Stories

As the family store that grows with you, we’re proud to launch our new website - built to help modern parents cut through the noise and shop smarter.  We bring you the world’s best baby, kids, and parenting essentials - handpicked, tested, and trusted by real families like yours. Our new online space is easier to browse, faster to navigate, and thoughtfully organised by how you actually live. No fluff. Just clever design that makes parenting simpler. “We built Sprout for parents like us - time-poor, design-conscious, and drowning in too many tabs. The new site is clean, intuitive, and purposefully curated so you can find what works without the scroll fatigue.” - Mike, Co-Founder So, what's new? Smarter Shopping, Less Guesswork:  our lifestyle-led categories (FEED, SOOTHE, STYLE, PLAY, HOME, ROUTINE, WELL-BEING) are designed around your daily moments, not retail trends. Explore our curated collections Parent-Approved Essentials:  From newborn must-haves to big-kid upgrades, we’ve done the work to bring the best together. Find the perfect gift Brands That Get It:  We partner with award-winning, design-forward, family-owned global brands that share our values. Meet the brands that made the cut The Sprout Selection Standard:  Every product is scored, tested, and filtered through real parent feedback before it hits our shelves. No hype. Just high standards.  View Our Collection Trust parents, to tell parents. We don’t just trust algorithms—we trust you. Every product we select is influenced by real parent experiences, feedback, and lived moments. “Sprout isn’t about selling more - it’s about selling better. We obsess over quality, design, and function because we know what matters when you're in the thick of it. With our new site, finding the right essentials feels less like a chore and more like a win.” - Olivier, Co-Founder If you made it here, we're happy to welcome you.  Have fun exploring our new site, and come back soon for exciting products and a brand new brand launching very soon. And if you need help, we’re just a message away. Get in touch Written by Jacqui Mills.

With World Prematurity Day coming up on Sunday, we chatted with Nicolle Grosskopf, owner of NESTLING—a brand dedicated to supporting premature babies and their families. From NICU challenges to redefining “preemie-friendly” products, she’s on a mission to ensure that every preemie mom feels seen, supported, and empowered. Join us as we explore her heartfelt story and celebrate the resilience of preemie families everywhere. Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.   I'm a mother of two boys with a BEd in Foundation Phase teaching, though I’m not currently teaching. I solo-parent frequently as my husband works abroad. I have a deep passion for children, teaching, and learning, which I bring into my work and life as a mom. I love the outdoors and spending time with my family, which brings balance and joy to my journey. My experiences as a mother, including a challenging pregnancy and a NICU stay with my first child, have greatly shaped who I am and how I connect with other moms through my business, NESTLING.   What inspired you to start a range specifically for premature babies, and how did your own experience as a mom of a preemie influence this decision? The idea for NESTLING came from my own experience as a preemie mom. When I had my first child prematurely, I faced challenges I hadn't anticipated, from finding the right products to understanding his specific needs. I wanted to create a space that offered beautiful, practical products for mothers like me. NESTLING is my way of supporting preemie moms with locally sourced and handmade items designed for the comfort and well-being of both mother and baby.   Can you share some of the biggest challenges you faced as a mom of a premature baby, and how did those experiences shape the products you offer?   One of the biggest challenges was being prepared for the unexpected. Between the NICU stay, learning to care for a tiny baby, and adjusting to a new reality, I often felt isolated and overwhelmed. This experience influenced the products I chose to include in my product offering, including practical feeding tools and sensory items that ease a preemie's transition. Every product is designed to support the unique needs of preemie mothers and babies.   What are some common misconceptions about caring for premature babies that you'd like to address, especially from your perspective as both a mom and a business owner in this space?   A common misconception is that preemies are simply "smaller newborns," when in fact they often face unique developmental and health challenges requiring specialised care and tools. Many companies label products as "prem" or "preemie-friendly" without truly understanding preemies' specific needs, often overlooking essential design elements for their comfort and development. I ensure our products are carefully selected or crafted to genuinely support preemies' developmental needs. There's also the assumption that life returns to normal after the NICU, which isn’t true. I aim to raise awareness about preemies' unique needs and offer products that address these challenges.   What advice would you give to new moms who are navigating the journey of having a premature baby, and how can they best find the support they need?   My advice is to take it one day at a time and be gentle with yourself. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and to ask for help. Connect with other preemie moms through online communities or local support groups; having that support can make a big difference. My platform is here as both a resource and a support system for moms looking for products tailored to their unique journey.   What does World Prematurity Day mean to you personally?   World Prematurity Day is deeply personal for me, as it honours the journey my family and I experienced with premature birth. It brings back memories of our own challenges, from an unexpected early delivery to the long NICU days. This day highlights the resilience of preemie parents, the strength of these tiny fighters, and the incredible work of healthcare professionals who support us. For me, it’s a day to advocate for awareness, share support with other families, and celebrate the milestones of all babies who begin life so bravely. Every year, Nicolle donates care packs to NICU wards in support of World Prematurity Day. Sprout has contributed Difrax Pinky Pacifiers and 1-2-3 XS teats to these care packs, and we commend Nicolle for the incredible work she does. For more preemie tips, advice and product information, following Nicolle's page here.  

It’s always exciting to watch your little sprouts grow and develop new skills, and the sippy cup phase is one of the most important milestones. It marks the start of their journey towards independence as they begin learning to drink on their own. Straw cups are ideal for supporting speech development and strengthening oral muscles, but before babies are ready for a straw cup, getting them used to a soft spout sippy cup is an important first step. Most babies love them, and they also help minimise spills while your baby practices drinking independently. According to speech therapist and Mum of two Rachel Maroudas, who we recently interviewed as part of our Mom Talk series, when babies learn to drink from a straw, they develop their oral motor skills as they strengthen the muscles in and around their mouths and learn to coordinate their tongue and mouth movements. This helps with everyday mouth movements, such as feeding and later speech production. At Sprout, we believe that every type of sippy cup plays an important role at each stage of development. By the time your baby has started cutting teeth, they’ll be ready for a straw cup, and sippy cups act as the perfect stepping stone towards that goal. While babies under 12 months are typically too young to drink through a straw, soft spout cups give them the skills they need to transition smoothly when the time is right. In other words, a 360-degree cup helps children practice drinking from an open cup, while the sippy cup is a great beginner option for babies starting their weaning journey. Difrax Non-Spill Sippy Cup (250ml) Perfect for babies aged 6 to 9 months, the Difrax Non-Spill Sippy Cup helps your baby move from bottle feeding to drinking from a cup for the first time. With its adjustable two-position valve, you can control the flow, which is handy for babies still getting used to a cup. The anti-spill spout is a lifesaver, preventing leaks and making it ideal for when you’re on the go. Its conical design ensures that the liquid flows towards the spout without your baby needing to tilt their head back too far, reducing any strain on their neck. The soft spout and anti-spill features ensure a comfortable, mess-free experience, and the detachable handles are easy for little hands to grip. Plus, with input from medical experts, this cup is uniquely designed to enhance your baby’s drinking experience. Difrax Non-Spill 360-Degree Cup (250ml) This toddler cup is perfect for helping your child transition from a sippy cup to an open cup. The Difrax Non-Spill 360-Degree Cup has a sealing cap to prevent spills, making it a great option for travel or on-the-go adventures. Its innovative 360-degree rim allows your toddler to drink from any side of the cup, cutting down on mess. Designed for children 9 months and older, this cup supports healthy oral muscle development, making it a key stage in their development. The liquid only flows when your child sucks on the rim, so they won’t need to tilt their head back to take a sip. The slim, ergonomic design is easy for small hands to hold, and if your child already uses the Difrax Non-Spill Sippy Cup, you can attach its handle to this cup too, for added convenience. Designed with speech therapists, it’s very easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Difrax Non-Spill Cup with Straw (250ml) The Difrax Non-Spill Cup with Straw is a great next step for toddlers who have mastered the 360-degree cup and are ready for a traditional training cup. Its soft straw with an anti-leak system only releases liquid when your child drinks, making it mess-free and easy to use. Perfect for toddlers from 12 months, the Straw Cup not only supports healthy mouth development but is also easy to clean, as it can be fully disassembled to prevent bacteria buildup. Developed with medical experts, it balances safety and practicality. With a spill-proof straw, BPA-free materials, and a dishwasher-safe design, this cup is a favourite for parents. Just be sure to supervise your little one if they tend to bite the straw and replace it if you notice any signs of wear. Final Thoughts As your baby grows and becomes more independent, choosing the right cup for each developmental stage is key to supporting their progress. From soft spouts that mimic bottle-feeding to 360-degree cups and straws that encourage open-cup drinking, Difrax offers a range of solutions for every phase of your little sprout’s journey. Each step in the process not only helps your child master new drinking techniques but also promotes healthy muscle development in their mouth, setting them up for success as they transition from one stage to the next.