New mums love splashing cash on their little ones, with spending on baby products in the US up 23% between 2006 and 2013. But research has revealed that parents are giving more thought to their babies’ appearance, with Latino and Russian parents most conscious of their child's looks.

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most stressful – albeit cherished – moments. With Brits spending an average of £1,619 to prepare for a baby, some mums are buying on their smartphones at all hours. But how do new mothers really like to shop? And which brands are meeting their needs?

In the US, 83% of new mums are Gen Yers, and though 88% of this generation want to avoid becoming a ‘helicopter parent’, many are happy to use tech to check on their kids. In the second of a two-part report, we ask if more dads will take paternity leave, and look at the rise of the ‘drone parent’.

While Barbie’s reign in the toy aisles has been under threat for some years, Mattel has been working to make her relevant for modern kids. The toy brand has announced a 23% sales jump for the 57-year-old doll, thanks in part to its inspirational 'You Can Be Anything' marketing campaign.