It's so tempting to keep buying yourself special treats, especially with the sales on... How about a little altruistic spending on your best mummy friends and their little darlings instead?

Gloomy January is a fabulous excuse to hit the sales. But how often do you find yourself promising to buy just one thing, (if it fits perfectly/looks fabulous/is under £50...) the next minute trudging home, bag and guilt-ridden, cursing because you can’t take any of it back? A far more satisfying way to spend hard-earned pennies is to splash out on others. Try quelling that desire to self-medicate with surprise, mood-lifting gifts for the mums and kiddies in your life. All the fun of shopping, you can stop beating yourself up and your friends will love you for it!

For the kids

Miamoo
The brainchild of Apprentice contestant Saira Khan (she had very sensitive skin as a child), Miamoo is a luxurious skincare range with loads of scrummy natural ingredients. Free from SLS/ALS, parabens, petrochemicals, TEA and propylene glycol, the range blends silk, jojoba, calendula, shea butter, and sweet almond oil blend to produce products that are safe and gentle to use on delicate skin. But it’s the packaging that will have you drooling and pleased recipients ooh-ing and ahh-ing!
Available at Daisy and Tom stores nationwide or order online at www.miamoo.co.uk

Bramley by Mail
Only the sweetest, prettiest clothes for little people you’ll find online. Classic, traditional designs harking back to homemade swings, apple trees and collecting conkers. Capped-sleeved frilled blouses and ribbon trimmed cardigans for the girls. Twill shorts and cable knit jumpers for the boys.
Buy online at www.bramleybymail.com

Name…
Perfect for little nippers, these cotton sleepsuits, babygrows, bibs and t-shirts can be personalised with screen-printed names, or come readymade with brightly designed animals – super-cute chicks, bunnies, dogs, and giraffes. Each garment comes with a little tag on the inside where you can write a name as well. Practical, stylised, personal, and very reasonably priced too.
Buy online at www.nameclothing.co.uk or visit the Cabbages & Frocks weekly market in Marylebone.

Crumbs & Dollies
Ok, the sugar may have the little terrors rushing round the room at high speed for a good five minutes or so, but it’ll have been worth it just to see their adorable childish delight at being presenting with that most divine and enticing sweet treat ever – the cupcake. And not just any old cupcake, we’re talking loving produced, painstakingly decorated cupcakes with multi-coloured icing and every variety of sprinkle imaginable. Guaranteed to brighten up the dullest winter afternoon.
Order online at www.crumbsanddoilies.co.uk

For the mummies

Rodial
If it’s good enough for Paris Hilton (and we know how important looking good is to her) then it’s good enough for us! The Rodial skincare range contains smoothers, balms and body scrubs to plump up tired and de-hydrated skin. Yes it’s a little pricey, but suffice to say that’s part of the attraction and slightly skewed conviction that it must be doing something good for you. A pampering body cream or nourishing eye balm is a great way to show you care about the superficial things that really matter!
Order online at www.rodial.co.uk or purchase from Space NK.

The Red Book Company
If you know a mummy who is feeling a bit down in the dumps post Christmas/New Year celebrations, then why not go all out on a very special personalised gift guaranteed to remind her how wonderful life can be. The Red Book Company will put together a hand-bound album made up of photographs, anecdotes, jokes and memories all about the person in question. It’s a great way to make someone feel very, very special. And even more so when there’s no special occasion to speak of!
Visit http://theredbookcompany.com to order.

Paris & Madison
Buying jewellery isn’t always the easiest thing to get right. But it’s hard to go wrong with something a little bit vintage and a little bit classic. Glass beads combined with delicate silver hanging chains make the perfect necklace to complete the skinny jeans and oversized jumper look. The rings are especially gorgeous and boho – clusters of rose quartz, agate and pearl beads wired onto sterling silver rings. All handmade and scarily affordable.
Order online at www.parisandmadison.co.uk

Hush
Getting cosy in the winter months can be seriously aided by some luxury comfort wear from online boutique Hush. Stylish and flattering stay-at-home clothes are something we could all do with more of, and as gifts always are always well received. Sloppy jumpers, lounge pants, super soft pyjamas and hand-knitted bed socks are some of the well-chosen delights. Also a great source for ugg boots that aren’t crazily over-priced.
Order online at www.hush-uk.com

Leaf
Rather than coffee, we say tea should be the tipple of choice. And to help sooth frazzled maternal nerves there’s nothing better than Leaf’s natural hand-packed calming and balancing herbal infusions. Online tea boutique Leaf has just launched a limited edition mini tea kit – a little pouch of teas that can be slotted into even the most crammed handbag. And they are seriously delicious too.
Order online at www.leafshop.co.uk