Baby Buzz Magazine - October Issue

baby buzz
magazine
PARENTS & BUSINESS
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
October 15th
Allergies
2 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine
Baby Buzz Magazine Limited
75 Telford Road
New Southgate
London
N11 2RL
Company No: 8234631
Nickie Evans
nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com
0208 361 0727
07944 240 321
Cindy Evans
Emily Hewett, I am Emily
contact@iamemily.co.uk
Dean Baxter, ChimpMySite
Dean@chimpmysite.co.uk
Baby Buzz Magazine is a monthly printed and online
publication, printed by Warner Midland
The views expressed in this magazine are not
always those of the publishers. Neither the publisher
nor any other person associated with the production
and publication of this magazine makes any
guarantee, warranties or claims as to the accuracy
of any of the contents of this magazine. We include
and use products and services that we believe to be
of a reputable standard but we advise readers to
make their own judgements. The publishers and
magazine will not be held accountable and or
responsible for any loss caused by errors, loss or
negligence resulting from Baby Buzz Magazine
Limited. We do not accept responsibility for any
unsolicited material or photographs published. Terms
and Conditions for our competitions can be found on
our website at the time of being published. No
section of this magazine is authorised for use or
reproduction in any form without the prior consent
of the editor.
No purchase is necessary. All prizes must be
accepted as offered. For products that have been
reviewed and then given away as part of a
competition giveaway, it must be noted that there will
be minimal wear and tear to that said product. All
prize details and prices are correct at time of going
to print. Winners shall be notified by email after the
closing date with a delivery date to be agreed.
All rights reserved
Editors Letter
Oh my gosh, is it that time already?
F
So SSo S tthe he hholiddays ar are eee ov ov ov over er er er r, , , , sc sc sc scho ho ho ho hool ol ol ol hhhhas as as as a sssta ta tart rt ted edd and nd n yyes es es s uuuussss
pa pa pa pare rent n s s are al ll l br br br brea ea ea eath th th thin in in ingggg a aaa co co co cccoll ll ll l ec ec eec ec cti ti ti tive ve ve ve ve v sssssig igg iggh hhhhh of f of ff rrrel ee iee ieeef. f. f. f. Fo Fo Fo Forrr
th hos o e of us wh hh w oo ar ar ar are e e e lu lu lu luck ck ck ckyy yyy en en en enou ou ou ough gh gh gh g ttttto o o o be be be e be e aabl bl bl leee to to to wwwwwor or or orkkkk
fr f om hhom me, aand nd nd nd III ddddo o o o us us us use e e th th th that at at at a ttter er er er ermmmmm li lii liigh ggh gh gg tl tl tl t y, y, yy iit t ha ha ha ha h s s ss st st st stil iil i ll
be been a hhar aarrddddd sl ss og og oo tttry ry ry yin in inngggggg to to to to jjjjjug ug ug ug ggl gl gl gl g ee e e e oc oc oooccu cu cu cu cu cc py py py py pyin in inn inggggg ou ou ou our rr ki ki ki k ds ds ds d
andd tr t yi ying ng to ooo mainnnn inta t in in aaa lllliv iv iv ivin in in inng! g! g! g! g I I I Im m mmm no no o no no n tt t t su su su sure re re re r hhhoow ow ow w mmmmyy
re r ad aders ha ave ve ddddon on ne, eee bbbbut ut ut ut IIIIIv v v ve e ee be be be be een en en en bbbbbleeeeess sss sssed ed ed ed ed tttto o oo ha hhha h ve v had ad d aa
my m fam am aaa illly yy an nd frrr f iee iend dddds ss s su su su supp pp pp ppor or or ort. t. t. t.
Fo F r r th h th hissss iiss sssue ue ue ue, ,, we we we we aare re re e ttou ouch chin ii ggg on on on n o aaaa rat athe he her raw w su subj bj bj bjecc ectt
th that a III kno now ww ma maany ny ny ny y oooof f my mmy m rrea e de ders rs will fiii f nd d nnd n har ardd to o t ddea ea e l
wi w th. I wante edd to o wri rite te aabo bout ut OOct c ober 11115555
th
, wh w icch fo f r
th th th thos see whoo don n t know, is tthe he ooff ffic iccciial Pr Preg e na nancy y y andd
Infa fa f nt nt LLos o s Re R me m mb mbbbra ance Da Day. y. I I am am extre r me mely ly llluc uc uc cky kyy ttoo
ha have ve two wo gorge eou uss da aug ughter e s but t II al also so rrea eali lise se ttha h t no o n tt
ev v e er e yo yone n is s soo s lucky ky,, an and d whil ilstt II tru uly ly ccou o nt t myy
bl bl bl bles es es ees e si ssi s ng ggs, ss, II wwwwan an nnted to to ack c nowl lledge ge all ll ttho hosee ppar arents ts
wh wh wh whoooo we we www re e re re re pppppaar aaa en en nn e ts ttt tto o An Ange els ls.
I II al al al al al lso so so so soooo wwwwwan an an ante te te te edddd to to to to tto ttttak ak ak ak ake th th th t iss oooopp pportu uni nn ty ty ty y tto o th than ank k aa lo lot t of of
co co co co c mp mp mp mp mp mpan an an anie ie ie ieees, s, s, s, s, s, ccccol ol ol ol lle le le leag ag ag ag gue uu s s an a d fr ffr frrie ie ie iend nd nd nd ds ss wh whoo co cont ntri ribu bute tedd
ma ma ma ma many ny ny ny ny n ppppppppro ro ro ro ro ro odu du du du u du duct ct ct ct ctts, s, s, s, s cccclo looo llloth th thin i g an a d d ac a ce ce ess sss or o ies to t aa nnew ew
mu mu mu mumm mm mm mm mmy y y y yy wh wh wh wh who o o oo oo ga ga ga gave vve ve ve bbbbir iirth th h th h ttto oooo be be bbeau uti t fuul iden enttica call girl rls s la last st
mo mo mo mont nt nt th. hhh Fr Fr Fr From IIIInc ch h Bl Blue ue, No No No N na nabbbbooox, x, xx TTTTom m om omee eee ee TTTTip ip ip ipppe pe pe pe pee eeee an an an an nddddd
m th th th t e eee mo mo mo most st aaama mazing n mmum um um ums fr f om oo mmmy yy Fa Fa F ce ce ee cebo bo bbo ook ok ok ok ok GGGro ro ro ro oup up ups ssss IIII
o of of of o fe fe fe fer rr yo yo yo yo y u aa th hank k you u from o tthe e he bbootto om of oof mmmy y y y he he hear r a tt. t
We We We hhhhhav ave some me ffan n anta ta aastt ss icc ffea eatu tture res, ssssto ories es aand nd eexc xc clu lusi si si sive ve ve vv sss
a th th tth t issss mmon nth h aalo lloong g n wwwwit itth ou oo r us ssua uaal Pa Pare re ent nts s In In BBus u inesssssss
b Fe Feat at atur ur ur u e, aga aain inn ppro oovi vi viidi dddding vval aalua uu bble ad ad dvi vice ce aand nd tips to o
n an n anyo yo yyone ee ne wwis i hi hh ng ng ng ng to o st stttar aaa t t th hh t ei eee r rr ow ow ow wwnn n bu usine ness ss..
vv We We We WW hhhav ave re revi v ews, s newss an a dd ad dvvvi v ce ce ffro romm ou ur re regu gulaa l rrr
x expe ert r s incl c ud u ing Ch C ild Sllee eep pp Ex xxpe ert rt MMMar arya yann nn ne e Ta Tayl ylor or
an a dddd Ja ani n WWhite e te, ou ur r reside ent aant nten enat atal al aand nd ddou oula la
nn supp pp ort. t IIf you u wo woul uldd li like ke tto o se s nnnd nd iinn an any y y qu ques esti tion ons s fo forr
us s to o an an nswwer e iin fu f ture iss s ue es, s, pple leas asee em emmai ai a lll me me aatt
ni nick ckiee@b @bab abyb buz zzm z agaz zzinn ine. e co co om. mmm
bb Wi Wish shin ingg yo youu al ll l a fa fabulous u OOct ctob ob ob bber eer!
e Pl Plea ease se aadd dd uuss on o Fac ceb ebbook, TTTwi wi w tt tt ttteer er rr er aaaand nd d nd nd d LLin in inke ke keedI dI ddI d n andd leetttt
me m hhav ave e yo your ur com omment n s on o the hhe lat at aa es es esttt issss issu su su su sue. e. e. .
,,
Cover Photography by: Eve Tudor, Your Little Bear
www.yourlittlebear.co.uk
COVER STORIES
9 Parents in Business - Inspirational stories
10 Educate Business - with Laura Morris
19 The Childcare Challenge - Mummy SOS
41 October 15 - Pregnancy And Infancy Loss Remembrance Day
47 Steven Duggan - Event Planner to the Stars
51 Mr Ma - The Joys of Summer Holidays
64 Gardening Time - Keep the Children Entertained This Autumn
Family Focus
21 Bebe Jacobs - Best Parenting Tips
31 The Buggy Network - The Buggy Conference, Book Your Tickets Now
36 Jodie Newman - Attachment Parenting
74 Whats On?
Health & Wellbeing
23 Allergy UK - Give it Some Welly
25 Birtheasy - With the Wise Hippo
26 Sing & Sign - A Frazzled Mums to Baby Signing
28 Birth Your Way - Antenatal Courses, Making Choices
30 Child Sleep Works - by child sleep expert, Maryanne Taylor
38 Kate Codrington - Biodynamic Massage
47 Saying GoodBye - by Jani White, Naturechild
Travel
66 Barnsley House - Home Farm Cottage
67 Marwell Hotel - Winchester
68 Family Fun in Tuscany
News & Reviews
53 Baby Buzz Focus Group Reviews
56 Toffee Moon - Gorgeous Childrens Clothes
5 OOc c OOc ccccccccc Oc cccccc Oc Oc cc Oc ccc OOc ccc Occcccc Oc ccccc OOc ccccc Oc ccc Oc c Octo to ooo ttttoo to to tto oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobe be bbbe bbe be bbbe bbe bbbbbbbe be be bbbbbe bbbbbe bbbbbbbbbe be bbbbbbbbbbbe beee bbbbbbbe bbbbbeeeeee be bbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeee bbbbbbbbeeeee bbbbbeeeeeeee bbbbbe beer rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 0 20 200 2200000 200 2220 20 20 220 222200 200 220 22222222200 200 20 220 22222222200 20 220 220 220 20 20 20 220 20 220 22222200 2222222222222222220 22222222222000000000000113 13 13 13 13 133 111133 133333333 11113333333 13 11133 133 133 13 11133 1333 133 11111111333 111113 13 1111113 13 111111111111111111111 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Baa Ba BBaaaaa BBa BBBaaa Ba BBBBBaa Ba BBa BBBa BBa Ba Baa BBa BBBaaa Baaaa Ba BBBBa Ba Baaaaaaaa BBBaaaaaaa BBBBa Baaaaaaaaa Ba BBBBa Baaaaaaa BBBa Baaaaaa Ba Ba BBBaaa Ba Baaaa Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby bbbbby by bbby bbbbbby byy by bbbby by by by by bbby bbbbbyy by bbbbyy byy bbbbyy by bbbbbyy bbbbby bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBuz uz uzzzzzz uzzzzzz uz uzzzzzzzz uzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz MMMa Ma MMMMMMa MMMMMa Maa MMMMMa Ma MMMMMMMMMMMa MMMMMMMMMMMa MMMMMMMMMaaaa MMMMMMMMMMMa Ma Maa MMMMMMMMMMMMaaaa MMMMMMMMMMaaaaa MMMMMaaa MMM ga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga gaaa gaa ga ga gaa ggaa ga ggaaaa ga ga gga ggggga gggggga gga ggaa ga ga gggga gggga ga ga gga gggggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazi zi zi zzi zi zzi ziiii zii zii ziiii zzzziiii zzzzzii zzzzziiiii zi zzzzzzzzi ziiii zi zzzzzziiiii zi zzzzzziiii zzi zz ne ne ne ne ne ne nee ne nee nne ne nee nee nnne nnne nne neeeeee ne ne nnnnnneee neeeeeee ne ne ne nnneeeeeeeeee nne nneeeeeee ne ne nneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Food & Recipes
59 Teeny Tummies - Questions & Answers
60 National Baking Week - Miffy Chocolate Cake Recipe
61 CheeseStrings - Not Boxing Clever, Lunchbox Waste
Name: Brooke Mae
D.O.B: 22.08.13
Weight: 5lb 12oz
Names: Isla Grace
D.O.B: 22.08.13
Weight: 6lb
Name: Teegan Skye Sullivan
DOB: 08.06.13
Birth Weight: 7lb 6oz
Name: Alexia Jean Whymark
DOB: 01.08.13
Weight: 5lb 1oz
Name: Rhea Panayi
D.O.B: 23.08.13
Weight: 6 lbs 6oz
Name: Leah Constantinou
D.O.B: 03.06.13
Weight: 7lb 3oz
Name: Max Hoy
D.O.B: 06.07.13
Weight: 6lb 12oz
Name: Isabelle Bronwen Stacey
D.O.B: 28.07.13
Weight: 6lb 10oz
Name: Zachary Oscar Cook
D.O.B: 31.07.13
Weight: 8lbs
Name: Stephanie Salerma
D.O.B: 09.08.13
Weight: 3.26 kg
Name: Cooper Wren King
D.O.B: 24.08.13
Weight: 7lbs
COMPETITION TIME
Competition Time
From Monday 14
th
44 October to Sunday
20
th
0 October is the nations favourite
week, Chocolate Week! Divine is giving
you the chance to sample a selection
of new recipes made exclusively by Divines finest chocolatiers. Not only
are their products utterly scrumptious, but unlike other Fairtrade
products Divine Chocolate is 45% owned by the farmers in Ghana who
supply its cocoa. Voted Observer Best Ethical Business, Best Social
Enterprise and collecting two awards at the Great Taste Awards (Guild
of Fine Food), Divines products are a unique blend of quality mixed with
corporate responsibility.
Divine is offering you an opportunity to win a Divine Chocolate gift pack
full of their most scrumptious treats and worth 50! For a chance to
win, simply answer the following question:
A. 25
th
- 1
st
December
t
B. 14
th
44 20
th
0 October
C. 8
th
- 14
th
44 July
To find out more about Divine delicious range, visit www.divinechocolate.com
We have two amazing Happy Hopperz to give away to two lucky
readers! The colours may vary to those shown here.
For your chance to win, simply like the Facebook Page
HappyHopperzand answer this simple question:
Designed to make journeys more fun and
productive the Play Tray can be quickly
set-up however you travel.
On the car seat, plane, train or a trip out
in the buggy it simply clips into place and
sits on the little ones lap. The raised
sides keep everything in place and a
bottle holder can keep drinks or painting
water held firm. It also comes with
detachable pockets for keeping toys,
pencils and other treasures close to hand.
Made from wipe clean, durable, ripstop
fabric the Play Tray will withstand most
kids mess. For your chance to win one
of these amazing Play Trays, please Like
the Facebook page mycabinmax and
answer the following question:
To find out more about My Cabin Max ,
visit www.mycabinmax.com/en y
We have a gorgeous gardening set to give away to one lucky reader!
For your chance to win, simply like the Facebook Page SquiresGC and
answer this simple question:
To find out more about Squires Garden Centres, visit
www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk q g
We have two gorgeous sets to give away from Toffee Moon. One for the Girls
and One for the Boys. The prize consists of a blanket and hat and cardigan
each. For your chance to win, simply like the Facebook page Toffee-Moon
To find out more about Squires Garden Centres, visit www.toffeemoon.co.uk
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN:
SIMPLY EMAIL THE ANSWER TO US AT:
INFOBABYBUZZMAGAZINE.COM
INCLUDE: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ENTRIES DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE BUSINESSES
PROVIDING THE COMPETITION PRIZE
When I launched Baby
Buzz Magazine in
December 2012, I
wanted to do
something different.
There are other baby
and child magazines
out there, but there
arent any out there
that go from birth until
pre-teens or that cater
towards the businesses created by parents as a result of having
children. Ive met the most amazing people whilst creating this
section and I will continue featuring it in the sincerest hope that
it gives a mum, dad, grandparent, or indeed anyone who has an
idea, concept, light-bulb moment, the confidence to do
something they wouldnt normally do and create a successful
business for themselves.
From September onwards we are going to be helping all the
budding entrepreneurs out there, who have that idea and
arent sure how to proceed. We will have legal advice from
some amazing practitioners designed to give you the best start
whether it be providing corporate, brand or employment
advice, marketing advice from Laura Morris at EducateBusiness,
networking intelligence from Eve Tudor at The Buggy Network
plus news and reviews of some of the latest products that can
help you on your way.
I am always looking for businesses that have been created by
parents, so if you or anyone you know would like to be a part of
this feature, we charge a fee of just 75.00 for the full A4 page.
This provides a great editorial showing who is behind the scenes
and weve found that most of our readers love to find out who
is behind a product, a brand or a service more than just looking
at just the advert.
Needless to say, the businesses that do appear in the printed
issues also appear on the website and all social media sites.
For more information, please contact me:
Nickie Evans
Editor & Owner
Baby Buzz Magazine
Tel: 020 8361 0727
Mob: 07944 240 321
Email: nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com
Are you in need of some inspiration or encouragement, is starting your own business the right thing to do?
Read all about our fabulous businesses featured this month, plus legal advice, business and marketing advice and tax benefits to
help you along the way.
Parents in Business
Welcome to our
Parents & Business
Feature
99 9 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc OOc Oc OOc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc Oc OOOOc Oc c Oc Oc Oc Oc OOcc OOc Octttto to to tto to to to to o to to tto to to to o to to o to to to to tto to to to tooo tobe be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be bbe be be be bbbbe bee be be be bbe be be be be be be bbbe be be be be bbe be bbe be be be bee beer rrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 220 20 20 220 200 20 20 20 20 20 20 220 20 20000000 20 20 220 20 220 2000 20 2200 22222 3 13 13 13 1333 13 13 13333 1333 13 13 13 1133 133 13 133 1333 133333 133 13 13 13333 1333 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba BBBaa Ba Baaa Ba Baaaaa Ba Ba BBBa Ba Ba BBa Baaby by by by by by by by bby by bby bby by by byy bbby bby by by by by by by by by by by by by by bby by bbyy by bbyyy b BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBuz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uz uuz uz uz uz uz uuz uz uz uz uuz uuz uz uz uuz uzz uzzz uuz u z z zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Ma Ma aa Ma Ma MMa Ma Ma Ma MMa Ma MMa Ma Ma Ma MMa Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma MMa Ma a MMMa Ma Ma MMa Ma a Ma MMa MMa a MMMa MMa Maga ga ga gga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga gaa ga ga ga ga ga ga gaa ga gga ga ga ga ggaa gaaa gaa ggga ga ggaaaazi zi zi zi zzzzi zi zzzzi zzi zi zi zi zi zzi zi zzzzi zi zi zzi zi zi zzi ii zzzzi zzzi zine ne nneee ne
Written by Laura Morris
Director of www.educatebusiness.co.uk - providing affordable business solutions
Twitter: @2businessmum
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EducateBusiness
Co-Director of www.networkingmummies.com - FREE networking events and affordable workshops for mums in business across the UK
Twitter: @networkingmummy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NetworkingMummiesUK
Parents in Business
Last month I talked about what things you can do to get yourself
on the way if you are thinking of starting a business. In this months
issue I am going to cover my top tips on the next steps to actually
launching!
So now you have thought about the idea, youve researched it with
your friends and family and you are ready to launch, but now
youre not sure what to do next?
Branding is very important in your business. Lets look at the likes
of Apple, Audi etc., all these brands have an image that represents
their business that people always remember. It is very important
when you are starting a business you are thinking about your
branding and what you want it to say about you.
Firstly, a lot of people can struggle when it comes to thinking about
a business name. We can be in danger of overthinking and you will
find the simplest ones are the most effective. I like business names
that say what they do on the tin as the saying goes.
A great activity to do is to sit quietly for ten minutes or so with a
pen and paper and write down the keywords of your business.
What are you offering your customers? What makes you stand out
from your competitor? This activity is great to get your mind
thinking about a business name but equally is good to use further
down the line when it comes to your Marketing, SEO etc.
Once you come up with a business name youve then got the basis
to start thinking about a logo. It is very important to set out your
branding from the start.
When you own your own business it becomes personable. This is what makes you stand out from the crowd. For example if we think
about hairdressers and how many there are in the market. What makes you go to one of those hairdressers to get your hair done? Its
normally the person you can get on with or relate to that keeps you going back. A good tip is to try and bring your personality across
when thinking about your branding. What colours do you like? What shapes do you like? And build this into your logo.
Now you have a business name and logo and these are the first steps in business to building your own brand!
TAKING THE PLUNGE!
Parents in Business
Through the eyes of a Parent
I am the product, in fact it's more of a service that
I offer. I consult and pass over my own
information, advise my own experience as a
mother, a professional and then followed by a
support network.
The company was started as I felt there was a
need in the market to be able to reach out to
parents. Although I am growing fast and all my
work is by personal recommendation, I now feel
this is my calling and is a subject that I not only feel
passionate about, but feel the need to pass over
to future generations!
The company "Through The Eyes Of A Parent" is
about offering home or clinic consultations
followed by a support helpline either via text,
phone or Skype where I can continue to work
with the families, build a rapport with them and
get immense pleasure and satisfaction to see them
empowered by positively raising their children!
One of my passions is in Breastfeeding. I have a
wealth of knowledge and qualifications in this
field, I believe I know how it works and why
people are struggling. Feeding my own 3 boys for
two years each (as is government advice now),
has made me see the vital importance and impact
it has on a baby/child through a health, security
and bonding measure!
On the subject of weaning, which I will only
consult after the baby has reached 6 months plus,
I advise and support parents to follow The Baby
Led Weaning Programme. I work with the
parents to follow on from Breastfeeding to
encourage a good balanced diet, home cooked
meals and an understanding about when and how
to reduce milk. This is to help the baby develop
a substantial appetite, whilst still promoting and
maintaining breast milk in their diet but
encouraging food to be primary at the relevant
age!
My final passion, which follows through with good
eating and the correct quantity of milk needed in
the day, is my SLEEP PROGRAMME. Through my
own 25 years of experience as a nanny, maternity
nurse and then mother, it began to feel almost
alien to teach our young to sleep with anxiety.
There is lots of research proving why "Controlled
Crying" is severe and unnecessary when babies
need to be answered and have their needs met at
such a young age! I felt changes had to be made
to show parents a more gentle approach, whilst
still achieving their goal "TO SLEEP THROUGH
THE NIGHT". I do this with my programme that
does not involve babies or children crying out, it's
effective and my testimonials show me that it
continues to work with clients from all walks of
life, anywhere in the world!
I hope to continue my achievement of maintaining
a long term, well-renowned reputation and to
become a household name in this field, as well as
having an impact on the parents I help and change
their beliefs and understanding by supporting
their families with my teachings and approach!
My highlight has to be the success stories of
parents I have worked with, meeting and being
part of some wonderful people's lives at
emotional times and being able to be hands on
with the babies/children themselves who I then
continue to further my own
experiences. My journey is taking me
into all different dimensions from
charity work including The Bush
Homeopaths, which is hoping to set
up a breast feeding clinic as well as
offering a homeopathic programme
to benefit people in the Gambia. I
am also in the process of writing a
book about the dangers of leaving
children to cry out with a former
client, who experienced both
methods of sleep training and due to
this is extremely passionate about
getting my message across. I also
have former clients who have
become good friends and they
continue to encourage me to
accomplish further challenges!
My downside has to be the amount
of time my work consumes of my
life! I live and breathe
babies/children, sometimes to the
detriment of my own boys and my partner! I
appreciate its very difficult to understand why I
put so much into my small business but as I say to
them "it's just me and I will not refuse to help a
parent in need.
My advice to any parent starting their own
business is to believe in yourselves! Follow your
gut instincts and allow life to take you to the next
level. If you put continued effort in and are
dedicated to what you offer, you cannot fail with
that level of commitment!
Parenting is the most challenging position,
although immensely rewarding. If you put in a
quarter of what's expected as a parent into your
business then I believe it will always be a success
story!
: amandamarks@hotmail.co.uk
: www.throughtheeyesofaparent.com
: Amanda.Marks
Parents in Business
My name is Charlie and I am a Mum of two spirited girls aged 2 and 7 living with my
hubby , the girls and our two rather neurotic cats in West Dorset. I write an Eco blog
called Sophias Choice which provides information on products, ideas and classes
which are natural, organic, eco-friendly and creative for the whole family. The blog has
evolved over the past year and in mid October I will be launching an Online Retail
Shop to run alongside the blog selling many of the products I have shared with my
readers.
Initially Sophias Choice began its journey as a blog and this is still an integral part of
what Sophias Choice is all about. I had my first daughter whilst living in Brittany,
France and found myself frustrated by my inability to find skin and body care products
(creams, shampoos, soaps) which were free from the potentially harmful synthetic
chemicals like parabens, sulphates and petrochemicals, which are found in most
mainstream products. I therefore scoured the internet and found Green People who
sold the products I was looking for and from here my journey began. My interest in
the subject took me to research more natural and organic options for my daughter
including nappies, cot mattresses, and wooden toys. After having my youngest
daughter in late 2010, the list has been added to and the blog has evolved to cover the
whole family from babies & children, through to teens, men and women. I write about
everything from natural birth, Sing & Sign classes and craft for kids to free-from
skincare, nutritional supplements and pencils which grow into herbs!
Sophias Choice Online Retail Shop will sell a range of products which are natural,
organic and nourishing. They may not all come under these three headings, but most
will embrace two or more of them, many of which having Soil Association
accreditation. The shop will sell skin and body care products for babies, children,
teenagers, men and women which are free-from synthetic chemicals which we now
understand can be harmful to our skin. Approximately 60% of what we put on our
skin is absorbed into the bloodstream within about 20-30 seconds. Many of these
chemicals are therefore absorbed into our bodies and for some people this will cause
allergic reactions and skin discomfort. Sophias Choice will aim to give you an
alternative to these mainstream products and to empower you with the information
you need to make a more natural choice. Our shop will also sell good quality
nutritional supplements including food-state vitamins and minerals (which are free-
from binders, gluten, and synthetic chemicals and easier for the body to absorb),
probiotics and super foods like wheatgrass and chia seeds. We will also have select
items for babies and young children which are BPA free for example the Beco Things
weaning sets which are a great alternative to plastic.
My hope is to raise awareness of the potential dangers of using synthetic chemicals
on our bodies and in our homes. We are bombarded everyday with chemicals we
have no control over, which our bodies then have to process to keep us healthy. If
we can minimise this impact by being mindful in our decisions of what we put both
inside and outside of our bodies then I think this is a good thing. We have one body
and we need to look after it. My hope with the blog and the online retail shop is that
it will give people a place to go to find out further information on nutrition, health,
and skincare which will empower them along their journey as individuals and par-
ents. The natural, organic and free-from industry is growing quickly as more and
more people question the status quo. I would like to think that Sophias Choice will
be there helping those who wish to make these worthwhile changes in their lives.
Parents in Business
There have been several highlights for me. As I write a blog I use social media a lot to
share my articles with a wider audience. Ive found the people Ive met through
Twitter in particular, have been exceptionally supportive to me. This was totally
unexpected. I was actually terrified of using Twitter before jumping straight in and
connecting with like-minded people. Ive found brands and products I probably would
never have known existed if it hadnt been for this powerful social media platform and
Ive also found support from fellow bloggers invaluable.
Another highlight has been putting together our logo. I liked the idea of having a
sunshine in green, but wanted to make it a little more personal. The rays of the
sunshine are actually our family handprints which I felt brought a more personal touch
to it all. Seeing this come to life has been very exciting for me.
And finally, finding my passion again. Before having my two girls I worked as a Holistic
Therapist and ran my own practice for about 9 years. Ive missed being part of this
world since becoming a full-time Mum so for me creating Sophias Choice has
re-connected me with a part of myself which has lain dormant for a few years. I think
when you become a Mum you often forget who you really are amongst the chaos of
having children, as lovely as that chaos can be! So its good to be doing something for
me again.
I think most people would agree that the main downsides of starting your own
company or business is lack of time and lack of sleep ! When you have a family you are
always juggling the needs of everyone including yourself. When you place building a
business into the mix, it can seem like a never ending uphill struggle. Lets just say I
stay up until at least midnight each night and try to make every possible minute I have
free count. My youngest only goes to nursery a few mornings a week so it can
certainly be a challenge to actually tick off items on my to do list. We dont have
family nearby so Im very reliant on my husband who is also self-employed. When I
think about it, I must be pretty mad to be embarking on this huge task !
Without reservation, Go for it !
Life is short and we really dont know whats around the corner. We lost my Mum to
lung cancer two years ago and I realised in that moment that the phrase, time and
tide wait for no man really is true. Life continues regardless and if we have dreams
and aspirations we really should embrace them and try to make them happen. Isnt
fulfilling our dreams what life is really all about? I think once we get to a certain age we
often put obstacles in the way of why we cant pursue our dreams and I think this is
often based around fear; fear of the unknown and also the fear of failure. Its my
feeling that even if were not successful at everything we pursue, well always know
as the book by Susan Jeffers says that we Felt the fear and did it anyway!
If youd like further information on Sophias Choice,
you can connect with me here:
Charlie Hughes
Tel: 07525 662888
Email: info@sophiaschoice.co.uk @ p
Web: www.sophiaschoice.co.uk p
(launching 12
th
October 2013)
Blog: www.sophiaschoiceuk.blogspot.co.uk p g p
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SophiasChoiceUK p
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SophiasChoiceUK p
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sophiaschoiceuk p p
My name is Emma, Mum to a beautiful little girl,
Anya, aged 2. I am also a self-employed fitness
instructor and personal trainer.
It started as a result of me looking for
Birthday/Christmas presents for Anya and her
friends. When looking at toys, there seemed to be
so much plastic that didn't look like it would stand
the test of time. I wanted something more
traditional, long lasting and value for money.
That's when Wooden Toy World was born!
We are an online stockist of timeless, traditional
wooden toys. Perfect for encouraging educational
play and stimulating creativity. They provide hours
of fun for your little ones! We stock high quality
toys at competitive prices-everything under 25.
Therefore suiting every budget, from children
with pocket money, to Grandparents looking for
a quality gift that lasts.
Wooden Toy World has only been established for
a year, and we have already achieved more than
we could have hoped. Selling not only nationally,
but internationally. We intend to continue to grow
and expand the product range. And of course
keep putting smiles on the faces of little ones.
Having already run my own fitness business for a
number of years, I knew some of the pros and
cons of working for yourself. I have to say, just the
fact I've started up the toy company that I can run
from home is a highlight in itself. I feel lucky that I
can work from home, at the same time as
spending time with my daughter. And she
definitely likes the fact the house is full of toys-
she's a good little tester!
The downside is the amount of time you have to
put into running the business. It can be a challenge
juggling work and family time. As a small business,
it's up to me to do the stock taking,
marketing/advertising, accounts etc and there are
many nights my brain doesn't switch off.
Be interested in and passionate about the product.
Research-your product, competition and target
market before you get started. Use social media
to get your name known, it's definitely a great way
to be seen but can be time consuming and very
addictive! Most importantly, enjoy it! Working for
yourself is hard work, but it can also be very
rewarding.
Parents in Business
: woodentoyworld@yahoo.co.uk
: www.woodentoyworld.co.uk
: WoodenToyWorld
: @WoodenToyWorld
Happy Hopperz is the creation of husband and wife team Robert and
Victoria Morris.
We were on holiday in Thailand when our son Charlie was 13 months old.
Visiting a local beach bar for lunch, Charlie had nowhere to sit and the
owner behind the bar approached us carrying a large inflatable yellow item.
Charlie absolutely loved it straight away he held onto its ears, climbed
aboard and started bouncing, giggling and laughing. Other local children
came up and started playing with him and it was really nice to see the way
they were able to interact and have fun without having to communicate
with each other in a conventional way. Charlie bounced before he could
walk and as much as realising this was a good holiday treat, we saw a way
to save our furniture at home. We asked to purchase the item and once
we got back to the UK and our friends saw it they all wanted one! Thats
when we first thought there was potential here. We sourced the factory
and arranged for a few samples to be sent over and arranged some focus
groups with mothers from North London and again, they all loved them.
We decided then that we should definitely turn this into a business idea.
From the positive results of our research, Rob then visited China to check
and audit the factories to ensure they could conform to all the European
safety tests we knew this product would require. We took our first batch
of 250 hopperz to the Baby Show in the hope to raise awareness of our
brand and do some market research, but we never expected to sell out of
all 250 hopperz within one and a half days (we had to spend the rest of the
show taking pre-orders!) It was official, Happy Hopperz was a success and
we are now stocked in over 300 stores including some major retailers such
as John Lewis, Fenwicks, Harrods, Libertys and Waterstones.
Our company's strapline is 'LEARN, PLAY & DEVELOP through exercise'
Our products have been such a hit with kids and it puts a big smile on our
faces to know that Happy Hopperz have brought real enjoyment into
childhoods. Happy Hopperz is not just about having fun though, they have
a huge range of benefits, they are great for exercise, hand eye coordination,
balance control and confidence.
If it all continues as it has done since we launched, we would be very
happy. However, we would love to achieve worldwide distribution and
to manufacture licensed designs.
Funnily enough discovering the nursery industry and the
people/mumpreneurs in it. Compared to most industries there's actually
some really lovely genuine people out there.
Now we've been going a few years its all about being planning /
strategies / juggling cashflow / investment / staff . .. Need I go on.
We've been very fortunate to have launched a product that has minimal
competition and therefore I think we have found it slightly easier than
most to gain a market share. As with introducing any product into a
marketplace , you have do your research and weigh the potential return
to the effort /energy/money that is required to get your product out
there. There's no point spending months of planning and costs to enter
a saturated market.
Parents in Business
: sales@happyhopperz.co.uk
: www.happyhopperz.co.uk
: HappyHopperz
: @HappyHopperz
Parents in Business
Becoming a parent is arguably the biggest life change you will ever
experience. If you are now returning to work after maternity, paternity or
adoption leave, you are not the same person you were before. Work will
probably have a different priority in your life. Now you are going back, it
is well worth considering a review of the benefits you can access from
your employer.
Unless you have family or friends who are looking after your child while
you are at work, you will have to use registered childcare. You can bring
down the cost of care by joining a childcare voucher scheme. It works as
a salary sacrifice scheme, which is not as scary as it sounds! You simply give
up a portion of your salary to be used for a specific purpose and you dont
pay Tax or National Insurance on that amount.
Childcare vouchers are only available via your employer, so if they dont
currently have a scheme, you will have to ask them to set one up. Its in
their interest as well as yours to provide one. In a survey by Busy Bees
Benefits, 1 in 3 parents said the provision of childcare vouchers influenced
their return to work; suggesting many of them would not have gone back
to work if vouchers had not been available as it would not have been
financially worth it. Your return reduces the costs of recruitment for your
employer and they also save on National Insurance for every member of
staff that has childcare vouchers. Most importantly, you save up to 933
each year!
As a parent, its even more pressing that you are available to be reached
easily, for example if your child carer needs to contact you because your
child is ill. Keeping up with developments in mobile phones can be
expensive. Believe it or not theres a benefit you could get from your
employer which will save you money on your mobile phone too. A Mobile
Phone scheme provides the latest handsets on an attractive tariff. The
tariff cost will be deducted from wages every month which will not attract
tax or National Insurance.
However much time you have taken off after having your baby, whether
its a few months or a whole year (or even more if you have more than
one child), going back to work can be daunting. It can take a while to get
back into the swing of things and you may find that some of your
knowledge and skills are a bit rusty. If you feel you need some training,
there is a salary sacrifice scheme for this too. You can save a third of the
cost on work-related training (e.g. a basic rate taxpayer could save 320
over a year on a course costing 1,000) to bring you up to date and
enhance your career prospects for the future. There is no restriction on
the way the training can be delivered and the money can be used for
tuition, travel, accommodation and food.
Whether you have chosen to go back to work full time or part time, you
will probably have less income after childcare costs and other increased
expenses. Instant savings such as Retail Discount schemes are cheap for
employers to offer and can save you hundreds of pounds a year. You can
simply view the deals online and take advantage of the deals offered by a
wide range of retailers. Using such a scheme can save you money off the
regular grocery shopping and clothing bills or be used for bigger things
such as holidays and family days out.
Benjamin Franklin said In this world nothing can be said to be certain,
except death and taxes." Salary sacrifice schemes can help you save on tax,
but unfortunately there is nothing any of us can do about the other thing!
Having said that, you can be prepared. Now you are a parent, you really
should make a will. This will ensure that provision is made for your child
if you or your partner dies. If both of you died you would want to specify
who would bring them up and you may want to put money in trust for
them from your estate. You and your partner can have mirror wills drawn
up which are almost identical documents, reflecting the fact that you have
similar wishes. It neednt be expensive to draw up a valid document.
Combining benefits such as these can save your family thousands of
pounds a year. So when you go back to work, dont be shy about asking p y y g , y g
your employer if they will consider offering any of them. Salary sacrifice
schemes will save them money as well as you, and all of the benefits will
make for happier employees, who are more likely to remain loyal to the
company. All of these benefits are available from Busy Bees Benefits at
www.busybeesbenefits.com
Colour Me Fun is a husband and wife run company based on the Essex
coast. Brett, 35, and Danielle, 31, have been married for 11 years and
have two children together with one on the way! The eldest of these
children, Sebastian, was the inspiration that kickstarted the successful
business that we run today.
We initially started off as an idea which would be a bit of fun - some new
crayons for my son and hopefully something that would keep him
occupied. Well needless to say the idea to make novelty shaped crayons
was an instant hit and my son loved them. It all grew from there quicker
than we had imagined! In April 2011 we officially started trading as Colour
Me Fun.
We're all about fun! We love that we're taking a favourite childhood past
time making it all that more fun. All of our crayons are hand-poured using
only high quality non-toxic wax. Our styles range from educational
(alphabet & name crayons), to dinosaurs, to tractors and even seasonally
themed crayons. We are constantly tweaking our range because we want
to make sure that we have something for everyone.
As a business we would love to be household brand - a name you would
associate with high-quality children's colouring products. On a more
personal level I hope that in becoming a larger, more successful, company
we are able to find a work/home balance that works for everyone.
I can honestly say that we both love seeing how far we have come in just
over 2 years. We have come leaps and bounds and are so proud to have
worked with everyone from independent boutiques, to renowned
charities, to international department stores. It gives us a real sense of
pride that our customers, whether retail or trade, love our product as
much as we do.
The downside to running your own business is how time consuming it can
actually be. I love how busy we are, especially as we get nearer Christmas,
but it's finding the balance. It takes a lot of energy to put your all in what
you do but still leaving enough time and energy to do all the family things
that you want.
My advice would to be to do something you are passionate about and do
your research! Know what you are getting into (i.e. time, cost, market)
and make sure that what you are looking to offer has a place in the
market. Keep in mind that once you get started you are going to spend a
lot of time working on your idea/product and if it's not something you can
be passionate about then it can become a drag rather quickly. Good luck!
Parents in Business
Website: www.colourmefun.co.uk
Twitter: @colourmefun
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ColourMeFun
Email: enquiries@colourmefun.co.uk
Mobile: 07534025110
Parents in Business
Flowertots Baby Gifts was created when I was on
maternity leave with my second daughter. A friend
bought my daughter a sock bouquet from a well
known store. I thought it was beautiful and when
my friend had a baby I purchased one. I was
shocked at the cost of the gift and thought I could
make something very similar for half the price and
Flowertots Baby Gifts was born.
The company turns every day baby clothing into
beautiful and practical baby bouquets for Baby-
showers and Baby Gifts. Each bouquet is handmade
using British Clothing and British suppliers from
floristry to packaging.
I am an online retailer with a growing number of
stockists. I would love to have a Flowertots stockist
in every county of the UK.
One of the best things about running your own
company is hearing from your customers via emails,
tweets and posts through social media. There is an
immense amount of satisfaction and I think that as a
small business we really do appreciate each and
every single order. We pride ourselves on our cus-
tomer service.
There have beeen so many high ghli ligh gh h gh ghts ts ts ts ts ts s ffffffro ro ro rommmm be bein ng
approached ed bby y ou our first stoc ocki ki ist st st st st,,,, to to to to to to to aaapp ppea eari ri r ng ng g in th hheeee
Liverpool Daail ily y Echooo BBus uss us usin in in in in in neees es es e s Se Section wher ere e II wwa wa wass
featured aas s 'W 'W Wom omm omman an an an ann a iiiiiinnnnnn BBu B sine ness ss'.
IIt It Ittttt's 's 's 's 's s nnnnnnnonn ooooon on-s -s -sto to top p p as ass aaaa mmmmum uum mm oof th th thre reeeeeeee an an an an and d d wi with th aaa ppppar aar a t ti ti imme me me eee me mme eeeee
jo jo ob! b! b! AAAAAttt ti ti ti tt mess it it it sssee ee ee eeeemms ms ss ttthe he hheere re re re aare re re reee nnnnnnot ott o eeno noug ug ug ug ggh hhhh ho ho ho hourrrrrrr ursssssssssss
in in n ttthe he he he ddday ayy aaand nd ndd tttttthhhe he he hh nnnn n th th ther er er er r ere e ee is is s FFFFlo lowe wertt rt rt rtot ot oo s s Ba Ba BBa BBaby bby byy GGGGif if if fts ts ssssssssss ts t ....
Fr Fr Fr rom om om o cccre re reat at attin in nnn ii gg gg g g bbbo bbo bo bb uq uq uq uuque ue uets ts ts ts t , de de dde d aalin ingg wwith h sssup up up p uup up u pl pl pl ppp ie ie iers rs rs aaand nd dddd nd dddddddddddddddd
wh wh whh ww at a sssee ee emms s m lllllik ik ik k ik iike eee ccco co ooooooonns ns ns ns nnns nnnnnnnnnns s n ta ta ta ta tant nt nt nt n mmar a keti ting ng,, it it jjjjus us us us sstttt t t ne ne ne nnnnn ve ve eerrr
en ee ds ds d .. My Myy M ddddrrre ream ammmmmmmm iiss to to ttttttttur urrn Flowertots BBab aby yyy Gi Gi GGi Gi Gii G ft ft ft ft fttssss
in in i to to to aaa fffffffffffffffffffffffffffful ul ul uul uuul ul ul uuul uul uuul uuuul l uuuuuuuuu lllllllllll tti ii ti ti ttt me me mme me me me me me me me mme jjob ob wwhe here re IIIIIIII cccan an wwor orrk k from hhom om ommeeeeee an anddd
be be be be be aaaaa mmmmmuum um mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm oooooooooooooooooooooonnnnn th thee da dail ily y sc schooooool oll ol ooooo rrrun un un un.
If III youu hhav ave e an idea a that atttttt yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyooouuu ou oouu ou ouuu ouuuuu o aaaaaaaaarrre ree re re re re re pppppppppppppaaaas as a i siiii sii ss on oon onnn on on o at at at a ee ee ab ab abb ab ab ab abbbbbbbbbboou oooo t
an annnnnnnnn an an an annnnnd dddddddddddd believe e in it don' nnnn ttttttttttttt ttttttttttt tt tttt gi gi ggi i gi gi gi gi gi gi gi gi gi ggi ggggg vve ve ve ve ve ve ve vve vve ve vvvvvve uuuuuuuuuup. pp. p. p. p FFFFFFFFFFFol olllll ol oll ol ol ol ol ol ooo lo lo llooo lo lllo o lo lo lo lo o lo lo ooooooooo looooowwwwwwwwwww www wwwww yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo youur ur ur uuur ur ur hhhhhhhhhhhea ea ea eea eea e rt rt rt rt rtt,
th th t in in nnkkkkkkkkk kkk kk ab aaaaaaa out why yo yo yo yo oooo yo o yo ooooo yo oooo yo o yo yo yo ooooooo yyyyyy uuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuu uuuu uuu aar ar ar arr arrr a eeeee eeeeeeee pu pu pu pu pu pu pppuuuuuuurs rs rs rrs rs rs rs r ui ui ui ui uui uui ui ui ui uuui ui i uui i ui ui uuuui u ng ng ng ng ng gg nng ng ng nng ng nng nnng nng nnng ng ngggggggggggggggggggggg iiiiiitttt. ttt IIt wwwwwwwwi wi wwwwi wwi wwi wwi wwwwwwwwwwwwwww ll ll ll l ll lll ll ll lll ll l lll ll bbbbbbbbbe e e e e ee wwwwwo wo wo wwwo wwwwo wwwwwo wo wwwo wo wo wo wo wwwwo wwo wwoort rttthh
it it in n th hhh th ttheeeeeeeeeeeeee en e d. It' tttttttttt sssssssssssssssss po po po po po po poo po po ppo po po poo pooo po po p sssssss ss ss ss ss sss ssssssssssssib ib bbb ib ib bbbbble le eeeeeeee ttto o o st st st st st st st st stt st st st sttt st ssttttttaaaar ar ar aaaaaaaaar aaaaaaaarrrt t tt ttt up up uuup up up uuuu aaaaaa bbbbbbbbus us us s us us us ssss uuus u iiin iiin n iiiiiiiiin n in iiiii es ees es es sssssssss es s es sss ess es es sssssss essssssssssssssssssssssssss oooon ooooon oo
le essss ss ttttttttttttttttha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haa haaa hhhhhannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5555 5 5555 5555000 00 0 00 00 0 000 00 0000 000000 00000000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0 00 00 ,,,,,, IIII I dddi di di di dddi ddddiii di di dddi di ddddddiddd. d. d. dd. dddddddddddd. d. d. ddd. d.. dddddddd BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeee eeeeeeeee prrr pr ppr pr pr pr prr pr pr prr pr pr pr pr pr pr pr prr prr pppp eep ep ep ep ep eeeeeeeeee ar ar ared ed d ed ed ed ed ed ed ddd ed ed ttttttttto o oo ooooooooo pppppu puuuuu pu ppuuu pu pppuu ppuuuuuuu pu pu pu ppuu ppuu putt t t t tttt iin in in in n in n iiiin iiiiiiiin iin lllllot ot ot otttt ot ot ot ottssssss ss s s ss s ss s s oooof oof oooooooff
hoour ur ur rrrrrrrr ursssssssssssss aan an an an aan aan ann an aaan an an aannddddddddddd dddd ddddd us us us us us us us usss us uus us us uss uss uuuus us us us uuss uuu eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e So So So So So oo So o SSo So So So So So So So So So So SSo So o So So o So So o So ooo Sooo SSS ccci ci ci ci ci ci ci ci ci ci cci ci ci i ci cci ci ci ci ccccccci cii c al all al al al aal aal al aaal aaaal al aal al aallll al aal aal al MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMeed ed ed eed ed ed d ed ed ed ed ed eeed ed ed ed d ed d ed d eeeeeeeeed eeeeed eeeeeeddddia ia ia ia aaa ia aa ia aaa ia ia ttttttttttttttttttooooooooo ooooooo oooooooooooooooooo ma ma mma ma ma ma ma a ma mma mma a ma mmma a mma mmaark rk rk rk kkkk rk r et et et et et eeeeee yyyou oou ou ou ouu ou ooou oourrr rr rrrrrr bbu bu bu bu bbbbu buu buuu bbbbu bu buu bbuuuu buusii sii si sssi si si sssi si ssssi si si ssssssi sssssine ne ne ne ne nee ne nne ne ne nnnnnn sss ssss ssss
it it t's 's 's ss fffffaan an annnnnnnnnnntttttta tta ta ta ta tta ttastt st stttttttttttttt sttttttt s iiiiic ic ic iiic c ic ccccccccccccccc..................
My MMy My MMyy wweb eb bsi si si si siiiite te te te te te eeeeeeee te eeeeee te te te te e te tttte tte tt iiiiiiiiiiissss ww ww ww ww wwww. www fl fl fl fl fl fl fl flow ow ow owwwww owww ooow ow ow ow owweeeer eer eeer er er r er eeer eeeer eeeeeeeeeer eeeer eer er eeer eeeeer r eeer rr eeerrrr e tto tto ooo to ooooooooo to to oooo to to ooooo too to o tto to o ttooooo tto o to to o to o to to toootts ts ts tts ts ss ts s ts tss ts tttttts tsss tttttttttt ba ba ba ba ba ba ba baa ba baaaaaby by by bbby byyyy bbbby by bbbbbbbbby by byy i gi ggi gi gggi gi gi gi gi ggi gi iiii gi ggggii ggggi ii ggi gggi i ggiiiii giift fft fft ft ft ft fft ft ft ftt ftt ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft fttt ft ft ffttsss. ss. sss. ss. s. sssssssss co co co coooooooo co co ooooo cco ooooo coo co cccccc mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yyyyyyyggggg
Em Emm Em mmm Em Em Em EEm mmm Em Em Em Em EEm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Emaaai aai a lll em em eeem em mmmm emm e mmmma ma ma mma ma aa@f @f @f @f @ lo lo lo o lo owwwe we we we wwe w rt rt rtot ot otttssbbbbb sbbbbbbbbbbbb sbbbbb sb sssbb sb ssbbb ssb ssssb sbbbbab ab ab aab ab ab aaaaab ab abbbyg yg yg yg yg yg ggggggif if if if fff iiiiiiif iiiiif if iif ffttts s ts ts ts tss ts tttts.c .ccccccccccccccc .c .c .ccc .cccccccom ommm om omm om om om omm om om om oom ommmmmmm oooomm ooomm ooom @@@@ yg yg yyyyg
Tw Tw Tw wwwwwwww Tw ww Tw TTw wwwwww Tw ww TTTTw Tw TTwww Twwit it t it it itte te te te eeeeeer rr rrrrr fo fo fo fo fo fo ffooll ll ll ll ll ll ll llow ow ow ooooooo uuusss @F @F @F @Flo lo oo lowe we we e we we we eee we e we we ee we ee weert rrt rt rt rt rt rt rt rt rttt rt rt rt rt rr ot ot ot ot ot oooo sG sG sG sG sG sG sG sGGGG ss iif if if fff ii ts ts ts s ts ts ts ts s ts ts ttts
Fa Fa Face ce ce ebo bo bo bo bo bboooook ok okkkkk okk ok okkk oookk ok ookkkk llllllllik ik kkkkkk ik k ii eeeeeeeee us us us us uus uss uus us us us uu FFFFFFFFFFFFFFlo lo lo lo lo lo llo lo lo lo oowe we we we we ee we e we we ww rrt rt rt rt rrr ooooot ot ot o ss s Ba Ba Ba Ba BBa BBBa BBBa Ba BBa Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby bbby by bby bbbbby by by by bbbbbbbbbbbby bbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyy GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGif if if if if if if f if if if iiiffffffffts ts ts ts tts tts ts ts ts ttt
It may seem logical to start looking for childcare when you find you
need to use it but that doesnt give you much time to choose!
Making the decision to leave your precious little ones with someone
else is not something you want to have to rush. It is important that
before this time comes, you have found a childcare provider with
whom you can completely entrust your child.
Anyone planning to return to work after having a child will probably
have given considerable thought to their childcare requirements;
knowing that at some stage they will need to find a childcare provider
which will best suit their work schedules and family life. However, it
is not just working parents who need to consider childcare, it is just as
important for those staying at home as their childs primary carer.
Regardless of the extent to which you plan to use childcare, there will
inevitably be a time when the need arises, perhaps quite
unexpectedly! Anyone with children will know that things don't always
go according to plan, so it's always best to have contingencies, right
from the word go! This is why I would really advise considering your
childcare options before your little one actually arrives, because once
they come along, you may not have time for much else! Especially if
you haven't got any childcare organised!
You've found out you're pregnant... Congratulations! Now is the time
to start thinking about childcare (if you already considered this before
even deciding to have a baby, mega bonus points to you). It may seem
early, but let me explain why forward planning when it comes to
childcare really will make your life easier when you have a child to care
for!
Whilst it is important to accept that you cannot do it all alone, as a
mother, you are your number one source of childcare. So to ensure
you are able to look after your little one, it is vital to that you look after
yourself! Of course, being a mum is a full time job, and with your full
focus on someone else 24/7, it is all too easy to put your own needs
on the back bench. But remember that it is in everyones best
interests for you to take the occasional break, and have some all-
important time to yourself. A happy, healthy mummy will mean a
happy, healthy baby.
Here comes the beauty of forward planning... Instead of suddenly
being unable to continue with your essential routines once you have a
little one to account for, adapt them before hand, so you will not have
to worry about making too many other changes to your already
significantly altered lifestyle! Consider for instance your housework
and exercise regimes. Will you need additional help with the cleaning,
or perhaps someone to come and play with your baby for a couple of
hours a week so you can wizz around with the hoover? Will you be
able to motivate yourself to push past the exhaustion and exercise
alone, or would it be better to have already found a post natal exercise
class you could bring your babies too? (*New Mamas, BodyCon)
Of course, with the best will in the world, there will be times when
you unexpectedly need help. Mums often feel that they are not
allowed to be ill, but no one is going to take away your supermum
shirt because you had to take a little time off! So remembering that
you need to take care of yourself to take the best care of your
children, is what will make you truly invincible: accept that it is ok to
ask for help and do so!
For those parents lucky enough to have family or friends nearby, they
tend to be the first port of call, and why not? You already know and
trust them. Its convenient to arrange. And theyll probably do it for
free! But it is easy to become reliant on such arrangements, rather
than considering if it is really the best choice for you and your child.
Sometimes it can be beneficial to balance help from friends and family
with professional childcare, and if you do not happen to have anyone
local who is willing or able to help you out, then this will certainly be
necessary.
Still dont think you need to consider childcare? Think of those special
occasions when you really want to have a night out and need a
babysitter: someone reliable, who already knows your children, and
you feel comfortable and confident leaving them with. Make sure you
plan ahead and have , just like we
offer through Mummy SOS!
Whatever your situation, its always a good idea to ensure you have
childcare available to you. Next time: how to choose the right
childcare for you.
*Visit www.bodyconpt.co.uk to find out more about pregnancy and
post natal classes you can bring your baby to.
Parents in Business
When to start using choosing childcare
Family Focus
When my child came home from school age 11, crying because the girl she
thought was her friend, had in fact been the girl
who had put on a completely different voice and
had phoned her at least three times saying horrible
things about her, I wanted to rush out and
confront that bully.
But the hardest lesson for any parents is that with
certain exceptions, fixing it for our kids does not
help them in the long run. Yes if the bullying is
really serious, you need to at least see if the school
can help out and deal with it, but for most disputes
between friends, the children need to sort it out
themselves.
When your child comes to you upset about friends, about teachers,
about broken toys or about the fact that they cant do something, they are
not actually wanting you to fix it. So what do they want?
They want you to listen carefully, to really hear them.
Most children get really upset about the smallest of incidents. Ive seen
children screaming as if they are being beaten to death because Mum laid
the wrong plate on the table. Or children who scream and have tantrums
because they want to watch inappropriate programmes or go with older
siblings to an event which is not for their age group.
Yet parents continue to feel guilty because they see their children crying,
upset and distraught. The strange truth is that the more parents try to fix
things, the louder the crying becomes the next time. Its as if the child has
learnt that the louder the screams the more they get their own way.
So parents what can you do instead? You can listen to their emotions. Yes
thats it listen and then start to discuss with your child what could be
done. Discuss, ask, dont tell them what YOU would do or what YOU
think they should do.
Yet using lots of emotional vocabulary is not always something parents
find easy to do..
So Id like to help you. Heres a short list of emotions your child might be
expressing. When your child seems upset and comes to tell you why, dont
just say Dont worry Ill sort it out for you and even though there is
nothing wrong with this, dont even just say You are obviously upset, as
thats limited.
Try instead to use any of the following emotional words where
appropriate: (They are in alphabetical order)
Afraid, annoyed, confused, disappointed, fed up, frustrated, furious,
grumpy, hurt, ignored, insulted, judged, left out, made fun of,
misunderstood, picked on, puzzled, rejected, resentful, sad, scared,
stressed, surprised, the odd one out, teased, tricked.
Obviously you must work out by the emotions expressed what might be
going on, but dont worry if you dont get it exactly right. Your child will
feel listened to, valued, and you will be helping him/her increase his/hers
emotional vocabulary.
And once your child feels understood, they can start problem solving
WITH you so they learn how to solve disputes and issues without just
turning to adults to do it for them. Understanding our emotions,
connecting with them and then being able to think about how to problem
solve is a really vital life skill. And you can train your child to develop this
skill.
Dont Fix It!
Bebe Jacobs
www.parentingcoachingnow.com
info@parentingcoachingnow.com
www.facebook.com/bebeparentcoach
M: 07939 880 856
With this time of year, comes wet and windy weather and we start
eyeing up our winter woollies and wellington boots. Allergy UK has
discovered a way to get you into your winter wear earlier than usual
this year
Give It Some Welly is our brand new, one day initiative making welly
wearing acceptable this autumn! On Friday 8
th
November this year, in
the run up to Allergy UKs Indoor Allergy Week, wherever you are
and whatever youre doing, were asking you to wear your wellies to
help us to raise allergy awareness and have a bit of fun at the same
time.
Indoor Allergy Week runs from 11 -17
th
November and by wearing
your wellies on the 8
th
November, you will be helping us to kick start
our awareness week by spreading the word about Allergy UK
throughout the country.
The work that we do is vital for allergy sufferers and we need your
help to raise funds as well as awareness, so why not donate 1 to
Allergy UK to wear your wellies to work? Maybe you have a little one
in school who would love a chance to wear their wellies in class for
the day?
Wed love to see photos of an office full of suits, pencil skirts and
wellington boots, or a classroom full of colourful wellies and smiling
faces! Maybe your really little ones have a tiny pair of wellies to wear
on the 8
th
November?
There are plenty of other ways to get involved with Give It Some
Welly:
Welly Wanging Why not set up a good old fashioned welly
wanging contest in your local area? Gather your local community
together for some truly British competition, you could even put on
a free-from refreshments stand to raise some money for Allergy
UK.
Welly Walk For those who like to enjoy the outdoors, whatever
the weather, you could organise a sponsored welly walk, you can
even take the pushchairs! How about a moonlit welly walk and do
it at night-time to make it even more of an adventure!
Welly Race Its not that easy to run in wellies, trust us, weve
tried! Set yourself some light hearted competition and take part in
a 100m welly race. If youre at school or university, you could even
get your teachers and tutors involved!
Fill a Welly with Pennies Put a welly up in your office or school
classroom and donate your spare change to Allergy UK by filling up
a welly or maybe even a pair!
Any support is greatly appreciated and your help in raising these funds
will mean that Allergy UK can continue to provide vital support and
services for allergy sufferers throughout the UK. Have a chat with our
fundraising manager Rebecca about any ideas that you may have to
support Give It Some Welly. Email rebecca@allergyuk.org @ gy g or give
her a call on 01322 470336.
Health & Wellbeing
Give It Some Welly
Health & Wellbeing
I'm not going to lie (my fingers can never hide
it), I fell into the belief that I was going to sail
through the first 3 months of pregnancy.
From all the wonderful yoga I practice, to the
breathing exercises and mantra, I felt ready to
welcome this little star into my body...... HA!
This little star had a different start in mind!
Finding out we was pregnant wasn't the most
romantic of situations (me on the toilet,
hubby in the shower), but a burst of happiness
all the same. It was also a bit of a surprise at
how quickly we did get pregnant as I had
recently returned from over 2 months retreat
and study in India which had thrown my
menstrual cycle into chaos (from an
Ayurvedic point of view this relates to an
excess in Vata or air in your system. Good
book to read: Ayurveda for Women by Dr
Robert E. Svoboda). So we skipped into
"trying for a baby" (not a phrase I'm
comfortable with as it seems to hold so much
expectation and guilt when things don't
happen as quickly as we expect).
My local doctor worked out that I was 9
weeks - WOW! No morning sickness,
lethargy or anything to report (other than the
watermelons Baby would have been proud of
that I was carrying on my chest). Yoga is
AWESOME, I thought as I left the surgery,
with our first scan booked in for 3 weeks
later. And 3 weeks later we found out that I
was only 8 weeks pregnant when a tiny little
seed could be seen on the screen. We could
hear the heartbeat. A sound I don't think I'll
ever forget.
And then, a great big bag of morning sickness
and fatigue whacked my physical body and I
was left a shell of my former self. Morning
sickness. Or as many women know it as all
day bloody sickness! You've probably been
told that this is due from all the hormones
that are running amuck around your system
as it tries to work out the best way to deal
with/support it. My practice went out the
window for all I could do was sleep. It felt like
one massive hangover from my early years
working in the West End of London..... But
without the fun or foolishness of the night
before.
And then one morning after teaching a yoga
class, I found a lot of spotting. I don't think
there are any words to describe the feeling
that engulfs you, but suffice to say, I
completely sh*t myself. I rang the doctors
straight away and they got me booked in that
day. There isn't really anything they can do,
other than get a scan booked in. So I left,
feeling very confused and scared. Ladies,
whatever emotion you feel is absolutely fine
during the rollercoaster of the first 3 months.
Never beat yourself up about how your
feeling. Better to let it out than sit inside and
worry your baby. I cancelled all work and just
rested for the remainder of the day. Our scan
worked out fine and we heard the heartbeat,
which was just as amazing as before. We
we're flying out to the west coast of America
the following week and was advised this was
fine. From personal experience now, if you
can cancel or postpone do it. Long distance
travelling caused me a few upsets and the
combination of jet lag + morning sickness =
possession by the devil! But as I'm coming to
the end of the first 3 months and everything is
starting to settle, you just have this sense that
everything is going to be ok. One of the best
pieces of advice I offer to anyone is to NOT
listen to anyone else's stories of pregnancy or
advice (in the nicest possible way). All too
often, we are told to dismiss our gut instincts
and go with what the doctor says. If you listen
carefully, your body will tell you exactly what
is happening and what to do. Our body has
the capability of healing every single day.
Never doubt it. It's only when you ignore it
do the problems start to arise. And right now
you need to listen to your body and your
baby. It may only be the size of a grape, but
so what. It's your grape that you've harvested
and are growing inside you. Love it with
everything you have and it will be returned to
you tenfold.
Like I said, my practice completely went out the
window for a month and I rested whenever I could.
I appreciate and salute those women that have to
ride the tube/train each morning into town to work
a full day when all you want to do is lay face down
under your duvet (and all they have to offer is a baby
on board badge from the underground)! One
exercise that did help relieve the sickness was the
exercise for emotional balance (found in the book
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh) From an
Eastern medicine perspective, the Chong Mai (which
runs up the front of the body) energy rushes upwards
due to Stomach energy becoming weak, causing
nausea/sickness. I found that standing postures
where too strong and made me feel worse. Working
with this arm exercise helped to dispel the energy
stuck in the chest out through the arms.
Come to sit in a comfortable cross legged position or
on a chair. Take a few breaths. Inhale and raise the
arms straight up overhead (fingertips pointing up). If
the shoulders come up to the ears, take the arms
wider out until they relax. Then begin to bat the
arms 9 inches backwards and forwards. Try and
keep the arms as straight as possible. Begin with 5 x
30 second rounds and if possible work up to 3
minutes non stop. When you finish, exhale the hands
down onto your legs and listen to the breath for a
couple of minutes.
Organic Ginger Biscuits g g - its now a fight between me
and the hubby to the tin!
Stemmed Ginger g - One of the best things for nausea, r
although at one point the syrup made me want to
heave, so instead of eating cut in half and add to
warm lemon water.
Rye Bread y - really lovely toasted and REALLY helped
settle the stomach.
Eggs gg - can't seem to get enough of them!
The Gentle Birth Method - Gowri Motha.
Really lovely book, taking you through each trimester as well as offering simple yet gorgeous massages, recipes and self hypnosis practices. Very interesting
tto note her section of foods to avoid!
Pregnancy Countdown Book, Susan Magee with Kara Nakisbendi, MD. g y , g ,
VVery light hearted, fun and easy to read (I now totally believe in the baby brain!) Like bullet points, it takes you down through the weeks with tips, facts,
posts from mothers at that time and also Doctors orders!
If youre pregnant and nearing the big day,
probably the last word youll want to hear is
hippo!! We can already feel your heckles rising,
but fear not, were not talking about your
beautiful pregnancy shape, were looking at The
Wise Hippo Birthing Programme, which could be
your answer to a calmer, happier birthing
experience. Interested?? Read on.
Weve all heard of hypnobirthing, but The Wise
Hippo Birthing Programme is a new modern
version with a difference. Set to revolutionize this
often misunderstood, yet highly effective birthing
support method, the programme has been
designed specific to women birthing in the UK.
The programme consists of four classes,
preparing couples so they are informed about the
options and choices available to them. It imparts
them with the knowledge they need to focus on
the birth being a normal and natural event, and
helps take away the fear of the birthing process.
Couples are taught how to relax and remain calm
during labour, supported with a manual with all
the information they need including a practice
diary and a birth plan, and MP3 files which can be
downloaded directly from the Wise Hippo
website.
With a completely unique approach, the
programme has been designed to discuss what
the perfect birth is, not what you would expect.
The couple are fully involved in what happens
during their babys birth, making the decisions
which are right for them. This means that women
dont look back and feel that their birth was not
successful or that they have failed in some way.
The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme does not
ignore pain, but rather chooses to explore what
pain is, and how our emotional state, the attention
we give to sensations and expectations, impact on
what we feel. Finally, the programme promotes
the womans right to choose what is right for
them and not what others dictate. In short, it
empowers women so they believe they had the
right birth on the day, it does not set them
unrealistic goals, which in turn can lead to
disappointment.
Without fear, or constant interaction from others,
women naturally move into a state of trance
during labour which then enables them to birth
more comfortably and easily. Hippos birth easily
in the water and the father hippo is very much the
protector of the birthing environment. The only
difference between a pregnant woman and the
hippo is the ability for the conscious analytical
mind (the fear factor) to get in the way.
Hypnobirthing ensures that it doesnt and in turn
enables a woman to go back to her natural
birthing instincts. One Hypnobirthing mother,
after a 6 hour labour in a Hertfordshire hospital
using The Wise Hippo Birthing techniques, easily
birthed her twin girls calmly and drug free ! She
was reported saying
Co-founder of the Wise Hippo Birthing
programme,Tamara Cianfini comments,
Hypnobirthing is not about losing control, quite
the opposite. Hypnosis is in fact a state we all go
into and out of on a daily basis without even
realizing it! Techniques used in applying this to
hypnobirthing involve breathing, relaxation and
visualisation. The most important thing, however,
is to teach the mother how to release any fear,
installing a feeling of calm and being in control
promoting a positive experience and confidence.
Hypnobirthing is also proven to reduce the need
for medical intervention, and babies born in this
way tend to be calmer and sleep and feed better.
Either. In birthing / midwife led units we teach the
birth partner to be an advocate so that they are
part of the decision making process. We also
teach emotional control no matter what turn their
birthing takes.
Starting between 20 and 32 weeks is ideal. The
course consists of 4 sessions, each of 2.5 hours.
Instructors are available post course for support
via email and phone until after the baby is born,
but Dads are taught the birth partners role as part
of the course.
No, they just
need a conscious desire to succeed and the
willingness to practice what they are taught.
Tamara Cianfini teaches Hypnobirthing classes in
Hertfordshire. Please visit www.birtheasy.co.uk
/info@birtheasy.co.uk for all course details or
phone on 07951102213
To find your local wise Hippo instructor please
visit www.thewisehippo.com or email
info@thewisehippo.com
Health & Wellbeing
BirthEasy with the Wise Hippo!!!
When my baby, Joe, was 6 months
old, I came across baby signing. I
didn't really understand what it was
about when I booked a free trial
class with Sing & Sign. To be honest,
I just wanted to get out of the house
and have something to fill yet
another struggle of a day with my
new baby.
Looking back, I can't believe how
lucky we were to have stumbled
across Sing & Sign classes, because
they changed our life! Baby signing
is a way of helping your baby to
communicate before speech,
through basic signs which are
compatible with Makaton and British Sign Language. At 9 months old, Joe
was able to tell me (by signing) that he wanted milk, or that he wanted
more, or had had enough and wanted to go home. 'Milk' was his first sign.
It was such an amazing moment when he first signed. He was around 8
months and one Saturday breakfast time, he refused to eat his porridge.
Now, this boy likes his porridge, so I was perplexed. and, as a new mum,
little did I know that he was teething. There were no signs of teeth, but
he just wouldn't eat. Strangely enough it was his Dad who noticed Joe was
signing for milk (I say strangely because his Dad, along with my Mother,
thought baby signing was a ridiculous concept). He said,is that the sign for
milk? Is he signing at us? We both looked at Joe in open-mouthed
amazement, as he kept repeating the sign. Stunned, I prepared a bottle for
him and when he saw me walking towards his high chair with that milk
bottle, his little face lit up. I could not believe it. My 8 month old baby had
requested milk - not by screaming or crying, just simply by calmly and
quietly signing to us.
Up until that point, Sing & sign classes
had just been a fun, interesting and joyful
weekly class. Yet now I was able to see
the value of baby signing, I felt so excited
to think what else Joe could be capable
of telling me. And tell me he did! Once
he realised that I could understand him,
that little fella suddenly started signing all
sorts of things to me. It was truly
incredible, we would be in the park and
he'd see a dog and point and then sign
'dog.' It was like a whole new world had opened up because we could
communicate with each other. He was telling me what he could see, what
was interesting to him, what he wanted (and what he didn't) and 'read'
books to me by signing the animals he saw on each page of his farm book.
It was delightful. I'd gone from a depressed new mum to a mum who was
enjoying an ever increasing bond with my baby and understanding him and
his little world. There was another mum in the Sing & Sign class who's
baby kept waking up at night, absolutely screaming. This was just after the
baby's first birthday. Together, in the social time at the end of the class,
we tried to fathom why this baby, who used to settle herself back to sleep,
was suddenly inconsolable. Our teacher suggested the mum should look
out for her baby signing at bed time. To cut it short, someone had given
the baby a cuddly toy lion as a birthday gift. This little baby was trying to
say that lion looks scary to me! She signed 'lion' at bedtime and again in
the night when she got upset. I dread to imagine how many unnecessary
sleepless nights one could have just because of a lack of communication!
Needless to say, the lion in question was promptly removed and the
problem was solved. At Sing & Sign, Joe and I learned many signs that
made our life easier and more enjoyable, from 'change my nappy' to 'feed
the ducks,' it was goodbye to the frustration of having to guess what he
wanted and hello to fun and understanding.
I can remember (in the beginning), how my mum & husband had scoffed
at baby-signing, telling me that it would slow down Joe's speech and that
it would never work. How wrong they were! Joe is now a very articulate
little boy, confident, and with a very wide vocabulary. His teachers have
always said how (even at pre-school) his conversational skills were
outstanding. Experts agree that baby-signing enhances and supports the
development of early speech and communication, and Sing & Sign classes
are recommended by Sure-start. Baby Joe and I have enjoyed lots of
different baby classes together, but it was Sing & Sign that really made a
difference. Baby-signing is fun and easy, so give it a go!
Health & Wellbeing
A frazzled Mum's guide to baby signing,
By Elle-Louise Howe (frazzled Mum)!
Would you like to understand exactly what your baby
wants to tell you?
Help your baby communicate before they can talk?
Build your baby's confidence & social skills?
Stop tantrums before they start?
Then learn baby signing the fun way with Sing & Sign
Multi-award winning classes for babies 6-30 months
Call us today 07582 900 418
HEATED BIRTH POOL HIRE
Ou Ou Ou Ou Ou Ourrrrr pu ppu uu pppp rp rpos oos o el el e yyy de de de deesi si ss gn gn gn gn gn n gned ed ed ed d e hhhhhhhea ea e te te te teddd an an n anddd ffi ffilt tt lteeer rr ered ed bbbbir ir irrtth th thh pppppppppppoo oo oo oo ools ls s l eennnnssur ur u e la la abo boo b uuuuurr uuu aandd ndd gggiv iv ivin in ii gggg g g g bi birt rt rt rtthhhhhhh iiin in in innnn
wa wa wa wa wa ww te tte te teerrrrr at at at at aaaaaaa hhhhhom oom ome e ee is is is is aaaa ccccom om om omfo fffo fo fo f rt rt rttab ab able e aaaand nd sssaf af aa e oop op op oppttti tiiion on on on n fffoooor or rrrrrr yyyyyoooou ou u aaaaaaannndd n yyyyour r fa fa faaammmmmmmmi i mmmmmm ly, with thhh aaaa fffffffiv iv iv iv ivvvveeeee e e e wwwwe weeeek ek ek k ek
hi hhi hi hi hi hi i h rrre reeeeeee r fffffro ro ro rooooommmmm 37 37 37 37 377 wwee ee ee ee e ks ks ks ks mmea aans ns yyyyou ou uuu cccccan an aaa bbee sa sa sa a safe fe fe fe f iiin n n nnn th th thh thhhheeee e kn kkkkkn knn kkn k ow ow ow ow ow wllle le le eee le e lledg dg dg dg dge ee e th tth that t at at t yyyyou ou ou ou ou uuuuuuuuuuu wwwwwill alwa ways ys s ys bbbbbbbbe pre- -
pa pa pa p re re re reeeeeeddd. d. d. d...
Wa Wa Wa Warm rm rmmmm, , cl cl c ea ea ea ean nnn wa wa wa wa wate te te terrrr r is is is is is aaaaava va vailllaab aab a le le 222244 4 4 ho ho ho hour rr ur uu sssss aa a dddaaaa dd y. y. y. y. AAAAAAAAAlll ll ll ll ll lllloow ow ow ow oo iinnnnngggg g g g yo yo yo yo yo oo yo yo yo yyyyyy uuuuuuuuu to to to to to uuuuuse se se se tttthhe eeeeee hhhee bbirrth th th th th th th th th th th th thhhhhhh thhh thhhh tthh tthhhhin in in in i gggg po pool ol l wwhe he h nn
yyyo yyo yo y uuu nne neeed ed d ed d iiiit, tt nnnooo ma ma mm tt tt tt tt t er er er er e wwwha ha a hat ttt ti tii tiime me ee mmm ooffffff f th th th theeee e da da da dayyy y y y y yy y yyyy ooooooor or ooor oor nnnnnniig ig ig ig iiight ht ht ht;;;;; yyyyyyo yo yo yo yo yo ooouuuuu nnne neeeeeeeeeeeeeeve ve ve ve ve ve veee v rrr r kn kn kn kn n k oow wwwww oow wwwhe h n n la a la la aaaa la aaa la aaabo bo bbo bo bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb uur ur uu iis s go go g in iingg
to to to to ssssttta ta tart rttt!!!!
www.birthpoolsonline.co.uk
01493 781443 / 07804 780041
enquiries@birthpoolsonline.co.uk
Health & Wellbeing
Last month we considered one of the biggest benefits from attending a
group antenatal course getting support. This time, the focus is on Making
Choices.
If you dont know your choices, you dont have any y y , y y
[1] [ ]
Many clients attending antenatal courses dont realise that there are
decisions which they can be in control of when it comes to pregnancy,
labour, birth and early parenting. All too often, we hear parents start a
question with Am I allowed? In the majority of cases, the answer is
yes, you are allowed, even if the process, system or procedure expects
you to conform to a standard protocol. The organisation Birthrights
publishes a leaflet called Consenting to Treatment
[2]
which explains the
right of a pregnant woman to make an informed choice on whether or not
to accept treatment. An example of this will help to aid understanding.
Many women are led to believe by their healthcare professionals that
labour must be induced at 40weeks and 10 days or 40 weeks and 12 days
depending on the policy of the hospital concerned. They are scared into
accepting induction by the use of phrases such as higher risk, stillborn,
placenta stops working without any explanation as to the absolute risk
of waiting for the baby to come when it is ready. In reality, many women
could safely wait for labour to start spontaneously, thus avoiding the
potential problems associated with induction. By the time women are 10
days overdue they are often very keen to accept induction as they are
fed up with being pregnant and desperate to meet their baby. In these
circumstances, where there is no medical reason to induce, women
should be made fully aware of the two choices available to them to wait
and be monitored regularly or to go ahead with an induction. As long as
women understand the possible outcomes from each choice, then they
can make an informed decision thats right for them.
NCT and Birth-Your Way antenatal courses spend time focusing on how
to help parents make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth and early
parenting, so that, even if parents dont get the birth or early parenting
experience they hoped for, they still feel that they were in control and
made decisions themselves. Research by the NCT shows that parents
attending antenatal courses highly valued the opportunity to consider
decision making approaches for labour and birth.
[3]
During courses, Birth-Your Way offers simple approaches and encourages
parents to think about some of the choices they may need to make during
labour ahead of the big day. We help them to understand the full range of
choices, not just the ones favoured by their caregivers and we enable
them to practice using decision making techniques during the sessions. We
also provide research-based evidence which enables fully informed
decisions to be made. We discuss as many topics as possible where
decisions often need to be made, sometimes quickly, to help parents
consider what their preferences are. These discussions encourage
partners to extend their conversation after the session to have a common
understanding of their choices as a couple.
Topic areas which are often discussed include:
Antenatal screening
Baby equipment
Birth place and its impact on labour
Pain management methods and their potential impact on labour, birth &
early parenting
Induction of labour and its potential impact
Caesarean and assisted birth
Delivery of the placenta
Vitamin K for the baby
Feeding
Sleeping
Immunisations
and many more.
When we ask parents for their feedback on our courses after they have
had their baby, we often find that one of the biggest thanks we get is for
helping them to work through their options and giving them confidence to
challenge healthcare professionals on their recommendations. Here are
some recent comments from course attendees:
The course gave me the confidence to challenge decisions
being made for us Mum to Polly, born 10
th
June 2013
I felt empowered by the information I received and was able to
go on to have the birth experience I had hoped for. Mum to
Natalia, born 7
th
June 2013.
In the final article of this series, well consider another benefit Being
Prepared.
[1] Korte, D. & Scaer, R.M. (1992) A Good Birth, A Safe Birth: Choosing and Having the
Childbirth Experience You Want, Massachusetts: The Harvard Common Press.
[2] Birthrights, (2013) Consenting to Treatment available from http://www.birthrights.org.uk
[3] Newburn M, Muller C and Taylor S. (2011) Preparing for birth and parenthood: report on
first-time mothers and fathers attending NCT antenatal courses. London: NCT.
This article was written by Michelle Eshkeri, CEO & founder of Birth-Your
Way, a Barnet-based company which provides private and NCT group
courses as well as tailored individual birth and parenting coaching sessions.
For more information, email info@birth-yourway.co.uk or visit
http://www.birth-yourway.co.uk.
For more information on NCT antenatal courses, visit
http://www.nct.org.uk
Antenatal Courses: Making Choices
yoyo is an up and coming British children's wear brand giving you retro inspired, quality handmade garments. Abandoning fuss
and frills, yoyo uses simple silhouettes, to give you something that is timeless, quirky and very wearable! whilst incorporating
fun, funky, colourful fabrics, yoyo offers you something you're not going to find on the high street.
Yoyo garments are totally
bespoke and only available
under the yoyo brand
Health & Wellbeing
Hi Justine,
Depending on how old your toddler is, the first thing to consider when establishing a
bedtime routine is the timing. Make sure that it all starts early enough so there is
enough wind down time before putting your toddler into bed but not too long that
he/she gets overtired, therefore making the process much more difficult.
It is important to establish a predictable, structured and soothing bedtime routine
that happens around the same time every evening. Children thrive on predictability
and once they get to know the step by step process towards bedtime, this will go a
long way to a calmer and more relaxing lead up to bedtime and makes the transition
to sleep easier for them.
The actual rituals you include in your bedtime routine are up to you however there
are a few points which I would consider to be important when considering how to
build a routine that works for you and your child.
- Switch off TV around 30 minutes approx before bed as this can be very
stimulating for small children which can in turn affect their behaviour around
bedtime
- A warm fun bath is a nice way of giving your child a switch from activity of
the day to lead up to bedtime
- After the bath, the rest of the routine should take place in your childs
room, with the lights dimmed. Keep the atmosphere low key at this point.
- If you have not already, incorporate a bedtime story into the routine. This
is special quality time with your child and once you have established a story
as part of the routine, you will find that you will build on this as your child
gets older.
There is no right or wrong in terms of how to build a bedtime routine, the important
element is to make it predictable, structured and relaxing.
Hope this helps!
Maryanne
Child Sleep Works
www.childsleepworks.co.uk
Hi Eve,
Thanks for your question. You didnt mention how old your
child is but I suggest that you consider a few points when
trying to encourage your child to sleep through:
- Are you sure that the wake ups are all hunger
related or might it be a reliance on the feed in
order to get back to sleep?
- Based on your childs age and weight, would the
health visitor or GP still recommend a feed or 2
during the night?
- Is he/she taking in enough calories during the day?
A baby needs a certain number of calories over a
24 hour period and if they do not get enough of
these calories during the day, they will wake for
extra feeds during the night to make up for this.
- Do you jump to feed him/her every time he wakes?
Perhaps if you consider a few of these questions, you may be
able to establish what may be contributing to these night
feeds.
I suggest that the first thing you do is to take your child to
the health visitor or GP to get a view from them, based on
their age and weight, as to how many feeds (if any) your child
needs during the night. This is a good starting point and will
make it easier for you to tackle the rest of the wake ups that
are not specifically for a feed.
Hope this helps!
Maryanne
Child Sleep Works
www.childsleepworks.co.uk
Tel: 07760 252 750
Email: info@childsleepworks.co.uk
Web: www.childsleepworks.co.uk
Come and visit our facebook page for lots of tips and tunny perspectives on childrens sleep and keep updated with Child Sleep Works on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/childsleepworks
Your sleep questions answered
Health & Wellbeing
In May 2013, two groups of Enfield mums completed 10 weeks of NCT
training and began volunteering as Breastfeeding Peer Supporters, work-
ing in Childrens Centres across the Borough of Enfield. We hold sessions
throughout the week at various Childrens Centres. We volunteer along-
side baby clinics, at under 1s groups and at a dedicated breastfeeding
group. We are a new service so if you know of anyone who might benefit
from breastfeeding support, please let them know about us.
As Peer Supporters, we are not here to convince you to breastfeed your
baby and were definitely not here to judge anyone. We make a clear
distinction between giving advice and giving information what we think
you should do isnt important. We are here to give you research-based
information. Our aim is to support mothers to make decisions that are
right for themselves and their families
While there are many benefits of breastfeeding and a lot of women find it
easier and less hassle than bottle feeding, it is not always easy especially
in the early days. Mothers dont always know what to expect and because
all babies are different, even experienced breast feeders can run into
difficulties. There is always the temptation to compare our own baby to
others, which can cause anxiety and confusion.
Most importantly, we are trained to listen to mums. Our primary focus is
on the mother and what shes going through and how she feels about it.
Sometimes just being an impartial sounding board can help someone
organise her thoughts, which can be difficult when facing the constant
demands of a small baby.
For exhausted new mums, questions such as when will their baby sleep
through the night and how to cope with constant and/or cluster feeding
are common. Obviously we cant tell you whats going to happen, but
being able to talk to someone who has been through it can give some
mothers the support they need
to get through the times when
they find their baby particularly
demanding and remind them
that it wont last forever. When
breastfeeding, one never
actually sees how much milk a
baby is taking. When faced with
a demanding feeder, its not
uncommon for women to
assume they are not making
enough milk and some are
convinced theyve stopped
producing altogether (often
after an unsuccessful attempt at
expressing). When we listen to
what the mother has to say
about her baby and talk to her
about ways to tell whether her baby is thriving, she often concludes that
things are actually going quite well.
Sometimes a little more than support and listening is needed. Some
women will experience pain or infection, such as mastitis. Others may
find that their baby is not gaining weight as expected, is coming off the
breast a lot or not taking enough milk. In these cases, we are often able
to offer suggestions about where the difficulty may lie. Many of these
problems can be resolved by looking at how the baby is attaching and the
position the baby is feeding in. By seeing your baby feed, explaining a bit
about how breastfeeding works and talking through good positioning and
attachment, we can help make feeding as easy as possible for mother and
baby. Effective feeding ensures that the baby is getting what s/he needs
and the mothers body is getting all the right messages about how much
milk the baby needs.
We can also provide information about and support with other things,
such as: expressing and storing milk; how and when to introduce a bottle
if you want to; and managing going back to work, including what your
rights are; and how to stop breastfeeding.
How you feed your baby is up to you and we respect that. If you do
decide to breastfeed, remember that just because its a natural process,
doesnt mean it will always happen easily. Establishing breastfeeding can
be very straightforward but sometimes its more tricky. If you do run into
difficulties, dont panic, dont give up hope and do come and talk to us.
We wont always have the answers and sometimes it might take a while
to get to the bottom of the difficulties but we do have experience of
breastfeeding, ongoing training and a commitment to supporting you. You
dont need to be referred by a health professional, just come and find us
at one of the sessions listed below because were a volunteer run
service, we do recommend calling ahead to check sessions are running.
Up to date details of sessions can be found on the Informed Families
website:
http://www.enfield.gov.uk/if/info/23/childrens_centres. and at the
following NCT pages: www.facebook.com/NCTEnfield and
www.nct.org.uk/branches/enfield.
By Emma Jordan
Health & Wellbeing
Salisbury Road,
Enfield, EN3 6HG.
Tel. 01992 762 140 Well Baby Clinic
3rd floor, 23 South Mall,
Edmonton, N9 0TN.
Tel. 020 8350 5573 Soft Play & Breastfeeding Drop-in
Raynham Avenue,
Edmonton, N18 2JQ
Tel. 020 8807 4726
Antenatal Clinic
Trinity Street,
Enfield, EN2 6NS.
Tel. 020 8366 2386 Under 1s Group
Riverway, London, N13 5HE.
Tel. 020 8886 8217 Baby Clinic
Main Avenue, Bush Hill Park,
Enfield, EN1 1DS.
Tel. 020 8363 1949 Baby Clinic
Carterhatch Lane,
Enfield, EN1 4JY.
Tel. 020 8211 2201 Baby Clinic,
Eldon Road,
Edmonton, N9 8LG.
Once our kids are even a few months old, it
seems that many of us get used to our sleep
being disturbed by our offspring, and, but for the
(hopefully) occasional sleepless night, our bodies
adapt and we manage. However, in the first few
weeks after having a baby, especially if you're
trying to get breastfeeding established, babies
demands, hormones and general lack of sleep
and upheaval can be exhausting. It's not easy. In
fact, it can be very, very difficult, but it is
temporary. We would encourage new mums to
allow themselves to relax, not try and be super-
woman. Let the house go a bit and get partners,
friends, family and any other visitors to help out.
Possibly plan easy meals, expect life to be a bit
chaotic and go with it. Some women find it helps
them to think about how they might use the time
when their baby's sleeping. It's easy to feel that
you're somehow failing when you've sat
watching daytime TV all day while feeding your
new baby - but you haven't. You're doing what
you're supposed to be doing.
Some women stop before they would
like to because their baby isn't sleeping
through, or was sleeping through and
then stopped. Babies are likely to wake
in the night for feeds at least until their
first birthday and this is because their
brains are, at times, growing quickly.
This takes a lot of energy so they need
to feed regularly. Breastmilk is very
easily digested and so it is not
uncommon for breastfed babies to
wake more often than formula fed
babies. Additionally, The Infant Sleep
Information Source (ISIS) says "arousal
from sleep is thought to be an
important mechanism protecting
babies from potentially fatal heart-rate
or breathing episodes associated with
Establishing a good latch, or attachment is essential for
successful breastfeeding. Poor attachment makes it
more difficult that the baby will feed effectively, poten-
tially causing sore nipples, insufficient nutrition and
affecting milk supply ("Breastfeeding: A good start",
p15-18, NCT Publication). We would walk you
through the process of achieving this, perhaps demon-
strating using a doll, but also by seeing your baby feed
and suggesting ways to help them develop good at-
tachment, ensuring they are comfortable. As a general
rule, we say spine in line and tummy to mummy - so
the baby's head isn't turned to the side or cocked at an
angle and s/he can easily swallow. ("Breast refusal is
almost always temporary" ("My baby is refusing the
breast" NCT Article) and given a bit of time, patience
and perseverance, most can learn to attach and feed
successfully. If you are experiencing ongoing problems
then you could ask a peer supporter about tongue tie,
which can often make attachment more difficult. This
is thought to affect between 3 and 10 per cent of
babies and can be difficult to diagnose ("Tongue-tie"
NCT Article). However, if when your baby's mouth is
open, s/he seems unable to stick his tongue out, it's
worth getting it checked out. A peer supporter should
be able to tell you where your nearest clinic is.
Lots of women believe they're
not making enough milk or not
making any at all. Some might
think this because some babies
feed constantly and some will
have tried expressing, either by
hand or with a pump and not
managed to produce much, if
any. It is actually a tiny
proportion of women who are
completely unable to produce
milk ("How do I know if my
baby is getting enough
breastmilk?" NCT Article), and
there is a technique for
successful expressing - just
squeezing the nipple or areola is
unlikely to produce very much -
and not all women find breast
pumps work for them ("How to
express breastmilk" NCT
Article). We would discuss the
reasons why a mother believed
she wasn't making enough milk
and talk through ways to tell
whether or not her baby was
thriving. We would also aim to
see the baby feeding and look at
whether improvements could
be made with positioning and
attachment.
Some babies do this for a variety of reasons. If there are
difficulties with attachment then this might mean they
need to feed for longer to get enough milk, in which
case we'd try to help resolve that ("How do I know if
my baby is getting enough breastmilk?" NCT article).
Babies having a growth spurt might feed more because
they need the extra nutrition and they're also sending
the message to your body to increase the supply be-
cause they're getting bigger and need it ("Breastfeeding:
my baby's feeding pattern has changed" NCT Article).
Many babies find breastfeeding comforting and just
enjoy being close to you, which helps stimulate your
body to increase milk supply. This non-nutritive feeding
is fine as long as it's comfortable for you (Biological
nurturing Information Sheet 1).
Family Focus
Oilatum launches
new support for
mums of children
with a dry skin
condition,
including
eczema, as study
reveals bath time
is one of the
most stressful
times in her day.
New research
from the makers of Oilatum shows almost half (45%) of mums find
their child's bath time one of the most stressful parts of their day.
In fact, more than one in three (36%) mums admit they sometimes
avoid bathing their child because they find it so stressful. And although
NHS Choices suggests bathing a child at least two or three times a
week, the research shows one in five (20%) mums are bathing their
child just once a week or less.
The study goes on to reveal bath time is even more difficult for mums
of children with a dry skin condition, including eczema, who are over
90% more likely to find bath time one of the most stressful parts of
their day than mums with children who do not have a dry skin
condition. And mums of children with a dry skin condition are 10%
more likely to sometimes avoid bathing their child than mums of
children without a dry skin condition. Worryingly, of mums of children
with a dry skin condition, almost two thirds (65%) believe bath time
makes their child's dry skin worse when actually, NHS guidance states
bathing with an emollient is one of the most important treatments for
a childs dry skin and eczema.
To help support mums, the makers of Oilatum have launched
Comfort Skin Therapy a new booklet with tips and advice from
experts and real parents on how to look after a childs needs at bath
and bedtime.
James Barnes from Oilatum said; As any parent can testify, at the end
of the day, when children are tired, bath time can be a trying
experience. We all know that bath time is a key part of a good bedtime
ritual but things dont always go according to plan. And whilst missing
the odd bath may not be a worry for most parents, for those with
children with a dry skin condition, like eczema, it means they could be
missing out on a key part of their skin care treatment.
We hope Comfort Skin Therapy will help let parents know theyre
not alone in their experiences at bath time and there are simple steps
they can take to help make it more stress-free.
Professor John Harper, a Professor of Paediatric Dermatology in London with over 30 years experience of treating dry skin conditions,
including eczema, who helped contribute to Comfort Skin Therapy said; Its particularly worrying that parents feel bathing could make their
childs dry skin and eczema worse its actually one of the most important things they can do in managing their childs skin. Emollients added
to the bath water coat the skin with a thin film of oil, which helps restore the integrity of the skin barrier, softens the skin and prevents it
from drying out.
The Top 5 Five Bath Time Tips for children with dry skin and eczema from Comfort Skin Therapy:
1. All children are different and treatment for a dry skin condition, including eczema, can vary according to what works for you, however
it is always important when managing dry skin conditions, to restore the skin barrier, to stop the skin becoming drier and more
irritated
2. Emollients moisturise and soften the skin which can reduce itching and therefore scratching, and bathing in emollients every day helps
to keep the skin supple and helps prevent infections in scratches and sore patches
3. Add a bath emollient oil to the bath water to help prevent the skin from drying out try to choose one designed specifically for
children with dry skin.
4. The temperature of the bath water should not be too warm or hot try to match the bath water as close to the bathroom air
temperature as you can as changes in temperature can aggravate dry skin
5. After the bath, pat your childs skin dry (try to avoid rubbing the skin too much with the towel), and then apply an emollient
moisturiser to all areas of dry skin to help seal the water back in.
To request a copy of the Comfort Skin Therapy booklet, simply email
CSTbooklet@webershandwick.com or visit netmums for more information.
Family Focus
Attachment parenting.
I wondered what this
was all about when I
first heard the phrase
- for me, it conjures up
an image of a parent
being pulled down the
pavement by number
of scampering toddlers
on retractable dog
leads. After a little
Googling, it turns out
this is not strictly
accurate (more's the
pity). Instead, it seems
that those who
advocate attachment
parenting are fans of,
amongst other things,
co-sleeping. I have one
word to say about this, but I feel so strongly about it that I am
compelled to repeat it three times: No. No. No.
I have the misfortune to experience co-sleeping - usually at
about 5am when my one year old starts his morning scream
and subsequently wakes up his older brother, who then
refuses to believe it is not 'up time'. So in a vain attempt to
allow my husband and I the luxury of staying in bed for a while
longer, perhaps even to the giddy heights of a time that begins
with a six, one or both boys come into bed with us. I have no
idea why we have done this more than once, it is horrendous.
(Actually, I do know why. It is because we are so bloody
knackered that the thought of staying in bed even when the
chance of getting any more sleep is as remote as a lottery win,
is worth the gamble).
Sleeping with my youngest has always been a disaster. When
he was a baby and would wake at ridiculous 'o' clock in the
morning, one of us would stumble into his room, carry him
back to bed, lay him between us and will him back to slumber
with such rudimentary parenting techniques as patting,
stroking and shushing. It was not hugely effective, but at that
time of the morning, it was all we could muster. But even
when he did doze off, proper sleep for me was impossible
once there was a baby lying beside me. I may have closed my
eyes and pretended that I can fall into an untroubled sleep, but
in my head the 'baby-in-bed' brain cell went onto high alert,
sending out an urgent message on repeat to every nerve
ending in my body: don't roll over, don't roll over, don't roll
over. No one wants to wake up and discover they have
created a baby pancake, so despite my long-term fatigue
which meant I could fall asleep at the drop of a duvet, a baby
lying next to me was the best method known to man to keep
sleep away.
Now he is one, I am less concerned about flattening him, and
much more concerned about him walloping me repeatedly
over the head as he decides that 5.15am is just the perfect
time for amateur acrobatics, bed-gymnastics and persistent
hair pulling. Just this morning he spent a good five minutes
trying very hard to prise my eyeball from its socket using only
his forefinger and a wayward dribble of saliva. I don't know
about you, but having your eye gouged out tends to make
sleep a tad difficult for me.
My four year old is a more tricky proposition in terms of
co-sleeping. Sorry, did I say tricky? I meant utterly, teeth-
grindingly annoying. Despite it being somewhere around 5am,
he has usually decided that everyone should be as wide awake
as him. He lies next to me, breathing in the oxygen adjacent to
my face that by rights - and surely by co-sleeping etiquette -
should be mine. I move my head away from him a little. He
moves his closer. Given that I am already teetering on the edge
of the bed due to the fact that there are four bodies sharing a
space designed for two, I resign myself to warm, second-hand
air. I close my eyes and feel the pull of sleep on me. Then I feel
something else. E is tapping my forehead with his fingers.
"Get off," I whisper through gritted teeth. The tapping stops.
I drift off again. A hand over my mouth brings me hurtling
back. "Get off now," I try to whisper, but am somewhat
impeded by a clammy palm still pressed to my lips. And so it
goes on: a finger in my ear, a toe nail scraping down my calf, a
knee in my stomach.
Even if I wanted to parent my children in an attached kind of
way, it is obvious I just do not have what it takes. Attachment
parenting is meant to produce empathetic, secure and non-
violent children, but it doesn't seem to work like that in our
house. The little foray into attachment parenting which I have
encountered in a vain attempt to stay in bed after 5am has only
succeeded in ensuring one of us stomps out of the bedroom
in a sulk. And when I say 'one of us', I mean me. It is I who does
the stomping. And thus, have invented a parenting style much
more suited to my temperament: detachment parenting.
Read more from Jodie Newman on her weekly blog,
Mothering Frights:
www.motheringfrights.wordpress.com
And get Womb with a View, her debut book about her
experience of pregnancy and motherhood, from:
www.jodienewman.co.uk
You can follow Mothering Frights at @motheringfright for
more words about parenthood, sometimes even put in the
right order!
Amateur acrobatics, bed-gymnastics and persistent hair pulling
A Hertfordshire Mum is celebrating 20 years
of working as a massage therapist this
summer; Kate Codrington says she must have
eased the tension from around 5,000
shoulders in her working life.
Kate specialises in pregnancy massage; a time
when support from a specially trained
therapist can really make a difference, helping
women to feel good throughout their
pregnancies. As well as seeing new Mums and
pregnant clients, Kate uses Biodynamic
massage to help busy women manage their
stressful lives. Clients listen to their tummies
rumbling with a special stethoscope, which gives an insight into the relaxation of the
body. The most massages Kate has ever done was 80 people over two days for The
Aspire Companys Women in Leadership trainings. How did she manage this
demanding task?
Stretching, staying hydrated and taking micro-breaks when I needed to; simple
things which everybody can do to survive at the office.
To celebrate her achievement, Kate has made a series of short You Tube films
revealing insider knowledge from the massage couch. If you ever wondered how a
therapist manages to coax the tension out of your back, you can find out in her series
10 Amazing Things You Never Knew About Massage.
Experience of working with HIV at Body and Soul a charity supporting families
affected by the illness, in the city in London with stressed office workers and
stress-related conditions has contributed to an impressive range of skills, but Kate
says she has never stopped learning from her clients. She will be starting training in
abdominal-sacral massage in the autumn so she can better help her clients with
digestive and hormonal issues.
Kate commented If I keep stretching and taking breaks when I need to, I could keep
going for another 20 years! You can watch Kates videos by searching for Kate
Codrington on You Tube.
Massages with a therapist trained in pregnancy massage are safe all through
pregnancy. I take a careful medical history to screen for issues that might be of
concern. Each treatment is unique and carefully considered so that my clients can
relax and feel very safe. I find that women are the best judge of what feels right for
themselves and their baby so I always listen carefully to what feels good to my clients.
I loved having massage when I was pregnant, it gave me a breathing space to catch up
with the amazing changes happening in my body as well as easing up my aches and
pains. My greater awareness gave me amazing confidence that my body could birth
my baby and it would all be OK.
When my clients come regularly they relax more quickly and more deeply too, their
growing body awareness helps them to notice how stress starts in their bodies, so
they can do something about it. The frequency of the sessions has to be practical in
terms of peoples resources, so women come for as long and as often as they need
to; anywhere from weekly to monthly works well. I offer my pregnancy clients a
postnatal session for half price, because after the birth they really need a massage!
Health & Wellbeing
I was introduced to Kate at the Oxhey Village Fayre. I was in
my second trimester and my friend recommended her
massages. Then I saw an article she had written and decided
to book an appointment.
First time: two when pregnant; one when overdue and one
after I had the baby. The second time I didn't need the
overdue one, so just three times.
I felt different every time. The first time I felt so relaxed that
I wanted to rush home and crawl straight into bed, the
second I felt invigorated after feeling very sluggish. The
overdue massage was emotionally very calming; it's never the
same thing twice. I think Kate reads the mood well and gives
you what you need. For example, after my second son, I
didn't want to be too far from him so she let him lie on the
table with me. She's very accommodating!
I recommend it to expecting mum. It's all part
of nurturing yourself and your growing baby - you need
someone to do something relaxing for you when you're
working so hard at being pregnant.
39 399 33999 39 339 39 33339 399 3339 39 399 39 Octt ct cttt ctttob ooob oobbber 2013 |||||||||| Baby yyyyyyyyyyyyyy Buzz MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMag ag aag aag aag ag ag ag aag ag aaaag ag aag aaag aaggggaz az az az az az aaaz aazzz az az aaaz az aaaaaz az aaaz aazz az azin in in inn in in in in iiin in innn inn innneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Ov Ov Ov O er er eer r e ttttttthe he he he he he hee ccccou ou ou ours rs rs rs r e ee e e of of of of tttthe hhe he he llllas as aas as a tttt fe fe fe few w ww mo mo mo mont nt nt nths hs hs hs, ,, , I I I I ve ve ve ve hhhad addd mmmmy y ey eyes es es s ooope pe p ne ne ned d dddd to tto to ppppeo eo eeo eee pl pl pl p e e ee fe fe fe fe fffe l el el el elin in in ingggg
ex x ex ex e tr r tr r tr t em em mm em em mee eee ha ha ha ha happ pp pp pp pp in iin in nes s es ess s ss to to to to bbbei ei ei ee ng ng ng n iiinnnn th th h the eee de de de dept pt pt pths hs hs hs oooff f f de de desp sp sppai ai air r r th th th than an an anks ks ks ks tttto o o o th th th the e ee jo jo jo joyf yf yf yful ul ul ulne ne ne ness ss ss ss oooof f f f ne ne ne newwwwww
be be b gi gi i ggg nn nn nnnin iin ings gs gs gg aaaand nd nd nd llllif f if fe e eee ch ch chan an an a ge ge ge es ss s to to o to o tthe he he hee ssssud ud ud udde de de den n lo lo lo loss ss ss ss ooof f f a a a pa pa p rt rt rtne ne ner r or or or ttthe he he h lllos os os o s s s of of of of aaaa ccchi hi hiild ld ld d...
I I I wa wa wa was s s sss to to to to t ld ld ld ld aaaabo bo bo bout ut ut ut OOOOct ct ct ctob ob ob ober er ee 115t 5t 5t 5th hh h by by by by aaaa ffffri ri ri rien en en endddd of of of of mmmmin in in ine eee an an an and dd be be bega a ga g nn do doo doin in in i g g gg so so some me mm rrres es es sea ea ea e rc rc rcchhh an an aandddd
wa wa was s ssss am aaam am am aa az az az azed ed ed ed aaaatttt tth th hee e e ex ex x ex exxte te te tt nt nt nt nt nt n pppppeo eo eo eopl pppp e ee we we we w nt nt nt tttoo oo af af af afte te te terr r r su suuuff ff ff ffer eer rin in ing g g g th th th theeee lo oooss sss s oof ff a a pr pr pr preg eg eg egna na na anc nc nc ncy y y y or or or or lllos os os osssss
of of of of aaa ccccccchi hi hi hi hh ld ld ld d.. III eeeexp xp xp xper er er erie ie ie ienc nc nc nced ed ed ed d ed mmmmmmy yy yy fi fi ffirs rs rs rs rstttt mi mmmmsc sc scarr arri ri ri riag ag ag aage eee aal aa mo mo mo most st stt 11116666 ye ye ye year ar ar ars s s s ag ag ag ago o o o on on on on NNNNew ew ew ew YYYea ea ea ars rs rs rs EEEve ve ve ve,,
an an an an aa d d dd wh wh wh whil il il ilst st st st IIII wwwwas as as as aaaat t t t th th th theeeee ve ve ve very ry ry ry ry eeeeear ar ar arly ly ly ly ly y ssssta ta ta ta age ge ge ge gesssss of of off of tttthhe he he he ppppre re re regn gn gn gnan an an ancy cy cy cy,,,, it it it it wwwwil il il illlll be be be be sssom om om omet et et ethi hi hi hing ng ng ng tttha ha ha hat t tt li live vesss
wwi wwwwith th th th t mmmme eee fo fo fo fore re re reve ve ve ver. r. r Wh Wh Wh Whil il il il ilst st st stt iiiit t t t mi mi mi migh gh gh ghtttt no no no not t tt be be be be aat ttt t th th th the ee fo fo fo f re re re refr fr fr fron on on ont t t t of of of of mmmmy y y mi mi mi mind nd nd nd eeeeac ac ac achh h an anndddd ev ev ev ever er eryyyy
da da da dday, y, y aaaaand nd n wwwit iith hhh ti ti ti ti time me me me mm bbbbbei ei i ei e ng ng ng ng ng n tttttha ha ha hat t tt ev eever er er ffffor or or orgi gi gi givi ii v ng ng g hhhea eea ea ale le le l r, eeeeac ac ac achhhh an annd d dd ev ev ev ver er ery y ye ye ye ye ear ar arr III rrrrem em em emem em em em eeeem e be be be bee be be berrrrrrrrr
th th th ttth th ttthee e ee ni ni nigh gh ghht t an anddddd th hhe ee ev ev e en en n ents ts ts s of wh wh wh what at at a III wen nnnt ttt th th th thro ro ro roug ug ug ughhh an an an and d d d th th th thin in in ink kk k w wha haat t t if if if if f? ? ? ?Hi Hi Hi Hi iiind nd nd nd d nd nd dsi si si sigh gh gh gh gh hh g t, t, ttt, t, ttt iiiiinnnnnnn
my my m ccas assse, e, ee, hhhhas as as as ssser er rve vvv d d it itsss pu pu pu purp rp rp rpos os os ose, e, e, e, wwit it t it ithhhhh th th th the e e e fa fa fa fact ct ct ct ttttha ha ha hat t t t IIII kn kn kn know ow ow ow tttha ha ha hat t tt IIII wa wa wa was s s s no no no not t t t re re re read ad ad ad ady y y y to to to to rrrrrrai ai ai ai ai ai a se se se se se se se se see
a a aaaa ch ch ch hil il il i d d dd at at att ttthe he he h rrrrel eel elat at ativ iv iv ivel el el ely y y y yo yo yo youn un un ung g g ag ag ag age ee e th th th that at at at IIII wwwwas as as as..
Th Th Th TTh TTTT er er re ee e ar ar ar are e e e so so soo mmmman an an any y y y wo wo wo wome me me men, n, n, n, ppppar ar ar aren en en ents ts ts ts aaaand nd nd nd fffam am am amil il il ilie ie ie iessss wh wh wh w o o go go go go tthr h ou ou ou ough gh gh gh tttthi hi hi his sss lo lo lo loss ss ss ss ss, , , wh wh wh wh wh het et et ethe he he he hheeer rr r it it t it it
be be be be be be be be aaaaa mmmmuc uc uc uchhhh lo lo lo long ng ng nged ed ed ed ffffor or or or aaaand nd nd nd ddddes es es espe pe pe pera ra ra rate te te tely ly ly ly wwwwan an an ante tte t d dd d pr pr pr preg eg eg egna na na n nc nc ccy, y, yy tttto o o o th th th theeee su su su surp rp rp rpri rri rise se se se se uuuunp np np nppla la la la ann nn nnn nned ed ed ed d
pr pr ppr preg eg eg g egna na nnaaa na nanc nc nc ncy y y y th th th th hhhro ro ro ro ro ooug ug ug ug ug g ug ughhhhhhhhh mi mi mi mi mmmmsc sc sc sc s ar ar ar arri ri ri riag ag ag ageeee or oor o ssssti ti ti till ll llbi bi bi birt rt rt rth, h, hh eeeect ct ct ctop op op opic c ic i ppppre reegn gn g an annnci cc es s, bi bi bi bi birt rt rtt rth hhh h de de de dee d fe fe fe fe fect ct ct cts sss an an an an annddddddd
SI SI SSS Ds Dss Ds DD aaaand nd nd nd wwwwhi hi hi hi hhh ls ls ls lst t t t re re re rese se se sear ar ar arch ch ch ch iiiis ss be be be bein in in ing g g g do do do done ne ne ne tttto oo fi fi fi find nd nd nd nd d oout ut tthe he he h mmmman aanny yyy re ree re r as a on onnnnsss an ann anddddd ca ca caus uus u es ees ffffor orr
th th th th th th th th th theees es s eees e e, e, , ss d ad ad ad adly ly ly ly tttthe he he here re re re iiiis s s s st st st stil il il ill lll no no no no ddddef ef ef efin in in init it it i iv iv iv iveeee an an an answ sw sw swer er er r er. . . . It It t iiiis ss th hhh th th ther er er er eeer er eref ef ef ef ef ef ef efor or or or oor ore e ee ee eeee gi give ve v n nn th th that at OOOOct ct ct ctob ob ob o er er err
re re reeeee reco co co co c gn gn gn gnis is is is is issses es es es es es es ss ttttthe he he he llllos os os oss sss so so so so mmmman an an any y y y pa ppa pare re re rent nt nt nts ss s ex ex ex expe pe pe peri ri ri rien en en ence ce ce ce aaaall ll ll ll aaaaro ro rroun un un und d ddd th th th the ee e Wo Wo Wo Wo Wo WW rl rl rl rl r d. d. d. d. It It It It iiiis s s s al al al al al all also so so so so so so aaaa
me me eann ans s to to to to o iiinf nnf nnf nn orm and pr provvvvid id id ide e e e re re re reso so so sour ur urrce ce ce cessss fo fo fo for r r r pa pa pa pare re re rent nt nt nts s s s wh wh wwh who o o o ha ha ha have ve ve ve llllos os os ost t t t ch ch ch chil il il ildr dr dr dren en en en ddue ue ue ue ttttoooooooo th th th th th th th heeeeeeeeeee
ma ma m ny ny ssad ad aaand nd nd nd uunf n orgi ivi ving ng ng rrea aaaso so so sons ns ns ns aaaabo bo bo bove ve ve ve..
Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Baby by by by by by bbbb BBBBBuz uz uuu z z z Ma Ma Ma Maga ga ga gazzi zi zine ne ne ne wwwwas as as as ccccre re re reat at at ated ed ed ed ttto gi gi gi give ve vve rrrrea ea eade dee ders rs iiiinf nnf nfor orrma ma ma mati iion on on o oon n topics cs ddddea eali ingg wit tthhhh
pr pr prr pr prreg eeg eg e na na n nc ncy, y, y cchi hhi i hild ld ld ooor r r r pa pa pa pare re re rent nt nt ntin in in ing gg g is is is issu su su sues es es es bbbbut ut ut ut it t tt wi wi will ll aaals lso o o co co cc ve ver r some iss s ues th that a ddea aaallll wi wi wi with th th th
th th th th th th hhe ee e ha ha hars rs rsh h hh re re re r al al alit it it ity y y y th th th that at at at ssssom om om omeeee pa pa pa pare re re rent nt nt nts ss s go go go go tttthr hr hr hrou ou ou ough gh.. WWe e ee ha h ve ve eeeee fffea e tu ture re re reddddd se se seeeeeve ve ve ve ve ve e vvera ra ra ra ra ra rrallll
he he he he he he heeear ar aaar arrtb tb b tb t re re eeak ak a in in ing, g, gg yyyyyet et et et iiins nss nspi pi pi pira ra ra rati ti ti tion on on onal al al al ssssto to to to tori ri ri ries es es es ffffro ro ro rom m mm mu mu mu mumms ms ms wwwho ho ho wwwan an ante te te tedd to to to o to tttttel el ee l th th th th hhei ei ei ei eeeir r r st st st st st sttor or or or oorr ooo y, y, yy, aaaaaaand nd nd nd nd nd n
I I I I ho ho ho ho ho ho h pe pe ppe pe pe ppp mmmmmmy y y yyy re rre reead aaadder ee s s wo wo wo wo w n n n ntt t t be be be be be ooooff ff ff ffen en en ende de de ddedddd or or or or aaaang ng ng nger er er ered ed ed ed tttha ha hat tt I I I ve ve vve pppro ro ro rovi vide de de ded d d a a a a pl pp at atfoo fooooorm rm rm rm rm rm rmmm rm fffffor or or or
th th th hhhheem em em em em em tttto oooooo ex ex eexpr ppprres eees eee s s s th th he e eee em em em em em emot ot ot oot oo io io oons ns ns ttttha ha ha hat t t t sa sa sa sadl dl dl dly y yy ma ma ma many ny ny ny mmmmor or or oreee wi wwwll face.
NNNNNNNNNiiiiccckkkiieee xxxxxxxx
Robyn Bear is the creator and founder of
and started October 15th. She thought
there needed to be a specific day to
recognise pregnancy and and infant loss.
She has had six first trimester
miscarriages and has since gone on to
have a beautiful daughter named Peyton
Elizabeth and beautiful twin daughters,
Madison Lynn and Brooklen Amber.
She also has 2 step children, Kyle and
Nicole. Robyn also runs many online
Facebook and yahoo support groups as
well as owning and running her
Memorial Boutique, Remembering Our
Babies.
http://www.rememberingourbabies.net
Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Remembrance Day
How Losing My Baby
Led to My Rebirth...
I did not cope with my miscarriage
conventionally well. I got so low I didn't
even know if I'd make it out alive. But, with
hindsight, what I did do well was I allowed
myself to fully experience and embrace that
trauma and as a result the person that
emerged from the wreckage is actually the
person I always wanted to
be. Strong. Intense. Loved.
Before my breakdown I was a private
person. So private that most of the time
even I would have an incredibly difficult job
trying to decipher how I was actually
feeling. I could never admit to negative
feelings. If I was honest about a negative
event in my life I would dress it up with
positive interpretations or just flatly refuse
to accept that it had affected me at all. I
tried desperately to hold on to all of that
when I lost that baby- in fact, I did hold on
to my privacy, yeah I really did- and in doing
so I lost my mind. I was devastated and
because I'd never learnt to accept my
feelings I absolutely hated myself as a
result. I wonder whether I could have
made it without the sunlight of my first born
son to illuminate the pitch black I was
residing in a lot of the time. But having him
also made me despise my weakness even
more because I was disgusted that I could
have such a beautiful wonderful child and
not be happy.
Then there came a point... I don't know
whether it was an impulse that came purely
from my subconscious or the intellectual
part of my brain finally taking my councillors
advice but something clicked and I knew
that I had two choices: open up or fold. So
all of a sudden, maybe six months after it
happened, I just started telling strangers at
any opportunity. Sometimes it'd be in
response to someone asking whether this
was my only child? Or did I plan to have
more? And I might just casually drop it in
with a sad smile and say no more and that
felt good. It was a relief because otherwise,
faced with that question, I would get totally
hung up on my missing child and isolated
from the World who didn't know they'd
existed... Then sometimes a woman
(because in the beginning it was only
women) would be able to empathise and
when that happens between women
who've lost children what is created is this
instant deep bond that feels like
sisterhood. And how comforting is that?
So... I managed to claw my way back into
the land of the living and fragment by
fragment my armour of self loathing was
beginning to flake and peel. I began to
accept that this woman having these deep
meaningful conversations and doting on and
nurturing her child was me. Not 'me but
really I'm a depressed monster' or 'me but
only part of me, and the other part is
despicable'... When I was doing those
things (let the record state that) I was a
good person; that I should love and be
proud of.
As I was beginning to venture out of my
shell and socialise I was coming across
people that, when I was a 'respectable'
mother of one, I would have been perfectly
civil to but would have refused to even
consider a real friendship with as a result of
my prejudices. Did she smoke when she
was pregnant? Not my sort of person. Was
she wealthy and well-spoken? Probably
stuck up. But, because I needed friendship
like I have never needed even oxygen
before and because as far as I was
concerned I myself was the lowest of the
low (it was that unhappiness despite my
living child thing that just tore me up); I was
willing to let anyone in and I have made
some of the most beautiful friendships with
people as a result. They have my back and,
my self esteem is reinforced because, I have
theirs.
And then... Then something wonderful
happened. I decided I wanted to reach out
into the ether and tell my story publicly just
on the off chance that it might help
someone going through something like I
did. And to my amazement what poured of
me was graphic and uncompromising but it
was also... Somehow... Captivating.
When Nickie published my first article, one
by one people started to tell me that I was
courageous and talented. Some opened up
to me about their experiences (maybe from
my past or from the peripheries of my life,
who I would not otherwise have made a
connection with but) now here we are
meaning something in each others
lives. Now it's months later and they're still
falling like flies and finding genuine intimacy
in my company. And that was down to
me. How could I possibly hate myself again?
Elizabeth Katherine Hobson
ElizabethHobso6
http://elizabethkhobson.wordpress.com/
Miscarriage is a particular kind of loss and can
bring particular feelings.
After a miscarriage, you grieve for a person you
never knew, and for a relationship that ended
before it really began. You grieve not for a
person who has lived and died but for the hopes
and plans and dreams that you had for your
baby and your family. You grieve for the loss of
your future as the parent of this baby. You are
sad not just because of what you have lost but
because of what will never be.
This is different to grieving for, say, an elderly
person who has died, and it can be hard for
people who have no experience of miscarriage
to understand.
Another way in which grief after the loss of a
baby is different to other kinds of grief is that
you might be thinking about the possibility of
another pregnancy in the future. So your
feelings about what has happened may be
mixed with anxieties about why it happened,
whether and when you might conceive again,
and if you do conceive, whether you might lose
the next baby too.
October 15
th
- Coming Together
The answer is likely to be you did
nothing wrong. You couldnt have
helped or prevented what happened to
your body any more than science could
have. Allow yourself time to grieve and
if people have a somewhat pragmatic
approach, leave them to their own
reasoning. Its time to look after
yourself now both physically and
mentally, but try not to shut out those
nearest and dearest to you, they are
hurting too. I do realise that this is
much easier said than done... If you
feel that you cant talk to anyone close
to you, please use any of the support
and guidance details provided at the
end of this feature.
As much as anyone would like to tell
you NO, the answer is they simply
dont know! Our bodies are the most
incredible creations and whilst one
person will be able to have children
with no problems, complications or
scares, that doesnt go for everyone.
If you have more than two or three
miscarriages it is advised to go to your
GP and have tests done to ascertain if
there are any underlying problems.
Sadly there are far too many reasons,
some explained and some un-
explained for the sudden death of a
child or early termination of a
pregnancy. From SIDs to genetics,
the question so many times asked is
Why? Whilst I wish I could answer all
these questions, I m not a medical
professional, nor have I experienced
such a horrific thing happen to me.
What I have done is a little bit of
research and have included what I
can within this feature. As with all
medical queries, questions and
issues, please seek medical advice
from a qualified professional.
Did I drink too much tea? Did I
not take enough supplements?
Did I not look after myself?
I miscarried once, will it
happen again?
Too many reasons why!
Why Me? What did I do Wrong?
From October, Baby Buzz Magazine will be supporting Sands (Stillborn and Neonatal
Death) charity in all the support and research they do. If you would like to donate
to this wonderful charity, please visit: www.justgiving.com/BabyBuzzMagazine
I am no stranger to the heartache of
miscarriage, but I really thought
things were going to be ok this time.
This is my first second trimester loss
and it is utterly devastating.
On Monday, 2 days ago, I went in to
the hospital for a routine
appointment. I am classed as high
risk due to my antiphospholipid
syndrome and my thyroid disorder.
At 15 weeks its a little early to hear
the baby on the doppler but the
consultant said shed try anyway.
She couldnt find a heartbeat, but
told me it didnt mean anything
necessarily. Diligently, to reassure
me and bearing in mind my history
she offered to send me round for a
quick scan so that I could see the
heartbeat before I went home.
2 weeks ago I had the Nuchal
Translucency Scan. It was my 3rd
scan as they were monitoring me
closely. Baby was so active and
wriggly. The sonographer tutted a
lot as the baby wouldnt cooperate
and was moving so much that they
couldnt get an accurate
measurement to assess my risk of
Downs. Eventually after 2 hours,
quite a bit of sugar and a lot of jiggling
about they got the measurement we
needed and I was classed low risk for
Downs and Trisomy 13/18.
I wasnt nervous or worried as I
waited for the bonus scan on
Monday. I know how unreliable
dopplers can be, having panicked
myself during my last pregnancy with
a home doppler. As I went in to the
ultrasound room with the registrar
all I was worried about was getting
back to work as soon as possible.
I knew something wasnt quite right
as he didnt show me the heart
straight away. Its standard practice
that they look for it first and show
you as soon as possible. After a few
minutes he went to fetch his
colleague. My heart started to race.
The consultant looked at the
ultrasound as the registrar re
scanned me. All the while he asked
me questions about my previous
losses. After 5 minutes he turned to
me and said Im sorry, we cant find
a heart beat.
I crumpled. The news was so
devastating. In a blur I phoned my
partner and my family and the
consultant talked me through my
options. I was just on the cusp of
being able to opt for surgery or I
could take some tablets and miscarry
the baby naturally. With the baby
measuring 9cm I didnt think I could
cope with essentially giving birth and
seeing my tiny tiny baby. I opted for
surgery which was booked for a few
days later, today.
They call it a silent miscarriage. My
body didnt tell me that anything was
wrong. My baby died and I didnt
know. Its hard not to wonder what
I could have done differently. Its
hard not to feel like my body failed
my baby, that I, in some way, failed
my baby.
The physical healing will take a few
days. The emotional healing for both
my partner and me will take a lot
longer.
By Jessica Chu
I never got to hold your hands
But still you touched my heart
I never got to see your smiles
Or stroke your faces fair
I never got to watch you sleep
And yet I've seen your dreams
I never got to hear you laugh
But still I don't despair.
I know you will return my loves
One day I'll hold your hands
I know that when the time is right
Your cries will reach my ear
And all the grief will melt away
Your light will fill our hearts
And we will love you more than life
Our angels held so dear
Jess
Today Im 15 weeks
pregnant. Except Im not. As
of 9am this morning my
womb is empty and my baby
gone.
A LOST TOMORROW . .
The latest infant mortality statistics, released today by the Office for National
Statistics, show that there were 244 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
deaths in 2011, a reduction of only 17 from 2010.*
The Lullaby Trusts Chief Executive Francine Bates OBE, said: We are
extremely disappointed to see such a small, statistically insignificant reduction
in the number of SIDS deaths. Its just not good enough. We continue to
compare poorly with other countries in Europe who have managed to reduce
their deaths more significantly.
Five babies still die suddenly and unexpectedly every week in the UK. In
2010, the Government scrapped the universal sudden infant death leaflet
given to every new parent, which meant we had to replace it with our own
resources.
No one knows exactly what causes SIDS, but it is thought to be the result of
a combination of factors.
Experts believe SIDS occurs at a particular stage in a babys development, and
that it affects babies who are vulnerable to certain environmental stresses.
This vulnerability may be due to being born prematurely or to low birth
weight, or other reasons not yet identified.
Environmental stresses could include tobacco smoke, getting tangled in
bedding, minor illness or having a breathing obstruction.
Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond
to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and
temperature.
The Lullaby Trust has pledged to halve the numbers of babies dying suddenly
and unexpectedly by 2020 but we simply cant achieve this on our own. We
call on the Department of Health to put resources behind a clear strategy to
reduce infant mortality and leaders of public health to deliver local safer sleep
campaigns which will ensure that every family knows how to keep their
babies safe while they are sleeping.
Follow the advice below to help prevent SIDS.
Place your child on their back to sleep. The safest place
for them to sleep is in a cot in a room with you for the
first six months.
Do not smoke while you are pregnant or after your baby
is born, and do not let anyone else smoke in the same
room as your baby (see below).
Do not share a bed with your baby, particularly if you
have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or an armchair.
Do not let your baby get too hot.
Keep your babys head uncovered. Their blanket should
be tucked in no higher than their shoulders.
If possible, breastfeed your baby.
Should you have questions about the advice, the research
background, or anything else, then please contact the
Information line on 0808 802 6869 or email
info@lullabytrust.org.uk
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death, is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently well
baby. In the UK, at least 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. Despite these deaths, SIDS is rare and the risk of your
baby dying from it is low.
A miscarriage is not a major event for everyone, but sadly it is for
many women and men too. Most people are left with feelings
of great sadness and regret. You might feel shocked and
confused. You may feel angry at fate, at your partner, at other
women who seem to have no problems getting and staying
pregnant.
You might feel guilty and wonder whether you have been
responsible for your loss in some way. You may just feel empty
and perhaps lonely. Some women lose confidence, feel stressed,
panicky and out of control.
Many women find it difficult to be around anyone else who is
pregnant or has a new baby. Its certainly very common to feel
jealous and to feel that this is all very unfair. For some people,
their feelings are intense but not overwhelming. Others are
devastated by what they feel and for a time feel barely able to
cope. Everyday tasks, whether at home or at work, can seem
impossible to manage or not worth doing.
The world can feel turned upside down.
It is also common to feel loss in physical ways. A lot of women find
they feel very tired, even some time after the miscarriage. You
may also have headaches or stomach-aches, be constipated, have
diarrhoea, or find it hard to sleep. These symptoms will probably
disappear in time, but if you feel worried about them, it might be
a good idea to talk to your GP.
Partners too can have strong feelings of loss, distress and anxiety,
yet their needs can go unrecognised.
There is a leaflet called Men and Miscarriage and/or the web-
based article Coping with Miscarriage at:
Miscarriages are much more common than most people
realise.
Among women who know they are pregnant, it is estimated
that 1 in 7 of these pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Many
more miscarriages occur before a woman is even aware she
has become pregnant.
Losing three or more pregnancies in a row (recurrent
miscarriages) is uncommon and affects around 1 in 100
women.
October 15
th
- Coming Together
Reading how other people have felt may help you feel less alone. You will almost certainly find that some people have had similar
feelings to yours, and that can be reassuring. But the experience of miscarriage is different for everyone. What the loss of your baby
means to you, and how you feel about it, will be shaped by all kinds of things to do with the person you are and your particular
circumstances. So, although you will probably find you share a lot with others, its important to remember that no one elses
experience of miscarriage will be exactly like yours.
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks.
The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which may be
followed by cramping and pain in your lower abdomen.
If you have vaginal bleeding, contact your GP. Most GPs can refer you
to an early pregnancy unit at your local hospital straight away if
necessary.
However, bear in mind that light vaginal bleeding is relatively common
during the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 12 weeks) and does
not necessarily mean you are having a miscarriage.
October 15
th
- Coming Together
I wish to take this issue as chance to share the story of the infant loss my family
experienced when I was 6 years old, my brothers were two and four, when
my mother lost her fourth child at birth, my little sister Susan. To this day, just
touching into the emotions around this time makes me well up with tears. The
impact of her loss has been the seminal experience of my life, and is why my
practice, my teaching and all the work I do as a doula, as an antenatal teacher,
as an acupuncturist is all based in helping people to have healthy children.
When Susan died it was 1969. She was taken from my parents at birth, in a
time when fathers were still not allowed into the labour room, and neither my
mother nor my father ever saw her. My mother came home from the hospital
a mere three days later, and she then fell into a place of utter desolation and
absolute isolation. At the time this death was dealt with by pretending as if
nothing had happened.
There was no funeral.
How I wish with all my heart that this had been different. We belonged to a
church community of over 400 families. A funeral would have meant that the
entire congregation would have had permission to call on my family, to cook
for us, to bring my mother tea and sympathy, a kind word, a comforting touch,
someone to vigil with her as she came to terms with her loss, company to
share her grief with.
Instead she was stranded into a no-mans land of utterly alone, in despair, and
she did indeed fall into a profound post natal depression coupled with an
unprocessed grief of astronomical proportions. Being the 60s the answer was
Mothers Little Helper, and she was put on to 4 years of Valium. So not only
did we lose my sister, we also lost our mother as she disappeared into a stoned
haze of barely coping, and we also lost our father. In his isolation he became a
workaholic of the long hours barely there variety, and the schism between my
parents never recovered from the dividing they experienced at Susans death.
My father tumbled further into an increasing alcoholism, numbing his pain of
unresolved grief, and my mother has never to this day ever truly resolved or
dealt with the grief that not only meant the loss of her daughter, but was also
the beginning of the end of her marriage.
My brothers were so little at the time, they only ever knew the unspoken
tensions of our home, yet never truly knew why. My youngest brother made
the choice to not have children, and though he will not talk about it, I believe
that all the taboo around Susans death has influenced a fear of having children.
My middle brother had also felt that way, until he met the right woman, and
in their 40s they have been so very fortunate to have two healthy daughters,
though with 4 miscarriages in between.
I am telling this story because I wish to communicate how the impact of loss is
something that will never go away. But I do wish to reassure you that in
stepping into ones grief and in embracing the loss, and in opening our hearts
to allow our community to support us, it is possible to resonate the grief into
the normal boundaries that it should have. Ignoring grief will amplify it into
such a high pitched resonance it can become an all consuming hindrance to
moving forward in our lives.
I also wish to communicate that in the 40 something years since Susan died
there has been a seed change of profound proportions, and that what we
experienced as a family in the 1960s is highly unlikely to ever occur in todays
society and in todays healthcare provision. Today, when a baby dies, both the
mother and father are given as much time as they need with their baby, to hold
and grieve and to begin the long process of letting go. The support network
within the hospitals is there to provide parents with all the time they need with
their baby, and they are given full access to hospital chaplains to offer support
through whatever kind of prayer or connection they may need. The parents
are given as many mementos as is possible, ink prints of feet, hospital brace-
lets, a lock of hair the keepsakes that help us to know that this person was
here, that this person glimpsed in and out of our lives, but that they were fully
loved and wanted and needed.
Parents are encouraged to hold their baby and love their baby and to take
absolutely as much time as they need to say goodbye to their baby. My
mother never said goodbye, and one of my saddest ever moments was when
she told me that this was THE greatest regret of her lifetime.
The unpacking of these immense emotions is so very important. As I write this
the tears are now streaming down my face as the fullness of unexpressed grief
yet again rears its head within my heart and I am overwhelmed by the feelings
of loss that came with Susan leaving us. When I am working with anyone who
has lost a child, at whatever stage that may be, I always encourage that it so
important to create a ritual, a funeral ceremony. However that may be
meaningful to those parents.
One of the most poignant I knew was a couple who lost a baby at 20 weeks,
an American couple. They bought 20 red roses and sat vigil for their loss for
20 days. They then placed the now dried rose petals into a beautiful box and
walked down onto the Millennium Bridge, and then looking up the Thames, in
the dusk, the iconic lights of the city sparkling on the river, they handful by
handful scattered the petals onto the water below, saying goodbye to their
London baby under the watching spires of St Pauls and Big Ben and Westmin-
ster Palace.
The day I realised that there had never been a funeral for Susan, I was 32 years
old. It was a shocking realisation and I suddenly became aware of this unspo-
ken story within our family, and how, after all these years, still NO ONE talked
about it. I began to call on my family, one at a time, and through careful
detective work began to unwind the story, bringing together the collage of
experiences to find the whole picture. This was my healing, this was how I
came to accept and deal with all those hidden angsts that were the foundation
of our childhood.
And so I decided to make a funeral. On a sunny afternoon in early spring, on
Susans birthday, in natures church, a beautiful Cotswolds forest, I made a
hole in the ground that I dug with my bare hands, and in absence of any Susan
mementos I buried my own christening mug and my favourite stuffed bunny,
and a bonnet my auntie had knit for me when I was born. And just as I
smoothed the earth over this little grave of heartfelt cherished pieces of
childhood, a group of 4 children ran by, shouting and laughing and chasing each
other through the trees. Bringing up the rear was the littlest girl, two plaits
bouncing down her back and had any of them turned and shouted out Susan
I would not have been the slightest bit surprised. My perfect farewell to my
little sister - we said our long lost goodbye in the joyful song of children laughing.
There is no way through loss except to go through it. If you are suffering a
pregnancy or infant loss, please know that you are not alone and that in
reaching out you will find so much love and support and understanding. Hard
as it is, there is a way through it. Hold hands and bravely step into the grief.
Know that your love of your little one will never go away, and though you will
not know them, they will always know you love them.
As well as your own family and community of friends, here in the UK you can
always turn to your GP, midwife and health visitor for support. The hospitals
all have chaplains there to support you, and we have many excellent child
bereavement charities and support groups. You are not alone.
www.childbereavement.org.uk
www.babyloss-awareness.org
www.winstonswish.org.uk
www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
Saying Goodbye..
Peoples feelings vary after the experience
of pregnancy loss. You may feel that you
want to get pregnant again as quickly as
possible, or you may feel apprehensive and
anxious at the thought of another
pregnancy. You and your partner may each
have different feelings about trying again and
that may need talking through.
You may have received all sorts of advice
about how long you should wait before
trying again. Many doctors advise waiting
until you have had at least one period after
your miscarriage before trying again, as this
makes it easier to calculate the dates in the
next pregnancy.
This doesnt mean that you are more likely
to miscarry if you do conceive before then.
There is even some evidence that
conceiving in the first six months after a
miscarriage actually lowers your risk of
miscarriage next time. [1] In most cases, you
and your partner are the best judges of
when to try again.
However, there are some circumstance
such as after a molar pregnancy or ectop
pregnancy, or if you are coping with a
illness or infection, when you will be advise
to wait longer.
If you have had a late miscarriage o
repeated losses, you may want to talk t
your GP or specialist before trying t
conceive. If you are having investigation
you may be advised to wait until those ar
complete before trying again. And yo
might want to make sure that you ar
feeling recovered physically and emotional
before embarking on another pregnancy.
Pregnancy after miscarriage, ectopic o
molar pregnancy can be a very anxious tim
You may feel that you need regular scannin
just to check that things are all right, or yo
may find that too stressful.
[1] Love E, Bhattacharya S, Smith NC, Bhattacharya S. Effect of interpregnancy interval on outcomes of pregnan
after miscarriage: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics in Scotland BMJ 2010; 341:c3967
October 15
th
- Coming Together
es,
pic
an
ed
or
to
to
ns,
re
ou
re
lly
or
e.
ng
ou
ncy
Fo Fo Fo org rg rg rget t et tt et MMMMMMe e No NNN t Ch Ch CChil il il ldr dr dd en n en ens s s HHHHos ossspi pi pi pice ce ce c
Te Te TTe Te el: l: l: l: 000014 4 14 4 14 484 84 84 84 44411 11 11 000040 40 40 40
co co co cont nt nt ntac ac ac acct@ t@ t@ t@ t@ t@@fo fo fo forg rg rg rgget et et eetme mmme m no noo notc tc tc tchi hi hi hild ld ld ld.c c .c co. o. o. o.uk uk uk uk
ww ww ww www. w. w. w. w fo fo fo forg rg rg rg r et et et etme me me meno no no notc ttc tchi hi hi hild ld ld ld.c .c .c .co. o. o. o.uk uk uk uk
IIII wo wo wwo wwo w ul ul ul uldddd li li li ike ke e ke tttto oo sa sa say y a aa he he heear ar ar artf tf tf tt el el e t ttttt th th hh th t an an aaaan aann an an an aankkkkkkkkk
yo yo yo yo yo yo youuuu to to to to tttthe he he he ffffol ol ol ollo lo lo lowi wi wi wng ng ng n organ an annis is sat attttio io oooons ns ns ns ns ns n
fo foo fo for r rr th th th th tt ei ei ei eir rrr su su su s pp pp pp ppor or or ort, t, t, t tthe he heeir i aaadv dv dvvic ic ice, e, ee, tthe hee heeeeir ir r ir ii
kn kn kkn kn kn k ow ow ow owle le e ledg dg dg dge ee an an an andddd th th th the e e e ne neve ve ve er r r en en en endi di di di d ng ng ng ng ng
se se se ssear ar ar arch ch ch ch c ffffor or orr aaans ns ns nswe we we wers rs rss:::
Th hh The e e e Lu Lu Lu Lull ll ll llab ab ab aby y yy Tr Tr Tr Trus us us ustttt
Te Tel: l: l: : 000020 0 20 777780 80 80 802222 32 32 32 3200 00 00 00
in n in info fo fo fo@l @l @l @lul ul ul u la la aby by by byttr tr trus s uust. tt. t or or or org. g. g. g.uuk uk
ww ww ww www. w. w. w.lu lu lu lull ll ll llab ab ab abyt yt y ru ruust st.o .org r .uk
Mi Mi Mi Misc sc sc scar ar arrri ri ri riag ag ag age e e e As As As Asso soci ci iiat at at atio io io ionnnn
Te Te Te Tel: l: l: l: 000019 19 9 1924 24 24 24 222200 00 00 00 777799 99 99
in in in info fo fo fo@m @m @m @mis is is isca ca ca carr rr rr rria ia ia age ge ge geas as as asso so so s ci ci c at at at ation. n. n. n.or or or org. g. g. g.uk uk uk uk uk
ww ww ww www. w. w. w.mi mi mi misc sc sc scar ar ar arri ri ri riag ag ag agea ea ea eass sss ssoc oc occia ia ia iatti ti t on on on on.o .o .oorg rg rg rg.u .u .u .ukkkkk
Oc Oc Oc Octo to to t be ber1 r1 rr 55
ww ww ww www. w. w. w.oc oc oc octo to to tobe be b r15t 5th. hhh co commm
ro ro ro roby by by byn@ n@ n@ n@oc oc oocto to to obe b r15th.co oommmm
ww ww ww wwww. w. w. w.re re re reme me me memb mb mb mber er er e in i gourbaa babi bies ss.nn .nnet et et e
Event Planning
We had the amazing opportunity of interviewing Steven Duggan, event planner extraordinaire! Sir Elton Johns event planner, Steven,
was recently given the impressive task and hefty budget of 70k to plan an extravagant Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland themed
birthday bash, which came complete with a Mad Hatters Tea Party and guests very own Never Never Land. Here we find out how
he Steven became so sought after and what he does to make each event so special:
After working for a number of years with other major event
companies around London, I really felt I could do this myself,
and better so I decided one day to just go for it. I haven't
looked back since.
We get so many unusual, fun requests but I think one of my
most favourite requests was when I was asked to organise a
surprise wedding proposal using 7 dwarfs.
We work with vast budgets, anything from 3,000 and up.
Our most extravagant budget to date was in excess of
260,000 for a private birthday party - it was an amazing night!
Yes, it's one of my favourite types of events to create. We
have done alot of 1 year old birthdays, bar & bat mitzvah's
and a few christenings.
This was actually one of our more extravagant budgets at
over 70,000 and the party was also one my favourites which
was a 1st birthday party for twins. It was a mix between
Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland theme. We had story
telling areas, a fully themed barbecue menu and sweet treats,
themed actors to entertain the kids, bouncy castles, fair
ground rides and much much more. It was great!
No matter what the budget, its always possible to create a
magical party for your child. Utilise what you have around
your home and try and be creative. Simple, fun decorations
can be made and it makes it even more fun to get the children
involved in making them.
I would have to say the twins first birthday that had the Peter
Pan & Alice in Wonderland theme - think it brought the kid
out in me.
I would love to have the recognition of creating amazing
parties like no other, be the best in my game.
www.stevendugganevents.com
For the Dads
I am in a season of my life right now where I feel bone tired almost all of
the time. Ragged, how-am-I-going-to-make-it-to-the-end-of-the-day,
eyes burning exhausted.
I have three boys ages 5 and under. Im not complaining about that. Well,
maybe I am a little bit. But I know that there are people who would give
anything for a house full of laughter & chaos. I was that person for years
and years; the pain of infertility is stabbing and throbbing and constant. I
remember allowing hope to rise and then seeing it crash all around me,
month after month, for seven years. I am working on another post about
infertility that will come at a later date.
But right now, in my actual life, I have three boys ages five and under.
There are many moments where they are utterly delightful, like last week
when Isaac told my sister-in-law that My daddy has hair all over. Or
when Elijah put a green washcloth over his chin and cheeks, and proudly
declared, Daddy! I have a beard just like you! Or when Ben sneaks
downstairs in the morning before the other boys do, smiles at me, and
says, Daddy and Ben time.
But there are also many moments when I have no idea how Im going to
make it until their bedtime. The constant demands, the needs, and the
fighting are fingernails across the chalkboard every single day.
One of my children is for sure going to be the next Steve Jobs. I now have
immense empathy for his parents. He has a precise vision of what he
wants exactly that way and no other way. Sometimes its the way his
plate needs to be centered exactly to his chair, or how his socks go on, or
exactly how the picture of the pink dolphin needs to look with brave
eyes, not sad eyes, daddy! He is a laser beam, and he is not satisfied until
its exactly right.
I have to confess that sometimes the sound of his screaming drives me to
hide in the pantry. And I will neither confirm nor deny that while in there,
I compulsively eat chips and/or dark chocolate.
There are people who say this to me: You should enjoy every moment
now! They grow up so fast!
I usually smile and give some sort of guffaw, but inside, I secretly want to
hold those people under water. Just for a minute or so. Just until they
panic a little. If you have friends with small children especially if your
children are now teenagers or if theyre grown please vow to me right
now that you will never say this to them. Not because its not true, but
because it really, really doesnt help.
We know its true that they grow up too fast. But feeling like I have to
enjoy every moment doesnt feel like a gift, it feels like one more thing that
is impossible to do, and right now, that list is way too long. Not every
moment is enjoyable as a parent; it wasnt for you, and it isnt for me. You
just have obviously forgotten. I can forgive you for that. But if you tell me
to enjoy every moment one more time, I will need to break up with you.
If you are a parent of small children, you know that there are moments of
spectacular delight, and you cant believe you get to be around these little
people.
But let me be the one who says the following things out loud:
You are not a terrible parent if you cant figure out a way for your children
to eat as healthy as your friends children do. Shes obviously using a
bizarre and probably illegal form of hypnotism.
You are not a terrible parent if you yell at your kids sometimes. You have
little dictators living in your house. If someone else talked to you like that,
theyd be put in prison.
You are not a terrible parent if you cant figure out how to calmly give
them appropriate consequences in real time for every single act of
terrorism that they so creatively devise.
You are not a terrible parent if youd rather be at work.
You are not a terrible parent if you just cant wait for them to go to bed.
You are not a terrible parent if the sound of their voices sometimes makes
you want to drink and never stop.
Youre not a terrible parent.
Youre an actual parent with limits. You cannot do it all. We all need to
admit that one of the casualties specific to our information saturated
culture is that we have sky-scraper standards for parenting, where we feel
like were failing horribly if we feed our children chicken nuggets and we
let them watch TV in the morning. One of the reasons we are so
exhausted is that we are oversaturated with information about the kind of
parents we should be.
So maybe its time to stop reading the blogs that tell you how to raise the
next President who knows how to read when shes three and who cooks,
not only eats, her vegetables. Maybe its time to embrace being the kind
of parent who says sorry when you yell. Who models what its like to take
time for yourself. Who asks God to help you to be a better version of the
person that you actually are, not for more strength to be an ideal parent.
So the next time you see your friends with small children with that foggy
and desperate look in their eyes, order them a pizza and send it to their
house that night. Volunteer to take their kids for a few hours so they can
be alone in their own house and have sex when theyre not so tired, for
heavens sake. Put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes, and
tell them that theyre doing a good job. Just dont freak out if they start
weeping uncontrollably. Most of the time, we feel like were botching the
whole deal and our kids will turn into horrible criminals who hate us and
will never want to be around us when theyre older.
Youre bone tired. Im not sure when its going to get better. Today might
be a good day or it might be the day that you lost it in a way that surprised
even yourself.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Youre not alone.
For the Dads
Big School, two words guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts
of children and adults alike. For many children this past month
has been the introduction to Big School and a longer working
week. My daughter is one of those who has been forced to
accept that the fun of pre school has now become a thing of the
past and it is time to knuckle down to some serious play in the
structured environment of a formal classroom. No more pre-
school Aunty Joan making mud pies in the sand pit now its
nursery and Mrs H. constructing mud based imitation pastry
food stuffs within the confines of the granulated glass play area.
All of this after a mammoth seven weeks of summer holidays. It
is a sad fact of life that you are officially a grown up when the
roles have become reversed and the first day of the summer
holidays is met with a sense of foreboding and resignation only
quashed by the first day of the school term bringing a sense of
relief and inner peace.
Needless to say we followed a strict preparation regime in our
house for this transition, we are very used to transitioning here
as my son is on the autistic spectrum so every change of
significance is prepared for with lots of work such as date setting
and countdown clocks and social stories of what is due to change
and why. Transitioning is actually a very useful tool for all
children and it never ceases to amaze me that it isnt more
widely used. So armed with our knowledge of transitioning and
all the pitfalls of not adequately preparing a small person for big
change we started our regime of change on the last week
pre-school with lots of only five more days to go and such like.
We continued in this vein throughout the school horror days,
sorry holidays, with similar countdowns and warnings about the
extra two days that would be spent slaving away at a drawing
board or in a playground wendy house but they didnt seem to
arouse any fear or apprehension.
The transition for our particular Monkey #2 was going to be a
change from three days a week at pre-school to five days a week
at nursery still morning shift only so starting at 9am and knocking
off at 12 noon. Part of the transitioning involved lots of
reassurances that certain friends from pre-school would also be
going to Big School and so friends would be there from the
outset. The school also takes it duties seriously when it comes to
transitioning and so a couple of visits and taster sessions at the
school had taken place followed up by the fabled Home Visit,
that one day towards of the end of the school horror days, oops
holidays, where your house is guaranteed to be spotless because
the teachers are coming, THE TEACHERS ARE COMING!
On our Home Visit we cleverly arranged for the weather to be
nice so we could shuttle the teachers straight out to the garden
bypassing the waste station that had taken up residence in our
front room. Of course this did mean I had to mow the grass as
every one knows a school place can be rescinded if the garden
isnt well kept, at least thats the impression I got from my wife
when she casually suggested it. The upshot of this was that I was
in the shower attempting to de green my legs when The
Teachers arrived. I finally joined the conference right in the
middle of the uniform versus home clothes discussion, we fall in
the home clothes camp when it comes to nursery but will happily
go the uniform route for reception (when it is guaranteed to get
used for more than a few terms).
Having heard the preliminaries through the open bathroom
window whilst showering I was able to leap straight in (not from
the window) with my first question to The Teachers regarding
discipline. This is because Monkey #2 can at times, only when
she is awake, be a bit lively and we know from Monkey #1 that
it is important to have a consistent approach both at home and
at school to any sort of liveliness. From the surprised look of
The Teachers they must have thought they were about to inherit
a miniature female Atilla The Hun, however nothing could be
further from the truth, Monkey #2 has never ridden a horse in
her life.
Having reassured The Teachers that Monkey #2 would not be
any more of a handful than any of their other charges, all done
with a remarkably straight face, we thanked them and told them
how much we were looking forward to the start of term. The
first morning of Big School was blissfully uneventful and through
the vagaries of staggered start days both my wife and I were able
to take Monkey #2 in together. With lots of excited talk about
new teachers and new friends and new schools we walked to Big
School and headed into the playground to await the opening of
the classroom door. We steeled ourselves for the big goodbye
and prepared for whatever was to come and as the door opened
and a smiling Mrs H. stepped out we found ourselves alone as
Monkey #2 bolted for the door to be first in to the new class. I
am not the sentimental sort but a kiss goodbye on the first day
would have been nice!
Mr Ma..
By Lawrence McGrandles Jnr
Focus
Each month we review an amazing selection of new and innovative products and clothing and this
month is no different! From trainers to hair cream and toys to milk machinesread what we thought
and what Baby Buzz Rating we gave each product
Would you like to join our Focus Group? Sign up now at info@babybuzzmagazine.com
Danielle: Ella's Kitchen Spaghetti Bolognese p g g
I love the convenience of the Ella's kitchen pouches. The packaging has been designed really well,
there easy to slip into your bag for out and about, easy to eat straight from the pouch or squeeze there easy to slip into your bag for out and about, easy to eat straight from the pouch or squeeze
onto a spoon. My daughter loves the spaghetti Bolognese flavour, and I have to say I quite like it onto a spoon. My daughter loves the spaghetti Bolognese flavour, and I have to say I quite like it
too! It's a good texture, quite easy for little ones to eat, and there's more than enough to fill them too! It's a good texture, quite easy for little ones to eat, and there's more than enough to fill them
up.
Ella's Kitchen Peach and Bananna
Again, great packaging for convenience. The fruits are a great first tastes food, and I also find them m
good for slightly older children to put on cereal or have straight from the pouch as a snack. Good
taste and texture.
Ella's Kitchen Nibbly Fingers y g
A great chuck in the bag snack for out and about. Individually wrapped which is handy. My daugh h
ter however isn't very keen on them. I think the texture is a bit too chewy, she ends up spitting ter however isn't very keen on them. I think the texture is a bit too chewy, she ends up spitting
most of it back out. Perhaps its just her, but they are quite hard, even though designed for most of it back out. Perhaps its just her, but they are quite hard, even though designed for
12months, some children don't actually have that many teeth by 12months if at all. So I wouldn't 12months, some children don't actually have that many teeth by 12months if at all. So I wouldn't
recommend If your child has trouble chewing. Otherwise a good healthy snack.
Nickie: The Purple One, Squished Smoothie Fruit p , q
My littlest one has never been a fan of the pouches so when it came to dividing them out to
other parents, I was more than a little surprised when he grabbed one of these. Being a little
hesitate in whether she would actually have it, I opened it and watched her devour it! Im not
sure who was more shocked, her for liking a pouch or me for watching her eat it so quickly!
What a fab way to get her essential fruits! Definitely something we will continue to give her.
Eve: I thought this was amazing!!! I use Arnica on myself and so when I found one for children I was so
excited!! My youngest is a little clumsy when he is tired and when he knocked his chin the other
day I was straight on it. It was going purple but after a couple of goes that was all gone! Thank
you ARNICA!!!
Sarah: What an amazing product, Id had the tablet form after having a c-section as Id been told of the S
benefits of it working from the inside out but to have it in such a quick and easy applicator is
brilliant for my son, who is constantly bumping into things!
Danielle: I have totally fallen in love with this cream. I love the comforting smell, which oozess
whiffs of natural ingredients, smells slightly of orange. I personally prefer it as a hand cream rather whiffs of natural ingredients, smells slightly of orange. I personally prefer it as a hand cream rather
than a face cream. It's quite a thick texture, but if you have dry skin on your face I would highly than a face cream. It's quite a thick texture, but if you have dry skin on your face I would highly
recommend for the face. After using the cream on my hands they instantly feel soft and hydrated.
Its my new favourite addition to my desk/handbag.
Cindy: C Wow, I LOVE this product. Despite the name barefoot, it really can be used all over. I however,
decided to tried it out on my feet one night before bed. My feet are not very well looked after and
rarely get any TLC but I woke up the following morning with considerably softer, smother skin.
The difference was extraordinary. Truly amazing results overnight. A rich, intensive cream with The difference was extraordinary. Truly amazing results overnight. A rich, intensive cream with
98% natural origin ingrediants including Stellaria(Chickweed) and Burdock extracts to comfort and
soothe. Macadamia and Evening Primrose Oil deeply hydrate and nourish the skin whilst soothe. Macadamia and Evening Primrose Oil deeply hydrate and nourish the skin whilst
Chamomile calms and relieves irritated skin, leaving it silky smooth. This lightly fragranced cream is Chamomile calms and relieves irritated skin, leaving it silky smooth. This lightly fragranced cream is
a joy to use and comes highly recommended from this very happy customer.
** Baby Buzz Best Buy**
www.ellaskitchen.co.uk
www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com
www.barefoot-botanicals.com
Nickie: I really worried that we wouldnt have the chance to review this for a while due to school justt
starting but of all people that I gave a sample bottom to, Ive been the first one to use it! Sadly my starting but of all people that I gave a sample bottom to, Ive been the first one to use it! Sadly my
oldest came home from school with headlice and we duly got out the Lyclear, to put it to the test.
It is amazingly easy to apply and the instructions are incredibly easy to understand. The treatment It is amazingly easy to apply and the instructions are incredibly easy to understand. The treatment
kills head lice & eggs, is 100% effective in 10 minutes and is easy to apply. There are no kills head lice & eggs, is 100% effective in 10 minutes and is easy to apply. There are no
insecticides and it leaves a very pleasant fragrance. The lotion covers up to 8 applications,
depending on the length of the hair. Please see future issues as we will be constantly reviewing depending on the length of the hair. Please see future issues as we will be constantly reviewing
this as school gets into full swing.
www.lyclear.co.uk
Price: 14.99
Price: 5.95
Price: 5.99
Prices from: 0.79
Nickie: I think many of my readers will have seen the photo books online and the many different
offers available to try and entice you to try them out. Id often wondered whether they
were any good and Ive since tried a few of the mediocre sites but havent been best
pleased with the end result. When Bright-PR approached me with an offer to try out My
CEWE Photobook I was a little sceptical. To start off with you need to download a
software programme which takes all of 5 minutes and then without needing any
instructions, found it was extraordinarily easy to master.
I ordered a basic A4 photobook along with some enlarged prints of a recent family wedding
and was honestly surprised at the end result. Delivery was prompt and packaged securely
in appropriate packaging to ensure no damage to the product during delivery. The book
quality is very crisp and I would happily recommend the service to anyone wanting to
create a photo book. I would also highly recommend anyone wanting to order enlarged
prints as the quality is not only fantastic but the price is remarkable.
Nickie: In the space of the last two three / four months Ive been sent information on different gift
boxes/bundles that you can either purchase for yourself as a one off or order on a monthly
basis. Each one has offered a slightly different service catered either to the age of your child or
to the expectant mum. The latest to be sent to me to review was the Bambino Bundle.
Founder Julie has put a lot of time and attention into these bundles and it clearly shows.
The box when it arrives looks like an ordinary cardboard box but it is when opening it that
you unravel the mystery inside. Unlike other boxes sent to me the main contents within
the box are wrapped lovingly within a muslin cloth. The contents are great quality and the little
rose (rolled up sock) was a beautiful finishing touch. I think the gift boxes / bundles make a
great presents, when you arent sure perhaps what do buy. The Bambino Bundle is suitable for
babies from birth to 12 months but they also have a Mummy To Be Pack which has goodies
suitable for Mums to be and their bumps. One of the things I was really impressed with was
the Papa Pack which really make Dad feel involved with their very own changing bag. Fabulous!
Nickie: There seems to be a lot of babies shoes coming on to the market at the moment and whilst they
are all quality leather they are all very different in design. Weve been sent three different
brands to review for this months issue.
Robeez Baby Slippers y pp
These were the first to be sent to us! The packaging and design of the shoes are beautiful and made with the highest These were the first to be sent to us! The packaging and design of the shoes are beautiful and made with the highest
of quality. We tried these out with two 5 month olds, both of whom kept them on and appeared in no discomfort of quality. We tried these out with two 5 month olds, both of whom kept them on and appeared in no discomfort
whatsoever, perhaps in awe of the pretty patterns on the shoe!. There are numerous designs and can either be very whatsoever, perhaps in awe of the pretty patterns on the shoe!. There are numerous designs and can either be very
girly, boyish or neutral. The elastic to the top of the shoe is not restrictive but is strong enough to remain in place. g
Robeez footwear mimics bare feet by flexing and bending with every step. Supporting not constricting growing feet,
they promote good balance and unrestricted growth, while protecting little feet from the world. They stay on too, t
with elastication around the ankles to ensure a perfectly snug fit. Using high quality leather and materials, Robeez with elastication around the ankles to ensure a perfectly snug fit. Using high quality leather and materials, Robeez
shoes are both comfortable and durable while their softer soles cushion feet and allow s
Inch Blue
Next to be sent to me were the Inch Blue shoes and boots. These struck me as the higher end of the market and thee
care and detail put into the branding and packaging was quite simply stunning. Inch Blue very generously donated c
a few pairs of shoes and boots to a very special mummy and then sent more for me to review personally. a
The shoes again came in an amazing array of patterns and designs suitable for every child and the variation of The shoes again came in an amazing array of patterns and designs suitable for every child and the variation of
themes is fantastic. They also go up to 6 years old depending on design. We were sent the Fairy Princess design as themes is fantastic. They also go up to 6 years old depending on design. We were sent the Fairy Princess design as
shown to the left. Whilst these were extremely comfortable for a hyper active 2 year old, they just didnt seem to shown to the left. Whilst these were extremely comfortable for a hyper active 2 year old, they just didnt seem to
stay straight on her feet, she absolutely loved the design and so refused to take them off regardless. They are stay straight on her feet, she absolutely loved the design and so refused to take them off regardless. They are
gorgeous little shoes made with extreme care and detail and also are the better value with prices starting from just gorgeous little shoes made with extreme care and detail and also are the better value with prices starting from just
18.00. These would make an amazing present / gift in themselves.
These were the final shoes to be sent to us. They are ballet inspired designs with a cross over strap and again made These were the final shoes to be sent to us. They are ballet inspired designs with a cross over strap and again made
with the softest of leather. First impressions were great and when handed to a mummy in my focus group to try she with the softest of leather. First impressions were great and when handed to a mummy in my focus group to try she
couldnt wait! Her little girl being so little seemed to be very comfortable and mum was relieved after not really couldnt wait! Her little girl being so little seemed to be very comfortable and mum was relieved after not really
wanting to put footwear on such little feet. The fact that the creators have put a great deal of thought into the new wanting to put footwear on such little feet. The fact that the creators have put a great deal of thought into the new
range is very encouraging as all too often we are told the importance of getting footwear correct from an early age.
Bobux, creators of baby, toddler and pre-school shoes designed to mimic the freedom of going barefoot, is delighted
to announce the launch of t new-b, the latest addition to the increasing Bobux family. Designed for babies from 0-66
months, the new-b range is perfectly shaped to cocoon delicate newborn feet, providing the best start to healthyy
feet for life. Bobux f new-bs are ultra-soft, breathable and lightweight to allow unrestricted kicking and wiggling.
Made from 100% genuine leather. Suitable for boys and girls there are four adorable collections in three sizess
(newborn, 2-4 months and 4-6 months).
www.spartoo.co.uk
Prices start from 25.99
www.bambinobundle.com
www.cewe.co.uk
Picture Books from
27.99
www.inch-blue.com
www.bobux.com
Lindsey: Boobs are great, ask anyone. If you want a particularly biased opinion you could try asking my eightt
week-old daughter. Her English isnt great yet, but judging by her frenzied reaction when Im trying to week-old daughter. Her English isnt great yet, but judging by her frenzied reaction when Im trying to
unbutton my blouse to get her lunch out, shes a big fan. This is part of the problem if I take more than unbutton my blouse to get her lunch out, shes a big fan. This is part of the problem if I take more than
five seconds to serve up, she works herself up into an instant hungry rage. This is where the Boob line five seconds to serve up, she works herself up into an instant hungry rage. This is where the Boob line
of breastfeeding wear comes in.
The first thing I noticed about the dresses and vest top I was given to try is that, unlike many outfits designed for The first thing I noticed about the dresses and vest top I was given to try is that, unlike many outfits designed for
nursing, they dont look like Im trying to conceal a milky buffet under billowing layers of material and buttons. No,
the Boob outfits look like real clothes and, having spent eight weeks wearing a combination of my boyfriends old t
work shirts and some buttoned blouses kindly donated by my mum, I was ready to wear something (dare I say it) work shirts and some buttoned blouses kindly donated by my mum, I was ready to wear something (dare I say it)
fashionable, fitted and button-free again. f
First up was the cerise dress. The dress cleverly turns the access point to the buffet area into a gathered elasticated
under-boob design feature theres even a little tie to make it pretty and complete the look. As it was a nippy under-boob design feature theres even a little tie to make it pretty and complete the look. As it was a nippy
autumnal day, I wore the just-above-the-knee dress with opaque tights and boots, but it would look great over autumnal day, I wore the just-above-the-knee dress with opaque tights and boots, but it would look great over
leggings in winter or with bare legs in summer. Made from organic cotton, the dress works for all seasons and iss
forgiving to all the post-pregnancy lumps and bumps. Baby and I decided to road test the new outfit on a shopping forgiving to all the post-pregnancy lumps and bumps. Baby and I decided to road test the new outfit on a shopping
trip, and when the inevitable hungry wail came, service was quick and easy simply a case of lifting the gathered part trip, and when the inevitable hungry wail came, service was quick and easy simply a case of lifting the gathered part
of the dress up, then pulling down the panel of material underneath to expose the appropriate boob or bit of boob. o
This means that you can be as discreet as you want to be when feeding. In fact my sister toddled back from the ladies T
and thought baby and I were simply having a cuddle. Im all for breastfeeding loud and proud anywhere and a
everywhere, but similarly it felt quite empowering to be able to feed baby in the middle of a busy shopping centre everywhere, but similarly it felt quite empowering to be able to feed baby in the middle of a busy shopping centre
without anyone really knowing. The dress was a real winner on every count feeding was easy, it looks great and w
is easy to wash, as we found out when baby got overexcited playing with her multi-coloured musical crab and threw is easy to wash, as we found out when baby got overexcited playing with her multi-coloured musical crab and threw
up all over me! u
Next up was the cerise vest. As it was another chilly autumn day I opted to wear the vest with jeans and brogues.
Once again, the top doesnt look like typical nursing wear despite having a bit of extra rouched material around the Once again, the top doesnt look like typical nursing wear despite having a bit of extra rouched material around the
waist to cleverly accommodate ones tum. The straps are adjustable which I found really helpful, as depending on waist to cleverly accommodate ones tum. The straps are adjustable which I found really helpful, as depending on
babys feeds my boobs can either resemble an epic mountain range or be as flat as a week-old pancake. The principlee
is the same, to access dinner its a case of lifting up the stretchy top panel and pulling down the one underneath to is the same, to access dinner its a case of lifting up the stretchy top panel and pulling down the one underneath to
reveal the goods. Incidentally, as with the dress, this can all be done one-handed so you can be holding your little e
wriggly baby at the same time. I found this invaluable as if I put my baby down for a few seconds to undo anything wriggly baby at the same time. I found this invaluable as if I put my baby down for a few seconds to undo anything
she behaves like an angry bear and starts roaring. Babies, I have discovered, are the least patient people imaginable, s
so every second counts where meals are concerned. The vest is made from soft lyocell material perfect for so every second counts where meals are concerned. The vest is made from soft lyocell material perfect for
cuddling baby up close, and is easy to care for. I chucked a cardi over the top to go out for a walk in and felt a million cuddling baby up close, and is easy to care for. I chucked a cardi over the top to go out for a walk in and felt a million
dollars. Given the stretchy material and rouching detail I suspect this vest would also be good during pregnancy, d
making it excellent value for money.
Last but not least I tried the blue fine-knitted cotton dress. This was lovely and snuggly (both for me and baby!) and
was my personal favourite. The slightly thicker, woollier cotton meant that the just-above-the-knee dress really was my personal favourite. The slightly thicker, woollier cotton meant that the just-above-the-knee dress really
flattered my post-baby figure without suffocating me, and it looked great with a pair of leather boots and our bright flattered my post-baby figure without suffocating me, and it looked great with a pair of leather boots and our bright
green buggy. Feeding is easy, once again the same one-handed double material flap design, but the flap is concealed g
as almost a high sash/belt and was incredibly flattering. I felt really confident wearing this dress as I knew I looked as as almost a high sash/belt and was incredibly flattering. I felt really confident wearing this dress as I knew I looked as
good as I could. I havent always felt confident about myself since having the baby, my bodys changed so much and g
I sometimes dont know what its doing from one day to the next, but this dress made me feel effortlessly good and
I had lots of compliments on it while I was out and about. The forgiving material would make this another excellentt
pregnancy buy that would see you right through nursing. It also withstood the projectile sick test, which franklyy
makes it a must-buy in my opinion. Quadruple thumbs up all round!
Despite having a personal fave, all three items are great quality and work well for all of the running around that busyy
mums do. The materials used are strong and durable yet hold shape, and are soft enough for babys skin to cuddlee
against for long periods of time. My babys been getting her feed without roaring like a baby grizzly, which can only against for long periods of time. My babys been getting her feed without roaring like a baby grizzly, which can only
be a good thing. Im impressed, and seriously looking forward to trying more of Boobs designs. Even thee
multicoloured musical crab approves!
http://shop.boobdesign.com
Nickie: I think most parents will be familiar with the Persil brand. We were given the opportunity of trying outt
the Limited Edition soap and conditioner to see how it faired. The smell is truly gorgeous and the the Limited Edition soap and conditioner to see how it faired. The smell is truly gorgeous and the
scent that wafted through the house after the washing cycle was lovely. The powder and conditioner scent that wafted through the house after the washing cycle was lovely. The powder and conditioner
do exactly what they promise to do leaving your clothes clean and soft. Definitely one of our preferred
products and will happily continue to use the products.
Eve: BRILLIANT!! worried as I've got a son that can be affected by it but he was fine! I love the smell and itt
was easy to use. No brainer, will get some again!!
Make your babys kingdom as clean and soft as can be. Fabric detergent Persil Non-Bio and fabric conditionerr
Comfort Pure help make sure clothes, sheets and fabrics are soft, clean and cuddle ready, so your baby can relax in C
pure comfort. We have a few more reviews of this product coming up next month so see what our other mumss
think as well. t
www.persilandcomfort.co.uk
Nickie: If any other parents are like me, they are sure to know the issues of finding ways of keeping theirr
child entertained in the car on long journeys. When I saw the play tray I was really keen to get child entertained in the car on long journeys. When I saw the play tray I was really keen to get
one to try out and see if it was as good as it claimed. With the industry that Im in, I often go on
long journeys to review holiday destinations or hotels and often have the joy of taking my littlest long journeys to review holiday destinations or hotels and often have the joy of taking my littlest
one with me. The play tray fits to the seat with a straight forward strap and provides a fantastic one with me. The play tray fits to the seat with a straight forward strap and provides a fantastic
platform for your child to play on, eat off and store drinks. For the avid traveller this is great, as platform for your child to play on, eat off and store drinks. For the avid traveller this is great, as
its not only practical for the car, but you can use it on the train, plain or even strap to your buggy.
The play trays are made from wipe clean, durable, ripstop fabric that withstand most kids mess!
With an integral bottle holder to keep drinks in and a removable side pocket ideal for keeping With an integral bottle holder to keep drinks in and a removable side pocket ideal for keeping
toys, pencils and other treasures close to hand, this really is a fantastic addition to the multitude toys, pencils and other treasures close to hand, this really is a fantastic addition to the multitude
of essentials you take on a journey - long or short haul! Best of all this is only 20 and comes in
red, pink or blue!
www.cabinmax.co.uk
** Baby Buzz Best Buy**
Nickie: Ive been sent numerous bottles and beakers over the last year but time and time again I keepp
coming back to the BornFree range. The baby bottles were the first that I came across that were coming back to the BornFree range. The baby bottles were the first that I came across that were
essentially BPA free. Now that my little girl has reached the age whereby she doesnt need bottles essentially BPA free. Now that my little girl has reached the age whereby she doesnt need bottles
any longer, I started the search of trying to find a beaker suitable for a very active child and mostt
importantly something that didnt leak.
We were sent the Twist N Pop bottle (in girly pink of course) to see how she would fair with thee
new concept of using a straw. The novelty was enough to get her started and she soon realised
the hang of not having to tip the bottle up when drinking. To date this is her favourite bottle to the hang of not having to tip the bottle up when drinking. To date this is her favourite bottle to
take out.
Love the fact that they come in an array of colours so suitable for boys and girls.
www.babybornfree.co.uk
Nickie: Ive been a fan of GumiGem ever since I launched Baby Buzz Magazine, as they were the firstt
business I approached at the Baby Show at Earls Court last October and who, probably without business I approached at the Baby Show at Earls Court last October and who, probably without
knowing it, gave me an added surge of confidence in what I was about to do. At that baby show knowing it, gave me an added surge of confidence in what I was about to do. At that baby show
they gave me a few products to trial which we did and they far exceeded what they claimed to they gave me a few products to trial which we did and they far exceeded what they claimed to
do, and provided a great sense of relief for the teething babies and, more importantly, their do, and provided a great sense of relief for the teething babies and, more importantly, their
parents we gave them too. When we were told they had launched the little bag of teething parents we gave them too. When we were told they had launched the little bag of teething
products, we jumped at the chance to try it out. Needless to say, it was just as great as it claimed
but also had the added fun element added in. Another great product to add to their existing but also had the added fun element added in. Another great product to add to their existing
range of fabulous products!
Nickie: I have known the Chad Valley brand for many years and one thing that never ceases to amaze mee
is the value for money. With so many toys and games costing a near fortune these days, it is such
a relief to know that there is still an affordable option without sacrificing the fun element or the a relief to know that there is still an affordable option without sacrificing the fun element or the
latest craze.
We were sent a fantastic selection of items to try out which covered a wide age range and whilst We were sent a fantastic selection of items to try out which covered a wide age range and whilst
we were really surprised at the value we werent at the quality. The smaller play mat retails for we were really surprised at the value we werent at the quality. The smaller play mat retails for
just 9.99 which is incredible seeing how fast babies outgrow clothes, games and toys and
accessories like play mats and bouncers. The play mat has the usual activity patches you would
expect and is a great way of keeping your baby entertained. The second product we tested was expect and is a great way of keeping your baby entertained. The second product we tested was
the baby bouncer. Whilst I will be the first to admit this is basic in appearance, for those the baby bouncer. Whilst I will be the first to admit this is basic in appearance, for those
watching the pennies, this is an amazing price to keep your child safe and occupied or simply to watching the pennies, this is an amazing price to keep your child safe and occupied or simply to
soothe to sleep. Again a bouncer at 19.99 is just fantastic value and does everything you need it soothe to sleep. Again a bouncer at 19.99 is just fantastic value and does everything you need it
to. The design is pretty and suitable for both sexes and does the job perfectly well.
The third product we tested was designed for the slightly older toddler and is a really fun ball pitt
for little girls. Again the product retails for an amazing 9.99 and you can also purchase 100 balls for little girls. Again the product retails for an amazing 9.99 and you can also purchase 100 balls
for less than 5! You cant really get better than that. The fun element of the turrets certainly for less than 5! You cant really get better than that. The fun element of the turrets certainly
amused my little girl.
The last product we tested was for the even older child and was a hoop ring. This was perhapss
the best buy of the lot at just 4.99! What a cheap way to keep your child entertained which
clearly emphasises the point that not everything has to cost a fortune! I really hope that Chad
Valley continues to provide such great products at such amazing prices! Highly recommended by Valley continues to provide such great products at such amazing prices! Highly recommended by
Baby Buzz Magazine.
www.argos.co.uk
** Baby Buzz Best Value**
www.gumigem.co.uk
info@toffeemoon.co.uk
According to recent figures, back pain has now reached epidemic proportions with
millions of people across the globe experiencing severe muscular pain every year in
fact, over 4 million people now input lower back pain into Google every month. Most
are suffering completely unnecessarily, as the root cause of their pain stems primarily
from poor postural habits while performing everyday actions. In the last decade alone,
the number of people in the UK who have suffered from back pain has risen to nearly
50% of the population.
But do you know what the Alexander Technique is? y q
I had the opportunity of trialling a session with expert Giselle Malawar who gave a
fantastic explanation of what the procedure is about.
Alexander Technique is a practical way of releasing muscular tension throughout the
body and will help you to discover how posture and movements may be having a
detrimental effect on your health. Alexander technique offers new ways of
performing daily activities, with the aim of reducing muscular tension and stress on the
bones and joints and making your life pain free.
The Alexander Technique helps people feel better in body, mind and spirit and
teaches you how to lift yourself up. But it isnt heavy lifting. Its about becoming aware
of unwanted habits, postural and others, and letting them go. The Alexander
Technique helps you identify and eliminate habits that cause poor posture and pain.
What changes do people want to see as the result of taking Alexander Technique
lessons? Most often people want help with their posture, and to reduce and eliminate
back pain and neck pain.
For improving your posture, lets start with your neck. Are you poking your neck
forward right now?
It is a very common habit, and when you become more aware of it yourself you will
see it in other people as well. When we crane our neck, we are compressing our
spine, resulting in poor posture and pain. We poke our neck forward towards
computer screens, mobile phones, iPads, books, food, people, and mirrors. We poke
our neck forward for reasons including imitation, anxiety, tension, fatigue, laziness,
and boredom. Sometimes we poke our neck forward as if to project ourselves into
the future, especially when late or stressed. We eventually poke our neck forward all
the time simply because of habit. When we poke our neck forward we are poking our
head forward. This is now commonly called forward head posture, also known as
computer neck, Blackberry neck, text neck, or iPad neck.
As you become aware of the excess tension in your neck muscles and release them,
allow your neck to go back and up.
Let your jaw to release down and away from your skull.
Bring awareness to your shoulders and see if you have been unknowingly lifting them
up. Instead, let them gently rest on your ribcage.
Let your head rotate forward and rise. You rotate your head forward by slightly,
slowly, lowering your nose as the crown of your head moves up.
If your breathing hasnt changed already, let it become fuller and slower.
If you are sitting, let your head move up taking your spine with it but, in opposition,
let your sit bones release down into the chair. The sit bones are U shaped bones at
the bottom of your pelvis. Think of it as if youre going up and down at the same time,
elongating. If you are standing, your feet replace your sit bones.
The Alexander Technique takes practice, as does any other skill. But, you can practice
the Alexander Technique for hours during the course of your everyday actions. You
apply the principles as you go about your life. You might end up practicing the
Alexander Technique for hours a day while sitting, standing and walking. I think if the
Alexander Technique was widely known, as widely known as Physical Therapy for
example, many more people would be benefiting from its many advantages.
Health & Wellbeing
Suffering from severe knee and back pain problems,
through sports injuries in the 1980s, Giselle was advised
to seek help from an Alexander Technique Teacher.
After taking just a few lessons, it became crystal clear
that this was to be her new career in helping others
overcome similar problems. She trained under Meir
Amit from 1995 to 1998 at The Teacher Training Centre
for Alexander Technique Teachers in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In 1998 she trained in the Helen Doron Method (Teach-
ing English as a second language to children of all ages
through, games, music, and creativity) building up a very
successful business before returning to the UK in 2001.
Giselle is the founder of Back in Balance, a Member of
the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique
(MSTAT) and is CNHC (Complementary and Natural
Healthcare Council) registered.
With over 15 years experience in teaching the Alexan-
der Technique to people from all walks of life (in Israel
and the UK), she says education and awareness is key.
For more information, please contact:
Giselle J. Malawer MSTAT
Alexander Technique Teacher
and Founder of Back in Balance
Finchley Alexander
Studio: 020 8343 9997
Mob: 07811 016 086
web: www.backinbalance.org.uk g
em: giselle@backinbalance.org.uk g @ g
Julia Wolman is an experienced registered nutritionist and
founder of Teeny Tummies child nutrition consultancy.
Passionate about promoting healthy eating in young
children, Julia believes that positive mealtime experiences
in the first years of life are essential for raising healthy
happy eaters. She helps parents and carers feel confident
about making healthy choices for their little ones through
her talks, courses and tailor-made advice. Julia is also a
mum to two very busy little boys, so when it comes to
weaning, fussy eating and toddler nutrition, she has been
there and knows the challenges inside out!
For more about how you can receive consistent, credible
dietary advice for your little ones visit
www.teenytummies.com or see our facebook page for
useful tips and info www.facebook.com/teenytummies
This depends on how old they are and, for babies,
how much infant formula they are drinking. From
6 months, babies who are breastfed or who have
less than 500ml formula milk per day should
r receive a supplement of vitamins A, C & D. If your
baby has more than 500ml infant formula they will
gget enough vitamins from that as is it fortified. All
children aged between 1-5 years are
recommended to have a vitamin supplement this
is a national guideline in the UK. A multivitamin
designed for this age (such as Abidec) is fine and
can be bought off the shelf from most large
chemists or supermarkets.
[For more information about vitamins for children
vvisit http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/food-and-
health-tips/vitamins/].
y Some babies who have had a lot of very
smooth pureed foods during their first year,
especially beyond 9 months, may find the
ttransition to lumps later on much harder. It is
important to persist though, starting with soft
mashes and progressing to small chopped up
pieces. Finger foods are great too in fact
some babies prefer to go directly from purees
tto the independence of finger foods or whole
pieces, without experiencing the in-between
lumpy texture. When your toddlers spits out
the lumps what do you do? Be aware of your the lumps what do you do? Be aware of your
a reaction because often they can get into a
r habit of doing something if it gets your
attention!
AAfter 12 months children
dont need large milk feeds
a any more. Toddlers over a
yyear should have around 12
oz (350ml) milk per day,
and this includes milk in
breakfast cereals, used in
r cooking (e.g. sauces or
y scrambled eggs), or in dairy
foods like cheese and
yyogurt. In simple terms, this
12oz equates to
approximately three
a portions of milk or dairy a
day one portion equates
tto a yogurt, a matchbox-
r sized piece of cheese, or
3-4 oz milk (often far less
tthan children of this age are
actually drinking). Too
much milk/dairy in the diet
r after a year can be filling for
a toddler and could reduce
their appetite for other their appetite for other
foods that provide
important nutrients.
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a fairly new concept
wwhich basically means skipping the traditional
y puree stage (spoon-feeding) and starting your baby
off with pieces of food straight away (self-feeding).
There is no right or wrong as there are pros and
cons to both approaches. But you dont have to
choose one method over another; I usually advise
r parents to do a bit of both at the same time. For
example, at breakfast your baby could have a bowl
of porridge which would be smooth and spoon-
w fed, with some chunks of banana, a few
strawberries or pieces of toast offered alongside it.
Experimenting with lots of different textures as
soon as your baby is ready to, and allowing them
to touch and play with their food in the early to touch and play with their food in the early
y months of weaning, is key to establishing healthy
eating habits later on.
Both! Variety is whats important in a childs
diet. Too much high-fibre wholegrain foods
like wholemeal bread and cereals, or brown
r rice and pasta, can be very bulky and filling for
r little tummies which could reduce their
appetite and hence energy (calorie) intake.
Young children need lots of energy Young children need lots of energy
proportionate to their small size to sustain the
fast rate at which they are growing. Try both
white and wholemeal pitta or sliced bread (or white and wholemeal pitta or sliced bread (or
tthose 50/50 types are good too), bagels,
French bread, crumpets, tortilla wraps etc.
https://www.facebook.com/teenytummies
https://www.twitter.com/Teenytummies
https://www.teenytummies.com
Recipes & Food
Recipes & Food
For the cake
225g/8oz plain flour
350g/12oz caster sugar
85g/3oz cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 free-range eggs
250ml/9fl oz milk
125ml/4fl oz vegetable oil
p 2 tsp vanilla extract
250ml/9fl oz boiling water
For the chocolate icing g
200g/7oz plain chocolate
200ml/7fl oz double cream
1. Ask a Grown up to preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Then grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins.
2. Place all the cake ingredients, except the boiling water, into a large mixing bowl and use a wooden spoon to beat the mixture until
it is smooth and all mixed together.
3. Add the boiling water, a little bit at a time, until the mixture is smooth. (The cake mixture will now be very liquid.)
4. Divide the cake mixture between the tins and bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer
inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
5. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.
6. For the chocolate icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts, make sure you have
a grown up to help you. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk the mixture until it is smooth, glossy and thick.
7. Set aside to cool for 1-2 hours, or until it is thick enough to spread over the cake.
8. To assemble the cake, ask a grown up to run a knife around the inside of the cake tins to loosen the cakes. Carefully remove the
cakes from the tins.
9. Spread a little chocolate icing over the top of one of the chocolate cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.
10. Transfer the cake to a serving plate and ice the cake all over with the chocolate icing, using a palette knife.
Send your answers to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com
Recipes & Food
Half of children waste more than 40 worth of food each term, almost
the cost of the average family weekly shop*, as they regularly discard
lunchbox items deemed too boring to eat.
New research has identified that it takes less than a week into the new
term for mums to get bored of making packed lunches and kids get
bored of the contents dubbed the Lunchbox Lag Time by research-
ers. The research of 1,500 mums and kids into variety in the lunchbox
was commissioned by leading childrens cheese snack brand,
Cheestrings, to launch two new flavours in their range Cheese &
Tomato and Cheese & Onion.
This uncovered that it takes a mere six days into term for the majority
of mums (65 per cent) to get lunchbox fatigue and for the variety of
items put in to dwindle. The study also revealed that this leads to kids
throwing away on average half of their lunchbox each day after this,
with one in ten kids throwing away an item as they just do not think it
is cool.
Top Lunchbox Losers include vegetables (56 per cent), home-made
r leftovers (62 per cent) and anything being the wrong flavour (92 per
cent). In comparison, Lunchbox Loves include yoghurt (68 per cent),
cheese snacks (71 per cent) and treats such as cake and sweets (76
per cent).
The research also shows that the lunchbox routine has become a
chore for mums, with a quarter (25 per cent) admitting they start a
new term full of enthusiasm for the task but that this quickly wanes.
This could be due to mums finding themselves spending longer on
making lunchboxes than on their own meals (9.98 minutes compared
to 8.35 minutes on their own lunch).
And it's not just time mums spend on this they also spend more on
their childs lunchbox than on feeding themselves, with the average
lunchbox costing almost 14 per week, compared to the 10 per
week that half of mums (46 per cent) spend on their own lunches.
One in fifty even admit to spending over 30 per week on their childs
lunchbox a staggering 1,140 per year.
Nutritionist Dr Evelyn Hannon believes kids can be prevented from
discarding lunchbox items by simply increasing the variety of options
available. With almost half of kids (46 per cent) asking for different
lunches each day to keep them interested, mums have a continual
challenge of being creative with their lunchbox options whilst desper-
ately wanting to save time and ensure nutritional balance. Simple tips
such as including healthy food in a fun way will help solve the
lunchbox challenge and keep kids and mum happy. A win-win for
everyone!
The research also shows that mums admit to worrying less about the
cost of the food thrown away (29 per cent) than the fact that their kids
wont get a fully balanced meal if they dont eat all of it (33 per cent)
which leads to one in ten mums (11 per cent) admitting to smug-
gling in healthy items disguised as a treat.
Nearly half of mums (47
per cent) confessed that
they would like help to
make their kids lunch
more exciting, and al-
most a quarter (22 per
cent) of kids would eat
more lunch if it looked
more playful and fun.
Joao Felix, Senior Brand Manager at Cheestrings, said: Its key to find
items which offer a good nutritional balance, that kids love and dont
take mum ages to prepare. We launched our new Cheestrings flavours
Cheese & Onion and Cheese & Tomato to give kids a treat, which
mums know is good for them as they provide a quarter of the RDA of
calcium and vitamin D. And they dont take any time to get ready each
morning which will also give mums a bit of time back!
1. Take inspiration from Japanese bento boxes - the trick is to
make food look fantastic so kids don't realise it's healthy!
Why not try putting fruit and vegetables into a cupcake
holder - this will make them look like treats!
2. Include colouring pencils and paper so your child can draw
their lunch.
3. Get kids to decorate their lunchbox and make them
personal - use stickers you can peel off each week.
4. Hide a treat under the 'boring' food - so it's a lovely surprise
when they find it!
5. Make your child smile by leaving a funny note or joke in the
lunchbox
6. Make your lunch together - let them make your lunch too
so they feel all grown up!
7. Cut sandwiches into fun shapes easily with a cookie cutter
- bread is much more fun this way! Being creative with
food is how the Japanese make bento meals come to life -
it's all about putting the fun into lunch.
8. Tell your child fun facts about fruit and veg so it's more
appealing for them to eat - e.g. "carrots help you see in the
dark".
9. Grown your own - encourage kids to plant and grow their
own fruit and veg for their lunch so they take pride in what
they eat.
10. Make sure everything in their lunchbox is a different colour
- this will encourage them to try everything as it all looks
special!
A new product to solve the dilemma of parents exasperated by their fussy
kids at mealtimes has been launched by the charity Weight Concern,
based on new research from psychologists at UCL, launches today [30
September 2013].
Eating behaviour experts at the University have spent a decade
researching the effectiveness of child feeding strategies, resulting in a new
printed pack called which has now been tested with
impressive results and is available online.
In a trial of Tiny Tastes with over 200 families, published in the
, toddlers showed a massive 61%
increase in their liking of a specific vegetable, and the amount of the
vegetable they were willing to eat trebled. The study also received strong
approval from parents with 92% of mums recommending it to a friend.
Mealtime can be a battle-ground for many parents, with up to four in ten
toddlers being picky eaters and more than a quarter refusing some foods
every day. Despite the importance of fruit and vegetables in a healthy diet,
only one in five children actually eat the recommended five portions a day.
Tiny Tastes aims to overcome these challenges through turning eating
new vegetables into a fun game that both children and parents can enjoy.
The Tiny Tastes pack includes straightforward instructions for parents
together with record charts, colouring sheets for kids and fun stickers. It's
based on the UCL research amongst children that shows, after tasting a
new vegetable at least ten times, even the most reluctant child likes it
more and will eat more of it.
The theory behind the product is that the more familiar a food is, the
more a child will like it. Over two weeks the simple process of tiny tastes
actually increases childrens liking for vegetables, making them more
willing to try other vegetables.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr Lucy Cooke, Senior Research
Psychologist at UCL whos research forms the basis of Tiny Tastes, said:
Its thought by evolutionary psychologists that when humans were cave-
dwellers that picky eating would have stopped young, newly mobile
children from eating unfamiliar plants or berries which might be
poisonous. Knowing this is not much consolation, though, when your child
refuses to eat anything green and is living on plain pasta and orange juice!
Our research shows clearly that a programme of introducing children to
unfamiliar foods regularly and over a sustained period will lead to greater
familiarity and eventually enjoyment of these foods so it is worth
persisting, as well as using a structured approach for the best results.
Dr Laura McGowan, Director of the charity Weight Concern who assisted
in bringing the research to market, added:
The advantage of Tiny Tastes is that it provides everything parents need
to help overcome what can quickly become a nightmare at mealtimes and
a stressful experience for the whole family.
Parents can also be secure in the knowledge that the pack is backed up
with solid scientific research which shows the profound results it can have
on the eating habits of young children both immediately and for a
lifetime.
The programme, a printed pack available at 5.99 (+ 2.00
p&p) from the charity Weight Concern, is available at
www.weightconcern.org.uk/tinytastes
Recipes and Food
Gardening Fun
Looking for new and different ways to entertain the children this Autumn.
Then look no further than your own back garden where, with a pair of
wellies and a warm coat they can burn off all that excess energy and help
you get your garden in shape! Children love gardening and with these top
tips from Squires Garden Centres entertaining the children this autumn
neednt leave them cooped up indoors!
During autumn, our gardens can begin to look messy and unkempt as
fallen leaves cover the lawn and begin to rot. Put the children to work and
challenge them to pick up as many leaves as they can. Can they find leaves
in five different shapes?
Put those leaves to good use and encourage your children to become
environmentally friendly by adding a compost bin to your garden. Little
ones will need help to set up your compost bin site (remember to put this
on soil and not concrete). Fill the bin with the dead leaves, plant debris
and dead heads collected from the garden and dont forget the fruit and
vegetable peelings. Within a few months youll have the perfect natural
feed for all your spring plants.
Get the children growing during October and November and get your
garden ready for spring too. Autumn is the perfect time for planting spring
flowering bulbs and will encourage your children to be patient in waiting
for their colourful results. Why not let the children decide a colour
planting scheme for the garden and draw pictures of how theyd like it to
look. Once theyve decided the design, your local Squires centre has a
range of spring bulbs in every colour of the rainbow to make their vision
a reality.
We know how much children enjoy their food, and how they love to eat
things theyve grown themselves. Why not try growing something
different this year to encourage them to try new tastes and textures?
Broad Beans are a fantastic vegetable to sow in the milder autumn months
and Mum and Dad can help them construct a frame for the beans to grow
too.
This is a really simple way to keep idle hands busy and create something
special for children to plant in. A simple terracotta pot can be
transformed into a work of art with just a few paints and a brush, and with
Squires extensive range of craft materials at selected stores* you can pick
up any colour the children desire from hot fuchsia pink to sunset yellow.
Why not get them to plant a tree in their newly decorated pot? Conkers
are fun to collect and easy to plant in small containers just make sure you
remember to move it into a bigger pot as it grows!
This is a great activity to work on childrens observation skills and get
them interested in wildlife. Choose a variety of garden bird feeds, from
fat balls and seed mixes, to attract a variety of birds and challenge the
children to spot as many different species as they can; can they find Mr
Magpie and Robin Redbreast?
With a full range in store to keep your children busy in the garden this
autumn you can pick up craft materials, bulbs and seeds, birdfeeders and
foods from your local Squires garden centre and why not join in with
some of our create and grow activities during the half term too!
Theres plenty to keep creatives busy with workshops to decorate
pumpkin tea light holders that will add some more spook to welcome
those trick or treaters! So if youre looking for ways to keep your brood
entertained this autumn Squires have got it covered!
Take a look at Squires collection of Yeomini products for little gardeners:
these tools are practical, lightweight and child friendly. With comfortable
foam grip handles that extend, these tools will grow as your children (and
your garden) grow.
Telescopic lawn rake 7.99 / Telescopic Rake 7.99 / Start gardening carry bag kit 13.99 /
Set of 3 mini hand tools 5.99/ Garden Kneeler 4.49/ Wellingtons 10.99
Squires Garden Centres is a successful family-owned horticultural
business that serves the local community. Squires celebrated their 75th
anniversary in 2011 and today operate 14 garden centres in North and
West London, Surrey, Berkshire and Sussex. They also grow roses,
herbaceous perennials and bedding plants in their own nurseries.
Squires is committed to offering a wide range of quality plants and garden
products together with an extensive selection of garden furniture,
houseplants and gifts. Squires continues its drive towards customer
excellence with their highly qualified and experienced horticultural staff on
hand to help with plant related questions. All the centres, with the
exception of the smallest at Chertsey, have a coffee shop or restaurant on
site serving a wide variety of refreshments, and with free parking on site
across all of the centres, Squires makes for a great day out!
Six of Squires Garden Centres also include an extensive range for pets and
aquatic centres see website for full details.
To locate your closest centre, sign up to the newsletter and find out
about the latest special offers please visit:
www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Twitter:@SquiresGC
Facebook.com/SquiresGC
Pinterest.com/squiresgc/
*Twickenham, Shepperton, Badshot Lea and Washington
For your chance to win a fabulous selection of gardening
tools for your children this Autumn, simply like the
Facebook and Twitter page and answer the following
question:
(the answer is in this feature)
All contact information will be forwarded to Squires Garden Centres for
future newsletters.
Travel Time
With many families choosing to stay close to home, we have
been searching out true family friendly destinations.
When we were asked to review this cottage, which I say
in the loosest sense of the word, we gladly accepted and
were keen to set off on our journey.
Home Farm Cottage is set in the most idyllic and tranquil of
sittings, with peace and serenity almost engulfing you the
moment you drive into the village. Any expectations that I
had were far from accurate and I was awestruck upon arrival.
The website clearly states that you are entering your very
own Cotswold home-from-home, courtesy of Barnsley
House, a stunning hotel resembling that of a grand stately
home.
Home Farm Cottage is located across the road from
Barnsley House and then a little beyond The Village Pub,
and sits between the two in location and design and, is
available for a family or group of friends to enjoy a long
weekend break, a midweek escape or perhaps an even
longer summer holiday. Home Farm Cottage has
undergone a complete renovation; linens in light colours and
Fermoie fabrics with gentle geometric designs, pretty
headboards and pelmets and a mix of old and new furniture
are similar in design to The Village Pub, whilst touches of
extra luxury, reflect Barnsley House. Every extra has been
thought of with something available for everyone regardless
of age!
With The Village Pub on your doorstep, a cinema and a
fabulous spa at your fingertips (at Barnsley House) it is clear
to see that this three-bedroom retreat is no run-of-the-mill
self-catering cottage but a seriously stunning, luxurious
hideaway.
With every little detail catered for this really is a peace haven
and gives families the ultimate place to unwind and enjoy the
surroundings.
As you can see from the photos Ive taken, the rooms are
the ultimate in luxury and comfort and you need for nothing.
Upon arrival we were greeted with an amazing hamper with
home-made breads, cakes, cookies and fresh eggs. There is
the option of having a breakfast hamper also delivered
which is exquisite and again is freshly made including freshly
made conserves, yoghurt, hams and cheese amongst many
other things.
As with many things, you pay for what you get but enjoying
a stay at Home Farm Cottage is worth every penny. For
prices during peak and off peak season please visit the
website:
Travel Time
Marwell Hotel
Winchester Thompsons Lane, Colden Common,
Winchester, SO21 1JY
Travel Time
Tuscany is typically heralded as a destination for adults, with couples looking for
romance in Florence, foodies looking to find the best authentic trattorias in Italy
and wine connoisseurs taking guided tours through the rolling vineyards. Howev-
er, this famous region of Tuscany is also wonderfully suited to families, with
exciting outdoor adventures, delicious food and fun and spacious villas to relax in
together. Visitors to Tuscany know best how great the region is for a family
holiday and so Italy villa specialists Tuscany Now has tapped into their customers
knowledge of Tuscany to create a useful map of things to do in Tuscany. It has a
dedicated family friendly tab to highlight all of the fantastic activities, locations
and restaurants which will entertain, and cater to, children. Find out more about
some of the favourite family highlights below and check out the Things to Do in
Tuscany map for yourself to see even more great kid-friendly attractions.
On the borders of Tuscany and Lazio, Lake Bolsena is one of the Italian Lakes
best kept secrets. There are pretty sandy shores to set up base and a small
harbour where families can book a boat trip during the high season. The beauti-
fully clear blue waters are perfect for spotting fish and seeing the countryside from
a whole new perspective. Active families can hire bikes from the small lakeside
and, with most of the area being flat, all abilities can explore easily by bike. For the
more adventurous types, you can even sail on the lake with facilities available on
the north shore.
Another water attraction, Lake Trasimeno is the largest lake on the Italian
peninsula. Found in the Umbria region, its a popular day trip for families staying
in Tuscany. The lake has a whole host of activities for families to try, including
archery, horse riding facilities and cycle hire centres. However, visiting families
have found that one of the best things to do around Lake Trasimeno is to explore
the hidden castles and exciting ruins that are dotted around the lakes shore. From
the leaning ruins of the Tower of Vernazzano on the northern shore to the ruins
of Zocco castle on the east side, kids will love discovering these ancient hidden
palaces.
Recommended as the best place to discover Tuscany by horseback, the Vecchio
Texas horse ranch is found in Casentino Valley near Figline Valdarno, about 25
miles from Florence. The ranch, inspired by classical western movies, has been
passed down from generation to generation and is now run by sisters Maura and
Silvia. Perfect for beginners and experienced riders, families can discover the
rolling hills, sweeping vineyards, woods and olive trees of Tuscany in a special and
unique way that children will remember forever. Find out more at Vecchio Texas.
A popular attraction during the summer and school holidays, the Acqua Village on
the Tuscan coast is a great alternative to a day at the beach. The park in Cecina
includes a wave pool, tropical pool for younger kids, soap soccer, surfing hill and
plenty of thrilling waterslides. There are restaurants and bar food available as well
as a grassy picnic area and dry adventure playground. Children under three go free
and there is a reduced rate for people visiting after 3pm. Prices vary between
10-22 euros. Find out more on the Acqua Village website.
Dining out with young children can be difficult abroad, especially when youre not
familiar with which places are family friendly and which are not. The Italians are
firm believers in family though so many places will happily receive you and your
bambinos, adjusting the portion size from the menu and making you feel really
welcome. Some Tuscan family favourites include:
This charming pizzeria is open all year around
and is great for a meal out with the kids. Found in the centre of
Castellina in Chianti, Il Fondaccio provides deliciously cooked pizzas
with every topping you could possibly want (including sweet pizzas
with bananas and Nutella!) Theres also a cheese and meat cart, a
favourite with visitors, where customers can help themselves to local
cold cuts and beautifully made cheeses.
About seven miles outside of Florence, La
Sosta del Rossellino boasts excellent service, food and wine and caters
really well for children. Open Monday to Saturday, La Sosta del
Rossellino has a traditional stone interior and a pretty terrace
overlooking the lush green hills. Their menu is the perfect way to
introduce your family to authentic Italian food with traditional
tagliatelle, gnocchi and antipasti starters.
If youre looking for something sweet whilst
exploring Florence, kids will delight at the handmade ice-cream from
Gelateria Vivoli. Its the oldest ice-cream shop in Florence and offers
delicious flavoured ice-cream, pastry treats and even ice-cream
workshops.
vl||a Tramontl s|eeps 1O guests, wltb llve bedrooms, two prlvate poo|s
and al fresco dining areas. In the heart of the Chianti Classico region,
just outside Castellina-in-Chianti, families can spend happy days
relaxing and swimming in the private outdoor pools, enjoying big Italian
style family dinners under the villas outdoor stone house and playing
on the lush lawns. With an exception contemporary but family friendly
design, Tramonti boasts a gorgeous kitchen, spacious living areas, big
bedrooms and pretty terraces, all topped off with breath-taking views
over Chiantis vineyards and olive trees.
vl||a Zacconl slts atop a sma|| bl||, surrounded by plne woods and
beautiful gardens. It sleeps 11 guests, with six bedrooms, private pool
and a maid service. Children will love the outdoor pool area, with a
private salt water pool and loungers and plenty of shade for playing
under the wooden pergolas and nearby woods. The bedrooms are
light and airy and the living spaces are great for families with a big,
welcoming kitchen and comfortable lounge.
7773 73 773 73 733 773 7773 77777777773 OOOOOOOOOOOOct ct ct cttt ct ct ct ctt ccctttttt ctttt ct cccctttt ctt cccctttt ccct cct ctt ct ctt ctob ob ob ob oooooooob oooooooooob ob ooooooooooo eeer eer er er er eeeeer eerr err err er er er eeeer er eee 222222222222201 011 001 01 01 01 01 011 011 0113333 3 3 333333333333333 |||| BBBBBBBBBBBBab ab ab abb ab ab aaab aaab abyyyyyyyyyyyyy yy yyyy y yy y y yyyyy yy Bu Bu BBBuuuuuuu Bu Bu Bu Buu Bu Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuzz zz zz zzz zzz zz zz zz zz zz zzz zz zz zz MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMaaaag ag ag ag ag agg aaaaag aagg aaaag aaaaaaaaaag aaagaz aaaz az az aaz aaaaaz az az aaaz az az az aaaz az aaz aaaaaaa in in in inn in in in in in ineeeeeeeeeeeeee
Paramount Pictures, In association with Empire Film Distribution
August 23 - September 23
Still keeping secrets, the truth always comes
out in the end. Try some self help books, to
help boost yourself esteem. void blaming oth-
ers for your mistakes.
September 24 - October 23
This month there are some changes at
work, new projects, maybe even a pro-
motion. Avoid rushing into things.
October 24 - November 22
Love is in the air, maybe youre planning
a wedding. Feel like romance, book
some cosy time together. Avoid being
overly sensitive.
November 23 - December 21
This month is good for organising your financ-
es. Make time for friends, are they complain-
ing they dont see you often enough. Avoid
letting your mates down.
December 22 - January 20
Bumping into old friends, lots of late nights. A
very social month, you will be very popular.
Avoid those that drain your energy.
January 21- February 19
Feeling bored now the sun has gone.
Nights are drawing in, dont get down,
organise some family time.Avoid feeling down in the
dumps.
February 20 - March 20
Thinking of faraway places, holidays and trips
abroad. Know anyone with a villa and a pool?
Time to give them a call. Avoid not paying attention
to detail.
March 21 - April 20
Concentrate on your partner they have been feeling
a little left out. If youre single its a good month to
date, ask your friends to set you up.
Avoid doing things just for other peoples sake.
April 21 - May 21
You have been feeling a little lost,
Re-think what makes you feel secure and settled.
Space to think is what you need this month.
Avoid only half listening.
May 22 - June 21
Like your own way? Compromise is the key this
month, to avoid arguments and drama.
Teenagers you just got to love em! Avoid giving in
too much for a quiet life.
June 22 - July 22
If it seems too good to be true it probably is.
Got your eye on someone new? look a bit closer
theres more baggage than it first appears.
Avoid making un nessarary changes
July 23 August 22
Sometimes speaking your mind does not go
down well, make time to listen to your loved
ones you may have missed the all important,
point.Avoid speaking out to family members.
www.magicandglitter.co.uk
Tel: 07956 622 279.

Baby Buzz Magazine - October Issue

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Baby Buzz Magazine - October Issue

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

baby buzz

Anda mungkin juga menyukai