03.Best Baby Brand
The philosophy behind our testing of baby products is safety and reliability, built on 50 years of research and feedback by consumers and relevant industry safety bodies. The shortlisted companies for Best Baby Brand provide a wide range of baby and toddler products, from strollers and walkers to carriers and cots for the home or travelling family.
When we judged this category, we ruled out any brand that was subject to a recall in 2009. And because we don't test every product a brand makes, we also checked that the regulators haven't spotted any problems.
Award criteria
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Safety
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Reliability
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Ease of use
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Readily available
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Variety
Shortlist
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Bèbè Care
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Childcare
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Love N Care
Winner: Love N Care
Love N Care's products were recommended five times in 2008/09 (one high chair, two strollers and two cots). In our baby sling and change table tests, their models were rated as "worth considering". No 
Love N Care products were not recommended. Most major baby brands are represented several times in our 2008/09 tests, but all except Love N Care failed at least once.
Love N Care makes a wide range of baby products, including strollers, cots, portable cots, change tables, bassinets, high chairs, baths, baby monitors and furniture. Their products are available in many stores across all states and territories, including major retail chains such as Babies Galore. There were no Love N Care recalls listed in the 2008/09 period.
Runners up: Childcare and Bèbè Care
Childcare had six recommended products in 2008/09 (a high chair, change table, two cots and two strollers), but its Captiva stroller failed a safety test.
Bèbè Care had three recommended products in 2008/09 (two strollers, one cot), but its Orion stroller failed a durability test.
We also considered companies such as Weeride, which makes a recommended child seat for bicycles - but making one product well isn't as impressive as making a wide range of good-quality products.