So what car is it? We test-drove the Renault Koleos 4 x4 Petrol CVT Dynamique. It’s a crossover 4WD which was awarded ‘Best 4WD Under $40,000′ by Drive last year, beating out the Nissan X-Trail, the Subaru Forester (my current car) and the VW Tiguan.

While the car has stylish French looks, sleeker than many of the boxy 4WDs out there, the car was engineered by Nissan and built in South Korea.

First impressions

Although I test drove the standard Dynamiqe model (the top-of-the-range Privilege features leather seats and a Bose sound system) it’s still an attractive, modern-looking vehicle, inside and out.

From the outside, it’s angular and approachable in size. Unlocking the car with the  fancy credit-card styled automatic key, you’ll find a roomy and sporty grey cabin with high-set seats offering good visibility of the road ahead. There are loads of cool little features, like a pop-down mirror to view the kids in the back, a chilled glovebox for snacks on the road and under-floor compartments to conceal valuables when the car is parked.

Perhaps the biggest hit for this fair-skinned family are the retractable sunshades fitted to both rear windows. There are aeroplane style tables on the seat backs to allow children to colour-in etc while travelling, however these are are fitted too low to use with an infant/toddler car seat.

Start ‘er up

Unlike any car I’ve driven before is the ignition, operated by the credit-card key inserted into a slot in the central console as well as a start/stop button. It’s very easy to use and certainly novel, although storage of the key is a bit tricky as you can’t throw it on to a regular key ring.

Although initially nervous to drive a car that felt larger than my current, compact SUV, handling was no problem in the tiny inner-city back streets near the Babble offices. The automatic parking brake made driving even easier.

Venturing further afield

Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to take the car off-road and test its 4WD capabilities, however I was able to pack the family in the car and head off for a suburban picnic.

Installing the child car seat to the boot tethers was extremely easy, and didn’t take up any boot space as can happen in sedans. There was plenty of room for a stroller, large nappy bag, picnic bag, two blankets and several bags of clothes to be dropped off at an opportunity shop en route.

My toddler enjoyed the extra visibility in his seat, higher than he usually experiences, although I did worry about rear visibility while at the picnic grounds — you probably couldn’t see a child younger than six walk behind the vehicle. (The Privilige model comes with front and rear parking sensors).

We all enjoyed the excellent stereo system with iPod jack, complimented by the very quiet engine. Suspension, however, was not so quiet and smooth and in my heavily pregnant state I did wince a few times when travelling over speed bumps.

Bottom line

The Koleos 4 x4 Petrol CVT Dynamique retails for $AU36,990. It’s available in nine different colours and with optional extras like a tent.

While it wasn’t the smoothest drive ever, the high safety rating, classy looks and multitude of convenient features make it a crossover worth considering.

I’d resisted the hype until now, but with the launch of the new-generation 3GS, it was time to finally give the iPhone a try.

Our brother site Gizmodo can give you the full rundown on the technical specs and performance of the device. Bottom line? It’s fast. That ‘S’ stands for speed. Other improvements have been made to battery life, camera resolution and the addition of voice-controlled dialling and video recording.

But what people really like about the iPhone – and this is only enhanced on the new version – is that it is fun. More on applications later.

In typical Apple style, the iPhone 3GS comes beautifully packaged. Vodafone have loaned me one with a Vodafone SIM for internet browsing, calls and text (sometimes I forget that it is primarily a phone.)
The device is shiny, slim and relatively light-weight, I can picture the thing sliding out of my hand when balancing a load of groceries and a baby, so a shatterproof case is probably a good optional accessory.

Usability wise, the touch screen is a whole world away from the standard Nokia I’m used to. It’s all about touching, tapping and sliding, but it’s intuitive – my two year old knew what to do instinctively. You’d think all that handling would leave a messy screen but, jam-covered little hands aside, the new fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating is a success.

Typing, however, is still proving difficult after a week’s practice. Typing with two thumbs is fast, but terribly inaccurate. Better results are achieved with one finger-tip, but it’s a slow process. Without the tactility of actual buttons it can be hard to hit the right letter. Turning the screen to horizontal mode seems to help, although I still find it hard to believe you could blog on the thing.

Now back to the fun stuff. Along with the groovy pre-installed applications like YouTube, Weather, Maps + Compass and iPod +ITunes, you can customise the phone infinitely to your family’s needs with free and paid apps from the iTunes App. Store.

For my own enjoyment, I’ve had fun with Sudoku, Air Hockey, Wordfu (a Boggle-like game) and Shazam (which identifies songs playing on the radio or over a speaker system).

For social networking and working, email, Facebook and Twitter have all been easy to install and trouble free, while the Dictionary.com and Note applications have come in handy. Although the voice recording application seems to record in high-quality, it does not record phone conversations, which would be most useful for journalists and, err, professional blackmailers.

As for keeping the toddler amused, I found a wealth of fantastic applications for kids. Wheels on the Bus ($AU1.19) has received rave reviews from around the world for its interactive educational features. Cooking Mama Lite (free) is a whole lot of fun to play together and uses a lot of movement – shaking the phone to ’stirfry’ a dish etc to provide a fun and surprisingly enthralling game.

Scribble Lite, Bubble Wrap, and Chase the Dot (all free) are basic and brief diversions while much musical fun can be had with Shaker and Mini Piano (also free).

The favourite here though has been SmackTalk ($AU1.19), a ridiculous application which records your voice then has an animated guinea pig, kitten, puppy and chihuahua ’speak’ back to you in a high-pitched squeal. It is beyond amusing to watch a two-year-old argue with an animated chihuahua about going to bed.

Of course, there are way too many applications to review here. There’s quite a few for household budgeting for example, and for travel organisation and planning and even a few for breastfeeding and timing labour contractions!

The standard phone features – address book, SMS, calendar, calculator, camera etc are all slickly delivered. Internet browsing is a breeze and cleverly switches to wifi where available, sparing your mobile data allowance. Vodafone network coverage has been decent, only dropping out through tunnels and occasionally in lifts. Browsing speed over mobile internet is reasonable, but much faster when connected to wifi.

I am told you can set parental controls on each application or install another, family-friendly browser to use instead of Safari.

All in all, the iPhone 3GS, when combined with the seemingly infinite variety of apps available, is a remarkable family communication and entertainment device. The only problem being that you may not want to share it!

The iPhone 3G S 16GB is available free on Vodafone’s $69 iPhone Cap (24 months), which includes $400 value, unlimited free Vodafone-to-Vodafone calls during the evening and on weekends and 1GB of included data downloads. The iPhone 3G S 32GB is free on Vodafone’s $114 Cap (24 months), which includes unlimited calls and a massive 2GB data.

For the first time, Vodafone now also offers the iPhone to prepaid customers. The 8GB iPhone 3G is available for $759 up front, the 16GB iPhone 3G S for $929 up front and then 32GB iPhone 3G S for $1129 up front. Customers who purchase and register their Vodafone Prepaid iPhone and mobile number before 31 August, 2009 will receive a bonus $500 Flexible Credit ($100 bonus Flexible Credit on each of their next 5 Prepaid Recharges on $49, $79 or $149 Flexi-caps).

For pricing plans from other carriers, as well as more news and information about the iPhone, check out Gizmodo AU.

But while their diva daughters are dressed to the nines, the mums of these girls are downright dowdy. Yoga pants. Ragged pony tails. Hoodies as far as the eye can see. And it begs the question: why are we dressing our girls — who will spend the day running and jumping and splashing through puddles — for a night on the town, and ourselves for, well, a day at the playground?

For starters, it seems we’ve come a long way since Osh Kosh. The children’s apparel industry has exploded in the last twenty years, offering more choices and styles than ever before. But more significantly, it has matured — at least when it comes to girl clothes. Dressing like mummy used to require either a Little House on the Prairie aesthetic (Laura Ashley), or a country club membership (Polo Ralph Lauren). But these days, you can find True Religion jeans, Marc Jacobs dresses and Uggs in itty-bitty toddler sizes, to say nothing of seventies rock band-themed T-shirts, matchstick cords or string bikinis. So dressing like mum has never been more possible. Or rather, like mum would dress — if she wasn’t wearing tracksuit pants.

Speaking of tracksuit pants: while kids’ fashion has matured, adult styles have regressed, as schlubby adult clothing has moved out of our closets and into the realm of socially acceptable streetwear. Blue jeans and T-shirts have become allowable in all but the most conservative of workplaces. Thongs and sneakers have migrated over from functional accessories to fashionable ones. And when was the last time you (or anyone you know) wore a pair of pantyhose?

As the mother of a son, I used to notice the frumpy mum/diva daughter display from the bemused vantage point of an outsider. After all, I had a boy. Dressing him was utterly meaningless. Everything he owned was a primary color, and featured a dog, a soccer ball or a dinosaur. There was no fashion divide between us. Side-by-side, in our sensible knits, we matched.

But when my daughter was born last winter, I was flummoxed. What would she wear? I’m not the girliest-girl on the block; I don’t like pink, I didn’t play with dolls as a kid and I’ve never even read Little Women. The simplest task of parenting — putting her in clothing — was somehow complicated. If I dressed her like a diva, I was undoubtedly giving in to someone else’s idea of girlness. But if I swore off pink, and simply recycled all of her brother’s baby clothes, wasn’t I pushing her into mine?

Most women opt for pink — and how. Hot pink bundler, pale pink blanket, pink and brown nappy bag, all surrounding the tiny pink face in the stroller. But as I began to realise as I searched for clothing for my daughter, the alternatives are just as narrow. Rocker denim, smart-mouthed t-shirts and black leggings seem to exist primarily to ward off the siren-like seductions of the Disney Princesses. But pink or punk, the message is the same: I am dressing you like the girl I want you to be.

Or maybe, like the girl I still want to be, but have given up on. Perhaps that is why so many of us are so dowdy; we’ve given our daughters the hard work of becoming the girls we still wish we could be. We dress them like dolls, laugh when they learn how to pronounce Chanel, post videos of them rocking out to Patti Smith on our Facebook profile. They become our tiny billboards, plastered with our projections of beauty or coolness or disaffection. Meanwhile, we knock around town in our pajamas. It’s the ultimate opt-out.

And clearly, it isn’t a function of time. Fashion, even on a miniature-scale, takes a few minutes. Choices have to be made. An outfit has to be assembled. But putting tights on your toddler and barrettes in her hair and matching those accessories to her skirt and sweater can’t possibly be less time consuming than applying a little powder to your face and tucking in your shirt. But given the choice, many women seem to spend their mornings styling their daughters — and then cramming their entire beauty regimen into the five minutes they have before their kid gets bored watching Dora.

I wonder if we don’t feel a tiny bit of freedom when we dress our girls. After all, their bodies are unfettered by curves, unblemished by stretch marks. And if you think your daughter looks better in clothing than you do, then perhaps dressing her is a more gratifying exercise than dressing yourself. Many of us are still middling in what we refer to as our transitional jeans, not quite the size or shape we used to be before we had kids. Maybe frumpy chic is a temporary wardrobe diversion until the day comes when we are able to morph back into our earlier, more fashion-forward selves.

To be sure, there are the practicalities involved in dressing up for a day of hanging out with your kids. I spend most of my day sitting on the floor, stomping through a sandpit or pushing a double stroller through a city of narrow spaces. So heels are out. So are low-rise jeans. And forget about wearing anything that isn’t machine-washable.

But there is danger in all this transference; by dressing them, and not ourselves, we are pushing onto them the burden of living up to someone else’s standard of acceptable appearances. No one says a word when a mum is dressed in an outfit hastily assembled from the laundry basket when we’re all dressed the same way. But we see a kid who was dressed without any clear intention — a little girl wearing mismatched yellow socks and purple sweatpants and a green hoodie — and snicker, “Did they dress that kid in the dark?” As our toddlers grow into little girls and then later, into young women, the disapproval that flashes across our faces and escapes under our breath will lodge in their minds. If were lucky, they will rebel against us. But if we are not, we may be raising a whole new generation of women who feel insecure about their bodies, hiding in plain sight in their own uniform of fleece and spandex.

I shudder at the thought of giving up my beat-up running sneakers and track pants. But perhaps a swipe of the mascara brush and a pair of dress flats might not be the worst thing in the world. Because if we continue to abdicate the part of ourselves that we lose in parenting — the free time to groom ourselves, to dress ourselves, to care as much about our own appearance as we do about that of our children — will we be able to get it back? Is there any guarantee, when our kids are older and dressing themselves, that we will return to the women we used to be?

While the internet has been a boon for small manufacturers, there is another trend appearing – the old-fashioned market stall, where customers can experience a designer’s product up close.

We have featured two such markets – Mathilda’s Market and Magnolia Square in Droolicious over the last few weeks, and last Friday I managed to head down to Magnolia Square to meet some exhibitors and see what it’s all about.

Here are a few of my discoveries.

Kindergallery

Looking for unique art for kid’s rooms? The Kindergallery collection offers original paintings, limited edition works, prints, stretched canvases, box art and wall decals. Based in Sydney and with a second home in Berlin, Kindergallery source artwork from around the world. Prints start at about $AU65.

Maiike is a range of adorable soft toys, cushions, quilts and scarves hand made by Aly Peel. All Soft Things are made from 100% wool jumpers gleaned from second hand and vintage stores. The jumpers are felted and then cut into patterns for toys, squares for cushions, scarves, quilts, and buttons are used for the toys’ eyes and noses. Items are made to order, so contact Ally via her blog for more details.

Little nest

We’ve long been fans of Little Nest’s pint-sized versions of iconic furniture pieces, so it was very exciting to see them up close and give them a toddler test drive. The mini-e Eames lounger and the Giddy Up mini Pony chair were huge hits! Little Nest founder Samantha Firestone gave us the heads up on some community programs the company hopes to develop in the near future. Watch this space.

Cloth poppy

Leesa from Cloth Poppy scours second hand shops in country Victoria for bed linen and table cloths for her line of girlswear for ages 2-6. The collection features dresses and skirts made from recycled vintage and new fabrics, as well as adorable t-shirts (see “Love” above) and necklaces made of beads and felt.

Motley Monkeys
Kylie Jewell was having trouble finding classic, hard-wearing and sophisticated clothing for her boys – so she created her own! Motley Monkeys is an Australian boyswear clothing company which produces cotton-knit jumpers and other items for kids aged 2-8. View the collection at motleymonkeys.com.au.

Little Bubble and Tree

Little bubble and tree are a Victorian label specialising in fresh, bright and sun-smart clothes and accessories. Their signature embrioidered cotton kaftans are handmade by fair trade artisans and come in a range of beautiful designs, perfect for the summer months. Find out more at littlebubbleandtree.com.au.

We Heart Books

Katie and Lou, the Melbourne mums behind We Heart Books had a fantastic stall displaying, quite simply, just the most awesome kid’s books around! Think Albert Lamorisse’s The Red Balloon and Japanese artists Yoshimoto Nara’s first picture book, The Lonesome Puppy. Visit weheartbooks.com for more unique books, puzzles, games and gifts.

Magnolia Square will be at Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, 6 — 8 August, 2009

Spaceship Hoodie by Tommy Rocket

This vintage-inspired green cotton hoodie by Tommy Rocket features a cool spaceship print. It’s available in sizes 0-2 for $AU59.95 from Dragonfly Store.

Applique Peacock Hoodie by Two Belles

Australian company Two Belles design wonderfully different clothes for little girls, and this pink velour peacock hoodie is no exception. It features a pretty paisley print lining to the hood and girly puffed sleeves. Printed on the back are two colourful majestic peacocks with beautiful beading and sequin detailing – click through to Where Did You Get That? for more pictures. It’s $AU64.95 and comes in sizes from 0-6.

Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Enfant Hoodie

Featuring Eeni Meeni Miini Moh’s signature naïve figurative drawings and styling, this long sleeve jumper has an attached hood with little twists for ‘ears’. Made from single jersey knit (95% cotton, 5% elastane), it’s designed to stretch to fit. Availabe in sizes 000-0 for $AU64.95 from Buckets and Spades.

Space Surfing Hoodie by Fred Bare

Space ships seem to be a common theme for boy’s clothing this year. Perennial favourite Fred Bare has launched this rocket-emblazoned number, with surfie styling, in black cotton. It comes in sizes 1-10 for $AU71.50 to $AU79.20, from Buckets and Spades.

Reversible Birdy Zip-Up Hoodie by Seafolly

Let her express herself with this cute reversible jacket by swimwear brand Seafolly. That’s double the wearability! Available in sizes 2-7 for $Au59.95 from Baby’s Got Style.

Grey Marle Cable Knit Hoodie by Oobi

We love Oobi for sweet, age-appropriate baby and kid’s wear. This richly knitted and hand-finished 100% cotton cable-knit cardigan has wooden toggle buttons and, for added adorableness, a hoodie with ears. It’s available in sizes 0-5 for $AU64.95 from Urban Child.

Owl Hoodie by Minti

Quirky New Zealand brand Minti is behind this street-smart chocolate-brown owl hoodie. Minti is coming into it’s 10th season this Winter and the team continue to stay true to their ethos – “would I wear that if I was small”. It’s $AU69.95 at Kido Store.

Purple Monkey ears hoodie by Paul Frank

She’ll look adorable in this this funky little jumper with kangaroo-style front pocket, featuring Paul Frank’s signature monkey Julius. And yes, I believe it even has ears. Available in sizes 2-4, for $AU59.95 at Kid’s Got Style.

Paint Fight Hoodie by Munster

We love the edgy styling of Australian kid’s brand Munster. This paint-splattered grey marle jumper is almost too cool for school – contact Munster for size, price and stockist details.

Punk Tartan Devilish Hoodie by Rock Your Baby

Is your child wild at heart? Express his inner demon with this punk-tastic jacket with devil horns. It’s available in sizes 00-4, for the bargain price of $AU44 from Rock Your Baby.

The origins of the modern mother’s day lie not with Hallmark but with one woman’s wish to honour her own mother who had recently passed away. American woman Anna Jarvis made it he mission to crate a day of national celebration in honour of mothers back in 1907. One hundred years later, mother’s day is celebrated internationally at various times of the year.

Whether you’re shopping for your mother, your partner or dropping hints for yourself, here are eight gift ideas to cherish and inspire.

‘Mia’ pendant necklace

The MIA pendant is a stunning circular silver pendant by Koolaman Designs which can be stamped with names of your choice to make a unique and personalised gift.

The pendant measures 3.9cm and up to 35 characters including spaces can be stamped around the pendant. It comes complete with 40 or 45cm large ball, twist or fine ball necklace. Hand stamping of characters is included.

Buy it for $AU140 at Koolaman.

Isoki Reversible Saddle Tote – Urban Print

This gorgeous canvas ‘mummy bag’ by Isoki is well camoflaged for use beyond the baby years. The set includes the following a reversible baby bag with coordinating inner components, a double sided storage satchel (removable), an insulated cooler bag (removable) and large padded change mat for your baby’s comfort (also removable).

It’s $AU199.95 at Queen Bee.

One hour massage

Being a mother can be literally back-breaking work. This one hour massage voucher is for an in-home relaxation or remedial massage. The masseuse will being all equipment so mum can just relax and enjoy. Bliss!

Pick one up at redballoondays for $AU99.95

Wishbone bangle set

Dinosaur Designs are famous for their quirky, handmade resin jewellery pieces. This three-bangle set comes in four colours to suit any age or taste. They’ll even gift wrap them for free.

Buy the set at Dinosaur Designs for $AU165

Mumm champagne treasure box

What woman doesn’t love French champagne? This bottle of non-vintage cordon rouge brut by G.H Mumm comes packaged in a gorgeous and authentic insulated aluminum treasure case.

Pick it up for $AU89.00 at the Champagne Gallery

Memory book:Mum

Cult Swedish stationary chain Kikki.K have created a beautiful cloth-bound ‘memory book’ for this mother’s day. Fill it out on your own, or with siblings and other family members to create a unique keepsake for Mum as you relive the past and record it for the future.

Purchase for $AU24.95 at Kikki.K.

Chantelle Tie Front Dress

This sexy, versatile dress by Maternal America features a V neckline, and soft draping fabric with a unique wrap feature in front to ensure a flattering fit throughout pregnancy and beyond. The raspberry sorbet colour will look wonderful paired with winter coats and boots.

It’s $AU219.95 at Queen Bee.

Personalised silhouette print

This print is a special keepsake for any mum or grandma and will add a fun splash of colour a child’s bedroom or playroom. Sarah & Abraham will personalise the 8″ x 10″ print (printed on 8.5″ x 11″ paper, ready for framing). Simply choose the silhouettes and names of your choice.

Order one on etsy for $US20.

Not only are these pieces stylish, they’re all under $900 and available in Australia.

An obviously essential item for any nursery is a cot. The Ikea Hermelin has two height settings and can also convert to a toddler bed by removing one of the sides. What really makes this cot stand out from the oak-stained pack, however, is the stunning royal blue colour whihc co-ordinates with other items from the Ikea Children’s range. It’s $269 online an in-store at Ikea.

Brighten up a boy’s room with the latest trend in wall decor – removable stickers! These 8 planes by The Wall Sticker Company are simply gorgeous whether flying across the room or in formation. Each plane is 40cm in width and you can choose the colours of the planes. Even better, they are proudly made in Australia by Australian and imported components, using renewable electricity and offsetting the remainder of the carbon emissions in the full product lifecycle.

You can pick them up for $74.95 from bebe.

If your infant has morphed in to a rambunctious toddler, you can keep them safe and save space by transitioning from a cot to a toddler bed. The Oeuf toddler in walnut combines practicality with sleek design. It’s equipped with safety rails that don’t hinder a child’s ability to get in and out, ensuring your child’s new found independence is met with security and confidence. It’s available from Kido Store for $899.

Designed originally for children back in 1953 by legendary design team Charles and Ray Eames, the Eames Hang-it-all by Herman Miller took the everyday coat rack to a new place that was inventive and fun. Now firmly a modern classic, this coat rack is a cheerful addition to any home. You can pick it up for $259.95 from bebe.

We all want to give our babies the best start in life. The Seed Organic Cradle, distributed by baby baby, is a piece of furniture to treasure. From its elegant design, to the breathable organic cotton materials and natural latex breather hole mattress, it creates a wonderfully safe environment for your newborn. You can find it at eco child for $299.95.

A plain room can be completely transformed with an eye-catching rug. The Strib rug by Ikea is handwoven out of pure Woolmark wool to provide a soft, hardwearing cushion for busy infants and their many toys. The size (200cm x 140cm) will provide ample room coverage without the expense of wall-to-wall carpet. It’s available online and in-store at Ikea for $299.

Art meets function with the ingenious blackboard table and chairs by Universal Enterprises. This stylish kid sized table and stool set is just the place for budding young artists, featuring a blackboard top with a central cup for easy storage and access to chalk. It’s $139 from Urban Baby.

If you are seeking a real statement peace for your child’s bedroom or playroom, try this child-sized replica of the 1963 Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio. Play ball is a molded fiberglass shell with a fully cushioned interior, creating a private sanctuary for your little ones. This iconic chair is loved by everyone – big or small. You can pick it up for $699 from Little Nest – make sure to check out their full range of children’s contemporary furniture.

If you’re expecting a baby, or have outgrown your current pram, a new set of wheels is the obvious choice. We asked parenting product guru Mandi Gunsberger from Babyology to put together her top suggestions. — Babble Editors

Looking for a pram can be a hard slog when you have no idea what to look for. Those who think it’s a trivial choice have often learned the hard way just how important a pram is — after all, it’s the vehicle that allows new parents to take on a seemingly new world, either with confidence, or with a string of irritations like not being able to get through checkout aisles or walk over differing terrains. For me a fantastic walking pram meant I could exercise lightly whilst recovering from a c-section – vital for body and soul.

It’s partially true that there is no one perfect pram, and that most parents eventually find the need to have both a sturdy walking pram and a lightweight umbrella-style stroller for quick errands. There are prams that admirably do a little bit of everything, as long as you’re not expecting it to magically become a running pram if you embark on a fitness regime. The options for prams have changed radically in recent years, with offerings getting groovier and ticking more boxes in terms of functionality and choices. Many have add-on extras like carrycots, funseats and cocoons for newborns, and even the humble suncover has become high tech with zippered fronts and space-age materials.

We’ve rounded up the best prams of the moment at the $900 price mark so you can compare and contrast features with your own specific needs as a family. Consider the heights of the adults who will be pushing the pram – if Grandad is 6ft 4 and Mum is 5 ft 2, think about an adjustable handlebar so it suits everyone. Perhaps you want baby facing you for those precious first months – look for one with a reversible handle or consider a carrycot. If you exercise a lot then the option of locking the front wheel is a must, as are all-pneumatic tyres.

So here’s the cream of the crop, the very best in pramage for $900 or thereabouts.

First up is the esteemed Bugaboo Bee. With its perky looks, changeable hood covers in great colours, massive and easily accessible underbasket, and awesome add-ons such as the cocoon and footmuff, this is the top choice for those who like to shop. Weighing just 8kgs, I find myself pining for it on a regular basis. Unfortunately my gigantic 18 month old is too near the 17kg weight limit, which most children don’t reach until much later. This little sweetie may look cute but it seriously delivers the goods in terms of being a full-sized pram suitable from birth to three years. It’s available for $899.95 from Bebe with the hood colours in red, blue, black, khaki, yellow and pink.

The lovely Quinny Buzz has always beckoned me, especially since they employed that delicious wetsuit-style fabric for the seat cover, which lends the pram an organic, luxe feel. Its claim to fame lies in the gas-powered one handed fold and the fact that the frame opens automatically. It’s a pretty pram which is highly desirable to gadget geeks who love high-tech features. In Europe they add on the Maxi Cosi to make it a complete travel system for car and land. The four-wheeled version became available recently – it’s my pick out of the three and four wheeled options for purely aesthetic reasons. The stunning colours include midnight, strawberry, black and apple. I also love the gold which was released in Europe but not in Australia. Grab your Quinny Buzz from Kido Store for $899.95. Add the Dreami carrycot for an extra $329.95.

There’s not much I can say about the Mountain Buggy Urban Elite without coming across as a gushing loon. My love affair with prams started out with this indestructible machine of joy, which to this day enables me to get from A to B with minimum fuss and maximum comfort. Having a 4 year old, I often need to steer the pram one-handed and the Mountain Buggy handles this with ease, leaving my hand and wrist strain-free. The Elite model comes with a host of extras such as a padded pram liner, cup holder and nappy bag with change mat, saving you big bucks on those essentials. The optional sun and storm covers are awesome with their zip up fronts – you don’t have to keep removing the entire cover when it’s not needed, when you momentarily dash into the supermarket. A carrycot is also available. This robust beauty never disappoints – just about every Mountain Buggy owner I know is passionate about their buggy. The top Elite model retails for $859.95 from Bebe.

The Joolz Bloom popped charmingly into the pramosphere in late 2007 and we liked it as an exciting alternative to the major brands. It has the added bonuses of an elevated seat position so baby is closer to you, and being able to be folded with or without the seat attached. It boasts an adjustable handle, wheel suspension, has many seat positions, reversible seat, adjustable footrest, and it also has a bassinette option. I also love the way the front bar opens out rather than having to remove it completely. This pram will turn heads wherever you go and is available from Your Child’s Nursery for $899 plus shipping. The bassinette attachment is an additional $349.

The Phil and Ted’s Vibe is possibly the most stylish double pram on the market and really holds its own as a single pram. With space-age styling in my favourite colours of black and red, there’s no mistaking one of these beauties as it rolls down the street. I’ve always loved the inline design of the Phil and Ted’s range – as much as sometimes I’d like to see more variety in the doubles market, I take my hat off to this company for adding more style to a design of great substance. Purchase the Vibe for $899 plus shipping, from The Pram Warehouse. If you want the doubles seat, it’s an extra $109.

The Mutsy 4 Rider is a fantastic four-wheeled pram with some quirky extras that make it the ultimate in terms of versatility. Now that my youngest son is heading towards age two, the Funseat with steering wheel would be just perfect for him. Kids of his age love to feel like they’re in control and it’s about this time many parents find they have trouble with getting them into a pram without lots of resistance. The 4 Rider with Funseat solves this dilemma perfectly so that he thinks he’s the one steering and you can run your errands without fuss – simply pop your purchases into the massive basket that comes with the seat. Mutsy have covered so much ground with this pram, with newborn bassinette, seat unit, Funseat and even a Rocker Frame forming the range. To top it all off, you can now transport two children with the addition of the Step-up Board. Available from Babies Galore in black, red and green for $849 including bassinette. The fabulous Funseat is $119 and the Rocker Frame is $69.99.

If you are looking for a pram with personality plus, which handles most situations, then the Micralite Toro might just be the one for you. Looking like a friendly garden insect, the Toro’s long-reaching front arms splay to provide awesome stability. You can purchase an all-terrain wheel kit for when you’re feeling intrepid and the Toro stands up on its end once folded which is invaluable for people living in compact spaces. It can also be wheeled around when folded – a great back-saving feature! The Toro is easily pushed with one hand and the basket can be accessed whether the seat is reclined or not. Available locally for $799 from Baby Nest.

The supremely stylish Silver Cross Dazzle is an elegant umbrella-style stroller which has full-sized capabilities. It takes a neat little carrycot with the most luscious silver pinwhale cord lining – it can be used from birth so baby can face you which is a very unusual feature for this style of stroller. You can enjoy those lovely days of baby gazing when he’s tiny, before the time comes when you are grateful to face him to the world for distraction! It has sleek wheels, divine detailing on the seat and accessories, and folds up as conveniently as a shopping stroller. Weighing only 7kg the Dazzle is an innovative pram by a company who has serviced royal babies for decades. Get your slice of wheeled heaven complete with carrycot and an accessory pack, which includes a colour co-ordinated nappy bag, parasol and footmuff, for around $850 from Kido Store. The colours available are black, silver, blueberry, grape and pumpkin.

Mandi Gunsberger is the Managing Director and Editor of Babyology, a one-stop Australian website for high-end products from the practical to the sublime and everything in between.

Babble Best: Storksak Elizabeth – $349.95

Storksak is a UK company whose luxurious – and practical – bag designs have made them the favourite of celebrity mums such Liv Tyler, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Patrow and Julia Roberts.

The Storksak Elizabeth is a large, all leather nappy bag made from durable washed cow hide.

It features a removable thermo-insulated bottle holder, padded changing mat, key-ring clip and individual compartments for baby gear, mobile phone and more. The wipe-clean compartments are designed to pop-out creating a spacious cavity for carrying larger items. Carry it like a handbag or over the shoulder with the adjustable, removable shoulder strap.

It comes in Navy, Cream, Charcoal and Tan, we like the timeless look of the Tan (pictured).

Available from The Rocking Horse for $349.95.

And the runners up…

Babymel X2 – $149

The Babymel X2 is stacked with innovative features. Firstly, X2 is actually two separate bags which can be clipped together or separated as needed – perfect for twins or siblings. The bags both come with insulated zip bottle pockets, wipe clean lining and a change mat. The bag also features the patent pending Strollerstrap- a brand new invention to allow you to switch between stroller and shoulder.

Available from Gear For Baby for $149.

isoki Reversible Hobo Baby Bag – $151.96

The isoki hobo baby bag (pictured in Wild Orchid) is also two bags in one. It’s reversible! Use the more conservative deep chocolate for work  and switch to a fun print for the weekend. It comes with lots of great extras like a removable double-sided storage satchel, removable insulated cooler bag and large padded change mat.

Other clever features include metal feet to protect the base of the bag from hard or wet surfaces.Available from Ekidna Kids for $151.96.

DadGear Messenger Bag – $155.00

This rugged bag is designed by an American father. It is designed after the classic style messenger bag which can be worn around the body. It comes with a removable front panel, quick-access wipes window, changing mat, stroller hooks and oversized buckles.

It’s designed to be worn around the body so you don’t need to set it down to access essentials.

Available from metro mum for $155.50.

GRX8 Baby Traveller® Deluxe – $79.95

The most affordable bag on our list, the Baby Traveller Deluxe is an all-in-one nappy bag and change mat that folds into a backpack.

Compact in size with not much internal storage space, it comes with an insulated bottle traveller that attaches to the bag as well as an external clip to hang your keys.

• 100% machine washable, it has a waterproof interior and includes a soft plastic-backed towel. Available from BabyShop for $79.95.

Il Tutto Mia Bag: Cream – $449.95

At the other end of the scale is the stunning Mia bag from Il Tutto. Made of soft nappa leather, it features multiple external pockets to keep things at easy reach. The end pockets are insulated keeping food or drinks warm or cold. Other features include side stroller strapsz, zip out printed lining for washing, insulated bottle holder, waterproof changing mat and a clear plastic zip pocket case for wet items.

Easily convertible to a regular handbag, it also comes with am Il Tutto leather monster teddy. Available from Bebe Online for $449.95.

Butterfly backpack

This applique backpack from My Baby Rocks is sure to stand out in the locker room. While this design features butterflies and daisies, the 35cm high backpack also comes in boy and unisex versions. $29.95.

Personalised lunchbox

Not only do these lunchboxes by Identity Direct feature popular licensed characters, they also come personalised with your child’s name. $16.95.

Texta Jumbo Zoom Crayons

This 20 pack of crayons from Officeworks don’t need sharpening, simply twist barrel to propel crayon, for no mess colouring. $14.96.

Pencil Grips

A must for all children learning to write, these pencil grips from Educational Experience can be used by left or right-handed children on all standard pens and pencils, providing comfort and support and encouraging the correct grip. $21.89 for a pack of 20.

Swim bag

Keep wet towels and swimmers away from exercise books with these bright swim bags from Officeworks. Available in a range of colours for $9.98.

Reusable sandwich wraps

It’s the sustainable lunch packaging that can be used again and again! These lighweight, washable wraps from Going Green Solutions secure with velcro so they are easy for small hands to open. Prices start at $7.95.

Boon snack ball

This innovative spherical snack container by Boon is great for travel. Available at the Kids Store, the two halves of the ball unscrew for easy cleaning and the lid snaps in place to keep snacks inside. $14.95

Multi-Spots Drink Bottle By Rush
Keep your child’s drinks warm or cooler for longer in this cute drink bottle from The Kids Store.  Designed by Bobble Art, this bottle is made from durable, light weight aluminium (a much favoured alternative to plastic) and features an hygienic lid which seals over the ‘pop-top’ mouth nozzle. $19.95

Lunch-in-style insulated bag
Protect your kid’s lunch with this reusable lunch bag made with oilcloth and vinyl. Available on Etsy,  the bags come in a range of vintage fabrics and fasten with velcro. $US18.00.

EZ Freeze drink bottle
These colourful drink bottles from Officeworks keep drinks cooler longer with the use of the freezer gel stick, included. Just screw in before adding water or juice and your child’s drink will stay cool for hours. $9.99.

Certified Organic Kid lunch bag
Made of 100% certified organic cotton, these re-usable cloth lunch bags from I’m Organic Make a statement without saying a word. $17.00.

Kikki K erasers
The humble pencil eraser has had a striking makeover thanks to Swedish stationery chain Kikki K. Choose from a wide range of delicious designs, and match with the equally adorable kikki.K Pencils. $0.50 each.

Cocoon Couture library bags

These 100% cotton calico library Bags are ideal for trips to the library, visits to Nana & Grandpa’s, outings to the park, or even to use as their very own shopping bag. Available from Urban Child for $13.50.

Dinosaur pencil case

The Terrific Dinosaur Large Pencil Case from The Kids Store is ideal for taking to kindy or school. It has enough room to fit all the bits and pieces that kids may need and even has enough room for a 30cm ruler. A name tag is featured inside so little ones won’t lose sight of their pencil case for very long. $12.95.