Baby Buzz Magazine - October Issue (Smallpdf - Com)

baby buzz
magazine
October 15th
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
PARENTS & BUSINESS
Allergies
2 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine
Editors Letter
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
From the Editor

Oh my gosh, is it that time already?
So the holidays are over, school has started and yes us parents are all breathing a collective sigh of relief. For those of us who are lucky enough to be able to work from home, and I do use that term lightly, it has still been a hard slog trying to juggle occupying our kids and trying to maintain a living! Im not sure how my readers have done, but Ive been blessed to have had my family and friends support. month. From Inch Blue, Nonabox, Tomee Tippee and the most amazing mums from my Facebook Groups I offer you a thank you from the bottom of my heart. We have some fantastic features, stories and exclusives this month along with our usual Parents In Business Feature, again providing valuable advice and tips to anyone wishing to start their own business.
For this issue, we are touching on a rather raw subject We have reviews, news and advice from our regular that I know many of my readers will find hard to deal experts including Child Sleep Expert Maryanne Taylor with. I wanted to write about October 15th, which for and Jani White, our resident antenatal and doula those who dont know, is the official Pregnancy and support. If you would like to send in any questions for Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I am extremely lucky to us to answer in future issues, please email me at have two gorgeous daughters but I also realise that not nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com. everyone is so lucky, and whilst I truly count my blessings, I wanted to acknowledge all those parents Wishing you all a fabulous October! who were parents to Angels. Please add us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and let I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank a lot of me have your comments on the latest issue. companies, colleagues and friends who contributed many products, clothing and accessories to a new mummy who gave birth to beautiful identical girls last ,
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 News & Reviews 53 Baby Buzz Focus Group Reviews 56 Toffee Moon - Gorgeous Childrens Clothes Food & Recipes 59 Teeny Tummies - Questions & Answers 60 National Baking Week - Miffy Chocolate Cake Recipe 61 CheeseStrings - Not Boxing Clever, Lunchbox Waste Travel 66 Barnsley House - Home Farm Cottage 67 Marwell Hotel - Winchester 68 Family Fun in Tuscany
Cover Photography by:

www.yourlittlebear.co.uk
Eve Tudor, Your Little Bear
Name: Brooke Mae D.O.B: 22.08.13 Weight: 5lb 12oz
Names: Isla Grace D.O.B: 22.08.13 Weight: 6lb Name: Rhea Panayi D.O.B: 23.08.13 Weight: 6 lbs 6oz
Name: Teegan Skye Sullivan DOB: 08.06.13 Birth Weight: 7lb 6oz
Name: Alexia Jean Whymark DOB: 01.08.13 Weight: 5lb 1oz
Name: Zachary Oscar Cook D.O.B: 31.07.13 Weight: 8lbs
Name: Max Hoy D.O.B: 06.07.13 Weight: 6lb 12oz
Name: Leah Constantinou D.O.B: 03.06.13 Weight: 7lb 3oz
Name: Stephanie Salerma D.O.B: 09.08.13 Weight: 3.26 kg
Name: Isabelle Bronwen Stacey D.O.B: 28.07.13 Weight: 6lb 10oz 7 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine
Name: Cooper Wren King D.O.B: 24.08.13 Weight: 7lbs
Competition Time
COMPETITION TIME
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: From Monday 14th October to Sunday 20th 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: 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:
A. B. C.
25th- 1st December 14th 20th October 8th- 14th July
To find out more about Divine delicious range, visit www.divinechocolate.com To find out more about Squires Garden Centres, visit www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
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:
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: INFO BABYBUZZMAGAZINE.COM
INCLUDE: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ENTRIES DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE BUSINESSES PROVIDING THE COMPETITION PRIZE
To find out more about My Cabin Max , visit www.mycabinmax.com/en
Parents in Business
Welcome to our Parents & Business Feature

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. 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
Parents in Business
TAKING THE PLUNGE!

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!
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
Through the eyes of a Parent

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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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
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
: 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 freefrom 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 parents. 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.
If youd like further information on Sophias Choice, you can connect with me here: Charlie Hughes Tel: 07525 662888 Email: info@sophiaschoice.co.uk Web: www.sophiaschoice.co.uk (launching 12th October 2013) Blog: www.sophiaschoiceuk.blogspot.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/SophiasChoiceUK Twitter: www.twitter.com/SophiasChoiceUK Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sophiaschoiceuk
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!
Parents in Business
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 toysshe'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.
: woodentoyworld@yahoo.co.uk : www.woodentoyworld.co.uk : WoodenToyWorld : @WoodenToyWorld
Parents in Business
: sales@happyhopperz.co.uk : www.happyhopperz.co.uk : HappyHopperz : @HappyHopperz
Happy Hopperz is the creation of husband and wife team Robert and Victoria Morris.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 expenses. Instant savings such as Retail Discount schemes are cheap for tariff cost will be deducted from wages every month which will not attract 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 tax or National Insurance. wide range of retailers. Using such a scheme can save you money off the However much time you have taken off after having your baby, whether regular grocery shopping and clothing bills or be used for bigger things its a few months or a whole year (or even more if you have more than such as holidays and family days out. 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 Benjamin Franklin said In this world nothing can be said to be certain, knowledge and skills are a bit rusty. If you feel you need some training, except death and taxes." Salary sacrifice schemes can help you save on tax, there is a salary sacrifice scheme for this too. You can save a third of the but unfortunately there is nothing any of us can do about the other thing! cost on work-related training (e.g. a basic rate taxpayer could save 320 Having said that, you can be prepared. Now you are a parent, you really over a year on a course costing 1,000) to bring you up to date and should make a will. This will ensure that provision is made for your child enhance your career prospects for the future. There is no restriction on if you or your partner dies. If both of you died you would want to specify the way the training can be delivered and the money can be used for 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 tuition, travel, accommodation and food. up which are almost identical documents, reflecting the fact that you have Whether you have chosen to go back to work full time or part time, you similar wishes. It neednt be expensive to draw up a valid document. will probably have less income after childcare costs and other increased 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 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
Parents in Business
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!
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 Babyshowers 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 customer service. There have been so many highlights from being approached by our first stockist, to appearing in the Liverpool Daily Echo Business Section where I was featured as 'Woman in Business'.
It's non-stop as a mum of three and with a part time job! At times it seems there are not enough hours in the day and then there is Flowertots Baby Gifts. From creating bouquets, dealing with suppliers and what seems like constant marketing, it just never ends. My dream is to turn Flowertots Baby Gifts into a full time job where I can work from home and be a mum on the daily school run.
If you have an idea that you are passionate about and believe in it don't give up. Follow your heart, think about why you are pursuing it. It will be worth it in the end. It's possible to start up a business on less than 500, I did. Be prepared to put in lots of hours and use Social Media to market your business it's fantastic.
My website is www.flowertotsbabygifts.com Email emma@flowertotsbabygifts.com Twitter follow us @FlowertotsGifts Facebook like us Flowertots Baby Gifts
Parents in Business
When to start using choosing childcare

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 allimportant 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.
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 *Visit www.bodyconpt.co.uk to find out more about pregnancy and from the word go! This is why I would really advise considering your post natal classes you can bring your baby to. 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!
Family Focus
Dont Fix It!

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.
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 But the hardest lesson for any parents is that with thats limited. certain exceptions, fixing it for our kids does not help them in the long run. Yes if the bullying is Try instead to use any of the following emotional words where really serious, you need to at least see if the school appropriate: (They are in alphabetical order) can help out and deal with it, but for most disputes between friends, the children need to sort it out Afraid, annoyed, confused, disappointed, fed up, frustrated, furious, themselves. grumpy, hurt, ignored, insulted, judged, left out, made fun of, misunderstood, picked on, puzzled, rejected, resentful, sad, scared, When your child comes to you upset about friends, about teachers, stressed, surprised, the odd one out, teased, tricked. 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? 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 They want you to listen carefully, to really hear them. feel listened to, valued, and you will be helping him/her increase his/hers emotional vocabulary. 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 And once your child feels understood, they can start problem solving the wrong plate on the table. Or children who scream and have tantrums WITH you so they learn how to solve disputes and issues without just because they want to watch inappropriate programmes or go with older turning to adults to do it for them. Understanding our emotions, siblings to an event which is not for their age group. connecting with them and then being able to think about how to problem Yet parents continue to feel guilty because they see their children crying, solve is a really vital life skill. And you can train your child to develop this upset and distraught. The strange truth is that the more parents try to fix skill. Bebe Jacobs things, the louder the crying becomes the next time. Its as if the child has www.parentingcoachingnow.com learnt that the louder the screams the more they get their own way. info@parentingcoachingnow.com www.facebook.com/bebeparentcoach M: 07939 880 856
Health & Wellbeing
Give It Some Welly
With this time of year, comes wet and windy weather and we start There are plenty of other ways to get involved with Give It Some eyeing up our winter woollies and wellington boots. Allergy UK has Welly: discovered a way to get you into your winter wear earlier than usual this year Welly Wanging Why not set up a good old fashioned welly wanging contest in your local area? Gather your local community Give It Some Welly is our brand new, one day initiative making welly together for some truly British competition, you could even put on wearing acceptable this autumn! On Friday 8th November this year, in a free-from refreshments stand to raise some money for Allergy the run up to Allergy UKs Indoor Allergy Week, wherever you are UK. and whatever youre doing, were asking you to wear your wellies to Welly Walk For those who like to enjoy the outdoors, whatever help us to raise allergy awareness and have a bit of fun at the same time. the weather, you could organise a sponsored welly walk, you can even take the pushchairs! How about a moonlit welly walk and do Indoor Allergy Week runs from 11 -17th November and by wearing it at night-time to make it even more of an adventure! your wellies on the 8th November, you will be helping us to kick start Welly Race Its not that easy to run in wellies, trust us, weve our awareness week by spreading the word about Allergy UK tried! Set yourself some light hearted competition and take part in throughout the country. a 100m welly race. If youre at school or university, you could even get your teachers and tutors involved! 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 Fill a Welly with Pennies Put a welly up in your office or school Allergy UK to wear your wellies to work? Maybe you have a little one classroom and donate your spare change to Allergy UK by filling up in school who would love a chance to wear their wellies in class for a welly or maybe even a pair! 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 8th November? 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 or give her a call on 01322 470336.
Health & Wellbeing
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.
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.
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 - its now a fight between me and the hubby to the tin! Stemmed Ginger - One of the best things for nausea, 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 - really lovely toasted and REALLY helped settle the stomach. Eggs - 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 to note her section of foods to avoid! Pregnancy Countdown Book, Susan Magee with Kara Nakisbendi, MD. Very 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!
Health & Wellbeing
BirthEasy with the Wise Hippo!!!

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
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.
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.
using The Wise Hippo Birthing techniques, easily birthed her twin girls calmly and drug free ! She Starting between 20 and 32 weeks is ideal. The was reported saying 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, Co-founder of the Wise Hippo Birthing but Dads are taught the birth partners role as part programme,Tamara Cianfini comments, of the course.
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
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
A frazzled Mum's guide to baby signing,

By Elle-Louise Howe (frazzled Mum)!
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!
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
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Our purposely designed heated and filtered birth pools ensure labour and giving birth in water at home is a comfortable and safe option for you and your family, with a five week hire from 37 weeks means you can be safe in the knowledge that you will always be prepared. Warm, clean water is available 24 hours a day. Allowing you to use the birthing pool when you need it, no matter what time of the day or night; you never know when labour is going to start!
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Health & Wellbeing
Antenatal Courses: Making Choices

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 Last month we considered one of the biggest benefits from attending a Immunisations group antenatal course getting support. This time, the focus is on Making and many more. Choices. 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 If you dont know your choices, you dont have any [1] helping them to work through their options and giving them confidence to Many clients attending antenatal courses dont realise that there are challenge healthcare professionals on their recommendations. Here are decisions which they can be in control of when it comes to pregnancy, some recent comments from course attendees: labour, birth and early parenting. All too often, we hear parents start a The course gave me the confidence to challenge decisions 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 being made for us Mum to Polly, born 10th June 2013 you to conform to a standard protocol. The organisation Birthrights 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 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 Natalia, born 7th June 2013. to accept treatment. An example of this will help to aid understanding. In the final article of this series, well consider another benefit Being Many women are led to believe by their healthcare professionals that Prepared. 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 [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. accepting induction by the use of phrases such as higher risk, stillborn, placenta stops working without any explanation as to the absolute risk [2] Birthrights, (2013) Consenting to Treatment available from http://www.birthrights.org.uk 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 [3] Newburn M, Muller C and Taylor S. (2011) Preparing for birth and parenthood: report on potential problems associated with induction. By the time women are 10 first-time mothers and fathers attending NCT antenatal courses. London: NCT. 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 This article was written by Michelle Eshkeri, CEO & founder of Birth-Your circumstances, where there is no medical reason to induce, women Way, a Barnet-based company which provides private and NCT group should be made fully aware of the two choices available to them to wait courses as well as tailored individual birth and parenting coaching sessions. and be monitored regularly or to go ahead with an induction. As long as For more information, email info@birth-yourway.co.uk or visit women understand the possible outcomes from each choice, then they http://www.birth-yourway.co.uk. can make an informed decision thats right for them. For more information on NCT antenatal courses, visit http://www.nct.org.uk 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
Health & Wellbeing
A frazzled Mum's guide to baby signing,

By Elle-Louise Howe (frazzled Mum)!
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!
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
Health & Wellbeing
Your sleep questions answered
Hi Justine, 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 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
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
Health & Wellbeing
By Emma Jordan
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.
In May 2013, two groups of Enfield mums completed 10 weeks of NCT training and began volunteering as Breastfeeding Peer Supporters, working in Childrens Centres across the Borough of Enfield. We hold sessions throughout the week at various Childrens Centres. We volunteer alongside 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.
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.
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
Health & Wellbeing
Salisbury Road, Enfield, EN3 6HG. Tel. 01992 762 140 Well Baby Clinic
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 superwoman. 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
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
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.
Establishing a good latch, or attachment is essential for successful breastfeeding. Poor attachment makes it more difficult that the baby will feed effectively, potentially 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 demonstrating using a doll, but also by seeing your baby feed and suggesting ways to help them develop good attachment, 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.
Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, EN1 4JY. Tel. 020 8211 2201 Baby Clinic,
Eldon Road, Edmonton, N9 8LG.
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 because 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.
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.
The study goes on to reveal bath time is even more difficult for mums We hope Comfort Skin Therapy will help let parents know theyre of children with a dry skin condition, including eczema, who are over not alone in their experiences at bath time and there are simple steps 90% more likely to find bath time one of the most stressful parts of 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 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 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. 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 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.
2. 3. 4. 5.
To request a copy of the Comfort Skin Therapy booklet, simply email CSTbooklet@webershandwick.com or visit netmums for more information.
Family Focus
Amateur acrobatics, bed-gymnastics and persistent hair pulling

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 36 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine 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, teethgrindingly 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 nonviolent 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!
Health & Wellbeing
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.
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. 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.
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!
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!
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.
Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Remembrance Day
Over the course of the last few months, Ive had my eyes opened to people feeling extreme happiness to being in the depths of despair thanks to the joyfulness of new beginnings and life changes to the sudden loss of a partner or the loss of a child. I was told about October 15th by a friend of mine and began doing some research and was amazed at the extent people went to after suffering the loss of a pregnancy or loss of a child. I experienced my first miscarriage almost 16 years ago on New Years Eve, and whilst I was at the very early stages of the pregnancy, it will be something that lives with me forever. Whilst it might not be at the forefront of my mind each and every day, and with time being that ever forgiving healer, each and every year I remember the night and the events of what I went through and think what if? Hindsight, in my case, has served its purpose, with the fact that I know that I was not ready to raise a child at the relatively young age that I was. There are so many women, parents and families who go through this loss, whether it be a much longed for and desperately wanted pregnancy, to the surprise unplanned pregnancy through miscarriage or stillbirth, ectopic pregnancies, birth defects and SIDs and whilst research is being done to find out the many reasons and causes for these, sadly there is still no definitive answer. It is therefore given that October recognises the loss so many parents experience all around the World. It is also a means to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to the many sad and unforgiving reasons above. Baby Buzz Magazine was created to give readers information on topics dealing with pregnancy, child or parenting issues but it will also cover some issues that deal with the harsh reality that some parents go through. We have featured several heartbreaking, yet inspirational stories from mums who wanted to tell their story, and I hope my readers wont be offended or angered that Ive provided a platform for them to express the emotions that sadly many more will face.
Nickie xx
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
October 15th - Coming Together
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. 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 Before my breakdown I was a private proud of. person. So private that most of the time even I would have an incredibly difficult job As I was beginning to venture out of my trying to decipher how I was actually shell and socialise I was coming across feeling. I could never admit to negative people that, when I was a 'respectable' feelings. If I was honest about a negative mother of one, I would have been perfectly event in my life I would dress it up with civil to but would have refused to even positive interpretations or just flatly refuse consider a real friendship with as a result of to accept that it had affected me at all. I my prejudices. Did she smoke when she tried desperately to hold on to all of that was pregnant? Not my sort of person. Was when I lost that baby- in fact, I did hold on she wealthy and well-spoken? Probably to my privacy, yeah I really did- and in doing stuck up. But, because I needed friendship so I lost my mind. I was devastated and like I have never needed even oxygen because I'd never learnt to accept my before and because as far as I was feelings I absolutely hated myself as a concerned I myself was the lowest of the result. I wonder whether I could have low (it was that unhappiness despite my made it without the sunlight of my first born living child thing that just tore me up); I was son to illuminate the pitch black I was willing to let anyone in and I have made residing in a lot of the time. But having him some of the most beautiful friendships with also made me despise my weakness even people as a result. They have my back and, more because I was disgusted that I could my self esteem is reinforced because, I have have such a beautiful wonderful child and theirs. not be happy. And then... Then something wonderful Then there came a point... I don't know happened. I decided I wanted to reach out whether it was an impulse that came purely into the ether and tell my story publicly just from my subconscious or the intellectual on the off chance that it might help part of my brain finally taking my councillors someone going through something like I advice but something clicked and I knew did. And to my amazement what poured of that I had two choices: open up or fold. So me was graphic and uncompromising but it all of a sudden, maybe six months after it was also... Somehow... Captivating. happened, I just started telling strangers at any opportunity. Sometimes it'd be in When Nickie published my first article, one response to someone asking whether this by one people started to tell me that I was was my only child? Or did I plan to have courageous and talented. Some opened up more? And I might just casually drop it in to me about their experiences (maybe from with a sad smile and say no more and that my past or from the peripheries of my life, felt good. It was a relief because otherwise, who I would not otherwise have made a faced with that question, I would get totally connection with but) now here we are hung up on my missing child and isolated meaning something in each others from the World who didn't know they'd lives. Now it's months later and they're still existed... Then sometimes a woman falling like flies and finding genuine intimacy (because in the beginning it was only in my company. And that was down to women) would be able to empathise and me. How could I possibly hate myself again? when that happens between women who've lost children what is created is this Elizabeth Katherine Hobson instant deep bond that feels like sisterhood. And how comforting is that? ElizabethHobso6 So... I managed to claw my way back into http://elizabethkhobson.wordpress.com/ the land of the living and fragment by 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.
Why Me? What did I do Wrong?

Did I drink too much tea? Did I not take enough supplements? Did I not look after myself?
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.
I miscarried once, will it happen again?

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.
Too many reasons why!
Sadly there are far too many reasons, some explained and some unexplained 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.
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
A SILENT MISCARRIAGE
By Jessica Chu Today Im 15 weeks pregnant. Except Im not. As of 9am this morning my womb is empty and my baby gone. 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. 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 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
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 I crumpled. The news was so quick scan so that I could see the devastating. In a blur I phoned my partner and my family and the heartbeat before I went home. consultant talked me through my 2 weeks ago I had the Nuchal options. I was just on the cusp of Translucency Scan. It was my 3rd being able to opt for surgery or I scan as they were monitoring me could take some tablets and miscarry closely. Baby was so active and the baby naturally. With the baby wriggly. The sonographer tutted a measuring 9cm I didnt think I could lot as the baby wouldnt cooperate cope with essentially giving birth and and was moving so much that they seeing my tiny tiny baby. I opted for couldnt get an accurate surgery which was booked for a few measurement to assess my risk of days later, today. Downs. Eventually after 2 hours, quite a bit of sugar and a lot of jiggling They call it a silent miscarriage. My about they got the measurement we body didnt tell me that anything was needed and I was classed low risk for wrong. My baby died and I didnt know. Its hard not to wonder what Downs and Trisomy 13/18. I could have done differently. Its I wasnt nervous or worried as I hard not to feel like my body failed waited for the bonus scan on my baby, that I, in some way, failed Monday. I know how unreliable my baby. dopplers can be, having panicked myself during my last pregnancy with The physical healing will take a few a home doppler. As I went in to the days. The emotional healing for both ultrasound room with the registrar my partner and me will take a lot longer.
A LOST TOMORROW ..
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.
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
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. 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 A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. diarrhoea, or find it hard to sleep. These symptoms will probably disappear in time, but if you feel worried about them, it might be The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which may be a good idea to talk to your GP. followed by cramping and pain in your lower abdomen. Partners too can have strong feelings of loss, distress and anxiety, 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 yet their needs can go unrecognised.
necessary.
There is a leaflet called Men and Miscarriage and/or the webHowever, bear in mind that light vaginal bleeding is relatively common based article Coping with Miscarriage at:
during the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 12 weeks) and does not necessarily mean you are having a miscarriage.
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. 46 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine
Saying Goodbye..
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. 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 Westminster 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 unspoken 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 My brothers were so little at the time, they only ever knew the unspoken detective work began to unwind the story, bringing together the collage of tensions of our home, yet never truly knew why. My youngest brother made experiences to find the whole picture. This was my healing, this was how I the choice to not have children, and though he will not talk about it, I believe came to accept and deal with all those hidden angsts that were the foundation that all the taboo around Susans death has influenced a fear of having children. of our childhood. 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, 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 though with 4 miscarriages in between. hole in the ground that I dug with my bare hands, and in absence of any Susan I am telling this story because I wish to communicate how the impact of loss is mementos I buried my own christening mug and my favourite stuffed bunny, something that will never go away. But I do wish to reassure you that in and a bonnet my auntie had knit for me when I was born. And just as I stepping into ones grief and in embracing the loss, and in opening our hearts smoothed the earth over this little grave of heartfelt cherished pieces of to allow our community to support us, it is possible to resonate the grief into childhood, a group of 4 children ran by, shouting and laughing and chasing each the normal boundaries that it should have. Ignoring grief will amplify it into other through the trees. Bringing up the rear was the littlest girl, two plaits such a high pitched resonance it can become an all consuming hindrance to 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 moving forward in our lives. little sister - we said our long lost goodbye in the joyful song of children laughing. 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 There is no way through loss except to go through it. If you are suffering a experienced as a family in the 1960s is highly unlikely to ever occur in todays pregnancy or infant loss, please know that you are not alone and that in society and in todays healthcare provision. Today, when a baby dies, both the reaching out you will find so much love and support and understanding. Hard mother and father are given as much time as they need with their baby, to hold as it is, there is a way through it. Hold hands and bravely step into the grief. and grieve and to begin the long process of letting go. The support network Know that your love of your little one will never go away, and though you will within the hospitals is there to provide parents with all the time they need with not know them, they will always know you love them. 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 As well as your own family and community of friends, here in the UK you can are given as many mementos as is possible, ink prints of feet, hospital brace- always turn to your GP, midwife and health visitor for support. The hospitals lets, a lock of hair the keepsakes that help us to know that this person was all have chaplains there to support you, and we have many excellent child here, that this person glimpsed in and out of our lives, but that they were fully bereavement charities and support groups. You are not alone. loved and wanted and needed. www.childbereavement.org.uk Parents are encouraged to hold their baby and love their baby and to take www.babyloss-awareness.org absolutely as much time as they need to say goodbye to their baby. My www.winstonswish.org.uk mother never said goodbye, and one of my saddest ever moments was when www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk she told me that this was THE greatest regret of her lifetime.
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 Pregnancy after miscarriage, ectopic or next pregnancy. molar pregnancy can be a very anxious time. You may feel that you need regular scanning This doesnt mean that you are more likely just to check that things are all right, or you to miscarry if you do conceive before then. may find that too stressful. 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.
[1] Love E, Bhattacharya S, Smith NC, Bhattacharya S. Effect of interpregnancy interval on outcomes of pregnancy after miscarriage: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics in Scotland BMJ 2010; 341:c3967
However, there are some circumstances, such as after a molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy, or if you are coping with an illness or infection, when you will be advised to wait longer. If you have had a late miscarriage or repeated losses, you may want to talk to your GP or specialist before trying to conceive. If you are having investigations, you may be advised to wait until those are complete before trying again. And you might want to make sure that you are feeling recovered physically and emotionally before embarking on another pregnancy.
I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the following organisations for their support, their advice, their knowledge and the never ending search for answers:
Forget Me Not Childrens Hospice Tel: 01484 411 040 contact@forgetmenotchild.co.uk www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk
Miscarriage Association Tel: 01924 200 799 info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
The Lullaby Trust Tel: 020 7802 3200 info@lullabytrust.org.uk www.lullabytrust.org.uk
October15 www.october15th.com robyn@october15th.com www.rememberingourbabies.net
Event Planning
Creating the event of a lifetime ..

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 But let me be the one who says the following things out loud: the time. Ragged, how-am-I-going-to-make-it-to-the-end-of-the-day, eyes burning exhausted. 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 I have three boys ages 5 and under. Im not complaining about that. Well, bizarre and probably illegal form of hypnotism. 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 You are not a terrible parent if you yell at your kids sometimes. You have and years; the pain of infertility is stabbing and throbbing and constant. I little dictators living in your house. If someone else talked to you like that, remember allowing hope to rise and then seeing it crash all around me, theyd be put in prison. month after month, for seven years. I am working on another post about infertility that will come at a later date. 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 But right now, in my actual life, I have three boys ages five and under. terrorism that they so creatively devise. 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 You are not a terrible parent if youd rather be at work. 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 You are not a terrible parent if you just cant wait for them to go to bed. downstairs in the morning before the other boys do, smiles at me, and says, Daddy and Ben time. You are not a terrible parent if the sound of their voices sometimes makes you want to drink and never stop. 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 Youre not a terrible parent. fighting are fingernails across the chalkboard every single day. Youre an actual parent with limits. You cannot do it all. We all need to One of my children is for sure going to be the next Steve Jobs. I now have admit that one of the casualties specific to our information saturated immense empathy for his parents. He has a precise vision of what he culture is that we have sky-scraper standards for parenting, where we feel wants exactly that way and no other way. Sometimes its the way his like were failing horribly if we feed our children chicken nuggets and we plate needs to be centered exactly to his chair, or how his socks go on, or let them watch TV in the morning. One of the reasons we are so exactly how the picture of the pink dolphin needs to look with brave exhausted is that we are oversaturated with information about the kind of eyes, not sad eyes, daddy! He is a laser beam, and he is not satisfied until parents we should be. its exactly right. So maybe its time to stop reading the blogs that tell you how to raise the I have to confess that sometimes the sound of his screaming drives me to next President who knows how to read when shes three and who cooks, hide in the pantry. And I will neither confirm nor deny that while in there, not only eats, her vegetables. Maybe its time to embrace being the kind I compulsively eat chips and/or dark chocolate. 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 There are people who say this to me: You should enjoy every moment person that you actually are, not for more strength to be an ideal parent. now! They grow up so fast! So the next time you see your friends with small children with that foggy I usually smile and give some sort of guffaw, but inside, I secretly want to and desperate look in their eyes, order them a pizza and send it to their hold those people under water. Just for a minute or so. Just until they house that night. Volunteer to take their kids for a few hours so they can panic a little. If you have friends with small children especially if your be alone in their own house and have sex when theyre not so tired, for children are now teenagers or if theyre grown please vow to me right heavens sake. Put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes, and now that you will never say this to them. Not because its not true, but tell them that theyre doing a good job. Just dont freak out if they start because it really, really doesnt help. 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 We know its true that they grow up too fast. But feeling like I have to will never want to be around us when theyre older. 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 Youre bone tired. Im not sure when its going to get better. Today might moment is enjoyable as a parent; it wasnt for you, and it isnt for me. You be a good day or it might be the day that you lost it in a way that surprised just have obviously forgotten. I can forgive you for that. But if you tell me even yourself. to enjoy every moment one more time, I will need to break up with you. Breathe in. Breathe out. 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 Youre not alone. people.
For the Dads
Mr Ma..
By Lawrence McGrandles Jnr
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.
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 preschool 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.
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 The transition for our particular Monkey #2 was going to be a Monkey #2 bolted for the door to be first in to the new class. I change from three days a week at pre-school to five days a week am not the sentimental sort but a kiss goodbye on the first day at nursery still morning shift only so starting at 9am and knocking would have been nice! off at 12 noon. Part of the transitioning involved lots of
Focus Group
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 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 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 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 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 A great chuck in the bag snack for out and about. Individually wrapped which is handy. My daugh 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 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.
Prices from: 0.79

www.ellaskitchen.co.uk
Nickie: The Purple One, Squished Smoothie Fruit

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!!! What an amazing product, Id had the tablet form after having a c-section as Id been told of the 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!
Sarah:
Price: 5.99
www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com
Danielle: I have totally fallen in love with this cream. I love the comforting smell, which oozes 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 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: 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 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 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.
Price: 5.95
www.barefoot-botanicals.com
** Baby Buzz Best Buy**

Nickie: I really worried that we wouldnt have the chance to review this for a while due to school just 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 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 this as school gets into full swing.
Price: 14.99
www.lyclear.co.uk
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.
www.cewe.co.uk
Picture Books from 27.99
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!
www.bambinobundle.com
Prices start from 25.00
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

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 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. 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, 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
www.spartoo.co.uk
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 the care and detail put into the branding and packaging was quite simply stunning. Inch Blue very generously donated a few pairs of shoes and boots to a very special mummy and then sent more for me to review personally. 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 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 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 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 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 new-b, the latest addition to the increasing Bobux family. Designed for babies from 0-6 months, the new-b range is perfectly shaped to cocoon delicate newborn feet, providing the best start to healthy feet for life. Bobux 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 sizes (newborn, 2-4 months and 4-6 months).
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 eight 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 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 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 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. 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 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 is 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 of the dress up, then pulling down the panel of material underneath to expose the appropriate boob or bit of boob. This means that you can be as discreet as you want to be when feeding. In fact my sister toddled back from the ladies and thought baby and I were simply having a cuddle. Im all for breastfeeding loud and proud anywhere and 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 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! 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 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 principle 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 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, 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 dollars. Given the stretchy material and rouching detail I suspect this vest would also be good during pregnancy, 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 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 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 I sometimes dont know what its doing from one day to the next, but this dress made me feel effortlessly good and http://shop.boobdesign.com I had lots of compliments on it while I was out and about. The forgiving material would make this another excellent pregnancy buy that would see you right through nursing. It also withstood the projectile sick test, which frankly 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 busy mums do. The materials used are strong and durable yet hold shape, and are soft enough for babys skin to cuddle 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 the multicoloured musical crab approves! Nickie: I think most parents will be familiar with the Persil brand. We were given the opportunity of trying out 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 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. BRILLIANT!! worried as I've got a son that can be affected by it but he was fine! I love the smell and it was easy to use. No brainer, will get some again!!
Eve:
www.persilandcomfort.co.uk Make your babys kingdom as clean and soft as can be. Fabric detergent Persil Non-Bio and fabric conditioner
Comfort Pure help make sure clothes, sheets and fabrics are soft, clean and cuddle ready, so your baby can relax in pure comfort. We have a few more reviews of this product coming up next month so see what our other mums think as well.
Nickie:
If any other parents are like me, they are sure to know the issues of finding ways of keeping their 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 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 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 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 keep 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 any longer, I started the search of trying to find a beaker suitable for a very active child and most 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 the 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 take out. Love the fact that they come in an array of colours so suitable for boys and girls.
www.babybornfree.co.uk
Nickie:
I have known the Chad Valley brand for many years and one thing that never ceases to amaze me 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 latest craze. 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 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 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 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 pit 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 amused my little girl.
www.argos.co.uk
** Baby Buzz Best Value**

Nickie:
The last product we tested was for the even older child and was a hoop ring. This was perhaps 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 Baby Buzz Magazine.
www.gumigem.co.uk
Ive been a fan of GumiGem ever since I launched Baby Buzz Magazine, as they were the first 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 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 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 range of fabulous products!
info@toffeemoon.co.uk
Health & Wellbeing
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? 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.
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 (Teaching 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 Alexander 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 em: giselle@backinbalance.org.uk
Recipes & Food

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 receive a supplement of vitamins A, C & D. If your baby has more than 500ml infant formula they will get 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 visit http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/food-andhealth-tips/vitamins/].
Some babies who have had a lot of very smooth pureed foods during their first year, especially beyond 9 months, may find the transition 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 to 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 reaction because often they can get into a habit of doing something if it gets your attention!
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a fairly new concept which basically means skipping the traditional 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 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 spoonfed, 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 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 rice and pasta, can be very bulky and filling for little tummies which could reduce their appetite and hence energy (calorie) intake. 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 those 50/50 types are good too), bagels, French bread, crumpets, tortilla wraps etc.
After 12 months children dont need large milk feeds any more. Toddlers over a year should have around 12 oz (350ml) milk per day, and this includes milk in breakfast cereals, used in cooking (e.g. sauces or scrambled eggs), or in dairy foods like cheese and yogurt. In simple terms, this 12oz equates to approximately three portions of milk or dairy a day one portion equates to a yogurt, a matchboxsized piece of cheese, or 3-4 oz milk (often far less than children of this age are actually drinking). Too much milk/dairy in the diet after a year can be filling for a toddler and could reduce their appetite for other foods that provide important nutrients.
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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 2 tsp vanilla extract 250ml/9fl oz boiling water For the chocolate icing 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 60 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine
Recipes & Food
Half of children waste more than 40 worth of food each term, almost Nearly half of mums (47 the cost of the average family weekly shop*, as they regularly discard per cent) confessed that they would like help to lunchbox items deemed too boring to eat. make their kids lunch New research has identified that it takes less than a week into the new more exciting, and alterm for mums to get bored of making packed lunches and kids get most a quarter (22 per bored of the contents dubbed the Lunchbox Lag Time by research- cent) of kids would eat ers. The research of 1,500 mums and kids into variety in the lunchbox more lunch if it looked was commissioned by leading childrens cheese snack brand, more playful and fun. Cheestrings, to launch two new flavours in their range Cheese & Joao Felix, Senior Brand Manager at Cheestrings, said: Its key to find Tomato and Cheese & Onion. items which offer a good nutritional balance, that kids love and dont This uncovered that it takes a mere six days into term for the majority take mum ages to prepare. We launched our new Cheestrings flavours of mums (65 per cent) to get lunchbox fatigue and for the variety of Cheese & Onion and Cheese & Tomato to give kids a treat, which items put in to dwindle. The study also revealed that this leads to kids mums know is good for them as they provide a quarter of the RDA of throwing away on average half of their lunchbox each day after this, calcium and vitamin D. And they dont take any time to get ready each with one in ten kids throwing away an item as they just do not think it morning which will also give mums a bit of time back! is cool. Top Lunchbox Losers include vegetables (56 per cent), home-made 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 desperately 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 smuggling in healthy items disguised as a treat.
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!
Recipes and Food
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 cavedwellers 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
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
Gardening Fun
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: Looking for new and different ways to entertain the children this Autumn. these tools are practical, lightweight and child friendly. With comfortable Then look no further than your own back garden where, with a pair of foam grip handles that extend, these tools will grow as your children (and wellies and a warm coat they can burn off all that excess energy and help your garden) grow. 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.
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
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.
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 We know how much children enjoy their food, and how they love to eat exception of the smallest at Chertsey, have a coffee shop or restaurant on things theyve grown themselves. Why not try growing something site serving a wide variety of refreshments, and with free parking on site different this year to encourage them to try new tastes and textures? across all of the centres, Squires makes for a great day out! 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 Six of Squires Garden Centres also include an extensive range for pets and too. aquatic centres see website for full details. 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! 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
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!
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. However, 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.
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. Villa Tramonti sleeps 10 guests, with five bedrooms, two private pools 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. Villa Zacconi sits atop a small hill, surrounded by pine 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.
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 beautifully 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
glittertastics
Paramount Pictures, In association with Empire Film Distribution
www.magicandglitter.co.uk Tel: 07956 622 279.

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.
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 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 others for your mistakes. 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 September 24 - October 23 This month there are some changes at work, new projects, maybe even a promotion. 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 finances. Make time for friends, are they complaining they dont see you often enough. Avoid letting your mates down. 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 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. 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

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PARENTS & BUSINESS

2 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

3 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

From the Editor

4 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Cover Photography by:

Eve Tudor, Your Little Bear

5 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Name: Brooke Mae D.O.B: 22.08.13 Weight: 5lb 12oz

Name: Alexia Jean Whymark DOB: 01.08.13 Weight: 5lb 1oz

6 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Name: Zachary Oscar Cook D.O.B: 31.07.13 Weight: 8lbs

Name: Max Hoy D.O.B: 06.07.13 Weight: 6lb 12oz

Name: Leah Constantinou D.O.B: 03.06.13 Weight: 7lb 3oz

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

25th- 1st December 14th 20th October 8th- 14th July

To find out more about Squires Garden Centres, visit www.toffeemoon.co.uk

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN:

To find out more about My Cabin Max , visit www.mycabinmax.com/en

8 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Welcome to our Parents & Business Feature

9 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

TAKING THE PLUNGE!

10 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Through the eyes of a Parent

: amandamarks@hotmail.co.uk : www.throughtheeyesofaparent.com : Amanda.Marks

11 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

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: woodentoyworld@yahoo.co.uk : www.woodentoyworld.co.uk : WoodenToyWorld : @WoodenToyWorld

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: sales@happyhopperz.co.uk : www.happyhopperz.co.uk : HappyHopperz : @HappyHopperz

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When to start using choosing childcare

Dont Fix It!

Health & Wellbeing

Give It Some Welly

23 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Health & Wellbeing

24 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Health & Wellbeing

BirthEasy with the Wise Hippo!!!

25 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Health & Wellbeing

A frazzled Mum's guide to baby signing,

Call us today 07582 900 418

26 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

HEATED BIRTH POOL HIRE

www.birthpoolsonline.co.uk 01493 781443 / 07804 780041 enquiries@birthpoolsonline.co.uk

27 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Health & Wellbeing

Antenatal Courses: Making Choices

28 October 2013 | Baby Buzz Magazine

Health & Wellbeing

A frazzled Mum's guide to baby signing,

Call us today 07582 900 418

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Health & Wellbeing

Baby Buzz Best Buy

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