​In honour of World Fair Trade Day today, Saturday 13th May 2017, I had to write a blog piece about this subject which I have become very passionate about.
Many of you may not know a lot about fair trade. I didn't myself until I had my little girl, Layla, in 2015. Having Layla has really changed my way of thinking about the world, especially with regards to children. Setting up BabyChic has also made me more aware of the origins of what I buy, both for BabyChic & in my personal life.
 
Definition of Fair Trade:
'Trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers.'

So we took a trip, myself (Niamh here), my other half (Andy) our little guy Cillian (17 months) and last minute my niece Sadhbh (6) came along with us to Belfast for New Years Eve weekend. It had been on my wish list for some time now to go visit the Titanic Museum there. Although I was warned to plan the visit to Titanic accordingly during Cillian's nap time, as with a lot of historical museums, there is a lot of data and information to read along the way.  I had booked 2 nights in the Park Inn Radisson in Belfast, based on its proximity to the City Centre.

The journey took 1 hour 50 from out north Dublin home and I was glad that Sadhbh had come along to keep Cillian occupied by singing songs along the way. We checked into the hotel, having pre-booked a double room with a cot. To our delight there was no extras' to pay for Sadhbh. We went straight to restaurant 'rgb' in the hotel, as the pangs of hunger started to kick in. 

Our Favourite Ethical Toy Brands
 
Both Niamh & I are massive fans of ethical & fair-trade toys for Layla & Cillian.  The following are our favourite toy brands that manufacture beautiful wooden toys that allow children’s imaginations to reach their maximum potential.  Toys that are made using eco-friendly & sustainable materials by workers in excellent working conditions who are treated fairly.

Grimm’s Spiel und Holz Design
Top of the list has to be Grimm’s.  Made in Germany, Grimm’s wooden toys & waldorf style dolls are adored by adults & children alike.  The wood used in their toys is only sourced from sustainably managed forests in Europe. Vibrant, striking colours make these toys the most beautiful to look at, & inspire endless possibilities for open ended play.  Grimm’s toys do not come cheap, so be warned.  Once you buy one Grimm’s toy you will want them all.  Grimm’s 12 piece rainbow must be their most popular toy, & is difficult to get as it usually sells out quickly after retailers receive them back in stock.  Layla loves her Grimm’s toys, & a 12 piece rainbow is definitely on the wish list this year for her birthday.

​Click here to find your nearest stockist: https://www.grimms.eu/en/StoreLocator

​Plan Toys
Next on the list has to be Plan Toys.  Plan toys are beautifully made, are stunning to look at, encourage lots of imaginative play, & are very affordable.
For more than 30 years, Plan Toys has been consistently developing its products & activities with as strong a commitment that a company could ever make to contribute positively to the world.  Their emphasis is on organic and sustainable products that are free of chemicals.  

See why our customers rate us as excellent with 5 Star reviews! From our ever popular Funky Giraffe fleece back bandana dribble bibs to our quick 24 hour dispatch service and friendly and personal customer service. Check out our Facebook customer reviews.

Incase you hadn't already noticed, the BabyChic Christmas Sale is now on! The sale offers 30% off all items online at www.BabyChic.ie including all items in the sale section that are already reduced by 20%!

Funky Giraffe Scoods - Only €5.60 in our Sale
You can grab a bargain on our Funky Giraffe Scoods, in the sale they will cost you just €5.60 (normally €8.00).
I love these for my little boy Cillian (18 months). They keep his little neck warm and cosy and are easy to put on and take off! 

http://www.babipur.co.uk/ - Lovin their toy shop - take a look if Santa is not yet sorted!

https://yvolution.com - An Irish sucess story that sell cool ride ons, balance bikes and scooters. 

http://shinnersandthebrood.com/ Great blog from Sinead, a mammy friend of ours

http://www.toysandgames.ie - Another Irish company owned by a mom just like us!

http://www.petalinadolls.co.uk/ - We are just lovin these amazing dolls right now!