Baby March 2020

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WIN!

MARCH 2020 • BABY-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

Carole Middleton’s top tips for

Mother’s Day

BABY PHOTO SHOOT a

with our cover photographer

POWER OF SENSES HOW TO BOND WITH YOUR BABY

SHARING IS CARING SKINCARE TO

EXPERT ADVICE FROM ZITA WEST

STEAL FROM BABY

CAN STRESS AFFECT YOUR PREGNANCY?

Newborn life

WHAT TO EXPECT

LOVE MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

£4.40

All you need is

YOUR SIX-WEEK CHECKUP

Introducing the stroller by JUNIORJONES, the ultimate in style and performance. Its unique all-carbon fibre chassis, together with features like Tru-Ride 2 technology ensure a smooth ride and an effortless push. With every detail considered to maximise comfort and safety, this is the stroller for babies who deserve the best of everything.

To find out more, visit juniorjones.com or follow us

THE ALL-NEW

CARBON FIBRE STROLLER

Everyday travel companion This fully-featured compact stroller is perfect for city living or jet-setting travelers.

TRIV™ is cleverly designed with a seat that can face both ways and fold both ways, and can easily convert to a travel system.

The ring adapter can even fold with the frame, creating the perfect sidekick to your everyday adventures.

For a quick trip to the corner store or getting across town, TRIV is a natural city dweller that packs up quickly with a one-hand fold and stands on its own, keeping your busy hands free.

Find out more at nunababy.com

CONTENTS MARCH 2020

FEATURES

48 MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Thoughtful Mother’s Day gifting inspiration and ideas 54 DOUBLE ACT Actors Jamie Bell and Kate Mara open up about their parenting journey so far 61 PARTY TIME: MOTHER’S DAY Make plans to celebrate your very first Mother’s Day with these extra-special ideas from Carole Middleton 66 STEALING BEAUTY Martha Alexander reveals why it’s worth slipping your baby’s skincare into your own beauty bag 68 MUM KNOWS BEST How to brush off unsolicited parenting advice without losing your friends 72 COME TO YOUR SENSES Louise Pyne explains the importance of taking your tot on a sensory journey 74 CHECK IT OUT How to get the most out of your six-week post-partum check up 78 A MATTER OF TIME Dreading the clocks springing forward on 29 March? Natalie Keeler looks at what you can do to prepare in advance

38 amie Bell an d ate Mar life since th a re ect on e birth of th eir daughter p.

STYLE

38 MAMA, I LOVE YOU Mark the Mother’s Day milestone with our edit of the chicest springtime fashion 52 AHEAD OF THE CURVE Antonia O’Brien shares her favourite pre and postnatal wardrobe lust-haves

Mally wears cotton babygrow, £8, Newbie.

Chambray trousers, £57, and knitted cardigan, £71, both Stella McCartney.

Tess wears denim dress, £49.50, Marks and Spencer.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELEN MARSDEN

SHOPPING

23 BABY LOVES Why you should add Toddlekind’s Clean Wean mats to your interiors wish list 24 THE SWEETEST THING Cute candy-coloured baby buys to covet this month

FOOD & TRAVEL 85 FOOD NEWS The latest and greatest new treats for babies, toddlers and parents

86 FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD Kickstart baby’s weaning with these tasty recipes from Piccolo’s infant nutritionist 91 TRAVEL NEWS The hottest new getaways and products for young families 92 POSTCARD FROM LANZAROTE Actress Ali Bastian and husband David jet off for a babymoon of sun, sea and serious relaxation Make your first Mother s ay extra special p.

94 MUM’S THE WORD We round up the best motherhood retreats that baby will love too

REGULARS 15

BABY NEWS Keeping you in the know with all things great and small 20 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Pens at the ready – we have a few suggestions to keep you busy this March

baby-magazine.co.uk | 5

92 EDITORIAL Editor-at-Large Kate Freud Editor Rebecca Moore Sub Editors Laura Sutherland, Natalie Keeler Editorial Assistant Henrietta Easton Online Editor Ruby Norris

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Clare Byam-Cook, Emma Cannon, Georgina Cohen, Marina Fogle, Chiara Hunt, Carole Middleton, Jade Parfitt, Natalie Pinkham, Kate Silverton, Zita West

DESIGN Creative Director Chloë Collyer Senior Designer Natalie Dourado Freelance Designer Matt Bookman

PUBLISHING Chairman Paul Dobson Chief Operating Officer Kevin Petley Chief Financial Officer Vicki Gavin Director of Media James Dobson Managing Director of Sales and Chelsea Create Steve Ross Publisher Caroline Scott Circulation Manager Daniel Webb EA to Chairman Sarah Porter

ADVERTISING

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WIN! A BABY PHOTOSHOOT We’ve teamed up with Little White Photography to offer this fabulous prize MY ESSENTIALS We chat to Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen about body confidence and her battle with endometriosis THAT LOVING FEELING Emma O’Donovan rounds up the most heart-warming reads for baby LEO’S LITTLE LUXURIES Leonora Bamford shares her favourite things this month DIARY OF A MUM In her first instalment, our new columnist Jakki Jokes talks about what’s on the horizon for her blended family TOT GEAR NEWS What’s new in baby kit, plus we put the Uppababy Cruz to the test HEALTH & BEAUTY NEWS From skincare to baby tech, these are the latest products and innovations in the world of wellbeing

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Sales Director Cameron Hay Head of Market Julie Price Sales Executives Emma Cain, Miranda-Alix Forsyth Baby is published by The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Web: baby-magazine.co.uk Tel: 020 7349 3700 Email: baby@chelseamagazines.com

Presenter H ayley McQ ueen opens about her pr up egnancy jo urney (p.33)

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Q&A WITH ZITA WEST The fertility expert explains what you can do to introduce more calm to your life during pregnancy THE BREASTFEEDING CAFÉ Not sure which foods you should be avoiding while breastfeeding? Professor Amy Brown reveals all TIME TO TALK Marina Fogle and Dr Chiara Hunt offer advice on sleep during pregnancy THE REVIEW Laura Mason takes the best baby bouncers and rockers for a trial swing BOUTIQUES Here’s our pick of the most beautiful baby boutiques nationwide INSPIRE Jayn Sterland, Managing Director of Weleda, talks life balance, business moments and her best skincare tips

BABY (print) ISSN 2516-5178 BABY (online) ISSN 2517-813X | Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT | Tel: 020 7429 4000 Fax: 020 7429 4001 | Production All Points Media Printed in England by William Gibbons ©The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2020 All rights reserved

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PHOTOGRAPHY: LITTLE WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL: SILVANA

DELICATE AND SENSITIVE, JUST LIKE A BABY’S SKIN. FRAGRANCE

FREE

Your natural baby skin care White Mallow gently wraps a calming protective layer around your baby to maintain the skin’s natural moisture levels and relieve itching. Our fragrance-free Baby Derma range is carefully formulated using only natural ingredients, including precious White Mallow to soothe skin and help reduce irritation.

Tender loving care for dry and hyper-sensitive skin. #weledababy Available from independent health stores and pharmacies or weleda.co.uk

NATURAL TENDER CARE Developed together with midwives 100% certified natural Made without synthetic fragrances, colourants or preservatives

Encouraging kids to discover the world Reima is the leading premium performance wear brand dedicated to active kids allowing them to discover the joy of movement.

Luxury Mother’s Day card £3, raspberryblossom.com

Allow baby to blossom this spring with pretty ditsy dresses paired with cosy layers From a selection at newbiestore.com

EDITORS

LETTER

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Leather pre-walker shoes £22, bobux.co.uk

@BabyMagazineUK

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We’d love to see pics of you and your bump, or baby, with our current issue

@BabyMagazineUK

P-TO-DAT

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Bath oil £35, olverum.com

REBECCA MOORE, EDITOR

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Bath toy £7.95, shnuggle.com

In light of getting back some time, if you’ve constantly got a little one glued to you, wouldn’t it be nice to be hands-free again, even just for 10 minutes? Well, we can’t perform miracles, but we’ve rounded up the best rockers and bouncers that keep baby occupied, safe and happy – plus you’ll get those vital limbs back! Check them out for yourself on page 82.

And if you’ve caught the new-year travel bug but are also worried about holidaying with baby, we round up tailor-made retreats that have been designed with self-care-starved mums in mind. In need of a break? Check it out on page 94. Or perhaps you’re just at the babymoon planning stage? Take some pregnancy travel tips from actress Ali Bastian as she recounts her blissful break on the island of Lanzarote (p.92).

Finally, a big happy Mother’s Day to all those wonderful mums out there – I’m lucky enough to have bagged one of the best – you do a truly fabulous job.

KEE

Baby changing backpack £130, pkbeau.co.uk

As my diary fills up with fun plans for a new decade, and the sun tries to peep through the clouds, it reminds me that springtime has so much to offer: more daylight, a fresh wardrobe and the loveliest Sunday of the year: Mother’s Day. And that’s what this March issue is all about, celebrating motherhood.

First up, I’m delighted to introduce our new Diary of a Mum columnist, Jakki Jones. A stepmum of two, mother to three-year-old Riley and now expecting another, it’s safe to say Jakki has a lot to say on motherhood. Turn to page 57 for her first instalment.

We’ve also put together a dreamy wishlist for that all-important Mother’s Day gift; whether you’re treating your own mum or need to give partners a gentle nudge in the right direction, simply flick to page 48 for all the inspo you could need.

Or perhaps, like many tired-out mums, you’d just LOVE a lie-in. We can’t promise you that, but we’d like to help. With the clocks springing forward on 29 March, our troubleshooting guide, with the help of sleep expert Lucy Wolfe, provides top tips on banishing those slumber setbacks on page 78.

A Z I N E .C

@baby_magazine_uk

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CONTRIBUTORS

Where were you born?

At London’s Northwick Park Hospital How will you celebrate Mother’s Day? I’ll visit my mum in London for afternoon tea, and leave it to my husband and six-year old son to come up with the surprises for me!

What’s on your Mother’s Day wish list?

A relaxing family beach break away the during Easter holidays.

Louise talks about the power of baby’s five senses on p.72

NDER , JO UR E XA AL

Where were you born?

I was born in Lambeth, South London How will you celebrate Mother’s Day? Ideally, I’d like to lie on my sofa and have my family serve me cheese and wine but I imagine this is not going to be how things play out.

What’s on your Mother’s Day wish list?

This is really soppy – get the tissues – but I just want a homemade card from my daughter.

Martha addresses new-mum assertiveness on p.68

JAKKI JO

LOUI SE P

MART HA

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LUMNIST

Where were you born?

I was born at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith, London.

How will you celebrate Mother’s Day? I’ll be spending my Mother’s Day with my husband, Riley and my mum – hopefully going for a nice lunch at one of our favourite local Italian restaurants.

What’s on your Mother’s Day wish list?

A manicure would be lovely!

Check out Jakki’s inaugural column on p.57

BABY O NL INE

When you’re on the go or grabbing a coffee with a moment

P-TO-DAT

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Discover the new holiday trends and top hotspots for the whole family

Check out our expert advice, handy tips and real reviews All the latest news from the worlds of pregnancy and parenting

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Share the joy at joiebaby.com Available at all good nusery retailers.

O F TH E M O N TH

Larson PHOTOGRAPHED BY LITTLE WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

Little Larson lives by the sea in west Sussex, with his older brother Joshua, mum Karen and dad Jon. A mini mover and shaker, he loves anything which makes a noise so that he can take the opportunity for an impromptu boogie!

WANT TO SEE YOUR BABY HERE? UPLOAD YOUR FAVOURITE SNAP AT BABY-MAGAZINE.CO.UK/BABY-OF-THE-MONTH Entries close at 11:59pm on 7 February 2020.

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NEWS

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UPDATING YOU ON ALL THINGS GRE AT AND SMALL

IN FULL BLOOM

Midnight florals for spring 2020? Actually ground-breaking. BabyBjörn’s new limited edition collection, Midnight Floral, features the Bouncer Bliss, Baby Carrier One Air and Baby Carrier Mini available in a specially designed floral print inspired by 17th century Dutch still-life paintings of flowers, with a dramatic, romantic midnight-blue twist. The stylish, otherworldly collection adds a breath of fresh, spring air to the classic products for parents looking for a chic spring update.

From £84.99, babybjorn.co.uk

Swap springtime pastels for moody blooms with this new-season BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Air

PINTEREST’S JANUARY 2020 INSIGHT REPORT REVEALED THAT THE NEW YEAR HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN SEARCHES FOR GENDER-NEUTRAL TOPICS RELATING TO CHILDREN. TOP SEARCHES INCLUDE GENDER-NEUTRAL NURSERY DECORATIONS, NAME SUGGESTIONS, CLOTHES AND PARTY IDEAS. PINTEREST100.COM

baby-magazine.co.uk | 15

CARRY ON RECYCLING

Uber-chic parent accessories label Tiba + Marl has unveiled its debut Eco range as part of the brand’s continued commitment to sustainability. An updated version of the bestselling Elwood backpack is reimagined in recycled nylon, complete with a padded changing mat, bottle holder and built-in laptop sleeve, all made from recyclable materials. Another highlight is a cotton blanket in Tiba + Marl’s signature leopard print. From £28, tibaandmarl.com

PLAYING FAIR

Keep dreaming

Little inventors, explorers and big thinkers will adore Cam Cam Copenhagen’s SS20 Dare to Dream collection, inspired by the courage and creativity that moves the world. Bedsheets, furniture, toys and interiors come in spring-fresh rosy pink, cornflower blue and primrose yellow hues, with whimsical prints featuring everything from flowers to propeller planes. Designed to inspire imaginations, the range looks fab in baby’s bedroom. From £3.50, camcamcopenhagen.com

Beautiful, fun and, most importantly, sustainable, Sri Lankan brand, Tikiri toys has finally made it over to the UK. Made from ethically sourced organic rubber and eco-friendly cotton, the cute My First Tikiri range is great for teething, play and bath time. Plus, each time a Tikiri toy is bought here, the company provides a Sri Lankan family with free meals and medical aid.

From £9.60, tikiritoys.co.uk

JEWELLERY BRAND MERCI MAMAN HAS ANNOUNCED ITS LATEST CHARITY PARTNER, THE LITTLE ROO NEONATAL FUND FOR THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT ST PETER’S IN SURREY. 10P WILL BE DONATED TO THE CHARITY FOR EACH WEBSITE ORDER, AND PERSONALISED GIFTS WILL BE GIVEN TO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL. MERCIMAMANBOUTIQUE.COM

WIN A MOTHER PAMPER

GIFT BOX FROM LITTLE BUTTERFLY LONDON

Little Butterfly London is an award-winning luxury Ecocert organic-certified skincare brand for mothers and babies, created by Gudrun Wurm to nurture her newborn son’s delicate skin. Made in London, Little Butterfly London ensures that only the purest, safest and most effective ingredients are used across the range. To celebrate Mother’s Day we’ve joined forces to give you the chance to win a Mother Pamper Gift Box, plus 12.5ml tube of the Illuminating Day Cream, worth £101 altogether. littlebutterflylondon.com

Enter online at baby-magazine.co.uk/competitions

TIME FOR A CHANGE

When mum-of-three Jeanie couldn’t find a well-made changing mat, she took matters into her own hands. Her brand, The Gilded Bird, makes colourful hand-painted mats that parents love. Made in the UK they’re hygienic, wipe clean and wrapped with non-toxic PVC. Jeanie’s doing her bit for the environment too: the new range uses recycled polyester.

From £15.99, thegildedbird.co.uk

Dave the Dadventurer provides a rare look at the life of a stay-at-home dad

Small wonders Genius creator of the Wondersuit, Australian clothes brand BONDS is treating us to a brand new range of baby suits. Featuring a new selection of playful, eye-catching patterns and prints, the range includes suits with a quirky breakfast print and and an adorable dalmatian pattern, exclusively at John Lewis. The supersoft cotton suits are stretchy and uber comfy for baby and the easy two-way zip fastening makes midnight changes 10 times easier! £20, johnlewis.com

BEST OF THE BLOGS

The internet is awash with information but these brilliant bloggers cut to the chase with honest and practical advice

THE SKY AT NIGHT

The expert in stylish kids’ wallpaper Hibou Home has released the beautiful Starry Sky collection with the aim of inspiring little ones to dream sweet.

Featuring hand drawn metallic stars and clouds in chic Scandinavian-inspired shades of pale rose and gold, white and silver and indigo and gold, the celestial wallpaper will make a harmonious backdrop for any nursery, and is a design that children will surely love for years to come. From £59.95, hibouhome.com

THE DADVENTURER

Husband to Hayley, Hertfordshire blogger Dave is a stay-at-home dad to his five-year-old daughter and one-year-old son, known on the blog as L and Beetle. He writes honestly and humorously about his parenting adventures, which range from nappy changes to school run, with occasional trips further field. He offers insight into a reassuringly normal family life, with gadget reviews, newborn tips and fatherhood musings. thedadventurer.com

FIVE LITTLE DOVES

Laura lives in Lancashire with her husband, and is mum to five children: Lewis, 15, Eva, seven, Megan, six, Harrison, five and Joseph who would have been 13 this year. Her travelbased blog is a heartfelt reflection on raising kids, while also promoting awareness of the subjects she cares about, including mental health and dealing with the loss of a child.

A beautifully photographed look into one family’s day-to-day life. fivelittledoves.com

MUDPIE FRIDAYS

Clare is wife to one and mother to two boys, affectionately known as Monkey, seven and Kipper, three. She started her blog to share fun activities she does with her kids to help mums looking for inspiration. Clare documents her weekly family life, from UK adventures and holidays abroad to fun afternoons spent at home. Follow for travel tips and advice on health, bedtime, garden games and much more. mudpiefridays.com

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NEWS

Naturally sweetened

Timeless French childrenswear brand Tartine et Chocolat is following the green wave with its new eco-friendly Organic Line capsule collection, made entirely from organic, ethically-sourced Peruvian cotton. Simple, graceful and as soft as anything, the range includes romper and bodysuits, shoes and accessories for babies aged two to 18 months, all in delicate shades of ivory and powder to match the natural quality of the materials.

From £30, tartine-et-chocolat.com

Wrap your little one up in Tartine et Chocolat’s all-natural, super-soft Organic Line range

RECORD EVERY PRECIOUS MOMENT IN THE MOLESKIN PREGNANCY AND BABY JOURNAL FROM JOHN LEWIS. FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH TO FIRST STEPS THIS IS PERFECT FOR FAMILY MEMORIES. WITH ACID-FREE PAPER AND A CHIC MOLESKIN JACKET, THIS IS SURE TO BE A FOREVER KEEPSAKE. £27, JOHNLEWIS.COM

WIN ONE OF FIVE

FEEL-GOOD BABY BOOK SETS FROM IMAGINE THAT

Calm and reassure little ones at bedtime with these cuddle-up stories from children’s publisher, Imagine That. Perfect for sharing together, simply shake the book to create a colourful cascade of glitter and foil inside each familiar shape.

Heartfelt, rhyming stories, shimmery sparkles and cute illustrations will captivate children and soothe any worries away. This competition includes the chance to win one of five copies of both Heart Full of Love and My Little Star, both perfect for reinforcing the bond between parent and child. Good luck! imaginethat.com

Enter online at baby-magazine.co.uk/competitions 18 | baby-magazine.co.uk

SNOO-ZE SAFE AND SOUND

Ranked the world’s safest bed for babies, the SNOO Smart Sleeper is now available on Happiest Baby’s new UK website. Created by award-winning Swiss designer Yves Behar, the minimalist SNOO Smart Sleeper has a built-in noise and movement detector which triggers white noise and a gentle rocking movement to help baby get back to sleep quickly and easily, so you don’t have to. £995, happiestbaby.co.uk

Baby news roundup KATE FREUD Editor-at-large

T

here’s something deeply satisfying about having all your children bathed and ready for bed. And I’ll be wrapping little Willow up for story time in this seriously snug Lily Rabbit towelling robe from Liewood.

The sea blue shade makes it the perfect unisex choice, and the organic terry cloth couldn’t be cosier.

POP MY WAY

Anything that helps conserve new parents’ limited time and energy is a good thing in my eyes, like the ingenious designs by sustainable kidswear brand Pop My Way. The modular collection takes the stress out of dressing your little one with mix and match elements you can pop on and off – so to speak – using old-fashioned poppers. With everything from snappy Peter Pan collars you can pop on to switch up an outfit to, my personal favourite, popper socks that attach to trousers. No more searching behind the sofa for missing socks. Sign me up!

Take all the grief out of getting your baby dressed, with these ingenious designs by Pop My Way. Prices from £8, popmyway.co.uk

WHAT A DOLL

There are dolls for childhood and dolls for life, like this gorgeous limited edition Delphine Dormouse keepsake doll from Thicket & Thimble. Made using Betsy Lilac Liberty fabric, these beautiful creations, available in a variety of styles, are hand sewn and arrive in stunning packaging with a glittercotton dust bag, making them the perfect gift too.

Wrap your little bunnies up in these snuggly Liewood robes, also available in the Lily Lion design. £57, libertylondon.com

MADE FOR MUMS

Mother and baby skincare brand Little Butterfly has launched a delectable range of treatments using their products for mums-to-be in need of pampering. From a traditional Dreamy Massage to the Fresh Meadows Jade Stone Body Treatment, a lymphatic draining massage to relieve all those pregnancy aches and pains, and the glorious New Mums Nurturing Touch Postnatal Massage, its therapy menu offers expectant and new mums some much called for indulgence.

Give the mama-to-be in your life a much-needed boost with a gorgeous treatment from Little Butterfly. Prices from £72, littlebutterflylondon.com

The perfect gift for Christenings or that first birthday, this dormouse doll will be passed down through the generations. £79, thicketandthimble.com

LET’S GET SOCIAL…

There are plenty of ways to get the lowdown on all things Baby

ONLINE

baby-magazine.co.uk

FACEBOOK @babymagazineuk

INSTA

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TWITTER

@BabyMagazineUK

PINTEREST

@baby_magazine_uk baby-magazine.co.uk | 19

2 MARCH

Mama’s still got it

Work up a sweat at Physique London’s Mum & Baby Barre class, which offers new mums the chance to exercise without leaving their little one behind. Held from 11am at the Shepherd’s Bush studio, tots can be left to play or sleep during the class, or be worn in a carrier. From £22, physique-studio.co.uk

Medela’s breastfeeding campaign has returned

MARCH

1 COME ON IN!

Medela has relaunched its brilliant campaign that invites cafés and shops to display a sticker on their front windows welcoming breastfeeding mums in. Use the hashtag #BreastfeedingFriendly to share your fave spots! medela.co.uk

dates for your

5 STORY TIME

World Book Day is back for its 23rd year! And what better way to celebrate than with Axel Schleffer’s latest read, Farmyard Friends: Higgly Hens, which hits shelves today? Find local WBD events at worldbookday.com

Personalised necklace, £89, mercimamanboutique.com

6 LAND OF NOD

Learn healthy sleep habits at The Sleep Show, which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre this weekend.

Head there today for the Mindful Minis segment, where there’ll be fun workshops and expert talks specifically

DIARY

Pens at the ready – we have a few suggestions to keep you and baby busy this month aimed at young families. From £12.50, mindfullivingshow. com/sleep-show

9 GET MOVING

Sport Relief returns today, and Spot the Dog is the furry face fronting this year’s campaign. Hundreds of nurseries and schools across the UK will be raising muchneeded cash for the cause; to play your part, download a free fundraising pack at sportrelief.com 13 MARCH

Shop smart

Cybex, Silver Cross and Snüz are just some of the iconic baby brands exhibiting at the North West Baby and Toddler Show at Manchester’s EventCity this weekend. There’ll be free talks to attend, plus Izmi is offering trials of its new hybrid baby carrier.

From £11, babyandtoddlershow.co.uk

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Baby carrier, from £80, izmibaby.co.uk

22 GIVE THANKS Mothering Sunday is here, which means – that’s right – today is all about you!

Searching for gift ideas?

We love Merci Maman’s personalised jewellery, which can be beautifully

engraved by hand. mercimamanboutique.com

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TOTS ON TOUR If your grizzly babe is putting you off the idea of visiting an art gallery, check out Bristol Museum’s Bring Your Baby tours, where you can explore a fascinating range of displays in a babyfriendly environment. This month’s exhibition, Being Human, offers a great insight into modern sculpture and the human form. £3, bristolmuseums.org.uk

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CLOCK WORK Don’t forget to set your

clocks forward an hour this weekend, as British Summer Time returns and the days finally start to get longer – hooray! For tips on adjusting baby’s sleep routine, turn to page 76.

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TOUCHY FEELY Visit Lyth Arts Centre in Caithness, Scotland from 11am today for Baby Sensory Films, where tots can experience different colours, shapes, sounds and textures in this monthly workshop. Perfect for babies under 12 months, this free session is ideal for building brain structure and developing her senses. lytharts.org.uk

Farmyard Friends: Higgly Hen, £5.99, Noisy Crow

WIN!

COMPETITION Little White Photography is responsible for this month’s gorge cover shot

T&C’S: SITTER/BABY PHOTOSHOOT MUST TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JUNE 2020 AND JUNE 2021. TRAVEL TO THE STUDIO IS NOT COVERED. COMPETITION CLOSES AT 11:59PM ON 25 FEBRUARY 2020. THE SESSION MUST BE BOOKED WITHIN A MONTH OF THE COMPETITION CLOSING. THERE IS USUALLY A FOUR-MONTH WAITING LIST.

A BABY PHOTOSHOOT

L

WORTH

£500

ittle White Photography’s beautiful imagery never fails to have Baby HQ cooing. Based in Hertfordshire and specialising in maternity, newborn, baby and cake-smash photography, founder Suzi Mitchell is passionate about capturing those special moments. With a purpose-built studio at her home in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, she has the ideal space to create natural, timeless family portraits and is easy to reach from St Albans, Harpenden, Tring, Berkhamsted and London.

We’ve teamed up with Little White Photography for this month’s cover image, and to celebrate we’re offering readers the chance to win your own baby photoshoot, for babies aged seven to 18 months, worth £500.

The relaxed hour-long session will take place at Suzi’s studio and the winner will receive 30 high resolution, fully edited images on a USB stick and as 6x4" prints, alongside a 20x20" high quality unframed print, personally designed from the session. Good luck!

littlewhitephotography.co.uk

To enter, visit baby-magazine.co.uk/competitions baby-magazine.co.uk | 21

Designer baby bags for mums and dads who love bold prints and vibrant colour! www.bubbleandpop.co.uk

LOVE S Elegant yet functional, the Clean ean mat protects your oors from messy mealtimes

TAKE TH E FLOOR

You’ve had to make a lot of compromises since the arrival of your little one – why should your home’s chic aesthetic be one of them?! Toddlekind’s new Clean Wean mats look more like high-end rugs than the kind of surface you’d let your child eat and play on, but they’re actually designed with mucky tots in mind. Easy to clean during messy mealtimes and outdoor play, yet stylish enough to seamlessly merge with the rest of your home, the collection features eight original designs in a range of gorgeous shades. £59, toddlekind.co.uk

baby-magazine.co.uk | 23

SHOPPING

THE SWEETEST THING With spring just around the corner, it’s time to wrap your little one in candy-coloured clothing and adorn their nursery with sweet pastel hues

From a selection at smallsmerino.co.uk

24 | baby-magazine.co.uk

SHOPPING

Rachel Riley dress £99, childrensalon.com

From a selection at bayiriknits.com

From lavender to lilac, soft purple tones will freshen up your little one’s wardrobe

Stokke Xplory 6 pram £944, stokke.com

Numero 74 cushion £17, smallable.com

Joha socks £8, alexandalexa.com

Cotton pyjamas £16.95, gap.co.uk

Nike trainers £28, alexandalexa.com

Tiba + Marl changing backpack £130, alexandalexa.com

Cotton knitted dress £75, oeufnyc.com

MA VIO

PAR

LETS Bayiri bloomers £34, smallable.com

Plush toy £20.90, steiff.com

Cotton top £55, velveteenclothing.com

Buddy & Hope foot muff £78, alexandalexa.com

baby-magazine.co.uk | 25

SHOPPING

Organic muslin square £7.90, frombabieswithlove.org

Cotton blouse £22, cyrillus.com

Plush toy £16.50, jellycat.com

Cotton blouse £35, arseneetlespipelettes.com

Classic white is a year-round staple, from chic babywear basics to stylish bedroom furniture

Cashmere bonnet £38, olivierbaby.com

MS

Cam Cam Copenhagen chair £85, scandiborn.co.uk

ED GE

From a selection at bobux.co.uk

IC Wooden cot bed £349, snuz.co.uk

Cotton romper £55, louislouise.com

26 | baby-magazine.co.uk

Angel’s Face bodysuit £34, childrensalon.com

Minene soft toy £12, kidly.co.uk

Cotton t-shirt £25, wynken.co.uk

Wooden changing table £549, camcamcopenhagen.com

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Liewood steel water bottle £23, scandiborn.co.uk

Noe & Zoe onesie £31, little-label.co.uk

Cotton shorts £40, oeufnyc.com

Djeco music box £20, scoutandcokids.com

Cotton cardigan £67, oeufnyc.com

Quincy Mae booties £27, smallable.com

From natural leafy shades to pale duck-egg prints, green is a perfect shade for room accents, everyday knits and super-cute accessories

From a selection at adenandanais.com Tula baby carrier £154.90, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

Bobo Choses leggings £25, junioredition.com

Cotton-mix sweatshirt £28, polarnopyret.co.uk

Cotton mobile £25, camcamcopenhagen.com

baby-magazine.co.uk | 29

SHOPPING

Cotton t-shirt £27, emileetida.com

Soft toy £18, moulinroty.com

From a selection at adenandanais.com

Sugary rose and blush hues are perfect for creating a dreamy nursery setting, from charming toys to super-sweet sleepsuits

Numero 74 Moses basket £103, smallable.com

Rachel Riley dress £99, childrensalon.com

Cotton-mix dress £53, aswegrow.is

Bobux shoes £22, kidly.co.uk

Silver Cross cushion £25, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

aden + anais muslin swaddles £44.95, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

Cotton bodysuit £10.95, gap.co.uk

Cashmere sweater £65, boden.co.uk

BabyBjörn high chair £219, alexandalexa.com

Knitted romper £45, tiliankids.com

E HEA

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30 | baby-magazine.co.uk

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INTERVIEW

Ayla likes to take her daily strolls in this stylish set of wheels Wave pushchair £1,200, silvercrossbaby.com

Hayley and Kirk welco med their ba daughter A by yla in Octob er 2019

MY ESSENTIALS You gave birth to your daughter, Ayla, in October. How has motherhood been so far?

It’s actually been quite relaxed!

I’m still on maternity leave, and since I had a c-section, it’s forced me into not doing very much. The grandparents have also come to visit – my partner Kirk’s parents live in Germany, and mine are in the north east – so it was lovely to spend quality time with them.

How did you find pregnancy?

I thought I’d encounter more problems than I did as I’m a bit older [Hayley is 40]. I was going in for day assessments every week for the last couple of months, as I had high blood pressure and Ayla was in the traverse lie position, so we had to keep an eye on that. I had such a big bump, too, and was terrified that she’d be a massive baby! She ended up being 8lbs, so not as huge as I’d expected.

Getting pregnant wasn’t an easy journey for you. Can you tell us what happened?

When I met Kirk in my mid-30s,

HAYLEY MCQUEEN

The Sky Sports presenter talks body

I made it clear early on that I’d want to have a baby in the next couple of years – I didn’t want to wait too long because of my age, plus by that point I had already been diagnosed with endometriosis. When I started having fertility tests later on, it turned out I also had cysts on

my ovaries, which needed to be removed before I even started trying to conceive – by not doing so, I was told I could run the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.

We then looked into trying IVF, but the day we were due to start, we found out that I’d fallen pregnant naturally!

Despite the size of Hayley’s bump, Ayla weighed in at 8lbs upon arrival

Cotton sleepsuit £14, newbiestore.com

You’ve spoken openly about your endometriosis battle. Do you think awareness of the condition is improving?

I think so. It’s important that people talk about it and are properly educated, because it’s a serious medical issue – I was in so much pain once that I passed out on the floor of the Sky Sports’ toilets, minutes before going live on air. Recently I got involved with an endometriosis awareness campaign in Scotland, where the aim was to normalise the terminology we use around gynaecological problems and make employers more aware of conditions like endometriosis, so that, if you’re calling in sick and need to explain why, they actually know what you’re going through.

It’s also important that women can recognise the symptoms, particularly those who want to have children in the future. We need to make sure we’re using the right language, too, and not just referring to it as ‘ladies’ problems’ or ‘that time of the month’.

baby-magazine.co.uk | 33

Winding down in this cosy pod is where you’re likely to find yla Sleepyhead Delux Plus Pod £160, harrods.com

Dad Kirk enjoys snuggles with baby Ayla

You love sport, and your dad, Gordon McQueen, is a Scottish football legend. Do you think you’ll make a fan out of Ayla?

I hope so! I was obsessed with it growing up and would love for her to enjoy it too. Team sports are brilliant for building relationships, so it’d be great if she was part

34 | baby-magazine.co.uk

of lots of clubs. She’s already watched a boxing match on the TV actually – Kirk had her little arms punching away throughout, which was very funny.

What’s your take on the FA announcement that every girl in England will have equal access to football in PE lessons by 2024?

It should have happened a long time ago, but it’s a good start. I definitely think it’s beneficial for boys and girls to play together, and I don’t know whether it’ll be mixed teams or not, but having the girls up against the boys can

only make girls stronger. I was a huge football fan growing up, but all my friends thought that was really weird. Now, of course, we have all these amazing female footballers who have become household names and who girls can look up to. And if they’re inspired by the likes of Steph Houghton, for instance, they need to have the opportunities available to try to be like her.

Where do you shop for Ayla?

My sister has a little girl, so she gave me tons of amazing stuff from The White Company and

Swaddles (pack of three) £42, adenandanais.co.uk

JoJo Maman Bébé. I love dressing her in babygrows and rompers rather than jeans and leggings, and both Newbie and Emile et Rose have some beautiful pieces.

What about for her nursery?

We wanted to get her furniture that has a bit of longevity, so we got her a Mokee cot for when she’s a few months older, which converts into a toddler bed and has a changing table attached.

She’s in a Sleepyhead in our room at the moment, and we have lots of beautiful covers for that.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?

Her smile when she recognises me, and the fact that, no matter how tired or rotten I feel, as soon as I see her little face, nothing else matters. I love it when she clocks me from across the room and starts jigging about because she’s so excited. It’s the best thing, knowing that she knows who we are. I keep saying to Kirk: “can you believe that we have a baby?!”.

INTERVIEW: NATALIE KEELER. PHOTOGRAPHY: INSTAGRAM.COM/MCQUEENHAYLEY; PA IMAGES/DOUG PETERS/EMPICS; PA IMAGES/IAN WEST/PA ARCHIVE/PA IMAGES

You’ve been vocal about body confidence too. How has your relationship with your body changed since giving birth?

My body’s carried a baby for nine months, so I see it very differently now! It’s amazing what it goes through during pregnancy, and what it does to nurture and protect your child. I’ve never had an issue with diet or size, and I do still obviously want to lose my baby weight, but only because I want to be healthier and stronger for Ayla. And when she’s growing up, there’ll be no scales in the house, or mentions of the words ‘diet’ or ‘fat’. She can have treats, of course, but I want to teach her that it’s all about balance.

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That loving feeling Emma O’Donovan FINDS SOME HE ART-WAR MING RE ADS TO ADD TO BABY’S BOOKCASE

YOU COMPLETE ME

By Thomas Elliott

This pun-filled extravaganza will delight parents and children alike. Packed with iconic food-themed pairings, such as cookies and cream, this delicious book will become an instant hit. £6.99, Caterpillar Books

BOOKS

Celebrate the joy of the everyday with the help of this super-cute doggy duo

LOVE FROM ME TO YOU

By Patricia Hegarty and Fhiona Galloway

This board book’s colourful pages are full of love. The clever peep holes will entice little readers to explore its charming rhymes. £6.99, Caterpillar Books

I FORGOT TO SAY I LOVE YOU

ILLUSTRATION: THOMAS ELLIOTT

By Miriam Moss and Anna Currey

In that relatable late-for-school rush, Billy Bear’s mum forgets to say something important. Sweet illustrations bring this story to life. £6.99, Macmillan Books

COUNTING BLESSINGS

the important things in life, like the joy of a blue sky. Bright illustrations make this adorable read a real treasure to share. £7.99, Templar Publishing

through the woods as he explains how his love for the little one grows every day. A touching read. £4.99 Little Tiger Press

LOVE FROM THE CRAYONS

By Corrinne Averiss and Isabelle Follath

By Oliver Jeffers

The perfect gift for your beloved babe, this hilarious story about all the colours of love brings our favourite band of crayons back for an all new adventure. One for discerning picture-book fans. £6.99, Harper Collins

I LOVE YOU MORE AND MORE

By Emma Dodd

By Nicky Benson and Jonny Lambert

This is a life-affirming read about

Join Bear and his cub for a wander

JOY

A beautifully uplifting picturebook tale about a little girl who goes on a quest to collect joy for her beloved grandma. £11.99, Words & Pictures

ALWAYS IN MY HEART

Illustrated by Roisin Hahessy A beautiful heart-shaped book that’s full of portly penguin illustrations: what’s not to love?!

This super-sweet page-turner would also be useful in helping little ones learn to deal with their

separation anxiety. £6.99, Little Tiger Press

I’LL LOVE YOU...

By Kathryn Cristaldi and Kristyna Litten A cast of crazy critters emerge from the pages of this tender tale about the depth of family love.

This chuckle-inducing read will have tots in fits of giggles. £6.99, Andersen Press

ORI’S STARS

By Kristyna Litten Ori is lonely in a big dark space but when a magical star appears and then another creature just like her she discovers companionship in this glittering intergalactic celebration of friendship. £12.99, Simon and Schuster

baby-magazine.co.uk | 37

MAMA, I love you Why not mark the Mother’s Day milestone by dressing baby and yourself in the chicest springtime fashion so you can celebrate your special bond in style?

PHOTOGR APHY: H ELEN MAR SDEN

THIS PAGE: Ezra wears cotton romper, £33, Monbebe at Dawn and Day. RIGHT PAGE: Kylo wears cotton babygrow, £28, Organic Zoo. Tess wears shirt, £39.50, Autograph at Marks and Spencer. Jeans, £45, Autograph at Marks and Spencer.

ST YLING: VICKI HILL MAN

LEFT PAGE: Taylor wears cotton romper, £33, Monbebe at Dawn and Day. Merino booties, £55, Hvid at Dawn and Day. Merino collar, £25, Hvid at Dawn and Day Tess wears alpaca-mix sweater, £75, Arket.

THIS PAGE: Ezra wears cotton babygrow, £50, Lille at Dawn and Day. Tess wears wool-mix sweater, £69, Arket.

LEFT PAGE: Taylor wears corduroy dungarees, £12, Marks and Spencer.

Cotton tunic, £25, Play up at Dawn and Day. Tess wears cotton-mix shirt, £59, Arket. Jeans, £45, Autograph at Marks and Spencer.

THIS PAGE: Mally wears cotton two-piece babysuit, £60, Paz Rodriguez at Childrensalon.

Tess wears sweater with broderie anglaise collar, £30, Next. Jeans, £45, Autograph at Marks and Spencer.

Hemp rugs, from £115, Armadillo & Co at Caravan Style.

THIS PAGE: Ezra wears cotton romper, £33, Monbebe at Dawn and Day. Hemp rugs, from £115, Armadillo & Co at Caravan Style.

RIGHT PAGE: Kylo wears seersucker overall, £105, Marie Chantal. Embroidered cotton onesie, £35, Marie Chantal.

Tess wears dress, £35, Next.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MODELS: EZRA, KYLO, MALLY AND TAYLOR, PLUS TESS FROM MILK MANAGEMENT BABY MODEL AGENCIES: BONNIE & BETTY, GRACE & GALOR, KIDS LONDON, LACARA AND USI AGENCY HAIR AND MAKE-UP: FIRYAL ARNEIL USING RODIAL. ART DIRECTOR: CHLOË COLLYER

W E

N

FROM THE TEAM BEHIND BABY MAGAZINE

The Ultimate Baby Book

Your guide to pregnancy and beyond The Ultimate Baby Book showcases expert advice from the country’s leading professionals offering tips on everything from feeding to antenatal care, alongside helpful shopping guides which demystify the world of baby kit. Designed to help expectant parents navigate a whole new lifestyle; from selecting the perfect pushchair to finding the best location for baby’s first holiday.

You can buy The Ultimate Baby Book for £6.99 at all good newsagents and supermarkets nationwide, and online at chelseamagazines/ultimatebaby

PICK UP YOUR COPY NOW!

BABY TALK

M

other’s Day is always very special with a baby in the house, and I cherish all the handmade cards and presents that I’ve been given over the years by my children. As most of you will have young babies, make sure you mark out this day to do what you really want to do, and let yourself be spoiled. It’s often a perfect time to reflect and think back to that moment when a little piece of magic arrived in your life.

Something I cherished from my little ones were their fingerprints on a lovely Philippa Herbert pendant, which I think would make any mama happy this Mother’s Day. From £210, philippaherbert.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELENE SANDBERG

Leo’s

I’m a huge fan of Little Butterfly London, which makes the most gorgeous products using the purest of ingredients.

It’s too hard to choose a favourite, but the Bubbles in the Breeze Top to Toe Wash is always a must for me. £19.50, littlebutterflylondon.com

WHERE TO GO A long time ago, I invested in a membership at Maggie & Rose and I’ve been marvelling over the family members club’s incredible winter timetable. It has some incredible classes, from Mini Musicians and Dress Up & Dance to cooking classes and craft making. There really is something for every child’s taste and interests there. maggieandrose.com

LITTLE LUXURIES OUR COLUMNIST Leonora Bamford SHARES HER FAVOURITE THINGS THIS MONTH

I’m a big walker, and although my little one’s outgrown his baby carrier stage, if I did have a tot small enough, I’d be all over Arti Poppe’s cashmere-silkblend Zeitgeist baby carrier in tweed – it’s easily the chicest baby carrier I’ve ever seen. £643, artipoppe.com

Here’s a big hint for all those daddies out there looking for gift inspo: Honey & Toast have a pretty amazing bespoke service. I’ve got my eye on the Etter saddlebag, which can be made bespoke with an etching of your child’s doodle on one side. It can be anything from their name to a portrait, or even a handprint.

From £98, honeyandtoast.co.uk

baby-magazine.co.uk | 47

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley £8.99, waterstones.com

Scent to De-Stress reed diffuser £38, neomorganics.com

Scented candle £48, jomalone.co.uk

Volumising Mascara £16.50, greenpeople.co.uk

Those People by Louise Candlish £8.99, waterstones.com

Nutriplenish conditioner £27.50, aveda.co.uk

Ink silhouette from £69, littlepeachportraits.com

Cashmere sweater £130, boden.co.uk

Nothing beats a gift from the heart, but a personalised gift from the heart is even better!

This brand’s delicate bangles and pretty pendant charms can be made extra-special with engraved messages, names and initials.

From a selection at mercimamanboutique.com Cam Cam Copenhagen weekend bag £72.95, scandiborn.co.uk 48 | baby-magazine.co.uk

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment from £85, spacenk.com

Safari 18" trolley case £1,255, globe-trotter.com Caroline bouquet £34, bloomandwild.com

Coconut coffee scrub £14.95, beanbodycare.com

Mother’s Day

Jem + Bea leather clutch £45, scandiborn.co.uk

GIFT GUIDE

That very special Sunday is coming up soon. And of course, a token of appreciation wouldn’t go amiss. So, just leave your copy of the magazine open on these pages until dad gets the hint...

Nyetimber Sparkling Rosé £39.99, waitrose.com

Stay cosy throughout the early spring chill with Moccis slippers in matching prints for you and your little mini-me.

From a selection at moccis.co.uk Modern Muse eau de parfum from £52, esteelauder.co.uk

baby-magazine.co.uk | 49

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Enjoy eco-friendly flat whites on the go with a colourful Turtle Cup. And as an added bonus, some of the money from this purchase will go to charities which help clean up the ocean Reusable coffee ecup, £12.99, turtlecup.co.uk

Limited Edition Magic Star highlighter £35, charlottetilbury.com

Cotton sweater £50, scampanddude.com

Skin Food Collection £41.80, weleda.co.uk

Elizabeth Scarlett eye mask £20, amara.com

Add a pop of colour to your changing cargo with one of this independent design brand’s playful printed bags.

Changing bag, £74.95, bubbleandpop.co.uk

Cotton robe £60, thewhitecompany.com

50 | baby-magazine.co.uk

NutriBullet Balance £149.99, amazon.co.uk

Porcelain mug £9.99, katieloxton.com

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Gold-plated earrings £65, racheljacksonlondon.com

Sea-salt caramel truffles £8.95, prestat.co.uk

Dyson Airwrap £399.99, johnlewis.com Cocktail ring from £3,184, purelydiamonds.co.uk

Nuna Cudl carrier £150, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

Leather trainers £345, goldengoose.com

Scented candle £55, victoriacator.com

Tune in and chill out during nightfeeds and lazy Sundays with this super-cute portable radio.

R1 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio, £219.99, ruarkaudio.com

Straw storage basket £20, camcamcopenhagen.com Burberry silk scarf £290, harveynichols.com

Cotton pyjama set £145, yolke.co.uk

baby-magazine.co.uk | 51

FASHION

AH E AD OF TH E CU RVE ST YLIST AND PRESENTER Antonia O’Brien SHARES HER PRE- AND POST-NATAL WARDROBE LUST-HAVES

Victoria Beckham’s low-ley look is given a pop with powder blue trousers

See an oversized blazer as a wardrobe investment that you’ll wear well beyond pregnancy; slouchy and relaxed, it’s a ‘wear forever’ piece

Oversized earrings are the best accessory to add a bit of polish; keep them slim and elegant to flatter the face and jawline

HATCH X J.Crew dress £190, jcrew.com/uk

Hoop earrings £15.99, shop.mango.com This waist-tie shirt will frame and flatter a growing bump and then post-babe you can tie and cinch to refine the waist; wear with blue denim for a fresh look

MOTHER’S DAY IN TECHNICOLOUR

52 | baby-magazine.co.uk

Yes, heels become more difficult, so be sensible and make slip-ons your go-to; a neutral camel pair will work with all colours

Knitted cardigan £25.99, zara.com

Gucci loafers £515, matchesfashion.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

Attico blazer £880, net-a-porter.com

ROKSANDA

There’s no better time than Mother’s Day celebrations to embrace your curves in colour.

Take inspiration from Victoria Beckham’s colour-blocking and Roksanda’s Crayola brights; colour needn’t be neon but why not be brave and go bold?

Palmer//Harding shirt £315, harrods.com

FASHION

Who says you can’t wear tracksuit bottoms out in style? Where Vogue’s Sarah Harris leads in soft greys and cream, we follow

Seventies neutrals Make neutrals your spring palette; think delicious honey, caramel, butterscotch and cream tones. From sporty separates to sophisticated retro shapes, this is a beautifully tone, size, shape and trimester CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Ganni hoodie, £260, net-a-porter.com; Bottega Veneta tote, £1,915, net-a-porter.com; Iris & Ink trench coat, £195, theoutnet.com; Yuul Yie loafers, £300, brownsfashion.com; long-sleeved shirt, £55, frenchconnection.com; wool trousers with elasticated waist, £79, arket.com

The loose and slouchy fit of Ganni’s rib-knitted hoodie makes it a brilliant trans-seasonal piece throughout your pregnancy; comfort is key

VICTORIA BECKHAM

With shirting, look for a relaxed fit with a dipped hem that skims the figure and bump; I love French Connection’s Siti Oxford!

No word of a lie, I lived in Arket’s elasticated waist trousers during all four trimesters! Wear these with Veja trainers or patent preppy loafers

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@THEROW

The micro bag has once more been overtaken by its supersized sibling; both practical and stylish, the uber-tote will instantly update every look. Plus, it’s the perfect receptacle for nappies, wipes, snacks…

baby-magazine.co.uk | 53

INTERVIEW

Kate

LOVES

Truffle French fries.

She may be vegan, but the health-conscious beauty admits she can’t live without this (not-sohumble) French fry.

Getting older. While many starlets fight the passing of time, the radiant 36-year-old absolutely relishes the confidence and grace that comes with age.

In fact, she admits that she’d hate to go back to being in her twenties.

HATES

Missing the game. Given her family connections, it’s unsurprising that Kate lets nothing get in the way of watching her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. There’s even a clause in her contract stipulating time off in the event of a game.

Jamie LOVES

Being challenged.

He loves the thrill of stepping out into the unknown, even if it means dodging bullets while playing a member of an SAS crack team in 2017’s 6 Days.

His hometown. It’s easy to forget that the star had a modest upbringing in Billingham, County Durham. Yet for BAFTAwinning Bell there’s no place like home, as he admits to going back as often as possible.

HATES

Watching his own films.

He may have been in Hollywood for almost two decades, but the star showcases British humility, admitting to never ever watching his own work.

54 | baby-magazine.co.uk

amie and ate first met as co stars on the set of film antastic our and married in after a short engagement

INTERVIEW

• TA L K I N G W I T H J A M I E B E L L A N D K AT E M A R A •

WORDS: VIOLET WILDER. PHOTOGRAPHY: REX IMAGES/MICHAEL BUCKNER/VARIETY/SHUTTERSTOCK; INSTAGRAM.COM/KATEMARA

DOUBLE ACT ritish actor Jamie Bell isn’t someone who typically goes along with convention. Leaping (literally) into our consciousness as Billy Elliot in 2000, the then-14 year old sauntered, swayed and pranced through the early passages of acting education looking every bit the Wayne Sleep or Rudolf Nureyev of a film generation.

And yet, in segueing into rather grittier dramatic territory as adulthood arrived, Bell has shown himself as accomplished and on point with a script as he is in a pirouette.

What, undoubtedly, has helped the 33 year old elevate himself from family-film staple (Nicholas Nickleby, Jane Eyre) to blockbuster heavyweight (Flags of our Fathers, Fantastic Four, Rocketman) is fatherhood, pure and simple. He admits that before having his first child – with Evan Rachel Wood, in a marriage that sadly lasted less than two years before the couple split in 2014 – he was always searching for what is probably best defined as ‘something else’. “I wouldn’t say that before parenthood there was something missing, as such, more than whatever I did never truly fulfilled me,” he begins. “It’s like there was there was nothing permanent out the other side of it. Obviously when you have a child, that whole thing changes. There’s a permanence – there’s someone there who needs you and who will always be there.

“Having a baby also put into perspective some of the things I’d complain about in everyday life. Being late, getting stuck in traffic, feeling tired – in the grand scheme of things, these thing don’t matter one bit, and if you let them affect your life you’re only taking energy, time and fuel away from the people around you who really need you.”

With his son Jack Matfin Bell being the anchor, Jamie’s aforementioned unwillingness to fit convention means he was never afraid to move on as a single dad in the wake of the split from Wood.

“When you have a child to look after, that becomes the sole focus. If you can look after this little person then you’re living the dream.”

Meeting Kate Mara in 2015 when the two starred in Fantastic Four gave the Teesside-born actor a chance to build again, and after the couple got engaged in January 2017, it was only a further six months before they wed.

And with their daughter arriving in May 2019, Bell was able to reflect again on the emotions that flood over a parent when a newborn comes along.

“You want to enjoy the moment but your mind is flying ahead years imagining this and that. Your excitement is for that little person and the life that lays before them – the opportunities, the discoveries, the encounters… they have so much to discover and that’s so exciting for a parent.”

As for Kate, the New York-born actress had undertaken a prolific run of work, averaging

three films a year dating back to what many would deem her big-screen breakthrough in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain. Prior to that, and since, her television projects took in the likes of Law & Order, Nip/Tuck, CSI, Entourage and House of Cards.

Her willingness to step back from the screen to start a family came without hesitation. “I know how hard I’ve worked and at the back of my mind was always that thought of finding the right person and starting a family, so when it happens the relief is palpable. After being so busy for so many years, taking a sidestep to a new kind of schedule has been a really lovely thing for me – it’s a new happiness.”

In the months after the birth of their daughter, whose name still hasn’t been revealed publicly, Mara was happy to open up about complications during the pregnancy, which led to the couple’s little girl being born at 36 weeks with an emergency caesarean. This came about because of a period of intense itching, whereby doctors diagnosed cholestasis, a liver disease that can develop in the late stages of pregnancy and can harm an unborn baby.

The decision to take urgent action is often voluntary, but as Mara revealed in an interview with US TV doctor Elliot Berlin, it was a decision the actress had to battle intensely with.

“We were into day three of this situation and I knew there were complications that, if allowed to develop, may have affected the health of my child. In that situation you want to just switch into auto-pilot but it was a struggle because I guess I was dealing the devastation of not being able to experience the birth in the way that I’d hoped. I have friends that have had unplanned c-sections. And most of those people have said, ‘I just want the baby out’, but it wasn’t like that for me.”

Ultimately, their baby was delivered safely. “In reflection, I was tired and the way it worked out was that my daughter came along healthy and full of life, and that’s all any parent really wants.”

The couple, who have properties in Los Angeles and New York City are easing back into work. Mara is, if anything, bettering her husband’s desire to move away from convention, by returning in A Teacher, the story of a teacher’s inappropriate relationship with a student.

As for Bell, the actor has three film projects on the go as well as, if the rumours are to be believed, a reprisal of his 2011 voiceover work for Tintin. “I know a lot of actors start picking up animation and kid-themed scripts when they have children.

I’d love to say I’m not going to fall into that trap but it’s very difficult not to!

“The fact is that as soon as that kid comes out, you’re planning the next step for them, and you’re always grateful that this amazing person is in your life.”

After some complicatio ns, the coup healthy baby le’s girl arrived in May 2019

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56 | baby-magazine.co.uk

DIARY OF A MUM

MY TOP FINDS

MY STAR PRODUCT I’m literally obsessed with – and living in – these leggings by Kate Hudson at the moment. They have a super-high cut, which makes them really comfy over my bump.

High-Waisted Printed PowerHold 7/8 Leggings, £84, fabletics.co.uk

@JAKKIDOODLES

Cold Plasma Plus+ advanced serum, £75, perriconemd.co.uk

DIARY OF A MUM PART 1

Meet our latest columnist Jakki, who’s excited about the new chapter on the horizon for her blended family – but will she be able balance it all and keep up with the Joneses? was brought up in West London – a Londoner through and through – and am fortunate to have had a gorgeous childhood. With Irish parents, I was the youngest of three girls and still to this day love being the baby!

Music has always been my passion, so it wasn’t a surprise that I went on to study classical music – and have since fallen into a career in music and entertainment. I head up the talent and influencer relations department at an American PR firm called PMK*BNC. I deal with a lot of musicians, actors and celebs in my daily work and – like most – balance a crazy family life on the side.

I started working at PMK*BNC in 2011, prior to which I was at Warner Bros Records and MTV, where I booked talent for various shows. I also have a little side-hustle called Jakki Doodles, something that transpired out of mid-meeting doodling. Over the last few years I have been fortunate enough to have cards published and sold in various shops such as Selfridges and Paperchase. But it was at MTV where I met my husband, Kelly (lead singer of British band Stereophonics) – and I may add – he has been my best booking to date. I have two wonderful step kids, Colby and Misty and I entered the parenting world relatively young, at the age of 25. My first experience of being a mother was through them. Becoming a stepmum overnight – and at such a young age – was sometimes quite challenging, but a great learning experience for me. This absolutely

I

Alice band, £12, mimiandlula.com

Dry shampoo, £18, livingproof.co.uk Smocked cotton dress, £109, rachelriley.co.uk

with JAKKI JONES

set to add a and Kelly are Jakki and hu sb ehold in May the Jones hous fourth child to

meant that when I did decide to become a mother, I was absolutely ready for it. I became pregnant at 33.

It was a good time for me personally – and my career – I felt confident. I took to motherhood ‘third-time round’ like a duck to water – everything felt familiar and dare I say it, easy? Riley, now three, is my world.

I think being a stepmother definitely taught me to be selfless – if you can help bring up other people’s children, you can most certainly bring up your own.

I willingly took the full year’s maternity and enjoyed each and every day. And transitioning back to work wasn’t too daunting as I’d kept my foot in the door. I just desperately missed Riley in those early few months. The juggle became even more apparent – and still to this day I feel like I’m spinning a million plates. Is this just what it’s going to be like?

Luckily for me, the hours I work are flexible – the negative side being that I never switch off and am always on call. Entertainment certainly isn’t a 9-5 job.

Having Riley definitely helped me be a better step-parent and wife – as I saw things from a different perspective and finally saw everything I didn’t ‘get’ before. I was no longer a mum in training!

Just when everything seemed to calm in the Jones household with a now 15 year old, 12 year old and three-and-a-half year old – we thought we’d crank it up a gear! 2020 is going to bring us a whole new set of challenges with an exciting new chapter in May, as we’re expecting another baby! Naturally, I penned this little doodle to tell our friends and family the good news. Let the crazy commence…

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TOT GEAR

IN THE AER

Launching in March, Joolz is set to welcome a new baby into the family: the Joolz Aer. In just one second, you can fold and unfold this lightweight buggy using just one hand.

Weighing in at 6kg it’s one of the lightest strollers in the market and with a width of just 44cm, you can take it straight on to the plane and pop it up in the overhead locker. £389, my-joolz.co.uk

tot gear

NEWS COOL AND CLEVER BABY KIT FOR NEW FAMILY LIFE

Nuna has just launched the i-Size approved ARRA, its new reclining car seat, and one of the few lie at designs on the market. asily converting to a at reclining angle position the most ergonomic alignment for a healthy spine and oxygen levels it combines car seat safety with cot comfort. vailable in charcoal, the pairs perfectly with all una pushchairs. £350, nunababy.com

SPRING INTO ACTION

CATCH A RIDE

The hugely popular iCandy Peach, now in its sixth generation, welcomes a new addition… the Ride-on Board. The optional stroller accessory is a smart choice for parents with an older child who no longer needs a pushchair but wants a fuss-free solution for little tired legs. Holding up to 20kg, the anti-slip platform means young children can stand securely and safely within the handle bar space. icandyworld.com

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Thule, a brand known for its rugged pushchairs for active parents, has just released its first lightweight stroller, the Thule Spring. Designed with three wheels and rigorously tested to exceed the highest safety standards, the Thule Spring is surprisingly sturdy despite its lightweight frame. Made to last, it gives parents the freedom to explore both town and country. From £399, thule.com

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BOARDING BUSES VIA THE MIDDLE AND REAR DOORS WILL BE PHASED OUT. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS WITH PUSHCHAIRS AND WHEELCHAIRS CAN STILL USE THE MIDDLE DOORS. TFL.GOV.UK

REVIEW

THE REVIEW NEW MUM Amy Naxton AND BABY Oscar PUT THE UPPABABY CRUZ TO THE TEST

A

s first-time parents, the job of finding a pushchair was a much more daunting task than we’d anticipated. There are so many makes and models that all offer something different. Living in London, the main objective was to find something light and easy to move around for day-to-day living, but also a pushchair that could handle slightly tougher terrains as we knew we’d be taking it off road too. After becoming acquainted with various options we decided the Uppababy Cruz was the one for us. And spoiler alert, we’re just a little bit in love with it.

The Cruz’s easy-tofold design makes it ideal for inner-city travel and storage on road trips

It’s the only place Oscar willingly catches some ZZZs

GOOD LOOKING? The pushchair looks great; Uppababy has taken the classic carrycot design and modernised it with luxe details, like the leather handle and stylish storage underneath, which even has convenient pockets for easy access to bottles. There are lots of colour combinations, but we chose the Jordan colourway for a contemporary, sophisticated look.

USABILITY We’ve found the Cruz to be very user friendly; it’s so easy to fold out, which can be done with one hand, and is very light – I still can’t believe how full your hands are when you’re a mum on the go! It’s very easy to push and even the toughest of pavements can be navigated single-handed. When starting and stopping the brake is easy to access, while the storage unit underneath – or should I say ‘Mary Poppins’ bag’ – is spacious enough to hold endless baby paraphernalia! We’ve found the carrycot simple to remove and attach with Light but robust, the Cruz comes into its own when Amy and Oscar decide to go off-road strolling

one hand – it’s also been doubling up as a handy travel cot on overnight stays while Oscar’s still small.

And although folding the Cruz down requires two hands, it’s relatively easy. The compact size means that it can be easily stored or packed in a car boot. Cleverly, the carrycot can also be flattened down to store.

It even comes with car seat adaptors which are compatible with most car seat brands.

It’s not something we’ve used, but still a very thoughtful addition.

COMFORT The Cruz is comfortable for both the pusher and, most importantly, little Oscar. He seems to find the carrycot very comfortable, and has always been really happy in there, ever since his first ride at just four days old. He’s often asleep within minutes of starting a walk, which is a bit of a life saver when you have a baby that seems to fight sleep at all cost.

It handles rougher terrain really well, which

The storage unit’s Tardis-like dimensions, mean that you can stash all the essentials needed for baby’s day out

makes our Sunday walks a real pleasure, especially if you find yourself going more off piste in the park than you’d originally planned.

The real leather handle really does add an element of comfort for the pusher, as does the easily adjustable handle height, which is perfect for me and my taller husband.

VERDICT Overall, we really do love the Uppababy Cruz, not just how it looks but how it works.

It meets all our needs for city living and off-road exploring with the added benefit of being very sleek and stylish. We’d confidently recommend this pushchair!

From £599.95, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

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PARTIES On this special day dedicated to them and all that they do, mums deserve a thoughtful gift

1

SET THE SCENE

Parc Floral de Paris bouquet £59, bloommagicflowers.co.uk

MOTHER’S DAY

Make plans to celebrate your very

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5

6

Carole Middleton Flag bunting £8.99, partypieces.co.uk

2

3

PARTIES

The perfect occasion for sweet treats

1. Bella Freud sweater £390, matchesfashion.com 2. Personalised gold-plated necklace £79, mercimamanboutique.com 3. Charlotte Tilbury lipstick £28, harrods.com 4. Brightening antioxidant serum £56, littlebutterflylondon.com 5. Fujifilm mobile photo printer £109, johnlewis.com 6. Three-wick candle £46, neomorganics.com

Wine glass £12, anthropologie.com

Iced cupcake £2.99, cakestoday.co.uk

Mini cakedomes (set of six) £9.99, partypieces.co.uk

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our first Mother’s Day will be one that you never forget – so why not mark the occasion? You may just want to commemorate the day at home with your new little one (ideally with breakfast in bed and a guilt-free afternoon nap!) or you may want to call upon your friends and family for a fun get-together. However you choose to celebrate, mum gets to decide! So do what makes you happiest.

Afternoon tea is a perfect way to celebrate – think dainty sandwiches, cakes and scones – and is perfect for such an occasion, particularly if you’re hosting for other mum friends with children because you can keep it as informal as you like. Decorate the table with fresh flowers and mismatched crockery – or pretty paper equivalents make an inexpensive and child-friendly alternative.

Take the time to get crafty with some fun activities.

Hand- and footprint pictures, embellished memory boxes and decorated vases of flowers are all lovely ways to spend time with baby – and they make great gifts for grandmas!

Finally, don’t forget to document the day. Capture photos of the little ones, snap selfies and ask loved ones to take photos of you reading and playing with baby. You could also get them printed and made into a photo album for the coffee table, along with their art handiwork!

Champagne truffles £31.95, rococochocolates.com

Paper napkins (pack of 20) £3.49, partypieces.co.uk

Balloon bunch (pack of 14) £34.99, partypieces.co.uk

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Makes a lovely gift for every mother and mother-to-be

HEALTH Cosy post-bath hugs are guaranteed with Cuddledry’s super-soft hands-free towel

LUCKY STARS

Home of the original, award-winning bath towels, Cuddledry has kicked 2020 off in style with the launch of a new star-spangled design. The natural bamboo and sumptuously soft hands-free towel is held up with a strap around your neck, so you can lift baby safely out of the water, no matter how wriggly she is! The new style features a grey star-patterned hood to keep her head warm and dry during those precious post-soak snuggles. £35.99, cuddledry.com

ALL THINGS MOTHERHOOD with NEEV SPENCER

T

he highlight of the month has been making lots of memories as a family of four. It’s been lovely to see how much Genevieve loves her big-sister role often trying to help with Vivienne.

Healthwise, my teeth have been giving me some trouble which started during my pregnancy. I decided to visit Dr Zainab AlMukhtar, who’s not only a renowned dentist but an advocate for maternal health too. I learned that hormonal changes can cause your gums to swell and bleed during pregnancy, so it’s important to visit your dentist and hygienist. Using interdental brushes or flossing twice a day can make a real improvement, while iron or B12 supplements will help avoid deficiencies that could lead to mouth ulcers.

In other health news, if cutting or filing your tot’s nails fills you with dread, I urge you to check out the The Thumble (babynails.co.uk) – a wearable nail file. Vivienne doesn’t sit still for a second so I’d literally be holding my breath while trimming her nails. Using this nifty product while she’s being fed has made this whole task less scary for the both of us.

I’m finding a great deal of balance, which has helped with the stresses and strains of my busy household; especially now I’m working again. Spreading the word on how to maintain a healthy pregnancy and post-birth mindset is something I’m so passionate about, so I’m delighted to be hosting a talk at the Baby Show at Excel at the end of the month.

Catch me next month for more of my motherhood journey. Don’t forget to check out the online version of this column and follow me on social media @neevofficial

I’M LOVING...

Our new Nanit smart baby monitor is a gamechanger, giving in-depth analysis that helps improve sleep patterns. The crystal-clear camera shows every part of her sleep, and gives dynamic insights which are backed up with scientific guidance on how to make positive changes to sleep schedules. From £299, nanit.com

health & beauty

NEWS

THE L ATEST PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS IN THE WORLD OF WELLBEING

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A MONTH’S SUPPLY OF AQUA WIPES

We’ve teamed up with Aqua Wipes, the 100 per cent biodegradable, plastic-free wet wipes to give readers the chance to win a whole month’s supply of wipes (12 x 64-wipe pack)!

Containing 99.6 per cent purified water and an organic Aloe Vera extract, these gentle wipes are kind on sensitive skin, recommended by the NHS and registered with the Vegan Society too! aquawipes.co.uk To enter visit: baby-magazine. co.uk/competitions

EARLY PARENTING AND LACTATION EXPERT, VANESSA CHRISTIE IS RELEASING THE BABY FEEDING BOOK, AN INDISPENSABLE GUIDE COVERING ALL THE FIRST-YEAR CONCERNS, FROM BREASTFEEDING AND BOTTLES TO SOLIDS. IT’S OUT ON 6 FEBRUARY AND AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW £14.99, AMAZON.CO.UK

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RUNNING HEAD

“WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO CREATE A PRODUCT THAT WOMEN COULD TRUST”

64 | baby-magazine.co.uk

PROMOTION Visit the SuperBump website now to claim your free sample and learn more ©

Boost

your Bump

FED UP OF INCONVENIENT, STERILE PREGNANCY TABLETS? SAY HELLO TO SuperBump® THE PREGNANCY SUPPLEMENT DRINK CRE ATED BY DR PATRICK BIRCH AND HIS TE AM f you’re expecting a baby and feeling lost in the world of nutrition and supplements, you’re not alone. Dr Patrick Birch first conceived the idea of SuperBump® the pregnancy supplement drink while working in an antenatal clinic at a London hospital.

“I had a lot of expectant mothers telling me how much they hated taking their recommended supplements. Some found them hard to swallow, while others simply didn’t like the taste – especially with the nausea many were experiencing,” explains Dr Birch. “It got me thinking about whether a pregnancy supplement drink existed and more importantly, one which actually tasted pleasant enough that they’d enjoy taking it. Research led me to quickly discover that there wasn’t and I wanted to change that.”

Dr Birch went on to work with a team of other doctors and dieticians to develop SuperBump® – a dairy-free alternative, supplement drink nutritionally specific and designed with pregnancy in mind.

Containing the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid and 10 micrograms of vitamin D* per serving, as well as a number of other vitamins and minerals essential during pregnancy, based on the latest and trusted scientific research.

“We started by analysing nutritional data from the UK which looked at the potential deficiencies in a range of vitamins and minerals for women of childbearing age. For example, half of this population consumed less than the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) of selenium, a mineral which plays a major role in the normal function of the immune system. So that’s the logic behind why SuperBump® contains selenium,” explains Dr Birch.

He continues: “We knew we needed to create a product that women could trust and the fact that so many health professionals have been involved gives

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/VASYL DOLMATOV. *SOME WOMEN MAY REQUIRE HIGHER AMOUNTS OF FOLIC ACID AND/OR VITAMIN D. IF UNSURE, PLEASE ASK YOUR MIDWIFE OR DOCTOR.

I

it a high level of credibility to support its use. All of the ingredients included have been proven by our expert team to be essential during pregnancy and most importantly based on fact, not fiction. We are delighted that we’ve produced a product which helps meet many of the nutritional demands of pregnancy.”

All of the drink’s ingredients are suitable for those following a vegan diet, which represents a growing proportion of pregnant women in the UK, and currently many of the pregnancy supplement market leaders do not cater for this. This gives an indication to the amount of time and effort which has gone into sourcing the ingredients to differentiate SuperBump® from the rest. The manufacturers have also been able to produce a stable product which does not need to be refrigerated, allowing women to take the drink onthe-go and consume at their convenience.

But perhaps its greatest asset is its taste, something which Dr Birch has said has always been at the heart of SuperBump’s® development. “There has been an increase in the number of people not wanting to take “conventional medicine” and during pregnancy women can often feel that this very natural process has been over-medicalised,” says Dr Birch. “First and foremost, we wanted to create a great tasting product.

Hours and hours have been spent in the development kitchen perfecting the recipe! We also wanted it not to seem too medicinal, despite containing all the NHS recommended vitamins. Pregnancy can be hard enough so SuperBump® has been developed to allow mums-tobe a guilt-free treat.”

Flavours will include raspberry and mango versions using natural fruit flavouring and will be on sale from spring 2020. Visit superbump.co.uk to sign up for a free sample and learn more about this exciting new product.

baby-magazine.co.uk | 65

BEAUTY

Stealing beauty FROM FACE CRE AM TO FOOT OIL, THERE’S BARELY A PRODUCT IN YOUR LIT TLE ONE’S WASH BAG THAT ISN’T SUPERIOR TO YOUR BE AUT Y-CABINET EQUIVALENT. Mar tha Alexander SHARES HER TOILETRY REVEL ATIONS

“

ou look fresh,” says my friend Julia as we meet for a picnic with our daughters. “Your skin looks lovely.”

I am, needless to say, absolutely delighted.

Even though my daughter slept through the night from a young age and is generally as well behaved as a toddler can be, motherhood is knackering and compliments on my appearance are few and far between; I’d rather sleep, read or gormlessly stare at the TV when I have time for myself – not blow dry my hair or apply dewy make-up.

So, what’s my secret? Face cream designed for babies. My days of wafting into Selfridges and spending upwards of £50 for a beautifully packaged thimble of day cream are over.

Now, I use Mustela Hydra Bébé Face Cream or Weleda Calendula Face Cream if my skin’s feeling extra thirsty. The latter is certified organic and popular with catwalk models who need to keep their skin looking flawless for the international fashion-week circuit.

Because both products are gentle enough for babies – they contain no nasties and are richly nourishing – it stands to reason that they’ll be good for me too, especially as I have a troubled history with my own skin and often find myself negotiating the unfair combination of angry spots and itchy dryness.

And, given that they’re much cheaper than the high-end adult products I was once such a sucker for, I knew I was onto a winner.

Of course, this isn’t my first foray in to the world of baby toiletries. I spent my teenage years dabbing Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream – the ultimate nappy-rash ointment – onto an angry, pimpled T-zone, so it felt strange to have the product in the house for its true purpose of soothing sore bottoms.

Although I still use it if I have breakouts.

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66 | baby-magazine.co.uk

After a couple of months of moisturising with baby face creams, I told my husband about my unexpected skincare win, anticipating that he’d react with a nod and a grunt – he’s not one for discussing the benefits of lotions and potions. So I was surprised when he admitted that he’d been using our daughter’s shampoo and conditioner for ages.

“It’s brilliant,” he said of the Love Boo baby range. “This is the best my hair has ever felt. It smells great. I’m never using any other shampoo again.”

From a man who doesn’t cut corners when it comes to personal grooming, this was a ringing endorsement.

I gave it a go and had to admit he was right.

The shampoo, with argan oil and extracts of fig and papaya, is soft in both smell and

I’M A TOTAL CONVERT; ONLY MY MAKE-UP AND TOOTHPASTE ARE FOR GROWNUPS texture and now my hair has the sleekness that previously only aggressive hair straightening could achieve. I then discovered Love Boo also offers a hair detangler: not just perfect for my daughter’s gorgeous knot-prone locks, but also my own tresses, which are unpredictable to say the least.

With these successes under my belt, I began to view baby toiletries with a new respect.

I started washing my face with Burt’s Bees Buttermilk Soap, which smells heavenly, kind of like honeyed ice cream. It leaves my skin clean, but without making my face feel tight and starved of moisture, which is often my

experience after using harsher soaps, thanks to it containing no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum or sodium lauryl sulfate.

In the shower, I reach for the Child’s Farm Hair & Body Wash and if I have time for an actual soak in the tub, Johnson’s Night Time Baby Bath smells completely divine and lingers on the skin, prompting welcome compliments about my aroma and enquiries into what fragrance I’m wearing. For less than £3. You just can’t say fairer than that.

Then of course, you’ve got your body moisturisers. Being slightly prone to reptilian skin – not for me, the glossy, glistening shins

BEAUTY

MAKE THAT A DOUBLE ORDER...

Steal your baby’s best-kept beauty secrets by stocking up with these all-time classics

Calendula face cream £9.95, weleda.co.uk

This organic blend nourishes and protects delicate skin and helps you and your little one bond Mother & Baby massage oil £29, littlebutterflylondon.com

Pure baby oil £7.50, nealsyardremedies.com

Hair & body wash £7.50, childsfarm.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/LSOPHOTO

Earth Friendly Baby Moisturising Massage Oil £5.29, beamingbaby.co.uk

seen in skincare adverts – I need heavy-duty help. Enter The Earth Friendly Baby Shea Butter Moisturising Massage Oil, which I’ve shamelessly moved into my bedroom and apply liberally morning and night. The Neal’s Yard Pure Baby Oil is also a winner – I even add it to my hair’s dry ends. Both of these are fragrance free, and therefore suitable for anyone with super-sensitive skin that would often react badly to heavily fragranced lotions.

I can also recommend the natural sleep aids I used religiously on my daughter in the early days. This Works Pillow Spray smells blissful, a heady lavender scent that I soon became addicted to, even packing it in my overnight

bag to ensure a deep sleep when I’m not in my own bed.

I was also recently introduced to the Mummy Loves Organics Sleepy Feet Foot Oil which, as the name suggests, is applied to infant feet (and behind the ears) as a means of helping send them off to the land of nod.

Again, this is a lavender fragrance, but with hints of mandarin and chamomile which make this a luxurious treat right before bedtime.

As you can probably tell, I’m a total convert; only my make-up and toothpaste are for grownups. From the game-changing results to the remarkable price points – I’m obsessed with the benefits of baby toiletries!

Mustela Hydra Bébé Face Cream £5.80, sanareva.co.uk

Burt’s Bees Buttermilk Soap £3.96, johnlewis.com

PARENTING

Mum knows best

UNSOLICITED ADVICE IS R ARELY WELCOME, BUT AS A NEW PARENT IT CAN LE AVE YOU FEELING AT BEST, IRRITATED, AND AT WORST, LIKE A FAILURE. Mar tha Alexander LOOKS AT HOW TO DO THINGS YOUR WAY WITHOUT LOSING FRIENDS – OR YOUR MIND

“

hat you should do…”

These four words could raise the hackles in even the most horizontally laidback person, especially when followed by unbidden instruction.

Most of the time we can brush off unsolicited advice with a nod, a thank-you and absolutely no intention of following through.

But when such opinions relates to parenting, it’s harder to dismiss and defensiveness comes much more easily, probably because it feels like a criticism of your performance in relation to your own flesh and blood.

Add to the mix that you’re in all likelihood not sleeping as much as you used to, possibly breastfeeding and potentially juggling a job with parenthood, so uninvited guidance can just feel too unpalatable to contemplate.

Most new parents have experienced some form of unsolicited advice. I fielded tons from a host of sources, ranging from family members to actual strangers.

I remember being told not to sleep train my daughter for fear of mentally scarring her. A stranger, on seeing me bottle feeding my daughter in a café, advised me to visit a breastfeeding guru urgently, while another told me I should ask a doctor why my daughter wasn’t crawling yet.

All of those incidents felt like a gut punch at the time – feeling part angry and part ashamed, I can’t imagine the reaction I displayed in each case could have been perceived as anything but frosty. But why let it get to me? It’s just words, right?

Jessie, 28, whose son is nine months old, recalls one of her mother’s friends performing a passive-aggressive show with the infant that

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involved talking to the baby about Jessie in a sing-song nursery-rhyme voice. “We need to tell your mummy that you need longer naps at lunchtime! Yes we do!” she crooned.

“I was furious,” recalls Jessie. “Especially as my daughter gurgled and smiled, which was interpreted as some kind of tacit agreement. I felt criticised, excluded and as if my baby had somehow betrayed me.”

But why is this kind of criticism so irksome?

“Parenting is the most important job in the world, and one we’re all unqualified for,” says psychotherapist Hannah Martin who is also founder of Talented Ladies Club, an organisation which encourages mothers to fulfil their professional potential.

good intentions, no matter how misguided.

Just keeping this in mind will go some way to taking the sting out of the tail. Martin agrees.

“Try not to let it get to you,” she says. “Often advice is well meaning, even if unwanted and even possibly wrong! If you don’t want to follow the advice, simply thank them for it and move the conversation on. Debating the helpfulness or accuracy of the advice will just drag your irritation out further.”

And, as Martin says, saying thank you isn’t conceding. “Thanking someone for advice doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to follow it, but it ends the conversation, and preserves your relationship with the person offering it. If they try to push it, say you’ve had advice from a few people and will consider your approach.”

Also, don’t underestimate how easy it can be to go from irritated advisee to overbearing adviser. I’ve found myself holding my tongue when I know that if only this frazzled new mum would just [insert deeply-held advice here], her life would be 100 times easier. But instead, and crucially only when asked, I’ll say something like “this might not work for you, but what helped me is…”

“Everyone who has had a child has an opinion on the best way to do it – or feels passionately about what worked for them,” says Martin. “Usually unsolicited advice comes from a desire to help – when you see a mum struggling and you think you can assist, then it’s natural to want to pass on experience.”

But the main thing is this – and I’d wager you’ll hear this just as much as any unwanted advice: trust your instincts. You’re the parent – no one, absolutely no one, knows your baby like you do.

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“We’re already worried about whether we’re doing a good job, all while coping with raging hormones and sleep deprivation. So when someone wades in with unsolicited advice, what we actually hear is ‘you’re not doing it properly’ or even worse ‘you’re not a good parent’. It’s unsurprising that we have such an emotional response.”

Martin also points out that rejecting advice can exacerbate an already tense situation.

“Parenting tips often come from personal experience, so when we reject them, it can be taken as ‘I don’t want to parent like you’ or ‘I don’t want my child to turn out like yours’.”

So, how are parents meant to deal with suggestions they never asked for?

Firstly, remember that people usually have

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/SOLSTOCK

“EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A CHILD HAS AN OPINION ON THE BEST WAY TO DO IT”

PARENTING

Try to remember that unwanted advice from friends, family – and even strangers – usually comes from a kind place

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Dermatologically Tested

Q&A with fertility expert

Zita West

I’m in my second trimester and juggling a lot.

How can I bring more calm into my life?

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/KUPICOO

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iredness, dealing with nausea and deepen your emotional bond. working out what to eat: every feeling Introduce your baby to some of your you have during pregnancy triggers a favourite music, sing to her, tell her how cascade of hormones. It’s the stress hormones much you’re looking forward to holding her, caused by anxiety that you need to deal with, what the rest of their family is like – make a as these can pass through the placenta to your connection on a deep, personal level. Choose baby. Research suggests that stress can have a quiet time – when no one can overhear you a significant adverse effect on an expectant – to spend some quality time with your baby. mother’s health and happiness, as well as on the health and development of the baby.

BONDING VISUALISATION From as early as the seventh week of This visualisation technique, which can be pregnancy, your baby may be receiving completed in less than 10 minutes, is designed pleasure-inducing chemicals from your to bring much-needed calm into your life… bloodstream – but if you’re unduly stressed, • Make yourself comfortable – perhaps by she may be getting high levels of stress lying down on your bed or a couch. chemicals as well. By taking just a little • Place your hands in a heart-shaped time, on a regular basis, to completely relax position, with your thumbs pointing to your throughout your pregnancy, you can help to tummy button and your fingers to your counteract this. pubic bone.

The second trimester provides ed • Close your eyes and breathe Recommend a good opportunity to start slowly. Let thoughts drift in product communicating with your baby and out of your mind. on a deeper level and will help • Imagine a ray of light bring some much-needed calm. passing through the Ultrasound scans will have top of your head to given you those first precious your forehead and Vital Essence 2 supplements glimpses of your baby, use it to down through your £28.50, zitawest.com

cheekbones. Feel yourself relaxing as the light reaches your jawbone.

• Release any tension, allowing your lips to part a little and tongue to relax. Send the light through your neck and shoulder muscles.

• Now imagine the light flowing down through an imaginary channel in the centre of your body. This is an acupuncture meridian called the Conception Vessel.

• Imagine, for a minute or so, that connection with the heart, where you feel love, warmth and deep relaxation. When you’re content you produce ‘love hormones’, such as oxytocin, which are sent through your body after birth to help you bond with your baby.

• Allow the light to travel down into your uterus and picture your baby. They’re snug, secure and responding to your calm, relaxed state with your heartbeat a backdrop to theirs. She’s thriving and growing.

• Visualise the umbilical cord allowing your nourishment to pass through to your baby.

You’re also sending all those wonderful ‘happy hormones’ and the love that you feel for her.

• Stay with this for a while and then allow the light to pass on down to your knees and lower legs, feeling calm and relaxed.

Zita West is the founder of the Zita West Fertility Clinic which specialises in a holistic approach to IVF. Instagram: @zitawestpregnancy

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PARENTING

Come to your

SENSES

Louise Pyne EXPL AINS WHY TAKING YOUR NEWBORN ON A SENSORY JOURNEY WILL HELP HER UNDERSTAND THE WORLD

our newborn’s senses are a crucial component of her development and wellbeing. She intuitively relies on each of her five senses to absorb information from her environment, to seek comfort, take in nutrition, and to bond with you and other loved ones. While some of her senses such as hearing and touch are fully developed from birth, others such as vision take several months to mature. As she grows, she uses the information she’s gathered to piece together the jigsaw puzzle that is the world around her. There are many ways that you can stimulate her senses, and here’s our advice to nurture a healthy and happy baby.

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TOUCH Touch is one of the best-developed senses at birth and it’s hugely important to the bonding process. She’ll begin to explore the world around her by using her grasp and sucking reflexes, reaching out for everything and anything she can.

For your baby, touch is all about feeling secure so holding her close to you will make her feel warm and safe, while nurturing the connection between the two of you. Skinto-skin cuddles will help to make her feel warm and secure, while releasing feel-good endorphins. In fact, research shows that enjoying at least 50 minutes of skin-to-skin time immediately after birth helps your baby to recognise you by your smell alone.

In addition, you can also emulate this cosy feeling by swaddling her tightly to mimic the

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cocooned and safe feeling of the womb.

Massaging baby oil or lotion into her skin after a bath will help her to feel calm and relaxed and giving her a variety of toys like a stuffed animal or a squeezy ball will help her become more familiar with different shapes and textures.

SOFT PLAY

Three sensory toys to help you bond with your baby and encourage her development

SIGHT When she’s born, your baby is only able to see up to 12 inches away and her field of vision is blurry, seeing mostly shapes and making out certain shades. By around the five-month mark, she’ll be able to see farther and even track moving objects.

Decorate her nursery in uplifting colours and patterns to get her used to seeing a variety of hues. Simple games like peekaboo and pat-a-cake will also help develop handto-eye coordination, and taking her on regular trips to the park will also enable her eyes to absorb different sights.

HEARING Your baby’s hearing begins to develop well before you welcome her into the world, so by the time you meet her she’ll already be familiar with your voice and by around four months, she may start to copy specific sounds that you make.

Making the effort to read, sing nursery rhymes and chat to your baby as you go about your day helps to promote her language development and stimulates bonding. Alter the tone of your voice – babies love hearing

This cuddly musical creature is perfect for exploring baby’s senses. They pull on the soft cord to play a soothing tune.

The plaited tentacles remind babies of the umbilical cord and the contrasting tones encourage their sense of sight. Musical Più Più, £19.99, hippychick.com This delightful squishy book is full of bright colours, shapes and textures to stimulate multiple senses at once.

Farm Tails book, £12.50, jellycat.com

Made for little hands, this Australian natural rubber teething toy will soothe sore gums. Baby will love Mizzie’s soft texture and the laugh she makes when squeezed. Mizzie The Kangaroo, £16.50, mizziethekangaroo.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES. REFERENCE: BABYCENTRE.CO.UK

With your help, baby’s senses will continue to develop and the world around her will come into focus

YOUR BABY’S HEARING BEGINS TO DEVELOP WELL BEFORE YOU WELCOME HER TO THE WORLD a soft-spoken, high-pitched voice. You could also help to soothe her at bedtime by playing a recording of white noise which mimics the sounds she heard in the womb.

SMELL Your baby is intelligent, and will recognise different smells early on. Interestingly, newborns are primed to the scent of breast

milk and can easily differentiate it from formula – which sometimes makes things tricky if you’re moving from breast to bottle.

She’ll quickly get to recognise your unique scent and feel secure when you’re around.

Avoid strongly-scented washing detergents and perfumes, as these can interfere with the natural smells that she’s getting to know. A comforter object or blanket that smells of you

may help her get to sleep – just remember to remove any objects from the cot once your baby is asleep.

TASTE From day one your baby’s taste buds are fully formed. If you’re breastfeeding, she’ll be able to distinguish different flavours of the foods you’ve eaten through your milk – and strong flavours like curries or salty foods may initially put her off nursing, but at the same time will get her used to a wide variety of tastes which may actually help to offset picky eating in the future, so make sure that you eat a varied diet.

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HEALTH

Check it out

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SIX-WEEK POST-PARTUM CHECKUP TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR NEWBORN IN THE BEST HE ALTH POSSIBLE, Louise Pyne RECOMMENDS

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ALL ABOUT BABY…

were examined during the first paediatric check. “Certain heart abnormalities don’t always show up in the early days, so the heart and lungs will be very carefully listened to. The hips, eyes, pulses and reflexes will be checked again and, if problems are found, parents can be signposted to the right specialists for those concerns,” adds Rachel.

IS SHE GROWING WELL? Your doctor will also repeat the measurements done at birth. “Weight and head circumference – and the fontanelles (soft spots), palate, skin tone, colour and her general behaviour will be carefully assessed.

You should expect to be asked about how well your baby is feeding, peeing and pooing,” says Rachel. Advice will be given if you have any concerns.

WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS? If you have your baby check at eight weeks, the first dose of vaccinations may well be offered at the same appointment. This is a six-in-one single injection to protect your baby against some serious childhood diseases, such as polio and tetanus. Your baby may be a little unsettled after the vaccination but this should quickly subside.

ALL ABOUT MUM… HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Your emotions might feel all over the place after giving birth, so it’s important to raise any mental health concerns, no matter how small they may seem – especially if you’ve suffered from postnatal depression or anxiety before.

IS SHE DEVELOPING AS EXPECTED?

IS YOUR BODY HEALING AS EXPECTED?

Your GP will recheck those things which

Your body goes through so many physical

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changes during pregnancy and labour, so your GP will check that your body healing as expected. Breasts are checked for mastitis and your tummy will be felt to make sure that your uterus has gone back to its normal position.

IS YOUR BLEEDING NORMAL? Bleeding usually subsides by six weeks and you’ll just have some light spotting. If you’re still bleeding heavily or notice large clots, it’s important that you let your GP know, as these can be a sign of something more serious.

WHEN CAN YOU RESUME SEX AND EXERCISE? As long as your body is healing as expected it’s generally fine to start doing some light exercise such as walking or gentle upper-body training, and your GP is likely to give you the go ahead to resume having sex, as well as offer advice on contraception.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/STEFANIKOLIC

ithin an hour of giving birth, your baby has a head-to-toe medical check from your midwife to ensure there’s nothing obvious to be alarmed about – fingers and toes are diligently counted, your little one is weighed and genitalia are checked to make sure that you’ve really have given birth to that little boy or girl you were told to expect at your 20-week scan. “Within the next 72 hours a specialist midwife or paediatrician carries out a thorough all-over check of your newborn: they listen to the tiny heart and lungs, check the eyes and also ensure that the hips are stable. Then, in the weeks following your discharge home, she’s checked routinely to make sure that she’s feeding, growing and developing as expected,” says Rachel FitzDesorgher, baby expert at The Baby Show (thebabyshow.co.uk) and author of Your Baby Skin to Skin: Learn to Trust Your Baby’s Instincts in the First Year.

And as you settle into life with your newborn you can expect further routine visits to make sure that your baby’s feeding, growing and developing as expected – and equally importantly, that you’re also recovering well.

The next major, all-over appointment – your postnatal six-week checkup – takes place at six to eight weeks and is generally done by your GP. “This top-to-toe MOT is essential for spotting those things which don’t always show up in the early days and is an opportunity for you to raise any concern about both your baby’s health and your own wellbeing,” reveals Rachel. Here we reveal how to get the most out of your six-week post-partum checkup.

RUNNING HEAD

Get set for your tot’s MOT by making sure that you’re kitted out with all of the newborn essentials

YOUR BABY AT SIX WEEKS

Don’t be afraid to share any personal concerns at this checkup: your healing and mental health is as important as baby’s development

Cotton sleepsuit £18, newbiestore.com Sleep aid £29.95, snuz.co.uk

Newborn comfort cushion £135, babocush.com

Organic Babies baby oil £12, greenpeople.co.uk

Baby bath £24.95, shnuggle.com

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FREE WITH THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE SPRING 2020 EDITION OF THE LITTLE LONDON SCHOOLS GUIDE

Your guide to the world of nurseries and beyond

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BREASTFEEDING

The Breastfeeding Café with

PROFESSOR AMY BROWN

THIS ISSUE WE ASK:

WHAT FOODS SHOULD I AVOID WHILE BREASTFEEDING?

TOP TIPS

• If you suspect that your

baby is reacting to a certain food, first of all speak to your health visitor or GP. With their guidance, you might want to try eliminating he good news is that in the majority be even more disrupted than is usual. They may that food for a couple of of cases you can carry on eating your also have lower weight gain as they might not weeks to see if your baby’s normal diet while breastfeeding. In fact, be absorbing milk effectively. This reaction will symptoms improve. Two one of the great things about breastfeeding usually happen around four to six hours (but weeks are needed as some is that your milk changes in taste slightly can be up to 24 hours) after you have eaten foods can hang around in dependent on what you eat, meaning breastfed something as it takes time to get into the milk. your body, and therefore in babies get exposed to a wide range of tastes Another common question is whether your milk, for this amount which we think might help them adapt to solid breastfeeding mothers need to avoid caffeine. of time. However, you may foods more easily.

There are no hard and fast rules here. Just like well see results within a Some babies, however, might react to adults, some babies seem to be more affected few days. If your baby’s certain foods. The most common foods to by it than others. Caffeine does transfer to symptoms disappear, you cause reactions are the typical foods people your breast milk, but the good news is not in might want to consider have allergies to: cows’ milk, eggs, wheat and huge amounts. It’s unlikely that unless you are reintroducing the food to peanuts. If you have a family member with an consuming over 750mg of caffeine a day that see if symptoms reappear, allergy then there might be a genetic risk of your baby will be affected. This is equivalent just to check that it was the your baby also being allergic to it. to around five cups of coffee, but that does food and not a coincidence.

However, it’s important to distinguish depend on the size of your cup (1.5 large coffee between a baby reacting to something you ate chain cups can put you at 750mg). Remember, • Try to eat well for you, rather than just being a normal baby who’s a caffeine is also found in other drinks, and as well as for your baby. bit unsettled or wanting to be held. indeed in some foods. More good With the exhaustion of a If your baby is reacting to something news is that babies seem to be new baby, it can be really in your milk, it’s unlikely that crying more able to deal with caffeine tempting to eat lots of sugary will be the only sign. They will likely as they get older. snacks to keep you going vomit/bring up milk a lot, get a rash through the day. And while or red itchy eyes, be very gassy, have there’s no need to avoid Professor Amy Brown’s title green, mucousy or bloody stools, these foods altogether, make The Positive Breastfeeding Book or be congested. They’ll often seem sure you include as many (£14.99, Pinter & Martin Ltd) uncomfortable, and their sleep will nutrient-dense foods as is out now possible as they’ll help you to Protein balls (pack of 10) feel better in yourself. Focus £17.99, theproteinballco.com on having lots of easy-to-eat foods available. You could ask your partner or any Organic Babies Nipple Balm visitors who offer to help to £10.50, greenpeople.co.uk Nursing chair and stool prepare meals and snacks £583, mamasandpapas.com that are easy to eat with one hand, so you can grab them when you want them.

Colief Infant Drops

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£19.99, boots.com

Nursing pillow £59.94, bbhugme.com

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A MATTER of

TIME

AS MANY PARENTS DRE AD THE INCOMING CLOCK CHANGE ON 29 MARCH, Natalie Keeler INVESTIGATES WHAT YOU CAN TO DO PREPARE IN ADVANCE

PARENTING

etting baby to settle into a regular sleep pattern is one of the biggest challenges that new mums face, and it seems that just as you manage to set her into some kind of routine, the clock change comes along and jolts her natural rhythm.

“Young children can be especially vulnerable to anything that challenges their biological clock, and can easily become overtired,” explains paediatric sleep consultant and Baby Elegance ambassador Lucy Wolfe. “This in turn brings on a chemical response encouraging the body to fight sleep, which means baby ends up out of sync with her natural body rhythm and her sleep is of a much poorer quality.”

If you can, avoid overtiredness at all costs, advises Lucy, and instead attempt sleep that’s more aligned with her internal clock. Ensure baby is well-rested in the lead-up to the time-change weekend, too, by having naps and uninterrupted night-time sleep whenever possible, so her body is optimally rested in advance. “There’s several approaches you can take, but whatever you decide to do, bear in mind that it’ll take about a week for her body to adjust properly,” Lucy says.

Of course, every child (and family) has their differences, and deciphering which method is right for you and your baby can be a tricky task. Here, we outline the best techniques and essential tips to help your tot adjust to the transition with ease.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES

TAKE IT GRADUALLY One option is to slowly change your baby’s schedule over the course of a few days before the time change. “Start four days prior to the clocks going forward, putting your child to bed 15 minutes earlier than normal, and increasing by 15 minutes each night until you reach a full hour,” says Lucy. You may find she starts to wake up slightly later over the course of the transition, but it’s not out of the ordinary if this doesn’t happen. Napping times, too, should be scheduled earlier than usual, to help adjust her daytime routine. Lucy adds: “You know your child best, and if typically she’s ‘slow to adapt’, this gradual method is probably the best approach for you.”

LEAVE THE CLOCKS ALONE If your baby is less sensitive to change, there’s no harm in sticking to your normal morning routine and getting up at the same time as the day before. To lessen the impact of the change, bring the clocks forward after breakfast rather than the night before, and

take her outside for a walk so she gets some natural sunlight. “Babies and toddlers who are more adaptable tend to adjust within only a few days, and resettle into the same schedule they were on previous to change,” says Lucy. If she’s an early riser, the clock change is also a good opportunity to readjust her sleep pattern, transforming that agonising 5.30am wake-up call into a slightly more reasonable 6.30am.

CREATE A COMFORTING SPACE Constructing the right sleep environment is key in ensuring she achieves undisrupted slumber before and after the weekend. If you’re gradually bringing back her bedtime, dim the lights in the evenings and close the curtains earlier than you might do normally, to get her into the mindset that it’s almost time to sleep. Make sure the bedtime routine takes place in the bedroom, too, advises Lucy: “This should help her body and mind start to prepare for sleep, and should start about 20 minutes before you feel they’d benefit from being asleep.” Black-out blinds are also useful, particularly as the evenings stay lighter until later, while mornings should be filled with lots of natural light, so wake-up time becomes more obvious.

SHUTEYE BUYS

These comforting bedroom additions will help baby with her sleep pattern Cam Cam Copenhagen cotton baby bedding £44.95, scandiborn.co.uk

Ewan the Dream Sheep soother £29.99, sweetdreamers.co.uk

A spritz of this dreamy mist on baby’s bedding will send her to the land of nod Pillow & Room Spray £12.99, loveboo.com

Sleeping bag £69.50, babymori.com

FEEDING TIME In the same way that baby’s sleep pattern is affected, so too is her feeding routine, and those slowly adjusting bedtimes will also need to make changes to mealtimes. To ease the process, try bringing dinner back by an hour, lunch by half an hour and breakfast by 15 minutes, gradually amending these in the days following the clock change. As for her

Dreami Moses Basket £134.95, shnuggle.com

THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO HER TIRED SIGNALS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY diet, introduce foods that boost melatonin – the hormone responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle – such as cherries, tomatoes, grapes, rice and rolled oats. Vitamin B6 (bananas, avocado and spinach) is also hugely beneficial, while magnesium (kale, nuts, fish and soybeans) helps to deactivate adrenaline.

BE PATIENT An hour is a long time in your little one’s

world, so prepare to be flexible as she gets her head and body clock around the time shift.

“The important thing is to pay attention to her tired signals and act accordingly – don’t be afraid to put her to bed earlier if you feel it’s necessary,” Lucy explains. “Even adults can sometimes need up to a week to adjust when changing up their sleep routine, so fully expect for your days (and potentially your nights) to feel a little more out-of-sorts than usual.” Rest assured, you’ll both soon get back on track.

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HEALTH

TIME TO TALK with MARINA FOGLE & DR CHIARA HUNT

SLEEP DURING PREGNANCY

f all the times in your life, sleep is probably most important when you’re pregnant. You’re growing a whole other human being after all, and this takes energy. Most women say that they’re exhausted in their first trimester. Since this is when your baby is being formed and all the most important foundations in her development are being laid, it makes sense. And while the second trimester usually signals a bit more energy, a more physical tiredness returns in the third trimester when your body is simply exhausted from carrying around the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid that it’s created.

The trouble is, as important as we know sleep is in pregnancy, it’s not always easy to get it. As your bladder becomes more compressed (as your baby grows), you’re likely to need the loo in the night and as your baby becomes bigger, it’s more difficult to find a comfortable position.

that makes a huge difference.

• Take time to wind down slowly in the evening.

As we see less light, melatonin production increases in our body, helping us fall asleep so try and keep things as dark as possible, avoiding the blue light of screens and instead light a scented candle and listen to an audiobook or podcast as you relax in the bath.

• If you’re just not sleeping at night, try and have a daytime nap. It’s all about getting the sleep where you can and it’s a good habit to get into for when your baby is born.

The advice from professionals is to have plenty of sleep while you’re pregnant, to listen to your body and if you’re tired, have more sleep. In our busy working lives, this can sometimes feel more difficult but often the trick is to go to bed earlier. It’s easy to get lost in a spiral of Netflix, home admin or scrolling, but setting an alarm to remind yourself to go to sleep is a good way of ensuring you’re in bed at a decent time.

BUMP CLASS’ TOP TIPS

TAKE NOTE

How to get a good night’s sleep while pregnant: • As you get heavier, firm mattresses become less comfortable. Don’t worry about buying a new mattress – a mattress topper will do. We like the memory foam ones as the down-filled ones can get hot. Otherwise, layering a duvet over your mattress but under your sheet will also soften the bed.

• If you’ve got pelvic pain, try padding out your body with lots of cushions. The pregnancy cushions work well for the second trimester, but in your third you’re too big for them to make much difference, so we recommend just using lots of normal pillows or a spare duvet, tucked under your bump, between your legs and around your back.

• Avoid caffeine. Even if you drink caffeine at lunchtime, it’ll affect your ability to sleep in the evening. You could even try cutting caffeine out altogether – most people find

The only precaution is not to sleep on your back after 20 weeks. This is because a crucial artery runs down the front of your spine and once your baby is big, lying on your back might cause the baby’s weight to compress this artery, reducing the blood flow to you. The crucial thing is to go to sleep on your side rather than your back. If you wake up on your back and feel fine, your baby is fine. Since the vena cava provides blood to you primarily, if your blood flow was restricted you’d feel sick and uncomfortable, which would wake you up long before it affected your baby

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Marina and Dr Chiara’s podcast, The Parent Hood is available to listen to wherever you get your podcasts from. For more information about their antenatal classes for first and second time mothers, check out thebumpclass.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELENE SANDBERG

This issue the sisters give advice on catching some ZZZs

HEALTH

The sisters agree that daytime naps will help pregnant mums adjust to erratic sleep patterns once baby arrives

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SHOPPING

THE REVIEW Laura Mason TAKES THE BEST BABY BOUNCERS AND ROCKERS FOR A TRIAL SWING

Best for ROCKING

Best for

MOTION

Best

SOOTHER

Best for

NEWBORNS

Best for

BOUNCE

BABYMOOV

STOKKE

NUNA

BABYBJÖRN

GRACO

Featuring five rocking and swinging settings that can be set for your required time frame, the rocker also detects baby’s crying and will automatically kickstart the swing motion to attempt to settle your baby. It also features lots of practical extras such as increased height, 360-degree rotation and a removable toy arch to encourage play. £179.99, babymoov.co.uk

If your baby loves to feel cosy and snug, then this super-soft chair provides an instant feeling of warmth and comfort. The padded chair includes a removable newborn insert to ensure correct posture and a five-point harness for setting down smaller babies safely. The fold-flat function makes it convenient for storage and easy for travel. £149, stokke.com

Inspired by the carefree drift of a leaf floating in the wind, this rocker moves smoothly from side to side with a gentle push that continues for around two minutes, removing the need for batteries, cords and eliminating any noise. With its three recline positions, babies are well-supported at all key stages of their early development. £200, nunababy.com

If you have a little bouncer on your hands, then this model will keep them entertained for hours!

The natural flex allows baby to stimulate their own movement so that if they want to bounce, the strong, fitted fabric and ergonomics effectively support the back, neck and head by distributing the weight evenly. Plus, it’s wonderfully breathable. £139.99, babybjorn.co.uk

Replicating the sensation of a babe in arms, this is literally an all-singing and dancing chair that offers an impressive 16 motions to soothe babies.

Opt between different directions, speeds and vibration to pinpoint the perfect setting for your child; and once you’ve found it, add in a melody or white noise for added peace. £200, boots.com

Swoon Motion

82 | baby-magazine.co.uk

Steps Bouncer

Leaf Grow

Bouncer Bliss

All Ways Soother

SHOPPING With its super-soft upholstery and ďŹ ve point harness, your babe will be as snug as a bug in the Stokke Steps Bouncer

baby-magazine.co.uk | 83

Hawkesdown House School

&

The Walnut Tree Nursery For girls & boys from 2 years

FIRST STEPS Nurturing and developing a lifelong love of learning is at the heart of our provision for our youngest children at The Portsmouth Grammar School.

Children can start in our Pre-School at 2 ½ years old to ensure an easy transition in to the Junior School. We would be delighted to arrange a tour of the Pre-School and Junior School for you to find out more.

Do call us on 023 9236 0036 to arrange a visit.

Pre-School | Junior | Senior | Sixth Form 023 9236 0036 | www.pgs.org.uk

84 | baby-magazine.co.uk

27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN Telephone: 0207 727 9090 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

FOOD

DOUBLE HELPING

As if we needed a reason to love Kiddyum’s delicious frozen toddler meals any more… the brand has just launched two new tasty dishes – Pasta Bolognese, and Veggie Lentil Dahl and Rice. Much like the other recipes in the range, each serving is packed with healthy, nutritious ingredients, without any added salt, sugar or preservatives. They’re ready in just five minutes, and all the packaging is recyclable, too – winning at dinner! kiddyum.co.uk

food

NEWS

THE L ATEST AND GRE ATEST TRE ATS FOR BABIES, CHILDREN AND PARENTS Ideal for those first few fuzzy days with a newborn, wellbeing brand &Breathe has just launched Parentfood, a line of healthy nutrition boxes that are delivered straight to your door. Made for two, each box contains all the ingredients needed to combat breastfeeding depletion, plus plenty of goodness for fatigued partners, too. Better yet, the compostable packaging is easy to recycle afterwards! £249 per week for two people, andbreathewellbeing.com

JOIN THE CLUB

Organic baby food brand Piccolo has launched a free-to-join Family Club, which is set to help out mums and dads with expert advice on everything from meal inspo to dealing with tantrums. Each month, members will also be treated to an exclusive discount code from one of Piccolo’s partners including Water Babies, Gymboree and Creation Station – helping families to enjoy more new experiences together. Sign up fast to receive a free welcome pack! mylittlepiccolo.com/join-the-family

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

If you’d love to be one of those parents with a freezer full of ready-to-go meals, prepare for Baby and Toddler Meal Prep Plan to be your new food bible. This brill book from French cook Keda Black is packed with delicious, healthy recipes that can be whipped up and stashed for days when you just don’t have the energy to cook. You’ll also find shopping lists, weekly menus, and fast-assembly tips, plus storage instructions. £14.99, Murdoch Books

88% OF PARENTS CLAIM THAT HAVING A BABY HAS ENCOURAGED THEM TO COOK FROM SCRATCH MORE OFTEN, ACCORDING TO A NATIONWIDE SURVEY FROM CHILDREN’S FOOD EXPERT ANNABEL KARMEL. ANOTHER 60% HAVE ALSO CHOSEN TO CUT DOWN ON SALT; WHO KNEW HAVING A TOT WAS SO GOOD FOR YOU?! ANNABELKARMEL.COM

baby-magazine.co.uk | 85

Packed with vitamins and minerals, yummy sweet potato is a perfect addition to this tasty rosti recipe

BAKE D CAR ROT & SWE ET P O TAT O R O S T I Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Serves 2-4 Suitable from 7 months Not suitable for freezing Contains egg

This is a lovely quick meal for toddlers and makes a tasty side dish for adults. You can also add in all sorts of other vegetables, such as grated courgette or beetroot, or even some wilted spinach, frozen peas or sweetcorn. The stock cube also adds lots of additional flavour so there’s no need to use salt.

INGREDIENTS

• 250g sweet potato, peeled and grated • 250g carrot, peeled and grated • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 tbsp chopped parsley • 1 egg, beaten • 1 Piccolo vegetarian stock cube, crumbled • 2 tbsp olive oil METHOD

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F, Gas Mark 4. In a large bowl, crumble the stock cube and pour over 1 tbsp of boiling water and mix to dissolve any lumps.

Place the grated carrot and sweet potato in the bowl with the garlic, parsley and egg. Mix together thoroughly.

Heat the oil in a 20-23cm heavy, oven proof frying pan or casserole dish.

Add the potato mixture and pat lightly into a cake. Fry gently for 5-7 minutes until the underside is crisp and brown. Brush the top of the cake with 1 teaspoon of oil.

Place the saucepan in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes until the top is crisp and brown.

Cut into wedges and serve.

86 | baby-magazine.co.uk

FOOD

Food,

glorious food PICCOLO’S INFANT NUTRITIONIST Alice Fotheringham COOKS UP A STOR M IN THE KITCHEN WITH SE ASONAL DISHES THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY TOGETHER

K ALE , KIWI, PE AS & PE AR WITH A HINT OF BASIL Cooking time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 portions Suitable from 6 months Suitable for freezing and great to make ice-lollies

A smooth, fresh blend of organic pears, kale, peas and kiwi with a hint of basil, perfect for introducing baby to the zingy flavour of kiwi.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 handful curly kale (approx. 60g) washed, with any thick stems removed • 50g frozen peas • 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and chopped

• 1 medium ripe kiwi • 2 basil leaves or ½ tsp dried basil METHOD

Steam the kale and peas for around 5 minutes, or until soft. Once soft, drain and refresh with cold water to keep the vegetables green.

To prepare the kiwi, cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Add the kiwi and pear to a bowl or blender with the cooked vegetables and add the basil. Blend to the desired consistency.

Tip: Add a dollop of coconut or dairy yoghurt to give this smoothie an extra-creamy texture.

This super-green blend will dazzle your little one’s developing palette

baby-magazine.co.uk | 87

FOOD

P O R K & PA R S N I P W I T H A P P L E Cooking time: 2 hours 20 minutes Suitable from 6 months

A classic hearty, textured dish, parsley and rosemary seasoning add flavour to this hearty combination of pork, parsnips, carrot, sweet potato and apples.

• 1 stick celery, roughly chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 1 x 230 g tin chopped tomatoes • 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped • 1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped • 1 low-salt chicken or vegetable stock cube METHOD

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp olive oil • 400 g pork shoulder, cut into 5cm cubes • 1 onion, roughly chopped • 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped • 1 parsnip, peeled and roughly chopped • 1 small sweet potato peeled and roughly chopped • 1 eating apple, peeled and chopped

Preheat the oven to 150°C, fan 140°C or gas 2. Heat half of the olive oil in a large, deep oven-top casserole pan. Add half the pork to the pan and brown on all sides. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the rest of the pork and set aside. If you don’t have a casserole pan, you can cook in a saucepan then transfer into a casserole dish after step 4.

Add the remaining olive oil to the pan,

along with the onion, carrots, parsnip, sweet potato, apple and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the onion has softened slightly.

Return the meat to the pan with the garlic, tomatoes, rosemary and parsley. Make 400ml stock using the stock cube and pour 300ml into the pan. Bring to the boil. Cover with a lid then cook in the oven for 2 hours.

Remove baby’s portion from the pan and purée to the desired consistency.

Tip: You can also add extra green to this dish by adding some frozen spinach to step 4. You can also sprinkle some grated parmesan on top of the top of the casserole and brown it for a few minutes in the oven for the family version of this dish.

Survive the winter chill en famille with this delicious, filling seasonal casserole

88 | baby-magazine.co.uk

FOOD

These delicious morning treats can be made with either baked or scrambled eggs – simply adjust cooking time accordingly

E G G B R E A K FA S T C U P S Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 10-15 minutes Makes 4 egg cups Suitable from one years old INGREDIENTS

• 4 eggs • 8 slices of Parma ham, wafer thin ham or turkey (optional) • Some chopped spinach, baby tomatoes, spring onions or mushrooms METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

Generously grease a muffin tin with sunflower, rice bran or olive oil and place the ham slices into the tin to form a cup, you may need two slices of ham to ensure there are no gaps in the muffin cup.

For a baked egg, put any vegetables you would like in the bottom of the cup and break the egg on top. For a scrambled egg, mix the veg with a beaten egg and pour into the cup.

Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Note the scrambled egg cup takes less time to cook through than the baked egg.

Alice Fotheringham is a co-founder and infant nutritional therapist at Piccolo.

Piccolo makes a range of organic baby meals, snacks and ingredients to fuel your family for a lifetime of adventures. Piccolo is committed to adding no sugar, salt or palm oil. 10 per cent of Piccolo’s profits go to charity. Visit mylittlepiccolo.com or follow on Instagram @mylittlepiccolo

baby-magazine.co.uk | 89

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Ways to embrace THE GREAT OUTDOORS with your tot The tastiest springtime WEANING RECIPES for a healthy start Actor BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and wife SOPHIE TURNER on family life as they welcome their new baby

CAN YOU CAMP WITH A TODDLER? Our guide to family holidays spent under canvas

ON SALE

�6 FEBRUARY 90 | baby-magazine.co.uk

Kylo wears cotton jumper (part of set), £43, Joules at Childrensalon. Cotton trousers, £28, Lille at Dawn and Day. Tess wears T-shirt, £25, Marks and Spencer.

Jeans, £45, Marks and Spencer.

Hemp rugs, from £115, Armadillo & Co at Caravan Style.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELEN MARSDEN

Marina Fogle and Dr Chiara Hunt discuss what GROUP B STREP MEANS FOR MOTHER AND BABY

TRAVEL

travel

THIS MONTH W E VI S IT…

Cheval Three Quays

Editor REBECCA MOORE dives into a London weekend with toddler in tow

I

s the thought of visiting the capital with a toddler filling you with dread? This is the question I asked my sister before she came to visit with my niece, Ruby. Having lived in London for half a decade, I’ve learned – sometimes the hard way – that the trick to visiting any bustling city with kids in tow is getting the accommodation and location right. And boy did we do that. Coined as ‘the smart way to stay in the city’, the award-winning Cheval Collection has eight luxury residences in the finest pockets of the capital which – I can say with confidence – make the perfect homes away from home.

I thought I’d seen all of London’s impressive views until I stepped into our three-bedroom apartment at Cheval Three Quays. To my left, an uplit Tower Bridge; to my right, the iconic Shard rose from the lineup of skyscrapers. Ruby stared out at all of the lights in wonder. That is, until she spotted our complimentary hamper, filled with delectables and breakfast treats.

Can a self-catering apartment match hotel luxury? The answer is, quite simply, yes. While you have to pour your own drinks and make your own bed, you’ll also have space aplenty, plush homely furnishings, and high-spec tech at every turn. Little ones need space to roam, and our airy apartment had that in abundance (be warned, this may inspire a lengthy game of hide and seek).

Cots with bedding and high chairs are provided on request, plus mini robes, a toy and colouring book await small visitors, much to Ruby’s delight.

And the location is second to none: a mere five-minute walk from Tower Hill station, and surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic sights. Moreover, whether it’s an unscheduled nap or washing a chocolate-smeared dress, parents of unpredictable tots will appreciate the flexibility of this London home. Cheval Three Quays was the finest way for us to see the city, and with the Gloucester Park flagship residence opening soon next month, our next getaway’s sorted.

NEWS

WHEREVER YOUR DESTINATION, TR AVEL IN ST YLE WITH BABY IN TOW

VITAMIN SEA

Nestled amid lush palms and encircled by a crystal-clear lagoon, yet just 15 minutes away from Male Airport via boat, you’ll find Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. Following a multi-million dollar refurb, the resort’s 176 revamped guest rooms now include a new category: Cottage with Pool. The layout has been designed with families in mind, with the inclusion of a private plunge pool so kids can splash around safely and have direct access to the heavenly white beaches. From £315 per night, marriott.com

PENCIL IN A VISIT TO CORNWALL’S FOWEY HALL FROM 14 FEBRUARY; THE LUXURY HOTEL’S MULTI-MILLION-POUND REFURB, WHICH INCLUDES AN UPGRADE FOR THE RESTAURANT AND ALL 36 OF THE BEDROOMS, PLUS NEW BATHROOMS, WILL BE COMPLETE. LUXURYFAMILYHOTELS.CO.UK

FRENCH CONNECTION

Intimate yet peaceful, family-friendly estate Chateau Les Carrasses has announced the launch of its wellness cabin this spring. As well as sampling a series of invigorating treatments using spoiling products from popular botanical French brand, Cinq Mondes, guests will be able to book in for a spot of Pilates. The group and individual classes are perfect for new mums looking to regain their core strength. lescarrasses.com

Apartments from £307 per night, chevalcollection.com This French bolthole offers blissful getaways for new mums

baby-magazine.co.uk | 91

RUNNING HEAD Princesa Yaiza offers some of the island’s best ocean views

POSTCARD FROM

ACTRESS Ali Bastian AND HER HUSBAND DAVID JET OFF FOR A BABYMOON FULL OF SUN, SE A AND SERIOUS REL AXATION loved the idea of us taking a babymoon, but I’d had no idea how much we needed this break until we stepped off the plane and I felt the warm Lanzarote sun on my skin, shoulders finally dropping from around my ears. It was time to really relax.

The 30-minute drive from the airport takes you across the island’s dramatic volcanic landscape – leaving you feeling a little as though you’ve landed on Mars.

It made our arrival at the popular Playa Blanca even more exciting, as we weren’t expecting rows of two-storey-high palm trees, nor the lush tropical oasis of hotel Princesa Yaiza’s immaculate grounds.

The island known for its year-round sunshine certainly didn’t disappoint – settling at a balmy 22˚C most days.

Certainly warm enough to debut my maternity swimsuit and unwind under a parasol with a birthing book!

Mere metres from the golden sandy beach of Playa Dorada, Princesa Yaiza is perfectly positioned for guests to enjoy a host of water sports and activities, of which we shamefully participated in none! If, like us, reclining on a sun lounger is more your speed, then you’ll find plenty of them on the beach. There are also three swimming pools to choose from, one of which is saltwater – this is where we set up camp most days.

The hotel, while being incredibly family friendly, complete with children’s pool, soft play and kids’ club, manages to cater

I

Paddling was the only Playa Dorada water sport Ali was up for this time

Poolside relaxation was a babymoon priority for Ali and David

92 | baby-magazine.co.uk

perfectly for a romantic getaway. Due to the scale of the place – it’s enormous – there are enough quiet corners in the gardens and around the pool to curl up together. The bedrooms feel like spacious apartments; we had a beautiful balcony overlooking the ocean, where David and I loved to spend evenings watching the sun go down, chatting, laughing and dreaming of what’s to come.

There are eight restaurants to choose from, including Japanese, Mexican, Spanish and Italian, as well as two bars.

Playa Dorada comes alive at night, should you wish to venture out. We usually like to explore but with the extensive facilities on offer, and our primary purpose being relaxation, there really was no need to leave the resort.

Top of Princesa Yaiza’s the not-tobe-missed list is a visit to its Spa and Thalassotherapy Centre. I was treated to the signature pregnancy massage, which was just heaven. It really wasn’t until we gave ourselves the time and space to unwind at Yaiza, that we realised how fast a pace we’d been living at back in London. Having a few lazy days together in the sunshine to decompress, hold hands and daydream about the future was so precious. We cannot wait to return with our little bundle of joy.

Prices from £169 per night including breakfast, based on two people sharing, princesayaiza.com

Princesa Yaiza’s spacious bedrooms felt more like private apartments

ALI’S DRESSES: TIFFANYROSE.COM. SWIMSUIT & COVER UP: SERAPHINE.COM. PHOTOGRAPHY: BLUEPINEAPPLEPICTURES.COM

LANZAROTE

Because they deserve it ...

Offer your little ones a world of illusion and spend some unforgettable family holidays.

HOVIMA La Pinta Beachfront Family Hotel puts at your disposal the most outstanding programs and entertainment facilities, guaranteeing you spectacular views of the ocean.

Curious?

Visit our webpage www.hovimalapinta.com/en/

HOVIMALAPINTA.COM Costa Adeje - Tenerife South

RUNNING HEAD

Mum’s the word HOLIDAYS WITH BABY DON’T HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL. DON’T BELIEVE US? Henrietta Easton INVESTIGATES THE L ATEST TAILOR-MADE RETRE ATS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH MUMS IN MIND. AND BRE ATHE...

S

elf-care may seem like just another millennial buzzword that has little bearing on your life as a new mum, but don’t be so quick to scorn. After all, it’s a fact that looking after yourself is essential to both your, and baby’s, mental and physical wellbeing.

And the kind of self-care we’re talking about goes deeper than a bubble bath and bar of Dairy Milk. Proper time away with baby focusing on just the two of you, or spending time with like-minded mums, is the medicine you didn’t know you needed.

However, if the notion of a peaceful break with an infant in tow sounds positively laughable, prepare to be surprised. These retreats were designed to ease new-parent anxieties, provide ‘me’ time and enhance you and your tot’s bond. Who knows, you might make new friends, be inspired to make that longed-for career change, or simply return home happier and healthier.

94 | baby-magazine.co.uk

MAMAHEAVEN

Created by women, for women, Mamaheaven retreats do exactly what they say on the tin.

Aimed at mums with babies under 18 months, the carefully curated weekend is designed to enhance the precious bond with your baby and soothe new-parent concerns in a supportive, female environment. Breathe fresh sea air in a beautiful country mansion house on the Sussex coast, while enjoying two days of yoga, nutrition and massage sessions, with a daily crèche for babies too.

You’ll also be encouraged to share birth stories, mothering struggles and parenting tips with your fellow mums. With an emphasis on natural, sustainable parenting, relaxation and empowerment you’ll leave with a renewed

Bond with baby and other mums at Mamaheaven

sense of confidence, a fresh outlook, new friends, and an excitement about the next stage of motherhood. And if that isn’t enough to tempt you, there’s an amazing goodie bag of organic, eco-friendly beauty, baby, household and food products to enjoy afterwards. From £690, mamaheaven.org

TRAVEL

Focus on your mind, body and some much-needed fun with The Mummy Tribe’s fabulous squad

THE MUMMY TRIBE

SELF-CARE SUCCESS

Created by Binky Felstead, The Mummy Tribe runs enlightening retreats for mums at any stage of the game, to help them focus on their bodies and minds, and have some muchneeded fun. Based on an idyllic 12-acre East Sussex estate, you’ll enjoy exercise classes, indulge in beauty treatments and connect with like-minded women, while workshops are led by a host of experts, from women’s health physios and baby-sleep experts to fashion stylists. The Mini Tribe will have a luxury time too, with a sensory tent, reading room, their own sleeping room and art classes. There are personal nannies on hand for their every need so you can really treat yourself and learn a lot in a no-holds-barred environment. 2020 dates and prices TBC, themummytribe.co.uk

Clio Wood, founder of &Breathe Postnatal shares her empowering words of wisdom on the importance of looking after yourself

I LUXURY FAMILY HOTELS – BABY’S FIRST STAY AWAY

Revel in a mix of romantic time with your partner and having fun with your little one with the spoiling Baby’s First Stay Away package

HOLYMAMA

Need some zen? For mums seeking something further afield, an ethical HolyMama retreat will cleanse you physically, mentally and spiritually in an exotic setting, baby in tow. Honouring mothers as the goddesses they are, the week-long stay will reawaken and nurture the ‘divine feminine’ in you. The next retreat takes place at a private jungle resort in Ubud, Bali (31 March to 6 April 2020), where you can enjoy morning yoga, Balinese massages, Women’s Circle workshops and a raw vegan menu.

Baby will be well cared for too, with daily creative classes and evening babysitting from a HolyCarer, specially matched to them. This is a chance to reconnect with yourself, your baby and your fellow goddesses. HolyMama also runs retreats in Goa, Morocco and Ibiza. Bali retreat starts from £2,300, holymama.info

The idea of upending your newfound structure for a minibreak can seem more stressful than relaxing. But Luxury Family Hotels’ Baby’s First Stay Away package includes everything needed to make this time with your partner restorative. The stay includes complimentary babysitting in the evenings, so that you two can have a date night without worrying about your tot. It also offers two hours’ free day care in the Ofsted-registered crèche, an ideal window for indulgent spa time or long walks around the grounds. You’ll even find a Storksak Organics Baby Spa Gift Set in your room. Annnnnd relax... luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk

Indulge in jungle yoga sessions with a gang of goddesses at Holymama’s Balinese retreat

n the maelstrom of motherhood, we mums (oddly) leave ourselves by the wayside. Somehow, keeping a baby alive takes precedence over keeping ourselves well. Take this as a reminder that you matter too – after all, who’s going to keep that baby alive if you’re not? Need persuading? Maybe these will convince you: • OK, self-care was the biggest app trend in 2018 and 2019, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth signing up to.

The Oxford Mindfulness Centre at the University of Oxford’s mission is to promote mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to combat depression, the underlying skills of which, if taught universally, “can support the mental health and wellbeing of the broader population.”

That means you too, mama.

• It’s not all about baths. Selfcare gets a bad rep through perky images littering social media, but it’s about both more and less than slapping a face pack on. It can be deeper, because it really restores you to you; more basic because it can just be about stopping and breathing. Go on, just notice what’s around you. Slow down and recognise how you’re reacting to things. Do you need more time to yourself?

• Children learn by example.

Read The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad You Did) by Phillippa Perry.

If you’re not making time to care for yourself, you’re teaching your kids to ignore their own needs too.

baby-magazine.co.uk | 95

Boutiques THE LITTLE WHITE COMPANY

The Little White Company’s immaculate stores are a favourite with stylish mamas looking for luxury clothes, bedding and toys that are still practical and affordable. From gorgeous cashmere sweaters to the cutest ballet slippers and pure cotton sleepwear, everything at The Little White Company maintains the simple, elegant aesthetic of the adult collection, but with a touch of childhood magic thrown in, too.

STORES ACROSS THE UK thewhitecompany.com

BONPOINT, LONDON

Bonpoint is undoubtedly the haute couture of children’s fashion, with in-house design studios and stores all over the globe. Under the artistic direction of Christine Innamorato, each piece from the Parisian boutique is meticulously hand-crafted to exacting standards. Its classic range of clothing features signature detailing, unrivalled quality fabrics and beautifully intricate patterns and prints, catering for stylish boys, girls and babies.

STORES ACROSS LONDON bonpoint.com

MILK & HONEY, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Situated in the spa town of Harrogate, Milk & Honey stocks a range of clothes, accessories and toys for all ages. There are more than 40 renowned labels to browse, from sweet baby clothing to fashion-conscious pieces for your teen, and its friendly team is always happy to make your experience as pleasurable and stress free as possible. They’ll even gift-wrap your purchase should you request it. Brands include Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and Pepe Jeans.

14-16 CHELTENHAM PARADE, HARROGATE, NORTH YORKSHIRE HG1 1DB milkandhoneykids.co.uk

NATURAL FOR BABY, LONDON

This Balham-based boutique makes every effort it can to consider the environment. Stocking brands such as The Little Green Sheep, Le Toy Van and Wooly Organic, each item sold is made with organic natural materials under the best possible ethical and environmentally-friendly conditions.

The shop itself is run on an a set of eco-based policies such as Close the Door to keep the heat in, electricity is provided from a green supplier and all notices are made from recycled paper.

78 BALHAM HIGH ROAD, LONDON SW12 9AG naturalforbaby.london

BIRDKIDS, CORNWALL

Nestled in the seaside village of Fowey in Cornwall, Birdkids is, as the name suggests, inspired by the wonders of nature. Founded by Jane Bird over a decade ago, here you can shop from an everevolving selection of clothes, toys and gifts for children. Browse its eclectic mix of products and you’ll find animals, butterflies, bugs, birds and flowers just about everywhere. We especially love the sweet animal towels from Liewood and the aquatic soft toys from Wild Republic.

3 CUSTOM HOUSE HILL, FOWEY PL23 1AB birdkids.co.uk

HUGO AND ME, MANCHESTER

Mother Victoria, founder of successful online boutique Hugo & Me is launching her brand in its first high street store in the centre of vibrant Manchester. The ethical babywear brand offers highquality, sleek and organic clothes for little ones that help save the planet while being contemporary and stylish, from brands such as The Plush Knit Company, Tao & Friends and Earth Soul. She has an amazing selection of sustainable nursery furniture and slogan tees for mama too.

STORE OPENS 8TH DECEMBER 2019 111 HIGH STREET, UPPERMILL, OLDHAM OL3 6BD hugoandme.co.uk

96 | baby-magazine.co.uk

Boutiques TREE HOUSE, SCOTLAND

Run by sisters, Kim and Sophie, Treehouse is your one-stop shop for kids, set on the banks of the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. As well as a selection of clothes and gifts, there’s a particular focus on children’s shoes, with knowledgeable staff available to help you find the perfect pair for your little one. It offers a hairdressing service, too, from first haircuts to regular trims, the team will transform the experience into a fun activity with car chairs and DVDS. 10-12 HAMILTON PLACE, EDINBURGH EH3 5AU treehousechildrenswear.co.uk

THE LITTLE NATURAL CO, EAST SUSSEX

As the name would have it, The Little Natural Co specialises in organic, natural and handmade products for both baby and child. With an emphasis on ethical and sustainable production, its beautiful pieces are both trend led and environmentally friendly, from clothing and toys to skincare and accessories. The boutique stocks some of our favourite brands, including Olli Ella, Mabli, Wee Gallery and Sleepy Doe. 147 HIGH STREET, LEWES BN7 1XT thelittlenaturalco.co.uk

EVE’S TOY SHOP, WALES

LITTLE GREEN RADICALS

Founded in 2005, Little Green Radicals was one of the first brands in the UK to receive Fairtrade Certification. It now sells 100 per cent organic cotton baby clothes, kidswear and accessories that are designed to adjust and grow with your child and be passed on from one child to another. Better for farmers, babies and the planet, the store avoids pesticides at all costs and are well on their way to being completely plastic free. littlegreenradicals.co.uk

FOLK INTERIORS

Folk Interiors founder Katy believes everything you own should spark joy. With an interest in Scandinavian design the brand showcases the best in interiors, for little ones and adults, and every ethically sourced piece had been lovingly curated for beauty and functionality.

From homewares, stationery gifts and toys Katy’s brand is on a mission to help you create a beautiful home. folkinteriors.co.uk

ONLINE

After being inspired to set up her own online boutique after the arrival of her twin daughters, Clara Bentata founded Lucy & Belle as a shopping destination for discerning parents. The site prides itself on delivering the best customer experience with an extensive selection of products, from baby clothing and changing bags, to outdoor pieces and accessories. Top brands include Pasito a Pasito, Cam Cam Copenhagen and Babidu. lucyandbelle.com

ONLINE

LUCY & BELLE

ONLINE

A veritable treasure trove for kids big and small, Eve’s Toy Shop in the colourful town of Llandeilo, South Wales has toys of every kind. Whether you’re after something creative, want to get messy or spark imaginations, you’ll find it here. The owners source products from the best toy-makers across Europe, with featured brands including Djeco, Moulin Roty, Haba and Jellycat. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for updates on the latest in-store events, from pet parties to Lego fun.

1 KING STREET, LLANDEILO, CAMARTHENSHIRE SA19 6AA evestoyshop.co.uk

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BUSINESS Jayn’s goal for 2020 is to spend more time in nature, as she loves spending time on Weleda’s 13-acre herb farm

Tell us a bit about Weleda.

Weleda was founded in Switzerland in 1921 by a Dutch medical doctor Ita Wegman and the famous Austrian-born philosopher Rudolf Steiner.

It began as a pharmaceutical company, making natural medicines and wellbeing products from plants and minerals. Today, it’s the largest manufacturer of holistic medicines and organic skincare in the world – although we’re still tiny compared to most mainstream beauty brands.

Weleda is run using Steiner’s principles of balancing the needs of people and planet. We grow our ingredients in our own gardens or through supported Fair Trade farming projects globally.

We work with the Union for Ethical Bio Trade (UEBT), to set industry standards for sustainable sourcing practices, and our goal is to ensure we make every product to the highest quality possible.

Describe a typical day for you.

One of the great things about my job is there’s no such thing as a typical day. I can go from meeting buyers and talking to customers to speaking at an event, or even

98 | baby-magazine.co.uk

INSPIRE JAYN STERLAND

We talk to Weleda’s managing director about blended lives, business moments and her ultimate baby skincare tip helping in the warehouse! My best day would be one spent on our 13-acre herb farm with the gardening team. It’s a wonderful nature reserve full of wildlife. We have our own bees, wildflower meadows and lots of woodland.

How do you maintain a good work/life balance?

Great question! My work and home lives are blended. Recently I’ve been boundary setting to establish more me time, as being a mum and a MD is challenging. But Weleda’s Calendula Nappy Change Cream is Jayn’s top skincare buy

being in nature for 30 minutes, taking 20-minute walks and having set sleep times are my daily goals.

What’s been the brand’s proudest business moment?

Over the years there have been many highlights, from working with Victoria Beckham to being awarded the number-one spot by the industry’s Who’s Who in Natural Beauty shortlist for four years running. Personally, I’m proudest when we make a difference to lives. I have the privilege of working with Weleda’s Wellbeing Advisors, 500 people who have dedicated their lives to wellness – many are complementary health practitioners, homeopaths and massage therapists.

Weleda is renowned for its all-natural baby skincare range

Through them, we see how effective our products are for solving health problems.

What’s your top skincare tip?

Less is more. I wished I’d known this when I had my boys, as I was forever trying different products.

Babies are born perfectly packaged, arriving covered in moisturising vernix which protects their delicate skin. The first thing we do is wash this off when in fact, we should allow the vernix to be absorbed. My advice is to only use water for bathing for the first four weeks, a quality organic oil to clean and moisturise, plus Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream as a barrier. Simple.

What’s next for Weleda?

We’re planning our centenary in 2021, which is a huge achievement in itself. We’re planning some industry events to raise awareness of the climate emergency and talk about how business can be a force for good. In the UK, we plan to build a sustainable eco-centre for training and to promote wellness the ‘Weleda way’. weleda.co.uk

Formulated by Vitabiotics’ nutritional experts, to support the nutritional requirements of babies and young children Contains UK Department of Health recommended levels of vitamin D1

Wellbaby multi-vitamins contain the recommended vitamins A, C and D1

2019-03-21 ADWBYCONP E

Vit D Drops

Multi-vitamin Drops

Multi-vitamin Liquid

From , Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, supermarkets, chemists, health stores and wellbaby.com 1. The UK Department of Health recommends that all babies from birth until the age of 1 should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5-10mcg of vitamin D and that children from one to 4 years should be given a supplement containing 10mcg Vitamin D. In addition, all infants aged from 6 months to 5 years should be given a supplement containing vitamins A, C and D (Unless they are drinking 500ml (or approx. 1 pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula has vitamins added to it).

Source: NHS Choices. *Source: Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value and Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e 7 September 2019.To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd, 1 Apsley Way, London NW2 7HF.

Time for the little things

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