£10-£30
Muddy Puddles Original All-In-One, £22.50, and Thermal Booties, £9.50
If you want truly functional outerwear, who do you consult? Someone who spends every day outside! Susie Cullen is a farmer based near Kingsbridge in Devon, and her pragmatic Muddy Puddles designs were originally for her own children. Don’t let the rain stop play: call 0844 557 4945 for a catalogue or visit www.muddypuddles.com.
Under £10
Totsocks, £9.95
Thirty-year-old Amanda Cooper-Smith from Devon was appalled by the cost of shoes for toddlers, when most doctors say that bare feet are best for tiny walkers. So she improvised by sewing a wetsuit sole on to a pair of thick socks. Thus was born the sock-shoe hybrid Totsocks, which she runs from her Otterham home. For the full range visit www.totsocks.co.uk or call 01395 567132.
Over £30
LIKEaBIKE from Helemill, £139.50 for mini (other sizes available)
Helemill, a family-owned company from Marhamchurch near Bude, imports these sturdy German-designed vehicles praised by parents and developmental experts alike. It’s an approach to bike riding that prioritises balance before pedalling, chiefly for ages 2-5. Visit www.helemill.com or call 01288 361168.
What Credit Crunch?
Child’s Room Makeover, from £250
Transform a child’s room into a fantasy land with ideas from Julie Barrington, a Devon-based decorator who believes that children’s space should be inspirational. Her portfolio includes rooms made into farmyards with tractor beds, or fairytale lands with purpose-built play castles. Call 01626 336 524 or visit her website at www.YSD4kids.co.uk.
