BABIES & KIDS
GLIDE IN MARSHMALLOW
Designed by kids for kids, Dubs create the most fun and comfortable shoes your kid will ever own! We’re not like fast-fashion brands that simply shrink down adult sizes. Instead, we collaborate with the best kids’ footwear experts to build our shoes from the ground up. Each sole is individually sized from scratch, ensuring that every pair provides the perfect balance of comfort and room for natural growth and movement.
dubsuniverse.com
PONY CLUB
Pretty and pink, this practical backpack is perfect for children who love ponies. There are two sizes available. The first is ideal for little snacks or carrying their favourite small toy to the park. sophieallport.com
BUILDING PLAY
Construct the ultimate fun destination for kids with the KidKraft Building Bricks Play N Store Table in natural. Kids are going to love dreaming up ways to design and build imaginative creations on this full-sized building brick table. The included 200+ building bricks offer endless construction possibilities, and the 360-degree play space allows multiple kids to play together. thelittleplace.com
INTO AUTUMN
This new Peter Pan dress in a gorgeous autumnal gingham and floral fabric, looks wonderful worn with a chunky cardigan, knitted tights and boots! The little pockets at the front are perfect for your little ones to keep their treasures in which they may find on their autumn adventures. thelittleplace.com
BEE KIND
Celebrate the humble bumblebee with this garland complete with bees and hive by decorating mantels and shelves , drape along a banister, or even in a child’s bedroom. This handmade and biodegradable garland is 120cm long and has needle felted bees on a natural string garland with their felted hive in the centre. Each garland comes with its own reusable organic cotton bag.
funky-chunky-furniture.co.uk
ADVENTURE AWAITS AS THE LEGOLAND® WINDSOR RESORT OPENS WOODLAND VILLAGE
The wait is over for LEGO® lovers of all ages as LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort has opened its doors to the highly anticipated LEGOLAND Woodland Village, a charming addition to the parks enchanting landscape.
Nestled amidst the picturesque woodlands of LEGOLAND® Windsor, the Woodland Village is set on a 10-acre site where guests can relax after a full day of adventurous play in one of the 130 cosy lodges or 20 stylish camping barrels offering the perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
Families of between two and seven people can choose from the standard Woodland Lodges, stay in style in the Premium Lodges or go glamping in the Woodland Barrels. Those who choose to stay in the lodges will be able to bring the outside in with the unique Woodland Village AR Experience where LEGO® plants and animals will transform the interior into a woodland haven to create picture perfect moments.
With a LEGO nature-trail and a number of new play areas to adventure in, Junior LEGOLAND® Rangers will need a stop off at the Clubhouse Restaurant & Bar to regain their energy. Featuring colourful LEGO characters, families will enjoy campfire inspired dining beneath the twinkling tree canopy or can head out onto the terrace to savour their sumptuous feasts in the great outdoors.
Helen Bull, Divisional Director at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, said: “We are thrilled to unveil the Woodland Village at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. This enchanting addition brings to life the imaginative world
of LEGO®, whilst allowing families to make everlasting memories and reconnect with nature both in its real life and brick form.”
The £35million development is the first operationally carbon-neutral accommodation built by LEGOLAND owner Merlin Entertainments and has officially achieved it’s ‘Carbon Neutral’ verification from the Carbon Trust, highlighting their commitment to being operationally carbon neutral.
Prices to book a short break at LEGOLAND Woodland Village start from £69 per person including entry to the LEGOLAND Windsor theme park, a round of LEGOLAND Adventure golf, and bed and breakfast.
For more details and to book your stay, visitlegoland.co.uk
“This enchanting addition brings to life the imaginative world of LEGO®”
‘WHY DO BABYGROWS HAVE ALL THESE POPPERS?’
This is a question most parents probably ask as they are dressing their newborn in the middle of the night.
As a Mummy of two very wriggly little boys I have first hand experience of the struggle to dress them, it’s like wrestling a lion cub trying to get them dressed after bath time. ZIPPYUP’s will make nappy and outfit changes so much quicker and easier.
With this in mind I got to work on making ZIPPYUP a brand that gives you not only useful but stylish babygrows.
Before promoting myself to the position of Mummy I had a background in textile design and fashion, a passion I didn’t want to be lost in the midsts of motherhood. I have taken the many years of experience and put it to good use by designing a babygrow that works well for both the wearer and the dresser.
ZIPPYUP products aren’t just well designed, they are beautiful quality. The collection has now expanded with an organic cotton range in a variety of colours, Winter fleece onesies are great for after swimming or just to keep cosy on strolls in the buggy…and now sleeping bags with legs. I personally source and work with the factories making ZIPPYUPs to get the best possible materials.
All ZIPPYUPs have concealed zips so they do not have contact with your baby’s skin and the tab at the neck ensures the zip puller doesn’t catch on any little chins.
Sleeves have turn back cuffs so you don’t need separate (often lost or odd) mittens.
There is a wide variety of prints and colour combinations including unisex colours such as aqua and pale grey along with traditional whites, pinks, blues and rainbows.
I am very excited to have also launched the new ZIPPYUP sleeping bag with legs and detachable arms. Select from 1 Tog and 2.5 Tog thickness, designed to be worn as a baggy fit so it can also be layered with a ZIPPYUP babygrow underneath for extra warmth. The sleeves simply zip on or off depending on your babies needs. Sizes are from 6-12 months up to 24-36 months.
New to the ZIPPYUP family this month is a subscription service, you can have a range of babygrows delivered straight to your door every month! Choose how many and what size you want in either girl, boy or neutral colours and we do the rest!
At ZIPPYUP we are always developing new designs, prints and colour combinations, I look forward to sharing these with you. zippyup.com
BEAUTIFUL BABYGROW
“I couldn’t be happier with this beautiful babygrow. Night feeds in particular are so much easier now I can just zip up and I don’t have to fiddle with poppers”
–Simone M
(Spring Garden Bunny Printed Zipped Babygrow)
FAIRY FESTIVAL
16-18 August 2024
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to visit fairyland, then read on, as the multiple award winning 3 Wishes Fairy Festival (16-18 August) could be the small family friendly festival for you! 3 magical days and nights of fairy delight, organiser and author of ‘Fairy Whispering’, 111 Magical Practices to Connect with the Fairies, Karen Kay, says,
“This year, we have more than 100 workshops, talks and activities for adults and young people, all included in the ticket price, we have a mermaid lagoon with real mermaids! Live music with local grass-roots performers and some traveling from overseas. The festival is fully family friendly, with something for all ages. So parents and guardians can watch a band whilst their children are partaking in an activity within view. You’ll find bubble fairies wandering the site, fairy circus shows, cacao ceremonies, and a fairy market, selling everything from flower crowns and crystals
BABY CLOTHES WITH ZIPS
to clothing and self-care lotions and potions.”
With plant-based food sold on the site, the festival takes place at Garslade Farm, Godney, Somerset, near Glastonbury, with day, weekend and the full three-day tickets available.
“This year, we have more than 100 workshops, talks and activities for adults and young people, all included in the ticket price, we have a mermaid lagoon with real mermaids!”
THE DETAILS
See fairyfestival.co.uk for more information and tickets. You’ll also find the festival on social media @3wishesfairyfestival
Photography: Danniella Jaine Photography
Getting Ready for School with THE LITTLE GYM
At a critical developmental stage, 3 and 4 year olds are taking significant steps in their development. They will start joining structured classes without their parents and starting their school journeys at a unique time. In today’s world, carers have a crucial role in preparing them for this new chapter by starting the development of their physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills. The Little Gym’s goal is to ensure they not only cope with their new school experience but thrive and enjoy it.
THE BALANCED CHILD
Integrating the latest research in child psychology and development into all of their classes, The Little Gym believe in nurturing the whole child— body, brain, and social skills—through their threedimensional learning approach:
Get Moving: Movement is essential for learning, helping children develop body control, physical confidence, coordination, and both gross and fine motor skills.
Brain Boost: Their classes lay the foundation for critical intellectual skills such as reasoning, problem-solving, concentration, creative thinking and expression.
Life Skills: Strong life skills like self-belief, confidence, resilience, listening, communication, independence, leadership, cooperation and respect are essential for success in school and beyond.
BUILDING INDEPENDENCE
Every child is unique, and they’ll be ready when
they’re ready. When attending independent classes at The Little Gym, parents are welcome to stay with their child until they gain confidence. Then, before they know it, parents are watching from the lobby, enjoying a hot tea or coffee. Once children discover the joys of independence, they’re eager to join in with the older children. Their classes for 3-5 year olds balance exploration and play with structured activities, ensuring they learn best through fun.
LEARNING THROUGH FUN
Skilled instructors incorporate imagination and creativity into every class. The kids aren’t just jumping—they’re reaching for the moon, running through the stars, dodging aliens, and using superhero powers. This creative expression helps them learn faster, listen better, and prepare for good listening at school.
VALUE EVERY CHILD
The Little Gym prioritises individual attention, with a maximum of six children per teacher in their pre-school classes. This allows their teachers to understand each child’s personality, passions, skills and needs, fostering personalised learning and fun.
Let’s Get Kids Moving and Growing Together!
If you’re not yet a member, join The Little Gym Chiswick, Wandsworth or Wimbledon’s educational revolution.
THE DETAILS
The Little Gym Chiswick
The University of Westminster Sports Ground, Hartington Road, Chiswick, W4 3AN 020 8994 3729 chiswick@thelittlegym.co.uk
The Little Gym Wandsworth Unit 8 Compass House, Riverside West, Smugglers Way London SW18 1DB 020 8874 6567 wandsworth_fulham @thelittlegym.co.uk
The Little Gym Wimbledon
The Little Gym, Unit 206/207, Wimbledon Quarter, 4 Queens Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8ND 020 8090 5960 wimbledon@thelittlegym.co.uk
Keeping the kids busy in the school holidays and beyond
So we have the summer holidays in full swing, and if you’re already running out of ideas of to keep the kids busy, check out some of our fun and easy ways to keep the little ones occupied! For summer and beyond...we’ve got some great solutions to keep them busy...
ACTIVITY GIFTS
Whether you’re little one is a budding engineer, or a fan of fairies... our little Gift In A Tin sets are the perfect way to pass a rainy afternoon and occupy their imaginations.
PLAYING MAKE BELIEVE
Who doesn’t love a tea party? These gorgeous tea sets come in their own little carry case and are perfect for indoor and outdoor picnics, alike. You just provide the snacks!
FOR TINY TOTS
Keep the littlies in your life occupied, if even for a short while, with our gorgeous range of gifts. thenookhome.co.uk
Focus on… VITAMIN D
Dr Angela Rai from The London General Practice, discusses the benefits and importance of vitamin D.
“Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth and bones and helps regulate calcium levels in the body. The consequences of Vitamin D deficiency are cardiomyopathy (a condition which affects the heart muscle), osteomalacia in adults which may present as bone pain, poor growth and rickets in children, and seizures in infants. There is some evidence to suggest that Vitamin D may protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes but this is currently inconclusive.”
Are you at risk of Vitamin D deficiency?
• Pregnant and breast feeding women
• Infants and adolescents
• Those with reduced sun exposure - countries in the northern latitude including the UK winter season
• Those with darker skin as they need more sunshine to make Vitamin D.
• If you wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
• People with limited diets including vegetarians and vegans
“Sunshine is the main source of Vitamin D, as our body creates Vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin. It is important to follow safe sun exposure and not allow your skin to redden or burn and use sun protection if you plan to be out longer in the sun. It has been recommended to have between five and 30 minutes of sun exposure to your unprotected face, arms, legs or back between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. two to three times every week to produce enough Vitamin D for your body. Your body can’t make Vitamin D if you are indoors by a sunny window as UVB light can’t get through the glass, so it’s important to be outdoors.
In the UK winter months, sunlight doesn’t contain enough UVB to make adequate Vitamin D, so we rely on food source or supplements like oily fish, eggs, fortified yoghurts, cereals and infant formula milk.
Those considered to be at risk can take Vitamin D supplements. A daily dose of 400 international units or 10 mcg is considered to be safe for most age groups. It is recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women take 400 units daily. If there are medical concerns, further testing can be performed by a simple blood test. Those that are deficient can be prescribed higher treatment doses of Vitamin D, although medical advice must be followed as too much Vitamin D can cause toxicity. Enjoying the sun safely, while taking care not to burn, can help to provide the benefits of Vitamin D, without unduly increasing risks of skin cancer. Your GP can provide you with further personalised guidance should you have concerns.”
“Sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D”
THE FERTILITY CENTRE
Formerly the Assisted Conception Unit, The Fertility Centre is a longstanding centre of excellence for fertility treatment and care at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. In 2021 they enlarged the Centre with a new satellite service at West Middlesex University Hospital, extending patient care and convenient access across West London.
The Centre provides a broad and comprehensive range of fertility services to their patients –including IVF, ICSI and IUI – but their areas of particular expertise, include the management of women and couples over the age of 40, premature ovarian ageing or low ovarian reserve, and male or sperm-related infertility issues.
Notwithstanding their expertise in these complex fields, The Fertility Centre continues to perform very well in its success rates. They hold one of the highest clinical pregnancy rates amongst NHS hospitals in the UK (please visit hfea.gov.uk for further information) and welcome NHS-funded patients and those seeking to selffund their care and treatment.
As well as treatment for those trying to conceive now, The Fertility Centre offer services for those who are considering their ability to conceive in the future. Fertility preservation through egg or embryo freezing is becoming increasingly popular and they can provide these services through their dedicated Fertility Preservation programme.
There are a number of reasons why you may wish to preserve your fertility:
• For social reasons
• Preparing to transition
• Ahead of treatment for cancer such as chemoor radiotherapy
• If you have been diagnosed with gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts
If you are thinking about your fertility health for future years, they also provide a range of fertility assessments - with packages for individuals as well as couples. Alongside tests and assessments, expert clinicians can explain your results and advise you accordingly.
In addition to their clinical expertise and range of treatment options, The Fertility Centre understands the inevitable stress and anxiety of fertility treatment. They are committed to supporting you every step of the way throughout your treatment. This includes sessions with their British Infertility Counselling Association and UK Council for Psychotherapy accredited counsellors.
THE DETAILS
The Fertility Centre team is always happy to support you and answer any questions. If you want to learn more or are ready to start your fertility journey, please contact them on 020 3315 8585 or email chelwest.acu@nhs.net. chelwestprivatecare.co.uk/ fertility-centre
The Kensington Wing
The Kensington Wing is the dedicated private maternity unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, providing women and birthing people with around-the-clock clinical care, comfortable en-suite private rooms and hospitality services.
Located in the heart of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital – part of one of the UK’s top rated hospital Trusts – your baby’s and your safety and wellbeing are reassuringly supported at all times. The Kensington Wing is immediately located next to the hospital’s outstanding and newly expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a consultant anaesthetist remains on site at all times 24/7, dedicated to the needs of our patients.
To ensure the safety of women, birthing people and birth partners, The Kensington Wing has important infection control procedures for staff and visitors to adhere to but remain welcoming to your chosen birth partner for all stages of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal stay. Your individual room and en-suite facilities are a haven, and the catering and hospitality team ensures your stay is relaxing as well as safe. On the Kensington Wing the consultant obstetricians, midwives, nurses and maternity support workers provide care as a team and are delighted to offer both consultant-led and midwife-led maternity packages.
THE DETAILS
If you would like to talk to one of the team, call 020 3315 8616, email chelwest.kensington@nhs.net or visit thekensingtonwing.co.uk
The Kensington Wing’s highly experienced team of midwives welcome enquiries and the opportunity to discuss midwife-led care in more detail. These ‘meet the midwife’ sessions are always a relaxed and special time to talk and discover more without any obligation. For those women and birthing people who are appropriate for midwife-led care, the team provide full support throughout your pregnancy and the midwifery team are available 24 hours seven days a week for advice or concerns throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal stay.
The consultant-led care package allows you the choice of one of their experienced consultant obstetricians to personally guide you through your pregnancy and birth. Your consultant provides continuity and individualised expertise throughout your journey. They build a relationship with you and your partner through the antenatal period to give you confidence to birth safely with them in line with your birth preferences. They continue to support you through the postnatal period, including your 6 week postnatal check. All consultants are available to meet you and your birth partner without any obligation.
The Kensington Wing enquiry team are always happy to support with these arrangements and answer any questions.
