My kids love to dress up. In fact, the only times they’ll really attempt to dress themselves is when a costume is involved. Regularly I’ll nip to the loo, come back and find my wee man & baby girl have transformed into Spiderman and Batman. If they had it their way, they’d go about their entire day swathed in multi-coloured felt and tulle.
Yet costumes are notoriously short-lasting. I’ve had several now that have ripped after one one wear - or ones with velcro fastenings that fray in seconds as the velcro catches on various bits of the costume. This is fine if your child is going to a party and merely a casual dresser-upper, but not so good if they take their roles as stormtrooper, superhero or princess seriously.
If broken costumes are leading to tantrums in your house, you might want to check out Pretend to Bee. Since 2005 they’ve been been selling a handpicked selection of quality dress-up outfits for preschoolers and beyond. Costumes must reach their exacting standards if they are to make it onto the site so their clothes are most definitely built to survive the mayhem of your playroom.
As my two are big fans of Cloudbabies, Heidi was recently sent a Baba Pink outfit to review. These are brand new to Pretend to Bee and perfect for Baba Pink, Baba Green, Baba Yellow and Baba Blue fans. They’re official merchandise so easily recognisable as being from the show and superior quality if I compare them to other costumes they’ve had.
Made from super soft 100% polyester plush, there’s proper stitching and no weak or uncomfortable seams for your little one. This makes them hard-wearing, super durable, and easy to wash when you manage to prise your child out of it. Not only this, there’s no rubbing, chaffing or scratching to the skin which will often occur with ill-fitting and poorly made costumes.
Even the little boots have gripper soles - something so often overlooked and an absolute necessity if you have laminate floors at home. Although these are slightly too big for Heidi-bum (I picked the size above as she is currently inbetween sizes) they still stay on her feet and are incredibly snuggly and comfortable.
Thankfully there’s no velcro to catch on the costume, just chunky plastic zips with cotton backs that can withstand plenty of pulling and tugging. Even more impressive, there’s a snap button crotch for nappy access - perfect for emergency changes… My experience is that most children find a dirty nappy preferable to having to come out of a costume.
Although your child’s legs are exposed in the Baba Pink outfit (it’s essentially a dress), you can easily team this with pink tights for the colder months. A rainbow hood also ensures your child will stay snug and warm whilst playing.
Heidi’s Baba Pink and the Baba Yellow costume are priced at £23. This is entirely fair if you consider the amount of wear you’ll get from it. Sizing is generous and you can expect it to fit your child for at least a year if you buy the size above. Baba Blue and Baba Green are jumpsuits (so unisex) and are slightly cheaper at £20. Rather than popper crotches, these feature extra long zips for bum changes and come with additional accessories (a hammer and a watering can respectively) for additional value.
Elsewhere on the Pretend to Bee site you’ll find animal and mini beast costumes, and multicultural and occupational outfits. There are also seasonal lines including nativity and Roald Dahl Day costumes - all in fantastic quality at reasonable prices. Little Pretend To Bee cater for children between 6 months and 3 years, Pretend To Bee sizes are 3 years/9 years with a few up to ll years.
Shepherd £15.95 / Mary £15.95 / Ladybird £14.95 / Nurse £13.95 / Baby Dalmatian Onesie £15.95 / Pirate Girl £15.95 / Robin Hood £19.95 / Lion Zip Top £14.95 / Pirate Boy £15.95
If you have costumes on your Christmas lists for your children, check them out at PretendToBee.co.uk or follow via social media for the latest news from the team:
Twitter: @PretendToBe / Facebook: @PretendToBe
