From a brilliant new car seat to a beautiful Moses basket, here’s two parenting kit essentials you can’t do without…

SILVER CROSS

BALANCE CAR SEAT
Reviewed by Anna Woolf

We’ve just had our second baby and we wanted a car seat that would work for our eldest now, and then could be passed on to our youngest. One of those parenting kit essentials you can’t do without, the new Silver Cross Balance was the perfect option for us as it has two configurations, so you can use it from nine months all the way up to 12 years.

It has an easy lock Isofix system, which made it really simple to set up. I think most parents worry that they are installing a car seat correctly – but Silver Cross seats have a clever QR code on them, which you can scan using your phone to bring up a five-step guide. Really good for peace of mind.

The seat feels super secure, due to a top tether and it also has a five-point safety harness. Rather than removing the harness as you move between stages, it has a handy pocket for storing it.

The Balance has extra soft diamond quilted padding, made from breathable natural bamboo. Nine head-rest positions and three recline options make it so comfy I don’t think our eldest is going to want to give it up to her younger sister!

£225 silvercrossbaby.com

PATACAKE

MOSES BASKET
Reviewed by Sophie Helsby

When looking for our baby’s first bed, we knew that it was important to have her close by our side and within easy reach for those night time feeds. I’d seen various designs online and was on the hunt for the ‘right one’ for quite a while. When I came across Patacake, I immediately added one of their Moses baskets to my wish list.

Finding eco-friendly and natural products for our nursery was very important to us, and Patacake’s baskets are one of those parenting kit essentials that ticks both boxes! They are beautifully handmade in Bolgatana, Ghana by local Fra Fra people and are sold by the artisans themselves, ensuring a fair wage is received. Patacake then send out the baskets in recyclable packaging. There are many beautiful designs to choose from, but we opted for a natural basket with a navy motif and navy handles, which looks great anywhere in our home.

Made from natural elephant grass, the basket is lightweight, durable, and easy to move around. Another bonus is that it came with a made to measure mattress, made from hypoallergenic, breathable foam with a water resistant, washable cover (all compliant with EU and British standards). Order the fitted sheets with your Moses basket and Patacake will ensure they fit your one-of-a-kind bed perfectly.

£138 patacakekids.com