasn’t picked up a viola for over a decade. She has, however, picked up a lot of Lego, socks, wet towels and other exhibits of mundanity. She has also picked up on the possibility that her husband has lost interest in her. (And frankly, she’s not very interested in Susannah Parks either.) But this year, she has resolved to be very interesting. Also thoughtful, useful, cheerful, relevant, self-sufficient, stylish, alluring and intelligent. THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA by Juliet Grames When I tell you Stella Fortuna was a special girl, I hope you aren’t thinking small-town special. Other people would underestimate Stella Fortuna during her long life, and not one of them didn’t end up regretting it. Hundred-year-old Stella Fortuna sits alone in her house in Wethersfield, Connecticut, crocheting blankets and angrily ignoring her sister, Tina, who lives across the street. Born into abject poverty in an Italian village, Stella Fortuna’s name might mean Lucky Star, but for the last century, her life has been defined by all the times she might have died. RESTORE REFRESH RELAX by DK Australia Embrace holistic health and optimise your wellbeing with natural remedies for the mind, body and home. Restore Refresh Relax is like no other resource in your journey towards self-care. Through mindfulness, gentle yoga practice, nourishing foods, homemade skincare products and other healthful ideas, this book explores the building blocks for optimising lifelong wellbeing using natural remedies. Featuring more than a hundred natural projects, follow step-by-step instructions in six key areas: practical mindfulness, gentle yoga, nourishing recipes, essential oils, natural skin care and rejuvenating body care. MUM FOR SALE by Zanni Louise Errols mum wont get off the phone. So there is only one thing for Errol to do… Find out what happens when cheeky Errol puts his mum up for sale! OTTOLENGHI SIMPLE by Yotam Ottolenghi Yotam Ottolenghi’s award-winning recipes are always a celebration- an unforgettable combination of abundance, taste and surprise. Ottolenghi SIMPLE is no different, with 140 brand-new dishes that contain all the inventive elements and flavour combinations that Ottolenghi is loved for, but with minimal hassle for maximum joy. THE BEAUTY CHEF by Carla Oates In The Beauty Chef Carla Oates, founder of the natural beauty company of the same name, combines the joy of cooking with the science of nutrition, to create more than 150 recipes that offer you radiant skin and robust health. So head in and browse away… Dymocks Hyde Park 147 King William Rd, Unley SA 5061 (08) 8271 8514

Australian Children’s Furniture are manufacturers of plywood children’s furniture items for pre-school and primary aged kiddos made locally. Harmony O’Cadin and her two brothers now run the South Australian family business that has been producing commercial retail joinery for over forty years. Three years ago, the trio decided to produce furniture for the pre-school market after visiting Early Learning Centres with their own children and realising that quality, locally made furniture for these environments was hard to find. The trio knew that their local manufacturing facility and skilled employees would be able to produce products that would not only look aesthetically pleasing, but would also offer the durability and quality that can be difficult to find in the flatpack solutions or imported products. We spoke to Harmony to learn more about sustainability and Australian Children’s Furniture: What makes buying from local manufacturers like yourself more environmentally sustainable?  The plywood material we use is purchased through an Australian supplier and comes with FSC accreditation. This means that it is ethically sourced and is not coming from an endangered forest or from illegal sources.The energy used in our manufacturing process is harvested through our solar panels, and we use waste disposal companies that have facilities to process and transform our waste into valuable commodities. We also like that we are contributing to the sustainability of Australian manufacturing by offering employment to skilled joiners and carpenters. What sets you apart from other, more commercial manufacturers? Being a family business located in Edwardstown, we are accessible to our customers by phone, email or in person. Not too many commercial manufacturers are accessible by the general public. We also have the ability to show our customers the products prior to ordering online. This can be very reassuring for schools or Directors of centres and kindergartens that may be looking to place a large order.As we are commercial joiners, we have the ability to custom make additional joinery items that may be required. This is particularly helpful to new centre’s opening up or refurbishments that may require joinery in addition to furniture. What age group is your furniture designed for? Our chairs and tables are designed for the pre-school market (Early Learning Centres, Montessori Schools, Kindergartens and Childcare Centres) and our storage and library units are suitable for pre-school and primary school environments. The range is made from high quality solid birch plywood which makes the furniture very sturdy. The superior quality is instantly recognisable. Can your furniture be customised or custom ordered?  Yes! We have customisable chairs and tables which means that a school or centre can have the backrest of their chairs, or the centre of their tables embedded with their logo or emblem. We have also had businesses use this option for play areas within shopping centres; meaning the furniture on display and used by the kids is branded with the centre’s logo.Our range is continually expanding, but we offer the option to have items custom made to suit a particular request. Do you deliver?  Absolutely! Our furniture is delivered fully assembled and ready to use! We also offer a DIY Collect option for any customers that may wish to save on delivery costs by collecting from our Edwardstown warehouse. View Australian Children’s Furniture range online here: australianchildrensfurniture.com.au@australianchildrensfurniture

At KIDDO we understand that the joy and love of becoming a new parent also comes with a lot of anxiety, new challenges and questions. We love any gadget, app, podcast, advice or tactic that can alleviate even a little bit of that stress. Baby Junction is now stocking a new product that gets our tick of approval… The Owlet Smart Sock 2 baby monitor uses clinically proven technology to track your infant’s heart rate and oxygen levels. Using Bluetooth, the Smart Sock sends this information to a base station which is designed to notify you with lights and sounds if something appears to be wrong. Using owlet’s app, you can view real time wellness data and receive direct notifications on your phone. Product Features:– Track heartrate and oxygen levels using clinically – proven technology– Wireless Bluetooth range up to 100 ft– 3 Socks Sizes 0-18 Months– Base station notifies with lights and sounds if something is wrong– Receive notifications and see real time heart rate and oxygen levels– 45 Day Peace of Mind guarantee– 1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty Here are some of the features explained in more detail: Track Heart Rate & Oxygen Levels Check on baby without disturbing their sleep. The Owlet Smart Sock tracks heart and oxygen levels and sends real-time insights to your phone. It also includes a base station which glows green to reassure you baby is okay but will notify you if heart rate and oxygen levels leave preset zones. See Trended Sleep Data Sleep is critical to your infant’s overall wellness, mood and development. By tracking baby’s heart rate and movement it can provide insights into totals hours slept, awake times and a breakdown of light vs. deep sleep. Use this data to help create routines and develop healthy sleep habits for your baby. Receive Proactive Notifications Knowing what your baby needs and when they need it is a cause for stress and anxiety with most new parents. The Smart Sock will notify if we sense your baby needs your attention but will also keep you informed with weekly milestones and tips based on your baby’s age. Historical Trends & Insights The Owlet will help you understand what your baby can’t say. See trended history of your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels. Make decisions based on data and chart a course for proper development. Log notes to record progress and share visual snapshots with your friends, family or doctor. For more information: 365 Magill Rd, St Morris SA 5069  (08) 8361 2200 babyjunction.com.au

Now there is even more reason to shop at one of the Myer Centres 70 specialty shops this Mother’s Day, as they team up with one of our favourite brands Glasshouse Candles. Spend $150 at any Myer Centre retailer between 8-11 of May and receive a limited edition Myer Centre Glasshouse Candle to give to mum. Simply show your receipts at the Mother’s Day booth on the ground floor atrium to receive your gift. Stores include Myer Adelaide, Sunglass Hut, Nine West, Lush, Lincraft, Grahams, Australian Geographic and Rebel Sport. We just love a gift with purchase. Myercentreadelaideshopping.com.au@myercentreade

As the adage goes, parenting doesn’t come with a manual – but Kaz Cooke’s new book Babies & Toddlers comes pretty close to it. The follow up to her ubiquitous 90’s book Up The Duff with its iconic animated cover, Babies & Toddlers is a meticulously researched, yet friendly and easy to read guide covering everything from the first few days with your new baby to how to look after a toddler with gastro. A highly respected and award winning writer, Kaz has consulted over 30 medical experts and specialists to incorporate only the most accurate and up to date information in Babies & Toddlers. This attention to detail has been a real labour of love over the past few years, especially given it’s an update of her original book Kidwrangling which was first written when her own daughter was five, some 15 years ago. Not just the title has changed since then. Medically speaking there have been advances and changes to what we know about paediatric health, but also the advent of the internet has brought with it an avalanche of information that can both overwhelm and confuse a new parent during an incredibly exhausting and vulnerable point in their lives. Babies & Toddlers outlines the essential information while also expertly navigating the plethora of new parenting trends to contend with – “the way-bonkers stuff,”as Kaz likes to call it. “I wanted the book to be almost like a secret thing that people could have at home and be the kind friend that you can get all the information you need from and you know it’s the right information, you know you can trust it,” explains Kaz. This information overload, much of it opinion-dressed-as-fact, often espoused by some parenting websites, forums, bloggers and Instagrammers is rife. And, while not all opinions dished out either on the internet or from well-meaning relatives are harmful, they are sometimes misguided at best and dangerous at worst. All in all, it seems there’s never been a more complex and confusing time to be a parent. “I also think that there’s just so much perfectionism that is being encouraged by Instagram…it’s not real, it’s a constructed story for social media. It’s fun to look at, but it’s often not at all helpful for you as a parent, and that’s why I wanted to provide an alternative,” she says. “Use the internet for connection, but don’t use it for information. Use it to make connections with other parents, but don’t use it to tell you what to do,” she adds, especially when it comes to medical and health related issues. Impartial and factual, Babies & Toddlers is designed almost as a reference book, with a special focus on a comprehensive index and a wealth of up to date resources a parent might need to access. Her guiding principle in structuring the book was ensuring it was easy to get the information you might need fast – sometimes in the middle of the night – keeping it jargon-free and easy to understand. “It’s very clearly outlined that these are the services you ring for medical information and these are the services for counselling. It’s actually really important to know whether you’re ringing the maternal healthcare nurse or someone who’s going to speak to you about how you’re feeling and refer you, when you might need to know really quickly if you need to take your infant to hospital,” explains Kaz. A lighthearted read, anchored by facts, Babies & Toddlers is an essential read for any parent to be, instilling confidence and providing connections to good sources of information so that parents and carers don’t feel isolated. “I wanted [the book] to be – more than anything else – reassuring, because it’s giving people the buffet or smorgasbord of suggestions. Very often, individual people can say ‘try this thing because it worked for me’, but there’s never a guarantee that it will work for you. Plus, what worked for your first child might not work for the second – so parents deserve not a hard and fast theory….people need enough choices to find what works for them,” says Kaz. Sprinkled with humour and her trademark cartoons, Babies & Toddlers manages to cut through all the noise and get back to the essentials, providing clear and concise information backed up by experts and packaged up in an accessible read that enables parents to make their own decisions. Purchase the book here 

And, just like that, Christmas is around the corner! Between vacation planning, work Christmas parties and school holidays, organising your list of gifts can be a last minute struggle. Not to mention the task of getting people something they actually want…. We have done the work for you with this ultimate Christmas gift guide. The Myer Centre Adelaide is making the gift of giving a whole lot easier. With over 80 specialty retailers under the one roof, you can get all of your gifts in aneasy one-stop-shop! MUM DAD GIRL BOY STORE DIRECTORY GROUNDAustralian GeographicSunglass HutPlatypus ShoesRubiNine WestLush LOWER GROUNDPriceline UPPER GROUNDJR’s Surf and SkiUSGRebel SportMyerToyworld @myercentreade myercentreadelaideshopping.com.au