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Are Musical Toys Good for Babies? One word: yes, yes, yes! Musical toys are great for babies. Whether they chime, rattle or go BOING, musical toys engage your little one’s sense of hearing, supporting their development and helping them have fun with sound. Read on to learn more about the benefits of introducing musical toys to babies and our favourite sound toys for children. WHAT ARE SENSORY TOYS?   Sensory toys engage a child’s sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste, introducing them to new experiences and stimulating brain development. Children’s toys are known for being more than a little noisy for this exact reason. Musical toys are a popular type of sensory toy which offer auditory stimulation. This does lots of good for children’s hearing, development and physical skills. THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING WITH MUSICAL TOYS   Music and sound have a massive impact on the developing brain, and musical toys can be a great way to introduce babies to the world of music and help them develop essential skills. HEARING DEVELOPMENTFrom the moment they’re born, babies are aware of the sounds around them. They recognise the voices of their parents, family and caregivers and respond to different types of music and sounds in different ways. Lullabies can help soothe and relax babies, while upbeat, fast-paced music can make them more alert and active. Some babies even enjoy a boogie when they hear their favourite artist. LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENTAs babies grow and develop, musical toys can help them learn important skills. Simple and brightly-coloured instruments like maracas or drum sets can help babies develop their sense of rhythm and timing. And holding drumsticks can help them coordinate their movements and develop their motor skills. Toys like xylophones which play with different notes or have different textures, can help babies develop their sense of touch and explore different sounds and sensations. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENTMusical toys also boost cognitive development. Playing with musical toys can help improve a baby’s memory and problem-solving skills. As they learn which items make different sounds, they associate these sounds with those items, shaping their experience with the world around them. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENTMusical toys can also help babies express themselves and communicate their emotions in new ways. While babies can’t tell you they’re excited, they can shake a maraca to express their happiness. CHOOSING THE RIGHT MUSICAL TOYS FOR YOUR BABY   It’s worth mentioning that it’s always important to choose age-appropriate toys for your baby. Make sure any musical toys you choose for your child are non-toxic, don’t include any small parts, and don’t reach a volume that could hurt their sensitive ears. THE BEST MUSICAL TOYS FOR BABIES     Musical toys include classic wooden instruments and electronic sound boxes, but there are also many fun ways to make inexpensive toys using items at home! Let’s look at some of our favourite musical toys for babies. INSTRUMENTSMusical instruments are fantastic for helping little ones develop their hand-eye coordination and understand how sounds are made. Wooden xylophones and drum sets are fantastic for growing tots because all they need to do is hit the surface with a stick. Once they get the hang of the motion, they can even begin creating their own melodies and beats. ELECTRONIC TOYSElectronic noise-makers are beloved by parents because they boost auditory engagement. Tonies are especially popular with tiny music makers because they can tell interactive stories, recite audiobooks, and play their favourite songs. Noise-makers can also include music boxes, which play charming lullabies, and pink noise machines, which are designed to relax babies and aid their sleep. HOMEMADE TOYSIf you’re looking for an inexpensive musical toy or a fun activity to engage your child in, why not try making sensory toys at home? All you need to make a rattle they can shake about is an old water bottle and beans or rice — just make sure to close the lid securely. Also, paintbrushes make excellent drumsticks! SING-ALONGS!Last but not least, we have sing-alongs. Singing to your baby aids their sensory development and helps strengthen your bond. There are no limits to the songs you can enjoy together, and because all you need is your best singing voice, you can take this ‘toy’ anywhere with you. Now, that’s music to our ears.  MAKE PLAYTIME MUSICALMusical toys are a great way to introduce babies to the world of music and help them develop important skills. They’re fun and can boost cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Check out our range of sensory toys to find the perfect personalised musical toy to elevate your child’s playtime.FOLLOW US

Everything You Need to Know About Baby’s First Smile After a long few weeks of crying, feeding and dirty nappies, all you want is to see your baby smile. More than a precious moment, this first smile is the first and most adorable sign your little one will show you that they are not just healthy, but happy.   Yes, you read that right. A surprising fact that most people don’t know is that unborn babies can already make a smile in utero. While these may not be conscious or voluntary movements, these ‘smiles’ are an early form of what’s known as a ‘reflex smile’, similar to the way that your newborn will wave their little arms around or randomly kick out their leg. These are signs that your baby is feeling their way through their body and that the little connections between their brain and their muscles are strengthening.   By the age of two months, you will see your baby’s first ‘reflex smile’. These smiles are generally quite short and can happen at any moment, sometimes even while they’re asleep. As real as these early smiles may feel to you, there’s a strong chance that it’s actually your baby passing wind. Your fellow parent friends, own parents or midwives may insist that it’s ‘just gas’, but nobody knows your baby like you do. If you notice your baby smiling during morning cuddles or right before a nappy change, this may well be a sign of comfort and contentment, which as a parent is all that really matters.   Your baby’s first ‘real’ smile is likely to occur around the age of 6-8 weeks. Around this time, you might start to notice more frequent little mouth twitches as your little one practices how they can move the muscles in their baby face and use them to express real happiness and pleasure. When their first ‘real’ smile happens, you’ll know it. Baby won’t just smile with their mouth, but with their whole face: their little eyes will sparkle, their squishy cheeks will round and they might even let out a little gurgle   A simple smile will encourage your baby to feel safe, secure and content. The more that you smile at your baby, the more they will want to mimic you. It’s not possible to spoil a newborn, so make lots of time for cuddles, coos and tender loving care. In fact, the more that parents show their babies affection, the quicker their little brains will develop, especially emotionally and socially.   It turns out that a smile really is the start of something good. Around the time of their first real smile, your little one will also start to explore what else their faces can do. Facial expressions will become more varied and reactive to the world around them. So, that little scowl that normally means you need to check their nappy? They might actually just be frowning at you…  With love, My 1st Years x FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+go back top

8 Places to Visit With the Kids This Bank Holiday Horaay for May! Two bank holidays in one month, what could be better? Oh wait, we’re Mums and we don’t get to party on a Sunday night and spend Monday in bed,  instead a bank holiday means one extra day we need to plan children’s activities for… Fear not, we have you covered with 8 places to take the kids to this Bank Holiday Weekend. – VISIT BLUE REEF AQUARIUM – TYNEMOUTH –  Image Source: Facebook – Blue ReefFor a fun family day out in the North East visit Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth. From talented Seals to adorable otters, kids will love meeting all of the fish and animals. – VISIT CREALY THEME PARK – DEVON – Image Source: Facebook – Crealy Theme ParkIf you’re visiting the cathedral of Exeter this weekend, take your little thrill seeker for a day at Crealy Theme Park! From scary rides to indoor play suitable for tiny tots, this is a fabulous day out for kids big and small. – VISIT DIGGERLAND – YORKSHIRE –  Image Source: Facebook – DiggerlandYorkshire is renowned for its beautiful walks and quaint towns, but for a day out that the little ones will love take a trip to Diggerland in Castleford. The kids will get to ride on real diggers, rides and go-karts – giving Bob the Builder a run for his money! – VISIT DREAMLAND – MARGATE –  Image Source: Facebook – DreamlandLocated in the up-and-coming seaside town of Margate, Dreamland is a super-cool vintage amusement park. Recently renovated the fun park boasts vintage attractions such as helter-skelters, dodgems and a roller disco all situated on the scenic British seafront. – VISIT DUDLEY ZOO – DUDLEY –  Image Source: Facebook – Dudley ZooFor a bank holiday adventure in the Midlands look no further than Dudley Zoo! Your little explorer will love seeing the monkeys, big cats, pink flamingos, and reptiles all situated in the picturesque castle grounds. – VISIT FLAMBARDS THEME PARK – CORNWALL –  Image Source: Facebook – FlambardsIf your kid has a wild side they’ll love spending the day at Flambards Theme Park. It’s not all rides and play areas though, take a trip back in time with Flambards Victorian Village, Concord simulators, Vintage Motorbike Gallery and much more… – VISIT GRUFFALO SPOTTERS, DELAMERE FOREST – CHESHIRE –   Image Source: Facebook – Forestry Commission EnglandWhat little one isn’t a fan of the Gruffalo? Take a walk around Delamere Forest and watch it come to life with the Gruffalo Spotter App, look around for clues and see the Gruffalo, fox, owl and snake all come to life in front of your very eyes. – VISIT BEWILDERWOOD – NORFOLK –  Image Source: Facebook – BeWILDerwoodFor curious children BeWILDerwood is the perfect day out, the magical forest is filled with treetop trails, mysterious mazes, scary lakes and much more wizardry. The whole family will enjoy a day out in the fresh air exploring this enchanting forest. What are your plans this Bank Holiday Weekend? FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+go back top

What to Pack In Your Child’s Nursery Backpack | My 1st Years Starting nursery is often an exciting time for your little one. For parents, it can be a little more stressful. Naturally, you want to make sure they’re prepared for every eventuality when you drop them off, but that can make it tricky to know what to pack in their nursery bag. Luckily, we’re here to help you send them off with everything they need to have a fantastic experience with the ultimate nursery backpack checklist.   1. SPARE & OUTDOOR CLOTHING Days at nursery often get messy! Play activities can see your little one enjoying pots of paint, pens, glue and glitter, which will inevitably end up splattered down their front. The same goes for their delicious lunch and mud from the garden. A spare pair of clothes is a must-have, so your mini mess maker can quickly return to having fun after any spill. When packing each morning, check you’ve included a replacement for each part of their outfit, from T-shirts to socks. It’s also essential to pack extra pieces for outdoor play, especially once the seasons change, including a cosy hat, scarf, wellies and a waterproof jacket. Now they can enjoy outdoor fun, come rain or shine!   2. MEDICATION Your child’s nursery will need to be made aware of any illnesses or allergies they have in advance of their first day. If they take prescription medication or need an EpiPen or inhaler close by, pack enough for the day and let their carer know exactly where they can find them. That way, if your little one needs their medication, it can be administered safely and quickly. Plus, it’s always a good idea to include instructions on when and how their carer should give the medication.   3. SNACKS & DRINKS Now, onto your little munchkin’s favourite part of the packing list! What you pack in terms of food and drink will depend on their age and what the nursery provides. Your list could include a refillable beaker of water, bottles of expressed or formula milk, prepared snacks and a packed lunch.  Don’t forget, your little learner will need to stay hydrated for all that busy play. We recommend that you make your bottle or cup of choice spill-proof! Children need to eat a balanced diet, so if you’re planning to pre-prepare all their food for the day, include a piece of fruit or two as a healthy and tasty snack they’ll love.  If you are picking them up in the afternoon, perhaps pack an extra snack for them to enjoy after nursery, especially if it’s a walk or bus ride back home. A banana or packet of their favourite crisps should tide them over until dinnertime.    4. TOYS, COMFORTERS AND TEETHERS If your little one’s favourite thing isn’t playtime or mealtime, it’s most likely naptime! Most nurseries have set times that the children can lie down for a quick snooze, but not all of them are great at falling asleep on schedule. This can be especially true if they’re not used to sleeping away from home. While nursery workers are experts at getting over-excited children settled, sending your little one off to nursery with their favourite sleep aids is crucial for getting the most out of their naps. All little ones have a favourite comfort object, whether that’s a bunny or a blanket, so remember to pack it, especially if they’re struggling to fit in. We suggest, if you can, buying a second version of their favourite object, so they don’t get too upset if they lose it.  If they can’t sleep without a cuddly toy in their arms, pack a familiar plush or a super-soft comforter to help them drift off. For teething tots, a chewy and easy-to-grip teether is a must for soothing their gums.   5. NAPPIES, CREAMS AND WIPES Last but not least, leave space for all those extra bits your child will need to keep them clean and comfortable throughout the day. Their carer may need to grab a fresh nappy, nappy cream or wipes at a moment’s notice, so make sure they’re readily accessible. Even if your little one is potty trained, keeping a spare pair of underwear in their bag is always a good idea. They’re still learning, after all, and accidents may happen. PICKING THE BEST BACKPACK FOR YOUR CHILD Whew, that’s a lot to pack every day! That’s why it’s important to have a spacious, durable, and cute bag to send your little one off to nursery with. At My 1st Years, we know a good nursery backpack is hard to find. That’s why we offer a massive collection of wonderful backpacks that children and parents LOVE. Your cheeky child can explore a huge range of colours and patterns to find the perfect characterful bag that fits their unique personality, from roarsome dinosaur designs to unicorn-themed backpacks. Our experts designed each bag to be super comfortable to carry, with padded and adjustable shoulder straps, and incredibly useful, with spacious compartments, pockets, and outer pouches for their water bottle.  Plus, you can add their name to these delightful designs with our personalisation service, making their nursery backpack instantly recognisable! Little learners will love to have their name on their front of their brilliant new backpack, to let everyone know who it belongs to.  Don’t forget to label everything that they take to nursery! Either use a sharpie or buy some stick-on or iron-on labels to ensure that their bits and bobs don’t get lost!

Congratulations on the birth of your grandchild! Becoming a grandparent is one of the most exciting things a person can experience. Naturally, we all want to share that excitement with our nearest and dearest through a fun ‘I’m a grandparent’ announcement. So, we’ve put together a list of our favourite first grandchild announcement ideas to inspire you. Let’s get started! FUN IDEAS FOR ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF YOUR GRANDCHILD One of the best ways to announce the arrival of your grandchild is via social media. Instagram and Facebook allow you to add a photo to your announcement and private pages and groups create a safe space for people to share their congratulations. Our ideas can also work as private messages or texts. Let’s dive in! BODYSUIT There’s only one thing a photo of a tiny bodysuit can mean, so snap a picture of one of your grandchild’s new outfits for a super adorable birth announcement post. You can even personalise it with their name to add a special touch to the reveal. PHOTO OF THEIR FEET OR FIST A tasteful way to share your excitement with your friends and family is to take a sweet black-and-white photo of your grandchild’s tiny feet or a finger clasped in their fist. A favourite amongst celebrities, this style of photography is timeless and shows off your adorable new grandchild without revealing their face. MUG If you want to announce the arrival of your grandchild without sharing a photo of the baby, try a mug. A cute mug that reads ‘My favourite people call me Grandma’ or ‘Grandpa’ will have tears welling in everyone’s eyes. BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT CARDSThe traditional way to announce a birth is to send physical birth announcement cards. With the rise of social media, these cards have fallen out of favour but are a fun way to share the news. Cards offer a lovely keepsake and can form part of your announcement on Facebook or Instagram. Simply snap a photo of the card, add your caption, and upload. HOW TO WRITE THE CAPTION The trickiest part of writing a first grandchild announcement is the wording. Birth announcements were traditionally very formal, but in 2022, they tend to be more personal. If in doubt, personalise our template below with some sweet details. Our bundle of joy is here! We’re happy to announce the birth of our grandchild, [baby’s name]. Our daughter/son [name] and their partner [name] welcomed [baby’s name] on [date]. From the second we met our incredible grandchild, we were besotted. I’m pleased to share that both mum and baby are healthy, and our family is over the moon. DOS AND DON’TS WHEN ANNOUNCING YOU’RE GOING TO BE A GRANDPARENT Hello, new grandparents! With a new baby about to join the fold, you’re going to want to shout the news from the rooftops. But before you do, let’s go over some rules for announcing the arrival of your grandchild. WAIT UNTIL THE PARENTS HAVE MADE THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT   If the parents are planning to make an announcement, wait for them to do this first. The last thing you want to do is usurp them by announcing their news for them! While they’ll tell you their exciting news as soon as their baby arrives, they may be waiting a little longer before announcing it to the whole world. Before calling your best friend or posting a photo of the baby to Facebook, make sure they’re happy for you to share their news. CHECK WHAT INFORMATION THE PARENTS ARE COMFORTABLE SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIAWhile the parents may be happy for you to announce your new grandparent status, they might not be comfortable sharing every detail of the birth or even a photo of their newborn.  Before hitting ‘post’ on Facebook or Instagram, double-check what they are and aren’t ok with your sharing. They may be happy for you to post a picture of a onesie, but not the child’s sex, medical information or pictures of their face. SHARE WITH CLOSE FRIENDS FIRSTYour close pals and family friends will be over the moon to hear the news that you’re a grandparent! So, make sure they hear it from you directly. Social media is a fantastic way to share brilliant news, but your nearest and dearest will appreciate being told before the masses. COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION!  The arrival of a new baby, whether it’s your first, second or third grandchild, is a momentous occasion. Remember the moment forever with a personalised photo frame, keepsake jewellery or picture album from our beautiful gifts range.

In the Making: From Print to Personalised   DESIGNING THE PRINT Our pretty prints and patterns always start from sketchbook scribbles. We draw inspiration from the great outdoors to create fresh spring designs by balancing delicate pastels to form simple but sweet prints, ready to apply to different designs. The final selections are curated in neutral and calming new baby colour palettes, that feature smaller emblems ready to be made bespoke with our personalisation service.  DIGITISING Once our dreamy hand-drawn designs are finalised, we digitise them so our proud prints can be easily replicated and customised for different products. This allows us to maintain the unique charm of the original sketches while making them more versatile for various applications. Two examples of this are our “tiny transport” and “fabulous florals” prints. Once the prints are finalised they can be used across many different products, so you can start to grow a collection of matching gifts. CHOOSING THE FABRICS AND FINAL PRODUCT From darling dungarees, to super soft sleepsuits and practical soft storage bags, our product range is thoughtfully curated to complement our charming print patterns and is tailored to suit the needs of a newborn baby. Our sleepsuits are crafted from cuddly cotton that is gentle on baby’s delicate skin and features handy poppers to make changing time as easy as possible. The final design will make the perfect newborn gift, sure to keep them comfy and warm all night long. CREATING BESPOKE GIFTS WITH PERSONALISATION Personalisation is the key to making our products extra special – it is ‘kind of our thing’ after all. As little ones begin to outgrow their small sleepsuits, we recommend keeping them as a treasured keepsake, to be looked back on in years to come. Our luxury gift boxes make the perfect memory box to store these precious pieces, so be sure to keep yours! The final products in this range are embroidered with the names of your little ones in sweet stitching and delicate fonts. From a lovely layette bodysuit to soft storage selections, personalisation or customisation gives our products that unique touch.  Top tip: customise with “Lola’s Toys” to  keep their toys and belongings neat and tidy and to add delightful decor to their nursery or playroom.

Whether it’s their 1st holiday or 12th, making memories is always magical, especially when you can look back and see how much they’ve grown… Read through to find out how you can fill an awesome album with all sorts of adventures this summer… Beach, please! Fill pages with snaps of super sandcastles, wonderful waves and stick down special shells collected from the sunny shores… Step into summer with our sweetest selection of swim for beach buoys and babes, our bucket and spade set is shore to be a winner!   Garden galore! Spend a sunny afternoon in the garden soaking up the sun playing the day away… Snap shots of pretty petals, cool cartwheels and awesome outdoor adventures… Stick in some fun finds from exploring the outdoors!  Treat a little one to our glorious garden gifts and let the adventures begin…   Adventures await... Whether it’s a trip to the zoo, farm or local duck pond… spotting animals is always an awesome adventure… snap shots of roar-some poses and fluffy friends to remember this really wild day out… Pack all of their essentials in a brilliant backpack and be ready for sun, rain and shine with awesome accessories!   Happiest at home... Making the most of the everyday has never been more important… snap shots of the little things, cosy cuddles in our favourite fleece robes – silly smiles and terrible tantrums… the things that are sure to make you smile in years to come! A summer of memories never looked so sweet! Don’t forget to tag @my1styears in your sweet snaps for a chance to be featured on our social media… Shop our awesome albums and let the adventures begin!

Gifts for New Mums That Aren’t for the Baby So, a close friend or family member has recently become a new mum. Hurray! Having a baby is incredibly exciting, but new mums often find themselves overlooked in favour of their bundle of joy. While you should shower newborns with gifts, new mums deserve a treat after going through 40 weeks of pregnancy, labour and childbirth. That’s why it’s important to surprise new parents with a thoughtful present for their tot and a gift for mum. Their special present should be personal, practical or enjoyable, not a toy or gadget for the baby. Here are seven interesting non-baby gifts for new parents to help or really spoil the new mum in your life.   1. PRE-PREPARED MEALS The last thing a new parent wants to do when sleep-deprived is cook a hearty meal. Keeping up their energy and maintaining their health is vital at this time, but with a baby strapped to their front around the clock, heading to the kitchen can feel like more hassle than it’s worth. Take the one thing off their to-do list by making sure their freezer is stocked with pre-prepared meals. If you’re a whiz in the kitchen, you can prepare these yourself or opt for a food delivery service like Cook.   2. SELF-CARE BOX New mums deserve a pamper session. If your friend is a fan of manicures, facials, or a good beauty treatment, bring the spa to her living room with a thoughtful self-care box. Grab a basket and fill it with face masks, luxurious hand cream, nail polish and more — anything that will help her feel pampered, relaxed and beautiful.   3. COMFY SLIPPERS Between midnights spent pacing around the nursery to rushing endless loads of baby grows through the wash, mum is going to be on her feet a lot. A comfy pair of machine-washable slippers will make sure her feet are warm and comfortable. Plus, few things are as relaxing as slipping your toes into a pair of fluffy slippers.   4. LUXURIOUS LOUNGEWEAR Your friend will be spending a lot of time at home over the coming months, so she deserves something comfortable and luxurious to relax in. New mums will love a matching pair of pyjamas, a cosy loungewear set or a fluffy dressing gown. Whatever you opt for, make sure your gift is machine-washable.   5. A MASSAGE A massage is the ultimate gift for relaxing a stressed new mum. While she may not be able to make it to the spa straight away, the promise of a gentle and calming postnatal massage on the horizon will be a hugely appreciated gift. You get extra credit if you babysit her tot while she’s out.   6. YOUR COMPANY It can be easy to assume new mums want to spend all their time basking in the joy of their new family. Motherhood can be lonely, especially if their partner has to return to work soon following the baby’s arrival. Give your friend your company for a day or an hour — whatever she prefers. Head over to her home and offer up your help in any way that can alleviate her stress. Some mums might just want to chat over a cup of tea, whereas others will be grateful for your help tidying up, cleaning or entertaining the baby while she has a shower.   7. JEWELLERY SET Baby and me jewellery sets make wonderful new baby gifts for parents. Yes, this gift is partly for the baby, but it’s mainly a thoughtful and commemorative gift for mum. We love this beautiful gold baby and me locket necklace gift set, which comes with a matching gold-plated lock for baby and mum. Plus, this gift can be personalised with a sweet engraved message to commemorate their little one’s birth. When celebrating the arrival of a new life, celebrate the whole family with our beautiful selection of thoughtful and personalise-able new baby gifts.

AI Characters: What Would the World’s Most Loved Fictional Characters Look Like as Human Beings? Many of us will have grown up watching some of the world’s most loved cartoon characters on our screens – from Kermit the Frog to Mickey Mouse – whilst wishing they could be our best friends in real life. But have you ever wondered what some of these fictional characters would actually look like if they were human beings? We have, and so we collated a list of some of the world’s most searched for fictional characters and turned to AI technology to discover what these iconic characters would look like if they were human children. Does your favourite fictional character look like you would have imagined? MINIONS – 60 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Topping the list as the most popular fictional characters were the Minions from Universal’s classic film ‘Despicable Me’. These cute, small yellow characters are the star of the show in the 2010 movie and speak in Minionese – a language incomprehensible to the human ear. The stars of their own film ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ (2022), the human visualisation of them can be seen with their characteristically big eyes and big smile, all complete with their iconic outfit, a yellow top and blue dungarees. HELLO KITTY – 32.8 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Hello Kitty ranks in joint second position, with over 32 million searches for the much-loved character, who is also known by her real name, Kitty White. According to her backstory, which was created by Yuko Shimizu, Hello Kitty lives in London with her family, including twin sister Mimmy, who can be seen wearing a yellow bow that compliments Kitty’s iconic pink one. In real life, AI imagined Hello Kitty to have blonde wavy locks tinged slightly with pink, with her famous pink bow sitting on top of her head. MICKEY MOUSE – 32.8 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Placing in joint second position with over 32 million searches was a depiction of what Mickey Mouse could look like as a human child. The animated character, designed almost 100 years ago in 1928, is much-loved by Disney fans worldwide. AI’s design of a real-life human Mickey imagines him as a young boy with bouncy dark hair, wearing a blue waistcoat that features those iconic gold buttons. SCOOBY DOO – 21.9 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Loveable pooch Scooby Doo, known for his love of solving mysteries and munching on delectable snacks, placed in fourth position with over 21 million searches. As a human, AI chose to visualise Scooby as a smiley red-headed boy, complete with a turquoise collared shirt perfectly matching the colour of his onscreen blue and yellow collar. MINNIE MOUSE – 12 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   In fifth position is Minnie Mouse, whose full name is actually Minerva Mouse. With over 12 million annual searches for Mickey’s long-time sweetheart, Minnie as a human child can be seen wearing a space-bun hairstyle complete with her iconic spotted bow and matching polka-dot dress. OLAF – 6.6 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Do you want to build a snowman? Olaf the Snowman from Disney’s 2013 masterpiece Frozen is the inspiration for our next real-life character, who can be found with snow white hair and a thick winter jacket to match. Over six million people search for Olaf the Snowman each year, known for his love of summer and warm hugs. SIMBA – 6.6 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Simba from Disney’s Lion King inspired our sixth illustration, with AI visualising the human version of him as an adorable young boy in the African grassland. Simba is the protagonist of the film series and is the king of the fictional Pride Rock, eventually taking his place in the Circle of Life. PINK PANTHER – 5.4 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES  The Pink Panther is traditionally depicted as an adult (amateur) French detective known as Inspector Jacques Clouseau – but as a child our AI design envisions him as a young boy dressed all in pink, with similarly rosy cheeks and blonde wavy hair. The Pink Panther franchise started with the 1963 film ‘The Pink Panther’, however, elements and characters inspired by the films were later adapted into books, comic books, animated series and video games. DORY – 3.6 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   Finding Nemo’s amnesiac blue tang fish Dory is the inspiration for the very cute child in ninth position. With characteristically big eyes, human Dory’s eyes are pale blue, and she has wavy brown and blue hair which looks as if it’s floating underwater. Dory was one of the starring characters in Pixar’s 2003 film, and later was the protagonist of her own film ‘Finding Dory’ in 2016. KERMIT THE FROG – 2.9 MILLION GLOBAL SEARCHES   In tenth place, with almost three million global searches a year, is a young boy inspired by the star and host of The Muppets, Kermit the Frog. As a human, Kermit can be characterised by a frog-green coloured cardigan and a familiarly wide smile – we only wonder what his voice would sound like in real life. If our designs have inspired you to purchase some character themed toys, clothes or gifts for your little one, check out our range from Bluey and Paw Patrol to Peter Rabbit. METHODOLOGY:  We sought to visualise what famous children’s characters would look like as children in the real world, as opposed to their widely recognised cartoon forms, according to AI. Using Midjourney, the experts used prompts to reveal what these characters would look like as human children. Prompts that were used were based on the below, with a range of prompts used to ensure diversity across the characters: “What would [character] look like as a happy human child, hyperrealistic, photorealism” To create the seed list of characters to be reimagined, a long list of popular children’s characters was analysed using Google AdWords to reveal the global average annual search totals for each character, with the most popular then being reimagined using Midjourney.