SwapItBaby is an Australian site where parents can swap baby & kids clothes, books, DVDs, toys, and much more. This is a brilliant idea, and one I wish was around when I was pregnant as you can also swap maternity wear.

The site works on a points system where you get points for various activities and then “spend” them on items. You can get extra points by referring people to the site as well as purchasing credits through PayPal. One credit is one Australian dollar.

The registration process is very easy - while I was writing this post I registered - and there are some fantastic items on offer. If you don’t have a baby, it doesn’t matter. There is also a great range of kids toys and clothes listed.

For details, go to www.swapitbaby.com.au - when you sign up, don’t forget to put my name (Melissa Khalinsky) as the person who reffered you You can also join their Facebook Fanpage to get updates on what is happening on the site, new products listed and connect with other members.

Are your kids bored, even after all their new toys at Christmas? Look no further, Boredom Busters will come to your rescue. Here you can lay-by tickets to theme parks and children’s activities in every state of Australia.

It’s a bit late to order for these holidays, however if you jump on their site you can order your tickets for the next school holidays.

For full details of how it all works, and what packages are available, go to www.boredombusters.com.au

With the summer holidays here, many people are going travelling. Some to visit relatives, others just to get away from it all.

Hire for Baby is a fantastic business, with franchisees in every state of Australia, hiring out baby equipment. This includes car seats, cradles, activity toys, high chairs, prams, and much, much more. When my kids were small, we hired a baby capsule & exersaucer from them. It saved us money in buying the equipment up front, then we didn’t have to worry about storage when the boys grew out of them.

If you are going away and need a car seat, port-a-cot or any other baby products, save yourself the hassle of taking it all with you and hire it instead.

For more information, go to www.hireforbaby.com

Last week, we had the pleasure of trying out the new Christmas Story Starters from Cath Connell of Leaf Journals. These were brand new - Cath had only picked them up from the printers 2 days before our dinner!

The story starters made a fantastic activity. Each of us was given 2 cards - one was a story prompt and the other had a Christmas theme. As the dinner was a business one, the story starters helped us get to know people in a different way and made for much laughter as we shared our stories.

The Christmas Story Starters can be used in many different settings, from family gatherings to business functions and are a wonderful way to break the ice.

The Christmas Story Starters are the first product from Leaf Journals, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

For more information, go to www.leafjournals.com

Kids in Australia is a new parenting resource for Australian parents. It features a directory of family related businesses, as well as kids and parents activities.

One of the features I love is their “Kids Eat Free” register. Families register for a Kids Eat Free card and businesses promote themselves by offering a free kids meal with an adult meal. In these times when we are all tightening our belts, this is something all parents should check out.

Advertising on Kids in Australia is very reasonable, and you should be able to find an option to suit your budget.

While you are there, don’t forget to check out their latest competitions. There are some fantastic prizes on offer.

For more information, go to www.kidsinaustralia.com.au