FORMER competitive swimmer Fiona Munt-Whittle was inspired to create Aquatots six years ago after teaching her four babies to brave the water.

Discovering that children under six months had a unique reflex which meant they instinctively know when to hold their breath, the entrepreneur pooled her own knowledge and expert advice to form the Strensham firm.

Starting with 40 babies, she now has 500 under her wing. They are taught to swim with rigorously trained teachers who undergo three years of training to qualify for the job.

Parents can enrol their bundles of joy from four weeks old to 18 months and can continue learning with the club until they are aged four.

"Learning early helps them with all sorts of motor skills," said Mrs Munt-Whittle, who used to swim competitively for Evesham and Tewkesbury. "They are more aware of their bodies and are said to sleep better and talk and walk earlier."

The company, which employs eight teachers, is now part of a six-body organisation, The British Association of Baby Swimming, which aims to standardise the high qualifications needed to teach young children.

At the Baby Show, Aquatots will be advising mums and dads and parents-to-be on the benefits of swimming, showing videos of the different levels a child goes through and underwater footage of babies in action.

For more information call 01684 296296 or visit www.aquatots.co.uk

TRAVELLING with Children went on to the internet in 2001 after owner Annie Jones discovered a lack of resources for parents wanting to explore the world with their little ones.

Recently voted Miles Mendoza's Website of the Day on Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon show, it is a lifeline for mums and dads who want to make travelling as easy as possible.

Alternatively, the company also offers advice on the simple matter of the school run or a day trip to Hereford Cathedral.

"When it comes to the happiness, health and safety of our children, I think that all parents would agree that only the very best will do," said Mrs Jones.

"The concept of travelling with children came to me as I set about packing, unpacking and packing again all the paraphernalia I thought we needed to keep our son Rory happy during a forthcoming and much-needed holiday.

"Once we arrived home again after a stressful week, I established that I'd packed too much and that half the products and equipment were either impractical, inconvenient or not required.

"Help was obviously required but I could find very little and so Travelling with Children was born and it is growing steadily.

"All our staff are expertly trained and we do not sell any products we haven't tried ourselves."

www.travellingwithchildren.co.uk, which also has a shop in Upton's Old Street (01684 594831), is packed with information, products for babies to teenagers and stories from parents who have successfully completed their own missions.

At The Baby Show, the company, which is a finalist in the Chamber of Commerce's On Line Trading Awards, will be giving away two weekend breaks in Europe and promoting an innovative inflatable travel cot, which has not entered the UK market yet.