Given its name, the Cosatto Wow 3 has a lot to live up to. So is it one of the best newborn prams money can buy? We asked one of our parent gear reviewers, Flora Hinks, to put it to the test with her newest addition, five-week-old baby Ezra.

"Being a mum of four, I have used a few buggies and travel systems over the years but this one definitely has the best wheels," she says. "They are puncture-proof and have suspension at the back, which means the travel system can manage rougher terrain but also steers very nicely on pavements and shop floors. I don’t think it would manage very rugged mountain terrain, but it's perfect for the needs of our family."

Price and availability

The Cosatto Wow 3 is priced at £999.95 for a bundle including the chassis, carrycot, pushchair seat and infant car seat, making it one of the more expensive newborn prams in our lineup, but our tester wouldn't hesitate to rate it as good value for money. "You get a huge amount in one package, and it combines beauty, practicality and versatility," says Flora. "It goes above and beyond other travel system designs, with lots of little extra features that make such a difference in terms of usability and also enjoyment using it. For example, the stylish stitched bird print, the windows in the carrycot, the hidden fly net, the no-puncture wheels and the suspension. Having used cheaper or mid-range products with previous children, I would say this is worth the extra expense. The Cosatto Wow 3 oozes quality and well-considered design."

• VIEW AT COSATTO

Design and features

Weight limit: Birth to 24kg | Dimensions (folded): L82cm x W59cm x H29cm | Weight: 11.9kg (chassis and seat unit combined)

Our tester, Flora, had high hopes for the Cosatto Wow 3. Did it meet her expectations? "Absolutely yes, my five-week-old and I would say it has far exceeded them," Flora says. "As a mother of four, I have clocked up my fair share of buggy miles, but these have been some of my favourite."

Flora was particularly impressed by the striking print. She tested the Cosatto Wow in the 'Bureau' colourway, which is designed to evoke birdsong in Paris. "The travel system parts come in a beautiful matching 'Bureau' design, which is dark green with a lovely bird pattern throughout," Flora explains. "It attracts compliments every time we go out. Ezra loves looking at the internal bird design as he travels along and drifts off to sleep. The bird detailing is also on the outside, with a few beautiful birds stitched onto the external fabric."

Other key features include puncture-proof wheels and rear suspension for a smooth ride, an extended sun hood for extra protection, and a spacious under-seat basket for your groceries and essentials.

Prams that score high on style often fall short on practical features, but that's not the case with the Cosatto Wow 3. "It has some really cute and clever features like a window you can quietly open to check if the baby is still sleeping, and a hidden pocket in the carrycot top that holds a fly net for when you’re out and about. Plus, the extended sun hood is perfect for those brighter days," Flora adds.

How we tested

At GoodtoKnow, we've developed a product review testing process that is fair, consistent, and thorough. For this review, our Deputy Editor, Heidi Scrimgeour—who brings 19 years of experience as a mum and parenting journalist—assigned one of our product testers to roadtest the travel system with their child of the appropriate age for at least ten days. Our tester then:

• Assembled the travel system to evaluate the ease of setup.
• Used the pram with the carrycot and car seat attachments daily with her newborn baby for several weeks in various scenarios, including urban areas, shopping trips, and off-road in muddy environments.
• Assessed the safety, durability, and comfort of the pram, as well as its manoeuverability and ease of folding and storage.

Things you won't find on the box

Most prams might initially impress, but over the review period, testers often uncover design flaws. The Cosatto Wow 3, however, stood up impressively to scrutiny. "It's hard to fault this travel system, as its advantages outweigh any minor issues," says Flora. "Accessing the basket can be a bit tricky with the carrycot attached because the gap is quite small. It would be improved by widening this space to accommodate larger items more easily. Also, while you can unfold the chassis with one hand, folding it down requires both hands, unlike some smaller buggies we've used in the past."

Despite these minor points, Flora found more to love about the Cosatto Wow 3 upon closer inspection. "The adjustable handle is a fantastic feature, especially for my 6-foot-5-inch husband and me," she explains. "It's effortless to change heights, making it comfortable for both of us to push. Switching between the carrycot and the infant car seat using the adapters is also seamless, which has been incredibly convenient during shopping trips when Ezra stays asleep moving from car to pram."

Who's it best for?

Overall, Flora enthusiastically recommends the Cosatto Wow 3 to any parent seeking a stylish and versatile travel system packed with practical features. "It's a fantastic all-rounder that handles urban settings, school runs, and countryside day trips with ease," she says. "The thoughtful extras make using it a delight, and it truly lives up to its name. It stands apart from other travel systems and we've had numerous compliments. For our family, it combines everything we need for our newest addition."

Need an alternative?

The Cosatto Wow 3 is an impressive, versatile travel system that's likely to tick all of your boxes if it's within your budget. But if it's more than you were planning to spend, we have the perfect alternative; the Ickle Bubba Altima travel system has similar functionality but is a little more affordable at £599 for the chassis, car seat, carrycot and pushchair seat.

Looking for more? Discover our range of baby gear buying guides covering everything from the best travel systems to the best baby walkers.

As Family editor at GoodtoKnow, I know that dealing with feeding a family for three meals a day can be overwhelming.

In today’s fast-paced world, family mealtime can sometimes feel like a hassle, with busy schedules making it hard to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals. This is where air fryers have become a game-changer. Air fryers are a versatile and healthier option to cook food quickly without sacrificing flavour.

They use rapid air technology to crisp food with little to no oil, making them perfect for families who want tasty, healthier meals without all the mess and time. And with larger capacity air fryers now on the market, even bigger families can benefit from quick and efficient cooking.

And air fryers can do so much more than cook a splendid batch of ‘crisp on the outside, soft on the inside’ potato wedges (which the Lakeland Digital Crisp has down to a tee) - they can reheat leftovers, cook from frozen, toast bagels, even bake cupcakes.

One such air fryer that I’ve been using is the COSORI Smart Air Fryer TwinFry, 10L Grandzone & Dual Zone, and after several weeks of testing, I feel well-equipped to share an honest review highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

Price & availability

At the time of writing the COSORI Smart Air Fryer TwinFry retails for approximately £289.99 and is available on various online platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, and the official COSORI website. Prices may vary based on sales or promotions, so it’s worth checking multiple sources for the best deal.

Good value for money? Well, I think so yes. The sleek design and look of the machine, despite being bigger than expected, at 51.7cm wide and 31.2 cm deep, ticked a lot of boxes for me visually. It was simple to set up and was really easy to navigate, particularly down to the touchscreen digital display and handy leaflet on cooking times. Everything I cooked came out wonderfully with no burnt fish finger in sight.

Design & features

Capacity: 10L (x2 5.L) | Dimensions: 33.3H x 31.2D x 51.7cmW | Wattage: 2800W | Colour: Black | Functions: Air Fry, roast, bake, reheat, grill | Style: Basket | Max temp: 240 degrees Celcius | Dishwasher safe parts: yes

The COSORI Smart Air Fryer TwinFry is pretty big, I can't, so counter space is a must. One of the first things you’ll notice about the COSORI TwinFry is its sleek, modern design. The appliance is available in a sophisticated black and silver finish that fits seamlessly into any kitchen décor. Here are some of its standout features:

• 10L Capacity: This generous capacity is ideal for large families or meal prepping, allowing you to cook multiple servings at once.
• Dual Zone Technology: The TwinFry features two independent cooking zones, enabling you to prepare different dishes simultaneously. Each zone can be set to different temperatures and cooking times, which is a game-changer for busy cooks.
• Dual Blaze Technology: This feature enhances heating efficiency and ensures even cooking, delivering perfectly crispy results every time.
• Smart Controls: The air fryer is equipped with a user-friendly touchscreen interface, making it easy to select cooking modes, set timers, and adjust temperatures.
• Recipe App Integration: COSORI’s app provides a plethora of recipes tailored for the TwinFry, allowing you to explore new culinary adventures right from your smartphone.

Cooking capabilities

• Chicken Wings: Crispy and juicy, just like fried but without the guilt.
• French Fries: Perfectly golden and crispy, a family favourite.
• Vegetables: Roast or air fry your favourite veggies for a delicious, healthy side.
• Fish: Achieve a flaky, moist interior with a crispy exterior.
• Baked Goods: From cookies to muffins, the TwinFry can handle various baking tasks.
• Reheating Leftovers: Revitalize last night's dinner without making it soggy.

Performance

Whilst cooking, both the time and temperature flash at the top of the machine on a digital display panel, alternating between the two. The time counts down in seconds so you can keep a close eye on cooking - especially if you want to stop halfway through cooking to check on or shake the food. But then you can also rely on the wi-fi smart angle to keep an eye on it - great for when my kid needed me in the living room.

Having tested the COSORI TwinFry extensively, I can confidently say that it delivers on its promises. The dual zone technology allows you to prepare meals in record time. For instance, I cooked chicken wings in one basket while air frying sweet potato fries in the other. Both came out perfectly cooked, with the wings being delightfully crispy and the fries just the right amount of tender.

The dual blaze technology plays a crucial role in ensuring even cooking, eliminating the common issue of hot spots found in some air fryers. Moreover, the preheat feature is a handy addition, allowing the appliance to reach the desired temperature before cooking begins, which further enhances cooking efficiency.

From potato wedges to chicken nuggets, from cupcakes to cookies, this machine has delivered the goodies. One of my favourite things about the Cosori air fryer is the auto-off function, which means that as soon as the timer is up, the machine beeps several times and then switches itself off. Not only does it make this appliance even more energy efficient, but it also means your food won’t continue cooking or dry out while you're dealing with the usual family dinner juggles. A simple, yet effective function.

How we tested

• Skin on potatoes, tossed in a tablespoon of oil, and cooked on the ‘Fresh Fries’ pre-set function.
• Cooked frozen chips, fish fingers, and mini pizzas using the air fryer guide book, which accompanies this machine
• Homemade chicken goujons and breaded fish cooked using the manual function where you can set the temperature and cooking time yourself
• A trio of cupcakes or chocolate chip cookies baked on the ‘Baked Goods’ pre-set function; great if you want to bake only a few cupcakes or cookies at a time, not so good for bulk baking
• Roasting vegetables such as peppers, garlic, onion, carrot, broccoli and more
• Reheating leftovers like nuggets, pizza, and bubble and squeak from roast dinner scraps - using the manual setting to adjust the temperature and time accordingly

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

Before purchasing the COSORI Smart Air Fryer TwinFry, here are some practical insights that might not be evident on the box:

Cleaning: The removable baskets and trays are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze. However, the larger size may require some rearranging in the dishwasher.

Power Consumption: It operates at 1800W, which may impact energy costs if used frequently.

Caution with Cooking Times: Some users have noted that the recommended cooking times in the recipe app can sometimes be a bit off, so it’s best to monitor your food closely during the first few uses.

Who is it best for?

The range of pre-set functions on this model makes it a great choice for family cooking - particularly for smaller families, or those with younger kids who don’t eat someone out of the house and home.

• Large Families: Its 10L capacity makes it perfect for feeding multiple people.
• Busy Individuals: The dual-zone feature allows you to prepare two different dishes simultaneously, saving time in meal preparation.
• Health-Conscious Cooks: If you enjoy fried foods but want a healthier option, this air fryer is a fantastic choice.
• Culinary Explorers: With the app providing endless recipes, it’s perfect for those looking to try new dishes and techniques.

In summary, the COSORI Smart Air Fryer TwinFry is a robust and versatile appliance that can significantly enhance your cooking experience. Its dual zones, large capacity, and advanced technology make it a worthy investment for families looking to prepare healthier meals without sacrificing flavor. While it may require some initial learning, the benefits it offers far outweigh any drawbacks. Whether you're frying, baking, or reheating, the TwinFry is ready to make your cooking more efficient and enjoyable.

Looking for more? Discover the best air fryer cookbooks as well as the best air fryer recipes.

Mum Punteha and her eight year old daughter Amelia put the new Shimmerverse Pixlings doll and pet from Magic Mixies through it's paces to feed back on what it's like to play with and if it's worth your money.

If you're not familiar with the Magic Mixies offering, it's a range of mix and make toys that require your child to complete a series of engaging steps before magically revealing a special toy. These kinds of toys are best for children aged five and over (but do check the specific toy before you buy). Toys like this are not only super engaging for kids, but they'll also spark their imagination and help introduce them to the concept of delayed gratification.

One of the newest additions to the range is the Shimmerverse Pixlings doll and pet (it works in a similar way to the original Pixlings doll that we've reviewed previously). You might also like our review of another new addition to the range, the Pixie Supreme Magic Mirror.

Packaging and set up

"It came in a vertical plastic double-layered jar with a large screw-top plastic lid, and peel away plastic wrapping. There was no further external packaging," says Punteha. "The point of the jar was for a magic liquid potion to be added, and some steps follows before you open the lid up and remove the Pixling and her Pet, a 'Pegacorn' from it.

"Afterwards, there is no need to keep the jar and it is a sizeable amount of plastic to dispose of (30x17x16cm). It is unclear if this jar section can be recycled or not, but we have chosen to reuse ours to store craft items in so the plastic doesn't immediately go to waste.

In the box, you get:

• The Pixling doll
• The Pegacorn pet (it's half pegasus, half unicorn)
• Potion ingredients including colour liquid, fizzing moon rock, and dissolvable paper shapes
• A collectors guide and instruction manual

What's the play experience like?

Punteha says: "It definitely kept my daughter's interest as it was unusual, unique, and fun to do." As you mix the potion ingredients together in the bottle (you will need to add a bit of water), they combine to create a mystical (and shimmery) navy blue potion. Then as you say the magical words 'Magicus Mixus', you press and trist the gem on the top of the bottle and watch at the dark liquid turns clear, and reveals the doll and her pet in the centre of the bottle. Don't worry, they're kept away from the potion liquid, so they're not all soggy when you get them out. Punteha adds: "I lost count of the number of times Amelia shouted, 'Cool!' throughout the process. She really was in awe at various points and I can't blame her. The toy is seriously cool."

However, for the reveal part of this toy, adult supervision may be required as there are multiple steps to follow and it may get a little messy. as Punteha explains: "Though my daughter can read very well (she is a free reader at school), she was not able to follow the steps without supervision. There was a certain amount of stiffness to the toy's lid as well which took adult supervision. An older child may well be able to do it alone but I wonder at what age a child may no longer be interested in this. We needed scissors to open the liquid magic potions, a tray to capture the liquid mess, and paper towels to clear up the spills.

"I thought it would have less steps and be simpler to setup and use. As a parent who has a full-on job, chronic pain and limited energy, having to take my child through more than a dozen steps, many of which were messy and not possible to complete without supervision, this toy was harder to get going on than expected.

"It's also not a quick process. Be prepared to spend around 45 minutes working through the steps. You have to unbox, read the instructions and not all of them will make sense until you're at the step itself. It is not entirely intuitive and some of the instructions are not as clear as I would have liked. It left room for error which resulted in bit of a mess where the adding of the liquid portion was concerned because while the twist top lid of the jar needs to be kept shut to stop the liquid spilling out, there is another separate twist function that mixes the potion together."

Once you've revealed the Pixling doll and her Pegacorn, they can be played with again and again, but the magic potion part is sadly a one time deal. But both the doll and the pegacorn are really engaging in their own right. They are incredibly detailed, posable and kids will love their other-worldliness. Punteha adds: "The doll quality is great as expected with lovely rainbow colored synthetic hair that doesn't immediately become a tangled mess!"

Is it worth the money?

Punteha definitely thinks this unique toy is worth the money, saying: "The disappearing potion element is fun for children and adults alike, and it's good value for money. The potion fun makes it a special experience to have with your child. My daughter had a lot of excitement throughout the various stages and really enjoyed playing with the items it came with. It would make a really lovely birthday or Christmas present and a nice thing to do together with a child.

"The potion is certainly a novelty and something interesting to do. It does feel a bit of a gimmicky feature but the toys it comes with are of good quality and you might expect to pay that much for a doll and her pet on their own, if not more, so with the magic potion elements added on, I think they are good value for money. A barbie horse I looked at alone was £30 recently, and a doll of this this size and quality, you can easily expect to pay at least £20 for.

Overall, both Punteha and Amelia were big fans of the toy, despite the fact it got a little messy. "I had no idea what type of 'magic' the potion element would involve and was impressed by the mystical nature of it all. The way the inky potion cleared in the outer layer of the jar was unique and impressive and I still haven't figured out how that worked!"

Mum Punteha joined forced with her eight year old daughter Amelia to test the new Magic Mirror from Magic Mixies. Here she shares her thoughts on the toy to help you decide if you should buy it for your child.

If you're looking into the top Christmas toys, or your child has a birthday coming up, they might already have an idea of what they want. But it can be a minefield for parents to know which toys are worth the money and which are best avoided. Luckily, that's where we come in. We've tested loads of bestselling and newly released toys to help you decide which give the best value for money, and most enriching play experience for your child.

Suitable for kids aged five and over, and with the RRP of £69.99, the Magic Mirror is one of the newest releases from the Magic Mixies range of mix and make toys. You might already be familiar with the bestselling Pixlings. With the Magic Mirror, you follow similar potion mixing steps as with the Pixlings set, and once complete, a Pixie Supreme fashion doll is magically revealed. Afterwards, the mirror becomes a fortune teller, where you can ask it yes or no questions and it will answer them.

Packaging and set up

"The mirror comes with an outer box, with half of it open to view. The box is made from corrugated cardboard and is recyclable. There were lots of flaps on the outer box sealed with tape which needed cutting - at least 10. It was very secure but my daughter needed a little help getting those snipped. She was then able to open the rest of the box and remove the Magic Mirror herself," says Punteha.

The mirror does require three AA batteries to activate the 50 lights and sounds, and these aren't included, so make sure you have some on hand to avoid disappointment.

In the box, you get the mirror itself, which measures 32 x 12 x 34cm, a potion cup, potion ingredients (including dissolvable paper and a fizzing tablet), and a 25cm Pixie Supreme fashion doll once the magic reveal is complete. You will need small jug of water and some kitchen roll or a towel would be handy too.

While Amazon offers an exclusive Skyler doll, most other major retailers only offer the Luna doll variation. However, you have a one in six chance of finding the special edition Shimmer fashion doll, which adds to the reveal excitement.

What's the play experience like?

"There were lots of instructions to follow - 16 steps in total - and the Magic Mirror verbally talks you through them. Each time you complete a step in your time, you press the diamond on the interface to move on to the next. That was really helpful as it allowed me to enjoy the experience too and be immersed in Amelia's enjoyment, rather than flipping back and forth from a set of long instructions. It also helped my daughter do the steps by herself which gave her an enormous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction," says Punteha

But don't be put off by the number of steps, as Puteha explains: "It doesn't feel too arduous as the mirror talks you through each step. It is intuitive to play with and everything functions as it should making the experience fun and smooth for parent and child."

Once you have revealed the fashion doll (which is incredibly detailed and a brilliant toy in it's own right), the mirror can be used as a fortune teller, which extends the play experience further. Simply switch to fortune teller mode using the switch on the back of the mirror. Punteha adds: "It is really fun, even for the adults! I had a go later when Amelia had gone to bed and the way she answers yes/no questions is great because she has 50 responses and phrases and that keeps the magic and variety going. It definitely kept Amelia's interest and I have heard her talking to the Magic Mirror every day since we opened it, making it weeks of play and interest. Any friends she has had over for playdates have also loved it and the answers to their questions sent lots of giggles into the air!

"It's worth noting the confetti that pops up and out when you've completed the steps elicited a lot of laughter from Amelia and she said, 'I've never seen that before!' and truth be told, neither have I. It was a nice feature and a glittery pat on the back for getting through all the steps as directed."

Can you repeat the reveal?

Yes you can repeat the reveal as many times as you want. You'll need switch off the mirror using the switch on the back, and slot the doll back into its stand, making sure hair and clothing are tucked in, and then pull the handle on the back of the mirror until you hear it click. Hey presto! The doll is back inside the mirror. To start the process again, switch the mirror back on and press the diamond.

Not only will kids love trying to figure out how the magic works, they'll also be really excited to share the magic with their friends again and again.

Is the Pixie Supremes Mirror worth the money?

"The price is steep but the 50 responses and magical interaction of this talking mirror make it a special buy and worth the spend," says Punteha. "I really love this toy and if there is a special achievement to reward your child for, a 'main' birthday or Christmas present quota to fill, this would be a great choice as I've not seen interactive toys like this that retain interest for so long.

" I've not tried a toy that talks back before but I have tried other Magic Mixies potion or magic-led reveals. I found this one much easier to follow as the instructions are read out by the talking mirror. I didn't think its responses would be this unique and varied, so I enjoyed the lack of 'cookie cutter' interactivity. It's clear a lot of thought has gone into the testing and manufacturing process to make this one as easy, and enjoyable as possible to follow and play with."

For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

Mum-of-one Stephanie tested this Minion Ultimate Fart Blaster with her six-year-old son. Here, she shares her thoughts on whether you should add this to your child's toy collection.

Whether you're looking for a birthday pressie or one of the top Christmas toys for a child in your life, it can be difficult to know what's worth your money. Fortunately, that's where we step in. Here at GoodtoKnow, we test new and popular toys with the help of mini toy testers to help you spend your money wisely.

This time, we roped in mum Stephanie to test the Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster toy, with the help of her son, Ted. The fart blaster not only offers 15 different fart sounds that kids will absolutely adore, but it can also blast scented fog rings and can project a Minion image for kids to aim at. Each blaster comes with two different scents - stinky and banana.

Packaging and set up

The blaster is easily removed from its cardboard packaging, which will be a relief for parents who have an eager child standing right buy waiting to get their hands on it. You will need six AAA batteries, and these aren't included, so if you plan on buying this as a gift for a child outside of your immediate family, it's worth including a pack of batteries in with the wrapping.

In the box, you get the fart blaster toy, plus two bottles of scent liquid - one smells like banana, while the other is the ominous 'stinky' smell (although our tester found it wasn't as bad as she anticipated and smelled like burnt popcorn).

What's the play experience like?

Stephanie explained that her son enjoyed playing with the Fart Blaster, saying that Ted giggled his way through the experience as it spoke to the appeal of toilet humour and gross things with kids of this age.

"You pour the liquid into the hole on the side, press the black button and it starts the smoke coming out of the front, then press the grey button that sounds and makes the smoke blow into circles which made Ted giggle."

When it came to the scents the toy emitted, Stephanie was initially concerned. "It’s not as bad as I first thought. You pick from ‘stinky smell’ or banana scent. The stinky one is like burnt popcorn. It lingers for a few minutes but does disappear quite quickly. Fair warning though, you will have the machine thrust into your face so your child can make sure they ‘stink you,’ and the heat and smell that close to your nostrils are… well, a lot." So you might need to lay some ground rules beforehand. The blaster also emits a range of sound effects that Ted enjoyed, from fart noises, laughter and the iconic Minion chatter.

While Ted managed to operate the blaster without too much help, adult supervision is definitely required when it comes to pouring the scent liquid into the chamber. Stephanie explains: "The trickiest bit for the adult was pouring the liquid into the hole. If you spill it, it’s oil-like and makes the handle very slippy."

Speaking of the handle, Stephanie also found that "the pushing of the buttons on the handle seemed good for pincer grip too," but "they were quite clunky and hard for him to grip."

Does the Fart Blaster offer good value for money?

While Ted definitely enjoyed playing with the blaster, with an RRP of £30, Stephanie feels that it's expensive for what it is, largely because of the fact that the scent bottles are quite small and run out quickly: "The bottles that come with it to create the smoke and smell don’t have much in them, and I’m not sure what you could replace them with - it’s not like refilling bubbles with washing-up liquid."

Once the liquids have run out, we have spotted a seller on Etsy selling refills, but these are an ongoing cost, which again affects the toys value for money. Plus these unofficial refills are not available at major toy stores or on Amazon.

However, even if the liquid runs out, the sound effects and Minion connection offers a good opportunity for a child to use their creativity and engage in some imaginative play using the toy itself and sound effects alone.

For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

GoodtoKnow's Deputy Editor and mum of three Heid Scrimgeour tested the Smart Ball Kick Tracker with the help of her 10-year-old daughter Alba. Here she shares her experience and verdict on whether this toy is worth buying.

Touted as one of the best toys of 2024 by industry experts, the Smart Ball Kick Tracker is designed to help budding footie fans practice their keepie-uppie skills and track their progress.

Here Heidi and Alba give you all you need to know about this new toy, and highlight why it made it on to our list of the top Christmas toys.

What is the Smart Ball Kick Tracker?

"The Smart Ball Kick Tracker is a mini football with a built-in counter that tracks the number of keepie uppies you can do. It provides instant feedback which motivates kids to keep improving and try to beat their previous score," explains Heidi. "One of the best things about it is its simplicity. The counter is clearly displayed, and the ball itself is lightweight, durable, and easy to handle."

When it comes to age suitability, this toy is aimed at kids from the age of six, and Heidi thinks there is a sweet spot: "It's an entertaining and motivating item for younger players. It’s perfect for kids who are just getting into football and want a fun way to practice their skills."

When it comes to setting up the tracker, it's definitely child-friendly: "Set up is super easy and minimal set up and, yes, a kid could do it by themselves although it's more fun with an adult acting impressed at their keepie uppies."

What's the Kick Tracker like to play with?

"It's super appealing because kids can clearly see the item and the track counter, it's not all hidden away in packaging, plus most football-loving kids have seen YouTubers play with this so it has got kudos," says Heidi. "The play experience is really fun, you just clip it to your clothing and start your keepie uppies while the counter ticks away. It's really motivational, the determination to beat your previous score is high!"

However, older children who are more skilled ball players may find the kick tracker has some limitations. Heidi adds: "It's not perfectly accurate in counting each touch, which gets frustrating, and means the novelty wears off quite quickly, especially for older children or more experienced players who aren't challenged enough. Also, it’s worth noting that the ball is slightly smaller than a standard football, which might not appeal to everyone - confident players would prefer to just practice with a real ball and count for themselves."

Does it offer good value for money?

In Heidi's opinion, the Smart Ball Kick Tracker definitely offers good value for money: "It's tricky to find a football gift or toy for less then £20, so this is the perfect birthday or Christmas pressie for a footie-loving kid." As well as the affordable price tag, this kick tracker is great for encouraging an active lifestyle for kids from a young age, a habit that they can take with them into adulthood. Ten-year-old Alba also added that the smaller sized football is actually really helpful for developing better ball control.

If you are looking for a gift for an older, more confident player, this might be a little too simplistic and the novelty might wear off quite soon, especially that the tracker isn't may miscount. Heidi says: "It’s a little bit disappointing because it's not perfectly accurate and will still count it as a keepie uppie if it just hits off your leg or the furniture.

We expected it to be great fun but a bit short lived because our tester is 10 and a confident player, so we think it's definitely better suited to a younger kid or less experienced player." Resetting the counter also seemed to take a while. It should take 10 seconds, but according to Heidi and Alba's testing, they found it took longer.

However, for younger kids building their skills from scratch, this is a really fun way for them to build their skills, track their success, and improve on previous scores.

You might also like...

For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

I tested out StoryPhones, the storytelling headphones for kids, with the help of a four-year-old. Here's what they were like to use, how they work and ultimately whether they are worth your money.

Screen-free audio players for kids are having a moment right now - from the Toniebox to the Yoto audio player - and for good reason. These devices are designed to be used by kids from the age of three, promoting independent learning and play, and so have super simple controls that are perfect for little hands.

But with more than one option to choose from - how do you know which is right for your child? Fortunately, I've tested them all with the help of my four-year-old nephew Max - here's how we got on when testing the newest option on the market - StoryPhones.

What are Storyphones?

Suitable for kids aged three and over, Storyphones are essentially an all-on-one storytelling headphone audio player.

They offer a screen-free (and hands-free) way for kids to enjoy stories, allowing them to learn and play independently. The headphones offer a great audio player solution for when you're on the go. Audio is played via 'shields' which are thin discs that are slotted into the headphones.

There are different kinds of shields that you can use with the StoryPhones:

• StoryShields - children's stories from the likes of Disney and Pixar
• PlayShields - these offer the option to record your own stories or songs. Your headphones should come with a PlayShield in the box, and you can record your own audio using the Storyphones app.
• ZenShields - these are also included with your headphones, and offers soothing sounds, like rainfall, waves and classical piano, to help kids calm down and unwind, and even fall asleep.

The headphones are available in different colours - grey or white, or you can choose a Disney-themed pair, in either blue or pink. I tested a grey pair. There are three listening modes too - Story, Bluetooth and Wired.

Packaging and set up

The StoryPhones come in attractive and compact packaging, so they'd make a lovely gift for a child. Not only does the packaging include all of the instructions to need to set up the headphones, there is also a picture to colour in, which I thought was a really nice touch, especially considering these headphones are aimed at kids.

It doesn't take long to set up the StoryPhones, but you will need to download the StoryPhones app on to your smartphone, and register in order to complete the set up. This was relatively simple, although it took a couple of attempts for me to set the language and link the StoryPhones - not that it was difficult, just that the first attempt failed. The process was complete in about five minutes.

What you get in the box

• StoryPhones
• PlayShield, with customisable stickers
• ZenShield (already attached to the StoryPhones)
• Travel bag
• Audio cable
• USB-C charger

What you get in the pack ultimately depends on the package you buy. If you buy one of the Disney-themed sets, instead of a PlayShield and ZenShield, you will get two Disney StoryShields instead.

What are StoryPhones like to use?

When you first add a StoryShield to the headphones, you need to be connected to WiFi and you have to wait a minute or so (depending on your WiFi connection) for the content to download, before you can listen to the story. However, you should only need to do this once. Once the story has been downloaded, you should be able to listen to the StoryShield anywhere at any time, without being connected to WiFi.

Attaching and switching a shield: I found it really easy to attach a shield - they are magnetic - but I definitely had to show Max how to make sure the shield was attached properly - it needs to sit flush over the grooves on the outside of the headphones. The grooves and ridges are there so that when the shield is twisted, you can move through chapters of the story.

Controls: The shield fits on the outside of one ear cover, while on the other, you'll find simple volume and skipping controls. These are really easy to use, although when Max was having a listen, he was so engrossed in the story that he didn't use the controls at all. But older children may be more inclined, especially as they grow in independence and start to want control their own listening experience.

Volume: When it comes to volume, I think the default setting does have too high a maximum volume that could be damaging for younger ears. However, parents can choose from three volume limits (depending on the age of their child) in the app, so make sure you do this before giving the StoryPhones to a child for the first time.

Auto switch off and battery life: After 15 minutes of being idle, the StoryPhones will switch off, (you can just pop a shield on to start playback again) and with one full charge, you can get up to 20 hours of playtime. This is close to the battery life of the Yoto, and significantly higher than the battery life of the Toniebox, which is about seven hours.

Comfort: When it comes to comfort, the StoryPhones have very soft cushioning, which means they won't hurt your little one's ears. or their head, and they are adjustable - at their biggest, even I could wear them comfortably.

StoryPhones listening modes

A real plus of the StoryPhones is that they can act as regular headphones too. There are three different listening modes with StoryPhones:

• StoryMode - This is when you attach a shield and listen to the stories or sounds determined by your choice of shield
• BluetoothMode - Connect your StoryPhones to your smartphone via bluetooth, and your little one can listen to music or audio books that may be on your phone.
• WiredMode - Your StoryPhones come with a 3.5mm jack audio cable, which means that you can physically connect the headphones to another device and listen via a wired connection.

How do Storyphones compare to Yoto and Tonies?

Storyphones offer quite a different listening experience compared to a Toniebox or Yoto player. While the other players have the option to listen with headphones or on a speaker, StoryPhones are 100 per cent headphones, which means they can be particularly suitable for children who may share rooms (while wanting to listen to different things), or for kids who want to sit with friends or family while they listen to their own stories, instead of boring grown up conversations or TV programmes.

StoryPhones can also be particularly useful when travelling, especially if you are trying to keep a child calm and entertained at the same time. If you already have a Yoto Mini, then you've probably already sussed a travel-friendly audio player option, but if you have a Toniebox or a larger Yoto playet, you may find them too bulky to take on holiday.

The shields themselves are circular (they almost feel like a badge, but without the pin). These are smaller that Tonies or Yoto cards, but while that might be good from a storage point of view, it does make them easier to lose, especially if you have a growing collection. There is no official storage option available as yet, like the Yoto card wallet, but if you only have a few shields, they will easily fit in the carry back along with the StoryPhones for the time being.

Are StoryPhones worth the money?

StoryPhones have a price tag of £80-90, depending on which StoryPhones you buy and where you buy them from, and shields cost about £13 if you buy them individually. Shield bundles are available, with four shields for about £38, which works out at about £9.50 per shield. Price-wise, this is pretty much on par with Yoto and Tonies.

But what really adds to the value of these headphones is that they can also be used as regular headphones, which means they can grow with your child, even as their tastes change. The headphones are neutral enough that they won't feel too childish as your kid grows, and they are adjustable so will always offer a comfortable fit.

Should you buy StoryPhones if you already have a Yoto or Toniebox?

Whether you should buy StoryPhones if you already have another audio player in your collection will depend on a few factors.

If you want something suitable for travel, then StoryPhones are a great option as they are more compact that the Toniebox or larger Yoto player. However, if you already have a Yoto Mini, they you might find you already have your travel needs covered.

If you want your child to enjoy their audio player through headphones, then you can buy player specific headphones. Yoto headphones are wireless and cost about £35, while Tonies headphones are wired and cost about £25. But if you want headphones that can also act as an audio player in their own right, then StoryPhones will also work with the Toniebox and Yoto player, via a wired connection.

For more toy news, Yoto has launched new Harry Potter cards in response to huge demand, and we round up this year's top Christmas toys based on our hands-on testing.

I tried the brand new Connetix Magnetic Tiles Roads Creative Pack with my four year old nephew. Here's our verdict on what they are like to play with, and if they are worth the £135 price tag.

Magnetic tiles are hugely popular with kids, so it'll come as no surprise that toys like this make it on to our list of the top Christmas toys for this year. My nephew Max, age four, is a big fan of construction toys, and has has a set of magnetic tiles since his third birthday. As well as building vertical structures, he's also used his existing set to make tracks and trails for his array of car and tractor toys. But while these tracks were colourful, they were lacking any real complexity.

Enter the new Roads Creative Pack from Connetix, a collection of 48 black tiles that enable kids aged three and over to build more exciting tracks, including ramps, roundabouts, tunnels and more.

What is it?

The Roads Creative pack is one of two sets in Connetix's new Road range, offering road-based construction play for kids. The first set contains 48 pieces and will give you everything you need to create a fun road set up. The second set extends the scope of play - the Roads, Ramps & Intersections Pack features 16 pieces, including sturdy ramps of different lengths, extra intersection pieces, and more turns.

The tiles don't have any road marking on them, so there's no restriction on play and your little one's imagination can literally run wild when it comes to their creations. At the same time, the tiles will help their developmental skills, like hand-eye coordination and problem-solving, while also broadening their knowledge of STEAM learning concepts, like magnetism, gravity, motion, shape and light refractions.

While the tiles are perfect for independent and collaborative play from the age of three, this toy will grow with your child as the learn how to create more complex structures and layouts. This means repetitive play is easy, and there'll be something new to create every time.

Packaging and set up

The tiles come neatly packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, along with a little booklet of road inspiration, that shows you lots of different ways to configure the tiles. The 48 tiles are organised by their shape in the box, which means you can clearly see the different shapes (all the tiles are black so this is really useful). They are ready to play with straight away.

The magnets are quite strong with these tiles, so younger kids might need a bit of help separating them from each other, especially on the larger tiles. But apart from one instance, Max managed to separate the tiles himself.

What do you get in the box?

• 4 x ramps
• 4 x turns (curved tiles)
• 4 x T-intersections
• 4 x R-intersections
• 20 x squares
• 2 x rectangles (the size of two squares)
• 2 x rectangles (the size of three squares)
• 4 x quarter circles
• 4 x small rectangles (the size of half a square)

What's it like to play with?

The tiles are really fun to play with, and there are endless possibilities when it comes to configurations you can make. The magnets are strong enough that any construction can hold its shape well, but as with any toys of this nature, the structures are not indestructible.

Familiar with the tiles and how they work, Max was straight in there making tracks, but was really excited when he saw he could make ramps for his cars. It took him a couple of goes to understand that he needed some kind of support under the ramp to make it sturdier as he drove his toy bus over it.

While we worked on the first layout together, Max was keen to take over and come up with his own. I really enjoyed seeing his imagination really lighting up, and once he'd built a road, he wanted to incorporate other toys, like the trees from his farmyard set, into the mix to make it more real.

Beyond building a road, he also used the tiles to create a tower and for a version of the floor is lava using his stuffed toy. It's great that he didn't feel limited in what the shapes could be used for. Max was also super excited to show his dad the tiles, as they quite often play together building really fun structures with his other magnetic tiles.

Is it good value for money?

While some magnetic tiles are cheaper than others, Connetix are often at the more expensive end of the scale. The Roads Creative set has a RRP of £135 so they aren't cheap. That price works out at £2.81 per tile, whereas other sets of magnetic tiles, like these from Amazon, could be closer to 0.61p per tile.

However, Connetix tiles are known for their signature strong magnets and are more durable than some other cheaper tiles on the market that may not be able to stand up to enthusiastic hands.

If your budget will stretch, then the Connetix tiles are a lovely high-quality option, and a great companion set for other Connetix tile sets you may have (or have on your wishlist). But if the price tag is just too high, we've listed some fun alternatives below.

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For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

Mum Punteha tested the new Freezy Cakez Fridge playset from Cookeez Makery with her eight year old daughter Amelia - here's how they got on and whether they think this toy is worth the money.

You might already be familiar with the Cookeez Makery Baked Treats Oven that's taken the toy market by storm, and now there is a new addition to the brand's mix and make toys - the Freezy Cakez set.

Suitable for children age five and over and with a price tag of £40, we predict this being hugely popular, and have even touted it as one of the top Christmas toys of the year. Read on to find out why it's worth your money.

What is the Freezy Cakez Fridge?

The Freezy Cakes playset is a mix and make toy that is great for promoting curiosity and wonder, and teaching kids about patience and delayed gratification. The idea is you mix up and make a cake mix complete with ice cream decoration and a plastic wafer, mold it, then pop it in the magic fridge for 20 seconds.

When the timer pings, your cake has magically transformed into a interactive and scented plushie. When you first take it out of the freezer, your plush pet will be shivering so you'll need to cuddle it to warm it up.

There are different pets to collect, Strawberry Unicake, Minty Polar Bear and Tiger Berry Ripple and it's a surprise as to which one you will create.

Packaging and set up

The playset comes in a partially open cardboard box that showcases the mint green fridge. The box is recyclable. When you open the fridge, you'll find all of the ingredients you need inside, including the instructions. There are also some plastic transit screws that an adult will need to remove before you can play with it.

What you get in the box

• Fridge
• Interactive plush (this is hidden to start with)
• Toy cake mix
• Toy ice cream
• Plastic wafer decoration
• Dough mold
• Scoop
• Measuring jug
• (You will also need some water and a mixing bowl, and towel or wet cloth might be handy to wipe off any messy hands)

Once you have removed the transit screws and got your ingredients ready, you are ready to go. However, our tester Punteha did flag that she found the instructions a little unclear: "It was a little confusing as the instructions say to turn it on but there is no visible button on the fridge and the image in the instructions is just a close up of the on/off button." The on-off button (and the battery compartment) are actually located on the plush toy and not the fridge, and you won't need to turn anything on before the initial reveal (but more on when you might need to, when we cover repeat play later in the review).

What's the Freezy Cakez Fridge like to play with?

"It is very cute and looks almost like a retro Smeg fridge. It's very nice to look at and Amelia was straight to the door to see if it opened, which it did. She immediately talked about what she was going to do with the fridge when the set up was done so she was definitely engaged and excited about that.

"My daughter needed a little supervision with the dough-making parts of the setup so it’s worth keeping in mind to do this when you have time to supervise. It was messy too as the toy cake mix is powdery and light and can go flying off. We also ended up adding more water than instructed to the dough as it didn't feel like it was coming together as it should."

When it comes to the magical reveal, once the molded dough is placed in the fridge and the door is closed, you turn the temperature dial on the fridge, which triggers a hidden platform to drop down, revealing the plush toy. The original platform, where you place the dough, also drops down so it doesn't get squished and make an doughy mess.

After the initial reveal, the playset effectively becomes two toys in their own right - an interactive pet and a fun fridge. Punteha adds: "Amelia has really enjoyed both the interactive plushie, taking it to bed with her and cuddling it because it purrs and chitters when cuddled, as well the fridge itself which has become the daily focus of different imaginative games she’s been inspired to play, such as Amelia’s kitchen and Amelia’s takeaway and cafe.

"Amelia has always loved kitchen, baking and role-play inspiring games, playing with them since she was two and always returning to them for many months at a time and this little fridge has lots of potential for continued play. We've had kids' microwaves and ovens before but none had the interactive 'ding' battery-led functions so that's been a lovely novelty for Amelia and makes it seem more 'real' and therefore enjoyable for her."

How easy is repeat play?

While mixing the dough using the ingredients from the playset is a one-time thing, you can repeat the reveal time and again. You get a little resealable plastic bag in the set which can help you to keep the dough from drying out (worst case scenario, or if you want to repeat the full experience, you could make your own play dough).

To repeat the magic reveal, you'll need to open the Velcro flap on the underside of the plush toy and set the switch back to fridge mode. Then you place the plushie back in the fridge, facing the side, and lift the platform up and push it until you hear the click that secures it in place. That action will reveal your dough on the lower platform, which you can take out and remold to start again.

Is the Freezy Cakez Fridge good value for money?

With an RRP of £40, the Freezy Cakez playset, isn't a budget buy, but as Punteha explains, it's well worth the money: "Overall, I think the Cookeez Makery fridge is worth the spend as it’s two toys and a nice activity rolled into one. It’s not been a novelty toy that gets put aside within a couple of days and looks to have quite a bit of longevity.

"As her mum, I really love hearing that little tiger plushie being activated by Amelia when she's playing by herself. It's been especially soothing at bed time after she's on her own and before she falls asleep. She plays calmly with the plushie and really enjoys the responsiveness of it. If it's not being held, it shivers and when you press it close to you, it purrs and stops shivering. It's a really lovely toy.

However it might not be the toy for everybody: "If your child has some sensory sensitivities in play, the powder and water mix might not be quite right for them as it’s either quite crumbly and messy, or a bit sticky," says Punteha.

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As Food Editor at GoodtoKnow, I have tested an abundance of air fryers over the years and most have impressed me, however, none have won me over like the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer. This one has set the bar high… and I mean high.

If you’re looking for a multifunctional air fryer that takes air frying to a whole new level, I give you the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer - one of the best family air fryers currently on the market. A smart, easy-to-use machine that features a variety of air fry cooking presets alongside the ability to roast, grill, bake, and reheat food. It’s a game changer that's for sure, and I haven’t even mentioned the removable divider for cooking larger foods, as well as the baking trays and mesh trays which are included, the handy draw at the bottom of the machine and the ‘French door’ style cooking compartments either. It’s a good’un. 

The Breville Halo Flexi air fryer made family cooking a breeze for me during testing as it has a whopping 11-litre capacity, which certainly came in handy when cooking a whole roast chicken. A little more complex than some of the other air fryers I’ve tested, as it features so much more and includes so many more accessories, it's worth spending some time diving into the tips and advice featured in the instruction booklet before you get started - so don’t unbox just before dinner time otherwise you’ll have a riot on your hands. 

If you’re looking to jump on the air fryer bandwagon or you want to upgrade your current model, here’s everything you need to know about the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer and why I think it is by far one of the best family air fryers out there.

Price & availability

At the time of writing the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer is priced at £229.99 from various retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, and Currys. 

It’s at the higher end of the budget when compared to other 11-litre capacity dual air fryers however you’re paying for all the extras you get with this model including all the accessories, various functionalities on the machine, and the ability to transform your air fryer from dual to single just by removing a simple divider - genius. 

Design & features

Capacity: 11-litre | Dimensions: Approx. 41.2D x 40.5W x 41.2H cm | Wattage: 2400 W | Colour: Black  | Functions: Air fry, turbo crisp, roast, grill, bake & reheat | Style: Dual Basket with removable divider | Max temp: 200 degrees celsius | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes

The Breville Halo Flexi air fryer is a smart, stylish-looking machine that certainly looks the part on your kitchen counter. It is big, however, for the capacity and volume you get within the machine, I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t extra large and didn’t take up masses of counter space. Unboxing was relatively easy as the air fryer comes in minimal packaging, the accessories, however, have quite a bit of plastic wrapped around them so you may need a pair of scissors on hand (unless you’d like to use this opportunity to release some pent-up anger). I’ve never unboxed an air fryer with so many accessories included and unwrapping one after the other was rather exciting. With the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer, you get two cooking baskets with airflow trays, two small mesh trays, two small roasting trays, one large roasting tray, and a basket handle.

Once out of the box, you can admire this modern machine in all its glory, from a touchscreen display to a sleek black top, easy access storage drawer at the bottom, and the doors… don’t even get me started on the doors. With standard dual air fryers, basket drawers open by pulling them towards you, but these doors unclip and fold down - I believe the trending term is ‘French door’ air fryers - and I love them. The baskets aren’t attached to the doors, instead, they can be fully removed from the air fryer using a basket handle which is included. Having the baskets unattached makes cleaning them a dream, plus each basket comes with an airflow tray to ensure optimal cooking each time.

After swooning over the ‘French doors’ my attention moved to the storage drawer at the bottom of the machine. I wasn’t sure what the little tab was a first but just push gently down with your finger and ta-dah, there is a secret hidden compartment underneath the machine where the two small roasting trays and the large roasting tray can be kept. Such a fantastic idea and great for keeping accessories tucked away. 

Inside the oven of the air fryer you have two separate sections; section one and section two. You can set different temperatures, times and use both sides of the machine at the same time or individually. You can also sync the drawers to finish cooking at the same time. There are grooves either side of each section wall so you can slot the small roasting trays and mesh trays into place. You can then layer your cooking, so you could have a mesh tray of chips cooking at the top of one section, you could have a roasting tray of chicken nuggets underneath that. And then in the second section, you could have a basket of vegetables, or a mesh tray and roasting tray all over again. You can literally cook four things at once if you wanted to.

Now, lets talk about that removable divider I’ve mentioned. The removable divider or partition wall as I like to call it, can be slid (well, pulled gently) out of the machine once both doors are fully open and down. Sliding the removable divider allows you to cook using the machine as a whole, so the section one and section two functionality no longer work and the machine is seen at a singular air fryer. This was revolutionary for me. I have been dreaming of cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer for as long as I can remember and I’ve had minimal success using other models (there just wasn’t enough space for the medium chicken we like to have with our Sunday roast) until the Breville Halo Flexi air fryer came into my life. Once the divider has been removed, its time to get the large roasting tray involved. I went straight in for the whole chicken, but you can cook an abundance of foods using the machine as a full 11-litre capacity air fryer. Think cakes, tray bakes, cookies, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, a whole gammon or ham joint… the list goes on.

After reading the instruction booklet a couple of times, and deciding whether to cook in baskets, trays or mesh trays, it was time to start cooking. The cable is a reasonable length so plugging the machine to the mains was a piece of cake - just remember to give the air fryer some space around the back of the machine for airflow. For cooking I tested all of the air fryer preset functions as well as the other functions to grill, bake and turbo crisp, and was rather happy with the results, particularly the air frying functionalities. The other functions I saw as an added bonus to have, but I wanted to air fry most foods as it’s much quicker, and in some cases, like when it came to making potato wedges or BBQ sticky chicken, I saw better results air frying over roasting or grilling for example. 

When it comes to setting the machine ready for cooking, if you’re dual cooking, you select the number one section, choose your preset function, or manually adjust the time and temperature with a click of a button. You can also choose to sync cooking end time so both number one and number two sections finish cooking at the same time. You then move over to choose number two and programme accordingly. The play/pause button starts cooking. You can pause anytime during cooking, or you can just open the door and the machine will automatically stop. When using the air fryer as a singular air fryer, removing the divider, the touchscreen will only display number one section which you can then programme to your needs.

The fan noise of the air fryer didn’t offend me at all and went completely unnoticed in my busy kitchen. I would say it was on par with the level of my conventional oven in terms of noise.  And the machine didn’t overheat or feel ridiculously hot to touch externally either after cooking which is good to know with my kid's inquisitive hands around.

How we tested

• Vigorously tested for a month by a busy working mum feeding two hungry school children (one of whom eats just as much as I do), a husband (who eats more than we all do put together), and a dog - who enjoyed any type of scraps she could get her paws on.
• Foods cooked in this machine included: Whole chicken, fish fingers, breaded chicken, potato wedges, frozen chips, corn on the cob, roasted veg (peppers, mushrooms, onion, carrots, sweet potato, garlic, etc.), new potatoes, chocolate chip cookies, sausages, chicken wings and drumsticks, chicken nuggets, garlic bread and more.
• The air fryer was assessed based on how easy it was to use, navigate, and set up, how well it cooked food using the pre-set functions and manual settings, what it looked like, and how big, noisy, and efficient the machine was overall.

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

With most air fryer machines, preset functions are included - these are set temperatures and times for specific foods; be it chicken, chips, fish, etc. however, don’t be afraid to go against the grain on this one and opt to manually override and choose your own time and temperatures. I found this worked for me quite a few times, especially now I’ve tested a range of different air fryers, knowing that a certain food is best cooked at a certain temperature and time, instead of going with the presets, it sometimes gave me better results. However, if you’re new to the air fryer world, the presets are a great place to start.

Another point worth mentioning is that during the cooking process, when air frying the machine beeps half way through cooking to tell you to ‘flip’ the foods. This is a great reminder when cooking chips, sausages or fish cakes, etc. certain foods that would benefit from being shook or flipped during cooking so they are crisp and golden all over. However, you don’t need to ‘flip’ everything so you can ignore the ‘flip’ beep if you want (I won’t tell if you don’t) as it's a good reminder, but not necessary for every food.

When opening and closing the doors, a light comes on. The light automatically turns off during cooking, however if you want to check on foods without opening the doors, you can click on the lightbulb icon on the touchscreen display and it will turn on for a minute or two whilst you check the foods through the door windows. The windows are yet another super handy feature which I appreciated when testing this machine, as the control freak in me likes to keep a close eye on food cooking, as burnt food is a big no-no.

Now, let's talk about cleaning. The box says that the accessories are dishwasher safe, however, washing them in a dishwasher isn’t necessary and if you’re happy to wash them in warm soapy water - go for it as it works just as well. It will probably make the trays and mesh trays last longer. After each use, I soaked the baskets, tray, and mesh trays for about half an hour or so before cleaning, and I used a non-abrasive sponge. Cleaning juices from the whole chicken, burnt honey from the sticky BBQ chicken wings I made, and cookie dough that escaped down the air-flow trays was easy peasy after light soaking. Even the splatters from sausages and garlic bread came out like a dream.

One thing worth mentioning that did bug me about this machine was the fingerprints and dust marks. Maybe it's just me, but as the model is so sleek and black and wonderful, you want to keep it pristine but that isn’t always possible (especially with kids in the house) so there was a fair amount of damp cloth wiping, probably daily. 

Who is it best for?

There are various reasons why buying an air fryer is a good investment; they’re energy-efficient, tend to cook food quicker and make a great replacement for your oven but one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an air fryer is whether it will suit your family’s needs or not. Large families catering to different dietary requirements would probably benefit from a bigger model, however, individuals, couples, or smaller families might benefit from a single-basket fryer depending on how much you plan on using it or what you want to cook in it. 

The Breville Halo Flexi air fryer certainly ticks a box for larger families looking to cook multiple meals at once. During testing, I was cooking for a family of four daily. Occasionally we had friends over, playdates, etc. and I had no trouble increasing portion sizes or cooking different foods in the Breville Halo Flexi. It replaced my oven for the month of testing and I cooked everything from roast chicken to a tray of chocolate chip cookies, from chicken wings to frozen chips.

Need an alternative?

Suppose you love the idea of owning a Breville air fryer but this one is a little out of your price range or maybe is too big. In that case, I’d recommend the Breville Halo VDF126 air fryer - a single-basket air fryer that I’ve tried and tested recently (Breville Halo air fryer review) and is a powerhouse. It’s an older model so is much cheaper too. 

Otherwise, if your heart is set on a dual air fryer I would highly recommend the Lakeland Dual basket air fryer, which I’ve also reviewed (Lakeland Dual basket air fryer review) it is a smaller 8-litre model, however, it has plenty of room for family cooking - and is super easy to use and set up too. 

Or if you’re looking for something even bigger, our Consumer Editor Heidi, highly recommends the Proscenic T31 15-litre air fryer - perfect for larger families.

Looking for more? Discover the best air fryer cookbooks as well as the best air fryer recipes. 

I visited the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham with my four-year-old-nephew Max (bringing my mother along for the ride). Here's what our experience was like, and what I'd recommend if you were planning a visit.

Finding things to do with kids can be a minefield, especially during school holidays. And with many attractions having significant entrance fees, it can feel like a gamble as to whether your day out is going to be a roaring success or a washout.

To help, here's how I got on with a trip to the Sea Life Centre Birmingham, what you can expect when you get there, and ultimately whether it's worth the money.

What is a Sea Life Centre?

If you're not familiar with any of the Sea Life attractions dotted around the country - there's eleven in the UK, including Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester, London and Hunstanton. Each centre offers a great opportunity for the whole family to get up close and personal with loads of marine creatures, and learn all about them and their habitat. The specific features or displays at Sea Life may vary by location - for example, the Hunstanton centre is the only one in the UK which has a seal hospital.

While some of the centres might have a bit of an outdoor exhibit, they are largely indoor attractions which means they are perfect for keeping the kids entertained whatever the weather.

How much does Sea Life Birmingham cost?

How much you pay for Sea Life Birmingham will ultimately depend on when you go and how far in advance you book, but adult tickets tend to start from about £20 per person off peak when booked in advance, up to about £27, and child tickets start from about £18 and go up to £25.

We went on a Tuesday in early August during the school holidays, and it cost us £62.50 for two adults and a child. This was including a 50 per cent discount (based on the on-the-day price) on the child's ticket, so it was £12.50 for my nephew and £25 for each of the adults. A visit to the centre is expected to last between 90 minutes and two hours (although once you're in, there is no set limit on how long you can stay).

It's worth noting that you can use your Tesco Clubcard rewards to purchase your tickets, which can be a great way to reduce the cost.

Key attractions

Penguin and sea otter exhibits

The first exhibit we came to was the Gentoo penguins, which Max made a beeline for. There's lots of viewing space, although at busy times, you might need to wait to get a really good spot at the front. As well as seeing the penguins waddle around on the surface, you also go down a little ramp where you can see them swimming in the pool in their enclosure. The penguins were really active, and seemed just as curious as Max, coming right up to the glass, something which Max absolutely loved. He'd even insisting on taking his Kidnoculars to make sure he didn't miss a thing.

In a similar enclosure, we also got a really good look at a sea otter (which was surprisingly large) and listened to the guide sharing lots of interesting facts about it's habitat, diet and appearance.

Sharks and rays

There are multiple large tanks in Sea Life attraction, each filled with multiple creatures, and there is plenty of space to get a really good look. These large tanks are open at the top, so adults can look in over the top, but for kids, the glass sides go low enough that even little ones in pushchairs have a really good vantage point. Our favourite was the tank that included bamboo sharks, guitar fish (which look like a cross between a stingray and a shark), and unicorn fish.

Shark-obsessed Max was utterly mesmerised by the bamboo shark, and more so when one of the helpful guides came over to share some really interesting facts about the creatures. He was also great at adapting the information so it was accessible to Max, pointing out the shark's gills and explaining their purpose.

Small tanks

As you move into the smaller exhibits, where there is just one species in each display, you'll see some iconic sea creatures, like the clown fish (hi Nemo!), sea horses and jelly fish. Max was absolutely flabbergasted to discover that jellyfish are older than the dinosaurs!

As well as the cool displays, there is also a little tunnel for kids to crawl through, and pop their heads up to look at a display from the inside.

360-degree underwater tunnel

The most amazing part of our trip to Sea Life was right at the end when you step into the UK's only 360 degree tunnel. This was incredible. Not only is it a wonderfully immersive experience, but you get a really good look at some of the larger creatures at the centre including sharks, rays, guitar fish and turtles.

I could have spent hours in there, just staring in wonder, but that was probably a tall ask with an excitable four year old in tow. It's all the more fascinating when you realise that the centre offers sleepovers in the tunnel!

What are the facilities like?

Food and drink: There are no food and drink facilities at Sea Life Birmingham, and you're not allowed to eat and drink your own food on the way round either. However, the centre is located right in the heart of Brindley Place, which is filled with restaurants and cafes, and you're about a 10 minute walk from Grand Central shopping centre, which has loads more eateries.

Toilets and baby change: There are toilets, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities at the attraction. They were clearly signposted, and clean.

Pram accessibility: While the venue is on different levels, it's really pram (and wheelchair) friendly, as you move through the levels via a ramp, and can take a lift down to the underwater tunnel. However, at the busiest times, you may find having a pushchair in tow slows you down, so if you can manage without one, you might prefer it.

Lockers and storage: There aren't any cloakroom, locker or Buggy Park facilities in the centre.

Photos: There are a couple of opportunities to have a family photo taken, which is available to purchase at the end of your visit. But if you don't want to do that, you can take your own pictures as you go round, although the use of flash photography is prohibited as it can be harmful to the creatures.

Autism and specific sensory needs: If your child has autism or specific sensory needs, then the centre's Quiet at the Aquarium could be right up your street. On selected dates, the aquarium opens an hour early and offers a quieter experience, where the centre music is turned off, and any TVs have the volume lowered. There are limited tickets available at £13 per person, and they must be booked online and in advance of your visit. Quiet sessions tend to run on the first Sunday of every month - check the website to see when Quiet at the Aquarium is running.

Payments: It's worth knowing that the Sea Life centre is cashless, including the gift shop.

Gift shop: There is a decent sized gift shop on your way out of the centre, with toys, key rings, magnets, tumblers and more available for a variety of budgets.

Is Sea Life worth the money?

After seeing the look on my nephew's face as we made our way round the Sea Life Centre, it was definitely money well spent - he's mad about sharks and this was his first time seeing any in real life, and I could almost see the experience becoming a core memory for him. For Max, every display was something else to marvel at, and he was buzzing about it all the way home, and still talks about the tunnel and the sharks even weeks later.

However, for an experience that took us just 90 minutes, I was glad that we had benefited from a bit of a discount. If we paid full price, it would have felt like a very expensive activity.

Planning your trip

Opening times

Opening times of the Sea Life Centre will depend on when you visit and which location, but during the week in the summer holidays, the Birmingham centre is open from 9.30am until 6pm, with the last admission at 5pm.

When booking your tickets online, you will need to choose a time slot. When I went, we arrived earlier than anticipated and were worried about having to wait for about about 45 minutes before we could go in. But we asked at the entrance whether there was any way we could be allowed in a bit earlier, and we were allowed. It never hurts to ask, but bear in mind that if you are arriving at peak times, then you may not be allowed in earlier than your allocated time slot.

Getting there

The Sea Life Centre is located in the heart of Birmingham, with multiple car parks nearby that mean a five minute walk to the attraction. If you travel by train, it's a bit of a longer walk - it's about a 15-20 minute walk from Snow Hill station, roughly 20 minutes from New Street and about 25 mins from Birmingham Moor Street.

If you're not familiar with Birmingham, and are travelling by train, you might want to check the route from the station on Google Maps before you visit, as the signage isn't great until you get closer to the attraction.

If you want to make a real day of your visit to Birmingham, you could always opt for a multi-attraction ticket, that means you could also visit Legoland Discovery Centre (which is right next to the Sea Life Centre), Cadbury World (about 20 minute drive or 50 minute train ride) or Warwick Castle (about an hour away by train and car).

Want more? Find out how this mum got on with a trip to Legoland Discovery Centre with her two children, while another shares her feedback on the new Legoland Woodland Village.

I tested the Little Live Pets Really Real Puppy - here's how I got on, and why it was a big hit with my four year old nephew.

The Really Real Puppy is an interactive pet for kids that moves and makes noises when it's petted or fed. There are two breeds available: Patches the Beagle (which I tested) and Luna the Samoyed. While there might only be a couple of options, each one has a different combination of eye colours, collar colours and birthmarks. The Really Real Puppy is suitable for children from the age of four upwards and are priced at £59.99.

Whether you are looking for a birthday present, or a great toy for Christmas, this is definitely a worthwhile option to consider.

Packaging and set up

The Really Real Puppy toy is securely packaged in a cardboard half sleeve, which is great from a recycling point of view. There were only six pieces of plastic - including two plastic ties on the carrier, and four small plastic tags securing the plush toy's paws to the cardboard. All other ties were paper.

You'll need scissors to cut through the ties, and some are easier to get the scissors through than others.

Once the packaging is removed, you'll need to open the Velcro slot on the puppy's stomach, which is where the battery compartment is located and flip the switch from 0 to I.

What's included in the packaging?

• Puppy with batteries included
• A carrier, with handle, that converts into a bed when the upper part is removed
• Bottle
• Adoption certificate
• Instruction manual.

What's the Really Real Puppy like to play with?

As soon as you flip the switch into the on position, the puppy starts to make realistic noises and opens and closes it's eyes. The toy has two sensors (one in the head and one in the back) and two buttons (one in the nose and one on the mouth) that prompt any number of the 60+ realistic sound effects. For example, when you use the bottle to press the mouth button, the puppy will close its eyes and you'll hear suction sounds, and when you stroke its back, you'll hear cute little whimpers and barks. Lie the puppy on its side, and after a few seconds, it'll close its eyes and make little snoring sounds.

I especially loved how the puppy has slightly weighted paws and head - it makes it feel much more substantial that a standard stuffed animal. This weight further adds to the realistic features, which kids will love.

The puppy is really soft to stroke, and I really liked that, while it's predominantly fluffy, there are a couple of other textures for little hands to explore - including velvety ears, and plastic pads on the paws.

When I first showed it to my four year old nephew, Max, he wasn't immediately enamoured, but once I turned it on and he heard the realistic sound effects he was really engaged. He was instantly curious about what actions of his would trigger which noises and he loved passing it around the rest of the family to encourage them to cuddle it. When the puppy closed its eyes, he also instructed us to all talk quietly so we wouldn't wake it up and he gently put it in its bed. For a little boy who loves dinosaurs and sharks, it was lovely to see his nurturing side come to the fore.

While I found it a little distracting that you can hear the mechanics of the eyes opening and closing, this didn't phase Max in the slightest. The only other thing that would make this toy even better, would be the inclusion of a few more accessories to play with, like a food bowl or brush, to extend the play options.

Is the Really Real Puppy worth the money?

With a price tag of £60, this is definitely not a budget buy, however I think the price tag is justified for the interactivity possibilities on offer here. While it's suitable for kids age four and older, I think this is a toy that will hold appeal for older ages too - in fact, my nine year old goddaughter spotted it in my 'to be reviewed' pile on a visit to my house, and she was besotted too.

Every part of this toy set feels like good quality too - there's also nothing flimsy about the carrier, especially the connections where the lid attaches to the bed base. Although a couple of additional accessories would be a brilliant bonus.

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Mum-of-two Charlotte visited the Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham with her family. She shares her experiences of the indoor attraction, and offers her advice to families planning to visit.

One of the reasons Lego has stood the test of time, is that it's great for kids' development. And so it's not hard to see why attractions like Legoland Resort Windsor, including it's new Woodland Village, are popular choices for things to do with kids over the school holidays.

But is the Legoland Discovery Centre a good choice for keeping the kids entertained and, with a price tag of up to £108 for a family of four, is it worth the money? We asked a mum who visited the Birmingham centre with her husband and two daughters, Ella (nine) and Mara (six), to see what she thought of the experience.

What's the difference between Legoland and Legoland Discovery Centre?

Before you plan a visit to Legoland Discovery Centre, it's important to know that it's a very different experience to the Legoland Resort Windsor theme park. Unlike the theme park, which has more than 55 outdoor rides, Legoland Discovery Centre is an indoor experience that is aimed at children aged between three and 10. While it does have a couple of indoor rides, and a 4D cinema, the Discovery Centre is a two to three hour experience all about hands-on interaction with Lego exhibits and the creativity of making your own Lego builds at various points, rather than a high-octane, thrill-seeking full day out.

There are two centres in England - one in Birmingham, and another in Manchester. Legoland Discovery Centres are literally built for kids. They are front and centre right from the get-go. Even before you book, adults are advised that they must be accompanied by a child to enter. There are loads of interactive exhibits, as well as daily challenges for kids and adults to get involved in. Charlotte says: "When we visited, it was a boat building challenge. I also really liked that there were Lego puzzles for kids to play with while waiting for the lift, as well as fun images inside, which made it feel really immersive for the girls, and kept any 'I'm bored' comments at bay."

How much does Legoland Discovery Centre cost?

"We visited Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham on a Sunday in the school holidays. If we'd have paid full price it would have been £100 for me, my husband and our two girls aged six and nine (kids under two are free). Fortunately, we had two free tickets, which we won via Sky VIP. And, we took advantage of Merlin's summer offers - which means kids' tickets were half price - so it cost us £37.50, in total. We were there from 10.45am until about 1.45pm so it felt like really good value for money. I'm not sure I'd say the same if we paid full price, especially when this is a half-day experience at most. For £100, I'd want a whole day out."

Ultimately, prices depend on when you visit, and are more expensive during school holidays. For example, the price of a standard ticket at the Birmingham Discovery Centre on Friday 16 August starts from £25 per person, but on Friday 13 September, this drops to £18 per person.

You might also find yourself paying a little bit more per person depending on the time slot you choose. At the time of writing, for 16 August, entry for a family of four would cost £108 if you choose the 10am, 10.30, 11.15 or 11.30am time slots, but all other time slots are £100, so make sure you check carefully before you buy. Tickets are valid for your chosen day only, and you can't re-enter after you have left the attraction.

"If you choose to, you can also buy an activity pack for £5 when you enter and kids can collect stamps as they work their way round. We didn't partake, but I can see younger children really enjoying it," says Charlotte. This activity pack is on a lanyard that kids can wear around their neck, and it contains stickers, mini LEGO build activities, as well as tips to help make the most of your visit. It also includes a card which kids can use to collect stamps from around the attraction.

For super dedicated Lego fans, you can also attend LEGO creative workshops - for £5 (per person). This is a guided workshop, and you get to take home what you've built. What you can build in these sessions changes every month, but previous projects have included frogs, race cars and ice cream vans.

Got a Tesco Clubcard? You can also reduce the cost (or even bag a free trip) using your Clubcard vouchers.

Key attractions at Legoland Discovery Centre

There's a lot to keep families busy at Legoland Discovery Centre. It's an easy way to spend a morning or afternoon - and it's especially good for rainy days as it's all indoors. Key attractions include:

Miniland

"Miniland, features interactive Lego versions of local landmarks and real life attractions including the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Villa Park stadium, and even a Lego replica of Birmingham's Primark, which is the largest in the world. Miniland also changes from day to night, which is quite an impactful experience," says Charlotte. "Mara, my six year old particularly enjoyed the Miniland version of the NEC, which was depicting a music concert - there were interactive buttons which when pressed caused the different band members to play. We all had a go interaction with the Villa Park model which had a moveable pitch, but we found it a little bit harder than it looked, but still fun."

4D cinema

There's also a 4D cinema, showing four separate short films throughout the day and these are including in the price of your entry. Charlotte adds: "There's a board outside showing you which one is on next - each one lasts about 15 mins - my six year old was a bit nervous after a bad experience in a previous 4D cinema (at a different attraction), but after a minute or two she was cackling away during our viewing of the Lego City 4D Officer in Pursuit showing - especially at the hot dog man, and the hog dog shapes poking through the seats at us." The last showing is an hour before closing time on the day you visit.

The Kingdom Quest ride

There are a couple of rides for you and the kids to enjoy too. "The Kingdom Quest ride was loads of fun. You ride around in carriages and have to shoot at different targets. I loved how interactive it was, and we all ended up getting quite competitive about it." There's no set age limit or restriction, but children under 1.3m tall must be accompanied by an adult, and children must be able to walk unaided in order to ride. You won't be able to ride if you are pregnant, have broken bones, back or neck problems, a heart condition or high blood pressure.

Merlin's Apprentice ride

"We also really enjoyed the Merlin's Apprentice ride, where you sit in a carriage and have to pedal to make your carriage go further up in the air," explains Charlotte. Kids must be at least 90 centimetres tall to ride, and those under 120 centimetres tall need to be accompanied by an adult. However this may prove a bit of a challenge for some, says Charlotte. "I spotted a couple of families with three kids under 120 centimetres tall, who were having to queue twice so all of the children could have a go, which could be awkward for some, especially on a busy day." There are similar rules for this ride as for The Kingdom Quest as to who is not able to ride.

Soft play and build stations

There' are two soft play areas - the Lego City soft play area is suitable for kids aged five and over, while there is a Duplo farm play area for children under five. Charlotte explains how the girls really enjoyed the various opportunities to get their hands on some bricks and build. "We really enjoyed the LEGO Friends section, which had a big bucket of Lego pieces that we could use to build things that the girls could then put on display. The girls were really excited that other children might be able to see, and like, what they'd built. There are also plenty of LEGO tables dotted around and build stations where the kids could take seat and let their imaginations run wild."

When it comes to capturing some memories on camera, there's a photograph station as soon as you come in, where a staff member will take your family photo, which you can then buy if you want. But as Charlotte found, there are also lots of opportunities for impromptu pictures too: "We also bumped into a Lego character as we were walking round and the girls were excited to get their picture taken with her, but it was purely accidental, and I couldn't see anywhere that stated when the characters would be doing the rounds, so it could be hit and miss as to whether you manage to get a photo. Which is a shame."

As with most attractions, on the way out, you hit the gift shop where there is a good variety of things to buy at a range of price points. "The girls liked the pocket money key rings and build your own Lego figures (it's like a Lego Pick and Mix and there are a good selection of parts to choose from), but I did have to steer them away from the massive LEGO sets that were on sale for £100s."

What's are the facilities like at Legoland Discovery Centre?

Food and drink - "The attraction has a coffee shop that is sponsored by Costa so you can get a nice hot drink and snack when you get a bit peckish. I did spot some kids meal deals, which included a sandwich, crisps, cake or snack and a drink for between £5.50 and £6.50 (depending on your choice of drink). I also really liked that there were games on the cafe tables, which kept the girls entertained while we had a little sit down."

If you don't want to buy food there, or have special dietary requirements which the cafe may not accommodate, you can take your own food and drink instead. Alternatively, the attraction is located in Brindley Place, which is packed full of restaurants including family friendly eateries like Pizza Express and Zizzi's. But it can get busy, so it's best to book ahead if you can. You can see a full list of Brindley Place restaurants here.

Toilets and baby change - There's enough toilet facilities (the ladies has about six cubicles) and there is also disabled toilets and baby change facilities. Charlotte adds: "When we went there was no issue with long queues for the toilet. They were a little tired, but clean and well stocked in terms of toilet roll and soap.

Lockers and storage - There aren't any lockers or cloakroom facilities, although there are storage boxes you can use. But these aren't lockable, and items are left at your own risk.

Pram accessibility: You can easily get around the whole attraction with a pram if you need to, although there is a buggy park you can use. "There's a lift that takes you down from the entrance into the main part of the attraction. There are stairs, but it's about four floors, so I'd avoid doing those with kids if you can."

Autism or specific sensory needs - The attraction does offer a few quiet sessions over the course of the year, although they are infrequent. These sessions are held in the morning, and the centre music will be turned off and any televisions set to low volume. They also have a really great Sensory Story guide which can help prepare guests for what they will see and experience during their visit. The guide points out loads of helpful information, from what the entrance looks like and who they might encounter on the way in to where queues might crop up and even the colour of the chairs that are in the 4D cinema.

Cleanliness - In a post-COVID world, we're all more cautious about germs than ever before. "From a safety point of view, I did notice their were loads of hand sanitiser stations around, but a few of them were empty when we went, so it's definitely worth taking your own, as there are a lot of touch points," advises Charlotte.

Is Legoland Discovery Centre worth the money?

"This was the first time we'd visited Legoland Discovery Centre and I'd definitely say it's good value for money at the price we paid, and its great if you are looking for some indoor fun you can enjoy whatever the weather. Once you're in, you can stay for as long as you like, and you can go on the rides and visit the cinema as many times as you want.

"Also, my girls love Lego, so they were really excited about it and engaged from the get-go. It really is built for kids, and they loved seeing the LEGO versions of local landmarks, especially Edgbaston, that they've both been to in real life, and getting involved on the rides.

"It's also relatively nearby for us too, but if you are coming from further afield, you might want to stay overnight and pack in more activities, like the nearby Sea Life centre and Bull Ring shopping centre, and the Bear Grylls Adventure at Resorts World Arena." Those who visit the Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham have access to discounted rates at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn Hotel (which is also in Brindley Place). If you do stay for a longer period of time, Cadbury World is about a 20 minute drive or 50 minute train ride away, and Warwick Castle is about an hour away by both car and train.

"However, if we'd had to pay £100 for the four of us, I don't think we would have committed. We'd definitely go back again, because the girls enjoyed it so much, and they were really in their element, but I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for any discounts and offers that we can take advantage of rather than paying full price."

Charlotte adds: "The one thing I'd wished I known was when some of the smaller activities were happening, like the opportunity to take a picture with a LEGO character, and apparently there was Lego Bingo at one point, which we completely missed."

Top tips to get the most out of your day

• Definitely book in advance, especially during school holidays, but you can change the date up to 24 hours before your arrival time
• Always look out for deals too - it's owned by Merlin, so keep your eyes peeled for cereal box vouchers and such like to reduce the cost, without reducing the fun
• If you want to keep costs low, definitely take your own food and drink
• Consider multi-attraction tickets - especially when the Sea Life Centre is practically next door
• All tickets must be pre-booked in advance, you can't buy them on the day

Planning your trip to Legoland Discovery Centre 

Opening times

Legoland Discovery Centre opens at 9.30am and closes at 5.30pm Monday to Saturday (and closes at 4.30pm on a Sunday), with the last entry two hours before closing time. However, out of peak times, like outside school holidays, the centre may run on reduced hours, so you'll likely only be able to pick an entry time earlier in the day. For kids who aren't school age, you can get a discounted adult and toddler ticket, and you may find there are extra activities tailored to toddlers on during off-peak times.

How busy was it? Charlotte told us, "With staggered entrance timings, our visit to the Legoland Discovery Centre was lively, but not too busy. When we arrived for our 10.45am time slot, there was no queue and we just walked straight in, which was great because the girls were so excited.

"It got busier by midday, but it didn't feel overwhelming and we managed to get on all the rides we wanted to and see everything we needed to see without any problems. When the short films are shown in the cinema, it definitely quieted down, and at one point we had the brick build section all to ourselves, which was lovely.

"If you're worried about crowds, then I definitely recommend getting one of the first entrance slots of the day, and consider going on a Sunday."

Getting there

This Legoland Discovery Centre is located right in the centre of Birmingham, with a few car parks really close by (you can see a list and the postcodes on the attraction's website). It's worth checking if there are any events planned at the arena for the day you plan to visit as spaces may be more limited.

"We parked at Q Park Brindley Place which was a five minute flat walk to the attraction - there's an amazing giant Lego giraffe outside so you can't miss the entrance, and it's well signposted from the nearby Sea Life centre. But I am also quite familiar with Birmingham, so if you're not, definitely consult Google Maps to avoid getting lost," says Charlotte. If you're travelling by train, it's about a 15-20 minute walk from Snow Hill station, roughly 20 minutes from New Street and about 25 mins from Birmingham Moor Street. For older kids, this is a relatively easy walk, but for younger kids, it's quite a long way for their little legs.

For more fun Lego news and facts, we share all you need to know about when Lego was invented, the valuable vintage Lego sets that could be worth serious cash, and this genius mum hack that makes clearing up Lego a breeze.

I tested the Casdon De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine toy with my four-year-old nephew - here's how we got on.

If you're not familiar with Casdon, they are renowned for creating toy versions of products from household names including Dyson, Joseph Joseph, and Morphy Richards. From cleaning toys to pizza ovens, Casdon's offering is perfect for encouraging pretend play with kids. Casdon's De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine is a toy version of the De'longhi la Specialista Coffee Machine that you may have at home, and is designed for kids from three years who love to role play what they have seen their parents or other adults doing, whether at home or out and about.

To test it, I roped in my four-year-old nephew Max (and got major cool auntie points at the same time) - who also helped me review another Casdon product - the mini Dyson - with great success.

Setting up the Casdon De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine

Setting up the coffee machine is quick and easy, although you will need a little screwdriver to hand to open the battery cover, and two AAA batteries, if you want the sound effects to work. There's no assembly required and it comes easily out of the cardboard packaging. I also love how the packaging is plastic free so it can all go in the recycling bin.

All of the accessories are stored neatly and securely on the back of the coffee machine which is really handy - although Max did need my help to get a couple of them out of their slots. And when you put them back in, you need to give them a little push until you hear a click to ensure they are securely stored.

In the box, you get:

• The coffee machine unit
• A portafilter
• 2 x plastic cups
• An americano coffee pod
• A cappuccino pod, which comes in two parts - one coffee, one milk
• A milk jug.

Design

As with all Casdon toys, the design is impeccable - they look just like the real things and the coffee machine is no exception. As I was testing it with Max, I realised that he might not have ever seen a coffee machine before, and I thought he might be a bit non-plussed. But he was really excited to play with it as soon as I showed it to him.

The various parts slot together to make the drinks and there are little dials to click, a lever to pull on the main coffee machine unit and a lid to lift and drop the pods in to. While Max loved exploring what all the different parts and accessories did, I especially appreciated the slots on the back of the coffee machine that allow you to securely store all the accessories when playtime is over. This is really handy, especially if you have a little one who tends to misplace crucial parts of toys (and expects you to find them when they want to play).

However, it was a bit tricky to get the portafilter out (who knew the little scoop-esque contraption was called a portafilter!), even for me, and I made the mistake of putting one of the cups away with the coffee and milk pod in it, which made that a bit difficult to get out again afterwards - but now I make sure to put the milk pod in the milk jug when packing away, which helped.

What's it like to play with?

Max adored playing with the coffee machine, and fetching drinks for me. It was adorable to see him role play taking my order, and telling me to be careful as it might be hot. Although he did try to charge me £100 for a cappuccino, so I'm not sure what kind of coffee shops he's frequented recently.

The toy comes with clear instructions that tell you the process to follow, from dropping the pod in the coffee bean pot on the top, using the portafilter and pulling the lever to collect the pod, then moving it to the next slot on the machine to drop the coffee into the plastic cup. You can also use the milk frother by turning the dial on the side. Max wasn't necessarily interested in following the exact process, preferring to figure it out by himself. He really enjoyed dropping the pods into top and the plastic cups, and 'pouring' the pod from the milk jug.

While Max and I played with this toy together, it can easily be played with independently or with other children. Playing independently can help kids work on their problem-solving skills while engaging in pretend play, while their social skills, sharing and turn-taking get a look in when playing with their peers.

You can totally play with this toy without adding batteries, and get a very similar play experience. But adding the batteries means kiddies can enjoy realistic sound effects as they play. In terms of volume, I found that I could hear and recognise the sounds, but they weren't too loud or grating, which will be good news for parents (and kids) who might be sensitive to noise.

I think also some of the movements required to follow the instructions, like slotting the portafilter into the grooves, or packing the accessories away, were a bit beyond where Max's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are at, but it's great practice for him to hone those skills.

Value for money

With an RRP of £25, I think the De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine offers good value for money - it's a well designed and relatively compact toy, and while it's suitable for kids from the age of three, it holds appeal for older children too. There's nothing flimsy about this toy either, so it's definitely robust enough to cope with enthusiastic little hands putting it through it's paces.

In terms of role play, this coffee machine nails the brief, offering kids a realistic and detailed replica to really get their imaginations going. This is only improved by the fun sound effects.

Or try these alternatives

For more toy ideas and reviews, check out our picks of the top Christmas toys, the best toys for six year olds, and our review of the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit.

I roped in my Goddaughters Ella, age nine and Mara, age six, to help me test out the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit - here's how we got on.

Touted as one of the best kids toys of 2024 by industry experts, the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit is part of a range of Pati-School sets that involve using modellable paste to decorate a a selection of items (like keyrings and trinket pots) to look like sweet treats.

What is the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit?

The Party Creations Starter Kit is a crafting set that encourages kids to decorate a selection of bases (including a trinket box, picture holders and keyrings) to look like delicious frosted cupcakes and macarons using modellable paste 'frosting' and a selection of beads, gems and other accessories.

Suitable for kids from the age of six, this craft set is a great way to foster your kid's creativity and help them enjoy some screen-free play time. In case you miss it on the packaging, and just to be super-clear - this is an arts and crafts kit and no part of it is edible.

Ella and Mara had a great time testing it out and were thrilled with the end result, and so this set got a spot on our pick of the top Christmas toys for this year too.

The set comes with:

• two 'frostings' (one pink, one blue)
• two piping attachments
• a plastic trinket pot, with lid
• two picture holder bases
• three sweet-treat-shaped keyrings
• a selection of decorations.

A quick word on the packaging - it's eye catching and you get a really good sense as to what you can create with the kit. However I found it a bit confusing that the different sets in the range are distinguished by a number rather than a set name. For example, the Party Creations Starter Kit doesn't actually say Party Creations Starter Kit on the packaging - which could make it very difficult to find a specific set, in store (we've actually seen this set referred to by a couple of different names online too). If you want to make sure you get the correct one from the range, you'll need to look out for set number 32331.

What age is Pati-School suitable for?

Pati-School products are aimed at kids from the age of six. There are quite a few small parts in the set, and kids need to have decent fine motor skills to be table to squeeze the frosting paste out of the tube, and avoid the temptation to give it a taste.

What's it like to play with?

The Pati-School set we tested managed to keep my Goddaughters entertained for a good hour. They were really curious to see all the bits they could use and enjoyed planning who was going to decorate what and with which colour frosting and decorations.

To get the kids up and running, they definitely needed some adult input to make sure the piping nozzles were attached. You get a set of picture instructions in the kit that are pretty self explanatory, but if you need more guidance, there is a QR code you can scan with a smartphone to watch a video tutorial. Once we'd explained how it worked, then it was over to the girls! They loved sharing the piping bags between them (they both preferred the bevelled nozzle), and while they needed an occasional hand to just squeeze the frosting down the bag, they managed to do it all themselves.

When it came to the decorations, the girls got really into decorating their first creation and used almost all of the beads and gems, before realising this would leave them short for decorating the trinket box. It would have been even better if there were more decorations like this in the pack so the girls could really go to town.

Once everything is decorated, you have to wait for them to dry. It takes a good two days for them to dry fully, so you will need to find somewhere out of the way where the paste can dry out. But once dry, the paste is rock solid. It might not survive a drop from a height, but you're definitely not going to find paste-like smears anywhere.

As with any crafting project with kids, make sure you pop mats or a wipeable tablecloth down before they start. We did have one instance of some paste missing the mat and landing on my dining table, but thankfully you have a long time before the paste sets, so I managed to wipe it up quickly. For that reason, I'd recommend keeping an eye on the kids as they play, just in case you need to do a quick clean up.

Can you play with Pati-School more than once?

Pati-School is designed to be played with once, and you'll likely use all of the frosting and accessories during the decorating process. But the creations themselves will last and the trinket box can be used to store all manner of little treasures, the picture holders will look great on display in a child's bedroom, and the key rings could definitely jazz-up a school bag or two.

Where can you buy Pati-School?

Pati-School is available at a number of retailers, including:

• Amazon
• eBay
• The Entertainer
• Smyths

Is Pati-School good value for money?

For an hour of crafting time, sister bonding and some pretty impressive decorating skills, I definitely think the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Set is worth the money. The girls were really proud of how pretty their designs turned out, and it was great to see them step away from creating a carbon copy of what was on the box, and letting their creative instincts take over.

The only thing that would improve this set is if there were a few more beads and rhinestones in the set for the girls to really bedazzle the bases.

For more toy reviews, check out our Toniebox review, Yoto player review, and Beast Lab review to see if they are the toys for the kids in your life.

When I agreed to review the Cricut Joy Xtra I had no idea just how quickly it would turn me into a bone-fide crafty mum.

As a mum of three who reviews family-friendly products for a living, I've fancied owning a Cricut Joy Xtra for a while. I love the idea of rustling up some easy crafts for kids to entertain my daughter on a rainy day. So when Cricut got in touch with GoodtoKnow and asked me if I'd like to put a Cricut Joy Xtra machine to the test, they didn't have to ask me twice. 

Cricut makes smart cutting machines that work with an easy-to-use app to help you create all sorts of personalised craft creations, from cards to custom clothing. Cricut says their dream has always been to help people lead creative lives by providing the tools to make do-it-yourself projects beautiful, fun, and easy. 

Whether you're new to crafting or an experienced maker, and whether you want to craft all the design elements of your dream wedding or just get prepped for labelling everything for back-to-school season, a Cricut smart cutting machine can help make the magic happen. 

As a relative newbie to the world of crafting, my relationship with Cricut has been a bit rocky. A few years back I was gifted a Cricut Joy which I initially loved, although I never ventured beyond the beginner's stage of making my own Christmas cards. Things were ticking along nicely — and I was getting lots of compliments about my cards — but the machine soon started tearing my card stock instead of cutting it precisely. Despite replacing the needle, the issue persisted, and the machine ended up gathering dust. 

So, when Cricut asked me to try out the Cricut Joy Xtra, I was torn (no pun intended). I suspect my previous issues were down to user error but I was desperate to try again and give my dream of being a crafty mum one last shot. I'm pleased to report that my first evening with the Cricut Joy Xtra was a roaring success, resulting in a beautiful custom T-shirt that my daughter proclaimed to be her pride and joy.

Here's everything you need to know about how the Cricut Joy Xtra fared when I put it through its paces with my daughter.

Value for money

The Cricut Joy Xtra Starter Bundle can be yours for £249.99 at Amazon so it's definitely not an impulse purchase. Let's be honest, if I had that kind of cash burning a hole in my pocket, there are lots of other things I'd probably spend it on before I splurged on a cutting machine.

That said, once I got to grips with the capabilities of this clever little machine, I quickly realised its potential to save me money in the long run. From making our own personalised teacher gifts to creating custom-designed clothing for my kids, I can already see lots of ways that owning a Cricut Joy Xtra is going to save me a few quid. I say that as someone with zero crafting know-how, so if you're already a seasoned crafter, the Cricut Joy Xtra is likely to be a worthwhile investment that will help you seriously level up your crafting skills. 

More importantly, I can see the Cricut Joy Xtra opening up a whole new world of crafty quality time for me and my daughter. We loved having a project to work on together and as we get to grips with what the Cricut Joy Xtra can do, I hope we'll crafter lots of lovely creations and memories together.

It's no exaggeration to say that the results we achieved during testing were professional level — the T-shirt we customised looks shop-bought — and that's after just one evening spent getting to grips with the Cricut Joy Xtra. Imagine what we'll be able to do with a bit more time!

Design and features

Dimensions: 12.5" x 6" x 5.5" | Weight: 6 lbs / 2.7 kg | Connections: Bluetooth | OS Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Software: Cricut Design Space

The Cricut Joy Xtra boasts all the capabilities of the original Cricut Joy, with additional features such as a larger cutting area and a 'Print then Cut' function. This allows you to print your designs on an inkjet printer and then cut them out using the Cricut Joy Xtra machine.

The Cricut Joy Xtra can be used with more than 50 different materials, including vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock, and is compatible with iOS, Android, Apple, and Windows through the Cricut Design Space app, which allows you to design and send projects to the machine for cutting.

Setting up the Cricut Joy Xtra was straightforward. You simply plug it in, download the Cricut Design Space app, and follow the instructions to sync your cutting machine to the app via Bluetooth. The app is user-friendly, but there is a learning curve with lots of lingo to get to grips with, from terms like Smart Materials (the crafting materials you load into the Cricut Joy Xtra) to tools like the weeder (the tool you use to remove excess material from your cut).

The Cricut Joy Starter Bundle is a brilliant buy if you're new to cutting machines and includes absolutely everything you need to get started:

• Cricut Joy Xtra machine
• 3x Smart Vinyl sheets (Black, Gold, Silver)
• 3x Smart Iron-On Sheets (Black, White, Red)
• 5x Printable Iron-On A4 sheets
• 6x Printable Waterproof Sticker A4 sheets
• LightGrip Machine Cutting Mat
• Starter Tool Set
• Transfer Tape (0.9m)

Our first project involved making custom stickers and then we attempted an iron-on T-shirt decal. Although we had some teething troubles and my daughter’s initial enthusiasm waned as I read and re-read the instructions for various projects, we managed to print a personalised decal for her bedroom wall which reignited her excitement. Watching my daughter's delight as the machine cut the Smart Material was a joy, and using the weeding tool was immensely satisfying for her. Despite some minor mistakes, our first project was a success, and we went on to complete a custom iron-on design for a T-shirt — and even successfully applied it — to squeals of delight from my daughter.

The Cricut Joy Xtra made a competent crafter out of me within just a couple of hours. Despite the initial learning curve and some teething issues, I couldn't be more pleased with my crafty achievements. The joy and satisfaction of creating personalised items with my daughter made it an evening truly well spent. We both look forward to many more crafting sessions and can’t wait to explore the machine's full capabilities.

How we tested

• Unboxed and set up the Cricut Joy Xtra cutting machine.
• Used the Design Space app and the Cricut Joy Xtra to make a personalised vinyl decal for my daughter's bedroom wall.  
• Completed an iron-on project using the Design Space app, the Cricut Joy Xtra plus Smart Materials, appropriate Cricut tools and a household iron to create a custom T-shirt for my daughter.

Things you wouldn't find on the box

The Cricut Joy Xtra is not a gadget you can give to a child to use independently —Cricut advises 12+ as it requires time and patience, as well as a bit of practice to get things right. However, the quality of the finished products is exceptional, making the effort worthwhile.

One downside is the cost of materials and the subscription (if you wish to pay beyond free access) for the Cricut Design Space library, which can add up. However, the ability to create custom gifts, cards, and stickers is priceless, especially in the eyes of a crafty, creative ten-year-old.

The machine’s compact size makes it easy to store away too and its lightweight design is a plus, making tidy-up time a breeze after a crafting session. I can say this with confidence because my kitchen table looked like a bombsite during our crafty evening!

Who's it best for?

The Cricut Joy Xtra is a brilliant buy for both total newbies (like me) and experienced crafters. It's the kind of machine that gives back according to the time you're willing to invest getting to grips with all it can do. If you just want to create simple creations like precision-cut greeting cards, it won't feel like you're under-using it. But, equally, if you get bitten by the crafting bug and decide to go to town creating all the decorations and invitations (plus personalised party bags) for a big bash, that's also well within the Cricut Joy Xtra's capabilities. 

If you're short on space for creative endeavours, this machine is perfect because at around the size of a computer keyboard, it's so compact and easy to pop away on a shelf. It's also ideal for quick projects and small to medium-sized creative endeavours because you can whip it out and then pack it all away pretty effortlessly, without requiring loads of storage space or room to craft.

Need an alternative?

If you're a very experienced crafter or if you have plenty of space for a more sizeable cutting machine, consider investing in the Cricut Explore 3 or Cricut Maker 3. These models offer a wider cutting area, greater material versatility, and enhanced capabilities for more intricate craft projects.

For more crafty, creative inspiration, check out 70 things to do with kids and how to make your own glitter jar.

We put the Yoto audio player (3rd generation) through its paces to see if it's worth the money, and how it stands up against other audio players out there.

If you have kids, you might already be familiar with the audio players available and even have picked a side in the Yoto vs Tonie debate. Similarly to the Toniebox (read our Toniebox review if you want to know more), the Yoto is an audio player that is designed to be operated by kids from the age of three, and encourages independent play and learning.

Stories are played via cards (about the size of a credit card), and it's got bags of extra features including a nightlight (which can double as an ok-to-wake alarm) and a room thermometer.

But with a price tag of £99.99 for the player alone - is it worth the money? Read our review to find out.

Setting up the Yoto Player

Setting up the Yoto player is really easy - it took me less than five minutes, which is very handy if you have a very eager child wanting to get the paws on it. You'll need to download the Yoto app (available on App Store and Google Play), and if you have that downloaded before you take the player out of the box, you'll be guided through the entire set up process.

You will need a plug (you get a USB charging cable in the box, but not the plug itself) and you need to connect your player to power before you start the set up process. For super fuss-free set up, it's helpful to have your WiFi password to hand too. As you're guided through the set up process, you're also asked to set up a family account (it's free) and you can add multiple players to your family account if you want. All you need is an email address and password. There is a subscription model that you can take advantage of - £9.99 per month and you can get two cards every month - but it's not a requirement in order to be able to use the player. You can buy cards individually or in sets as and when you need.

What do you get in the box?

In the recyclable box, you get the Yoto player, a charging cable and a welcome Yoto card. which can be used to point you in the right direction if you get stuck with the set-up.

Any cards or accessories, such as a protective 'adventure jacket', wireless charging dock or card case are sold separately.

Yoto Player design

Although audio players of this nature are relatively new, the design of the Yoto feels quite retro - almost the shape of an old Apple Mac computer. It's simply designed, with the main body and two orange knobs to control volume and chapter skipping. It's really intuitive where and how you add the cards, and while you do have to hold the card vertically, it doesn't matter which way round you put it in - which makes it very kid-friendly. The sound is crisp and clear, even when you reach maximum volume levels (which isn't deafeningly loud, thank goodness).

The Yoto's grey and orange colourway is eye catching, but it's worth pointing out that the Yoto only comes in one colour, unlike the Toniebox, which is available in broader range of shades. But if you are keen for some customisation, then you do have a choice of 'adventure jackets' that you can buy for your Yoto (but this is an added cost). These are flexible silicone cases that you put over the Yoto to protect it from bumps and knocks - you can choose from orange, pink, blue or mint green. I like that you can buy this additional protection, but would have liked it to have been integrated into the main unit to protect it from enthusiastic and possibly clumsy fingers.

While it doesn't have a traditional screen so to speak - you can't watch anything on it - it does have a display that, when active, shows the time and a weather graphic, or a pixel drawing of a themed character when you pop a card in. This style of graphic adds to the retro feel. I was initially concerned that this would make the Yoto unsuitable for light sensitive children when it came to bedtime, but you can tip the player forward, lying it display side down, which hides the display from view, and also activated the nightlight function (if you want it). You can turn off the nightlight in the app settings if you don't want it. You can choose the colour of nightlight, and even set it to show one colour at night and another colour in the day - a really useful feature if you are trying to teach your tiny human to stay in bed until a particular time.

It also has an integrated room thermometer which allows the parent to gauge the temperature of room the Yoto is in via the app, without having to step inside. I can see this feature being particularly useful during clammier summer nights.

You can also use the app to set volume limits for both day and night usage so you can be sure no-one is keeping anyone awake into the wee hours.

What's the best age for a Yoto Player?

The Yoto is aimed at kids between three and 12 years old, but I can see it being particularly appealing to kids from the age of six and older, as the retro design feels it holds longer lasting appeal. My Goddaughters, who are aged six and nine, both prefer the Yoto to the Toniebox. They both thought the Toniebox was a bit young for them, and they love being able to organise their card collections. They each have a card case that holds up to 64 Yoto cards.

However, my four-year-old nephew prefers the Toniebox - he loves that it comes in his favourite colour, red, and adores exploring the textures of the the Tonie audio figures.

How easy is the Yoto to use?

After a super-simple set-up process the Yoto is really easy to use. To wake the Yoto, You simply press the power button on the side of the player, and you'll hear a little chime and see a smiley face appear on the display. Then it's ready for the cards. You can have the card facing in any direction, which means younger children can play their favourite stories without worrying about orienting the card in a particular way.

To stop playback, you simply take the card out or it'll turn off automatically when the story ends (and if there is no activity).

To adjust the volume, you just turn the left hand orange knob, and you'll see a colour coded volume bar appear on the display. The right hand knob allows you to scroll through and skip to particular chapters on the cards - turn the knob to select the chapter you want, then press the knob to jump to that chapter. A detail I particularly liked when skipping through the chapters was that it's really clear whether you are skipping to a story or a song. As you scroll through the chapters, you'll see a character on the display for story chapters and musical notes for a song.

Once the cards are downloaded, (which happens automatically when they are played when you are connected to WiFi), you can listen to them anywhere without having to be connected to the internet.

You can also use blank or digital cards in order to create your own audio for your kiddos to enjoy.

What's the battery life like?

Once fully charged, you can get about 24 hours use out of the Yoto Player before it needs charging again. If a long battery life is particularly important to you, definitely opt for a Yoto - in comparison, the Toniebox battery lasts about seven hours.

How does it compare to a Toniebox?

Ultimately, the Yoto and Toniebox work in a very similar way, but they have a few key differences.

• Size: The Yoto is more compact than the Toniebox, which might be appealing if you want something a little more subtle.
• Cards versus characters. With the Yoto, stories are played via cards, which can be easier to store. The Toniebox uses Tonie audio characters that can look great on display.
• Lights: The Yoto has more lights than the Toniebox, thanks to its display, but you can place the Yoto display face down to activate the nightlight should you want it. The Toniebox doesn't have a nightlight, and any lights on it are completely covered when a Tonie character is places on top.

• Bonus features: The Yoto has a clock, nightlight and thermostat, and you can set alarms, which are really useful features - but if you don't need that, then the Toniebox may have all you need.
• Durability: To boost the durability of the Yoto player, you can buy an 'adventure jacket' to help protect it from bumps when you're on the move. Conversely, the Toniebox is covered in a layer of padding.
• Price: The Yoto has an RRP of £99.99, while the Toniebox has an RRP of £79.95. Yoto cards cost around £9.99, while Tonie characters cost around £14.99.

Is a Yoto Player worth the money?

If you want to jump aboard the audio player train, then a Yoto is definitely worth the money. It has a range of bonus features that set it apart from other players, so it does feel like you get good value for money. Its easily incorporated into a daily routine too, so cost per use is low too.

With the Yoto, there are also a broad range of extras you can buy - from the card case to the adventure jacket and wireless headphones. But this does add to the cost. However, if you buy via the Yoto website, you can add an activity jacket and wireless charging bad to your order, which works out more cost effective than purchasing them separately at a later date. You can also keep your eyes peeled for bundles, which include the player and a selection of cards, as you'll make a saving that way too.

If you want something more travel friendly, and at a cheaper price point, then you can always consider the Yoto Mini, which sells for £59.99.

Want to read more toy reviews to see what's worth spending your money on? Check out our Magic Mixies Pixlings review, or our Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator review.

When it comes to the best travel strollers out there, the Cybex Coya is certainly a well-worthy contender. It arrived at our tester’s home virtually raring to go. “The Coya comes almost fully built; you just need to click two wheels in, which was fairly fool-proof, then it was ready,” says our tester Harriet, who tried it out with her three-year-old daughter. 

So it's fair to say that the Cybex Coya is one snazzy-looking stroller. “We went for black with a rose gold frame, it has a faux-leather handlebar, big sunhood, and it comes in Cybex’s ‘design’ and ‘fashion’ collections like their car seats for those who like a more overt design,” Harriet adds.

But the design features don't stop there. Extras include a rain cover with clever mesh panels for ventilation and Velcro tabs that secure it to the stroller frame, plus, a flap you can raise and secure for kids that still want an unobstructed view. “I really appreciate the little things that make life easier and this is one of them," Harriet says. "The sunhood gives great coverage, especially when you extend it using the zip in the hood, and there is even a magnetic sun visor at the front of it. It’s also pretty showerproof.".

Price and availability

The Cybex Coya comes in at around £500, making it one of our pricier strollers and definitely not a budget buy. 

“My issue with the price is that you can find other strollers with greater longevity (over the age of four), that come with accessories, are equally as compact for less money, so it feels hard to justify the price tag,” admits Harriet. However, she could see why it was priced higher than other models and brands.  

“While it isn’t a cheap stroller, it is well-built, the materials are high-quality, it has lots of thoughtful features, is beautiful to look at and generally I would recommend it if someone wanted to buy it.”

• VIEW AT MAMAS & PAPAS

Design and features

Age: Birth to 4 years | Dimensions (unfolded): L79 x W44 x H105cm | Dimensions (folded): L18 x W44 x H52cm  | Weight: 6.6kg

A key feature of any stroller is how light and compact it is and this was something that really impressed Harriet about the Cybex Coya. “It folds with one hand (as long as the wheels are lined up) and then the carry strap extends so you can throw it over your shoulder which is incredibly handy. I do it more than I thought I would as it’s so easy,” she says. “It’s also really compact (it fits behind the driver’s seat of my car, on planes, trains etc.) and incredibly is lightweight. I could carry it, my toddler, and a change bag simultaneously over short distances!”

It weighs 6.6kg and is “effortless to push and very manoeuvrable”. This makes it a great option for mums who have several children, in case they need to hold a hand while pushing. “I can push with one hand which is a must-have for me. It isn’t designed for off-road so I wouldn’t recommend it for really thick mud, but it performs well on grass, cobbles, up and down curbs etc. On any terrain it feels stable, with good suspension and like it won’t tip easily,” adds Harriet.

It has a spacious storage basket and an extra zip pocket at the back of the sunhood that fits a phone, card wallet and keys, and is especially useful.  

The seat has been designed with comfort at the forefront so there’s plenty of padding and the seat pad removes to reveal a mesh back which is wipeable and great for hot weather. Harriet did flag that: “The way the seat pad and strap pads attach to the straps are a bit fiddly and not a great fit when the straps are pushed up to their highest setting, but you shouldn’t have to change them too often so it’s not a big deal.”

How we tested

Here at GoodtoKnow we have crafted a product review testing process that is fair, consistent and robust. For this review, our Deputy Editor Heidi Scrimgeour who's knowledge spans 19 years as a mum and parenting journalist tasked one of our parent testers to review the travel stroller with their child of the appropriate age for at least ten days. Our tester then: 

• Assembled the stroller to see how easy it was to put together and how effective the instructions were.
• Used the stroller daily for three weeks in a range of different scenarios, including in urban areas, going into and out of shops and getting on public transport, and off-road in muddy environments.
• Along with looking at the safety, durability and comfort, our tester also reviewed how easy the pram is to push and how easy it is to fold and store.

Things you won't find on the box

While Harriet appreciated some of the excellent design features of the Cybex Coya, there were a few elements that she found annoying. One of her bug bears was that her daughter’s head hit the top of the seat pad. “She is nearly 3.5yrs old, [but] it doesn’t seem uncomfortable for her and, when the pad is removed, she has plenty of room so it should last all the way to its max limit of four years.”

She also found that the seat doesn’t fully recline or fully go upright. “My daughter is constantly wriggling to try and see better at which point the straps pull her back/bother her unless I loosen them in advance,” Harriet says.  

“Finally, the footrest is tiny so no real use to extend the seat for naps (unless for a really young baby) and then it gets in the way of the storage basket when folded down, and in the way of my daughter’s legs when it is extended,” she says. “In my opinion it either needs to be bigger to last longer or just not be there at all so it doesn’t get in the way.”

Who's it best for?

Overall, Harriet felt this travel stroller would be best for those who want a premium, lightweight, easy-to-use, compact stroller. However, she wouldn't recommend it across the board to anyone and everyone 'due to the price'.

She did think that you could get a similar stroller for less. “It's really good but… I think you can get equally as good/better for less money so it's not the best compact stroller option on the market, in my opinion.” Because of this, she said it would suit families who are already Cybex enthusiasts: “Someone who is already a fan of the brand, who likes a premium product that looks beautiful and is functional too.”

Need an alternative?

The Cybex Coya comes with a range of incredible features that definitely won't disappoint if this stroller is in your budget. However, we understand that it may feel a tad too pricey so, if that's the case, we have a great alternative. The Silver Cross Clic stroller is a great option if you want a lightweight buggy with a one-handed fold that is a little more affordable. 

Looking for more? Discover our range of baby gear buying guides covering everything from the best convertible car seats to the best cot beds.

We put the Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum to the test, and get the verdict of a four year old to see if this toy is worth the money.

The Dyson Cordless Vacuum toy from Casdon, is a working replica of the grown up version you may have at home (albeit, with less powerful suction), and is designed for little hands who love to role play with cleaning toys as they mimic what they see you do. It even made the cut for our round up of the best toys for three year olds.

To put it through its paces, I roped in the help of my four year old nephew, Max, who very much enjoys the fact that I write about and test toys for a living - he recently helped me test out the Beast Labs Shark Beast Creator playset, which was a resounding success. Cute anecdote alert: I hadn't told him what toy we were going to be playing with, and when he saw the box, he came running over, pointing at the box, asking 'What is that on earth?' - good start!

Packaging and set up

I love a toy that is just super easy to get out of the box - no scissors (or screwdriver!) required (although you might need a little screwdriver later on). The packaging is all cardboard so it can go straight into the recycling bin, and there is no excess packaging that feels unnecessary.

The toy arrives in four separate bits - you have the main unit and three attachments, including a brush head, crevice tool, and the extension tube which takes it from handheld to an upright vacuum. You will need a little screwdriver to open the cover to add three AA batteries if you want the sounds and suction to work.

Design

What's so brilliant about the design of the this Dyson toy, is just how good a replica it is. It looks just like the real thing, which was super exciting to my nephew. His parents have a cordless Dyson, so does my mother and so do I, so Max is used to seeing grown ups whizzing round the house with the vacuum so he was thrilled to have his own.

Attachments are connected and disconnected in the same way as a real Dyson - the parts, once aligned, can be simply pushed together, and then press the button and pull to detach. While this was really easy for me to do, it was a little bit trickier for a four year old. It's designed for age three and over, so kiddies might need a helping hand with the attachments until their fine motor skills can tackle the task.

When you press the red button located underneath the handle (it's like a trigger action) there's a cool whirring vacuum sound, that sounds realistic, there's very light suction, and there are loads of tiny coloured balls in the main chamber that whizz around when it's in use, which is a really cute feature. The main chamber does open by pressing the red button on the top of the main unit, but the colourful balls remain contained. The suction is very light - I tried vacuuming over some pieces of shredded paper, and they remained on the floor - so you don't have to worry about anything getting caught up in the vacuum.

When it's fully assembled, including the extension tube, it stands at about 68cm tall, ans while it's robust it's not heavy so it's the perfect size for little ones to manoeuvre.

What's it like to play with?

When I handed the Dyson toy vacuum to my energetic nephew, the extension tube was attached with the brush head, and he immediately started to zoom from one end of the room to the other pushing it on the floor, mimicking what he'd seen grown ups doing (although the running was likely Max's own flair). He was even more excited when my mother emerged with her own Dyson so they could vacuum together (although he did soon tire of hers making noise and asked her to go and put it away).

When he'd deemed the floor clean enough, he got to work on chairs, cushions, feet and whatever else he could find, which he thought was hilarious. We did have to intervene when he started waving it about like a light saber, but a quick switch to the crevice tool was all that was needed to protect the surrounding items and nearby eyeballs.

Max really loves to be helpful, so you could literally see him glowing with pride as he helped his Grammy clean her house. He was also quick to tell his mum and dad how he'd helped when he got back home. While he might need a little help changing the attachments right now, he can definitely operate the toy himself and enjoys playing with it independently.

How loud is it?

Some kids can be quite sensitive to toys that make a noise, especially if they are not expecting it, and while this toy does make a noise when the button is pressed, it's not as loud as a real Dyson, and the whirring sound means it's a bit quieter when the button is first pressed, so it's not too startling.

For those who might be particularly sensitive to sound, you could take the batteries out, and it's still really enjoyable to play with.

Value for money

The Dyson vacuum toy has an RRP of £25 which feels like a fair price. It's suitable from the age of three, but I know my goddaughters who are age six and nine would both love role-playing with it, and so I think that makes it great value for money. While you might need to occasionally replace the batteries, all of the parts are robust enough to stand firm against the most enthusiastic of role-players.

I also think how good a replica it is boosts the value you're getting. It's really detailed, even down to the ball sockets and logos that appear on the main unit and the brush head - these details are an exact match of the real thing, which adds a lovely sense of realism to pretend play, and it will really spark a little one's imagination.

Read more of our toy reviews, including our Toniebox review, Cookeez Makery Oven review and Magic Mixies Pixlings review.

We put the Toniebox and various Tonies through their paces to see if they are worth the price tag, and to gauge just how easy they are for kids to operate.

If you're new to the world of Tonies, then you might be wondering what a Toniebox is and how it works. Essentially, it's a wireless, screen-free audio player that is designed to be operated by children. It's got no sharp edges and features padded sides, so it can withstand the most enthusiastic of operators. It comes in a variety of eye catching colours that kids will adore too. Audio is played via magnetic figurines called Tonies, which sit on top of the Toniebox.

Read our review to find out if the Toniebox is the right audio player for you.

Setting up the Toniebox

The Toniebox arrived well packaged (it's all recyclable too, which is a big tick in the plus column) with everything you need for a successful set up. You get the Toniebox in the colour of your choice, a charger, instructions and a Creative Tonie that can be used to upload up to 90 minutes of your own audio.

The set up process took less than 10 minutes and the instructions are really easy to follow. In fact the instructions are surprisingly minimal, which made me nervous initially, but where the paper instructions leave off, the app instructions took over. You will need to register a new free account on the website or on the mytonies app, which is available in the App Store and on Google Play.

You will also need access to your emails to complete the registration process, and you will need to be connected to WiFi and have your WiFi password to hand. If you are buying this for a child in your family, it's a wise move to set it up first so that your child can hit the ground running.

Toniebox Design

I'm testing the bright red Toniebox because I'm a good aunty and red is my nephew's favourite colour. It's a rounded cube shape (not a sharp edge in sight), and it's got a layer of foam padding around all of the sides, so it feels really sturdy. The audio comes out of a speaker on one side of the cube, not all, and so it feels pretty intuitive as to how you should hold it to hear the audio in the best way. There is also a headphone socket on the top where you can attached wired headphones.

The Toniebox has two different sized 'ears' on the top, next to the magnetic panel where the Tonies are attached. The only lights on the Toniebox appear on this top panel, which is great if you are planning on incorporating this toy into a child's bedtime routine - no one needs a flashing light show just before bed!

It also has a circular dip on the bottom, which is where the charger fits - this is a cool feature and it keeps it sturdy even when it's charging.

What age is best for a Toniebox?

The Toniebox is aimed at children aged three and over. My nephew has just turned four and came to mine to take part in my 'storytime experiment' (also known as testing the Toniebox).

Initially, he was more excited about the Tonie audio characters I have, including Highway Rat and a Dinosaur, both of which were super recognisable to him. But when I showed him what happened when we put the figurine on the top of the Toniebox, that was even more exciting. By the time he went to bed, he was confidently turning on the Toniebox, swapping over Tonies and adjusting the volume.

For more advanced actions, like rewinding or fast-forwarding, or skipping chapters, a child of that age will need to be shown, but I have no doubt they will pick it up quickly, tiny sponges that they are.

How easy is a Toniebox to use?

Once you've completed the initial set up, and you've got a Tonie to play with, then Toniebox is really easy to use - and you'd want it to be, especially when one of it's main selling points is that it can be operated by a child.

To turn the Toniebox on, you pinch one of it's ears, and then you'll hear the start up music, then you just pop your chosen Tonie on the top, and it starts playing automatically. If you take the Tonie off, stopping play, and put it back on, it will start again from where it left off, but if you play a different Tonie in between, or the Toniebox turns off, the Tonie will start back at the beginning.

To stop the audio, all you need to do is remove the Tonie audio character. There's no need to switch the box off - it turns off automatically after 10 minutes. It'll also turn off 10 minutes after the end of a Tonie's audio tracks, so there's no need to worry about it running all night. By tilting the Toniebox to one side, you can fast-forward or rewind the audio track (and you can use the mytonies app to select whether you tilt it left to fast-forward or right, which I thought was a very cool feature).

To adjust the volume, you pinch the bigger of the Toniebox's ears to turn it up, and the smaller ear to turn it down. I really liked that the maximum volume was limited, and you can even reduce this further in the mytonies app.

You can also tap the sides of the Toniebox in order to skip to the next or previous chapter of the audio, but it does feel like you have to tap it in a very specific place, with a specific force in order to skip - it took me a couple of goes to successfully skip in the direction I wanted to.

For a child's opinion, I roped in my nephew, Max, who has just turned four. And it was a resounding thumbs up from him. He loved having a really good look at the audio characters and was excited about the ones he recognised. For Max, he was most engrossed in the stories when he was away from other distractions, so it was perfect for him when it came to bedtime. He was really happy to listen to it independently too.

Some Tonies encourage interaction by asking questions of the listener, and you might find your child is more likely to interact if you join in too - this was definitely the case with Max, and might be because of his age.

While the Tonie is great for independent play, it doesn't have to replace the personal interaction and story time that you might already have in place before your child goes to sleep. But it's a great additional to resource to help them hone their listening skills, learn new things and bring on their language development. And you can absolutely listen to it together if you want to enjoy some quiet time with your little one.

Another thing that's great about this Toniebox is that it's portable. Once it's set up, and the audio files from the Tonie figures are downloaded on to it (this happens automatically when you place the Tonie on the Toniebox when you are connected to WiFi. You will see a flashing blue light underneath the Tonie as it downloads, and once complete, the light will go green), then you no longer need to have a WiFi signal in order to listen to the audio.

Recording your own audio using the Creative Tonie

A really cool feature of the Toniebox is the ability to record up to 90 minutes of your own audio using the Creative Tonie, that comes with the box as standard. You can record your audio using the mytonies app and assign it to your Creative Tonie - it look me a couple of attempts to figure out how to assign my recording to the Creative Tonie, and a little while longer to figure out how to get it to actually play through the Toniebox. But once you've done it once, it's easy to replicate.

This process definitely required grown up input, but I know more than one child who would love to record themselves and hear their own voices back!

This functionality can also be really helpful if you are having to spend some time away from your child - being able to leave a recording of your voice, reading a bedtime story or repeating the phrases you say before your child goes to sleep, for example, could help to settle your child at bedtime, even if you are not there.

What's the Toniebox battery life like?

When fully charged, the Toniebox battery lasts for up to seven hours, but how long it actually lasts will depend how you use it and at what volume. Seven hours might not seem very impressive, especially when we are used to our grown up devices like smartphones and tablets lasting much longer. However for younger children with shorter attention spans, this is probably less of an issue.

When Max played with it, he played with it multiple times during the day, listened to it at bedtime, and then listened to some more stories the next morning before it needed a charge.

Which is better - Toniebox or Yoto?

Tonies aren't the only screen-free audio device out there - there's also the Yoto, which works in a similar way, but instead of figurines, the Yoto works with card-style audio files.

Both devices are portable and kid-friendly and are similar prices. The Yoto boasts an impressive 24-hour battery life, while the Toniebox battery will last up to 7 hours. You can also get a Yoto player than comes with additional features, like a built-in room thermometer, night light and an ok-to-wake clock.

But ultimately it comes down to what you need and potentially, which one your child has spotted. If you need a room thermometer, nightlight and clock, then it's worth buying the Yoto, but if this would be doubling up on what you already have, then you might choose the Yoto.

I personally love the Tonie audio characters - they are so intricate, instantly recognisable, and add a bit of visual flair to the screen-free experience. I also think seeing the characters helps to spark the imagination. But for our Family Editor, Stephanie Lowe, the Yoto might just have the edge - you can read her Yoto vs Tonies comparison to find out more.

Is the Toniebox worth the money?

I think the Toniebox is absolutely worth the money - within minutes, it had my four-year-old nephew entranced, and it was brilliant come bedtime. Even if you just by the box and have the Creative Tonie, you can record your own stories (then delete and record more, if you go over the 90-minute limit). You can also find a load of free audio files in the mytonies app, which you can load on to the Creative Tonie.

When it comes to the audio characters, it could easily become expensive to build up a collection of Tonies, but at the £15 mark, it's a perfect price point for gifting, so you can always let friends and family know if there are some Tonies your little one is looking to add to their stash.

When the Prime Day sale is over, you could save a bit of money initially by buying your Toniebox as part of a starter bundle, which will give you the box and a selection of Tonies, for less than buying them all separately.

Want to read more toy reviews to see what's worth spending your money on? Check out our Magic Mixies Pixlings review, or our Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator review.

As Food Editor at GoodtoKnow, I’m all for kitchen appliances and the Breville DuraCeramic Waffle Maker is up there with the greats.

Whether it’s sweet pancakes drizzled in maple syrup or eggs royale, I love a bit of brunch but eating out all the time can soon add up, and getting the kids to sit still is a whole other story. A few months back I went to an amazing cafe and had waffles for brunch. I’ve had waffles before, but these were the best I’ve ever tasted and that got me thinking, how easy is it to make waffles at home?

After researching the best waffle makers on the market, I came across the Breville DuraCeramic Waffle Maker. As a reliable kitchen appliance brand Breville prides itself on producing efficient, quality appliances; "the kitchen appliance brand that delivers innovation based on consumer insights, empowering people’s potential to do things more impressively or easily than they’d thought possible in their own kitchen" and as I’ve tested a few of Breville’s products before I knew the brand was a good’en. I was interested to find out how their popular waffle maker fared and if it made waffles as good as the ones I tried in the cafe.

Writing about food for nearly 12 years you’re not really supposed to admit that you’ve never made waffles before, but there I said it. I used this machine as a novice and it made waffle making a true delight. A quick and simple appliance to set up plus a handy instruction booklet with various waffle recipes to get you started. Say goodbye pancakes, hello waffles…

Price & availability

At the time of writing the Breville DuraCeramic Waffle Maker is priced at £51.99 on Amazon, and the same price at B&Q if you want to collect in-store. Waffle makers do vary in price depending on the brand name. For example, the VonShef Stove Top Waffle Iron is just £19.99 at B&Q, the Salter Deep Fill Waffle Maker is £25 at Argos, and the Lakeland No Mess Electric Waffle Maker, which cooks four waffles at once, is priced at £59.99. 

In terms of price, the Breville DuraCeramic model is slightly above average for a waffle maker that produces two waffles at the same time, however, the experience I’ve had with the machine during testing has reassured me that it’s a machine worth investing in - particularly if you like waffles.

Design & features

Size: 9.3D x 10.9W x 3.7H cm | Weight: 2.43kg | Makes: Two waffles | Colour: White & Stainless Steel

Unboxing the waffle maker was so easy. It’s a really good size, weighs next to nothing and the handle on the side of the machine made removing it from the packaging quick and simple. The packaging in the box was kept to a minimum with two polystyrene blocks on either side of the machine to make sure it is delivered without any damage. The size of the machine impressed me as I was expecting something big and bulky but this was a convenient size for both my kitchen countertop and for storing away in the cupboard. The waffle maker cooks two waffles at the same time and was plenty big for our family of four. 

I gave the waffle plates a quick wash before use as recommended by the instruction booklet and then I was ready to go. To remove the waffle plates you click a button on the right-hand side of the machine and both plates pop out of their compartments inside the waffle maker. Once cleaned and dried, both need to be aligned in the slots and pushed back into the machine until you hear a click sound - which indicates when the waffle plates have been attached securely and are ready to be used.

You need to make your waffle mixture before you even plug in the machine, as it’s quick to heat and ready to use in minutes. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve not made waffles before so I used the recipes in the Breville waffle maker instruction booklet starting with classic waffles which were easy to make and came out perfectly. The kids said the waffles ‘taste like heaven’ so I’d say that was pretty successful for the first time making them. 

Once the waffle maker is plugged into the mains the green light on the top of the machine highlights. You then have to wait patiently for the light next to the thermometer symbol to appear amber and that indicates when the waffle maker is ready to be used and is preheated. Carefully unclip the handle, open the waffle maker, and coat each individual plate with spray cooking oil. 

Each waffle plate holds 75 ml of waffle mixture per waffle - that’s about an average ladle size. If you don’t have a ladle, I would highly recommend investing in one as it helped when it came to pouring the waffle mixture into each waffle plate. It was certainly less messy than when I attempted to pour it using a jug (but we won’t talk about that…) Once you’ve poured your mixture into the waffle maker it’s time to close the lid. However you don’t want to clip the handle, you want to leave the clip loose so that the excess steam can escape from the machine whilst the waffles are cooking. 

Depending on the recipe you use, the waffles take an average of seven minutes to cook. I used my phone as a timer but did wonder whether it would be worth Breville adding a timer to the waffle maker to make it even more efficient. When your seven-minute timer beeps, it’s time to check your waffles by carefully opening the lid. Now the waffles didn’t look that impressive at first glance but once you remove them from the waffle plates and flip the waffles over you’ll have that classic waffle finish. I learned that there's a bottom to a waffle and a top - and the top is at the bottom when cooking. The first waffles we cooked reminded me of when you make pancakes for the first time on the pan and they’re not the best - however the second round was spot on.

To remove the waffles - I’m not gonna lie - I used my fingers as I’m one of those cooks but you can use a spatula or even tongs would do the trick. Breville recommends not using any metal utensils on the waffle plates to avoid scratching so keep this in mind. And then your waffles are ready to serve. Just pop them on a plate, drizzle on maple syrup, and top them with berries, or whatever you prefer.

As you can only make a couple of waffles at a time, I used this machine over and over to feed our family of four which wasn’t a big deal seeing as you have the same debacle when cooking pancakes - everyone was very patient. I liked the fact that once the waffle plates were oiled, I didn’t need to add any more oil after each use thanks to the non-stick coating. The waffles were still just as golden, soft with a slight crisp edge, and I still managed to remove them without any residue too. 

How we tested

• Breakfast/brunch waffles - made using the ‘classic waffles recipe’ included in the Breville instruction booklet that comes with the machine
• Dessert waffles - made using the ‘chocolate waffles recipe’ included in the Breville instruction booklet. We topped ours with ice cream, warm Nutella, and raspberries. Delicious!
• Savoury waffles - made using the ‘potato waffles recipe’ included in the Breville instruction booklet and they were much tastier than the readymade freezer waffles.

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

The recipes that are included in the instruction booklet are great for beginners and just perfect if you have no clue where to start. A really simple set of instructions with each recipe and some great tips too about making sure the waffle mixture isn’t overmixed otherwise you’ll end up with chewy waffles instead of soft ones. The classic waffles and the chocolate waffles with chocolate chips were two family favourites. The kids have already been asking when we’ll be making more so it looks like it's a winner.

Cleaning the waffle maker was a piece of cake. You’d automatically think with all the grooves on each waffle plate you’d have your work cut out for you, but because of the non-stick DuraCeramic coating, cleaning each plate was a breeze. A sponge and a bit of warm soapy water certainly does the trick. It’s also not recommended to dishwasher the waffle plates, otherwise the non-stick coating will be less effective, or wear off during washing.

Another thing worth noting is the escaping steam and residue that sits on the outside of the machine when in use. When the waffles are being cooked, steam escapes from the waffle maker on either side of the machine and the top of the machine is extremely hot to the touch. This is noted in the instruction booklet, but I thought it was certainly worth mentioning, particularly if you have children around. I made sure my waffle maker was pushed back out of reach and made the kids aware of it when cooking. The machine also started collecting water droplets and residue on the outside of the rim and handle during cooking, however, this did disappear after each use and didn’t impact the machine and its efficiency and success in cooking the waffles, but again, worth noting.

One thing I do feel like this waffle maker is lacking is a timer which I’ve mentioned previously. A little add-on, but just having the timer as part of the machine would save you having to reset your phone or oven timer each time you use the waffle maker.

Who is it best for?

For the waffle lover, the person looking for a pancake alternative, the one who wants to up their brunch game, or the family that is looking for something fun to do at the weekend, The Breville DuraCeramic Waffle Maker is perfect for anyone who loves waffles and wants to try making them at home. 

This waffle maker cooks two waffles at the same time and can be easily used over and over again to make as many as you need, but if you do have a bigger family and want to produce waffles in larger quantities, I would recommend a bigger machine with more than two waffle plates.

Need an alternative?

As I’ve mentioned above, this waffle maker is great for making two waffles at the same time, however, if you want to make more waffles in one go as you’re feeding more people or looking to use this machine for special occasions only when you’re hosting family and friends, then you may want to go for larger machines like the VonShef Waffle Maker Large priced at £29.99 on Amazon or you could opt for a multifunctional machine like the Salter EK2143 3-In-1 Snack Maker priced at £36.99 on Amazon which allows you to not only make waffles, but toasties, paninis and it has a press grill.

As Consumer Editor at GoodtoKnow, I have tested more prams, pushchairs and strollers than I've had hot dinners over the years so I was itching to get my hands on the new Joie Pact Pro stroller. 

Parents know and trust Joie, and it's easy to see why. From the Joie Versatrax - which features in our guide to buying the best pushchair - to the Joie i-Spin 360 - which we named the best one-handed rotating seat in our best car seats buying guide - Joie is a brand that consistently delivers high-quality items of baby gear that don't cost a fortune but do help to make life with little ones easier.

Joie has branched out beyond car seats, prams and pushchairs too, with their portfolio of parent-friendly products including everything from high chairs, swings and bouncers to cots, cribs and baby carriers.

The Joie Pact Pro is the brand's very latest offering in the lightweight and compact travel stroller category and it's one of the best travel strollers we've tested. A petite pushchair package, the Pact Pro was designed to make light work of any journey, no matter whether your passenger is a delicate newborn that needs to lie flat or a toddler straining at the straps to see the world. Lightweight and compact, the Pact Pro is the ideal travel companion if you're planning a family holiday - but it's also robust enough to handle daily life at home.

For this review, GoodtoKnow turned to our parent tester, Holly Upton, to put Joie's newest lightweight stroller to the test with her 19-month-old son, Remy. She used the pushchair daily, for both quick trips to the supermarket and longer walks to parks and playgroups, testing its manoeuvrability on different types of terrain and seeing how easy it was to push, fold and carry in all sorts of everyday situations with a busy toddler. Here’s everything you need to know about how the Joie Pact Pro fared during testing.

Price and availability

The Joie Pact Pro is priced at £200 from Mamas and Papas, and available to purchase directly from Joie at the same price. 

This is a mid-range price for a lightweight pushchair from a reliable, trusted baby gear brand. It's good value for money when you consider that it's one of the lightest strollers you can buy, plus it's impressively compact when folded. 

However, factor in that you'll be spending considerably more if you choose to buy the compatible Joie Ramble carrycot and/or car seat too.

VIEW AT MAMAS & PAPAS

Design and features

Weight: 6.3kg | Age: Birth-approx. 4 years | Price: £200 | Included: Rain cover, carry bag, adapters and bumper bar

The Joie Pact Pro is a 3in1 stroller, meaning you can use it in three different modes: (1) as a forward-facing pushchair, (2) with the Joie Ramble carrycot - brilliant for babies who need to lie flat in a pram until six months - and (3) with selected Joie infant carrier car seats if you want to create a travel system. The carrycot and car seat have to be purchased separately which is an extra expense, but if you just want a light and compact stroller, this is a practical choice. A rain cover and a bag for storing the stroller are included in the price, as are adaptors to hold the car seat or carrycot safely in place on the frame.

For me, the standout feature of the Joie Pact Pro is how remarkably compact it is when folded. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's not much bigger than a large laptop. It's perfect for popping in the car boot but still plenty of space for all the family's luggage, and ideal for stashing neatly out of the way at playgroup or if you don't want a tank of a pushchair taking up space in your hallway.

One of my favourite design features of the Joie Pact Pro is the custom recline button which lets you adjust the backrest from upright to fully flat and everything in between. As any parent knows, the ability to ever-so-gently recline your child's seat when they doze off in the stroller is a game-changer. I've bought myself half an hour's peace in a cafe numerous times by mastering this trick. 

However, some pushchairs make reclining the seat virtually impossible - you either jolt the child awake due to a less-than-smooth design or the process is so noisy not even the heaviest of snoozers could sleep through the racket. Top marks to Joie for making this feature as smooth and quiet as can be.

Another noteworthy feature of the Joie Pact Pro is the adjustable leg rest. This isn't something many parents usually prioritise when shopping for a stroller, especially for a newborn, as it's difficult to imagine your tiny bundle ever being big enough to need a leg rest! 

But babies grow fast and toddlers tend to love getting out of the stroller for short walks, which can lead to little legs getting tired. At that stage, a leg rest can make a huge difference to how comfy the stroller is for little explorers. Even better if it's adjustable so that tired little legs can recover between adventures, even after an overnight growth spurt. 

Well-designed brakes are another design element that parents often overlook when shopping for a stroller but they can make a huge difference to the whole experience of getting out and about with your baby. If you risk breaking a toe every time you want to apply the brake, you're not likely to enjoy using the stroller. 

Efficient brakes are especially important with a lightweight stroller because they tend to tip up more easily than heavier designs. Joie has this covered with the One-touch shoe saver™ braking system which makes it easy to put the stroller into stationary mode and just as easy to get moving again.

For me, the most important design feature of any pram or pushchair is how easy it is to fold. That's especially true with a lightweight stroller because you're more likely to use one for travelling, when it's essential that you can fold it quickly and easily. It's not much help having a light and compact stroller if you end up sweating and having to wrestle it into submission every time you want to fold it.

Joie claims the Pact Pro is so easy to fold that you can do it with one hand so we set out to see if that's true. The press release promised: 'When your hands are full and space is limited, Pact Pro easily collapses into a tiny package to make it easy for you to carry it around or tuck it away into small spaces.'

Is it that easy to fold? Yes and, better still, the Joie Pact Pro is also freestanding when folded. This means you can fold it up and pop it to one side without worrying that it's going to fall on top of a toddler or spring open and bash you on the shin every time you squeeze past it in the hallway. If you're likely to collapse the stroller to pop it in and out of your car boot, then an easy-to-fold design should be top of your list. And if folding it up to store it out of the way between uses appeals to you, a freestanding fold is a dream design feature.

'The stroller is very simple to assemble and fold down and is possible to do this with one hand which is handy when holding a toddler; it is also lightweight to lift and carry, which helps when getting it in and out of the boot,' says our parent tester, Holly.  

'We keep the stroller in the boot of the car, which I found didn’t take up too much space and I could still fit a 'big food shop' amount of shopping bags in the boot alongside the stroller. If you did want to store it in the house, it is compact and could easily fit in an understairs cupboard or even in a narrow hallway – it does stand on its own. I'm not sure how sturdy it would be to stay standing if my toddler started climbing on it though, which he no doubt would!'

We can't mention how easy it is to fold the Pact Pro without also drawing attention to the fact that it comes with a storage bag so it's easy to transport. That's a little extra that you'd normally only get on a much more expensive stroller, and you'd often expect to pay extra for it. Once again, Joie has proven its commitment to making travel hassle-free for families.

How we tested

• Our tester used the Joie Pact Pro both indoors in shops/supermarkets, and also outside when walking in the park and on gravel and grass. 'I found that the wheels coped well regardless of the terrain and it hasn't felt stuck at any point,' she says. 

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

Designers often have to make compromises to produce a very lightweight stroller. That can mean using lighter materials that aren't as robust as heavier alternatives or reducing the size of the seat unit to lighten the load. In particular, manoeuvrability often gets sacrificed because small wheels help to reduce the overall weight but that can mean certain types of terrain are a bit of struggle. 

However, if you're in the market for a lightweight stroller that can also tackle tough terrain, whether that's a cobbled street in Greece or a muddy walk at your local park, the Joie Pact Pro is designed to handle it. The front wheels can be locked in place or set to swivel, so you can get the best out of it by adjusting them to suit different environments as needed. 

Beneath the seat unit, there's a ventilated storage basket which is a genius feature for a travel-friendly stroller. You can pop anything in there from wet clothes after a day at the beach to washable nappies after use, without worrying about the basket getting soggy or smelly. 

While we're on the subject of airflow, I like the inclusion of a peekaboo window in the hood of the pushchair, making it easy to see if your baby has nodded off in the pushchair. 

'In terms of comfort, my son seems to really enjoy sitting in the Joie Pact Pro and I particularly like how straight he can sit when the seat it set to fully upright,' says our tester, Holly. 'With other strollers, he has always wanted to sit more upright than the seat would allow, which would cause the straps to pull on him. He has also taken a nap in the stroller, which reclines to almost fully flat – he fell asleep within a few minutes when reclined which is a big win for us! The hood is a good size and covers most sunlight when pulled all the way down.'

Who is it best for?

The Joie Pact Pro is a brilliant buy for anyone on the hunt for light and compact stroller for holiday use. We love that it's suitable from birth right through to toddlerhood and beyond, and it's also sturdy enough to be suitable for daily use at home.

'Overall, the stroller is smart to look at, looks sleek in design and is really easy to manoeuvre,' adds our tester. 'It is far less bulky than other strollers we’ve had, but still offers the same level of comfort which is a big bonus. 

'We are going on holiday soon and will be using this stroller whilst we are away, which I think will be perfect for travel, however this has also now taken over as our go-to stroller on a day-to-day basis at home too. The basket underneath is a decent size and could easily fit a changing bag, along with a couple of toys and a coat – everything you’d need for a trip out with a little one.' 

Need an alternative?

The Joie Pact Pro is a little less expensive than the RRP of many similar lightweight strollers such as the Joolz Aer, the Silver Cross Clic and the Babyzen YoYo2 but these pushchairs are older models and sometimes available at discounted prices. The Pact Pro, in contrast, is a brand-new release from Joie and not likely to be discounted by retailers. 

Looking for more advice on the best baby gear to buy for your baby? Check out our buying guide on the best travel strollers or the best newborn prams. Alternatively, check out our features on what is a travel system and why do babies need to lie flat in a pram. 

As Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and an avid baker (and I mean avid), I can hand-on-heart say that I’ve never been so excited to test a product before and just couldn’t wait to get my hands on the KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift. 

The KitchenAid 5.6L Stand Mixer is a head-turner, for sure. Give yourself at least half an hour once you’ve unboxed this mixer before you even begin to use it - to just stare at it in awe and appreciate the beauty and workmanship behind the machine. This mixer is for the true chefs looking for a long-term investment that could bring daily joy at the click of a button. Tested for just shy of a year, this stand mixer has continued to impress and still looks and works just as good as it did when I first unboxed it.

When it comes to stand mixers, KitchenAid is one of the most sought-after brands. Established in 1919, the brand has become globally iconic over the years for its high-quality, efficient, and durable cookware and appliances - from mixers to food processors, from kettles to toasters, from blenders to ovens. It’s no wonder we all want a slice of the KitchenAid lifestyle. But with quality and repertoire comes a rather hefty price tag which is why, before you buy, it's well worth getting some expert insight into investing in a KitchenAid product.

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about how the KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift fared when I put it to the test over the last year. From chocolate cupcakes to carrot cake, from bread dough to cookie dough, from chocolate brownies to meringue, I certainly gave this machine a run for its money.

Price and availability

At the time of writing this KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift is priced at £749 at John Lewis. It is also available on Amazon for the same price and from the KitchenAid website. Often this model can be bought with a 20% discount on occasions throughout the year - most commonly during retailer sales such as Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. 

A KitchenAid stand mixer is certainly at the higher end of the budget when it comes to stand mixers but with a KitchenAid, you’re not just paying for an efficient machine, you’re paying for the quality of the brand name and the reliability of it. You’re paying for a robust, durable machine that should last 15 years (or more!), and alongside that, you’re paying for a premium brand that is strong, reliable, and efficient. 

A KitchenAid is a multifunctional tool because the body of a KitchenAid stand mixer is compatible with a variety of different attachments, from mincers to pasta makers and spiralizers. This means your KitchenAid becomes an integral part of your kitchen - not just for baking but for cooking too. It’s an investment with a 5-year guarantee and a 15-year repair promise. On average a KitchenAid stand mixer carries a lifespan of 15 years - as long as you look after it.

There are a range of different KitchenAid alternatives on the market if you are looking for a more budget-friendly machine. The Cuisinart Precision, the Kenwood Chef XL, and the Smeg Retro have all been said to share similarities to the iconic KitchenAid, from the colour range to efficiency, with some costing half (or even a quarter) of KitchenAid's price. 

Design & features

Size: 419mm H x 287 W x 371 D | Weight: 13.8kg | Capacity: 5.6L | Mixing speeds: 11 | Attachments included: 4 plus mixing bowl | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Colour: Pistachio | Colours available: Almond Cream, Matte Black & Empire Red | Length of cable: 110cm | Extra: 5 years guarantee and 15 years reparability

Unboxing the KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift was a mammoth task. Not because it wasn’t packaged correctly, oh no, I’ve never seen a product so secure. It was purely because this machine is so heavy. I’d like to think I have ‘mum guns’ but trying to get this stand mixer out of the box on my own was another level. I ended up having to get my husband involved; he held the polystyrene packaging holding the KitchenAid snuggled inside, and I wriggled the box off with all my strength. It was like pulling a giant Christmas cracker hoping that the present inside wasn’t going to fly across the kitchen (it didn’t, by the way).

Once out of the box, I could see this stand mixer in all its pistachio glory. A smart, sleek, and stylish-looking stand mixer with that iconic KitchenAid finish - polished, gloss pastel-coloured body, and silver KitchenAid branded lettering. A chef's dream and certainly a kitchen appliance you would have no problem displaying on your kitchen counter.

That being said, make sure you have plenty of space to house this stand mixer. It needs to be on display, not just because it looks the part but because it's so heavy. Lifting it in and out of cupboards is just not an option unless you want to incorporate a serious workout into your daily baking routine. It’s a large stand mixer too as the machine's body is tall and if you have low kitchen units sitting above the counter you may struggle to find room for it. I would recommend measuring your space before investing in this stand mixer otherwise you’ll be getting rid of the microwave or kettle to house your KitchenAid instead.

Alongside this KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift, you get various attachments; a wire whisk, silver-coated paddle, silver-coated spiral dough hook, and pouring shield. All of these were super easy to attach to the machine thanks to a handy, very thorough guidebook and instruction manual that comes with your stand mixer. 

As an avid baker I couldn’t wait to get started and setting up this stand mixer was a piece of cake. Once again, the instruction manual came in handy here explaining how to attach the stainless steel mixing bowl to the body of the machine. I’ve not tested a bowl-lift KitchenAid mixer before so this was all new to me as you have to attach the bowl to the body of the machine using metal clips or pins. There is also a lever on the side of the KitchenAid body that enables you to lift the mixing bowl up and down to ensure the ingredients are whisked to perfection, including the stubborn flour or knob of butter that often sits at the bottom of the mixing bowl that the whisk can sometimes miss. This wasn’t a problem in this case.

Attaching the bowl securely using pins on either side and a spring latch at the back of the machine was a tad fiddly at first. The body of the KitchenAid doesn’t move so it's all about getting the bowl in the correct place and moving that up and down instead of the mixer body like the previous KitchenAid with tilt mechanism I’ve tested. There is a bit of a knack for putting the bowl in position however, once you’ve got the gist of it,  it’s pretty simple to do. You need to make sure that all of the pins are in place and the spring latch is attached properly at the back otherwise the bowl will not be securely in place and will be unstable during use. The handle on the bowl made removing and attaching the bowl much easier compared to other Artisan models.

When it came to mixing, whisking, beating, or kneading ingredients together, the KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift really did impress me. It took minutes, if not seconds on some occasions to get the ingredients mixed thoroughly and ready to pour and bake. A batch of cupcakes, a Victoria sponge sandwich cake, or ingredients for a hefty bundt cake - no problem. I used the wire whisk to mix up my cake ingredients and the KitchenAid made it a breeze. I was surprised when I realised how quickly the ingredients were combined and how quiet the machine was. For a large stand mixer, you’d expect more sound but it’s certainly a machine to be seen but not heard. I made my Christmas cake using this stand mixer last year and combining the dense ingredients (the dried fruit, the brown sugar, and the butter) with a wooden spoon like previous years always gave me an armache whereas the KitchenAid did it in minutes using the silver-coated paddle attachment. 

Whipping cream, kneading dough, mixing buttercream, whipping egg whites to make meringue - all as easy as pie thanks to the 60 touchpoints around the bowl and the 11 distinct speed settings. With the switch on the side of the body of the stand mixer, you can gradually build up mixing speed to suit the ingredients you’re combining, be it delicate airy mousses or heavier pizza dough. 

KitchenAid says: ‘The mixer 5.6L - Artisan is designed with 11 distinct speeds, giving you the power and control from high to low, and everything in between. Every recipe, however fiddly, is in your power. The 1/2 speed gently folds delicate ingredients, like blueberries and egg whites, keeping the air in batters and without overbeating. Just as if you were doing it by hand. Then just slide through the speeds, right up to 10 for fast whipping, while the soft start feature minimizes splashy messes. And you can trust in our mixers to mix every last drop, thanks to their ‘planetary action’. This means the head of the mixer rotates in one direction, while the attachment rotates in the other, giving a much more thorough mix. The beater spirals to more than 60 touchpoints around the bowl, so nothing is missed. Mix, stir, fold and whip with confidence.’

The large mixing bowl and attachments are all dishwasher safe which is perfect for those of you who would rather spend more time decorating, and less time washing up. However, I did find as the mixing bowl is so large it does take up a rather large amount of space in the dishwasher so didn’t feel it was really necessary and found it much easier to wash with soapy warm water after each use. The same goes for unwanted fingerprints too - wipe the stainless steel mixing bowl and die-cast metal body with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.

How we tested

• Vigorously tested for a year by an avid baker who bakes at least once a week / or three times a month (more if I can get away with it!) 
• Mixing anything from chocolate chip cookies to my son’s giant snake birthday cake, from my annual Christmas cake to making buttercream without being attacked by the dreaded icing sugar cloud (more about that below!)
• The KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift was assessed based on how easy it was to set up, how easy it was to use once set up, how efficient it was in mixing and combining ingredients, what it looked like, how big, noisy, and efficient the machine was overall.

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

As I’ve mentioned several times in this KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift review, this KitchenAid is a large machine. The body of the machine is large, the mixing bowl is large - it is not for the fainthearted and is probably not worth having if you only occasionally bake or bake ‘small’. The mixing bowl is made for bulk baking - big birthday cakes, wedding cakes, loaves of bread, cookies, cookies, and more cookies. 

According to KitchenAid, this stand mixer can ‘process up to 11 dozen cookies, make up to 11 pizzas, whip 8 egg whites, and shred 1 kg (2.25 lbs) of chicken’ in one go. It’s a beast and in my opinion only worth considering if you’re looking to bake in bulk. If not, you’d be better off going for a smaller capacity KitchenAid model like the KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L model, or the smaller KitchenAid Classic stand mixer with a 4.3L capacity bowl. You’ll still get the quality of KitchenAid, but you’ll have a much smaller, more manageable model.

The attachments that come with the stand mixer are ideal, particularly the pouring shield, which was certainly a highlight when testing for this review. I didn’t think much of it at first but when it came to making buttercream in particular, the pouring shield made the experience much more enjoyable. For the avid bakers out there, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I refer to the dreaded icing sugar cloud that explodes from the mixing bowl when making buttercream, but that was a thing of the past thanks to the pouring shield attachment. All the splashback, not just from buttercream, was stopped by the shield. I didn’t even have to wear an apron. Dreamy. 

One thing worth mentioning, that is certainly ‘not on the box’ is the attachment of the mixing bowl. As I mentioned previously, there is a bit of a technique to attaching the bowl to the machine and the same goes for removing the bowl too. I found it a tad aggressive as the spring clip at the back of the machine pushes the bowl off towards you, so make sure you’re holding onto the bowl handle firmly before removing it. On a few occasions, I had difficulties attaching the mixing bowl to the body as you have to make sure the clips or pins are lined up onto the bowl holes but as with most things, practice makes perfect. 

Overall I have given the KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a fantastic stand mixer that will surely go the distance, however, it wasn't the full 5 out of 5 as it's heavy, takes up a considerable amount of space, and clipping the bowl in and out can be a little stiff at times - oh, and it's expensive. Other than that, it rocked my world.

Who is it best for?

The KitchenAid 5.6L Artisan Stand Mixer Bowl-Lift is suited to the avid baker, the passionate chef, and the curious cook who wants to expand their repertoire. It’s a professional stand mixer that enables you to unlock your potential in the kitchen - not just mixing and whisking. With the various other attachments (15 I believe, each sold separately), you have a range of different culinary opportunities at your fingertips. 

If you’re looking to invest in a stand mixer that goes far beyond whisking the usual batch of 12 cupcakes, this is it.

Need an alternative?

I thoroughly enjoyed testing this impressive stand mixer by KitchenAid however if you’re looking for an alternative, I’ve also reviewed the KitchenAid Design Series 4.7L Blossom Artisan. I would say it was my favourite out of the two, as it's a little smaller and more manageable, plus I liked the tilt mechanism on the body of the mixer and I found it easier to use when attaching the mixing bowl. 

It's a bestseller, but does Magic Mixings Pixlings live up to the hype? We put it through its paces to find out.

Suitable for children aged 5 and upwards, Magic Mixies Pixlings is part of the wider Magic Mixies range of mix and make toys. Released in July 2023, Magic Mixies Pixlings have gone on to become a bestseller and top rated toy at the likes of Amazon, Smyths and Very.

This toy promises a enchanting experience as kids create a magical potion, say the magic words and press the crystal gem to reveal their very own beautiful Pixling doll, complete with their own very special potion power. And it doesn't disappoint!

As I was testing this toy, all I could think about was how much my six-year-old Goddaughter would love it, and so I also included it in our guide to the best toys for six-year olds.

There are five different Pixling dolls to collect, a feat made easier by the fact you can choose which you buy rather than having to gamble and hope you get one you don't already have. This is easier online as the toys are usually listed with the Pixling name and doll's picture, making it easier to tell which you are buying, but you might not have a similar experience if you were buying in a shop. However, if you pay attention to the gem stones that appear on the front of the gold lid, then that will indicate which Pixling will be found inside: a purple gem for Unia, the Unicorn Pixling; pink for Deerlee, the Deer Pixling; orange for Amber, the Dragon Pixling; green for Faye, the Fairy Pixling; and blue for Marena, the Mermaid Pixling.

Magic Mixies Pixlings packaging and set up

Magic Mixies Pixlings come with minimal packaging - provided to you keep the the large potion bottle for other uses (we list some ideas for what these other uses could be later in this review). If you find you have no need for the potion bottle after the initial reveal, then it's effectively a lot of packaging for a doll.

While the inner plastic packaging around the doll is recyclable, the outer sleeve and potion pouches are not.

When it comes to set up, the good news is, once you've removed the outer sleeve, and the paper ring and acetate tab from the gold lid, you're pretty much ready to go. You don't need any batteries (or screwdrivers to remove packaging that appears welded to the toy) - but you will need:

• a pair of scissors
• about half a litre of water in an easy pour jug or bottle
• a tea towel
• a plate, tray, or waterproof mat to catch any spillage (optional).

Design

Right off the bat, the design of Magic Mixies Pixlings is engaging. The potion bottle is instantly exciting to look at, with it's gold lid, colourful gems, and equally gem-like crystal that sits on the top. It's mysterious too - even when you remove the outer sleeve of packaging, you can't see which Pixling doll is inside, but you do get to see the potion ingredients being added, which is another fun element.

The potion bottle itself feels substantial, so there's no need to worry about little hands squeezing it out of shape, or squeezing the potion out mid-magical mixing! Nothing about this feels flimsy or cheap.

The design absolutely embodies the magic world of the Pixlings, where potions are said to flow from waterfalls and fountains. It feels enchanting and mystical before you even start with the potion making, so is sure to spark the imagination and creativity of young minds.

What age is Magic Mixies Pixlings suitable for?

Magic Mixies Pixlings are suitable for children between five and 12 - although I'm considerably older then 12 and I loved it! For kids of this age range, toys like this not only gets their creative and imaginative juices flowing, but also help teach delayed gratification by encouraging certain steps or processes to be completed before getting to the good stuff at the centre.

What's Magic Mixies Pixlings like to play with?

The potion mixing process is fun. There are two pouches of dark blue 'magic elixir', paper stars and, for the Pixling in our potion bottle, a paper dragon's egg.

There's no need to take the gold lid off when mixing the potion, there's a very handy opening on the lid where you can pour in all the ingredients. Should there be any spillage, don't worry. The inky blue elixir might look like it'll stain everything it comes into contact with, it doesn't. It wipes off any surfaces easily, and dries clear.

You'll also need about half a litre of water to add to the potion (through the opening on the lid) up to the fill line, and this would definitely be difficult if you tried to use a glass or mug to pour it in. I used a measuring jug which worked well, with zero-spillage. Little ones will love being able to watch the potion mix together through the potion bottle's sides. If you need to give it an encouraging hand to mix, gently roll the upright potion bottle back and forth between your hands. Don't pick it up to shake otherwise your potion will splosh out everywhere.

And the mystic fun doesn't end when you've mixed the potion - there's a magic phrase to uncover too. Then when the crystal gem on the top is twisted (this action slides a lid over the lid's opening), and pressed down twice (users are advised to press it hard), the potion starts to clear, revealing the Pixling doll inside.

The Pixling sits in an inner tube, so is completely dry, although there might be some liquid in the base of the inner tube, and the lid, so make sure you have a tea-towel handy.

In our test, we got Amber, the Dragon Pixling, whose potion power is inner strength, who encourages those who meet her to be brave, which is a lovely sentimental touch. The posable doll is really detailed with Pixling features that feel otherworldly and exciting - fans of Monster High dolls will love Pixlings.

Once you're done with the reveal, you could find other uses for the potion bottle - you could use it to mix other homepade potions, or to storing smaller items like LEGOs, hair accessories, or even a moneybox (especially with that handy hole in the lid).

Can you repeat the magical reveal?

Sadly you can't repeat the magic reveal process with Magic Mixies Pixlings, which is the only downside of this toy. Once you've used the ingredients, they're gone, and you can't buy refills (although it is possible to buy refills for other Magic Mixie toys). You could try and mix your own homemade potions, but it's unlikely you'll be able to recreate the blue elixir turning clear element, which is a bit of a show-stopper moment.

Is Magic Mixies Pixlings worth the money?

With an RRP of £24.99, and a one time only reveal, Magic Mixies Pixlings does fall at the more expensive end of the scale. However, some Pixlings are cheaper than others, and if you can find them on sale, then it's absolutely worth while snapping them up at a cheaper price. For example, at the time of writing Marena the Mermaid Pixling was on sale for £12.50 on Amazon, while Unia, the Unicorn Pixling was selling for £24.99.

Taking the price out of the equation, the magic reveal is genuinely thrilling, and the doll is great - I know my six-year-old Goddaughter (who is a big Monster High fan) would love Magic Mixies Pixlings. For a kid, a toy that offers mystical and magical fun, with a fun surprise is sure to get top marks.

Looking for something else? Check out our Cookeez Makery review or Beast Lab review to see if they would be more suitable.

As Food Editor at GoodtoKnow, I have tested various air fryers over the years and this one in particular from Lakeland has been my favourite dual basket air fryer to date.

I am a big fan of Lakeland, since my days of making and decorating cupcakes, it's been my go-to for all things baking. Lakeland is a brand that keeps giving and has expanded its repertoire to more than just baking - think coffee machines, storage solutions, pizza ovens, and now, the air fryer. 

And on that note, meet the Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer - one of the best family air fryers with an 8-litre capacity, two basket drawers, an easy-to-navigate LED digital touch panel and pre-set functions, and the highlight for me, two windows on each basket so you can keep a close eye on food when cooking. Perfect for the control freak in me who constantly spends dinner time staring through the oven door to make sure nothing gets burnt!

The Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer with Easy View is a large-capacity model that can cook anything from 500g of frozen chips to a batch of chocolate chip cookies in record time. After three minutes of preheating, your machine is ready to be used. A really easy setup with a thorough instruction booklet explaining what each pre-set icon means on the control panel, how to select each drawer individually as well as activating the basket synchronisation end function. Despite it not being dishwasher safe, the baskets and non-stick trays are so simple to clean with warm soapy water and certainly didn’t put me off. 

Over the last few weeks, I have used this machine daily, mostly at dinner time when the ease and efficiency of an air fryer has been well and truly needed. I intended to put this machine through its paces and would say it was a successful and delicious challenge. From frozen fish fingers to chicken gyoza, from tempura prawns to honey and soy chicken fillets - and of course, potato wedges - I've cooked a whole lot in this air fryer. Here’s everything you need to know about how the Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer fared.

Price & availability

At the time of writing the Lakeland Dual Basket 8-litre air fryer with Easy View is priced at £99.99 at Amazon, and the same price directly from Lakeland, which I feel is a reasonable price for a large dual air fryer, particularly as it features a range of pre-set functions, and enables simultaneous cooking. 

Compared to other brands on the market, such as Sensio Home Dual Basket Zone, Dunelm Digital Two Drawer, and HomCom Double Basket, the Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer is priced at an average for an 8-litre air fryer which means it's an great value for money model especially as it's designed by a well-known, established brand too.

Design & features

Capacity: 8L | Dimensions: Approx. 42 x 40 x 32.5cm H | Wattage: 2700 W | Colour: Black  | Functions: Air Fry | Style: Dual Basket | Max temp: 200 degrees Celcius | Dishwasher safe parts:  No

Whenever I unbox a new air fryer to test, I’m rather anxious that it’s going to be super complicated to set up and take forever to get going. With the Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer, this worry was eliminated in minutes of reading the manual - and just in time for dinner too.

Start by plugging the machine into the main socket to switch on. The LED digital touchscreen panel will light up with a number one and a number two. Select which drawer you would like to use, or alternatively, if you want to use both baskets at the same time, you can press both number one and two icons.

You can then adjust the temperature and the time manually if preferred, or you can select from one of the preset functions, which include chicken seafood, steak, fish pizza, fries, bake, and vegetables. You can synchronise the drawers to ensure that both baskets finish cooking at the same time so everything is ready to serve up without having to wait around for the other food to finish cooking.

First, on the menu, I decided to cook potato wedges at around 350g, which covered the base of the drawer evenly. In the second basket, I cooked two chicken breasts, diced and seasoned. I cooked both on the pre-set functions listed on the machine and chose to synchronise the finished cooking time so both finished at the same time. Meanwhile, I cooked rice on the hob and prepared vegetables like normal ready for our healthy take on takeaway kebabs.

Once the food has finished cooking, the timer will beep and the light will go off in the drawer to indicate that the food is cooked. The diced chicken cooked well in the air fryer, crisp on the outside, still tender and soft on the inside, and most importantly, completely cooked all the way through. I reduced the cooking time by five minutes as I could see through the window that the chicken was starting to catch. I wanted to make sure I didn’t overcook it as chewy chicken is not favourable. I also heated some falafel in the air fryer which came out nice and crisp with soft insides.

During the cooking process, I opened the drawers to shake the potato wedges and flip the pieces of chicken over to ensure they were cooking thoroughly. Once the drawers were pushed back into the machine, they continued to cook at the same temperature for the set amount of time I’d chosen. 

Having the easy view windows on each basket drawer was appreciated as it meant I could keep a close eye on the food to ensure it didn’t overcook especially when first trying the machine out. Some air fryers I’ve tested over the years I found run hot and the pre-set functions are sometimes not the best way to cook your chosen food. The light in the basket drawers made it much easier to see cooking progress too as each light up when pushed back into the model during cooking, and turn off once cooking has been complete.

The fan noise of the air fryer didn’t offend me at all and went completely unnoticed in my busy kitchen. I would say it was on par with the level of my conventional oven in terms of noise. 

Cooking two foods simultaneously was super useful, especially when one cooked longer than the other. I could then use the first drawer again to cook any other foods.

The machine certainly didn’t overheat or feel ridiculously hot to touch externally either after cooking which is good to know with my kid's inquisitive hands around.

Please note that with this dual air fryer, you need to preheat without any food before use for three minutes at the required temperature to ensure even cooking throughout - the first time using the machine I completely forgot to preheat the machine - it didn’t make an impact on the food, to be honest, but I kept in mind for next time.

How we tested

• Vigorously tested for a couple of weeks by a busy working mum feeding two hungry school children (one of whom eats just as much as I do), a husband (who eats more than we all do put together), and a dog - who enjoyed any type of scraps she could get her paws on.
• Foods cooked in this machine included: potato wedges, frozen chips, fresh and frozen cod, frozen fish fingers, tempura prawns, chicken gyoza, honey and soy chicken fillets, frozen potato wedges, and chocolate chip cookies to name a few.
• The air fryer was assessed based on how easy it was to use, navigate, set up, how well it cooked food using the pre-set functions and manual settings, what it looked like, how big, noisy, and efficient the machine was overall.

Things you wouldn’t find on the box

One thing to keep in mind with this machine is that it does take up quite a bit of surface area on your kitchen side so if you are limited to kitchen surface space or you have a small kitchen, you will need to make sure that you have a good amount of space to house this machine as it is quite bulky to keep lifting in and out of a cupboard. I had to make room on my kitchen counter for testing purposes but if I were to keep it as a permanent fixture in my kitchen, I would need to clear away my bread bin for example, or my stand mixer to house this air fryer instead.

This air fryer certainly has a lot of power behind it and ‘runs hot’ on a couple of the pre-set functions. For example, when cooking diced chicken, I chose the chicken pre-set function, however, this is for bigger cuts of chicken like breasts or drumsticks, so my diced chicken caught a little and was a tad dry overall. I ended up reducing the time on the pre-set function when cooking diced chicken shortly after. When cooking fish I did the same thing as I could see the two fillets of cod were getting rather crisp on the outside which I don’t particularly mind myself but it meant dry fish on the inside and I’d rather it be soft and flaky. Cooking raw meat and fish after my first experiences I decided to bypass the preset functions and set the temperature and time manually myself.

I love baking, so wanted to make sure that this air fryer could bake to perfection. The first thing I tested out was a batch of chocolate chip cookies (my mother-in-law’s recipe). In one of the drawers, I put the cookies directly on the non-stick grill tray and the other batch in the second drawer on baking paper. The ones on the baking paper were so much easier to remove, whereas with the ones that were on the non-stick grill tray the cookie dough sunk through the grate which meant I had a lot of cleaning to do afterward (however, super easy to scrub off when soaked for five minutes).

The cookies came out really well, with a golden crunch on the outside, super soft and moist on the inside with the chocolate chips, slightly melted and gooey. Not a burnt chocolate chip in sight. I managed to bake a batch of 12 cookies for each drawer with the machine going two times for 12 minutes. When using my conventional oven, I could’ve baked all 12 cookies in one go at 180° for 12 to 15 minutes so it didn’t really save me time, but it’s reassuring to know that the machine can bake cookies and bake them well.

Cleaning the drawers on this air fryer was simple. Each non-stick grill tray can easily be removed from the baskets by pulling up from the middle. I washed both in warm soapy water and did the same with the two drawers. The baskets and attachments were left to dry overnight ready for use again the following day to reheat leftovers and bake cupcakes with the kids. 

Who is it best for?

The 8-litre Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer with Easy View is just perfect for family cooking. I comfortably managed to feed my family of four using this machine at dinner time and would recommend it to families with smaller children too - especially if they are a fan of the old frozen foods - and you’re prone to hosting playdates that overrun. 

This machine is also ideal for those new to the air fryer world. The Lakeland Dual Basket air fryer instruction booklet has so much guidance to get you started including step-by-step information on how to start the machine, and activate each basket, as well as hints and tips for cooking certain foods - for example, it is recommended not to cook foods with high-fat content in this model, like sausages, as they can damage the baskets. There is also a thorough cooking guide breaking down how long to cook certain foods including steak, pork chops, sweet potato wedges, frozen chicken nuggets, and more. You can also try out three recipes provided by Lakeland too; crispy spiced chickpeas, courgette fritters, and Teriyaki salmon included in the booklet. Not forgetting cleaning and general care for the machine to make sure you really get your money's worth.

Need an alternative?

Lakeland has a whole range of air fryers in their collection including the 9-litre Lakeland Adjustable Large Drawer Air Fryer which is perfect for bigger families wanting to cook more per use and the Lakeland Digital Crisp which is a small but mighty 3-litre air fryer. We’d also recommend the Salter Dual Air Fryer EK4750BLK reviewed by our Money Editor as a stylish, easy-to-use choice for families.

Looking for more? Discover the best air fryer cookbooks as well as the best air fryer recipes.

Visually, this is a travel system that immediately catches your eye, oozing class and sophistication. However, while looks do matter, we wanted to make sure the Altima had plenty of substance too, and we were delighted to discover that it delivers on that front.

Perfectly flexible to fit your lifestyle, the Altima is one of the best prams on the market. It folds with the seat unit still in place, in a simple, one-handed action (both in parent-facing and world-facing positions) ensuring you can pop it away in an instant. The carrycot comes with a plush mattress and the seat unit has three recline positions, two leg rest positions and comes with a cosy, padded seat liner included.

A game changer for busy parents on the go, the Altima is one seriously impressive package. Not only does it feature everything you'd expect to see in a travel system, but we loved all the thoughtful touches from the metallic and leatherette details to the stylish rucksack changing bag complete with insulated bottle warmer and changing mat.

Price and availability

The Ickle Bubba Altima travel system retails at £699 which means it's creeping up into the higher price range when compared with other travel systems on the market.

Still, while it's not as affordable as the Ickle Bubba Stomp V4, which we highly recommend, it's definitely one of the most sophisticated travel systems we've seen.

"I feel like it is excellent value for money as an all-rounder pram that won't hold you back day to day, plus it's easy to use, compact and stylish," says Theodora.

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Design and features

Age: Birth to 22kg | Dimensions (unfolded): H: 117cm x D: 77cm x W: 60cm | Dimensions (folded): H: 65cm x D: 40cm x W: 60cm | Weight: 9kg (seat unit with chassis and wheels)

If you love being on the go and you're looking for adaptability, we're almost certain you'll love the Ickle Bubba Altima travel system. The ideal addition to trips out with your little one, this sophisticated travel companion comes with so many features designed to make your life easier.

Firstly, we love how easy it is to fold away the Altima. We all know what it's like to try to awkwardly fold up a pushchair while holding a squirming baby — massively harassing, right? But with the Altima, you can literally fold it in an instant with just one hand, regardless of whether you've got it set up in a parent-facing or world-facing position. This is a feature our tester loves.

"The standout feature for me is how effortlessly and compactly the Altima folds," she told us. "No dismantling required! As someone with a VW Golf and a husband who drives an Audi A1 (with a tiny boot), this was crucial. I can fold it with one hand and lift it easily into the car boot. Even with the pram chair, footmuff, sunshade, and rain cover attached, there’s still plenty of space left for everything else we need to pack. The chassis of the pram folds up so compactly that I can put the carrycot on top, and the folding mechanism for the carrycot is easily accessible, if a bit fiddly, for families with exceptionally small cars."

The pushchair itself comes with an extendable hood with a mesh panel to ensure optimal breathability. And on those bright days, you can take advantage of the sun visor complete with viewing window, so you can still keep an eye on your baby while you're on the move. Plus, the liner of the pushchair itself is breathable too, which means your baby will stay nice and cool.

"The Altima’s breathable and extendable sun and privacy shades are fantastic," says Theodora. "Even on the brightest days, I can protect my son’s delicate skin from the sun. It doubles as a windshield during our outings in all weather conditions and helps him sleep well during naps on the go."

Next up is the carrycot complete with a plush mattress and a quilted apron with privacy panel for those times when your baby is snoozing and you don't want them to be disturbed by what's going on around you. And as for the convertible seat unit? It features three reclining positions and two footrest positions so little ones can travel in true comfort. There's even a footmuff that will keep your little one nice and toasty in the winter.

All-in-all, Theodora found both the pram and the carrycot ticked a whole bunch of boxes for both her and her son. "My 6-month-old son has been comfortably napping in both the carrycot and pram seat during our walks. The lining of the carrycot is removable and waterproof, which is a practical touch. Despite being tall for his age, he still fits in the carrycot comfortably. My son finds the pram seat comfortable, and I found the five-point padded harness easy to use and adjust. I particularly like the reversible padded insert with a breathable side and a cosy fleece side that is washable."

However, as with any product, Theodora found that Altima isn't without the odd drawback. "The bumper bar feels very low, it was quite bothersome having to constantly adjust his feet into the footmuff and I’d worry that he’d get cold without a pram suit on especially as he is at the age where socks don’t stay on for long!"

The Altima also comes with Ickle Bubba’s Stratus i-Size Car Seat and ISOFIX base, which is sturdy, comfortable and easy to fit. We also really appreciated that the ISOFIX base offers ISOFIX connectors (visual indicators to confirm correct installation) and a support leg to keep the car seat stable. These are great features — particularly if you're a new parent and have zero experience of fitting a car seat before.

"The i-Size Stratus car seat is fantastic, it comes with an ISOFIX base and adapters that make transitions in and out of the car quick and easy but with the peace of mind that my son is comfortable and safe," says Theodora. "It came with all the newborn inserts, which we haven’t tested. It was very easy to adjust the car seat to the correct size for him. The design choice to have the seatbelts come down over the baby’s shoulders for buckling in is brilliant. It simplifies the process and allows for smooth transfers."

Theodora reports that she has even been able to transfer her baby from the car seat to the cot without him waking; a feature she describes as 'game-changing'.

Our tester adds: "The compact, ergonomic design of the car seat enables you to carry your child short distances or transfer the car seat onto the chassis despite my son weighing 9kg and I appreciate that despite being very tall for his age I won’t need to replace the car seat soon and can continue to use it with the rest of the travel system."

Finally, a huge shoutout has to go the rucksack changing bag, an addition we feel is truly inspired. It comes with an insulated bottle warmer, numerous pockets (including a wipes pouch) for all your bits and pieces, and a convenient changing mat. Oh, the whole thing has super soft-touch leatherette and stylish gunmetal trims. To be honest, we're not sure there's anything Ickle Bubba hasn't thought of.

How we tested

• Used the pram daily over several weeks
• Put it through its paces in a variety of settings, including walks on gravel and concrete paths, and trips to an art gallery, aquarium, baby groups, and cafes
• Along with looking at the safety, durability and comfort, our tester also reviewed how easy the pram is to push and how easy it is to fold and store

Things you won't find on the box

The Altima comes with so many cool little features and thoughtful touches that you can easily miss on first glance because you're so busy oohing and aahing over the obvious ones. So let's take a moment to highlight them because they're well worth being aware of.

First up, all the wheels on this travel system are removable, which makes cleaning and storage so much easier. This is especially important if, like us, you enjoy going on long walks in often muddy areas. Being able to wipe (or wash) the wheels when you get home with zero faff is super convenient.

We also find with a baby that we spend half our lives at the supermarket (maybe that's just us but seriously, we feel like we're constantly popping back for more food, nappies or baby wipes) so having a large, built-in shopping basket is so helpful. We honestly don't know how we'd manage trying to push a pram and carry a basket all while tending to a baby at the same time.

Who's it best for?

The Ickle Bubba Altima travel system is a brilliant buy for a busy parent who's looking for a pushchair with unparalleled versatility, hassle-free folding and a stylish design.

"I think this product is aimed at people who like stylishly designed products but as someone who prioritises function I've been really impressed. It's the best of both worlds and a great all-rounder," Theodora told us, adding that she wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

"It is practical for day-to-day use but also very elegant and it feels very good quality. I am going on a cruise holiday and feel happy to take the Ickle Bubba Altima travel system out exploring as well as using it during black tie evenings. It comes with all the accessories you need for safe and stylish travel from newborn."

Need an alternative?

The Altima comes with a range of incredible features that definitely won't disappoint if this pram is within your budget. However, we understand that this travel system may feel a tad too pricey (especially with all the other baby product you're likely having to purchase), so if that's the case, we have a great alternative.

For a hassle-free set of wheels that converts from a lie-flat 'pramette' for a newborn baby to a toddler-friendly pushchair, we highly recommend the no-fuss Graco Transform 2-in-1 Pushchair (£200 at Amazon).

Looking for more? Discover our range of baby gear buying guides covering everything from the best convertible car seats to the best cot beds.

We put the Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator playset to the test, with the help of a very enthusiastic (and curious) four year old.

Unleashed on the British public at the tail-end of 2023, Beast Lab is an immersive playset, where players conduct a science experiment to create a beast to help save the world. One of a raft of mix and make toys making their way to the market, Beast Lab is aimed at those aged 5 and over, and is easily one of the best toys for six year olds, but it's appeal is broader than that, if my four-year-old nephew's reaction is anything to go by.

There are a couple of variations of the Beast Lab set available in the UK (more on that later) - we tested the Shark Beast Creator set for this review. Following the experiment's instructions, we would 'create' one of two shark beasts - either the Havoc Hammerhead or Mayhem Megashark. All sounds pretty fun so far. But to really ramp up the excitement factor, the playset features a range of captivating sound and light effects, as well as a cloud of incredibly cool 'bio-mist'.

And when the experiment is over, the posable shark beast is ready for battle, with it's killer moves, light-up pandemonium crystal core and ferocious battle roar.

With an RRP of £89.99, the playset includes:

• Experiment chamber
• Electronic shark beast figure with weapon accessories (with batteries included)
• A beaker
• A one-time-use experiment kit, with a fizzing 'fossil fragment', oozy 'attack serum', dissolvable paper 'skin scraping', fizzing 'roar rocks' powder, and a fizzing 'pandemonium crystal'
• Instruction manuals

Beast Lab packaging and set up

The Beast Lab playset is mostly packaged with cardboard which is recyclable, with the exception of a couple of plastic pegs, cable ties and packaging around the experiment ingredients. Make sure you check all of the cardboard before you throw anything away, I almost missed the beaker that was hiding in what looked like a cardboard support to keep the playset stable in transit, and it's a crucial part of the experiment, so it would be a shame to lose it.

There are four plastic pegs securing the playset to the base of the packaging, and some were easier to remove than others, and the cable ties securing various parts of the chamber were also a little tricky to remove - they were quite thick and tightly attached, so it wasn't all that easy to remove them with scissors

You'll also need to make sure you have six AA batteries and a small Phillips head screwdriver to hand - you'll need to add them to the base (while it is upright) before starting play.

If you want to maintain the mystery as to which Shark Beast is included in your playset, try to keep the chamber level once you've removed the sleeve, revealing the green liquid - if you tilt it, you can just about identify which beast you have.

Design

When it comes to design, Beast Lab definitely has the wow-factor. It's colourful, engaging, with a hugely mysterious element, and that's before you even turn it on. Once you start the experiment, the playset becomes really immersive and a treat for the senses, there are flashing lights, sirens, roars, and magical mist.

What's great about the design of this playset is that it is a lesson in delayed gratification, as players have to complete a series of tasks before the beast is revealed.

It's also relatively mess free - the instructions advise you place it on a tray for easy clean up, but we didn't actually need that during our tests. The only time there was any mess, was when the chamber was turned upside down to refill the green liquid contained in the chamber, ready for repeat play. Even with the lid on tight, some liquid from the experiment leaked out the top, so I wouldn't say it's a water-tight lid. Just if you make sure you empty the liquid from the experiment out first, and hold it over a bowl or sink when refilling the green liquid, then you'll easily catch any dregs.

What's it like to play with Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator?

Once we were ready to play, it was all systems go. Sound and light effects start as soon as you flip the power switch into 'Creation Mode'. Then you press the finger print scanner, before adding an ingredient to the chamber. Then when the heat dial flashes, you turn it one position, and, repeat the steps until all the ingredients have been added, the heat dial reaches red and the sirens sound.

The instructions are really engaging - they don't just say to add the ingredients, they really buy into the storytelling which will engage a players imagination perfectly. For example, when instructed to add the 'fossil fragment', which is shaped like a shark tooth, the instructions explain that 'this tooth fragment is the core building block of the Beast and determines which species you create.'

About half way through adding the ingredients, the mist starts to appear, which was hugely exciting for my little nephew and assistant toy-tester. It's really atmospheric, especially when you start to hear roaring sounds too. Once all the ingredients are added, you hear a new siren sound, which means it's time to screw the chamber lid on tight and pull down the emergency level to drain the green liquid and reveal the beast. The first time we did this, the liquid only drained about half way, which was a bit disappointing, but it was still fun to see the beast appear. (When we ran the experiment a second time, the green liquid drained all the way, and that's a really dramatic reveal.)

Can you play with Beast Lab more than once?

You can definitely play with Beast Lab more than once, but unless you want to buy a refill pack for the experiment ingredients, you might have to get a bit creative.

We ran the experiment with just water, and you still get all the mist, sirens and the drama of the beast's reveal. You could also add 'ingredients' from your garden, like a stick, pebble or a leaf, but bear in mind that whatever you use might affect how easy the top part of the chamber is to clean between uses. You could even get your little one to draw some ingredients on paper and laminate with clear sticky tape to give them a bit of longevity when immersed in water. The mist will eventually run out, but when that happens, you get a replacement mist in a refill pack, which promised to last for at least 50 mist reveals).

Once you have revealed the beast and the green liquid has drained from the chamber, it's really easy to refill. Simply turn the chamber lid upside down (make sure you've emptied the experiment remnants first) and press the green button - keep it pressed as the green liquid fills up again, ready for the next reveal.

The only part of repeat play that I found challenging was getting the beast back into the chamber after my nephew had been playing with it for a while. I'm sure there is a knack to it, but the knack definitely evaded me for a good 10 minutes.

Can you buy refills for Beast Lab?

Yes, you can buy refills of the ingredients you need to redo the experiment as you did the first time. You can pick the refills up for around £13 from the likes of Very, Smyths, and Argos. The refill packs include the ingredients for two different experiments, as well as a replacement mist that can support more than 50 additional mist reveals.

The refill pack allows you to conduct a Pandemonium Blade Experiment, where your child attempts to stabilise the beast's rage with more fizzing and oozing ingredients, and a Blade Fusion Experiment, that will give the beast a new weapon to add to its arsenal.

Value for money

Beast Lab is an excellent and engaging toy, but with a recommended retail price of almost £90, it's not cheap (although at the time of writing, it was available for £44.99 so if you want to buy it, check various retailers to see if any of them have it on offer). If you're happy to get creative with the experiments when you've used the ingredients on the first play, then it's good value for money, but if you want to buy the refill packs regularly, then it could prove an expensive pastime.

Batteries for the chamber aren't included, which adds to the cost too, making it even more worthwhile checking for sales and discounts before you buy.

Is Beast Lab worth it?

From a play perspective, Beast Lab is undoubtedly worth it, it's engaging, immersive and wildly entertaining. Even beyond the chamber, the beast itself is really fun to play with too.

When it comes to the price, it's worth the money too, as long as you are prepared to get a bit creative when it comes to repeat play. As long as the mist function still works, you can get away with not buying the refill packs, and if it's the same component that's in the refill pack, you should get at least 50 misty reveals before you need to replace it.

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A sleeping bag is an essential bit of kit for your nursery, and can be used from the time your baby is a newborn well into childhood or even adulthood. The best baby sleeping bags help to ensure your child stays at the perfect temperature no matter what the weather, as well as keeping them cosy. 

The Ickle Bubba Sleep Bag is a well-priced, comfortable and versatile sleeping bag that's available in a range of designs, prices and togs. 

We asked parent tester Charlie to test the Ickle Bubba Sleep Bag alongside her son Seb. So what did they think?

• VIEW AT ICKLE BUBBA

Design

Weighs: Not provided | Age: 6 - 18 months

We've long been fans of the affordable but high-quality products from British baby brand Ickle Bubba, and the sleeping bag is no exception.

Available in a variety of cute designs such as rabbits, stars, mountains and rainbows, the sleeping bag comes in 1 tog or 2.5 tog, and is available in two sizes, 0-6 months and 6-18 months.

The sleeping bag is easy to put on and off, with a handy side zip and simple shoulder poppers.

Charlie loved the design of the sleeping bag, as well as the longevity it offers.

"The Ickle Bubba sleeping bag is a really lovely sleeping bag designed for babies aged 6-18 months," she explained. "The design I tested was the 'rustic safari' - a mustard yellow sleeping bag with yellow dots, which I think is a perfect neutral design.

"The thing I liked the most about this sleeping bag, and the thing I think sets it apart from others we've used, is the broad age and size range of it.

"This is suitable for babies aged 6-18 months which means once you've invested, you won't need to replace it for a long time. Often you only get a 6-month window in which to use a sleeping bag before you have to move up to the next size, which can get expensive when you're buying lots of different sizes and tog ratings. 

"With this one, it'll see Seb through the colder autumn and winter nights and right into next year which I really like - it feels like really good value for money. I also don't think it looked too big on him at 10 months - there's still plenty of growing room but I wasn't worried about lots of excess material."

Comfort and features

Made from cotton jersey, the sleeping bag feels really soft to the touch, and it's generously sized too. It's easy to imagine how comfy little ones are when wrapped up in its cosy layers.

It's also super easy to use with its handy zipper, a fact that Charlie liked when using it for Seb's naps. She also loved the fact that it washed well and that it came with a guide to which tog to use.

"This sleeping bag was really easy to use - it just fastens over the shoulders with poppers, and has a zip down one side, so even with a wriggly 10-month-old it was easy to get him into it," she added.

"The fabric is soft and I felt like Seb was very comfortable in it, plus knowing it's 100% cotton is reassuring as you know it's breathable.

"I washed the sleeping bag on a gentle baby wash cycle and it washed really well - the colour stayed intact and the fabric still felt very soft. 

"This particular sleeping bag is a 2.5 tog so it's suitable for cooler nights - Ickle Bubba includes a guide with it to give you some idea of how to dress your baby in different room temperatures, which is really handy and I've kept it for future reference."

• VIEW AT ICKLE BUBBA

Value for money

At just £22, the Ickle Bubba Sleep Bag is on the more affordable end of the spectrum, but there's no compromising on quality despite the price.

Charlie was really impressed with the generous sizing and quality fabrics used and felt it would make a great recommendation to family and friends with infants.

"This is a really good quality sleeping bag that'll last babies for ages," she added.

"This feels like a really good investment to me because of the wide age range it offers, so I've suggested it to friends who are looking for a sleeping bag that'll last a bit longer.

"Overall, I've been very impressed with this sleeping bag - I hadn't tried anything by Ickle Bubba before, but they'll definitely be a brand I'd consider in the future.

"This is great for parents who like stylish and functional products that last their babies a long time."

Who should buy the Ickle Bubba Sleep Bag?

The Ickle Bubba Sleep Bag ticks lots of boxes. It's affordable, comfortable and comes in a huge variety of designs. For these reasons, it will appeal to many parents with children under three. It's a perfect buy if you're looking for a good quality sleeping bag that doesn't break the bank - and that still looks good too.

A stylish, award-winning baby travel crib changing bag that's been hailed as the must-have product for busy parents on the go, the Bizzi Growin Pod is the world's first 2-in-1 travel bag and baby crib — but is it really something you can't live without? We found out!

We asked our parent tester, Loren, to try out the Bizzi Growin POD with her 12-week-old son, Sam, and judging from her feedback, we'd have to say she's one smitten kitten! If you don't want to cart one of the best travel cots with you wherever you go (even the most compact ones can still be bulky) and you're looking to tick several baby product boxes, the Bizzi Growin POD is well worth considering.

Ensuring nap time is convenient and stress-free wherever you may be, the Bizzi Growin POD is both functional and fashionable, with a unique fold-out crib section that's easy to use and can be assembled in minutes. We also love the durable and easy to clean fabric which means you can weather all those messy parenting storms with ease.

We immediately fell in love with the design of this baby travel crib changing bag, but we were keen to find out more about exactly how it can add value to your life as a new parent. Does it take up lots of space? Is it comfortable to wear and easy to transport? And how durable and easy to clean is it? All of these things are important when you're considering a purchase of this nature and as you'll soon discover, Loren felt it ticked all those boxes beautifully.

Price and availability

At £58, we feel the Bizzi Growin POD is a mid-range product, however, when you consider that it doubles up as both a travel bag and a baby crib, we feel it blows it's pricier competitors (who offer either a changing bag or a crib) out of the water.

"It’s more expensive than a basic changing bag," agrees Loren, adding, "but you get two products in one: a transportable daytime cot and a changing/weekend bag."

Is it a luxury product rather than an essential one? Absolutely. As Loren says, "you don’t really need it, but it’s lovely to have it!"

Still, if you're pitting this against other changing bags, Loren feels it's absolutely a best buy. However, she goes on to say that "if it’s in a category with other travel cots then no, [it's not a best buy] as you can’t leave the baby to sleep in it unsupervised (meaning it’s not really suitable for use at night)."

Design and features

Weighs: 1.2kgs | Age: From newborn up to when baby can push themselves up on their hands
Folded size (Bag): W48cm x H35cm x D14cm Unfolded size (Crib): W48cm x H35cm x D77cm

When it comes to the overall design, features and comfort, the Bizzi Growin POD is pretty darn hard to fault. There's definitely no need for bulky, heavy travel cots when you have this little beauty in the house — simply grab your travel bag and off you go!

But, what exactly was it that our tester loved so much? Well, according to Loren, the first big plus is just how flexible it is. "The fact it’s also a travel cot gives it the edge over other bags. If you want to use it as just a bag, this essentially doubles its internal capacity, so it’s very practical," she says.

At 1.2kgs, Loren was also impressed by how easy it was to carry this bag about, stating that, "it’s well made from soft-touch vegan leather and feels super sturdy yet surprisingly lightweight considering it’s also a cot."

Even though Bizzi Growin state that the POD is only recommended for babies who can't yet sit up unaided, Loren felt it would still offer her excellent longevity as she can use it as a changing/travel bag for Sam when he gets older. "I love the sleek design too – I’d be happy to use it as a weekend bag for myself!," she told us.

As for the interior space, Loren describes it as being "really roomy — much bigger than other changing bags I have — so it had enough space to fit Sam's clothes, muslins and other bits and bobs for a week away. It’s also well thought out, with two main compartments (one of which houses the fold-out crib) and internal and external pockets. The insulated bottle pocket is a particularly handy touch."

Loren also really liked the removable cross-body strap that comes with the POD, as well as the two top handles as this allowed her to sling it across her body while she was running errands with Sam. The one downside? "The mattress crinkles a little which can make a sound when you’re laying baby down. It woke Sam up a couple of times when I was moving him from sleeping in my arms to the cot," Loren said.

All in all, the Bizzi Growin POD has an incredibly well thought out design that makes nap time and changing time incredibly convenient and stress-free. Oh, and as an extra bonus, the POD is simple to wipe down and clean when those inevitable parenting messes occur and it comes in four classy colours — black, porcini, whisper grey and windsor grey — with a beautifully patterned interior.

How we tested

• The Bizzi Growin POD was put to the test on a regular basis by our parent tester and her 12-week-old son
• Was put through its paces on a trip to Cornwall as well as around the house and at picnics in the park
• Our parent tester dove deep into all the facets of this POD, considering things like flexibility, versatility, longevity, quality, how easy it was to use and assemble, and how comfortable it was to carry around

Things you won't find on the box

One of the things our parent tester absolutely loved about the Bizzi Growin POD was all the useful additions that you may not pick up on just by skimming the product spec on the website.

"I love all the thoughtful details, such as that it comes with a mosquito net for naps outdoors," Loren told us. "Sam was bitten by a tick recently, which ended up in a couple of hospital visits, so I’m really conscious about keeping insects away from him when we’re outside now."

Also, if you're anything like us and aren't always the best with putting things together, you'll be relieved to learn that this product is a piece of cake to assemble.

"The crib itself is super easy to put together — all you have to do is unzip the back of the bag, extend it, insert the poles and roll out the padded mattress. Takes less than a minute. I used it as a safe place for Sam to lie in while awake as well as for nap times (instead of risking spit-up getting on the holiday cottage’s beds/sofas!)," Loren said.

Who's it best for

After putting the Bizzi Growin POD through its paces in a variety of different situations and settings, Loren felt that it's a product that would benefit a wide range of parents — including those who often rely on their feet to get around!

"It’s excellent for non-drivers," she said. "I travel by public transport to stay at my mother’s home regularly, so this bag has been really handy on those occasions."

Loren says she also feels it would suit anyone who likes beautifully designed products — "I have the black version but the porcini colour is especially stylish."

Her overall verdict? "I recommended this bag to friends because the idea sounds a little gimmicky but it’s been far more useful than I thought it would be."

Need an alternative?

With the Bizzi Growin POD being the world's first 2-in-1 travel bag and baby crib, finding an alternative is somewhat tricky. However, if you're happy to keep your changing bag and your crib as two separate items, why not consider a Moses basket?

One of our personal favourites is the Mokee Wool Nest Moses Basket which retails on the brand's website for £149. It offers a stylish and contemporary twist on the traditional Moses basket and is made from high-quality blended wool felt. Easily flat packed for travel and storage, it comes with a mattress, liner and fitted sheet — plus there's the option of purchasing a separate stand for extra stability.

Shopping for more baby equipment? Check out our guides to the best Moses baskets and the best travel cots.

We called in some mini product testers to help us put the Cookeez Makery Baked Treatz Oven through its paces, to see if it really lives up to the hype, and if it's ultimately worth your money.

One of a raft of mix and make toys that form some of the best toys for 5 year olds and best toys for six year olds, it's no wonder that Cookeez Makery is soaring in popularity.

First launched in July 2023, and aimed at kids aged five and over, the Cookeez Makery Oven comes in two different assortments, the Baked Treatz set, which is turquoise and purple, and the Cinnamon Treatz assortment that is pink and purple.

Both playsets have exactly the same functionality where they allow kids to effectively bake their own interactive plush toy. The toy they bake is a surprise - they'll get either Wheatney Bunny, Barky Bun, a dog or Ciacatta bake, a cat.

To bake their little plush pal, kids simply prepare their own dough provided in the kit, which is then put in a mold and decorated with eyes, mouth, paws and ears before being popped in the oven. Once the dough is ready, kids turn the timer and wait 90 seconds for their dough to 'cook', and when the time is up, they open the oven door to discover which plush toy they've 'baked'

Each playset comes with all you need to bake your own plush toy, including batteries, and it is possible to repeat the play experience, so it's not just a one-hit wonder.

In the playset, you get:

• 1 x toy oven
• 1 x mystery interactive plush toy (either bunny, cat or dog)
• 2 x toy ingredient sachets to make the dough (single use)
• Measuring cup
• Dough mold
• Spatula tool
• Resealable storage bag for the dough
• Instruction manual
• 4 x AAA batteries (already installed)

Cookeez Makery Packaging & Set Up

There is minimal packaging with the Cookeez Makery oven, and the majority of the packaging there is is recyclable cardboard. It looks like there has been a concerted effort to minimise the amount of plastic, and apart from a piece of clear plastic to protect the dial on the front of the oven, the sachets and the five plastic screws that help stabilise the toy in transit, the rest of the packaging is cardboard which can be recycled.

The packaging is easy to remove, and as the batteries are already included in the plush toy, you just need to open the oven door to remove the ingredients. The ingredients box includes two single use sachets of ingredients, a measuring cup, a dough mold, a spatula and a resealable bag to prevent the dough from drying out.

Design

Similarly to the packaging, there has been a clear effort to minimise plastic in the design of the toy too - it has a cardboard outer, with plastic used for the structure, and mechanism, the oven top and the dial. But it still feels sturdy enough to withstand even the most enthusiastic players. However, it wouldn't be strong enough for a little one to sit or stand on.

It's easy to reset the oven for repeat play, you simply return the plush toy into the oven and push up the platform, and you'll see the dough reappear. We found it needed quite a firm push until we heard the platform click into place, so it might take little hands a couple of attempts to reset it.

It's a smart idea too to provide a resealable plastic bag that you can use to store the dough to keep it fresh for repeat use. However, if it did dry out, you could easily (and inexpensively) make your own fresh dough if you needed to.

The fact it comes in a couple of different colours also helps broaden its appeal, but while some toys come in stereotypically gendered packaging, toys are unisex.

What age is the Cookeez Makery Oven suitable for?

The manufacturer's recommended age for this toy is five years and over, and we performed our tests with the help of a six and a nine year old. They were both really engrossed in it, were excited to guess which plushie they were going to make and loved adding the personal touches to the dough, so we definitely think it has longer-term appeal as your child grows.

They were both enamoured with the plushie (they baked Wheatney Bunny), and they both loved trying to figure out how their dough went from dough to a plushie.

What's it like to play with the Cookeez Makery Oven?

With very little needed in terms of set-up, kids can get stuck into the play. There were really clear instructions to follow, and our oldest tester, aged nine, easily managed to read and communicate with our younger tester, aged six.

Firstly, our testers mixed the two powder sachets together, along with a measuring cup's worth of water in a mixing bowl before getting their hands involved to form it into a dough. Kids who love a bit of sensory play might really enjoy this part, but our testers weren't fans of their hands getting dirty, and they definitely won't be the only ones. However, once the dough is formed, it's much less messy, and the girls really enjoyed forming the dough into the mould and adding the paw prints and other cute features. It felt like their imaginations were running wild as they chatted to each other about which plush toy they hoped they would create.

Mixing the dough from scratch does mean there is a little bit of cleanup required, but it's minimal.

Once the dough was ready to 'cook', the placed it on the shelf in the oven, shut the door and turned the dial. Once the dial is turned, there is an audible ticking noise that goes on for 90 seconds. But there is also a loud thunk as the mechanism to reveal the plush toy is activated. As an adult, this initially made me wonder whether our young testers would even wait the 90 seconds before they tried to open the oven door, but they didn't seem to notice this in the same way I did. Result!

There is an alarm sound when the 90 seconds is complete (a gentle introduction to delayed gratification) and when our testers opened the door, the dough was gone and there was a warm (not hot), sweet-smelling plushie in its place. Our little testers were hugely excited by this, and couldn't quite figure out how it had happened, and it was lovely to witness their wonder at the 'magic'.

Testers were engrossed, they loved trying to guess which plushie they would get, and initially couldn't quite tell how it worked and where the plushie had come from.

The Wheatney Bunny plush smelled like a very pleasant and authentic sweet vanilla rather than the synthetic scents we grown ups may have encountered when we were younger.

How does the Cookeez Makery Oven actually work?

Within the Cookeez Makery unit, there are two internal platforms, one that holds the plush toy and that sits above the oven door opening at the beginning of play, and a second that sits at the bottom of the oven door opening. Its on this second platform that the dough is placed.

When the timer dial is turned, it causes the lower platform with the dough to drop below the bottom of the oven door, and the upper platform to drop down in line with the base of the oven door to reveal the plush toy.

There is a finger tip sized notch on the plush's platform to allow you to lift it back up to the top of the oven to reveal the dough again.

Can you play with Cookeez Makery Oven again?

My biggest concern before testing out this oven playset, was whether it would still be fun to play with, after the initial reveal. In order to encourage repeat independent play, you have to show your child how the reveal mechanism works and how it's reset, so I was worried that the magic would be lost.

But that didn't seem to deter our kid testers, who seemed even more fascinated after they found out how it worked, and were excited to show their friends the magic trick. It seems that they enjoyed being 'in on the trick' and found that just as engaging as the initial mystery surprise.

Resetting the oven is easy, you simply place the plushie back in and push the platform up, and then the dough reappears and ready to be reformed, remoulded and 'cooked' time and time again. But to get the timer to sound again, you need to reset the plush toy to oven mode (which you can do by opening the Velcro on the plushie's underside and flipping the switch).

Can you buy refills for the Cookeez Makery Oven?

You can't buy refills for the Cookeez Makery playset, but in all honesty, you don't really need them. You are given a little plastic resealable bag to put the dough in to keep it fresh for repeat play, but if worst comes to worst and your first batch of dough becomes unusable, or your little one really wants to recreate the dough mixing part, you could easily make your own dough (using 40g of flour and a bit of water).

Value for money

With an RRP of £39.99, it's not inexpensive, but the fact that repeat play is so easy, makes this toy gives plenty of the play for the price. Our little testers were asked how they could play with it again, and as well as cooking the plushie again, they said they could cook things on the top of the oven, and even use the oven as a secret hiding place for other toys.

The only downside for me is that the plushies are marketed as collectibles, but they can't be purchased outside of the oven playset, so to collect all three would cost the best part of £120. However, there is a more affordable, and therefore more collectible, toy in the Cookeez Makery range - Toasty Treatz, available from the likes of Very, Amazon, The Works and Tesco. These have an RRP of £9.99, and there are 12 variations to collect.

Is it worth it?

When we asked out testers what they would score this toy out of ten, there was a resounding ten out of ten. But we do have to factor in their excitement and the fact they weren't fans of the messy dough making part.

But our verdict is that this toy is worth every penny. For little ones, it genuinely feels like some kind of magic. The clever design of the oven unit means that it's not immediately obvious how the mystery transformation takes place, so it's all the more fascinating when the dough is turned into an adorable and deliciously-scented plush toy. And it's hard not to get caught up in the mystery when you're watching kids play with it. This is genuinely a toy that I wish that I'd had when I was a kid.

Some reviews call it a bit of a one-hit-wonder, but in our experience, it's just as engaging to play again and again, especially when children get to grips with the mechanics of it. They'll love being able to show their friends how to bake their plush toy. Even without the oven playset, the interactive plush pet was a big hit with our testers. They loved feeling the warmth and smelling its sweet scent, as well as discovering the sounds it makes when the squeeze it.

The only drawback is that, in reality (for most at least), it doesn't really lend itself to being collectible, especially when it's a mystery which plush pet you get.

With thanks to Moose Toys for sending us the Cookeez Makery Baked Treatz Oven Playset to review.

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SnüzPod Studio has been years in the making so nobody was more excited than us to secure an early sample to review.

With a reputation for bringing parents and babies together through better sleep, Snüz has always prided itself on supporting safe and cosy sleep right beside you. So how does their newest creation stack up against their other award-winning designs?

When it comes to the best bedside cribs to buy, Snüz is a firm favourite amongst the GoodtoKnow team — and the new SnüzPod Studio is no exception. This striking,  minimalist bedside crib is both super stylish and highly practical. Effortlessly agile thanks to its lightweight design and wheeled legs, it's an absolute dream to move around the room, plus it can be set at an incline which is brilliant if your little one struggles with reflux.

Suitable from birth to six months, SnüzPod Studio has six different height settings and is designed to fit divan, ottoman, and framed bed bases and comes with bed attachment straps included. It's available in 7 contemporary colours and has a breathable mattress to boost the chances of your baby getting the deep and settled rest they need.

• View now at Snüz

Price and availability

SnüzPod Studio has just come on the market and is currently retailing for £149, making it an excellent budget bedside crib given the features it offers.

"This model is cheaper than other SnüzPod cribs, yet features some updated touches," Liv said. "The crib will see your baby through the first six months in style and comfort."

While Liv would definitely class this crib as one of the best bedside cribs you can buy, the lack of a rocking motion is something she misses.

Design and features

Weighs: 6kg | Age: Birth to six months | Size: L99 x W59 x H79 (maximum height) 

SnüzPod Studio is a beautiful bedside crib designed to see your baby through their first few months. It’s easily the sleekest design yet from the Snüz team — produced in a variety of tasteful urban-inspired colours, from Paris White and Brooklyn Graphite to Stockholm Natural and Rome Burgundy. If you're looking for a lifestyle crib to compliment your grown-up interior, this one is a real winner. And the best part? It's super lightweight - and has wheels!

"Contrary to previous SnüzPod designs, Studio is a much lighter model, composed with one single frame rather than the traditional two-piece system the brand is known for," said Liv. "The crib can either be assembled to a static specification or mounted onto a set of wheels to be easily shifted around a room. While the frame is wider than other SnüzPod models I’ve seen, the overall effect is a much lighter, less cumbersome crib."

We particularly love that the crib can be mounted on wheels as this gives you the freedom to move it around the room - something Liv described as working "particularly well for city life when space is at a premium and the baby could be sleeping in front of the wardrobe or blocking a door". The legs are also height adjustable, making it easy to create the perfect side-by-side sleeping arrangement.

The fact that the legs can be affixed on an incline is also a huge plus — particularly if your baby is struggling with reflux, as this can help to aid digestion. However, Liv felt this feature also had the potential to be beneficial in other ways. "I imagine it would also be welcomed by mums who are recovering from c-sections, as the baby could be placed at a height that's easier to reach after surgery," she told us.

We breathed a huge sigh of relief when the SnüzPod Studio turned up and we saw that it came with the same drop-down wall that the original SnüzPod features — because, let's face it, having that easy access makes checking on baby during the night that much easier. Liv was also a fan of the mesh sides.

"While previous SnuzPods have just one or two mesh sides, the SnuzPod Studio has a full mesh finish, which helps you check on the baby from all angles, no matter which way they’re facing. This is an improvement and helps parents looking for a way to subtly check on their baby at night or during naps."

The only downside? The fact that this crib doesn't have a rocking motion. "The Studio sits on four individual legs, and the bassinet is fully static. Liv felt she'd prefer to invest in the SnüzPod4  because of its rocking functionality. "For my partner and I, rocking our baby in the crib each night was the only way we could get her to sleep in the first few weeks," she explains. "Now she’s nine weeks old that's less important, but it’s hard to imagine how we would have coped without that rocking functionality on day one."

"The design is sleek, and the lightweight frame certainly looks the part," Liv told us. "In short: it’s the crib you want to have, and can get away with after the first six or  so weeks — but before that, you may be reaching for one with a rocking motion to guarantee some sleep in those early days."

How we tested

• Our parent tester, Liv, tried out this crib with her nine-week-old daughter, Juliette
• The crib was used in the bedroom of a small city home where space is limited
• As well as looking at how easy this crib was to assemble, our parent tester also assessed the various features and how they could make a parent's life easier and potentially help a baby sleep better.
• Our test also rated the overall style of the crib and how easy it was to move around.

Things you won't find on the box

Unlike other SnüzPod designs, it's not possible to lift off the top half of the Studio for travel use, which many parents make use of — particularly if the journey to the destination can be made in the car, and the crib easily popped into the boot. "You’d have to invest in a separate travel cot if you were looking to travel in those first six months," Liv explained.

The Studio comes with a lightweight mattress that lends itself to a comfortable and cosy night's sleep, but it does require you to purchase a separate waterproof layer, plus all the usual sheets and bedding. "While the outer layer of the mattress can be removed for washing, the added protection is necessary to help offset the inevitable ‘poonamis’ and possets," explained Liv, when discussing the lack of a waterproof layer. "The mattress appears comfortable and breathable, helping babies to have the deep sleep they need for sufficient rest. The mattress is quite light, however, so it is hard to tuck in a blanket tightly enough to last a night, and they can be quite easily kicked off."

Who's it best for?

Striking yet refined, the SnüzPod Studio is the perfect bedside crib for contemporary living and ideal if you're short on space. Managing to both look the part and comprise all of the practical features you'd want in a crib (ok, except for rocking...), this newest creation from one of the most trusted baby brands certainly has a lot going for it.

Having explored every facet of this crib, Liv feels it's best for "style-oriented parents looking for a crib which will be as aesthetically pleasing as it is safe and practical". She also feels it sits at a highly affordable price point given the style and functionality it offers, so if you're looking for a budget-friendly bedside crib suitable from birth, you might just have found it.

Need an alternative?

The SnüzPod Studio has such a lot going for it, but the lack of a rocking motion might put some parents off. "It might seem like a small feature," Liv told us, "but when you're desperate for some shut-eye in the middle of the night, it's vital you can soothe the baby with some motion, without having to hold them."

If you're like Liv and feel that you'd struggle to be without the rocking motion that most cribs offer, the original SnüzPod4 may be a better buy. Or check out our review of the Silver Cross Voyager Co-Sleeper as it's also practical, stylish, and portable - and, yes, rockable!

Looking for more? Discover our range of baby gear buying guides covering everything from the best prams to the best Moses baskets.

Fresh plant milk in minutes that tastes utterly delicious... surely this is too good to be true? And yet somehow, Milky Plant manages to deliver just that and we're hooked.

The ultimate whizzy kitchen gadget, this isn't just a product for vegans - although we know you'll love it as much as we do. It's also a fantastic choice if you're looking for a sustainable, fresh, and healthy milk option that lets you say goodbye to cartons and plastic waste.

The Milky Plant machine lets you whip up a variety of non-dairy milk in less time than it would take you to boil a kettle of water. And it's not just quick and easy; using this magic gadget somehow manages to be fun and satisfying too, giving you complete control over what goes in your milk.

• VIEW AT MILKY PLANT

Price and availability

Now, we're not going to lie, we did draw in a fairly sharp breath when we found out the price of the Milky Plant machine (more on that in a minute) but once we started using it we quickly came to see how much value for money it offers. It uses very little energy, there's no single-use plastics to worry about, and you can fill it with anything from almonds and coconut to soy and rice. And the best part? There's zero waste.

Price and availability

Let's be honest, with the cost of living crisis still ongoing, finding a spare £290 to invest in the Milky Plant is going to feel like a stretch for most of us. This is most definitely a premium product. However, if you feel you have the wiggle room in your budget for it, our tester feels it's a product well worth buying.

"This is an expensive gadget but the manufacturers reckon you can recoup the costs within 180 times of using it, approximately. Is it worth the price? Yes, if you spend money on plant-based milks I think this is a worthwhile investment," explains Heidi.

"This might sound daft but the savings feel even bigger because we always have a bag of oats or almonds in the kitchen so it feels like you’re making plant-based milk for nothing," she added.

Design and features

Dimensions: 38 x 25 x 15cm | Weight: 9.5 lbs | Capacity of milk made: 500ml

If you've been dying to make your own fresh plant milk at the touch of a button, the Milky Plant is a product you're going to want to have in your kitchen. Like so many of us, Heidi's eldest son has become interested in adopting a more plant-based diet, so she was really keen to test this out and see if it really could make life easier for them as a family.

"One in three Brits choose a plant-based alternative to dairy, and switching to oat milk has been an easy move for my son. But as a family of five, switching us all from cow’s milk to oat milk isn’t something I’ve been keen to do because it’s so expensive — until Milky Plant came into our lives. I jumped at the chance to try a new gadget that promises to make plant-based milk at home from nuts, seeds, cereal, and water — without all the mess and faff of doing so from scratch," she told us.

Milky Plant claims that all you need to do is add your chosen ingredients to the container, add water, press the start button, and three minutes later, you'll have creamy and delicious plant-based milk. But is making a healthy drink at home really that quick and easy?

"I was a bit dubious that it would be that straightforward in practice but it genuinely is," says Heidi. "And, unlike plant-based milk from the supermarket, there are no nasties (like emulsifiers or preservatives) in the milk you make in the Milky Plant machine."

If you're anything like us, you may have tried to make plant-based milk in a traditional blender and given up because it's just such a huge faff. It takes a good 15-minutes to do it this way, plus there's so much time-consuming prep because you have to soak the nuts overnight before you can put them in the blender. And don't even get us started with how bulky a traditional blender can look on your kitchen counter.

With the Milky Plant machine, there are none of those worries. Although there's almost no gadget out there tiny enough not to be spotted in your kitchen, it is sleeker and more compact than many kitchen gadgets, which is surprising given that it can produce 500ml of milk. There's no straining required at the end of it all either and the self-cleaning function was something we were particularly keen to try out.

"By far the best thing about Milky Plant is how little mess it makes," says Heidi. "I’ve always contemplated making my own plant-based milk but the mess and faff involved really put me off. This clever gadget has a self-cleaning mode that actually works and - my favourite part — you can pop the leftover pulp in your smoothie or your granola, or use it for composting. You do have to empty the filter after each use but it’s no more hassle than emptying a coffee pot or cleaning a blender."

Finally, for families where everyone likes a different kind of plant-based milk, you're going to love that the Milky Plant machine can accommodate them all. Oats, soy, rice, almonds, coconut, potato (yes, potato!), hemp, and pea — you name it, the Milky Plant can make it, and that was a serious draw for Heidi and her family.

"I was super impressed with the range of plant-based drinks that can be made in the machine, and the recipe book that came with it is very informative and useful. We’ve experimented with chocolate oat milk (yum) and vanilla almond milk so far."

• VIEW AT MILKY PLANT

How we tested

• The Milky Plant was tested by a family of five
• It was put through its paces trying out a variety of different plant-based ingredients
• As well as looking at how quick and easy the Milky Plant was to use, our tester also considered whether it was as simple to clean as it claimed to be and the overall value for money it offered

Things you won't find on the box

Although Milky Plant are rightly very proud of their ethical manufacturing and sustainability practices, it's worth highlighting them in more depth here. Instead of viewing their products as waste when they reach the end of their life, they see them as sources of valuable resources for new products, offering end-of-life recycling for all of their customers.

With so many of us looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, being able to make fresh and healthy plant-based milk at home is something that's going to draw a lot of us to the Milky Plant. With no plastic, no cartons, and no waste, this really is a planet-friendly product.

"I really like the fact that making plant-based milk at home means we’re reducing our usage of tetra pak containers that end up in landfills. That’s a big plus for me because I’m always looking for ways to help my family do its bit for the planet and this feels like a tangible way to reduce waste," says Heidi.

It's also worth noting that Milky Plant has recently been enrolled in the Amazon sustainability accelerator scheme too — this is a huge achievement when you consider that this exclusive programme selects just 15 sustainable businesses per year.

You might be wondering if this superstar of a machine comes with any drawbacks, but to be honest, our tester found it hard to come up with anything. Don't worry though, we persevered until we got something out of her.

It would be handy if it came with more than one glass bottle but to be fair you can buy more from the website," Heidi told us. "It’s a little on the noisy side but, again, no more so than a smoothie maker. It looks good on a kitchen counter although you do need a good bit of space for it. But, again, the same could be said of a decent coffee maker or any other kitchen gadget that’s not necessarily an essential but more of a nice to have. Ultimately, I think it’s well worth making space in your kitchen and your life for this."

Who's it best for

If you want to whip up utterly delicious rich and creamy plant and nut-based milks at home with zero fuss and none of the usual faff, the Milky Plant Machine is a product we can't recommend highly enough.

Yes, it's expensive (there's no getting around that), but when you consider that you'll recoup your costs after 180 uses, it suddenly feels like a much more affordable option. Plus, if you're looking to turn more towards a plant-based diet and cut down on your use of cartons and plastics, the Milky Plant is going to let you tick both of those boxes.

It's also a fantastic choice for busy families and working professionals who are looking for quick and easy ways to make some small and simple changes to their diet that will have positive results on their overall health and well-being.

Need an alternative?

There's no denying that the Milky Plant machine is one of the best products on the market for making fresh, healthy, and delicious plant and nut-based milk in just minutes. But we also understand that it's pricey and with the cost of living crisis ongoing, this may not feel like a kitchen gadget you can justify at this moment in time.

However, that doesn't mean you can't make amazing plant-based milk at home that's going to be good for you and the environment, which is why we've done our research to find you a quality alternative at a fraction of the cost. The Salter Plant M!lk Maker doesn't have the same modern and sophisticated look as some of its pricier competitors, but it gets the job done.

Just like the Milky Plant, you can transform your leftover pulp into mouth-watering granola bars, energy bites, or brownies, and while you do have to soak your ingredients overnight, when you consider the Salter Plant M!lk Maker is available for just £64.99, we have a feeling you won't mind one bit.

With so many of us wanting to reduce our fat intake and cook heart-healthy meals more efficiently, we couldn't wait to find out if the Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer was something we needed in our lives.

If you're anything like us, you may be skeptical about whether the best air fryers are worth the hype. As a nation, we've become somewhat obsessed with this kitchen gadget over recent years - no surprise, given their compact size and versatility - so we turned to a bunch of hungry university students to see if an air fryer is something you need on your countertop.

It turns out that the Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer may well be the one appliance you want to invest in this year. With 360° rapid air circulation technology creating food that's crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this little gem will cook your food 60% faster than a traditional oven and could save you money on your energy bills into the bargain. 

• VIEW AT AMAZON

The Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer is ideal if you're living in a student flatshare or have a large family, as it has a large 7.6L dual basket capacity split into two 3.8L baskets with independent cooking controls. Cook main dishes and side dishes at the same time and take advantage of the 'SYNC' finish function that lets everything emerge piping hot at the same time.

Price and availability

The Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer retails for £109.99 on Amazon making it affordably priced if you're after an air fryer with two drawers.

Granted, it's not a top-of-the-range brand name air fryer, so it doesn't have that same expensive look and feel to it, but our tester was really impressed with both its ease of use and its versatility.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly and intuitive air fryer that will allow you to cook a range of different meals to suit all dietary requirements, this one from Ultenic is well worth considering.

Design and features

Dimensions: 36.5D x 26.7W x 31H centimetres | Capacity: 7.6 litres | Noise level: 60 dB

We didn't have to look far to find someone willing to test out the Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer, with our Consumer Editor, Heidi Scrimgeour, being only too happy to take this one on.

"I jumped at the chance to review the Ultenic K20 Smart Air Fryer because my son had just started University and moved into his first flatshare with a communal kitchen," she told us. "He’s a pretty confident cook and had put our air fryer at home to good use so getting him one for his student kitchen was a priority."

When it came to what appealed to her about the Ultenic K20, Heidi said that the dual drawer was what sold it for her. "It's a practical choice for a shared kitchen where people may be cooking several different items at once," she explained.

The air fryer comes with six one-touch pre-set buttons including broil, bake, and dehydrate (which we have to admit may be a few too many for the tech-averse among us), but a bunch of university students had no problems figuring it out.

"My 19-year-old got to grips with the pre-set options effortlessly and reports that they make it easy to cook everything from potato wedges to frozen chips. You literally just choose your food type and press the button, but you can adjust the temperature and the cooking time if you wish, too," Heidi said.

The Ultenic K20 is the perfect size for feeding a family (or a group of friends), with two 3.8L baskets offering a total of 7.6L of cooking space, and my son reports that the air fryer capacity is ‘decent’ when cooking for a houseful of hungry students," Heidi added.

Plus, the air fryer has a 'SYNC' finish function which means you can prepare different meals side by side and have them come out hot at the same time — something that Heidi's son found super useful living in student accommodation where multiple dishes are often needing to be prepared. 

We also love that the Ultenic comes with an app that features more than 100 recipes that you can whip up in your new air fryer. And the best part? It lets you save and customise them, which is a really handy feature for those of us who grew up doing everything on our phones, or for anyone who likes having their recipes portable and quickly accessible.

Were there any drawbacks? Not a whole lot to be honest, but Heidi did note that the air fryer wasn't always the easiest to keep clean. "The ergonomic touchscreen control panel is easy to use but greasy fingerprints do show up easily — not an issue if you’re adept with a bottle of anticbac and a kitchen cloth. Just don’t expect it to look pristine while cooking."

How we tested

• The Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer was tested out by a group of hungry university students
• It was (and continues to be) put through its paces daily to whip up a range of meals to suit different dietary requirements
• The air fryer was assessed based on its versatility, how easy it was to operate, its capacity, and how well it fared cooking separate meals at the same time

Things you won't find on the box

There are a few minor drawbacks you'll want to be aware of too. The drawers don't glide in and out as easily as they do on some of the other air fryers we've tested in the past and while the crisper baskets can be popped in the dishwasher, we found it a little fiddly to keep clean without one. At 36.5D x 26.7W x 31H centimetres, the size of this air fryer is another thing you'll want to be mindful of.

"Kitchens are typically crowded in student accommodation, with everyone vying for worktop space, so size is an important consideration if you’re buying an air fryer for a student. The K10 isn’t the smallest air fryer we’ve tested but we certainly don’t think the size of the K10 is an issue for the average household. If you want to feed five people using an air fryer then you’re obviously going to dedicate some worktop space to it," Heidi said.

Who's it best for?

If affordability is a priority for you and you're looking to be able to cook different food items at the same time, the Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer is a kitchen appliance we'd highly recommend.

It's easy and intuitive to use, plus it has a generous capacity, and the fact that you can cook separately and finish together is a real advantage for busy homes or living situations where you all have different dietary requirements.

Need an alternative?

The Ultenic K20 Dual Basket Air Fryer is a brilliant option if you're looking for an intuitive and affordable two-drawer air fryer that can cook different meals at the same time. However, we understand that it's not the smallest air fryer on the market, so if you're really short on space, you might be better off choosing an alternative.

For a more compact design, the COSORI Lite Smart 3.8L Air Fryer is available for £99.99 at Amazon is perfect for households that lack counter space. Ideal for smaller families, it has a digital display panel and Wi-Fi smartphone control option that makes it a breeze to use.

Looking for air fryer meal inspiration? You'll find a ton of it in our guide to the best air fryer cookbooks.

A popular choice for active parents who plan to run or jog with their child, the Summit X3 is a sleek and sporty pushchair with air-filled rubber tyres and all-wheel suspension. We put it to the test.

Stylish as well as practical, the Summit X3 was designed for Baby Jogger in partnership with female marathon runner Robin Arzón. And you can certainly tell - classy gold stitching and detailing on the wheel rims and seat put this running buggy in a class of its own - and, in our eyes, make it one of the best pushchairs you can buy. 

GoodtoKnow parent tester Lizzy told us she found the Summit X3 "fairly straightforward" to set up from unboxing to first use, and described it as offering "a comfortable running setup" with plenty of space behind the seat for your running stride. "The handle is comfortable to hold, and has both a wrist strap and a hand brake, which is nice for added security and reassurance when running, especially on downhill stretches," Lizzy added. 

"Other standout features include a swivel lock for the front wheel (which you control via the handlebar), ample storage space in the basket beneath the seat, and comfortable, secure seating for the baby."

The Baby Jogger Summit X3 is suitable for babies aged six months and older or, when used for running, for babies over the age of nine months. It's currently available to buy from Baby Jogger (£569) and Amazon.

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The three-wheel design (with a lockable swivel wheel at the front) makes this pushchair highly manoeuvrable - even when you encounter a sudden change in terrain. No matter whether you're popping out for a gentle stroll or trying to beat your PB, the all-wheel suspension system ensures your child will enjoy a smooth ride.

A hand-operated deceleration brake and tether strap make it easy to maintain control of the pushchair at all times, whether you're on a downhill slope or just slowing your pace for a well-earned breather. 

Price and availability

A running buggy is never going to be a 'cheap' option because of all the extra craftsmanship that goes into building a stroller that's robust and manoeuverable enough to take on a run with a little one on board. 

The Summit X3 is priced at £569 which reflects the fact that it's essentially a specialist product but, based on our parent tester's experience of trying it out, we think the price is good value for a high-performance buggy that can help you to maintain an active lifestyle after having a baby.

With an upper weight limit of 22kg, it's also worth noting that you could continue to use the Summit X3 until your child is around six years old. That's a considerably longer period of use than a standard pushchair so although this costs more than many, it also has the potential to last for many more years than a cheaper alternative. 

And if you're concerned about wear and tear and whether the Summit X3 is robust enough to withstand years of running with an ever-growing passenger, you'll be glad to know that there's a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on the frame.

Design and features

Age: 6m (9m running) - 22kg | Weight: 12.8kg | Dimensions: 86.5 x 66.5 x 35 cm

You could be forgiven for thinking that a running stroller is going to be all substance and not much style. Functionality is, after all, what matters most with a buggy designed to carry your child comfortably while you pound the pavements. But the Summit X3 Jogging Stroller is just as stylish as it's practical - maybe even more so. The interior of the canopy features a striking gold pattern designed by an artist from New York City and inspired by the streets of NYC, and there's a gold-stitched safety tether and gold accents on the wheel rims and seat back. See? Stylish. 

The front wheel has a locking mechanism that can be activated from the handlebar without slowing your pace or stopping - a feature GoodtoKnow tester Lizzy found useful for greater stability when running on flat, smooth surfaces. And if you want to set the wheel to swivel for better maneuverability while out walking, it's just as easy to do so without breaking your stride.

The seat unit has a five-point harness system to keep your child safely in place and an adjustable recline feature so your child can lie back in comfort. GoodtoKnow parent tester Lizzy found the seat was secure and comfortable enough for her daughter Niamh to nap happily while Lizzy was out for a run. She also remarked on the "excellent" number of mesh panels that create airflow around the seat to keep little ones cool. 

The Baby Jogger Summit X3 also has a UV 50+ canopy to keep your child shaded and protected from UV rays plus a peek-a-boo window that makes it easy to keep an eye on your child as you walk or run.

Having somewhere to stash your phone and other essentials when you're out for a run is a must, as any runner knows, and the Summit X3 has that covered too. There is a large under-seat basket that's easy to access but also a handy storage pouch in the seat unit. "We had lots of storage space in the basket when we went shopping after a run and there's extra storage in the mesh pocket on the back of the seat," Lizzy said.

How we tested

• Used the Summit X3 for both walking and running on different types of terrain
• Thoroughly tested the claim that it can be folded with one hand - it can!
• Reviewed the stroller's overall performance, taking into account the comfort it provided for the baby along with how stylish it looks, how easy it is to use, and whether it folds easily.

Things you won't find on the box

A standout feature of the Summit X3 is its patented fold mechanism - it's designed so that you can fold it with one hand, thanks to Quick-Fold Technology. Lizzy confirmed - to her surprise - that it does indeed live up to that claim. "The one-handed fold was surprisingly easy to execute after a bit of practice although some upper body strength was required," she said. "It's great that this feature has been included." 

On the downside, the handlebar isn't height-adjustable. This wasn't an issue for our tester but she felt it could be problematic for others, particularly if two partners of different heights plan to use the pushchair. "It's not an issue for me at 5'4" but it might impact someone taller," Lizzy said.

Another small drawback to note is how heavy the Summit X3 is. For comparison, consider that a lightweight travel stroller typically weighs less than 6kg and this is twice that weight at more than 12kg. The weightiness is a benefit because it helps add stability and robustness to the pushchair frame and Lizzy says she wouldn't be put off buying the Summit X3 because of the weight, but feels it's something some parents will want to consider because lighter alternatives do exist.

Who's it best for?

GoodtoKnow tester Lizzy feels the Summit X3 is best summed up as a running stroller with a "premium feel" which is "also nice to look at and has a well-thought-out design". She would recommend it to parents who enjoy running and who would like to invest "in a stylish and functional running buggy that is comfortable to use for both baby and parents".

Lizzy listed 'ease of use' as a reason to buy this pushchair, adding that it delivered "a comfortable and efficient run" and she praised the design for keeping her baby comfortable enough to nap during Lizzy's run.

If you're looking for a stylish pushchair that will support an active lifestyle, the Summit X3 is well worth your consideration. While there's no guarantee that your baby will nap while you run, we love the fact that this pushchair offers that possibility. 

If you're not a runner, the Summit X3 will appeal to anyone who loves the idea of squeezing in a daily walk while your baby naps in comfort. If you've enjoyed an active lifestyle pre-parenthood and want to make it as easy as possible to continue that once your baby is here, the Baby Jogger X3 just might be the perfect pushchair for you.

Need an alternative?

If a running buggy isn't quite what you need and you just want a pushchair that's sturdy enough to tackle off-road walks without breaking a sweat, there are plenty of other all-terrain pushchairs to choose from. Check out our Bugaboo Fox 3 review for the lowdown on an all-terrain pram with advanced suspension that handled all terrains well when we put it to the test. 

Or for another running buggy to compare the Baby Jogger Summit X3 with, have a read of our Cybex Zeno review - you can use it to run with your baby using ‘push-mode’ or switch to ‘hands-free’ and it's also suitable for use when cycling or even skiing.

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The Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow features a revolutionary and versatile design that combines ergonomic shaping with luxurious breathable materials to provide the ultimate in pregnancy and nursing comfort. 

A worthy new contender for a spot in our best nursing pillows guide, the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow is the ultimate multi-purpose superstar — with options to use it for sleep support at night, back support during the day, a feeding cushion once baby has arrived and a support cushion for tummy time. Now that's one impressive pillow! 

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Designed to provide complete support and comfort for a more restful night's sleep during pregnancy, this pillow follows the natural shape of your body and cradles your head, hips, knees and ankles. Particularly beneficial to C-section mums, the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow removes the painful pressure on your stomach and back, and it's also brilliant for providing much-needed support during the feeding process. 

Price and availability

In terms of budget, we'd class the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow as a middle of the range product, but we feel you're getting great value for money with this product, something our parent tester agrees with. 

"Its mid-range price point and multiple uses mean it's a solid investment for someone who likes a firm pillow and is looking to breastfeed," says Emily. 

However, Emily did feel that while this pillow has some fantastic features (which we'll get to below) and would suit a lot of mums, it may not be the right choice for everyone. 

"Your body is constantly changing during pregnancy, and my sleeping position has changed an awful lot between each trimester therefore a more flexible construction would offer the user a pregnancy pillow that will support them through every stage. Without this, I would find myself buying a different pregnancy pillow to support me at different stages of pregnancy," Emily explains.

Design and features

Dimensions: 43cm x 116cm | Age: Pregnancy and beyond |Material: 100% cotton cover, 100% polyester mesh

When it comes to talking about the design and features of the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow, it's a case of where to start! We're really impressed with what this little beauty has to offer on both of those fronts and it has some unique selling points that set it apart from its competitors.

Firstly, rather than the traditional sausage construction that you'll find most pregnancy and nursing pillows opt for, the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow features the brand's signature 3D spacer mesh and super soft interlock jersey cotton. This enables the pillow to offer full breathability around the bump area and creates a level of versatility that allows the pillow to be used as a back support, feeding cushion, and baby support cushion. 

Because the spacer mesh follows the natural shape of an expectant mum, the pillow also offers an outstanding level of support to the head, hips, knees, and ankles, plus, when used regularly from the second trimester, it can also help encourage baby to get into the optimum position for birth. 

The support and breathability offered by the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow is something our parent tester, Emily, was particularly impressed with.

"Before falling pregnant I was a back sleeper, so I was anxious about having to sleep on my side. This pillow provided great support during the night and fitted comfortably around my growing bump without causing the overheating I'd suffered from previously," she told GoodtoKnow. 

It's also worth noting that the cover of the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow can be removed and machine-washed at 40 degrees on a gentle wash and tumble-dried on low heat. The inner can also be washed on a lower setting of 30 degrees. So you can breathe easy knowing that this durable pillow will be with you for years to come. 

How we tested

• Used the pillow during the seventh month of pregnancy
• Put the pillow to good use while sleeping
• Along with looking at the overall comfort and support the pillow offered, our tester also considered the construction, how well it regulated body heat during the night, and whether it would be suitable for nursing and tummy time

Things you won't find on the box

Available in two designs — minimal grey (for those who prefer a more neutral look) and botanical (for those wanting a bit more colour) — the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow beautifully combines both style and substance. 

It's worth mentioning that this pillow has been designed and tested by safe sleep baby product experts, so you can rest easy knowing it adheres to safe sleep guidelines. Plus, it's made from hypoallergenic materials, so it's a great choice if you or your baby suffer from allergies.

This pillow is surprisingly firm, which is not what we were expecting. However while some people may benefit from a slightly more flexible construction, our tester felt it had enough give in it to fit comfortably around her growing bump. The firmness is also nicely offset by the softness of the material, so you'll still find this pillow delightful to snuggle into. 

Who's it best for?

Emily felt this pillow offered excellent support during the night and she would also recommend it to anyone who's nursing. However, given the firmness, she's not sure how comfortable she'd be using the pillow for tummy time. 

Although Purflo do state that the pillow can be used for this purpose, we agree with our tester that both the firmness and the height of the pillow makes it unsuitable for tummy time use during the first few months of a baby's life. However, once baby is a bit older, it could well be useful for this purpose. 

If you're looking for a pregnancy pillow that will help you get into the optimal sleeping position and a robust nursing pillow that offers a great deal of support, the Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow is well worth considering. 

Need an alternative?

If a firm pregnancy and nursing pillow just isn't what you're looking for, you'll be relieved to know that there are ton of softer and more malleable options on the market. 

One that fits this bill nicely is the Mamas & Papas Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow (£45 from Mamas & Papas). With a boomerang design that supports your bump, back, and knees while you sleep, this pillow moulds to your shape and makes for the comfiest companion. 

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The Silentnight Body Support Pillow is a versatile pillow that can be used in a variety of positions during pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. While a tad on the bulky side, it's been designed by the sleep experts at Silentnight to be cosy, comfortable and offer complete body support. 

Whether sleeping or relaxing, this medium-firm pillow can be used in lots of different ways and that flexibility is one of the things we love most about it. From relieving pregnancy-related pain in your hips, neck and stomach to supporting you while nursing or resting in bed, this pillow will keep you supported and comfortable. 

While we don't consider it to be one of the best nursing pillows you can buy (that's because it hasn't been designed solely with that in mind), we do feel it provides a good amount of comfort for expectant mothers and can be used to give you additional support when feeding. 

Price and availability

"This pillow is there for the long haul so it's a really worthwhile investment for the price," says Victoria. And we have to say, we couldn't agree more. Given that you'll be able to continue to use this pillow well past pregnancy and nursing, it's incredibly budget-friendly and the medium firmness it offers is going to be just right for most people. 

Silentnight is renowned for making products to suit all kinds of sleepers, and this full-body size pillow is just the right length for mid to late pregnancy — plus if you're after ongoing support for your back and neck postpartum, you'll find this pillow does that job nicely. 

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Design and features

Dimensions: 147 x 48cm | Age: Pregnancy and beyond | Material: Microfibre outer and hollowfibre inner

First things first — we love the simple and supersized design of this pillow which enables it to be used in a multitude of ways. Offering support for your back, hips, neck and stomach, it helps to relieve the pain commonly associated with pregnancy, and it can also be used for nursing or watching TV on the sofa or in bed.

We're also huge fans of how huggable this pillow is! Give it a squeeze and you'll be amazed at how much it relieves the pressure on your shoulders, or place it between your knees to aid spinal alignment and relieve lower back pain. 

The pillow comes with a machine-washable, fitted soft-touch microfibre pillowcase for extra protection, so keeping it clean and fresh is super easy. "You don't have to wrestle to get a cover on if you're heavily pregnant or postpartum and feeling a bit sore or holding a baby," explains Victoria.

However, there's no getting around the fact that this is one big pillow! Large and bulky, it's not the easiest to store away and it takes up a lot of space on the bed. Plus, we won't lie, at 4ft 8in in length, it almost feels like you have an extra person in bed with you and at 3.5kg, it's quite heavy to carry around.

But, while it is quite mammoth, you do need the extra support when you're pregnant — particularly towards the end — so from that perspective (and given it can serve an array of different uses postpartum) you may well find it earns the space it takes up in your bedroom. 

"It's a bit unwieldy in size compared to most pillows on the market, but the support it provides is well worth it for being so comfortable and its neutral design means you'll want one for every room in the house," says Victoria.

How we tested

• Used the pillow on an ongoing basis postpartum
• Put the pillow to good use in a variety of situations, including sleeping, relaxing and nursing
• As well as considering things like comfort and support, our tester also looked at the versatility of the pillow, including its look and feel, and how easy it was to keep clean

Things you won't find on the box

Crafted from soft quilted microfibre and filled with squishy hollowfibre, the Silentnight Body Support Pillow comes with a dreamy microfibre pillowcase resulting in a pillow that leaves you feeling like you're snoozing on a cloud. 

One thing that's really worth highlighting is the versatility of this pillow. Yes, it's great for pregnancy and postpartum nursing and relaxing, but its use extends well beyond that. 

Keep this pillow on hand well beyond pregnancy and birth and you'll find that it can provide anyone in your family with huggable sleep support and extra comfort when sitting up in bed. 

Ideal for helping to relieve aches and pains, you'll find the multiple uses it offers (not to mention its dreamy hotel-like feel) make this pillow an outstanding budget buy. 

Who's it best for

The wonderful thing about this multi-purpose pillow is that it's suitable for just about everyone — which means you'll get a ton of use out of it that extends well beyond pregnancy and feeding. 

In terms of pregnancy, you'll find that this pillow gives a good amount of comfort and support for your knees and bump, and because it's squishy and flexible, you'll find it easy to switch sleeping positions during the night. 

When it comes to nursing we feel that the bulky size of the Silentnight Body Support Pillow makes it more suitable for use behind your back to help you sit in a comfortable position, with a traditional curved pillow used for the actual feeding itself.

This pillow is also a real superstar when it comes to relieving aches and pains, so once you're done using it, you may find other family members can reap the benefits of it too!

Need an alternative?

The Silentnight Body Support Pillow has a whole lot going for it — it's affordable, offers excellent support for your back, neck, hips and stomach, and can relieve pressure on the shoulders, aid spinal alignment and and relieve lower back pain. However, it's also large and bulky, and you may find it doesn't quite do the job when it comes to nursing your baby.

If you'd rather avoid having to buy two separate pillows and opt for something that ticks both boxes, the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow (£49.99 from Dreamgenii) is a worthy contender. It moulds comfortably around your bump, supporting your back and knees to leave you feeling like you're sleeping in a cozy and snuggly cocoon. Plus, when it's time to nurse, it easily converts into a feeding support pillow. 

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There's no denying it — despite its high price point, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow is hands-down one of the most outstanding pregnancy pillows money can buy.

Designed by three female Norwegian chiropractors, this pillow is filled with tiny beads that cradle your growing belly, lower back, pelvis, knees, and ankles, and its unique adjustability and five-point support will ensure you sleep comfortably. Given that bbhugme also happens to be the makers of one of the best nursing pillows, it's no surprise that their pregnancy pillow has that same high quality we've come to know and love.

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Designed to help you sleep comfortably throughout your pregnancy — whatever your body needs, whatever stage you're at, and whatever your personal sleeping preferences are from the first trimester and beyond — our parent tester Kate took this celeb fave for a spin and found it to be well worth its high price tag. 

Price and availability

We're not going to lie — our eyes did water when we saw the price tag on the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow so we want to be upfront and say that this is a considered purchase that will be out of budget for some mums-to-be. 

However, Kate makes a good point when she says "a good night's sleep is priceless and I'd rather spend on this than a few extra items of maternity clothing".

So yes, it is a big decision, but as you'll soon see this pillow has a lot going for it. If you're looking for a body pillow that will improve pregnancy sleep and relieve tension, this one is well worth considering.

Design and features

Created by chiropractors to help you sleep comfortably with unique adjustability and five-point support, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow has been designed to adjust to your body — giving you the exact level of firmness and support your unique body shape and bump needs from the first trimester and beyond - something that our tester Kate absolutely loved.

"The best feature is that you can adjust the amount of filling in the pillow by moving the adjustable 'pebble' clips at either side so you can have as much or as little support as needed - and it's so uncomplicated to do," she explains. 

Filled with tiny BPA-free silicone pebbles, the pressure-relieving filling supports your legs, pelvis, belly, lower back, and ankles, and the jersey spandex outer works to keep you cool at night. 

"The cotton and spandex blend is soft without causing night sweats, thanks to its breathability," says Kate, adding that "the pillow is very long so can use it to support the whole of your body".

Aside from the incredible level of support and customisation this pillow offers, Kate was thrilled with how easy it was to keep clean. "You can throw the outer cover in the washing machine and the pebbles in the dishwasher," she says. 

Plus, if all of that has yet to win you over, the pillow comes with a travel bag, something that sounds like a small thing but can make your life a whole lot easier if you're going to be on the move a bit during your pregnancy or just want to keep your home clutter-free.

"I like the case, because it kept everything fresh when I travelled to my mother-in-law's for a visit and means that, when I'm finished using it for breastfeeding or supporting my baby, I can pack it neatly away and keep it looking good," Kate told Goodto. 

How we tested

• We tested the pillow for several weeks during the fifth month of pregnancy
• The pillow was put to good use during the night while sleeping and Kate now uses it postpartum to breastfeed her baby
• As well as looking at the overall support this pillow offers, Kate also looked at how easy it was to adjust, its portability, and ease of cleaning

Things you won't find on the box

Unlike most pregnancy pillows where there isn't an awful lot of additional things to say, we really could talk for hours about the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow — and we're fairly certain there'd still be more to say after that! 

One thing that isn't mentioned on the box is just how useful other members of your family may find this pillow. Now, we understand you're not going to want people stealing it while you're pregnant or nursing, but once you're out of those stages you may well want to hang onto it. It makes for a really wonderful travel pillow and if you have elderly relatives that visit often (or anyone with joint pain), the pillow can provide extra comfort and support when they're sitting on the sofa. 

It's also worth noting that this pillow is quite weighty, tipping the scales at 2.1kgs. But, the stylish design and beautiful colours on offer (think dusty blues, pinks, and olives) mean you can proudly display this pillow on your bed or sofa without it looking bulky. 

Who's it best for

We feel that the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow is ideal for any expectant mum looking for a pillow that offers adjustable firmness and unique shape versatility (it can be configured into C, U, I or L-shapes). Oh and did we mention how eco-friendly it is? It's true!

Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex Class 1 Certified (this means the materials are free from harmful substances), the raw materials are CO2 neutral and non-hazardous, plus they're also odor-free and have antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you want to ensure you and baby stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow gets a big tick on that front.

Finally, it's just a brilliant choice for side-sleeping and resting, relieving pressure on your back, belly, pelvis, knees and ankles so that you can get the comfy and restorative sleep that you need. 

Need an alternative?

Although the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow has so much going for it, we're fully aware that in today's climate it's just not going to be a manageable purchase for so many of us. The great news is that for those of us who can't justify a £153 spend, there are so many other brilliant pregnancy pillows on the market that are cosy and comfortable.

And our top pick? The Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow (£49.99 at Dreamgenii). This dual-function pillow will support you through your pregnancy and beyond, moulding gently around your bump to create a snuggly cocoon that will give you the ultimate night-time comfort. Plus, when the baby arrives, use this 2-in-1 pillow to create a supportive feeding experience for you and your little one. All of that for less than £50? Now that's a pillow we can sleep easy with! 

If you're looking for a pillow that offers excellent value for money and will serve you well during both pregnancy and while you're nursing, the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow is a little powerhouse that's well worth considering.

One of our personal top picks in our guide to the best nursing pillows, the UK-midwife recommended Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow has a unique and patented design that moulds around your bump to create a snuggly and cozy cocoon that will ensure you sleep comfortably. Plus, once baby arrives, this dual-function pillow offers excellent support while nursing. 

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With a dreamy jersey cover that's a delight to snuggle up into, this pillow is guaranteed to become your new best friend. And while it's not quite perfect (what pregnancy and nursing pillow is?), it has so many great features to promote night-time comfort. 

Price and availability

"It's not the cheapest pillow on the market but I feel that if you were to use it for feeding then it's well worth the price as a multitasker," says Jamie. And she's right. Yes, you can certainly pick up a cheaper pillow than the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow, however, when you start to take into account its dual-function, this little gem suddenly becomes very appealing indeed. 

If you're like most parents, baby and kiddie clutter is likely something you're going to want to try to cut down on (or avoid altogether) and this pillow will definitely help you do that. Supporting your back and knees as your pregnancy progresses and sleep becomes more difficult, you'll also find it really helps to take the pressure off your neck, shoulders and back when you're breast or bottle feeding.

Design and features

Dimensions: H15 x W45 x D44cm| Material: 100% jersey cotton outer, 100% polyester inner

Whether you're after that all-important restorative night time sleep or you're looking for some extra support during the day, the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow has got you covered on the comfort front — both before and after the birth of your baby. 

Specifically shaped to encourage left lateral sleeping (the optimal foetal position), this pillow will support the health of both you and your baby. But that's not the only thing the team at Dreamgenii have considered when creating this pillow.

We love the lightweight design, which makes carrying this pillow around the house or transporting it from A to B that much easier — after all, if you have a baby on board or you're carrying a little one about, the last thing you want is to be trying to cart a heavy pillow around the house as well. 

Our tester Jamie specifically commented on the lightness and how much she loved it, while also highlighting the impressive back support. "It didn't feel like I had to wrestle it if I wanted to shift slightly in the night and the dipped centre panel prompted me to stay on my side as I slept prevented me rolling back," she explains. 

And while we're on the subject of support, we find it really helpful to think of this pillow as being made up of three parts. There's the part of the pillow that sits behind your back and cradles the curve of your spine, the well at the front that moulds around your bump, and the long tube that goes between your legs. 

Theoretically, this should offer equal support to all parts of your body, however Jamie did note that for her personally, her back felt more supported than her front. "While it was light and I loved the cocoon shape and soft, jersey - I need something that offers more support on the front of my body and between my knees."

It's worth pointing out that everyone carries differently during pregnancy, so if you find that you're like Jamie and need a lot more support at the front, you'll find an excellent option for that at the end of this review. 

Finally, you'll be relieved to learn that the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow has a 100% machine washable jersey cotton fabric cover — a real lifesaver if you're going to be using this pillow for those unavoidably messy feeding sessions! 

How we tested

• Used the pillow during the sixth month of pregnancy
• Put the pillow to good use each night while sleeping
• Along with looking at the level of support the pillow offered, our tester also reviewed things like lightness, firmness, and how helpful it was in preventing backrolling 

Things you won't find on the box

While there's not a lot of additional information to provide about the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow (there are only so many features a pillow can have!), it's worth noting that alongside the standard white version, the pillow also comes in two other colour options — grey marl and beige marl — so if you're a fan of neutral and soothing tones, this pillow definitely ticks the box.

Also, we absolutely love that you can buy additional covers that have been specifically made for this pillow, something that so many other pregnancy and feeding pillows on the market don't offer. Spare covers are available in a range of different colours and patterns, which not only allows you to personalise your pillow, but it means you always have a fresh cover on hand if the other one gets dirty. 

Who's it best for?

If you're after a multi-purpose pillow that will serve you well during pregnancy and postpartum, the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow is a great choice. Getting comfortable in bed can be really challenging during pregnancy, especially as you move in to the second and third trimesters, so having a supportive pillow that moulds to your bump can help you get that all-important restorative shut-eye. 

Then, when the baby arrives and it comes time to nurse, this 2-in-1 pillow can give you the feeding support you need and take the pressure off your back, neck and shoulders. 

Our tester's only note of caution would be that this pillow may not be suitable for those that prefer a thicker and heavier layer of support. "The only thing I didn't like was that it was on the thinner side and I am used to using a very thick U-shaped maternity pillow. I felt as if it wasn't offering my back the same alignment as other, thicker pillows," Jamie explains.

However, that one issue aside, Jamie felt that this pillow was a fantastic multi-tasker and would suit anyone after something soft and cozy to snuggle up to. 

Need an alternative?

As we've mentioned above, there's so much to love about the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow — we mean really, who doesn't want to feel they're snoozing the night away in a soft and snuggly cocoon?! But we understand that the thinness may be an issue for those of you in need of some extra support, which is why we we've found an outstanding alternative we know you'll love.

While it's not cheap, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow has been designed by three female Norwegian chiropractors and is filled with tiny beads that work overtime to snuggle your bump and create a cooling affect at the same time — which is great if you're a hot sleeper or carrying during the summer months. Thick and snuggly, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow is available from Mamas & Papas for £137.70. 

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The Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow is a lifesaver for new parents looking to provide themselves and their baby with a comfortable and supportive feeding experience. 

Our overall winner in our guide to the best nursing pillows, the Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow, lets parents maintain the correct position while feeding and nursing. Offering maximum comfort, you'll be impressed by how easily and calmly it allows your baby to feed, plus it can be used in a variety of different ways throughout the first year of your little one's life — so it offers great value for money. 

• VIEW AT KIDDIES KINGDOM

We really love the support this pillow offers both parent and baby, with the consistency of the padding enabling you to maintain a comfortable and relaxed position that reduces muscle tension in the arms, shoulders and neck. 

It's not an item you have to have but with a plethora of uses ranging from feeding, relaxing, and developmental training, the Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow will definitely make your life easier. "I wish I'd got my hands on this sooner after my c-section," says Sophie. "I think it would really have assisted with holding my baby comfortably at the time."

Price and availability

"The Chicco Boppy is a reasonable price compared to other similar products you can buy but it isn't a necessary product so I feel it's a bit of a luxury purchase," says Sophie. "But its price point is great for someone that wants to buy products that last beyond the newborn stage."

As Sophie rightly points out, this is not an item you MUST have in order to be able to feed your baby, but given the amount of time you'll spend holding them while they're at the breast or bottle, it's worth weighing the almost £40 price tag against the level of comfort this pillow offers both you and your baby — which is considerable. 

Plus, with so many of us wanting to invest in products for our children that are multi-purpose and suitable for use at various stages of their development, the multiple uses for the Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow make the cost feel a little more justifiable.

Design and features

Dimensions: H48 x W15 x D53cm | Age: From birth | Material: 100% cotton

We have to say, we're big fans of the Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow's versatile design, which offers parents a huge amount of flexibility. 

In the first few months of your baby's life, it allows you to position them at the correct height for breast or bottle feeding and reduces the pressure on your abdomen. As they get older, the Boppy Pillow becomes a comfortable space for them to relax with their head slightly raised to aid digestion and it's also brilliant for tummy time and the development of motor coordination.

The level of padding on the Boppy Pillow is impressive and allows you to maintain that all-important comfortable feeding position while reducing muscle tension. Because it moulds so beautifully to your body without losing its shape, you'll find it reduces neck pain when bottle feeding and breast pain when nursing by allowing you to correctly and naturally position your baby. 

Our tester Sophie was also really impressed by the size and feel of this pillow. "Some feeding pillows I’ve tried before have been quite small which has meant it hasn’t quite fitted around me comfortably or worked with a wiggly baby," she says. "It is also quite firm which I like. It will soften his fall should he topple over but it’s also firm enough to provide enough support to keep him upright."

And if you're worried about keeping this pillow clean, don't be — the cotton slipcover comes off easily and both that and the pillow itself are machine-washable and drier-friendly, which makes life a whole lot easier. It also won't lose its shape or consistency, no matter how many times you wash it. "It's especially useful when using it with a weaning and reflux baby!" says Sophie.

How we tested

• Used the pillow for several weeks with a seven-month old baby
• Put the pillow through its paces, using it for feeding, tummy time and assisted sitting
• Along with looking at comfort and support, our parent tester also assessed how easy to clean the pillow was, and its size and firmness 

Things you won't find on the box

As you'd expect with a nursing pillow, there aren't a whole lot of hidden bells and whistles and all of the main product information is clearly displayed on the box. That being said, there are a few things we feel are worth highlighting.

Firstly, unlike some nursing pillows that come in one or two colours, we love that the Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow offers four different designs from the adorable modern woodland to the chic Rosa with its delicate shade of baby pink. If you're someone who isn't a fan of neutral tones or plain fabric, we feel you'll love the whimsical designs on offer here. 

Secondly, we like that it's crafted from high-quality cotton and is soft and breathable, as this ensures the pillow is gentle on a baby's sensitive skin. At the same time, it doesn't compromise on cushioning, which provides optimal comfort and as we mentioned earlier (but feel it's worth repeating) because it grows with your baby, it's suitable for all stages of their development. 

Who's it best for?

The Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow is ideal for any parent looking to create a comfortable and supportive feeding experience for themself and their baby. The Boppy Pillow has an ergonomic shape that provides a snug and secure fit and will allow you to sit upright when feeding without having to bend over or lean forward, both of which can lead to muscle aches and pains. 

It's also a great choice if you're looking for a pillow that will grow with your baby. You can use it to help you correctly position yourself in those first few weeks of your baby's life as you get used to breast or bottle feeding and when your baby gets to three months of age it's fantastic for creating an elevated resting spot that aids digestion. Plus, it's brilliant for tummy time and super useful when your baby hits the nine-month mark and you want to help them learn to safely balance and sit on their own. 

Need an alternative?

The Chicco Boppy Nursing Pillow is a flexible and versatile pillow at a really affordable price, but we understand it may not be for everyone — especially if you're looking for something with a few more bells and whistles.

And if that's the case, don't worry because the My Breast Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow (£117 at Amazon) has got you covered. It doesn't come cheap, but this award-winning pillow has plenty of features to keep you comfy, including a built-in backrest, storage pocket, and an adjustable strap to help keep your baby in place and take the strain off your shoulders, neck, and back. 

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The Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow from Mamas & Papas is one of those deceptively simple-looking pieces of baby gear.

It may not look particularly innovative when you first unbox it but delve a little deeper, and what you'll find is a pillow that manages to provide five-point support and a range of flexible usage options all packaged up into one beautifully uncomplicated design — and that's exactly why we love it. 

If you're looking for the best nursing pillow that can be used during pregnancy and while you're feeding your baby, the Mamas & Papas Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow is well worth considering. Designed to support the pelvis, lower back, abdomen, knees, and ankles, it moulds to your shape with a narrow design that makes for the comfiest companion. 

• VIEW AT SAMUEL JOHNSTON   

With five uses, this superstar of a pillow can be used for sleeping, resting, bottle-feeding, breastfeeding or just a little more comfort when you need it most pre- or postpartum. Yes, it has a super simple design compared to some other pillows you'll see on sale, but when a product manages to so effortlessly combine comfort and value for money, who needs additional bells and whistles? Not us!

Price and availability

At £45 this is a relatively low-priced pillow and Joanna feels it's worth the money, especially since she found it more effective than several other more expensive pillows she has tried. 

"This one would be the one I'd recommend to friends and family — no matter their budget," she enthuses. Given its multi-functional design, investing in it means you won't have to worry about having to buy and store a range of additional products either. 

Joanna agrees, saying she'd recommend it to someone who's not only looking to get a comfortable night's sleep but who has a smaller home and is struggling for bed and storage space. "A good night's sleep is priceless," she says, and that's exactly what this pillow will help you achieve. 

Design and features

Dimensions: H19 x W19 x D143cm approx
Composition: 100% cotton outer, 100% polyester inner

If you're currently pregnant or nursing, then you don't need us to tell you that both of these stages have the potential to bring with them a great deal of discomfort. Carrying a baby during pregnancy puts a lot of new pressure on your joints, plus as you grow bigger, things start to get a bit cramped in there, which can make trying to find a comfortable sleeping position much more difficult. 

Thankfully, with the Mamas & Papas Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow, relief is close at hand. With a boomerang design that supports your bump, back, knees, and ankles while you sleep, the pillow's soft fabric moulds to your shape to ensure you get the rest you need. The design isn't particularly innovative, but as Joanna found out, it more than gets the job done. 

"This is a simply designed product - but that's what I like about it," says Joanna. "What I like most is the fact that, unlike more expensive and 'luxurious' versions I've tried, the pillow isn't too wide and thick, which means I can sleep with it between my knees without discomfort in my hips or knees and without encroaching on my husband's side of the bed!"

It's also likely to become your new best friend while you're nursing too, as it will enable you to support yourself and your baby while you breast or bottle feed. We like the addition of the integrated carry handle and reusable zip-up bag as this will make it easy for you to move it around the house, take it with you to the hospital, or pack it away to take with you on holiday. 

And if you're worried about keeping this little gem clean (yes, we're thinking about all that baby sick!) don't be — the removable cover can be thrown into the washing machine at 40°C, making it a piece of cake to keep it clean and hygienic.

Finally, we'd be remiss not to mention how this pillow looks. The slim design and soft grey shade mean it will blend beautifully into any home decor. "Lots of pregnancy pillows stick out like a sore thumb," says Joanna, but with the Mamas & Papas Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow, that's one thing you definitely won't have to worry about. 

How we tested

• Tested the pillow during the first trimester of pregnancy
• Put the pillow to good use at night, assessing how easy it was to get into a comfortable sleeping position and the level of support offered
• Along with looking at the design and support level, our tester also considered factors  such as portability and ease of cleaning

Things you won't find on the box

There isn't a lot of information available on the Mamas & Papas website regarding this pillow, but to be honest, there isn't a lot to be said. All the important information is outlined upfront.

However, a couple of things are worth noting. This pillow only comes in one shade — grey. So to call your colour choices limited would be a kind understatement. 

Secondly, while they do mention on the website that this pillow is easy to clean, you'll be really happy to learn that not only is the cover machine-washable but it washes up well with no fading or bobbling. 

It's a shame you can't buy more than one cover as this would mean you could continue to use it while the other one is getting cleaned, but that's a minor inconvenience that in no way detracts from the overall usefulness and quality of this pillow. 

Who's it best for?

Whether you're pre- or postpartum, this pillow is going to help make your life a whole lot more comfortable. During pregnancy it can help you get the quality of sleep that you need by relieving some of the pain and pressure on your joints that carrying a baby can cause. 

After pregnancy, it's wonderful for making breast and bottle feeding easier, and can also be used when you and baby are relaxing on the couch or while you're travelling.

'It's not particularly innovative, but it is very good value and comfortable,' says Joanna. 'Having tried three bulkier and more luxurious pillows previously, this simple design is the one I'd recommend to friends and family.'

Need an alternative?

While we feel the Mamas & Papas Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow offers a high level of comfort and support, we understand that the narrow shape and slimline design may not suit someone looking for a more substantial pillow. And the good news is, if you're after a pillow with additional length and girth, there are plenty to choose from.

Our pick of the bunch would be the Dreamgenii Pregnancy and Support Feeding Pillow currently retailing at Dreamgenii for £49.99. This pillow features a unique and patented shape that really moulds around your bump while supporting the rest of your body as your pregnancy progresses and sleep becomes more difficult. The long tail will also sit comfortably between your legs, helping to align your hips. 

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We put the La Maman Wedge Nursing Pillow from DockATot to the test to see if it's as practical and functional as it is striking and stylish.

We didn't have to say the words 'would you like to review a William Morris nursing pillow' twice to our Editor, Anna Bailey, when she went off on maternity leave earlier this year. A fan of stylish design and a resident of Walthamstow (birthplace of Morris), she jumped at the chance to put such a classy item of baby gear to the test.

The La Maman Wedge Nursing Pillow from DockATot is no ordinary nursing pillow. Available in a wide variety of designs from vintage-inspired designs to modern geometric prints, this pillow is designed to be supportive for mums, with a curved design that fits around the body while taking the strain off your arms, neck, and shoulders during feeding time with your baby 

If you're looking for the best nursing or maternity pillow to buy and like the idea of something timeless that you won't want to part with when your baby stops nursing, this is a serious contender. 

• VIEW AT DOCKATOT

Anna was already a big fan of William Morris before she tested out the La Maman Wedge Nursing Pillow from DockATot.

"I live in Walthamstow, the birthplace of William Morris, so I have many of his designs in my home - and this fits in perfectly," she said. "The Strawberry Thief print is a classic floral design and one of his most popular."

As well as the fabulous print, this pillow has a curved shape that tucks neatly around whoever is holding the baby. Whether you're using it as support for breastfeeding or as a helping hand when giving your baby a bottle, the pillow is a lifesaver. 

And while there's no denying that it's a pricey buy, there's value for money hidden in the fact that it can be used around the house as a classic pillow or cushion, long after your baby's finished nursing or bottle feeding. 

Price and availability

DockATot nursing pillows are currently on offer at John Lewis for just £56. They usually retail at £80 and the William Morris designs are always popular options that tend to sell out quickly.  

So, is the La Maman Wedge Nursing Pillow from DockATot worth its price tag? Absolutely, according to our tester. "Although it is a premium product, I’d consider it really good value for money due to its lasting appeal," said Anna.

While breastfeeding her newborn, Anna loved how good the pillow looked. But she can't see herself parting with it any time soon and not even when Freddie no longer needs to be nursed. 

"It just looks so good on the sofa," she added. "It’s great quality and perfectly functional but the design and fabric give it an additional luxurious feel."

Design and features

Dimensions: 57 x 34 x 17cm | Age: Birth - six months

The DockATot La Maman Wedge Nursing Pillow has been designed in collaboration with Morris & Co. It has a stunning William Morris print and a luxurious velvety fabric. 

Anna loved the vintage feel of this piece and how it fitted in seamlessly with her home decor. "This pillow would probably look best in a more traditional home, or one with an eclectic or bohemian decor," she said. "It’s so great to see a nursing pillow (or any baby product) with a more grown-up and unique design - so many pregnancy or nursing pillows seem to be covered in babyish animals, polka dots, stripes, and stars, which all feel a bit clichéd."

"It doesn’t look out of place on the sofa at all. I’ve offered the nursing pillow to guests when they’ve held Freddie and they’ve said, ‘Oh, I didn’t realise that’s what it was for - I just thought it was a cushion.’" 

As well as its grown-up good looks, Anna thought the design was well-thought-out. "I love how compact it is, unlike a lot of the nursing pillows that can take up so much space," she said. "It also had a handy fabric loop, which is sewn so well into the pillow it’s almost invisible. This has been really helpful for carrying it around."

How we tested

• Tested the nursing pillow during breastfeeding and bottle-feeding for several weeks.
• Noted how supportive the pillow was for both baby and parent.
• Rated how easy the pillow was to clean.

Things you won't find on the box

There's much more to the DockATot La Maman Wedge nursing pillow than just a pretty design. "This nursing pillow curves around my body perfectly when I’m holding Freddie; she feels very comfortable and secure while feeding," said Anna. "But the pillow has also been really helpful for protecting my C-section scar - I reposition it after nursing around my tummy, and this stops Freddie kicking this sensitive area when I’m burping her or when she’s wriggling around."

Inevitably with newborns, you'll likely need to clean this pillow at some point, and Anna highlighted this as another reason to buy this nursing pillow over others. "It seems to spot clean really well - Freddie threw up all over it (and herself, and me...) recently - but it wiped away easily with no problems." 

Who's it best for

Since the DockATot La Maman Wedge nursing pillow is very aesthetically pleasing, it's no surprise that Anna thinks it would suit "someone who is style-conscious, loves home decor and quality designs". But she'd also recommend it to her friends as "they all love William Morris".

Anna thinks this design would work particularly well in a home with a traditional decor. "They perfect buyer for this is also someone happy to spend more on a premium product with lasting appeal - and keen to avoid the childish nursery designs you often see on baby products."

Need an alternative?

While Anna found the DockATot nursing pillow helped her tummy scar, we named the Lansinoh Nursing Pillow the best to use after a C-section. Alternatively, the Widgey Feeding Pillow is a great budget buy. 

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British brand Joie is a household name when it comes to the baby world. Its car seats — including the Joie i-Spin 360 — are a true testament to that. We put this one to the test for our guide to the best car seats for babies. Here's the tester's in-depth review so you can see for yourself if it's the right car seat for your needs and budget.

• VIEW NOW | JOHN LEWIS - £230

This is a worthy contender if you're looking for a super comfortable car seat that you can use from birth until your child is four years old, and which prioritises the safety of your baby, along with their comfort.

Grace mentioned that her daughter hated being in a car seat prior to reviewing this one. "For a little while we thought the crying was because she was a newborn, and that's what newborns do," she explained. "But after some time we realised it was because she was uncomfortable in the position the seat forced her into. She was desperate to lean or sit forward, but unable to do so, she would get cranky and frustrated quickly.

"Unpacking the Joie i-Spin 360, in our living room, we could see immediately that it was going to suit her demands better. It has padding and cushioning in every nook and cranny, including a memory foam headrest, padded shoulder straps, and infant inserts that can be removed individually. The latter is a particularly clever offering, as you can adjust things little by little, as opposed to removing the baby insert all in one."

To put this seat to the test, Grace used it for a six-hour trip from Yorkshire to Devon with her daughter — and the outcome?

"She even fell asleep at one point on the way there, and for a couple of hours (with a stop off) on the way back. There was no squirming or straining."

Price and availability

At £230, this car seat sits in the middle of the pricing spectrum, but considering its brilliant safety features, rotating function, numerous recline functions, high-quality materials, and ease of use, it represents fair value for money.

Grace also believes this ticks all the boxes you would expect a premium car seat to have, just minus the price.

"Despite its cost, it's worth the investment when you factor in that it can be used for several years, has a generously sized seat, is comfortable, and has reliable safety features," Grace told us. "Plus it's ISOFIX compatible. It has everything I would expect for the price and a little more, like being able to tilt the car seat from the back seat while in motion, which I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to do."

Design and features

Weighs: 13.9 | Age: Birth to 4 years old

Along with the 360° rotating seat, which makes offloading and unloading your little traveller easier, it also has Guard Surround Safety panels that automatically extend when your baby is placed into the seat to provide all the cushioning and security they need.

Couple this with the clever memory foam Tri-Protect headrest and six recline positions and you can rest assured your precious cargo will travel safely and comfortably.  

It's important to note that not all car seats rotate for easy access and it's not essential for them to do so. But for Grace, having a 360° spin function was crucial and for good reason.

"I have chronic back pain and scoliosis which have gotten worse since pregnancy, and I am still recovering from symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) brought on by the pregnancy (thanks for sitting on my ribs for three months, my darling!).

"Lifting our daughter both in and out of the seat caused pain, and the prospect of having to repeat the motion for years to come was unappealing, to say the least. That being said, my husband and mum, the latter of whom we gratefully welcome as a babysitter once a week, really appreciate the spin function too. I will say, however, that while you can spin it one-handed, it isn't quite as smooth or light as the adverts or demos make it look. This isn't much of an issue, as it's still possible to do easily, but it would be remiss not to mention that it does need a bit of a tug to rotate."

Another design feature Grace praised was the clever tilting function, which enables little travellers to nap comfortably on the go.

"Once on its base, and even when the car is in motion, the car seat can be tilted backwards and forwards, with a total of six different recline settings," Grace explained. "We strapped our daughter in and went out for a little test drive, with my husband driving and me in the back. With a bit of practise, I figured out how to lean over with my seatbelt still on and lay her backwards and forwards. The buttons are a little stiff, and the motion is pretty jolty, so a very light touch and careful movements would be needed to lay baby back once they had fallen asleep, so as not to disturb them."

"That being said, our daughter looks more comfortable and settled than she ever has in her previous seat. She is also higher up, so can gaze out of the window. When she turns her head and the strap pads brush against her face, we can see they are soft and do not bother her."

How we tested

To test out this car seat, Grace used it as her main means of transporting her daughter for several weeks, using it daily as follows:

• Transported a seven-month-old baby in a standard family car using this seat, installed via ISOFIX anchor points according to manufacturer's guidelines.
• Used the seat for a minimum of two weeks for everyday transportation, which included a six-hour drive to from Yorkshire to Devon.
• Tested the seat rotation functionality, in particular, to see how easy it is to place the baby in and out of the car compared to a fixed seat.

Things you wouldn't find on the box

ISOFIX bases are often believed to be a bit of a faff to sort out. But Grace confirmed that the Joie i-Spin 360 is straightforward to set up and it took just ten minutes to do so. Despite the car seat looking huge in her living room when unboxing it and taking up a fair amount of space in the car, she said it's well worth the effort required.

"The Guard Surround Safety™ panels auto-engage when the harness is tightened," Grace told us. "All the padding, and the design of the seat, feel like she is truly cocooned, without being squashed or uncomfortable." But better yet? "It doesn't encroach into the middle seat or look like an eyesore. It looks great."

Grace did however find the straps a little tricky to loosen.

"It is simple to tighten them - just pull at the single strap at the bottom, centre edge," Grace said. "But initially we could not for the life of us figure out how to loosen them again."

With the manual in the house, the pair tugged away for five minutes, growing more and more frustrated. Eventually, Google helped to save the day.

"To loosen the straps, you must insert your fingers into the hole in the bottom centre of the car seat," Grace explained. "With your other hand, you must pull the straps, but importantly not by the padded section." This is where Grace was going wrong, as the seat pads don't move - only the actual straps underneath do. She added: "Once we figured this out, it is very easy to do, which is a relief."

Who's it best for?

Overall, this is for someone looking for comfort and safety for baby. But, as Grace tells us, it's also best for someone who's looking for back and arm care for themselves.

Grace adds: "Yes, I'd recommend this car seat to a friend, absolutely. It lasts for long enough to justify the cost, and you won't need to replace it at 12 months or four years, plus my daughter is far comfier and happier in it than she ever was in her old seat. I would buy this again, rather than looking for other options, if we got a second car, for example."

Need an alternative?

Luckily, there are loads of other 360° rotating seat options to choose from although the Joie i-Spin 360 is much more affordable than the Be Safe iZi Twist B-E iSize car seat, yet it doesn't feel like a budget buy. However for a more affordable car seat, check out the UPPAbaby Mesa i-Size Infant Car Seat which we also reviewed.

Looking for more options to help your precious cargo travel safely and securely? Discover the best convertible car seats for your baby, the best pram we've tried and tested this year or the best baby carrier to keep little ones close to you while on the go.

The Maxi Cosi Titan Pro i-Size featured in our guide to the best car seats based on our consumer tests - find out what our reviewer thought of it

• VIEW NOW | AMAZON - £269.99

From Side Impact Protection to its five-point safety harness with a magnetic buckle, the Maxi Cosi Titan Pro i-Size is a long-lasting car seat that's packed full of safety features.

Buy it if you want a convertible car seat you can use from toddlerhood to pre-teen that won't take up any more space than it needs to, thanks to its streamlined design.

The car seat offers clever safety features, longevity, and a smart look to boot. Lasting from 15 months to 12 years, the car seat offers G-CELL 2.0 Side Impact Protection to increase security in the event of a side impact, while breathable fabrics and additional ClimaFlow panels encourage airflow and circulation.

There are also AirProtect Safety Cushions on the headrest which not only bring additional comfort to your child but also reduce the risk of head injury by up to 20%. So it's fair to say that this seat is built with your child's safety in mind.

Price and availability

With a RRP of £269.99, this multi-stage car seat sits on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but considering its longevity, high-quality materials, ease of use and the fact that it meets the latest iSizei regulations, it represents fair value for money.

Our tester, Elisa, praised numerous aspects of the car seat, saying that although it’s a pricier option, it’s a “well-designed product” that “feels safe and sturdy and is easy to use”. 

“The seat is sturdy yet narrower than other seats that offer a similar level of protection for the same age group, and this means it fits more comfortably into smaller cars, or cars carrying multiple travellers,” she added.

“The materials are high quality and the seat is very well made - it is very sturdy. The seat is ergonomic and easy to use and children of all ages are comfortable. The recline feature provides further comfort for your child and aids in sleeping during travel. I also like the design: the seat looks very smart.”

Design and features

Weighs: 12.5 kg | Age: 15 months to 12 years

Available in grey or black, the Titan Pro i-Size has a simple, streamlined and sleek look. In addition to its ClimaFlow panels to encourage airflow and its comfy, headrest AirProtect Safety Cushions, the seat also offers four different recline positions for kids under four, plus an easy five-point safety harness with a magnetic buckle and Isofix installation for ease of use.

Elisa found the car seat easy to use and appreciated its additional safety features and high-quality materials.

“Subtle features like the smart design, the luxe feel of the fabric, and the sturdiness of the seat imply that it is built using premium materials and to an overall high standard,” she told us.

“The G-CELL 2.0 side impact protection, a safety feature using new technology, is the main draw for buying the Maxi-Cosi Titan Pro i-size," Elisa added. "The ease of use is another draw, especially when caring for small children. Isofix clips can sometimes be very fiddly and difficult to detach, but not with this car seat. The Isofix clips attach and detach easily; there is a particular method with the clips, but once you have that worked out it’s very easy to unclip them."

Another selling point for Elisa was how comfortable both of her children felt in the Maxi-Cosi Titan Pro i-Size. She also noted that the seat isn’t too bulky, making it suitable for families with smaller cars.

“The four recline positions are very slight, but when it's reclined fully the child is in an ideal and comfortable sleeping position for a short nap,” she explained.

“Our 15-month-old was very snug and secure, the shoulder pads were appropriately wide and the five-point harness waist belts fitted perfectly. Similarly, our seven-year-old daughter was very secure and comfortable in the seat. The headrest is designed in a way that holds a child’s head securely with a suitable degree of restraint in the centre."

How we tested

To put this car seat to the test, Elisa used it as her main means of transporting her two children for a minimum of three weeks, using it daily in her family vehicle for all the usual trips out of the house in the car.

Things you won't find on the box

As many parents will agree, safety will most likely be at the top of the list when it comes to deciding which car seat to choose. But it's one area the Maxi Cosi Titan Pro i-Size Car Seat certainly doesn't skimp on. Better yet, securing your little one into this seat - and making sure they stay there safely - is easy.

Elisa tells us: “The five-point harness is very easy to adjust and fasten, and is designed in a way that would make it very hard for younger children to slip their arms out of." While if you are changing the seat from toddler to child setup, Elisa said it was "very straightforward" and took "just a couple of minutes.”

Who's it best for?

Got a small car? Or if your vehicle always full? This could be the perfect car seat for you.

“Another plus is the narrower width of the seat," Elisa tells us. "Comparing it to other similar seats, it fits more comfortably into smaller cars, or in cars carrying multiple travellers. At its widest point of 47cm, it's several centimetres narrower than other brands.”

Need an alternative?

In our guide to the best convertible car seats, we reviewed options that are priced at just under £150 to around £500. So, standing at just under £300, this puts the Maxi Cosi Titan on the more expensive side of car seats. However when compared to the Silver Cross Rise by Tinie Motion All Size Car Seat, it's much more affordable — but it certainly doesn't feel like a cheap option.

If you'd like to spend a little less, the Ickle Bubba Radial Group 0+/1/2 360 Spin Isofix Car Seat, which came top in our guide, is worth considering.

Looking for more options to help your precious cargo travel safely and securely? Discover the best car seats for your baby, the best pram we've tried and tested this year or the best baby carrier to keep little ones close to you while on the go.

We tested the newest model of the Snuzpod4 bedside crib to see how it compares to its predecessors and other competitors in the cotbed market. 

The SnuzPod4 is a 3-in-1 sleep station and can be used as a bedside crib, a standalone cot or a bassinet that can easily be lifted off the base and used around the house, like a Moses basket. It's suitable from birth and comes with a 'reflux leg', which helps suffering newborns lie inclined for short periods. This model differs from previous SnuzPods, as it features a new ComfortAir system.

It's a great option for parents who expect a lot from their cot as it can work in several ways. It's also handy if you've a baby suffering from reflux or one that likes to be rocked. 

If you're looking for the best cotbed for your baby or toddler, the Snuzpod4 is a worthy contender.

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The latest version of the SnuzPod4 features a new ComfortAir system. This is a combination of new air-flow vents, an air-permeable mesh liner, and better ventilation underneath the bassinet to allow more airflow around your baby. It also includes a breathable mattress. The result is a breathable and super-soft sleeping space that you can be confident meets new bedside crib safety standards.

The latest model has also been upgraded so that it fits to more beds than any other bedside crib. "I had Freddie beside me in the SnuzPod until she was around three months old, but then I decided to reposition it further away from the bed as a standalone crib," said Anna. "It’s super-easy to convert."

"I love that you can rock the SnuzPod4. We’ve done this a few times, and it’s had the desired effect by helping Freddie nod off when she was on the very edge of falling asleep. We’ve also used it when she looked like she was starting to stir, and it gave us just a few more minutes of peace."  

Price and availability

The SnuzPod4 retails at £199 on the likes of Amazon. As it's the latest model, you'll find it difficult to find it on offer anywhere. 

While it's not cheap, it can be used in three different configurations, meaning you will make good use out of it. "It's a big initial outlay but it's been designed so that you can use it all around the house," said Anna. "I think the rocking motion and new innovations that they've added make it worth the price tag."

Design and features

Weighs: 11.5kg | Age: Birth - six months

The SnuzPod4 cuts an impressive figure when it comes to design. "The SnuzPod4 frame feels very solid and secure, and it’s reassuring to know the bassinet has great airflow, with a breathable liner, mesh sides, and mattress," said Anna.  

"To meet new safety standards, the zip-down mesh on the side of the crib no longer comes all the way down (as it does with the SnuzPod3) - it stops halfway. But, as the top of the zip should be level with the mattress it doesn’t make much difference - I could still see and reach out to my baby, she's just a bit lower."

While the safety advice states the zip-up should be closed when your baby is asleep or unsupervised, Anna found she kept it up most of the time, "as I was worried my dog might try and get in (turned out he wasn’t that interested). But even closed, I could still see my baby through the mesh".

The SnuzPod4 comes in various different colours, including natural wood, white, black and navy blue. Anna tested out the light grey option (or ‘Dove’ as it’s properly named). 

"I love the modern and sleek look of the crib. Although solid, the frame doesn’t feel too bulky - and, overall it feels compact but spacious enough for my daughter." 

The SnuzPod4 comes with four straps, but you don’t need them all. The two longer ones are for attaching to a divan bed, and the other two shorter ones are for securing to a bed frame. 

"We have the latter. We positioned a strap in each corner of the side facing the bed, and simply looped around the bed frame and clipped," said Anna. "Be careful not to pull it too tight, as you don’t want it to tilt towards the bed. Note that when the SnuzPod4 is attached to your bed, you can’t rock it. But you can still remove the bassinet." 

How we tested

• Assembled it from scratch to see how easy it is to put together.
• Used the SnuzPod4 for three months, for both naps and night-time sleep.
• Tested out all the features inc. djusting the height and using the storage canopy.

Things you won't find on the box

Assembling the SnuzPod4 took Anna about an hour but it was just a case of following the instructions. 

"It comes with step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. It wasn’t difficult to assemble, but it did require concentration. There are around 30 pieces, and everything comes in one box. You don’t need any extra screws or even a screwdriver, as the bolts and an Allen key are included."

As her baby has got bigger, Anna has adapted how she uses the SnuzPod4. "Recently, we moved the SnuzPod4 away from the bed and now use it as a standalone crib. I loved having this option once she started needing fewer feeds in the nights - and we all began sleeping for longer stretches. Although it was great having her next to me to begin with, I’m now enjoying being able to get out of bed more easily." 

In terms of negatives, Anna found it difficult to think of anything. "The only thing I’d improve would be the bottom storage canopy, which is very flimsy. If you put anything heavier on it than a few blankets, it dips down to the floor."

Who's it best for

Anna thought that the SnuzPod4 would suit tired parents who were anxious to keep their babies safe and close by at night. 

"The new advances with this latest model are really impressive, and make me feel like Snuz are always trying to improve and offer babies (and parents) the best-quality," she said. 

The SnuzPod4's stylish aesthetics also make it a hit for those who want a bedside crib that isn't going to detract from the rest of their decor. Its high price point means it's not really a budget buy. 

Need an alternative?

If you're after a more contemporary style of cot bed, you might find our review of La Redoute's Willox Cotbed useful.

Shopping for more baby equipment? Take a look at our guide to choosing the best cot mattress or have a look at our roundups of the best travel cots and Moses baskets.

We tested out the Stokke Tripp Trapp newborn set to see what it offered that was different to similar highchair designs on the market. 

The big selling point of this newborn set is that it's been designed so that newborns can sit up at the table with their parents and other siblings. It has a supportive design and five-point harness to ensure that they are safe at all times. Like all Tripp Trapp designs, it also grows with your baby, so you'll get plenty of use out of it. 

If you're looking for the best highchair for your baby, this product is a worthy contender. But if you're really after something a little cheaper, you may prefer the Mamas & Papas Juice highchair.

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The Tripp Trapp newborn set is a new version of Stokke's famous highchair. 

"I’ve always loved the Tripp Trapp - it’s such a classic and iconic design. I love how it grows with your child and can be used literally from birth to adulthood. It's been so ahead of the times for sustainability," said Anna. 

The newborn Tripp Trapp allows you to sit your baby up at the table, via a clever five-point harness. 

"The seat needs to be completely flat for babies aged 0 months - but can easily be inclined when they reach two months. You just squeeze the lever, which is positioned behind the foot-rest," added Anna.  

"Freddie is our only child, but I can imagine this would be even more useful if you had other children and wanted to keep up any routine you might have with sitting around the table," added Anna.  

Price and availability

Stokke's Tripp Trapp newborn set is currently selling on Amazon for its RRP of £348. This is a premium product and it doesn't come cheap but is it worth the investment? Anna thought so. 

"You're paying for years of use," she said. "Stokke has designed this highchair so it can be used from birth through toddlerhood and even into adulthood. It's a steep initial layout but then you'll never have to buy another chair ever again."

It's also a stylish, well-made piece of wooden furniture that complements most decors and colour palettes. "This is a beautifully crafted piece of baby kit," added Anna.

Design and features

Weighs: 6.47kg | Age: Birth - adulthood

The Tripp Trapp newborn set consists of the classic Tripp Trapp chair with a newborn insert seat. "I was a bit nervous about using this when Freddie was very tiny and worried about fitting it safely - but it couldn’t be easier. It just slots on the back of the chair and handy colour indicators on both sides let you know if it's positioned correctly (green) or not (red)," said Anna. 

"The five-way harness (with two adjustable shoulder straps, two around the hips and one between the legs) makes her feel very safe and secure."

Once she'd got over her initial reservations, Anna found she even missed the chair when she didn't have it. "When we visited people and we didn’t have this with us, Freddie sat on my lap - which is fine, but not ideal, or, on the floor in her car seat - so she felt really excluded and I didn’t want to leave her there for too long, especially if she dozed off," said Anna. "But she’s very happy and safe sitting and sleeping in the newborn set (especially as it reclines for naps)." 

How we tested

• Tested the Tripp Trapp and newborn set for several weeks with a newborn.
• Tried out all the features to see what set this product apart from others.
• Noted how easy it was to assemble, clean and move.

Things you won't find on the box

Anna found that Stokke has added some nice little additions to the Tripp Trapp newborn set.  "The attachment for toys has also been really useful, and has helped keep Freddie entertained while we’ve been busy eating (and chatting). Having the mobile above her is genius, as any other toys we’ve given her have ended up on the floor in seconds - so this ensured she’s always got something to play with right in front of her," said Anna. 

As newborns aren't the neatest of creatures, Anna also found the fact that the newborn set is washable really useful. "It’s also so handy that the liner and the straps can all be removed and washed at 40 C."

In terms of negatives, Anna could only think of one (minor) thing: "I struggled to think of a downside," she said. "The only problem I could think of was storing it for another baby - as it’s a pretty awkward size and shape to box up. It would be great if it came with a storage bag and/or a carry bag in case you wanted to visit someone else with a Tripp Trapp."

Who's it best for

Anna thought that this newborn set would suit someone who wasn't on a budget and wanted "a chic design that would blend in with their adult furniture".

It is also a useful highchair if you have older children and want your newborn to be included at mealtimes. "As this high chair can be adapted as your baby grows, this chair would also suit someone looking for longevity from their highchair design."

Need an alternative?

The Stokke Tripp Trapp might get the thumbs up from our reviewer but it doesn't come cheap. For a more reasonably priced highchair, check out the Mamas & Papas' Juice. 

Looking for more baby equipment? Check out our buying guides for the best convertible car seats or the best Moses baskets.

We tested out the Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin to see how it compared to others available and to ascertain whether it was a genuinely useful piece of baby kit. 

The Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin promises to lock away nasty odours and germs using a clever twist and click lid mechanism. It's a popular nappy bin amongst new parents and especially suits those who live in flats and don't want to be taking nappies up and down stairs to dustbins - or those with pets who need nappies safely locked away.  

This nappy bin is certainly a newborn essential for many parents, but check out what else is on the list. 

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The Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin has been designed to help parents who don't want to be constantly running out to a dustbin to dispose of soiled nappies. 

It uses a clever twist-and-click system so that the nappies are twisted into a plastic lining and stored like sausages, locking the nappies and any smells away, underneath its lid. 

Once the nappy bin is full, the lining is ripped off and the used nappies can be disposed of in one go in a dustbin. The new plastic lining is then fed into the system and the bin is ready to be used again. 

Price and availability

The Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin is currently being sold as a starter set with six cassettes on Amazon for £28.66, a discount of 33% on its usual RRP of £42.99.

Anna had no qualms over the price. "It’s the must-have item of its kind and has a better design and price point than other competitor products," she said. 

As well as the initial outlay, it's important to remember that you will need to buy replacement cartridges which work out at about £15 for three. 

"It’s an added expense having to keep buying replacement cartridges," admitted Anna.

While she thought you could buy nappy bins that were cheaper, she thought that this Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin deserved our 'best buy' award for its design appeal and clever functionality.

Design and features

Weighs: 2.5kg | Age: Birth to 3 years (or when out of nappies)

The Tommee Tippee Nappy Bin has a sleek look and comes in both standard and extra-large sizes. 

"I like the modern, minimalist, and functional design," said Anna. "It's great if you want to avoid a cluttered look and it doesn’t look like your typical bathroom bin - so it wouldn’t look out of place in a nursery or bedroom. We had the white version, which suited our decor - but it comes in a range of colours." 

This is a manual bin that locks nappies away with a simple turn-and-click system. You just open the lid, pop the nappy inside the basket and turn the cartridge around (there’s a little handle), which twists the nappy bag to seal in germs and odours. 

"When you close the lid, the plunger pushes the nappy down and out of sight. When you empty it, you’ll find a row of nappies - a bit like a string of sausages - all attached but twisted up between," added Anna.

"When I heard it had cartridges, I thought it would have some kind of electrical element - but it doesn’t. No main power or batteries needed."

The nappy bin is a decent size so you don't have to be constantly emptying it - plus, as it locks away the smell, you can leave it for several days.

How we tested

• Tested out the nappy bin for several weeks of naily (and nightly) nappy changes
• Noted how easy it was to use and how often we needed to empty it
• Tested how easy the cartridges were to replace

Things you won't find on the box

Anna found the nappy bin "really easy to use" and said it easily lived up to its promise of locking up odours after nappy changes. 

"We have ours upstairs, and only use it a couple of times at night as we mostly change Freddie downstairs during the day," she added.  

"Leaving nappies around (even for a few minutes) isn’t an option for us, as we have a very nosy dog who has free rein of the house 24/7 and is interested in everything. The nappy bin has saved so many trips downstairs in the night."

While Anna found a lot to recommend this bin, she did find the lid could be irritating. 

"The only inconvenience is the lid, which can be quite tricky to open - especially one-handed," she said. "In an ideal world, it would be great if you could somehow open it hands-free."

Who's it best for

Anna said she'd definitely recommend this nappy bin to friends for its stylish look and how effective it was at locking away odours. 

"This nappy bin is suitable for anyone who loves a clean and clutter-free home and is looking to make life easier with a baby," she added. "It’s especially useful if you live in a flat and not on the ground floor, or you often change your little one upstairs, as it saves endless trips outside to the dustbin after every single nappy change."

Need an alternative?

If you prefer a more environmentally friendly option than disposable nappies, check out our Reusable Nappies Buying Guide.

Shopping for more baby equipment? Take a look at our guide to choosing the best cot mattress or have a look at our roundups of the best travel cots and Moses baskets.

We tested the Joie Roomie Glide to see how it compared in terms of value, design and functionality with other bedside cribs. 

The Joie Roomie Glide next-to-me crib is a stylish and secure sleeping option for your baby. It's suitable from 0-6 months and is designed to facilitate beside-bed sleeping, so that your baby is within easy reach and yet has their own sleeping space. If you're looking for the best bedside crib for your baby, this product is a worthy contender.

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The core feature of the Joie Roomie Glide is its smooth, gliding motion that helps lull your baby back to sleep. 

"The gliding motion makes this a brilliant buy in my opinion," said Roanna. "It's also roomy and well built so you feel totally secure leaving your baby to sleep in it."

As it's designed to stand next to your bed, it also has useful features such as an adjustable height and a side that can easily be lowered in the middle of the night. This design does mean that, while brilliant for newborns, once your baby turns six months, you'll need to move them into a bigger cot. 

Price & availability

The Joie Roomie Glide is currently for sale at John Lewis for its RRP of £160, a good price for a cotbed with several innovative features. 

"[It's] definitely one of the more affordable options," says Roanna. "I think, for its quality and ease of use, it makes a brilliant budget buy."

Roanna also thought it was well priced for its stylish good looks and gliding features. 

One issue that's worth flagging is, while the Joie Roomie Glide is great for newborns, once a baby turns six months, usually around the time that they move into their own room, you'll need to invest in a second cotbed, making it not quite as good value as cotbeds that can be adapted to older babies and even toddlers. 

Design & features

Weighs: 8.6kg | Age: Birth - six months

The Joie Roomie Glide cotbed won Roanna over straight away with its good looks. 

"The cot's design is hugely appealing as its stylish, grey, minimalist look will suit most modern homes and won't look too garish in your bedroom," she said.

"The cot has two buttons which when pressed release the cot to glide safely from side to side. This smooth rocking motion is a brilliant aid in soothing your baby back to sleep."

Other innovations include its height adjustable legs that "suit the height of a wide range of beds" and "mean you can line up the cot's mattress with your own". 

The Joie Roomie Glide also has an easily collapsible side: "Simply press one button to slide down the cot side, making it very easy to pick up your baby in the night or soothe them by reaching in," said Roanna. 

How we tested

• Tested how easy the cotbed was to assemble.
• Used the cotbed for two weeks, for both naps and night-times.
• Tested out the different features to see which were genuinely useful and which were gimmicks. 

Things you won't find on the box

Roanna liked all the innovations that came with the Roomie Glide and found no problems assembling it and then making use of its many innovations.  

"Everything about the Joie cot was easy to figure out and simple to use," she said.  

"The intuitive design has clearly taken tired parents into account and everything from lowering the slide to gliding the cot is really easy."

The only issue she did have with this cotbed was with disassembling it and found it "tricky to take down". 

Who's it best for

Roanna thought that this cot was best suited to "a style-conscious parent, looking for a good, affordable buy."

As it's a next-to-me cotbed, it would also suit parents keen to have easy access to their little ones in the night. 

The Joie Roomie Glide has a limited lifespan of six months, so it would also be a good buy if you planned to invest in a second cot as your baby gets bigger.

Need an alternative?

If you're after a more traditional-style cotbed, read our review of La Redoute's Willox Cotbed.

Shopping for more baby equipment? Take a look at our guide to choosing the best cot mattress or have a look at our roundups of the best travel cots and Moses baskets.

We tested the BabyBjorn Harmony carrier to see how it compared with similar products on the market and whether it justified its £200-plus price tag. 

BabyBjorn is renowned for its carriers so when the brand launches a new model, parents sit up and take notice. The Harmony certainly doesn't disappoint. With a mesh lining to prevent overheating and numerous adjustable straps, giving parents the ability to carry newborns and toddlers, it certainly seems good on paper.  

If you're looking for the best baby carrier, then the Harmony is a serious option. Alternatively, you might prefer a less-bulky sling, in which case, read our review of the Dreamgenii Snuggleroo Baby Carrier.

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Newborns might be tiny at first but they grow exceptionally quickly and this is what the BabyBjorn Harmony Carrier has been designed for. It comes with multiple straps that can all be adjusted so, as your baby puts on weight, they remain comfortable and supported, as does your back. 

"It's a really comfortable design so you don't feel the full weight of your baby at all, so can carry them for long periods," said our tester Yvette. 

The carrier has been created to hold both tiny babies and larger toddlers - it's just a case of adjusting the straps in the right places, something that, admittedly, took Yvette some time to work out.

"The carrier is lightweight and, while an expensive model, I believe is really good value for money if using from newborn."

Price & availability

The BabyBjorn Harmony Carrier retails at just over £200 on Amazon, making it a pricey piece of kit. Yvette felt like this price tag was justified, however, because you can use it for several years as your baby grows.   

"If you want to take a baby out for walks without the pram then this is an excellent carrier," she said. "Also, you can use it from newborn to toddler, meaning you can really get good use out of it!"

"This is not a budget-buy product, it is a premium design, though you could get good wear out of it," she said. "It's probably one of the more expensive carriers out there but it could see you through a really long time with your baby/child with just a few simple adjustments."

Design & features

Weighs: 3.2 kg | Age: From birth to 15 kgs  

It's obvious from first inspection that the Baby Bjorn Harmony Carrier boasts a really good quality design. Yvette tested the navy colourway which she thought was "chic" but the carrier also comes in black or grey.

"The breathable mesh material means neither you or baby get overheated, which is ideal especially in the summer months," said Yvette.  

This mesh lining also means that the carrier is incredibly lightweight (in fact it weighs just over 3 kg) so, unless you're carrying a brand new baby, the majority of the weight comes from the child themselves. 

The standout design feature for Yvette were the clips that you use to position your baby before carrying them. You can carry them front or forward-facing, as well as on your back. 

"The secure clips are brilliant. There's not a risk of nipping any fingers, like traditional clips, and, while they feel secure, they can be easily hooked off which is particularly ideal for transferring a sleeping baby out!" 

That said, Yvette did find it all initially a bit confusing. "[It] has quite a few clips to secure baby in compared to other carriers so you need to understand how the carrier works before trying to put you baby in it."

How we tested

• Used the carrier for two weeks for sustained and shorter periods of time.
• Tested the carrier out on several people, so we could see how easy it was to adjust to different body shapes. 
• Noted down all the features and decided which were genuinely useful and which were gimmicks. 

Things you won't find on the box

So what was the BabyBjorn Harmony Carrier like to use in practice? 

"While the adjustments can be a bit confusing initially, once you've set up the carrier to fit to you and your baby it is really easy to use," said Yvette.

"There are so many different adjustments you can make, like the waist support, shoulder support, baby leg support, as well as being front facing, forward facing, or on the back. That means this carrier can be used from newborn up until toddler age, and you don't feel like it is a chore to carry your little one around, even for long periods of time."

When asked to think of a negative for the carrier, Yvette admitted it was "hard to think" of one.  

"It might feel bulky if you wanted to use it around the house. [I'd] opt for a simpler design or sling," she admitted. 

Who's it best for

Yvette thought that this baby carrier would suit "someone active, who is looking to invest in a functional carrier that will see them through their baby's first couple of years". 

She thought the design was better off for long, country walks than using around the house as it was a little on the bulky, padded side. For the latter, she thought a sling might work better.

The Harmony doesn't come cheap so if you're on a budget or don't plan to use it very often, you might be better suited to a different, less expensive model. 

Need an alternative?

If you're after a baby carrier that's a little less expensive, read our review of the Nuna Cudl, which we named our Best Buy in our Best Baby Carriers Buyers Guide. Alternatively, if you'd prefer a sling, take a look at the Dreamgenii Snuggleroo. 

Looking for more baby kit? Get expert advice and see real-life reviews of the best convertible car seats or the best cot beds.

Featuring award-winning designs that grow as your child does, plus customisable features and clever Isofix technology for easy installation, the Nuna AACE lx is one car seat parents need to have on their radar. It also features in our guide to the best convertible car seats based on feedback from our parent tester.

• VIEW AT JOHN LEWIS | £269.99

If your kids have passed the baby stage and you’re looking for a car seat to suit older children, step in the AACE lx from trusted baby brand Nuna. Designed to fit children between 100 and 150cm tall, the car seat offers plenty of adaptability and customisation to make life both easier for parents and more comfortable for children. 

The Nuna Aace lx is a versatile, sturdy, and stylish car seat suitable right up until they reach 12 years old. It's customisable and puts your little one's safety first thanks to the clever Isofix technology which tells you when the seat is properly secured.

This includes a custom recline adjustable to your child and vehicle seat, a one-hand, 17-position height adjustment headrest, and three depth settings to give growing legs plenty of support and space. There are lots of other aspects to like about it too, from its cosy natural cotton blend fabric to keep kids comfy, to its detachable side impact protection pod for extra safety. 

Price and availability

At £200, we agree with our tester that this car seat offers excellent value for money, especially considering how many more years she can expect to continue using it. "Based on the design, safety elements, and comfort for children, the £200 price point is very competitive and certainly great value," Helen told us.

"With child safety as a priority, this seat would appeal to every parent or carer," she adds. "The fact you can use the seat from pre-school to pre-teen makes the price point great value - and means you'll never have to shop for a car seat again."

"If aesthetics is of importance, the design of the Nuna Aace lx with its slimline look would be attractive. Both children loved the seat and it will be great to use it for each of them."

Helen adds: "The fact the Nuna Aace lx can be used from Isobel’s height now to when she is 12, means this is an excellent value seat."

Design and features

Weighs: 6.7 kg | Age: Four to 12 years old 

Available in four smart colourways (Ocean, Frost, Caviar and Coral), the Nuna Aace lx has a simple but sleek look. Helen was impressed not just by the attractive design of the seat, but by how easy it is to install too. 

"I really like the look of the Nuna Aace lx," Helen told us. "The brand uses a herringbone material on the side, giving the seat a premium appearance, and the slimline design ensures it doesn’t look too cumbersome in the car." In addition, Helen said it looked comfortable for the children to sit in, which, of course, is the priority.

She added: "The Nuna Aace lx uses Isofix technology which I definitely feel more comfortable with using than a seatbelt-secured car seat. The connector on the Isofix turns green to show it is properly secured. This puts my mind at rest that the seat is positioned safely."

Helen has a mid-size SUV and said the Nuna Aace lx easily fits into the car’s built-in ISOFIX connectors. "The seat didn’t require any assembly," she told us. "The Iso connector is already fixed to the seat and it took less than a minute to secure the seat in the car."

It is worth noting that you can still use the seat without Isofix, using the car seatbelt instead. Which, Helen said: "That's useful to know when traveling in a different vehicle, such as a rental car or with a grandparent or other carer."

With two children of different ages and sizes between the recommended 100cm and 150cm, Helen was curious to know if the seat would be easily adaptable for each of her kids’ needs and was pleased to find that it was simple to use, as well as comfortable for her little ones.

"The USP of this car seat is the award-winning 3D growth™ system technology,' she told us. 'It’s a simple, yet innovative design which we fully put to the test using both our children, aged two and five."

The seat adjusts as your child gets older and taller, with a height-adjustable headrest that can be set to 17 positions. The seat’s shoulder system is connected to the headrest and works simultaneously as you adjust the height to fit your child.

"I was impressed that there are three depths to the seat, providing plenty of support beneath the legs," Helen says. "Finn measures 127cm in height and he said it was very comfortable. The seat bed extends out to just behind his knees, which is ideal for good support."

How we tested

To put this car seat to the test, Helen used it as her main means of transporting her two children for at least two weeks, using it daily as follows:

• Separately transported a two-year-old and five-year-old in a standard SUV family car using this seat and used the ISOFIX anchor points according to manufacturer's guidelines.
• Used the seat for a minimum of two weeks for everyday transportation, which included driving everywhere from the school run to trips to see friends and family.
• Tested the seat's customisability, testing for how easy it is to adjust the product from one child's level of comfort to the other.

Things you wouldn't find on the box

Having used this car seat for two solid weeks on both her two-year-old daughter Isobel and five-year-old son, Finn, Helen found that this car seat excelled in many aspects.

For starters, its customisable design meant it could be adjusted for both her children. She also highly rated the safety.

"Because the seat itself is not overly chunky, this means there is still enough leg room for Finn to move and stretch his legs behind the passenger seat in front," Helen said. "The seat of the Nuna Aace lx sits flush with the car seat cushion, which also means it feels very secure once fixed in place."

Helen also liked the fact that the seat reclines, which gave Finn the option to nap on long car journeys. However, note that our tester used this in an SUV and said the car seat might be too clunky to recline in smaller cars.

"Something our previous car seat lacked was the ability to recline, but the Nuna Aace lx has a slight reclining function, which is a definite plus for long car journeys," she adds.

"The recline isn’t huge, but Finn has been able to sleep in the car. The ability to lean back, even a little bit, has made a big difference. The headrest is large enough to act as a pillow without being so big that Finn can’t easily look out of the window."

Who's it best for?

Suitable for children from the age of four to 12 years old, or taller children who are between 100cm to 150cm in length, our tester would happily buy this seat and recommends it to parents who are looking for a safe, sturdy and reliable convertible car seat for those who match the suitability criteria.

If we had to pin down some negatives, we'd say that this car seat can be tricky to fit using a seatbelt. So if your car hasn't got ISOFIX anchor points this might not be the best convertible car seat for you. Its recline is also not suitable for smaller cars.

Need an alternative?

In the world of convertible car seats, the Nuna Aace lx ranks as a mid-priced option. In our guide to the best convertible car seats, we reviewed options that are priced at just under £150 to almost £500.

So in the grand scheme of things, the Nuna Aace lx is cheap compared to the Silver Cross Motion All Size i-Size Car Seat but it certainly doesn't feel like a budget buy. If you're after a car seat that rotates, the Joie i-Spin XL car seat is a good option for you to consider. Along with spinning 360°, the car seat can be used from birth right up to the age of 12.

Looking for more options to help your precious cargo travel safely and securely? Discover the best car seats for your baby, the best pram we've tried and tested this year or the best baby carrier to keep little ones close to you while on the go.

We tested out the Haus Projekt Baby Walker to see how it starts babies walking and keeps them entertained. 

This attractive, pastel-hued toy will appeal to parents who prefer plastic-free alternatives that still engage. It's a great way of encouraging your child to stand up but it also offers a collection of toys for them to enjoy when they're not trying to walk. 

If you're looking for the Best Baby Walker out there, we think the Haus Projekt is a worthy contender. However, for more interactive features, you might prefer the Vtech First Steps Baby Walker, which we named our Best Buy.

The first thing you notice about the Haus Projekt Walker is how incredibly light and easy to push it is. It's been designed to encourage little ones into taking their first steps towards their first steps - and it really works. 

"Until we had this walker to review, Seb wasn't really showing any interest in pulling himself up, but within a couple of days, he realised that he could hold on to the top bar of the walker, and from that moment he was off," said Charlie. 

While its price tag isn't cheap, Charlie thought the Haus Projekt was a savvy purchase.

"With all the activities and the option of using it as a walker, this would suit a wide age range of babies so would be a good investment as they won't be bored of it after five minutes," she said. 

Price & availability

The RRP of the Haus Projekt Walker is £60 which is more than some other walkers on the market. The likes of Amazon and Kidly stock the walker but it's rarely on offer. 

Charlie thought it was worth its price tag. "I think the design and all the features it has make it well worth the money - it would be a lovely gift for someone too," she said. 

She thought that its range of toys and the fact it could be used with both younger babies and older toddlers added to its value. "It's quite pricey for a walker but it's made to a really high standard and would last a baby a long time, as there's so many different things to use and to play with, so I think it works out to be good value."

Design & features

Weighs: 2.98kg | Age: 1-3 years

The Haus Projekt Walker has been created in a typically stylish, Scandi design. 

"Aesthetically, it looks really lovely with pastel shades and natural wood," said Charlie. "So many baby toys are bright, plasticky and primary colours and, while I have a lot of these toys and have nothing against them, it was refreshing to have something that not only was really enjoyable for babies but I also enjoyed looking at!".

These good looks were backed up with functionality as there is a vast array of activities for little ones, including cogs, flaps, beads and musical instruments. 

"There's a little xylophone (although Seb mostly enjoys chewing on the stick to play it with), cogs to turn, a little door that opens and closes, a spinning bear/leaf, a small corrugated block, some abacus beads, a spinning mirror, three holes for shapes to go through, and a wooden hexagon that you can move along a 'track'," said Charlie. 

"They've all been designed to encourage babies' cognitive development, and it's great that you can leave your little one in front of it and they'll be captivated for ages - super handy if you want to have a sneaky coffee while they play!" 

Charlie has really noticed the effects of having the Haus Projekt around and credits it with helping Seb towards walking. 

"I love how much this walker has helped his development in such a short space of time, and it's great for pre-walkers who might just need a little bit of encouragement to understand that they can use their weight to pull themselves up." 

How we tested

• Tested out the product with a baby for two weeks.
• Assembled the product, noting how easy this was and how long it took.
• Made use of all the product's features and tested to see which were genuinely useful, and which were gimmicks.

Things you won't find on the box

When the Haus Projekt Walker arrived, Charlie had absolutely no problem in assembling it. 

"It was really easy to put together and comes equipped with a pretty good little screwdriver and Allen key, so I was able to assemble it all in about five minutes, and then we were ready to go!"

She found the walker light compared to others and, while this meant it was easier for Seb to push, it also meant that there was a chance that the baby could pull it over once they got bigger and stronger. 

"The walker is quite lightweight so it's easy for a baby to push along once they're standing with it. For us, we hold onto it so Seb can practise walking but we don't let go."

Who's it best for?

Charlie thought the Haus Projekt Walker would suit "someone who likes functionality but also appreciates stylish aesthetics and wants something a little bit different to the plastic walkers on the market".

And she's already recommended it to friends. "Seb learned to pull himself up using this walker, so for friends with babies of a similar age I've recommended it as a way to encourage their babies' development," she said. "It looks great, has lots to keep babies (and parents!) occupied and is suitable for pre-walkers and walkers alike, so it's a toy that'll last a long time."

This one is also great if you're not a fan of noisy toys - it has no musical features to annoy you and doesn't require batteries.

Need an alternative?

If you'd prefer a walker with lights and sound, read our review of the Babymoov 5-in1 Progressive Walker, or Vtech's First Steps Walker is a slightly cheaper option and was named the Best Buy in our Best Baby Walkers Buying Guide.

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