Food & Nutrition

Ethicalfoods.co.uk - A really well designed alternative to the supermarket, with an easy to understand message regarding the origination of the produce. You can shop by aisle so everything is very easy to locate, and we love their organic fruit boxes that you can get for as little as £7.

Ethicalsuperstore.com - As suggested by the name, this site holds a lot more produce than food, but things are easy to find just start off in the baby and child section and take it from there!

Kiddieskitchen.co.uk - Another friendly site, although this one also includes advice, tips and recipe ideas.

Olimia.com - We really like the variety of food available here. There are some great products that you can store for those unexpected visits from your grandchildren, it's always a good idea to be prepared!

Play & Learning

Early Learning Centre - One of the most comprehensive places you can buy toys. It's a fantastically user-friendly site which lists toys by category as well as by age. Each toy listing is also accompanied by a series of icons that detail how the toy benefits the child - for instance, by helping to develop coordination, social skills or imagination. Check out the learning through play section, which offers loads of great ideas for parents and minders alike on how to make sure that the child gets the most from playtime.

Lulasapphire.com - Not only does the site have a range of fabulous toys for a range of ages, but it's a carbon neutral company, too.

Toys R Us - They have everything here and buying online makes the whole experience much more pleasant. The left menu on the home page is clear, and then you can shop by category or brand if you have been given a specific mission!

BrightMinds - An award-winning home shopping company established in 2000, committed to the importance of fun learning at home. We really like this site, as it has so many good quality educational toys and they are really easy to find.

At Home

Hennydonovanmotif.co.uk - A really beautiful stencilling site, with good quality products and an awe-inspiring variety of designs from the exquisitely detailed Tai Chi turtles to the more bold designs such as large polka dots. All of the equipment is also available to purchase on the site along with advice on what you will need to complete a project. Take a look at our being creative page for more detail on stencilling.

Punkinpatch.co.uk - Punkin Patch is a brand new online boutique offering everything darling for baby nurseries and children's rooms. Their selections are not found "everywhere". Many items are exclusive to them and they source unique items from around the world - just about every continent is represented! They offer a free room design service to all customers and a customer service that is second to none. They are also offering grannynet members a 10% discount on first purchases - just enter coupon code Granny10!

Littlegreenearthlets.co.uk - We love the design of this site, it is really pretty and very easy to use. They have a great nursery section with lots of child friendly bedding options and some great acccessories to add to the room your grandchild stays in when they come to visit.

bumpto3.co.uk- Hosts a very practical sleep section with everything from cribs to night lights.


mothercare.com - Always a good option for all your grandchilds staple needs.

Mamasandpapas.co.uk - Some beautiful designs when it comes to decorating a nursery and there are products available across a wide price range which is always good to see.

Smart style

Boden.co.uk- A really simple, easy to use site with lots of offers and the clothes are of excellent quality (take it from us). Always worth signing up for email updates here as there are some real bargains to be had!

Blooming Marvellous - Very pretty site which also has a strong high street presence. We adore their striped dungarees, you just can't get things like this that easily anymore.

Bugsandfairies.co.uk - Just exquisite knitware in lovely traditional syles and colours. The designs are by knitters and trendy types which has made a beautiful combination.

Spiritofnature.co.uk - Full of beautiful designs and all inspired by nature. This is the place to get your organic babyware and we love their playsuits.

Little Fashion Gallery - A quirky site with some cheeky designs but take a look around - more traditional items are there if that is what you are looking for. We love that the internet has brought names like this to your doorstep - something really different.

Being creative

Hennydonovanmotif.co.uk - A really beautiful stencilling site, with good quality products and an awe-inspiring variety of designs from the exquisitely detailed Tai Chi turtles to the more bold designs such as large polka dots. All of the equipment is also available to purchase on the site along with advice on what you will need to complete a project. Take a look at our being creative page for more detail on stencilling.

Coxandcox.co.uk - Oh we love this site. So unusual and so beautifully done. Click on the 'Creative Diva' section for some lovely ideas of how to spend playtime with your grandchildren. More suitable for slightly older grandchildren.

Bluepeter.co.uk - The old ones are the best! This classic is still going strong and they have always had such inventive ideas when it comes to being creative. Their website helps bring it all to life.

Crafts4kids.co.uk - This site is so much fun and teaming with ideas of how to amuse and entertain. They have some lovely colouring in ideas and some really messy collages - go on get involved!

izziwizzikids.co.uk - What an inspiring site! We love the products available here - they go on and on and they are all such lovely ideas - we urge you to take a peek.

Travel tips

Mothercare.com - For all of your practical travelling needs. Great value and choice, as to be expected from such a large and well-established brand.


Travellingwithchildren.co.uk - This is one of those wonderful sites that provides very practical solutions to your specific questions. It does exactly what it says it does and with a really easy to follow design.

Urchin - With a whole section dedicated to children's travel this site has some really interesting ideas ranging from fun pool toys to the more practical car seat selection.

Theaa.com - We love that a big company like this cares enough to dedicate areas of its site to entertaining children and their safety. Make use of their route finder as well - you can get a map of where you are going and reverse the directions too!

Babygoes2.com - A really lovely travel site that specialises in family travel. If you are taking your grandchild away or simply being asked advice by Mum, this really is worth taking a look at.