When you gotta go – Part 1

– For the newbies. Stuff you need to know – like where to go when you need to go (W1).

Our favourite clean, roomy and accessible baby-changing facilities in W1.

• Parent Room on the Fifth Floor, John Lewis, Oxford Street – Recently renovated, this is the best changing facility in an Oxford Street department store. Automatic doors lead onto a suite with a large loo, change area, bottle-warming facilities and a feeding space. Great for days when you are wheeling (or is that wee-ing) solo.

• Pain Quotidienne, 72 – 75 Marylebone High Street – Need to go after indulging in their famous hot chocolate? (We’re ignoring all the hazelnut spread you gorged yourself on). Located on the ground floor, it’s big enough for you and your bugaboo. Though not designed for changing, the spacious counter-top is ideal.

• Parent Room on the Third Floor, Selfridges, Oxford Street – Well-stocked and frequently cleaned, there is a row of Dutalier baby-feeding chairs. Only drawback – there isn’t a large loo for you and baby.

• Nouveaute Café, 1^st floor Habitat, 121- 123 Regent Street – Like a haven above the madness of Regent Street, Nouveaute has great coffee, scrumptious cakes and great salads too. And the soft leather chairs were made for feeding while you rest your weary feet. The changing facilities are clean and easily accessible.

What Mini says:

As any kid will tell you, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Mini-et-Moi is compiling a list of excellent loos for mums and tots – send your suggestions to timeforchange@mini-et-moi.com. Thanks!

Mini-et-Moi.com is the ultimate review site for London mums, babies and toddlers. Click here to read more about our reviews of classes, activities and great things for Mum and baby or toddler.

Game, Set & Match

– Classic wooden toy for small tots

It’s funny how with a cupboard full of toys, only a few truly capture a child’s imagination. And there’s no telling ahead of time which it will be. But, if it’s a Galt Classic, the odds are probably in your favour.

This toy certainly caught junior’s attention and has done for months. Four brightly coloured little wooden men slotted into a small wooden block pop up and down on concealed springs. It’s perfectly sized for little hands to hold and manipulate (and makes good chewing for sore gums). At first our little ace would hold a man in each hand. Then, with pride swelling in our chests, we watched while he managed to hold two little chaps in one hand. With time, he was able to put the men in the block and now he loves to pop them up. I’m sure eventually he’ll know how to colour-code them too. But until then I am managing my OCD in other ways.

What Mini says:
Of course I know how to colour-code. But mix-up is the new match-up.

Suitable from 12 months up, our little poppet has enjoyed these since he was 6 months. The Galt Pop-Up Toy (SSP £7.99) is available at Fagins Toys, 84 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, N10 3HN Tel: 020 8444 0282 and Snapdragon, 56 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP Tel: 020 8995 6618

What’s in Mini-et-Moi’s Christmas Bootie?

– Only the best stocking fillers for your little elf!

A Day in the Jungle by Green Means Go
Why? It’s time to shake that booty!

Gorgeous and Sophisticated Sophie
Why? She’s too big for her booties.

Bright & funky Pylones tambourine
Why? It’s time to jingle those bells!

Beautiful hairclips from Magpie
Why? They’re bootylicious.

Fantastic Construction Train by Pintoy (distributed by John Crane Limited).
Why? This is Pirate’s Booty.

How can you win the Christmas Bootie?

We have 2 Christmas Bootie Bundles filled with all the gorgeous goodies – that’s a prize worth £55 each for you and a friend.

Follow these easy steps to enter:

1. E-MAIL YOUR FRIENDS
E-mail your friends encouraging them to subscribe to Mini-et-Moi.com, the ultimate insider’s guide for mums and tots.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR FRIENDS KNOW YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
When your friends subscribe, they must enter your e-mail address when prompted to do so – don’t worry, we’ll give them a gentle reminder when the time comes.

3. THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS
Keep your fingers crossed, hold thumbs or do whatever brings a little luck your way – the 2 lucky winners will receive their prizes in time for Christmas.

You can both go on to forward it on to other friends to enter again and again …

What Mini says:
Please! Please! Please can I have one …

P.S. The competition is subject to the rules on our website …

Complete Madness

Heading to the West-End for a little seasonal shopping? Sidestep the Oxford Street mania to discover exciting changes at House of Fraser and John Lewis:

House of Fun
Hamleys recently opened a concession on the fifth floor of House of Fraser. This compact area contains good toys for older kids and a cute selection of own brand wooden toys for tiddly-winks.

While there, check out the new whippersnapper’s department. You’ll fall in love with partywear from Burberry, Baby Gap, Ralph Lauren, DKNY and Elle. It must be love …

Our House
All new mums seem infatuated with the extensive nursery range at John Lewis. Don’t forget their own brand clothing, including cute Christmas attire, and the fantastic toy department.

If you’re feeling a little peckish, the newly refurbished café on the fifth floor has their classic kiddies’ section (who knows, maybe you’ll get to munch on something too?). Or drop into the basement where the sensational new Food Hall has an unusual (if small) assortment of baby food and is crammed with delectable Christmas treats.

Leave at dusk (yes that’s at 3:30pm) and both you and baby will be mesmerised by the Xmas lights which went up last night …

Christmas shopping – sheer madness.

What Mini says:
Insanity, they say, is all relative. What chance do I have?

Mini-et-Moi.com is the ultimate review site for London mums, babies and toddlers. Click here to read more about our reviews of classes, activities and great things for Mum and baby or toddler.

Vulture Culture

– Culture Kids classes for tots (NW3, SW3 & SW7)

Sick of singing the same songs? Tired of tapping tattered tambourines? Feel like you’re picking at scraps? Drop the vulture act and get in on some culture with Culture Kids.

Inspired by extensive world travel (remember those days?), the Culture Kids classes stimulate imagination and creativity, with a different focus each week. Your tot will sing songs, play varied instruments and enjoy carefully chosen and themed props. It’s a whirlwind adventure of world culture.

The classes take place in well-chosen, warm and comfortable locations around London, making this a very (first) classy travel experience.

What Mini says:
I lapped it all up. But then I’m a real culture vulture.

Culture Kids runs in carefully-chosen venues in Chelsea, Hampstead and Kensington. Spaces are limited to ensure each child gets the most out of class. See the website for further details.