Why Oli & Carol

Barcelona, which is close to my heart. I spend most summers at a family house not far from the city, so a brand made in Barcelona was always going to get my attention. Oli & Carol was founded there by Lorena Canals Roura with her husband and daughters, and it has that particular Mediterranean confidence with colour — nothing muted, nothing apologetic.

The fruit and veg, which is the joy of it. Ana the Banana. Pepa the Apple. Mery the Cherry. Ramona the Radish. Kendall the Kale. Wally the Watermelon. Every piece is a character, and the whole idea of handing a baby a radish to chew on is the sort of thing that makes a person smile in a shop. The colours sit perfectly alongside the bonniemob knits, which is exactly why they are here.

100% natural rubber, and nothing else. The teethers, rattles and stacking toys are made from natural rubber tapped from Hevea trees in Malaysia, then hand painted with natural dyes. Certified by Bureau Veritas and free from PVC, BPA, phthalates and nitrosamines. They are also moulded in one piece with no holes, which is the detail that matters most — a hole is where water gets in and mould grows, out of sight, inside a toy a baby puts in their mouth.

The bibs are a different thing entirely. Three layers of OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton — muslin at the front, muslin interlining to keep a baby dry, and cotton towelling at the back to absorb. Handmade, with embroidered textures. Cathy the Carrot, Kendall the Kale, Pepa the Apple, Lou the Lemon and Ramona the Radish.

How they are made, and packed. Natural rubber is a low-impact raw material taken from living trees without heavy chemical processing, and the toys are biodegradable. Oli & Carol produce to order rather than to stockpile, and 99% of their packaging is now plastic free and FSC approved.

One thing worth knowing. Do not sterilise these and do not put them in the fridge. Natural rubber is a natural material — wipe with soapy water and a damp cloth, and let it air dry between uses. Treated that way it lasts beautifully.

Natural rubber teething toys, baby teethers, baby rattles, sensory baby toys and organic cotton baby bibs — made in Barcelona, stocked at the bonnie mob.