The latest toys for babies and toddlers this Christmas

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Here are some great toys by Fisher-Price that encourage learning and development skills - fantastic ideas for babies and toddlers at Christmas.

The Santas who are spreading extra Christmas magic

These Santas are winning Christmas.

Staff writers This year we've seen some Santas go above and beyond their usual role in shopping centres and Christmas grottos around the world.

Excitement as three girls get adopted baby brother for Christmas

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Staff writers As far as surprise Christmas presents go, the one these young sisters received was pretty special!

Holiday cheer

Christmas tree alternatives for any size space

Alternative Christmas tree ideas. Image credit: Domino

Alexandra Spangaro Putting up the Christmas tree is a special event for many each December, but for those sick of lugging the spider infested logs into their home once a year here are some alternative options to help you get into the Christmas spirit.

Kind Christmas gesture brings happiness to foster child

The kind words written by a stranger.

LETITIA ROWLANDS A Canberra woman who took her foster child out for coffee with a friend recently did not expect a random act of kindness to leave her in tears.

8 things mums really want for Christmas

Mother and baby in Santa hat by the Christmas tree

Karina Lane Forget the pyjamas and books this year, Santa: this is what mums are really craving.

Christmas stocking fillers for your baby

Essential Baby's picks for your baby or toddler's Christmas stocking.

Suzi Catchpole Check out these gorgeous treats for baby's Santa stocking this Christmas.

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Kardashian Kids Christmas Collection now at Big W

Kardashian Kids have gone for gold for Christmas 2015.

Suzi Catchpole Kardashian Kids' 'Falling Stars' Christmas Collection has just landed at Big W stores.

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Hot Christmas picks for babies and toddlers at Kmart

Sweet toddler decor items just perfect for Christmas gifts, from Kmart.

Suzi Catchpole We've found lots of things that will be perfect gifts for babies and toddlers at Kmart.

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Divine Christmas onesies from Organique Bebe

Christmas onesies by Organique Bebe for Chrsitmas 2015.

Suzi Catchpole We've showed you this gorgeous brand before and now they've just released tasteful Christmas onesies for babies.

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How to stop difficult personalities ruining family Christmas

The clash of personalities can make family Christmas stressful.

Pamela McIntosh We can make a conscious effort about how we react to those curly Christmas day scenarios that can send us up the wall, or should we say chimney.

ABC Shop perfect for Christmas gifts

These are just some of the prizes in our two prize packs from the ABC Shop.

Suzi Catchpole What a boon it would be to have your toddler's Christmas gifts covered this year. We have two awesome ABC Shop prize packs to give away to two lucky winners.

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Have yourself a...

Have Kylie and Dannii Minogue made the cheesiest Christmas song ever?

Still from the video for Kylie Minogue's 100 Degrees

PETER VINCENT There's nothing new about cheesy and forgettable Christmas music. Sadly unforgettably good festive songs are the exception, not the rule.

Babies, relatives and coping with Christmas day

It’s your baby’s first Christmas. It’s exciting but also a bit overwhelming too as you try to plan the big day with family and friends.

PINKY MCKAY Everyone will love your baby but your baby may not be so happy to be passed around a lot of new people - nor may you want to feed with an audience.

Christmas gift guide for babies and toddlers

Newborn photo prop beanies from JerribeccaHats2 on Etsy.

Suzi Catchpole We've got the best list of both the practical and beautiful in baby things.

7 tips to kid-proof the Christmas tree

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If this is your first Christmas with a toddler, you may be wondering how you'll keep your Christmas treasures out of curious little hands. Here are some ideas to keep your child safe - and your festive decorations in place.

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A 10-month-old's letter to Santa

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Raquel D'Apice I am a 10-month-old baby and I write because my mother has been sending out my "Christmas List" to people, and her list does not in any way represent the things I really want. Here is a comprehensive list of the things I want for Christmas.

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Getting through Christmas pregnant

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Livia Gamble Follow our tips to be a healthy and happy mum-to-be this festive season.

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Tips for a stress-free Christmas

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Richard Meadows Here are some tips for a stress-free holiday that embraces the true spirit of Christmas, with none of the greed, one-upmanship or outdated traditions.

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Baby and toddler Christmas stocking fillers

Essential Baby's picks for your baby or toddler's Christmas stocking.Click for more photos

Looking for a few little treats to pop in your little one's Christmas stocking? Here are some great options they'll love.

10 easy DIY Christmas decoration ideas

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Babyology It's officially time to get into the Christmas spirit. Why not branch out when you put up your tree this year and add a personal touch with a few DIY decorations? We've found the perfect easy-to-make ways to put more festive fever into your home.

Essential Baby Christmas book guide 2015

Dream Snow by Eric Carle and Little Santa by Jon Agee

Suzi Catchpole Babies love books and they will love this selection of Christmas books written especially for little ones.

Healing a family rift before Christmas

HEAL THE RIFT: Unresolved tension can overshadow Christmas.

Aileen Nakhle Christmas is a time to share with those we cherish most. But festivities and family are not always an easy pairing.

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10 homemade Christmas gifts even your toddler can make

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CATHERINE RODIE Everyone loves a personalised Christmas present - especially those which have been lovingly created by little hands. These Christmas gifts are so easy that even your toddler will be able to make them.

The pregnant woman's guide to Christmas eating

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Livia Gamble Christmas turkey, seafood or ham; however you decide to dine this Christmas, if you’re pregnant there are a few things to keep in the back of your mind.

7 tips for a financially festive Christmas

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Melissa Browne Plan ahead - and do it now - to ensure festive season expenses don't break the bank.

A guide to going booze-free over Christmas

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Duncan Buchanan Pregnant, thinking of giving alcohol a miss for a while, or doing the Pregnant Pause over the silly season? Here are some tried and true tactics that can help you handle the hardest social situations without giving into pressure to have a drink.

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What Christmas means to us after the loss of our baby

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Sally Heppleston We had a very happy Christmas Day in 2007, when we excitedly announced to our family we were pregnant. Then our baby was born stillborn and our lives changed forever.

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Best Christmas romantic comedies of all time

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Grab your partner, bestie or a tub of Ben & Jerry's and snuggle up for these Christmas classics.

The fun of inventing new Christmas traditions

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Cal Wilson One of the things Cal Wilson has loved most about having a family is starting their very own Christmas traditions.

Remembering lost children at Christmas

CATHERINE RODIE This December 25th will be Rachel Nobel's third Christmas without her young son Hamish, who died in a tragic accident aged just 20 months.

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Dealing with the holiday season when you're newly separated

Small girls celebrating hanukkah

KERRI SACKVILLE As the holiday season approaches, I face my first ever Christmas as a single parent. Interestingly, though, it’s not with the emotions you might anticipate.

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10 tips for getting a good photo with Santa

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LETITIA ROWLANDS Guaranteeing your child will smile sweetly for the camera when they sit on Santa's lap is impossible, but these tips will give you the best chance of success.

Essential Kids Christmas

Lots more articles, activities, recipes, and gift ideas over at Essential Kids Christmas hub

Reviews

Fisher-Price Smart Stages Toolbox

My 18-month-old daughter and I were very excited to be selected to trial the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Toolbox.

Fisher-Price Dance and Move BeatBo

We gave the opportunity for a few of our mums to try out some of the new Fisher-Price toys, here is mum to 3, Hannah who got to review the Fisher-Price Dance and Move BeatBo.

Fisher-Price Smart Touch Play Space

Maria, mum of a 9-month-old, reviewed the Fisher-Price Smart Touch Play Space for babies/toddlers.

Fisher-Price Little People Big Animal Zoo

The Little People Big Animal Zoo was a big hit with Angela's 3-year-old and 16-month-old.

Fisher-Price Smart Stages Scooter

A mum of three kids under four, Bec Sanderson got to trial the Fisher-Price Smart Stages Scooter and has already recommended it to her friends.

Galleries

26 fun Elf on the Shelf ideas

The Elf on the Shelf is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. Each morning he appears in a new place. Here are some of the most creative we've found.

Christmas costumes for babies and toddlers

Christmas costumes for babies have never been cuter - check out these little snowmen, reindeers, Christmas trees, elves and more!

Not so jolly?

A hilarious collection of scary, weird and sketchy Santas.

Forum chat

Christmas Forum

Chat with others about tree options, your Christmas shopping style, gift ideas, menu suggestions and your family traditions.

Baby in 2016?

Chat with other women due at the same time as you in the EB forum's 'due in groups'.

Getting your child (and yourself) ready for childcare

It's time to go back to work or study. Are you ready? And is your family ready?

Aussie mum gives birth on New York expressway

An Uber delivery with a difference has seen a Melbourne woman giving birth in the back of a ride-share car in New York.

Guess who? Celebs as babies

Play a fun game of guess who with this gallery of celebs as babies and toddlers. How well do you know your favourite star's twinkle?

Fit out your child's room with the new Wiggles furniture

Now your child can sleep in his or her very own big red car bed, with the launch on January 30, of Fantastic Furniture's new Wiggles bedroom range.

Nose spray relieves childbirth pain, study finds

Women may soon be able to use a nasal spray for pain relief during childbirth following successful trials by an Australian midwifery researcher.

Heartless 'surrogate' defrauds couple of $17,000

When Benita and Mark Cutter found a woman to carry their surrogate baby, they thought their dreams of parenthood were finally coming true.

Is this the best car seat ever? Infa Secure announces 0-8 years Grandeur Treo seat

With the double whammy of extended rearward facing capability and suitability from birth to 8 years, Infa Secure has just announced the trailblazing Grandeur car seat.

Remember: Children don't speak dog

Around 60 per cent of all serious dog bites in Australia happen to children under 10 - and it's often an adult's fault.

10 things I've learnt about babies and sleep

Collectively, my kids owe me about 2000 hours of lost sleep. I won't get that back, but I can hang on to the lessons I learnt over the years.

Seven babies given to wrong mothers in feeding mix-ups

Seven newborn babies have been handed to the wrong mothers in an apparently shocking mix-ups in the NSW health system.

Homeless woman gives birth outside Vatican

A homeless woman gave birth on a cardboard box just outside St. Peter's Square.

Baby contracts scurvy after drinking only almond milk

Doctors diagnosed an 11-month-old baby in Spain with scurvy.

How many?

Couple celebrate 82-year wedding anniversary

Nicholas and Rafaela Ordaz of Tracy, California, had a double party last weekend to mark their vows and Nicholas turning 102.

Australiana products for babies and toddlers

Whether you're after a gift for a new little Australian, are sending love across the seas as a souvenir, or are looking for a sweet Australia Day accessory, we've got all you need for your baby or toddler.

Stillbirth numbers 'still unacceptably high' around the world

Around 20,000 late-pregnancy stillbirths could have been avoided around the world, according to research published in The Lancet.

How having kids may help slow ageing

While I may joke about how old I feel since becoming a mum, a new study shows children can help slow ageing.

Mum loses 38kg with the help of social media

A Scottish mother-of-one has shed 38 kilograms - dropping from a size 18 to an 8 - inspired by the power of social media.

Victoria's top baby names of 2015

The Os have it again: for the second year running, Olivia and Oliver have taken the top spots for baby names in Victoria.

When your babies look just like their daddy

I think my girls are the cutest babies on the planet, but sometimes I look at them and wonder if I can see anything of me in them at all.

Dad who shook his baby allowed to continue teaching

A teacher convicted of shaking his baby until his brain bled is allowed to continue his profession.

When your cake smash doesn't go according to plan

The end result was a hashtag you never see on social media: #cakesmashepicfail.

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What's hot on EB

Baby name trends since the 1900s

The future looks bleak for John, Robert and Susan, while William, Jack and Ruby are back from dead.

Potatoes linked to higher risk of diabetes in pregnancy

Women who enjoy potatoes are at increased risk of suffering diabetes in pregnancy, research suggests.

Fantastic Furniture recalls 100,000 chairs after toe amputations

Fantastic Furniture is recalling its popular Worx dining chair after at least two toe amputations and lacerations.

Helping your child manage stress

We all face stresses in life, even kids – and in fact, stress can be positive for our children. As their parents, we can help them learn and grow from stressful situations.

Baby showers ideas and tips

Essential Baby Shower HUB

The space offering co-working with a side of childcare

Two entrepreneurs are getting ready to open Australia's first dedicated coworking space with childcare next month. 

'If there's no mama, there's no baby'

As a 30-year-old mum, six months pregnant with a second child, I should have been happy.

Face swap creates creepy bedtime photo

They are not your average baby or toddler happy snaps, that's for sure.

Heartbreaking video of baby Riley's last days

They should be planning their baby boy's first birthday celebrations. Instead, they are continuing their campaign to help prevent others going through what they've experienced.

Daycare essentials: what your child needs

Make sure they're ready for daycare in 2016; choose from this gallery of essentials.

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Get your free ticket to the Essential Baby & Toddler Show (Brisbane 4-6 March, Melbourne 1-3 April) and save $20 - register online now!