10 Last Minute Xmas Gifts for Toddlers

1. Buy a Gift Voucher

If you're scratching your head with things to do this month, why not take bake and decorate some Halloween cookies with your toddler? Simply bake a catch of plain cookies (vanilla are best) and arrange some coloured icing in Halloween-themed colours (orange, brown, black, white, green all work well). Let your toddler have a go at decorating and you might even want to bag them up for your trick-or-treaters!

2. Put on a Spooky Show

Who doesn't love a spooky show, especially when your toddler is the star? Help your toddler role play their favourite Halloween story with a little instruction from you and a few props or costumes for good measure. Throw in a make-shift audience (parents, grandparents, siblings or friends) and you'll have yourself a budding actor and some fun entertainment.

3. DIY Halloween Costumes

Let's face it. DIY costumes are the best costumes. Your toddler doesn't need an expensive Halloween outfit to look cute, and making an outfit is more fun for everyone! Help them nurture their inner designer by providing different fabrics, textiles and items (you may want to visit Spotlight and purchase a mix of things). Help them 'sew' or 'staple' their outfits together, not forgetting any headwear or masks (tip: a paper plate and an elastic make a great mask that can be decorated). The result? A happy and fulfilled toddler, and an outfit sorted.

4. Make Halloween Lolly Bags 

They say that the fun begins when the lolly bags are being made! Why not get yourself organised for your impending trick-or-treaters by filling some Halloween lolly bags with Halloween style lollies and chocolates. Your toddler can help you 'fill' the bags and may feel proud they are involved in this task too! Bags can be prepped weeks in advance if you're using lollies and chocolates with a long shelf life.

5. Host a Halloween Playdate 

Halloween doesn't just have to be a day, it can be a whole month! Why not host a Halloween play date with your mum friends and their toddlers? Make sure they're aware the theme is Halloween and everyone needs to dress up (mums and dads included!). Bring along a picnic rug, some Halloween-inspired food and visit your nearest park for fun and spooky day out.

6. Carve Some Pumpkins

Pumpkin carving has always been a Halloween tradition, so why not help your toddler learn the tricks from an early age? Simply buy a large whole pumpkin from your nearest supermarket or farmer's market and set aside some time to carve. As this activity requires a knife let your toddler watch from afar and maybe let them 'help' with your guidance. They will be thrilled with the end result, especially at night if you choose to light a candle in your jack-o'-lantern.

7. Decorate Halloween Candles

If building a jack-o'-lantern is out of your comfort zone you might choose to decorate a Halloween candle instead. Simply purchase a plain white candle (the larger, the better). Give your toddler some Halloween themed items (orange feathers, spooky eyes, orange textas, etc) and let them use their imagination to create the spookiest candle possible! They'll be thrilled when you light it up at night and you can light it over and over again. 

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.