Most of April has been a total washout with even more soggy weather expected but don’t let a damp forecast rain on your parade.

The last thing our kids want to do when it rains is stay indoors, they want to explore, feel the raindrops on their cheeks and most of all splash about in the biggest puddles.

Avoid giving yourself and your children cabin fever by braving it out in the rain. A simple trip to the park or the shops can become a nightmare however with a little preparation in the wardrobe department and a touch of imagination, rain doesn’t have to be all that bad.

To make the rain more fun we have picked out some of our favourite rain buddies as well as a couple of fun ideas if it should rain some more!

Stay cool and dry in a raincoat - Getting ready to go out in the rain is the best part and staying dry doesn’t get more fun when you can wear bright and colourful raincoats like this blue retro car style one from Their Nibs or this character poncho from Bugzz - great for keeping scatty toddlers visible outside.

Pull on some fun wellies -  Our favourite splash buddies.  We love these ‘good enough to eat’ Candy wellies by Hatley which feature cakes, lollies and ice creams and complete with handles to make them easier to wear.

Make rainy snaps – capture the fun with waterproof disposable cameras, encourage your miniature photographers to capture their best shots of puddles, raindrops and rainbows, if you are lucky, something to share with the whole family back at home.

Create paintings using raindrops. Give your little artists a sheet of heavy white paper and some powdered paints carefully scatter and sprinkle your favourite colours of onto the paper. Lay a plastic bag on the ground, and place your papers on the plastic. Watch the rain turn the powder into art, and then take the pictures inside to dry.

And...don’t forget your umbrella – No trip out in the rain is complete without a fun umbrella to show off.  Kidorable specialise in themed rain gear which include adorable umbrellas.  We love this ladybird umbrella if you want something classier try this exquisite sea life umbrella by Galleria.

Welcoming you back from the Easter bank holiday weekend, this week’s Half Pint Chic sale is a combination of Baby Graziella brands featuring Coccobirillo, Boys and Girls and Baby Graziella.

This beautiful Italian childrenswear designer offers a range of adorable clothing to get you ready for summer.  For the girls pretty t-shirts and dresses with plenty of frills, bows and diamantes and for the boys, smart nautical styles, crisp polo collars, bermuda shorts and fancy shirts for all occasions. Lots of red, whites and blues again, great for the Jubilee.

Baby Graziella is also a clear favourite amongst the mini celebrities including most recently, baby Clemency ,TV journalist Kate Silverton’s newborn.

We love, this gorgeous combination of red and white for the little ladies and smart and sporty navy set for the little soldiers in our lives.

This week the Huffington Post opened a blogging debate on whether we should care about children's fashion? 

The question feels a bit wrong headed - of course it isn't important - but it is fun and it is undeniable that children love to dress up, so provided that fashion is about them and what they want to do, rather than something imposed on them how can it be bad? 

The weekly sales we run at Halfpintchic.com,  we like to think, encourage experimentation and make it fun. The discounts mean parents can buy beautiful clothes without breaking the bank and the variety of brands introduces far greater choice for the kids (if you let them).   

Our latest sale features Scandinavian designer Lille Barn – beautifully made clothes in natural fabrics created to make dressing children easy and maintaining their good looks wash after wash. All garments (including their Merino Wools) are machine washable.

We say yes to children’s fashion, what do you think? Give us your opinion here in our comment box.

Cashing in on the new arrival of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s first child, Blue Ivy, a fashion designer has applied to make ‘Blue Ivy Carter NYC’ a trademark name.

The New York designer Joseph Mbeh filed an application with a US Patent and Trademark Office just four days after the little girl was born.

In an attempt to place a line of children’s clothes under the name, the application, which cost Mbeh just $25, was successful. It was unknown at the time that’ Blue Ivy Carter NYC’ was filed without the consent of the infant’s famous parents.

The New York designer, who also owns another fashion label, FourFront, has made a collection of mock up photos of girls in clothing with tags bearing Blue Ivy Carter NYC on them.

Designer children’s clothes for new-borns

Whilst you might not have the former Destiny’s Child cash flow or would like to set up a label yourself, you can still find some great gifts for new-borns.

We love these bootylicious baby booties from My 1^st Years. The leather sheepskin booties will keep new feet feeling fresh and comfortable.

They can also be personalised with delicate threading around the ankle. The £25 baby boots, suitable for 3-6 month year olds, are a particular favourite of Elton John and David Furnish. They are available in both pink and blue.

If you’re not crazy in love with fancy footwear, maybe these solid silver little acorns would make the ideal gift for a new-born. They too can be personalised, making a great Christening memento or just celebrating the new arrival. The keepsake gift can be attached to a leather cord, pink/blue ribbon or silver chain. The little acorns from Marie Walshe Jewellery will set you back around £55 approximately.

For more designer baby clothes and gifts, check out the Half Pint Chic sale.