Welcome to the first-ever Australian Mother & Baby Magazine Awards, proudly sponsored by Coles, an annual event that celebrates the star products in the nursery industry. Parents and industry specialists will test and judge hundreds of baby and toddler-related products across 30 categories, ranging from cots, prams, high chairs and car seats to baby wipes, baby food, toys and nappies. The seven finalists in each category, along with the eventual gold, silver and bronze category winners, will be able to display a special Australian Mother & Baby Magazine Awards 2012 logo on their products, which will serve as a seal of approval that theirs is the top product in the business.

Each product entered in the awards will appear in a shopping guide in the April/May issue of Mother & Baby magazine, and the gold, silver and bronze award-winners will be unveiled at a special awards ceremony in Sydney on July 18. The winners and their products will be published in a 32- page booklet in the August/September issue of Mother & Baby magazine, on sale July 18.

We're looking for readers to test the shortlisted products for their quality, user-friendliness and value for money, among other things. To apply to be a tester, click on the 'Product Testers' tab above.

To enter your product in the awards, click on the 'Entry Form' tab above. Here, you'll find more information about the awards, the awards process, your entry form and the terms and conditions.

As part of the awards, we are looking for Australia's Mum of the Year. We want to hear from truly inspirational mums who have an extraordinary story to tell about their life. The winner of the Mum of the Year award will win a year's supply of groceries from Coles, valued at $10,400. For more details, including how to enter, pick up a copy of the February/March issue of Mother & Baby magazine, on sale January 25.

We look forward to revealing our winners,

Sharon Christal
Associate Publisher, Mother & Baby