Last
month I attended the Birmingham Baby Show, it was actually my third consecutive
year running as I have been in attendance ever since I was pregnant with Leo. I
absolutely love going along and having a look at all of the new nursery
equipment that has come onto the scene, a big part of that for me is the
pushchairs. I thoroughly enjoy having a look at the new releases and have a
push to get a feel for them, I even occasionally stick Leo in the seat and have
a real go!
I find
that the Baby Show is the perfect place to find all of your favourite brands
all under one roof, it is the most efficient way to get everything you need for
your baby’s arrival and take advantage of special show prices.
You will
not find a bigger collection of the pushchairs on the market anywhere other
than the Baby Show, so my advice is if you are looking to buy a pushchair and
you know that the one you are after isn’t stocked anywhere locally to you, head
to the show. You will be able to have a proper play with it and also other
models that people recommend. Not to mention having the brand right by your side to speak to directly about any of there products.
This
year there were a number of baby brands that I was very excited to see,
Easywalker, Cosatto, Britax, Kiddy, Maxi-Cosi and Tommee Tippee. So I joined the crowds of
people descending upon the NEC to see what this year’s show was all about.
I was
really impressed with how everything was set out and found it easy to navigate,
as soon as I walked in I felt that I should either be expecting again or have a
little baby in tow. But this year I had my toddler, and it occurred to me just
how grown up he is getting. My Baby Show shopping list this year consisted of
more grown up things such as a potty and new juice cups for Leo.
I was in
good hands and found the lady on the Cheeky Rascals stand with the travel
potty’s was really helpful. Having golden advice on hand at the show is another
fantastic reason to pop along, whether it be breastfeeding or pain relief for
while you are in the throws of labour, there is someone who can help with
almost every question you could possible ask.
I stopped by the Maxi-Cosi stand to see the launch of the brand new Loola, I spotted the very beautiful Easywalker June in the new Mini style and I stood drooling over the Quinny Moodd. Cosatto had a great stand put together and were demonstrating their Giggle Travel System.
I would highly recommend the Baby Show, it is a fantastic day out even if you are going along for a browse, and I am already looking forward to my next visit.
John Lewis is one of those stores that seem to hold absolutely everything.
We don’t have a store locally but that does not stop me browsing online, I have used John Lewis in the past to source Luke’s Birthday and Christmas presents because I am a big fan of the generous product guarantees. When buying something like a PlayStation 3 or an iPad, I feel it is essential to have some form of a back-up in case something decides to go wrong.
I have been having a browse online recently and as ever there is so much choice and things that I am either in need of, or just generally coveting.
We all know what a big Cosatto fan I am so I was very happy to see the Yo! Ahoy Stroller pride of place on the John Lewis website. What I adore about the Yo! is it’s cheeky disposition and how it is completely different to every other stroller on the market.
The range of pushchairs is fab and you have many of the big names, Bugaboo, Quinny and 4moms. If you have not yet seen the 4moms Origami...
John Lewis have a wide selection of home appliances from washing machines and dishwashers to tumble dryers. They all come with a very welcomed 2 year guarantee which eases you somewhat when making such a big purchase.
The John Lewis treasure trove holds everything from kettles and toasters to Vacuum Cleaners and GHD Hair Straighteners, and I am sure my shopping list will continue to grow the longer I spend divulging through their online catalogue….
I have never looked at a travel cot and said ‘Wow’ I mean why would you? A travel cot is just a bland, usually neutral coloured place for your baby to sleep on occasion. Right!?
Wrong!
I have very recently said ‘Wow’ to my very first travel cot. A big open mouthed, jaw dropping ‘WOW’! But what is this travel cot I speak of? It’s the Cosatto Moon Unit of course!
As with all things Cosatto, it is bright, funky and full of personality.
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The Moon Unit is embellished with the very popular Little Monster motif, just like on the Moova Car Seat that I told you about last year. The very bright lime Green makes a come back as you would expect with any Little Monster product and is set against a charcoal Grey. The padded cot bar is White with further Little Monster motif’s and cheeky wording ‘on the rampage’ dotted around.
As we haven’t really been away recently and been able to trial this very funky cot over night I decided that the best form of action was to set it up in Leo’s room at Granny’s house. Leo is there 3 days a week and has recently spent a few nights there while I was away in Germany last month.
Up until this monstrous cot landed, Leo was making use of a very old travel cot that Granny had used throughout many years of child-minding, so it was great that we could now get rid of the cot that had certainly seen better days, and replace it with this cheeky bright one!
The overall weight of the travel cot is 13.8kg and you can certainly feel it, but once the cot is erect you can feel just how sturdy it is, and I can gurantee that my little monster couldn’t escape the compounds of this cot. It is a great size in both height and length, so there is plenty of room and no nagging worries that Leo may escape and be able to cause all kinds of trouble…
The Moon Unit comes all folded in a very convenient travel bag and contains everything that you need to get started. There is no real assembly per say as all you need to do is open it out and put the mattress in, before it is then ready to rock ‘n’ roll in true monster style.
There is a great attachable changing unit that you can have over the cot, perfect if there is no-where suitable to change them while you are away. It comes with a detachable bar with monstrous monsters to keep little one entertained during the dreaded nappy change operation. There is nothing worse than a wriggly squirmy monster child when you are trying to clean up their nappy explosion!
The changing unit is great for Granny as she has arthritis and there is no way she can change Leo on the floor. And it keeps him restrained to a certain extent as there is no where he can run…
Another fab feature is the bassinet which you can attach into the cot for a small baby, it brings the baby up to a higher height so you can reach in easily to cater for the needs of a younger baby who will most likely want a feed in the middle of the night. Obviously once the little one begins rolling/pulling themselves up then the bassinet will need to be removed to eliminate any risk of the baby falling out.
I did find it a bit tricky to attach the bassinet, but once it was on and secured you can feel just how securely they are attached. When using something like a bassinet or over cot changer, you really do rest assured knowing that your pride and joy is safe in everything they do.
Granny has had to purchase a second travel cot as Leo’s little cousin will be sharing his room at Granny’s with him from July time, and will need his very own place to nap during the day. I can honestly say that this other cot is nowhere near as bright and full of life as the Moon Unit. Somehow this other cot dwindles way into the distance until you cannot really see it any more…But the Cosatto Moon Unit is there huffing and puffing, breathing ferociously and can be seen glowing for miles around.
The Moon Unit is an all-round travel cot and suitable for all ages, it is very apparent that Cosatto have done their homework to share with us the cheekiest cot on the market and also how they have catered the cot to each age range.
This cot has the ability to see your newborn baby into the ripe old age of toddlerhood, which to me justifies the £160.00 RRP price tag that is on this cheeky cot. However... you can currently get a bargain at Amazon for £135.00!
This is just one more product that I have fallen in love with out of the Cosatto range. I love how cheeky and colourful everything is that comes out of Cosatto Towers, and above all else the high quality and standard that they adhere to in the expansion of new lines.
Back in the Summer I brought you my very first Cosatto review on the very bright, almost luminous Pear Drop and that was the start of my Brand Buddy status.
Being a Cosatto Brand Buddy has given me the opportunity to try some fantastic products and being able to share our very colourful adventure with you has been amazing. I hope that these reviews have given you an insight into this fabulous baby brand and maybe even helped you pick out some cheeky purchases for your little one.
Disclaimer:I was sent the Cosatto Moon Unit for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. I absolutely adore Cosatto and love being able to share our experience of their products with you.
It will come as no surprise to any of you to know that I love my role as a Cosatto Brand Buddy.
Cosatto truly are a brand that I whole heartily adore, from their cheeky designs to the bright colours, they have the power to brighten the dullest English day!
In my latest mission set by Cosatto, I have been tasked to trial the new limited edition Yo! Ahoy There! Of course this is a task I didn't have to question and welcomed with open arms.
I am no stranger to the Yo! after putting the Pear Drop through it's paces in summer 2012 I was very excited to try out the latest model. The highlights for me have to be the ease of use and the overall simplicity the Yo! and not to mention that it always seems to turn heads while we are out and about.
The Yo! Ahoy There Specification -
The Techy bit...Before the exciting bit!
- Weight: 7kg
- Size: L: 72cm W: 44cm H: 98cm
- Folded size: L: 116cm W: 30cm H: 34cm
- Handle height: 100cm
- Suitable from birth
- Suitable for children up to 15kg
What's in the box?
Cosatto are so very generous with the accessories that come with their strollers and the Yo! Ahoy There is no exception.
In the box you will find:
- Footmuff.
- Changing Bag (All Limited Editions come with this)
- Raincover.
- Shopping basket.
- Detachable hood.
- Chest pads.
- Head hugger.
- Aluminium chassis.
Putting together the Yo! Ahoy There is really easy, and I am not just saying that because I have had practice!
Before you can take your new wheels out for a stroll around the town you just need to pop each of the wheels onto the chassis and attach the hood. And that was that, Leo’s fancy new pirate pushchair was all ready to hit the 7 seas with, or…the flooded river Avon as it was at that point!
The Yo! has many different designs but I have to say out of all of them this is my favourite. In traditional Cosatto style this stroller is cheeky and ready to turn heads. Set on an aluminium silver frame with white and navy stripes and a vibrant red skull and cross bone in patent, passers by can really see that trouble is coming their way, and then they see Leo…boy they know he means business!
The inside of the hood boasts more skull and crossbones on the navy back drop in flashy white. The outside of the hood is again donned with the navy and white stripes completing the daring attire. The one thing I am missing from the Ahoy There that was featured on the Pear Drop is the peek a boo window. I liked being able to see what Leo was up to when the hood was up, but that aside I have noticed that the hood sits better without this window.
The Yo! is an umbrella fold stroller and is one of the simplest pushchairs that I have ever had the pleasure of putting up and down. It takes seconds to set the Yo! up and get it ready for action, and it takes seconds to put it back down again. But when you have your Ahoy There all ready for a trip you can rest assured that it is more than fit for the task in hand, it is such a sturdy stroller and from my personal experiences it has served me well. I have to admit I have hung many a shopping bags on the back of the Yo! and it has stood strong, serving me and Leo proudly.
When the Yo! is collapsed it is quite long lengthways but I can fit it in the boot of my 206. It just about goes in lenthways, but I do still have plenty of room for other bits and pieces. My sister in law also has a Yo! which she is using with her 12 week old son, and we have managed to fit both of our Yo’s in the boot of my car! So that just gives you an idea of space.
If you do require more space you can easily take off the front wheels to give you the extra room.
The Yo! allows Leo to sit completely upright and take in everything around him, he loves to be nosey when we are out and about so this suits him down to the ground. He sits contently in his seat while we feed the ducks together, not that he throws the bread for the ducks to eat, he is happiest when eating it himself. Leo loves watching the ducks milling around to get the bread and is completely safe in the fantastic Yo! seat unit that features a chunky 5 point harness.
The harness can be adjusted ever so easily to one of three different height settings as I have discovered since using the Yo! with Leo. The buckles can be a little stiff when they are straight out of the box but they loosen up over time.
The back of the seat unit can be reclined by using the straps that can be tightened and released by a simple clip. By tightening the straps the seat will incline and by pulling the strap loose it will recline. Once you have found the desired position you simply snap the clip back down to hold it in place.
The Yo! Ahoy There has a fully lined hood with a UPF factor of 50+, this is great for the summer months (if indeed we get some sunshine!) The hood is sturdy and casts Leo welcomed shade, but with this winter sunshine it can sometimes go right into his eyes and the hood cannot be adjusted to accommodate for this, but Leo doesn’t seem to mind too much and it is not long before we change direction and it is no longer an issue.
We take the Yo! on many of our adventures as it is such a easy to transport stroller, Leo can nap soundly in it and he sits comfortably watching the world go by. The Ahoy There has been to the park and down by the river, it has seen many a shop and even endeavoured further to help me with my purchases. When Leo no longer needs a stroller I am going to miss the big welcoming shopping basket and handy handle bars to hang my bags. It begs belief, but one day I may actually have to carry my own shopping! Or arrange for baby number two to arrive around that time!?
The shopping basket is readily accessible and is a really generous size. I can take out everything I need in the basket alone so on occasion I don’t even need to take a changing bag!
Being winter we are currently sporting the included cosy toes, and it is doing a mighty fine job of keeping Leo nice and snug on our travels in the frost. The cosy toes is soft and fleecy on the inside and waterproof on the outside, as we discovered when we got caught in a torrential down pour!
The cosy toes can be completely un-zipped and the bottom section can be used as a reversible seat liner. The seat liner provides an extra layer of padding to your little one should you choose to install it. It can be used throughout the summer so that those sneaky naps in the Yo! are even more comfortable.
With the summer and winter we have had on the rain front you will be very glad to hear all about the very handy rain cover that is included with the Yo! Cosatto have obviously been vigilantly watching the weather forecasts and seeing a familiar pattern of ‘rain, rain and more rain’ popping up. So to compensate for the rainy forecasts Cosatto have developed the rain cover a nifty little bag that attaches to the frame of your stroller. This means that it is always within easy reach for when the sky’s open and the heavens fall.
The bag is in the colour coded with navy and white stripes to in-keep with the pirate design.
What do Leo and I think over all?
I have thoroughly loved the Cosatto Yo! Ahoy There, and it is no surprise as I love my Pear Drop equally. Leo goes around in style even when he is with his Granny as she now uses the Pear Drop for Leo while I am at work. As for the Ahoy There I adore the cheeky new design that has been applied to the stroller.
Leo has a comfortable ride and demonstrates this by having a snooze when ever he feels like it, and I find it a joy to push around. The padded handles make it easy to grip and the entire manoeuvrability factor of the Ahoy There is second to none, I find it so easy to navigate and I know I have the front swivel wheels to thank for that!
The Yo! Ahoy There is priced between £220.00 - £250.00 depending upon where you buy it.
All of Cosatto’s products come with a standard 4 year guarantee so it is very worth registering your product with them via the form enclosed in the box.
For a full list of stockists please visit the Cosatto website.
GIVEAWAY!
I am very pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader the chance to win their very own Cosatto Yo! Ahoy There!
All you need to do is enter via the Rafflecopter options below for your chance to win this cheeky stroller for your little one!
Terms and Conditions:
Please only enter this giveaway if you live within the United Kingdom. A winner willl be chosen at random on the condition they have completed the entry form honestly.Once a winner had been chosen you will be contacted via email, if you do not respond within 48 hours another winner will be picked at random and the original winner's notification will not be valid. a Rafflecopter giveaway Good Luck!
Disclaimer:I was sent the Cosatto Yo! Ahoy There for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.
Last month I was given some fantastic news; over the next 6 months I have been chosen as a Cosatto Brand Buddy which means that with Leo’s help I will be putting some of Cosatto’s products through their paces.
Leo and I have already had the pleasure of taking the Yo! Pear Drop out for a spin and demonstrated the ease of the Noodle High Chair, and this month we have received the very bright and cheeky Moova Group 1 Car Seat in the popular Little Monster design.
This was perfect timing as we were actually in the market for a new car seat, Luke has very recently bought a new vehicle that can comfortably take all of us out, and the only thing missing from this equation was a car seat for Leo to ride along in safely.
I had recently seen the Moova Little Monster in the flesh, when I paid a visit to the Cosatto Cuppa last month; I had come home and told Luke all about this attractive car seat. So we were both over the moon to discover we were going to be in receipt of one to try out.
The Moova arrived in a tell tale box that told me instantly what was inside, Leo assisted me while I opened it all up and pulled out Leo’s new car seat. The Little Monster design is so characteristic, and it suits Leo down to the ground, it is as though it was designed exclusively for him. The Lime Green stripe that goes around the entirety of the frame brings so much colour and offers a great alternative to the traditional Blue that you tend to get a lot of for baby boys.
Leo didn’t even allow me to un-wrap it all before he was trying to climb in and sit down. He was looking at the little monster and poking his eyes. He looked really excited about his new ride.
The seat it’s self is really well padded and even the padding continues to run the little monster theme throughout. The seat belts have padded shoulder straps and the seat even boasts side impact protection which is something that I always look for in a car seat.
The seat features a 5 point safety harness which keeps even my little monster at bay. It is easy to adjust the length of the straps by simply pulling the pull adjustment located on the front of the car seat.
The Moova Group 1 Car Seat is suitable for children from the age of 9 months or from a weight of 9kg which is equivalent to about 19lbs. It can be used until the child is around 4 years old, or weighing around 39lbs (18kg).
The Moova is a follow on car seat from the rear facing range that you use with your baby from newborn, it gives your little one a higher seat so that they can see everything that they whizz past in the car, and the higher seat is designed to ease any travel sickness that your little one may experience.
There is a 3 position recline which I feel is essential for a baby car seat. Leo is always falling asleep while we are out and about in the car so I feel reassured that he is cradled in his car seat, rather than slumped forward, falling all about as he tries to snooze. Even at 15 months Leo is still my baby and still loves a good nap, so I want him to be safe and comfortable in every instance.
I have to admit that up until we received the Moova I had never fitted a Stage 1 car seat before. We had previously got our original car seat fitted by a professional service, mainly to aid my peace of mind that it was fitted correctly so that I could sleep at night... We really were in un-charted territory on this occasion!
Fitting the Moova Little Monster Car Seat
The Little Monster Moova is secured into the car using the vehicles 3 point seat belt, to start securing it you need to pull the seat belt and thread it through behind the Moova Little Monster Car Seat. Attach the seat belt to the seat belt anchorage point and begin to pull it tight. There is a Red clip with the car seat that needs to be fitted as close to the anchorage point as you can get it in order to lock the belt in place.
Luke and I found the installation a little tricky. I say tricky as at first we could not get the car seat in securely and it was moving from side to side when we tested it by giving it a little shake.
The secret to correctly installing the Little Monster Moova lies with the red clip that tenses the seat belt, you have to get as much tension into the belt as you can, by securing the belt at the appropriate anchorage point. This in turn will then make the car seat secure.
I did find the Red clip took a lot of effort to get in securely and the installation process was a little time consuming as we wanted to make sure it was in correctly.
Once it was in place we knew that we had successfully installed the car seat by giving it another little shake, it rewarded us by reassuringly staying perfectly still and sturdy.
When it comes to car seats it is better to be safe than sorry, if you have any queries about your Cosatto car seat you can contact the Cosatto Customer Services.
What do we think?
We have installed the car seat in Luke’s van and Leo is now sat comfortably in the front. If you are going to fit a car seat in the front of any car then you do need to make sure that all air bags are switched off.
Now that the car seat is in place it is very solid and secure, we have recently taken Luke’s new vehicle and The Moova car seat out for a test drive. It was a 2 hour journey each way and Leo thoroughly enjoyed going along and looking out of the front windscreen in Daddy’s car. He is at the perfect height to kick Luke’s CD player and look at all of the lights on the dashboard, so my little monster is perfectly happy.
The whole car seat is so sturdy and stable that I was instantly filled with confidence once it was all fitted. All of the padding and safety features are well thought out and realistic. Not only does the Moova offer a very comfortable ride for your child, but it is safe and secure.
If you do struggle with fitting any Cosatto product or need some advice you can always call their helpline. Cosatto are such a friendly company and they offer a great customer after service, I am sure they will help you along with any queries that you may have.
Leo and I were invited along to the Great Cosatto Cuppa on Wednesday, and with such an amazing invitation to see all of their exciting products, while getting the chance to have a look around there show room, it was an event I could not miss.
The Great Cosatto Cuppa is a very special coffee morning for parents and their children to go along and see all of the new products such as the Giggle Travel System! Cosatto host these coveted mornings every couple of months and now that word is getting out about them they are becoming increasingly popular. If you are interested in attending the next one keep an eye out on their Facebook page. They announce the next Cosatto Cuppa dates directly to their Facebook fans, and pick a number of their lucky fans to attend.
So with the big day finally here, I was up before the sun had even put his hat on (not to mention that it rained most of the day!). My alarm sounded at 4:30am so I could prepare Leo and I for our 6:00am train to Bolton where Cosatto towers are based. Leo blinked the sleep away from his eyes and was luckily in a very bubbly mood as we set off for a very colourful day out.
Upon arrival we were greeted by the lovely Cosatto ladies and offered very much welcomed refreshments before being taken to sit down. Leo was over the moon to be presented with a biscuit and almost squealed with excitement when he saw the very yummy looking cup cakes. He almost bit my hand off when I offered to share one with him, and wasted no time at all in devouring the cake.
It was lovely to see such a great turn out, with a mass array of babies of all ages. There were teeny tiny newborns, curious 6 month olds and troublesome toddlers (insert Leo’s name here…) but regardless of the children’s ages there was one thing that we all had in common.
We all love Cosatto.
The owner of Cosatto gave everyone a very warm welcome and explained that as he no longer uses the products every day as his children have now got that little bit older, it is great to hear feedback from families who are actually using the brand and who can give real constructive feedback. This just shows that Cosatto are still pushing forward and wanting to improve their products further, and it us parent’s who can provide this valuable information.
As a bit of an ice breaker we each took it in turns to introduce ourselves, and of course our little ones, before trying to think up 3 words that best described the Cosatto brand. Of course the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘Fun’ and ‘colourful’ but finally I think that it is ‘exciting’. It was interesting to hear how everyone felt about the Cosatto brand and one lady even used her three words to say ‘Must. Have. Brand’.
I think that pretty much sums it up!
Cosatto have just announced their very first ambassador programme and I am very excited to be taking part in this over the next 6 months. With a few other members of the programme also in attendance, they took the moment to introduce us all to the rest of the group as their ambassadors and to also crown us! Leo was looking at me with curiosity in his eyes, wondering what on earth was on my head, obviously thinking how silly his Mummy was looking.
The ambassadorship is known as the ‘Cosatto Brand Buddies’ and over the coming months I will be bringing you more reviews from this very exciting, very colourful company! But more on this at a later date…
The Cosatto Show room is just fantastic and they have all of their pushchairs, car seats and furniture range on display. It is so easy to walk around making a mental note of everything that you want and somehow…need! I had no idea that Cosatto did nursery furniture. Did you? I can tell you now though that it is all beautiful.
One thing that caught everybody’s eye was the incredibly big slide that protruded out of the ceiling. This slide is for office members to use if they feel like by-passing the stairs for any reason! I think this tells you instantly what a fun place Cosatto head quarters is and I think this reflects the fun factor in the product designs, I mean how could it not?
The slide was out of use to us for health and safety reasons but we all stood and admired the very impressive slide none the less. It was blocked off to avoid anyone attempting to steal a go, but this obstruction just made Leo even more curious and given half the chance I know he would have been climbing it.
Leo was a little monster all morning, running around and onto the stages with all of the displays. One of the stages was right next to the table housing all of the very delicious cup cakes, and it did not take Leo long to reach up a hand to try and take one for his own.
Cheeky little boy!
We were given a product demonstration on the Giggle Travel System, and shown how small it folds. In comparison to my travel system this was really compact and would very easily fit in the boot of my Peugeot 206. We were even lucky enough to be shown a new highchair that is in development for next years range. As it is still in the development process it means that all of the feed back that was provided yesterday from the parent’s can be taken into account before the final product is put forward to the customer.
I found my morning at Cosatto Towers very informative and enjoyable. I have always loved the look of the Cosatto brand, with their bright colourful patterns and friendly usability but now I feel I know the brand it’s self and what they stand for, and that is providing families with fun filled baby products that scream with personality, with user friendly features at affordable prices. And the affordable prices are what really makes Cosatto… Cosatto!
Cosatto offer you complete packages where you can pay one price and get everything you need in one box. Take the Cosatto Pear Drop for instance, for £214.00 (depending where you purchase) you can get your stroller (suitable from newborn), cosytoes and rain cover all in one go. I find this brilliant as it all comes as standard in the box with a 4 year guarantee (Yes 4 years!) and all perfectly matches your stroller. With other brands you do have to buy the cosytoes and sometimes the rain cover at an extra expense to you.
I had a great day out at Cosatto and I look forward to working with them over the coming months as a Cosatto Brand Buddy. Thank you very much for hosting such a lovely morning and for not batting an eye lid at the mess Leo made on the floor (again I apologise profoundly!)
Disclaimer: I was provided with a goody bag at this event however all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.
Cosatto have very kindly sent Leo and I there Noodle Highchair in the popular Dippi Egg design. We have been putting it through it's paces from the word go, and I am pleased to report that we are very happy with the quirky design and the over all function.
The Cosatto Noodle is suitable for babies from 6 months old, and as with all of Cosatto's products, comes with a standard 4 year guarantee. Just in case you happen to run into any un-foreseen problems.
Below is a list of all the features that the Noodle includes:
- Suitable from six months
- 6 position height adjustable seat
- 2 removable, washable trays with cup holder
- Remove tray so baby can join you at the table
- 3-position seat recline for snoozing
- Easy-to-use compact fold
- Free-standing folded position
- Fully removable seat pad for easy cleaning
- 5-point safety harness
- FREE 4 Year Guarantee
So without further adieu, Here is our review...
Leo and I opened up the Cosatto box, looking forward to seeing what the cardboard casing was keeping just out of sight. Then I saw it. Our shiny new Noodle highchair. With the usual Cosatto quirkiness shining through in the pleasant dippi egg design. I quickly got all of the parts out and located the instructions and began to piece them together like a jigsaw.
It is common knowledge around here that assembling any sort of equipment, I will more than likely need help in the from of my partner Luke. I did give it my best shot, but with Leo running circles around me like the little monster that he is, and trying to keep him away from my camera that was set up to film our every move (even the bit where Leo pulls the camera off the shelf!). Then there was the moment I realised that I had not quite followed the instructions... leading to me calling for Luke to show me the error of my ways. Of course...He had no problem telling me where I had gone wrong.
Luke swooped in, and together we had the Noodle up in no time at all, and the Cosatto glory shone out.
Note:I have to say here that the assembly is so simple, just try and keep all toddlers at bay when piecing together your Noddle masterpiece. They will run off with the bits that you need and they will make the process a more difficult affair.
With our Noodle all set up and ready to be put through it's paces, I wanted to get to grips with how to use all of the great features. The Noodle has a adjustable seat with 5 point safety harness and 6 adjustable heights for the unit to sit at. I think this is great as it gives you the flexibly to sit on the floor with the baby when you feed him, or even to bring them right up close to the table.
The tray can even be completely removed off the unit to really allow them to join in with the rest of the family. There is a clip at the back of the Noodle for you to be able to clip the tray away, so that it is completely out of the way until you next need it.
Leo has always liked to join in at dinner time, so this feature is a godsend for us. It gave Leo ample opportunity to steal dinner off all of our plates once he had finished with his own, and he even took the chance to try and steal our cutlery! I really cannot take my eyes off him for a second.
The tray has a added insert where you can put all of babies food, and there is even space to put babies drink and cutlery. This is great if your little one is anything like my little man, as there are many occasions where Leo will take his plate and just throw it to the floor. The insert gives you the opportunity to forget a plate and just serve everything up on the tray.
The Noodle features a great recline feature which is great for when baby decides to suddenly fall asleep in their Spaghetti Bolognese. You can operate the 3 position recline at the back of the seat unit by squeezing the button upwards, and gently pulling the seat back. This gives your little monkey chance to have a little after dinner snooze. Leo has never actually fallen asleep over his dinner, so I have never had the opportunity to recline Leo and let him count some sheep...Maybe one day he will relent and present me this serene moment!
Now to the nitty gritty...Cleaning your highchair. This is one of my pet hates, as the highchair we used in the early days with Leo was actually a real mission to clean. The Noodle however is a doddle. It is so simple and easy to clean, with no secret hiding places for any food to escape the sponge coming to give it a real shine.
The covers are made out of soft PVC, which allows you to just wipe it clean. With the easy removal of the tray it really does give you access to the whole seat which can be fully removed, with Leo this is essential. Food goes everywhere, Leo seems to find new spaces for food to fall at each meal, so having such a easy to clean unit is a real must for us.
Once dinner time is complete, you will most likely want to store the highchair away. This is easily done with the Noodle which happens to fold freestanding, to allow you to tuck it behind a door so that it is ready to grab for the next sitting.
What I really love about the Noodle is just how simple it is to use and maintain. The operational buttons are chunky and easy to use. This is all you can really ask from a highchair right!?
Now I am pleased to share with you our personal experience with the Noodle in the form of a video. I will start off by running through the features with you and move on to show you our set up process!
Enjoy!
Laura
xx
Disclaimer: I was sent a Cosatto Noodle Highchair for the purpose of this review. Please note that all views and opinions are my own.
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT Thank you all for taking part in this giveaway, but in the end there can only be one winner. On this occasion the winner of the Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop Stroller is.... Heather! Heather has been notified by email with the good news just in case she does not see it here first! Congratulations!
Last week I told you all about how fantastic, Leo and I found the new Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop.
This week?
Well I am giving you the chance to win one for yourself!
That's right!
One very lucky reader is going to be the very proud owner of the Pear Drop. So if you missed my glowing review of this very fruity stroller, make sure you have a read after you enter this fantastic giveaway!
What's in the winners box!?
The winner of this giveaway will be very impressed with all of the goodies that come as standard with this little number!
In the box you will find:
- Footmuff.
- Raincover.
- Shopping basket.
- Detachable hood.
- Chest pads.
- Head hugger.
- Aluminium chassis.
So by now I am sure you are just itching to enter and get your hands on the Pear Drop Yo! So without further adieu...
How you can enter...
Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. If you have not yet signed in to the new Rafflecopter forms, use either your Facebook account or your name/email address to sign in (you don’t need a Rafflecopter account, and you don’t HAVE to log in using Facebook–you can simply use your name/email address). Then click “Do It” and complete the mandatory entry. Then, if you want to, submit any or all of the extra entries. The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!
To enter the competition you can do all of the below entry methods or just pick a few!
- Like Cosatto on Facebook
- Follow @Cosatto_Tweets on Twitter
- Follow my blog Via Google Friend Connect (Right hand Tab)
- Leave a blog post comment below, telling me what you love most about the fruity Pear Drop!
- Follow Lovelyleosmummy on Twitter
- Like The Life and Times of The Working Mum on Facebook
- Tweet about the giveaway "I want to win a fruity @Cosatto_Tweets Yo! Pear Drop with @lovelyleosmummy at www.thelifeandtimesoftheworkingmum.com'
You can enter each day while the competition is running to boost your chance of winning!
The competition closes on Thursday 16th August 2012.
Good luck all!
Restrictions: Please only enter if you are a resident of the United Kingdom. The winner will be picked at random and notified via email. If we do not hear back from you within 24 hours another winner will be picked at random. <a href="http://www.theprizefinder.com" title="ThePrizeFinder.com - home of competitions and prize winning" target="_blank">ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions</a>
Cosatto are well known for their brightly coloured pushchairs with plenty of personality. Cosatto refer to this as their trademark quirkiness and I have to say that I am inclined to agree with them.
I have always loved the Cosatto designs, so when I was presented with the opportunity to put the new Cosatto Yo! to the test, I was more than a little excited. In fact when the new stroller was dropped off with me late last week I could not wait to get it out and take a look at it in the flesh.
Leo and I have been sent the new Yo! Pear Drop to put through it's paces, so while Leo was napping I seized the opportunity to put it together.
The first thing that struck me about the Pear Drop was the gorgeous bright green colouring. It is lovely and a great colour for the Summer (which has finally arrived!) It really does stand out from the crowd. I would be lying if I said I did not get some admiring glances and double takes while pushing this little number around the shops. In fact one lady even went as far as to whisper to her friend 'That is the stroller that I want!'
The Yo! Pear Drop Specification -
The Techy bit...Before the exciting bit!
- Weight: 7kg
- Size: L: 72cm W: 44cm H: 98cm
- Folded size: L: 116cm W: 30cm H: 34cm
- Handle height: 100cm
- Suitable from birth
- Suitable for children up to 15kg
What's in the box?
Cosatto are so very generous with the accessories that come with their strollers and the Yo! Pear Drop is no exception.
In the box you will find:
- Footmuff.
- Raincover.
- Shopping basket.
- Detachable hood.
- Chest pads.
- Head hugger.
- Aluminium chassis.
Cosatto provide you with the whole package when you purchase a pushchair from them. I think this is great as with other brands you often have to purchase the extra's at an additional cost to yourself. Having it all provided in the box gives you the added peace of mind that you have everything you need, which is always reassuring especially if you are on a budget or are not really sure what you may need.
The Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop has it all!
So is it easy to put together?
For the first time ever I can say yes. Putting the Yo! together is a complete breeze.
I had a flick through the instructions before giving my full attention to our new set of wheels, and within 5 minutes it was all set up and ready to go. The Yo! does not take long to assemble at all and I have to say that out of all of the pushchairs I have had the pleasure of putting together, this is by far the easiest. I simply had to pop each of the wheels onto the chassis, attach the hood and viola - we were ready to head out into the beautiful sunshine that seemed to shine just for us and our shiny new stroller.
The Yo! Pear Drop as the name suggests is entirely themed around the very tasty fruit. It really does look great. It is bright Green and completely delicious. The frame is Aluminium and brushed Silver complimented by a partial black frame. Sitting on top of the frame is the seat unit in the head turning Green and the fruity Pear pattern.
It takes a matter of seconds to unfold this stroller and is just as simple to put away. When the Yo! is up and ready to go it is incredibly sturdy. I have had other umbrella folds in the past, that I have spent much more money on only to find that they are not very strong. In fact there have been occasions where I thought that lifting it up a curb may result in the frame snapping. This has never happened but not having to worry about picking the Yo! up and down curbs is a real bonus. It is completely solid.
I am a fan of simple, straight forward pushchairs as I am one of those Mummy's you see in the car park trying to put the pushchair back down to fold away in the boot, but just can't seem to find the right button to collapse it. This is not the case with the Yo! It could not be any more simple.
When folded it is quite long but it fits with plenty of room in the boot of my 206. However if you are in need of more space then you can always pop off the front wheels, and this should allow you to position it perfectly in the boot of your car.
The Yo! Pear Drop has a fully lined hood that has a UPF of 50+ which has been great in this sunshine. There is a very handy peek a book window which I found brilliant. It allowed me to see exactly what Leo was doing at all times, and we even played a little game of peek a boo, which Leo absolutely loved.
Now after Leo and I have been putting the Yo! through it's paces I am pleased to report that it has really done us proud. We have been to the park in it, and gone over the field with no problem at all. We have fed the ducks by the river and tested out those all important breaks. They are very simple to pop on with your foot and when on, it is not going anywhere! Which put my mind at ease considering we were pretty close to the river!
We have turned many a head pushing this little beauty down the street, and I know I should now rejoice in their pram envy, but part of me has to anyway.
I mean look at it!
I have been referring to the Yo! Pear Drop as Leo's First 'Big Boy stroller' and this is because it is the very first and only stroller I have ever owned that does not have the option of facing me. But at 1 whole year old (and a couple of weeks) I think it is high time I let him graduate from facing me and let him look out into the exciting world around him. And guess what! He loves it.
The Yo! allows Leo to sit completely up right and stare out at everything and everyone that passes by. It steers so smoothly and is sturdy without being heavy. Leo squeals with delight when something catches his eye and is completely safe in the fantastic seat unit that features a chunky 5 point harness.
The harness can be easily adjusted to one of three different height settings as I discovered when altering the straps for Leo. The seat combines a solid back and a very simple recline/incline with the use of straps that can be tightened and released by a simple clip. When Leo has fallen asleep it is so simple to adjust the Yo! into a recline so he can have his full sleep out.
The Yo! Pear Drop comes with it's very own stylish cosy toes as I mentioned earlier. We are yet to put it into use due to this glorious weather, but I have to say that not only does it look great but it is so very soft and fleecy on the inside and waterproof on the outside! Leo does not always keep his hands in his cosy toes (I discovered this over the winter) and Cosatto have added a very clever kangaroo pocket for those little hands on a cold day. It means Leo will get his own way and have his hands outside, but has the opportunity to hide them away too.
The cosy toes can also be unzipped, leaving the bottom panel which can be used as a reversible seat liner. There is a very fruity pear fabric on one side and a green fleece material on the other, which means you can choose whichever side of the liner that takes your fancy! My favorite side is the Pear as it just looks great and carries on the style of the Yo! The seat liner provides an extra layer of padding to the seat adding additional comfort for little bodies, that can be used throughout the summer, making those little naps that little bit more dreamy.
I have a question for you all. Who of you have ever been caught in a completely un-expected down pour, and reached into your basket to find you have neglected to pack your rain cover? I know I have. So what if I was to tell you that Cosatto have covered this all important base4 by the means of the incredible rain cover bag, that attaches to a special hook by the handle? Because that is exactly what they have done. This bag comes colour coded with the rest of the stroller in the same vibrant green and means you will never forget your rain cover again!
Now for my all time favourite feature....*drum roll* please!
The Yo! features the most impressive shopping basket I have ever had the pleasure of filling up! It is easily accessible and has a very generous sized basket. I have been taking all of Leo's nappies, drinks and food out in the bottom, which means I don't need a changing bag. This is great as I don't like hanging my bag over the handle bars.
What do Leo and I think over all?
I have found the Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop absolutely fantastic. We have been going everywhere in it, Leo has a comfortable ride and I find it a joy to push around. The padded handles make it soft and easy to grip and the swivel front wheels make it so easy to manoeuvre.
I have not found it easy to push around one handed due to the Two separate handles, but other than this one point I cannot fault this very attractive stroller.
The Yo! is priced around £220.00 and can be purchased from Mothercare, Boots, Argos and many other online stores. The Yo! Comes in 3 very delicious fruity flavours, demonstrating that their truly is a Yo! for everyone:
- Toffee Apple
- Pear Drop
- Cherry Pop
For a full list of stockists please visit the Cosatto website.
I give the new Cosatto Yo! a big thumbs up in performance and cosmetic style. Cosatto have succeeded again in a good looking stroller that truly has a big personality.
Before you go, why not take a look at our adventure with the very yummy Cosatto Yo! Pear Drop!?
Disclaimer: Leo and I were kindly send a Cosatto Pear Drop for the purpose of this review. However all views and opinions are honest and my own.
