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ISSUE 23
IN THIS ISSUE: Summer Lovin’ Bump, Birth & Baby Cool Kids’ Rooms Ethical Parenting Party Time Time for Sleep Competitions and much more . . .
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Summer Lovin’ Inspiring Young Minds School’s out for summer Keep young minds active this summer COMPETITION – Dress-a-Doll
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Health Managing Your Child's Summer Allergies COMPETITION – SnuggleBundl MHRA – Yellow Card Scheme
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Bump, Birth and Baby Antenatal depression Hosting a Baby Shower New Baby? Reach for your Smartphone Out and about with baby Keeping your baby close can help breastfeeding and with Postnatal Depression COMPETITION – Real Easy Nappies
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At the Baby Show COMPETITION – BabiesCostumes.co.uk COMPETITION – Poddle Pod COMPETITION – Tidy Tot
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Breastfeeding Breastfeeding basics COMPETITION – Ardo Calypso
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Ethical Parenting Eco Essentials for a Newborn COMPETITION – Funky Monkey Pants Greener Homes
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Kids’ Fashion Time for Sleep Summer Sleep Advice
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Cool Kids’ Rooms
A note from the editor 53
Party Time Helpful tips and inspirations for children’s party planning
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Back to School Parents’ needs… in the spotlight! Mobile Dilemmas
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Take a Break A staycation may be just the break your family needs
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Special Needs Family Positive about Autism Hesley Group Independent Specialist Colleges – A Positive Outlook Autism’s Got Talent Wear It For Autism Learners at Baston House School work towards Independent Living Diplomas Hillingdon Manor School – Academic Year 2014-2015
Hi there – thanks for picking up this issue of My Family Magazine. School’s out for summer, but your child’s learning doesn’t have to stop! We’ve taken our inspiration from the freedom that the summer holidays bring to supply you with fun ways to keep children amused, to spark their imaginations and keep learning during the longest school break of the year. If change of routine, warmer temperatures and lighter nights are causing sleep difficulties for your child, check out The Children’s Sleep Charity’s advice in our Time for Sleep section which also features some fantastic sleep aids. For mum-to-be and new parents, our Bump, Birth and Baby section is where you will find lots of great information to help you begin your journey as a new parent. Anna Burbidge from La Leche League GB, also gives advice on the basics of breastfeeding and in Eco Essentials for a Newborn we take a look at greener ways to care for your new baby. In fact, this issue is jam packed cover to cover, with features about family health, children’s fashion, kids’ rooms, holidays, party ideas, back to school, special needs and much more! Happy reading! Karen x Karen Reddell – Editor
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Feature images used under license from depositphotos.com. Other images have been supplied by Kayjays Photography and other independent sources. COMPETITION RULES Full details of competition rules are available on our website www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk. Entering a competition through the print magazine or via this website will be seen as acceptance of these rules. DISCLAIMER The information contained in My Family magazine is not meant to replace that of a midwife, healthcare professional or GP. My Family would always recommend that you seek medical information from a qualified health professional.
SUMMER LOVIN’
Why paperless photo sharing is the way forward by Lucy Tobias, www.23snaps.com
Hands up if you still own an analogue camera! It’s probably fairly safe to assume there are very few hands in the air right now. These days most of us rely on our trusty smartphones for our photographic needs, and those of us that do have a ‘proper’ camera tend to lean towards a digital model. So, with all of our children’s memories and milestones captured in digital format, is there really any need to schlep down to your local Snappy Snaps and print those photos on to paper? The answer is no, and here’s why . . .
Sharing Digital Photos can be More Social
Gone are the days when you had to wait for your photos to be developed before you could show them off to your loved ones. Now, simply snap your photo, pop it in an email and away it goes. Sharing these special moments as they happen can also help friends and family feel more involved, even if they are on the other side of the world.
For some parents, the idea of sharing photos of their children on any social network will induce a look of absolute horror, but there are services specifically designed to facilitate privacy whilst still keeping a close circle of family & friends updated. Enter 23snaps. With a 23snaps account you have complete control over who can access your photos, you can invite people by text or email, and even revoke access at any time. The best bit is that the people you choose to share your photos with can comment on them, and add likes, loves, and smileys, to show you how much they enjoy seeing them. 23snaps is available on all smartphones, online, and via email, making it completely accessible to every member of the family.
Digital Photos are Easier to Organise
Going Paperless is Environmentally Friendly
Almost every photo taken on a smartphone, tablet, or digital camera will contain a timestamp; which denotes exactly when the photo was taken, making chronologising your
First, here is an interesting fact; did you know that one tree produces approximately 8,300 sheets of paper?
Sharing Photos Digitally is Quick
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photos so much easier. Facial recognition software also enables you to organise your photos by the people who are in them, meaning you can have a separate image folder for every member of the family.
myfamily
Now, according to Netmums, new parents take an average of 780 photos of their child before they turn one year old. If we assume this number reduces by around 10% year-on-year, it means that parents will take about 6,359 photos of their child by the time they’re 16. If all of those photos were to be printed, that would equal almost 1 tree per child! With around 130 million babies born each year, that’s a lot of trees being used solely to print photos. Going paperless, at least for the most part, means that fewer trees will need to be harvested, without denying grandma and grandpa the joy of seeing an abundance of photos of their favourite grandchildren. See?! Saving and sharing your photos digitally makes so much more sense than printing every image you take. A printed photo album is still a wonderful treat (and they make great gifts!), but by sticking to printing only the most special moments, you can make your life easier, and the planet greener. If you feel like you deserve your treat now, here’s just the thing: get 10% discount off your first photo book order from Printastic. Simply download the free Printastic app from the App Store, and enter MYBABY10 at the checkout to redeem the offer.
SUMMER LOVIN’
What’s Hot for Summer? As temperatures soar, here are a few of our favourite products for home and away . . . BeltUpp When you take to the road this summer fit BeltUpp – the revolutionary safety strap. With BeltUpp your child will be safer, more comfortable and it is easily fitted. Price £17.99. www.fiesta-tots.co.uk
Snuggle Sac The ideal travel companion for your child – this is a versatile, fleecy sleeping bag that conveniently packs into its very own travel bag, making it perfect for use at home or away. SAVE 10% when you order from www.snugglesac.com with discount code MF10 at the checkout. www.snugglesac.com
Funky Little Bugs Parasol This eye-catching parasol by Funky Little Bugs will make a stylish addition to your baby’s pram this summer. Available in a range of exclusive designs including Star Wars, Marvel and many more fun fabrics. www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs
LumiPotti™ This is a must have for potty training days and nights. With a movement sensitive, removable nightlight that doubles up as a handy little light to guide older kids to the toilet – it’s also a great piece of kit for camping trips and holidays. For 20% off direct from LumiPotti.com use code SUMMER15 (Valid 1/5/15 - 31/8/15) www.lumipotti.com
Flamingo Wall Stickers Summer is here and Mimi Lou Flamingos wall stickers are a great way to update your child’s nursery or bedroom décor. They will bring your child's space to life with a creative design that is sure to spark their imagination or can be used to brighten any wall in your home. Price £10.00.
Lacrosse All in One This set provides everything you need from birth to kindergarten age. Includes reversible seat unit with seatpad, cosy pram with mosquito net, Group 0+ car seat, raincover and changing bag. RRP: £299.99. Stockists: Precious Little One, Kiddies Kingdom, Mothercare, Tesco www.hauck.com
www.petithome.co.uk
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SUMMER LOVIN’
Make sure your kids are safe this summer British summertime sees families from across the nation heading to seaside locations for their holidays. Kids love to be in water, whether that is swimming at their local pool, splashing about in rock pools or playing in the waves by the beach. It is something of a tradition for kids to play in the sea with friends and siblings while their parents watch from the comfort of their deck chair, but parents need to be constantly aware of where their children are and what they are doing to make sure they are safe. The ASA, England’s national governing body for swimming, and the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, take annually to beaches and lakes nationwide to provide children and their parents the opportunity to learn about staying safe in open water and understand beach safety.
Swim Safe runs during the Summer Holidays, six days a week during the period. Each session includes a 10-minute talk with RNLI lifeguards and 30 minutes in-water tuition from ASA qualified swimming teachers completely free of charge.
Children must be aged between 7-14 years old and be able to swim a minimum of 25m unaided to take part. This year the Swim Safe programme takes place in the following locations from the 18th July to the 13th August 2015: ● Bude Sea Pool, Bude, Cornwall ● Boscombe Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset ● Sandhaven Beach, South Shields, Tyne and Wear ● Brockhole, the Lake District For more information about Swim Safe, please visit www.swimming.org/swimsafe or email swimsafe@swimming.org.
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SUMMER LOVIN’
New SwimFin Will Make You Green With Envy this Summer! The team behind the world’s one and only fin shaped swimming aid are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new colour for 2015. This summer the brand new Neon SwimFin will be sure to catch the attention of onlookers at the beach or local pool.
The new Neon SwimFin is a luscious lime colour that will add a bright touch to every swimming outfit and is sure to be a hit with both boys and girls! The innovative SwimFin which is suitable from 2 years+ is an ideal teaching aid. It is the ultimate flotation device for little ones that makes learning to swim not only more
fun, but easier too. The SwimFin is worn on the back, just above the centre of gravity to allow the user to ‘suspend’ in the water without tipping forward. The SwimFin not only creates the most natural position in the water, it also ensures no movements are restricted, boasting a clever multi-stroke function. By enabling little ones to splash about with their arms and legs unhindered they can master the four swimming strokes on their first trip into the water! The beauty of a SwimFin is that it’s a selfadjusting aid, adapting as your little ones develops in confidence and ability. Even once your child has learnt to swim they can continue to use their fin to develop underwater skills such as snorkelling and underwater swimming without the worry of straying too far from the surface of the water- keeping their bright green fin in your vision!
RRP: £21.99 from www.swimfin.co.uk
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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
School’s out for summer . . . but your kids can still play, learn and have fun through the holidays The school holidays are upon us which means that we are faced with how we are going to keep the kids entertained for a whole six weeks! Although electronic games, DVD’s and TV, will have their place in keeping them amused, they are not an ideal long term fix to beat boredom. Summer learning loss is a recognised and wellresearched problem, but there are lots of ways that children can play, learn and have fun through the holidays.
Get crafty Kid’s love to make things, and getting crafty will not only give them a chance to express their creativity but will help them with problem solving skills and also with reading and maths skills like measuring and counting. Activities like drawing and painting will help with hand, eye coordination and perception.
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Cookery
Put on a play
If you are at home through the holidays, cooking and baking can be great fun and involves lots of weighing, reading scales and timing activities. They will learn to use lots of different equipment and there will even be a tasty treat to enjoy at the end of the process.
Turn the living room or bedroom into a theatre, where your kids can design and make the set, write a script, take on the role of director or performer or they can use toys and puppets instead. This activity will stretch their imagination and develop communication skills.
Play a game
Plan a day trip
Board games, treasure hunts and card games make a great alternative to electronic games because the whole family can play together and they are help with problem solving, numeracy and reading. Travel sized games are also great to take on holiday and are great for keeping children entertained on a train or a plane.
When planning a day out there is lots of mathematical problem solving and research involved, which we do without realising it. Let your kids take up the challenge of planning a trip – give them a budget and time-scale for a particular day out. Ask them to cost the trip, plan train or bus times, organise a picnic lunch and write an itinerary etc.
Puzzles and brain-teasers There are lots of fun puzzle based activities that are both fun and educational – jigsaws, crossword puzzles, word searches, brain-teaser books and soduko are great for rainy days.
Visit a museum Check out local museums to see what’s on – they usually have plenty planned for the holidays and most are free. They are great place for children to learn about everything from history, to science and maths.
Nature trail The summer break offers the perfect opportunity for kids to get some fresh air, learn about nature and get some gentle exercise while they engage with the world around them. Check online for local nature trails or head for the garden, a local park, nearby fields or woodland – wherever you go kids will be amazed by what they see around them. Equip children with a notepad and pen – get children to list or draw pictures of all the different things they see or print off a nature trail spotters guide from www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Introducing PlayBag I’m a mother to two very different children! My daughter is in her early teens, very sporty and competitive. She started baton twirling five years ago and has achieved a fairly high standard meaning we are out at training probably six days a week and competing around the country several times per year. As my son who is nearly five, often has to come with us I needed something that could keep him entertained that was compact and could be quickly and easily moved and packed away. Thus the first PlayBag was born.
The active run around game that gets kids moving! Watch as Children old and young follow the Treasure Hunt Trail, working together to solve riddles, clues or picture clues to find the treasure! Perfect for Summer play-dates, parties, or special one-to-one time, it’s the stuff memories are made of. Recommended Age 3+ Expansion pack and new style Gotrovo (as pictured) available from mid August 2015
Nowadays, wherever we go, a PlayBag comes too with a mountain of various toys! Whether I am at a business meeting, coffee with friends, training or out for a meal, it is much more enjoyable knowing that he won’t be bored! Visit www.theplaybagcompany.co.uk and read our blog to find out more and check out the latest designs.
www.gotrovo.uk myfamily
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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Keep young minds active this summer – in the car, or on the beach! by Liz Walker, founder of Reading Chest Children love the freedom of summer holidays when they don’t have to go to school. However, children enjoy learning and there are plenty of learning opportunities in the summer holidays. Any games involving letters, sounds, rhyme and alliteration are fantastic for early reading skills.
IN THE CAR . . . Forget the i-Pad and DVD player and try some of these easy family games: ● First & Last Choose a category, such as food, animals, countries. After the first person has said their word, e.g. banana, then next person says something in the same category beginning with the last letter of banana e.g. apple, and so on. ● Rhyming Fun Someone picks a word to start with, such as ‘fish.’ The next player has to come up with a word that rhymes. Keep going until someone cannot think of a rhyming word. To make it more difficult, try reciting the list of previous words in order before adding your own. ● Find the Alphabet The object of the game is to spot each of the letters of the alphabet in order whilst driving along – e.g. on road signs, on the side of
lorries, on number plates etc. You could play individually or as a team. Once a letter has been claimed by a person in a particular word, then no-one else can use a letter from that word and must look for another. ● Number plate games There are lots of different games you can play with number plates. Look for letters of the alphabet in order (as part of ‘find the alphabet’ above.) Or try to build words using the letters on a number plate, e.g. CYT (coyote). Or try to make funny phrases using the letters as initial letters, e.g. ‘chickens yodelled in town.’ ● Story game Tell a story by taking turns to say a sentence at a time, following on from each other for as long as possible. Try using the sentence openers – ‘FORTUNATELY’ or ‘UNFORTUNATELY’ alternately at the beginning of each sentence. E.g. ‘Fortunately, I didn’t have to go to school because when I woke up I discovered that it had snowed all night and school was closed. Unfortunately, it had snowed so much that we couldn’t open our front door...’
ON THE BEACH . . . A wide sandy beach after the tide has just gone out makes a perfect huge drawing board! Writing in the sand with a stick or finger is fantastic for helping developing writers practise their letter formation and recognition. ● Guess the letter Write a letter in the sand (making sure you start in the correct place). As you are writing, others try to guess what it might be before you finish it. This is a good way to show that lots of letters start off in the same way e.g. d, g, a, q.
● Word treasure This can be varied to suit different abilities. Agree on the ‘treasure word,’ and write it somewhere in the sand. Write other similar sounding words near it. Vary the games by making the surrounding words all begin with the same letter or, have the same middle sound, or just make it a tricky mix. ● Hangman Traditional hangman is great for spelling. You can simplify or tailor the game to suit whatever stage of learning your child may be at to practise certain spelling patterns. E.g. The word must have an ‘ee’ in the middle. ● Pebble spelling Find a way of writing letters on pebbles, (either with a pen, another pebble, or removable stickers). See how many different words can you make with 6 pebbles (labelled s, a , t , p, i, n). Try changing the initial letter, then the middle letter. Make rhyming words with the pebbles. ● Don’t forget books Allow yourself (if you can!) some time to relax on the beach with your favourite book. Research shows that the impact of parents and in particular dads, has a huge positive impact on children’s reading. Children fall into reading habits based on what goes on in their family. If they never see their parents reading, they are much less likely to pick up a book themselves. I - Spy books are brilliant for holidays. Go to www.ispymichelin.com/ to see Michelin’s full range of I - Spy books at £2.50 each, including ‘I - Spy at the Seaside’ and ‘I - Spy on a Car Journey.’ For more reading advice and access to a wide range of levelled books delivered to your door throughout the summer, visit www.readingchest.co.uk. My Family readers can join Reading Chest with £5 off their first month’s membership using the discount code MYFAMILY15.
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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Books for or a m more ore cr creative, eative, peaceful eacefful aand nd sustainable world orld tainable w
Help yyour our cchildren hildren rrediscover ediscover tthe he jjoys of nature re tthis his ssummer umm mer w with ith o our ur in inspiring sp craft and activity books.
www.hawthornpress.com My First Multi Play Activity Cube Little ones will be entertained for hours with beads, peg maze, abacus, xylophone, shape sorter and farm-yard themed spaghetti toy. It is perfect to encourage socialising and sharing as friends can play too. Made from FSC certified timber and Eco-friendly waterbased paints.
Newly released for 2015! The PlayBag is an innovative product which is practical for parents and heaps of fun for children, encouraging imaginative play. Each PlayBag is handmade in rural Northamptonshire and each design is fully tested for maximum play value by four year old Peter! There are several ready-made PlayBags available on my website, but also the option for custom bags where you can choose the outer fabric and inner design. Our range is constantly evolving, so please subscribe to our newsletter at www.theplaybagcompany.co.uk to keep in touch with all our latest developments. We are also on Facebook and Twitter so please stop by and say hello! Contact:
Info@theplaybagcompany.co.uk www.theplaybagcompany.co.uk Tel: 07958 807189
Ages: 18-24 Months. Price: £40
www.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk
Feel Good Faces Game This is a non-competitive game to help children to become familiar with different feelings and emotions and ways of expressing them. A fun way for children to gain confidence and self-esteem – with a little bit of acting, guessing and role play, everyone will be sharing, caring, laughing and smiling while happy, positive thoughts flow! Price: £19.99
www.feelgoodfriends.com
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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Could your child benefit from extra tuition? The number of children receiving private tuition continues to grow year on year. The benefits of tuition are vast, and can include increased confidence, a greater love of learning and improved academic attainment.
The research showed that “Explore Learning members’ improvement in maths was 30% higher than that of the comparison group after controlling for gender, age, year group and special educational needs.” The study also found that “Building confidence, overcoming shyness to put up their hand to ask for help, being more independent and less reluctant to try without assistance were all elements that parents recognised in their children and directly attributed to Explore Learning.” Parents that use the service echo the benefits of extra tuition such as Explore Learning:
The tuition company Explore Learning recently commissioned the University of Reading to conduct an efficacy study in order to provide independent proof of the benefits of Explore Learning Tuition.
"My two sons have contrasting abilities and both have benefited from attending Explore. It has given them confidence in core subjects and highlighted areas they need help in. They have both improved considerably over the year. Explore employ helpful and approachable tutors who make learning fun. They remember every child individually and give them great encouragement." K. Waterhouse, Parent
Explore Learning has centres across the UK – try us for free to find out how your family can benefit! To book your free trial, visit
www.explorelearning.co.uk or call 01483 44710.
Maths Ma ths & English tuition For For 5 to to 14 year year olds of all abilities M Mapped apped ttoo the Na National tional Curric Curriculum ulum An en environment vironment tha thatt childr children en enjo enjoyy days week OOpen pen 7 da ys a w eek
B Book ook y your our fr free ee tr trial ial ttoday! oday! Explor Explore eL Learning earning has o over ver 90 ccentres entres na nationwide. tionwide. Visit Visit w www.explorelearning.co.uk/FindCentre ww.explorelearning.co.uk/FindCentre or ccall all 01483 447410 tto o find y your our near nearest est ccentre. entre.
w www.explorelearning.co.uk ww.explorelearning.co.uk 12 myfamily
INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Create your own rag doll at
Dress-A-Doll
At Dress-A-Doll you will find a range of beautiful handmade rag dolls that will keep girls and boys entertained with hours of role play fun. Dress-A-Doll rag dolls are the first traditional Rag Dolls on the market to have hair that can be styled – ideal for all those budding hair stylists! Winner of the silver Independent Toy Award 2013, Dress-A-Doll is the creation of Ruth Lord and her husband Andrew. Ruth, a former teacher started the business when she had to give up teaching after being diagnosed with clinical depression and endometriosis.
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! You could win a bespoke rag doll or dude – choose hair colour, hair style, add facial details (like freckles), choose an outfit and shoes, choose a name – then wait while the magic happens! To enter email mabel@dress-a-doll.co.uk subject: I WANT A DOLL with your name, email address, your choice – Doll or Dude, and the age and name of the owner-to-be (no age limit restriction). Alternatively, send these details to Create-Your-Own Competition, DressA-Doll, 37 High Street, Lutterworth. Competition ends 31st July 2015 – for full T&Cs go to www.dressadoll.co.uk/pages/create-your-ownprize-draw-competition. The winner will be able to create a rag doll/dude with 1 outfit and shoes PLUS we will also be giving runner-up prizes from free gifts to discounts. For more details about the “Create-Your-Own” Range please go to www.dressadoll.co.uk/collections/rag-dolls/Create-Your-Own.
Because they are suitable from birth, Dress-A-Doll rag dolls are perfect for doll lovers of all ages. To find the perfect playmate, simply order your favourite rag doll or dude from www.dressadoll.co.uk and the outfit that you would like them to wear – your cuddly new friend will arrive in a gorgeous vintage suitcase style gift box.
Wherever you Where ver y ou go this summer take Quut bath beach and ba th ttoys oys you. with y ou.
Spend more than £30 and ge gett FREE shipping when y you ou visit :
cheeky cheekyrascals.co.uk rascals.co.uk 01730 895 761
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HEALTH
Managing Your Child's Summer Allergies written by Allergy UK Nurse Advisor, Amena Warner
Hay fever
Travelling abroad
Does your child have watery or itchy eyes? Is their nose running with clear fluid? Are they sneezing a lot? If they have a combination of these symptoms it could be hay fever, and needs to be treated.
If you or someone in your family has a severe allergy, now is the time to check your holiday survival kit. Always carry your prescribed medication when you go away and make sure you have enough to last through the duration of your holiday. If you’re flying, make sure you have immediate access to your medication throughout the flight. You will need a letter from your GP/doctor to allow you to take an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) on the plane. Make sure you inform your airline of your allergy in advance and that you need to take the AAI onto the flight.
In the UK, grass pollen is the most common cause of hay fever and tends to affect sufferers from May-July. However, allergens found abroad are often different to those found in the UK, so your child's symptoms could be better or worse in other countries, when on holiday. The duration of the hay fever season can also depend on weather conditions. If your child's symptoms are very severe or they also have a wheezy chest or cough as well as hay fever symptoms during the summer, ask your GP to consider a referral to a paediatric allergist/immunologist, otherwise ask your local pharmacist or look at the pollen allergy fact sheets on the Allergy UK website. (www.allergyuk.org) Top tips – managing hay fever: ● Apply an effective pollen barrier around the outside edge of each nostril to trap or block pollens. Pollen Barriers are available as balms or gel nasal sprays and some people have found that petroleum jelly can help ● Keep windows closed when indoors and overnight whilst your child is sleeping. This is most important in the early mornings, when pollen is being released, and in the evening ● Monitor pollen forecasts daily and stay indoors wherever possible when the count is high ● Don't dry washing outside on high pollen days ● Encourage them to wear wraparound sunglasses when outdoors to keep allergens out of eyes ● Washing their hair before getting into bed, stops pollen sticking to hair and being transferred onto the pillow.
Wasp and bee stings The arrival of summer means that children can enjoy the sunshine but it can also lead to an influx of bees and wasps in gardens and parks. The best thing you can do if your child is stung is to stay calm and don’t panic. If there is swelling, apply wrapped ice or frozen peas. If the child, at any time within the next hour becomes sleepy, floppy, wheezy or has facial swelling, call an ambulance or go immediately to Accident and Emergency Department. Top tips – preventing bee/wasp stings: ● Dress your child in light coloured clothing, covering most of the body (particularly the feet). Bees are attracted to bright colours and scents so avoid bright colours and flowery prints and perfumes ● Don't let children run bare footed on grass ● Don't let children play near rubbish bins ● Make sure children wear long sleeves, long trousers and gloves if they are helping out with the gardening ● Replace soft drinks cans with bottles and keep the lid on when outside, as wasps can crawl inside cans.
Top tips – travelling with a food allergy: ● Check whether you can take your own food on the plane or in your luggage ● If you have a severe peanut allergy, check whether your airline has a policy against providing peanuts onboard at time of booking and ensure cabin staff are aware of your allergy. Take some 'wet wipes' with you and wipe down the tray table and arm rests in case of previous contamination with peanut allergen. Always wash hands before eating or putting fingers in the mouth (this is good practice for anybody, but especially those with a severe food allergy) ● Check where the nearest hospital/doctor is located when you book your holiday, in case of an emergency ● When dining out ask to speak directly to the chef about your allergy and cross contamination issues. Always ensure your food is prepared in separate clean areas and avoid communal areas such as buffet bars. ● To communicate your allergy to restaurant staff, you may find Allergy UK’s translation cards useful (available on 01322 619898 in 36 languages). For more information on allergic conditions or practical management tips call Allergy UK’s national helpline on 01322 619898 or visit:
www.allergyuk.org
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HEALTH
Hay Fever? You need to stop the pollen! Avoiding the allergen is always key with allergies. HayMaxTM allergen barrier balms have been proven to trap more than 1/3 of pollen before it enters the body when applied invisibly to the nostrils. The balms are organic, nondrowsy, drug-free and suitable for everyone including children and pregnant & breastfeeding women.
HayMaxTM has been on the market for ten years, won 36 awards and in a recent study by Allergy UK, 78% said that it helped some or all of their hay fever symptoms!
Find it at Boots, Waitrose, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett, Booths, hundreds of independent pharmacies and health food stores and online.
haymax.biz
Skincare Made Simple Looking after our skin is an important daily routine. If you are constantly trying new creams and cleansers, confusing your skin regularly, it might be time to go back to basics. These specially researched blends use only natural food grade ingredients, ethically sourced from registered suppliers and they encourage your skin to blossom into perfection! Mimi’s business came about when she discovered that processed foods were doing her autistic son no good. Determined to give her son better life experiences, she was positive that organic products would be the answer to a happy care-free child.
her knowledge with the world! As well as creating concoctions from pure ingredients like avocado, cocoa and natural oils, she also runs workshops around the country showing people the importance of natural ingredients and trains people in the art of perfect skin whilst making their own skincare products. Find her creations in affordable little jars that work their simple natural magic day and night.
www.mimisorganics.co.uk
Mimi found that her son's behaviour, allergies, food intolerances, eczema and tummy problems dramatically improved after putting him on an all organic, gluten and casein free diet. After seeing her son’s miraculous transformation she wanted to share
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HEALTH
Coping with Colic Colic is the medical term for excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well fed. It is a common yet poorly understood condition, affecting up to one in five babies. In most cases, the intense crying occurs in the late afternoon or evening and usually lasts for several hours. You may also notice that your baby's face becomes flushed, and they may clench their fists, draw their knees up to their tummy, or arch their back. If your baby cries excessively you should see your GP who can rule out other more serious conditions that may be causing your baby's crying. The cause or causes of colic are unknown, but a number of theories have been suggested. These include indigestion, trapped wind or a temporary gut sensitivity to certain proteins and sugars found in breast milk and formula milk. However, there is currently little solid evidence to support these theories. Colic occurs equally in boys and girls, and in babies who are breastfed or bottle-fed. Having to care for a baby with colic can be distressing for parents, particularly first-time parents. It is important to remember that: ● Your baby’s colic is not your fault – It does not mean your baby is unwell, or that you are doing something wrong, or that your baby is rejecting you. ● Your baby will get better eventually ● You should look after your own wellbeing – If possible, ask friends and family for support as it is important that you can take a break and rest when your baby is asleep. There is currently no established method that works for all babies with colic. However, a number of techniques may help your baby, such as: ● holding your baby during a crying episode ● preventing your baby from swallowing air by sitting them upright during feeding ● bathing your baby in a warm bath ● gently massaging your baby's tummy For more information visit
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Colic
Keep your Medication Safe! Nomad Travel Cases and Medical Coolers are an essential piece of kit when travelling with medication, ensuring that your medication is kept at optimum temperature (2 – 8 degrees) at all times. Powered or non powered coolers available.
Please check out our website www.coolicebox.com for further details, or telephone 01598740685 16 myfamily
HEALTH
SShhhh… Don’t wake the baby! It is frustrating when you’ve eventually got your baby to sleep, but then when you lay them down, they wake up again. This could be due to the Moro reflex, part of baby’s survival response that kicks in to ensure that they are not left alone. It works by causing the baby to wake when laid flat or as soon as you try to move them away from your body and contact with you is lost.
so you can simply lift up or lower down your baby without waking them! Its clever design safely supports your baby’s entire body and lifts them so gently they don’t know they’re being moved!
But thanks to a very simple solution from two Sussex based Dads that problem has been solved!
With Snugglebundl you no longer need to bend or stoop – by taking the strain from the back, tummy and pelvis it’s a great help for your post birth recovery.
The Snugglebundl is a soft cotton wrap that has cleverly attached strong handles on the sides
It fits securely into car seats, so no more lugging out that bulky car seat; just simply lift your baby out on the Snugglebundl!
It can even be used in pushchairs, prams, supermarket trolley seats, cots and cribs. It is ideal for discreet breastfeeding and you can even use Snugglebundl for rocking them to sleep in, which is ideal for colicky babies who can find this extremely soothing.
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! We have teamed up with My Family to give you the chance to win a Snugglebundl. To enter simply email your name address and contact number to team@snugglebundle.co.uk (closes at midnight on 30th September2015)
www.snugglebundl.co.uk
As Snug as a Hug from a Mum™ Our Bean Bags are perfect for your little ones. Great for relaxing, having an afternoon nap or just chilling in front of the TV! Total comfort from the day your child is born until seven years old. The longevity of our bean bags, coupled with their small price tag of just £29.99, makes them a brilliant alternative to baby bouncers, rockers and other baby chairs.
All of our bean bags are made from beautiful plush fabrics, in a variety of unique, funky and bright designs, guaranteed to suit every room and every baby. With everything from zoo animals to polka dots and simple neutral designs, our bean bags make a truly unique baby shower gift. Baby Bean Bags are not just a design item, they also serve important health purposes. Thanks to
the adjustable nature of the beans, you can put your baby in whatever position, making them perfect for providing much needed comfort to babies with colic and acid reflux. Additionally our bean bag chairs can help to reduce the risk of flat head. We also see some lovely pictures of our bean bags in use helping babies with spica casts, who without their bean bags would be in great discomfort.
Whatever your baby or little one’s needs, we’re sure that they will love the comfort of our baby bean bags!
www.beanbagplanet.co.uk
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HEALTH
Digital evolution for groundbreaking scheme to protect family health It’s a system borne from one of the biggest healthcare scandals of our time to protect public health. And fifty years on from its inception, the groundbreaking Yellow Card Scheme is moving into the digital age through a free-access app designed to make life easier for busy parents and carers on the go looking to protect their family. Introduced in the wake of the Thalidomide disaster in 1964, the Yellow Card Scheme helps to monitor the safety of UK medicines and act as an early warning system to identify potential side-effects and adverse reactions. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which runs the scheme, collates and reviews reports of suspected adverse drug reactions on all licensed and unlicensed medicines and vaccines – including many family medicines issued on prescription or bought over the counter from a pharmacist or supermarket. Yellow Cards are used alongside other scientific safety information to help MHRA make changes, where necessary, to minimise potential risks. The new app supplements an existing website and allows patients, carers and healthcare professionals alike to report side effects directly to the Yellow Card Scheme to help the MHRA ensure they are acceptably safe for patients. Users can also select specific medicines or vaccines to track in order to receive news and alerts about them.
The simple functionality of the app makes it ideal for parents and will help to address concerns that some side effects from medicines given to children are going unreported, as evidenced by recent MHRA research. The app gives parents the chance to directly share experience of suspected side effects without the need to rely on a healthcare professional to report it for them. MHRA are especially keen to receive more reports about suspect side effects in children as children can react differently to medicines compared to adults as their body may handle the medicine differently. “The contribution of patients, careers and healthcare professionals alike in reporting suspected side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme is vital,” explained Mick Foy, Group Director for MHRA’s Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division. “The first-hand evidence helps the MHRA detect safety issues and take the necessary action to keep the public safe. “Moving Yellow Card onto a mobile app is a logical progression in this digital age,
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allowing us to build on the existing website to improve user engagement, which will continue to evolve based on user feedback. “It offers instant access for people using smartphones or tablets, and that should appeal to busy parents and carers, making it easier for them to send reports and access important safety information. “However, the app isn’t designed to replace GP or healthcare interactions, and we would always urge parents to speak their doctor or pharmacist if they have any doubts about the health of their baby or child, or if they have any general questions about family medicines.”
Key features of the app: ● For patients, carers and healthcare professionals ● Provides a convenient alternative to using paper Yellow Card forms or the Yellow Card website ● No cost – app is free to use for everyone on iOS and Android ● Create a ‘watch list’ of medications to receive official news and alerts on. ● View numbers of Yellow Cards received by the MHRA for medicines of interest ● Easy to use for reporting side effects directly to the Yellow Card Scheme ● Immediate response to show Yellow Card has been accepted ● Simple to submit updates to Yellow Cards already submitted ● View previous Yellow Cards submitted through the app You can download the app from iTunes and the Play Store on your IOS or Android device. Visit. iTunes Yellow Card or PlayStore Yellow Card for further details.
HEALTH
Travel anywhere with your medication! The Cool Ice Box Company specialises in Medical Travel Cases and Medical Coolers which hold temperature between 2-8 degrees, length of time from 5 to 48 hours with no power, depending on the model you chose. From our Small Nomad Travel Case (which is ideal for carrying insulin pens) to our Nomad
This year we have added the Nomad Large Travel Case and the Nomad Extra Large Travel Case which is proving very popular with our customers. We also supply micro multi powered units which work of battery, mains or car charger for independent travellers and professionals that need to carry supply medication. We aim to have a product to suit your requirements and purse.
Medium Travel Case (suitable for Eye drops, Humira and Insulin) to our Nomad Rigid Travel Case (for longer periods of cooling) to the popular 8L Medical Cooler (suitable for carrying bigger quantities of medication, it has an internal probe and external temperature display, as has the 18L and the larger 28L Nomad Medical Cooler) or trolley coolers for carrying volumes of medication, vaccines and samples at stable temperatures.
We also provide letters to clients travelling with our coolers to assist them through customers. Please advise if you require such a letter when ordering.
Please look at our comprehensive website www.coolicebox.com for further information or email us at info@coolicebox.com requesting a call back at a time to suit you and we will happily talk you through our products.
MediClock helps to prevent the overdose of children’s medication Developed over 4 years, MediClock is the brainchild of Craig and Tanya Pascoe, who wanted to meet the challenges that parents/carers face when administering children’s medication. They had concerns about timings when giving their children liquid paracetamol when they were unwell. They found themselves making notes on their phones and even having to guess at times when the last dose was given. After a little research they realised that they were not the only parents to experience this problem – it was more common than they had thought! A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology showed that 22 per cent of babies had been given an overdose of paracetamol over a 12 month period. In May 2015 the couple launched MediClock, a unique dosing aid that uses of a countdown clock and alarm which can be programmed to alert every 24, 6 or 4 hours, to give parents and carers peace of mind when administering children’s medication. For further information visit www.mediclock.co.uk EXCLUSIVE OFFER – To purchase your MediClock for £12.99 (RRP £19.99) go to medi2015.mediclock.co.uk
The NON-SPILL medicine spoon
Now available in 3 colours 10ml 7.5ml 5ml 2.5ml
Spilly Spoon - no more sticky medicine mess. A fun and functional design that takes the fuss out of medicine-taking without spilling a drop. Can be laid flat with up to 10ml of medicine without spilling. Child can hold and self administer the medicine without spilling. Steriliser & Dishwasher Safe.
To buy yours or see our stockists, visit our website
www.spillyspoon.com myfamily 19
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Antenatal depression underdiagnosed, despite 1 in 10 pregnant women being affected Tommy’s launches an emotive video encouraging women to ask for help Between 10-15% of all pregnant women suffer with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, yet data suggests that disorders in pregnancy may not be diagnosed until the postnatal period, or even at all. To encourage these women to seek help, Tommy’s, the UK leading baby charity, has launched a thoughtprovoking video about mental health in pregnancy. The video, named Talk to Someone, follows the story of a pregnant woman who exemplifies the real-life experiences of anxiety and depression felt by many women during pregnancy and early motherhood. Tommy’s wants to see mental health treated on parity with physical health in pregnancy and urges women to look for help if they feel upset more than they feel happy. Around 11% of women experience depressive symptoms in pregnancy, and around 5% have a major depressive disorder. Anxiety disorders in the perinatal period are also common, affecting
around 13% of women. Although rates do not differ between pregnant and non-pregnant women, it has been suggested that identification and treatment are lower in pregnancy. The data also suggests that in a third of cases, ‘postnatal’ depression actually starts during the pregnancy but it is often not recognised or treated at this point. Symptoms of depression and anxiety include feeling sad, hopeless, tearful, irritable and losing interest in things previously enjoyed. Some of these are also common symptoms of pregnancy which can make it difficult to identify a more serious problem. Persistent feelings that last beyond a couple of weeks should be checked out by a health professional such as the midwife, GP or health visitor. Professor Louise Howard, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and Professor of Women’s Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London says: “There is the expectation that a woman’s experience of pregnancy should always be joyous, but the truth is that pregnant women often put emotional and mental pressure on themselves to feel happy all the time. It is important for pregnant women not to feel embarrassed or guilty about experiencing the emotions they didn’t expect during pregnancy. They deserve compassionate support and should speak to a midwife, health visitor or GP for professional advice.” Theresa, 28, from Weymouth, and her partner were going through a lot of life changes when she fell pregnant and the combination of change and pregnancy hormones triggered a spell of depression: “Soon after I got pregnant, I started to cry all the time. People would say to me that I was crying over nothing, but actually I was crying over everything, all the time. I had everything I wanted and yet I was upset and angry. I kept it all in, and then at my midwife appointment she casually asked
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me how I was coping and I just burst into tears. She referred me to my GP, who suggested I go for counselling, which was massively helpful. My father had died a couple of years ago and my counsellor suggested that I hadn’t grieved properly for that, she helped me go back and address lots of things.” Tommy’s has developed information for women around mental health in pregnancy, including advice on when you should look for help. Visit www.tommys.org/mentalhealth. The Tommy’s midwives have also put together some top tips to look after your mental health during pregnancy. ● Rest and focus on your baby. Take time out for you to do something you enjoy, improves your mood or helps you to relax ● Talk about how you feel with someone, a family member, friend, health professional ● Eat well – eat a variety of different foods and plenty of fruit and veg to get all the nutrients you and your baby need ● Take some exercise ● Take some time to think about and prepare for the birth and life with a new baby (a helpful Wellbeing Plan is available at www.tommys.org/file/Wellbeingplan.pdf) ● Rest when you can and try to get regular sleep ● Seek expert advice for worrying matters such as money, housing, employment and relationships Katrina Ashton, Specialist midwife for antenatal and postnatal mental health, Medway, says: “Mental health problems in pregnant women can go unrecognised and untreated. This can have implications not just for the woman both during and after her pregnancy, but also potentially for her baby. Whilst the vast majority of babies are not affected there is an increased risk of emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties when a mother has a prolonged period of stress, anxiety or depression in pregnancy. As soon as a woman experiences any of these types of psychological problems, she should speak to her midwife or GP to help prevent any complications during and after her pregnancy.”
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Supportive Maternity Fitnesswear Any Mamma-to-be who has hidden at the back of an exercise class, uncomfortable in gymwear that rides up, falls down or simply doesn’t fit properly will welcome the choice of maternity fitnesswear available from www.fittamamma.com.
For Pregnancy, Recovery and Beyond . . . The FittaMamma range is not only looks fantastic but supports your bump, back and boobs – holding and lifting the baby weight to make any activity during pregnancy more comfortable. A choice of tops meets a wide range of exercise needs from yoga to high impact activities such as running or gym workouts; the leggings (different lengths and styles) all feature a unique waist panel that rolls right up over your bump or folds underneath depending on which trimester you’re in and what activity you’re doing. Stretching to fit and support throughout your nine month journey the clothes will hold your ‘mummy tummy’ after your baby is born, smoothing and supporting your contours whilst you regain your pre-baby body. Experts agree that exercise should be on the daily agenda for all healthy pregnant women so it’s well worth buying suitable clothes – but you won’t want to keep the FittaMamma range just for exercise – it’s stylish enough for you to enjoy the comfort and support as part of your everyday wardrobe!
www.fittamamma.com
Beautiful Selection of
Maternity Support Tights Thigh-Highs and Knee Highs Effectively improves blood circulation to energise legs; prevents & relieves leg fatigue, swelling, varicose veins & vulva, & vein insufficiencies Some styles help support lower back, bump, hips, thighs & buttocks
No expectant mum can do without them! Quote ‘My Family Magazine’ to get 10% off your order or put code ‘Family10’ in the voucher code box during checkout (Offer expires 30th Sep 2015).
www.pebbleuk.com • Freephone: 0800 433 4757
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BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Your Virtual Mobile ‘Hospital Bag’ by Katie Lips, www.mobilemummyblog.com Our phones go everywhere with us and play such an important role in our lives – why should giving birth be any different? You may have packed nighties, knickers and nappies, but don’t forget to sort out your mobile in the weeks leading up to giving birth. Here’s how to make sure you’re ready.
Professional help
Get your tunes on
Make sure the numbers for the hospital and your midwife are stored in your address book. Then double check this.
Create playlists for chilling, and for giving birth to. Take plenty in case your desire for mood music turns in to an urgent need for some hard rock.
Don’t forget friends and family They’ll get worried if they don’t get the odd update so make sure they’re all in yours and your partner’s address books.
It’s all about timing Get a “Contraction Timer” app. This will either prove very useful, or give Dad something to do in the long hours of labour.
And . . . relax If you’ve been practicing Hypnobirthing - get your MP3 on your phone.
Capture the moment Clear out plenty of storage and pack the selfie stick if that’s your thing - you never can trust others to get a good shot when you’ve missed hours of sleep and your hair’s a mess.
Tell everyone about it
Stay Motivated! Experts agree that all healthy pregnant women should aim for at least 30 minutes exercise five days a week to enjoy a whole raft of benefits from easing backache to improving your strength in preparation for labour. But sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated! Maternity fitness experts FittaMamma share their tips to keep up your enthusiasm! ● Join a prenatal exercise class –it’s harder to make excuses if you’ve made a commitment ● Treat yourself to the right maternity gymwear – looking good is a great motivator!
Get logged in on Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp so you can share your news with the world.
● Choose clothes that support your baby bump – you’ll appreciate the extra comfort
Recharge those batteries
● ‘Feel good’ endorphins released during exercise help you feel happier – benefitting those around you too
With all that activity you’ll definitely need a phone charger. Forget this at your peril!
● Vary your routine to keep it fun – mix exercise classes with a brisk walk, cycle ride or yoga
● Keeping your body toned makes it easier to adjust to your changing shape – feeling good about yourself is a great motivator ● Exercise in the fresh air whenever you can – it’s a great source of free Vitamin D too! ● Being fit makes it easier to cope with labour and speeds up your recovery ● Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight gain and make it easier to lose the extra pounds afterwards ● Exercise is good for baby too! Babies born to fit Mammas often have a more healthy birth weight and studies have shown they learn faster too! Ready to exercise? For pregnancy exercise advice and to shop for FittaMamma maternity gymwear visit:
www.fittamamma.com 22 myfamily
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Rufus Rabbit Gorgeous Mummy & Baby Gifts
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BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Hosting a Baby Shower Baby showers have seen a huge rise in popularity and are no longer for just for celebrities and royalty. Throwing a baby shower is one of the nicest ways to celebrate the imminent arrival of a new baby and for a mum-to-be to share the joy of becoming a mother. There are no hard and fast rules for planning a baby shower but here are a few things that you can do to make sure that it is a fun and memorable event.
Set the date The ideal time to hold a baby shower is during the last trimester, a few weeks before the baby’s due date – you don’t want the guest of honours waters breaking during the party.
Invitations The guest list can include a mixture of friends and family or you can hold separate events for work colleagues, friends and family. Give plenty of notice – send invitations out about 6 weeks before the baby shower and include directions to the venue plus a telephone number and email address for guests to respond to your invitation.
Be creative
Keep catering simple
Having a theme will make the event even more fun – if you know the sex of the baby you could hold a gender reveal with a pink or blue theme. Alternatively you could hold afternoon tea party or plan your event around a type of food – cupcakes are popular.
You don’t have to serve lots of fancy expensive food – serve finger food such as sandwiches, pizza, dips and a selection of snacks. Alternatively you could hold a barbecue in the summer, but remember to include meat free options for vegetarians. Beverages could include exotic alcohol free cocktails, tasty smoothies and milkshakes.
For an eco-friendly baby shower you could ditch the pink or blue theme and go green instead – send e-invites instead of paper invitations, suggest that anyone who wants to give a gift makes it eco-friendly and offer guests tasty organic and fair-trade refreshments.
Decorations You can theme your event with pretty table cloths and napkins, vintage crockery and cake stands, favours, party decorations, balloons and bunting to match the party theme. You can find all the party supplies that you need at a good party shop or from online party suppliers – take a look at www.mumstuff.co.uk or for a greener alternative you could make your own. If you are stuck for ideas or need a little help, talk to Red Ribbon Parties about their event planning service on 01283 519128, email info@redribbonparties.co.uk or visit www.redribbonparties.co.uk.
Shower mum-to-be with gifts Ask mum-to-be to make a gift list – the best gift is always one that's wanted. Using a gift list services is a great way for friends and family to club together for a larger item; it will also prevent the disappointment of duplicate gifts being given and ensures that the new mummy will have exactly what she wants and needs for new baby’s arrival. You will also find some great baby shower gift ideas in the adverts featured in this issue of My Family Magazine – including some exclusive discount codes for our readers.
Entertainment Make your party fun! It’s a good idea to have some kind of activity planned. There are a number of free printable baby shower party games online or you could set up a mini spa with manicures, pedicures and massages.
Goody Bags Not a requirement for a good baby shower but a lovely touch for guests at the end of the party. For an inexpensive option you could fill the bags with sweet treats including pink or blue sweets, meringues or a boxed cupcake. A more extravagant treat could include toiletries, fragrant handmade soaps a personalised candle or keepsake.
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BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
The natural alternative for you and your family Our funky handmade Nappy Bags are cleverly designed to contain all your baby essentials on the go – includes matching changing bag, mat, dribble cloth and wipes pouch. Check out our unique range of bespoke Nappy Bags, Parasols, Pram Covers, Baby Blankets, Toddler Bags, Baby Accessories, Jeans Bags and Tote Bags in cool designs including Marvel Comic, Mr Men, Polka Dots & many more. Each design is handmade to order in small limited runs and if you can’t find what you’re looking for we can customise a bag for you.
www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs
Bibbles are functional, attractive and great for teething babies and dribbly toddlers. Designed and lovingly manufactured in Nottingham, UK. Bibbles are made with a quality soft cotton top fabric to absorb wetness and a soft fleece under layer to act as a barrier, preventing clothing and baby’s chin from becoming wet and uncomfortable.
Soothe-me products have been designed to take care of your family with a deluxe natural skincare range, created with pure plant essences and beautiful essential oil. Handmade in East London, Soothe-me products contain bioactive ingredients, to harness the natural healing properties of flowers, organic oils and herbs. Tailor made to nourish your skin in harmony with your body. Soothe-me ‘Hero’ products include Super Baby Oil a beautiful moisturiser to ease dry skin and infant eczema, ideal for baby massage. For mum-to-be Bump & Boobs Oil helps support skin during pregnancy and ‘Green Parent Natural Beauty Award Winner 2013 and 2014’ Yum Yum Balm for lips and skin, with Plum oil and sun protection SPF10 is a must have product all year round. A great product for use during pregnancy, birth and beyond, Refresh! Face Mist will awake your senses and refresh your skin – with Frankincense to clear mind, Mint to cool, Lavender to soothe and Witch hazel to heal. Gently spaying mist can help ease morning sickness nausea, use to cool the face and calm during labor and birth or for new mums who need a boost, to revive and refresh tired skin and eyes. Soothe-me has been created as a ‘natural alternative to big brand, mass produced skincare’. Designed to act like ’natural health food for the skin’ with No Sodium Laureth Sulphates – No Petrochemicals – No Synthetic fragrance or colours – just pure natural goodness and always 100% free from animal testing.
Adjustable nickel free press-studs means it’s a comfy fit and being machine washable, your Bibble will last for years!
Bibbles come in a continually changing range of colours and designs to suit every taste and will enhance any outfit, ideal for the modern mum and baby of today.
10% Off your 1st order with code FAMILY
www.bandana-bibs.co.uk
For more great products from Soothe-me visit
www.soothe-me.com for 15% off enter MF15 at checkout. myfamily 25
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
New Baby? Reach for your Smartphone and get the most out of your mobile in the first few weeks! Having your first baby changes your life in ways you can imagine and in ways you can’t. One perhaps unimagined effect is how you use your laptop, smartphone or tablet – there are lots of new apps and services that will become really useful to you in the early weeks. Here are a few ideas on how to make life just a little bit easier . . .
Home Help If being nine months pregnant didn’t stop you whizzing around the supermarket, having a newborn certainly will. Apart from being too small to sit in a trolley, they might want feeding, changing or entertaining. A much easier way to stock your fridge up is to get groceries delivered. Set up a favourites list online at your supermarket of choice and let the helpful delivery driver bring your shopping to your kitchen. Most online services will text you to let you know who’s arriving and when and Ocado
and Tesco have apps that let you shop from your mobile phone. All will offer to take the empty bags away for you, although you might want to use these to wrap dirty nappies. Tip: Try them all to make the most of their great introductory deals.
Feeding Time If you’ve run out of ready meals or just fancy a change, reach for a mobile takeaway app like Just Eat or Hungry House and get food delivered to your door in minutes.
Get Organised If you’re feeling overstretched try making a few simple lists or make one for a family member to get them organised. Evernote and Any.do are popular, and Todoist is compatible with pretty much any device.
Out & About If you’re out and about without a car, try the new breed of taxi apps – UBER, Hailo and Gett will get you around London in a hurry and for everywhere else there’s Addison Lee available on mobile mobile platforms. If you’re traveling by bus, make your journey easier by checking when the next bus will arrive via an app. Many bus companies now have their own. Arriva’s is pretty good and is available on iPhone and Android.
Written by Katie Lips www.mobilemummyblog.com
Reading Time If you are lucky enough to get time to read – perhaps whilst feeding baby, or whilst baby takes a nap, make sure you have a selection of reads downloaded and ready to go. You might find you’re awake in the night so need something easy to pass the time and to help you get back to sleep.
Late-night Fun If you find yourself awake at 2am and reading’s not helping you relax, a mobile game might. Perhaps the most notoriously addictive is Candy Crush Saga. You’ll know if you have a problem if you find yourself getting to the end.
Baby Info If you never looked online to check you didn’t have a terrible disease, you will be now. “Is my baby normal” and similar searches, are indeed normal, but if you have a genuine medical query do seek verified professional advice. Whilst communities like Netmums can be ultra supportive for many things, don’t rely on the wisdom of the crowd if you think you baby is ill or you have a health concern. For speed and ease of use, bookmark a few trusted sites such as NHS, Netdoctor, Boots WebMD, Baby Centre and NCT.
Go Social This is absolutely a time when it’s ok to post pictures of your baby on Facebook, and ask friends for support when you need it too. There are also great social tools for sharing pictures and videos with just your close family, for example on iPhone, you can use the new Photos app so create and share albums that the whole family can enjoy.
I relied on my mobile so much in the first few weeks after having my daughter – it never left my side. Having a newborn baby means you need information at your fingertips, but also it means that you have so many wonderful moments to enjoy, capture and share.
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BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Out and about with baby As any parent knows even a simple trip to the shops with a child is a challenge but there are a few things that you can do to make sure that your trip is as stress free as possible.
Be prepared Being prepared for any little blips is half the battle. Think about what you will do if your child has a meltdown, needs a nappy change, becomes tired or hungry (or all of the above) and plan how to prevent it or how you will deal with it when it happens.
Multi-award winning Chillipeeps 3in1 Teats & 3in1 Spouts come in a funky pod and attach directly to all ready-made formula cartons (including SMA & HiPP), Aptamil, Cow&Gate, Fortini & Infatrini 200ml ready-made formula bottles and Evian water bottles. Genius for feeding and re-hydrating baby when travelling out and about. Mum Invented • BPA free Chillipeeps Adapter is proud to be made in Britain.
RRP £6.50 • Coupon code FAMILY for 10% off at
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Destination Whether you are popping to the supermarket, coffee shop or for a family trip there are a few things to check out before you hit the road: Parking – is there enough space to get everyone and your buggy/stroller out of the car? Is parking close enough to the destination? Are trollies near to the parking spaces? Facilities – check that there is easy access for your buggy/stroller, especially if you have a double buggy. You may need baby changing facilities, somewhere quiet to feed baby, a highchair or changing room that you can fit everyone and your pram/buggy into – check online or call ahead if you are not familiar with your destination.
Timing When possible plan your trip around nap and feed times. Earlier in the day is the best time for little ones who may get tired and irritable later in the day. Allow a little extra time to deal with the unexpected – think about how long your trip will take and take into account times that traffic may be heavier as your journey will take longer.
Real Easy to make the change on the go The Real Easy is a sized all in one nappy that has been designed to be as easy to use as a disposable nappy. Available individually, the Real Easy includes everything you need. And even just using one Real Easy a day – maybe when you’re out and about – can save you money. The Real Easy is available in five sizes to ensure it fits tiny newborns to chunky toddlers and all babies in between. The Real Easy is available in a range of UK-designed gender-neutral prints with a soft fleece lining to keep baby feeling comfy and dry. Inside the nappy is a quick drying microfibre core, with a fold-out triple layer hemp soaker. The result is a highly absorbent, comfortable nappy, super easy to change and wash.
To order visit www.wonderoos.co.uk
myfamily 27
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Summer cuddles without the backache
20% off Hippychick Hipseats when quoting MFAMQ3
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
To assist you on your travels this summer we have picked a couple of our favourite products that are a must have!
Introducing the New Britishdesigned premium stroller by egg® Available complete with apron, insect net, rain cover and a choice of seat liner colour.
Firstly we have the Baby Elephant Ears which is a multi-use headrest offered in diverse prints – £18.
The egg® has been fitted with Tru-Ride Technology® tyres which have been engineered for comfort, superior handling and added durability.
Secondly is the Babymule, the first ever truly interchangeable baby changing bag (rucksack and messenger in one) – £85. You’ll find only the ‘berry’ best brands for babies and children at Little Chipmunks.
WWW.PAULSTRIDE.CO.UK sales@paulstride.co.uk • Telephone: 01904 674800 20 Kathryn Avenue • Monks Cross • York YO32 9JS
www.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk
Twister Trio Set Let's twist again – and turn pram, car seat or seat unit by 360° using only one hand. With its stylish chassis and high-quality materials, the Twister will certainly stand out in a crowd. This lightweight stroller offers the perfect ride every time. With its comfortable wide seat kids will enjoy the generous space and freedom of movement. Backrest and footrest can be adjusted and for added comfort there is a removable seat pad in a contrasting colour. The soft touch handle is height-adjustable and the extendable hood provides protection against all weathers. The carrycot with soft mattress creates a safe environment for newborns whilst the Zero Plus Comfort 0+ car seat offers an innovative side impact protection system plus padded 3-point harness. For information visit www.hauck.com or telephone 01978 664362.
RRP: £550
www.hauckuk.com
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BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Keeping your baby close can help breastfeeding and drive away Postnatal Depression (PND) By Shabs Kwofie founder of www.amawrap.com As new mothers we are given an entire variety of well-wishing advice. Breastfeed – it’s best for baby. Bottle feed – it’s easier. Hold your baby lots. Don’t hold your baby – they will get used to it and you won’t be able to get anything done. But how much of this is backed up with actual evidence? When Shabs (the founder of Amawrap) first had her baby she struggled with breastfeeding, and so she visited her local breastfeeding group. One of the pieces of advice she was given was to hold the baby skin-to-skin. This made no sense to her and when she asked why she needed to do this, she was told “because it will help” but nothing more. Have you ever been told that to cure your hiccups you need to stand upside down, cover your nose and ears then drink some water “because it will help”? Did you actually do it? Probably not, because you couldn’t see how this made sense and it seemed so strange that you
simply disregarded it and quickly moved onto the next thing on your list which you have heard may help your problem. She didn't realise it at the time but Shabs was suffering from Postnatal Depression and unfortunately disregarded this crucial piece of advice - all because she didn't understand it and no-one had the understanding and knowledge themselves to explain why it was so important.
When you are told to not pick up your baby too often for fear that “they will get used to it”, your body will not get the oxytocin dose it needs to be able to lactate, or bond with your baby, which can be a factor leading to postnatal depression. This also means that while breastfeeding is possible, it may become that little bit more difficult. Why should your body produce breastmilk if it cannot detect a baby to produce milk for? Why should your body attempt to bond with something that it cannot feel?
Now let us tell you exactly why skin-toskin with your baby will not only help you to breastfeed, but may also help to combat your postnatal depression. Our bodies are an incredible thing. In this instance, we owe this miracle to a hormone called Oxytocin. This hormone is produced in your body when you do anything in the “family way” so to speak. It is produced when you make love, have a baby, breastfeed, have an emotional connection with somebody and even cuddle. It is known as the “love hormone” or the “bonding hormone”. When you hold your baby in a skin-to-skin manner, the oxytocin produced in your body leads to greater bonding, and a more emotional response. That “rush of love” that you feel when you hold your child close – it is brought on by the oxytocin. Your body needs to feel your baby close in order to perform these emotional responses. This “love hormone” enables you to feel content and in love with your baby even when your sleep deprived, and is also the thing that keeps away depression. It is the feel good factor! But that is not all it does. This hormone, along with the baby suckling on your breast, will tell your body to produce more milk. And every time your baby is on your skin, your body will do what it feels it needs to do for baby, which is produce even more milk!
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This is why it is so important to hold your baby close in your AmaWrap as it allows full contact between you and baby and therefore a rush of this amazing hormone, in the most comfortable way.
Ladies, hold your baby close. If you are at home, you can help to boost your breastmilk by keeping your child in nothing but a nappy, straight onto your bare chest. You can use your AmaWrap to do this, and get on with whatever else you need to do while nature performs this miracle. When Shabs first began using a wrap it was more for convenience purposes as she knew nothing about why skin to skin was so important, but in her words “When you look down to find that your baby has fallen asleep on your chest, you feel the most amazing sense of peace.” After realising the importance of close baby contact, Shabs developed AmaWrap, a stretchy wrap company which enables other mothers to do just this. Shabs continues to work hard to raise awareness of how close baby contact can support both mothers and their babies. You can find out more about AmaWrap and Shabs at www.amawrap.com.
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Mummy and baby finds Here at My Family we do lots of research to find items that stand out for their design, individuality or because they are really useful. Here are a few great items for mother and baby that we spotted along the way... Bean Bag Planet These super soft bean bags are perfect for your little ones. Great for relaxing, having an afternoon nap or just chilling in front of the TV! Total comfort from the day your child is born until around age 8. Priced £29.99 www.beanbagplanet.co.uk
White Gold & Sapphire Locket
A beautiful pair of hand-crocheted baby booties finished with a gorgeous hand-carved wooden button. Made from pure new wool and acrylic mix – they are lovely and soft, just perfect for a baby or toddler to wear! Size: 3 inch long sole, 3 inch height, price £9.95
This stunning 9 carat gold and white gold oval locket with a traditional rope twist border and a star set central sapphire is the perfect keepsake gift for a new mummy. It is handmade by a traditional jewellery manufacturing company who use original Victorian patterns. It contains 2 lined photo compartments and is suitable for engraving up to 10 letters. Priced £375.00
www.loubilou.com
www.thelockettree.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Booties
Sit ’n Relax A dual purpose highchair and bouncer. Frame is height adjustable so your child can sit with you at the dining table or beside you at couch height. The food or play tray is detachable. Bouncer from birth to 9 kg – highchair from 6 mths to 15 kg. RRP: £117.59
Thrupenny Bits An award winning, truly portable and beautiful breastfeeding pillow. Multifunctional, it ties on so no slippage, it is produced using beautiful fabrics for all yummy Mummies and it even converts to a bag for after breastfeeding. RRP £33 - £60. www.thrupennybits.co.uk
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www.hauckuk.com
BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY
Potty Training with ERIC Potty training is an important milestone for your child, but learning to gain control of the bowel and bladder is a complex process and your child needs to be emotionally and physically ready to start potty training. Children normally start showing signs of being ready to potty train around the age of two, but not all children are the same and some will be ready earlier, some later. Your child will learn to understand and know how to react and respond to the feeling that they need to empty their bladder or bowel. They will also need to understand what you want them to do and how to do it.
Step-by-step potty training When it's time to start potty training your child, use ERIC's practical, simple to follow potty training system, which can be applied equally effectively to boys and girls. Visit www.eric.org.uk/PottyTraining and download the very popular ERIC's Guide to Potty Training leaflet which answers questions about knowing when to get started, how to get ready, and includes a step-by-step guide for potty training. If you need additional potty training help, ERIC's Helpline (Tel: 0845 370 8008, Monday to Thursday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm) can offer you the support you need to successfully overcome any problems, or you can post a message on our parents’ message board for other parents to offer you an insight into how they tackled toilet training. For more information from the children’s continence charity ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) visit:
www.eric.org.uk
Toilet Training…. Is a big challenge for a little person, so we developed LumiPotti™ for days and nights! LumiPotti’s removable night light is movement sensitive, activating as they sit up in bed. Dry nights achieved, the nightlight provides a handy little light to guide them for years to come . . . Made in Britain with anti-microbial plastic.
20% off direct from LumiPotti.com Enter code SUMMER15 (Valid 1/5/15 - 31/8/15)
For more information and stockists see www.lumipotti.com email: info@lumipotti.com
Real Easy Potty Training The Real Easy is a quality cloth nappy with versatile sizing to fit tiny newborn babies to chunky toddlers. The super absorbent core has the added benefit of being perfect for use at night time or those children that take a little longer to potty train – in fact the Real Easy will fit children up to aged 5+ years.
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! To be in with a chance to win one of five Real Easy nappies in your choice of size and design, just email your name and contact number to competitions@earthwisetrading.co.uk before 30 September 2015 My Family readers can also claim 20% off their next order from the Wonderoos shop www.wonderoos.co.uk with the code MyFamily. This code will expire on 30 September 2015
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AT THE BABY SHOW
Look what we spotted at
The Baby Show! The Baby Show is the market leading event for all things baby. With more than 200 parenting brands using the show as a platform to launch their latest products and ranges, it’s the perfect place to get your hands on the latest goodies! The My Family team attended The Baby Show at the NEC, Birmingham – which brought together a multitude of new, exciting and innovative products and showcases some of the very best baby and infant essentials.
Superior baby & children’s costumes Sarah’s idea for BabiesCostumes.co.uk was born out of frustration at the lack of quality reusable costumes available for babies and small children on the market. All parents dread that letter from nursery announcing a fancy dress day, or party invite requiring a costume for your little one. The last thing you want after a busy day is to spend hours searching the shops for a costume that fits and is likely to be unwearable after one wash. Sarah decided to provide a range of high quality costumes specifically tailored to children from birth to 3 years old. Fast and efficient online shopping for busy parents or the perfect gift.
During our time there we teamed up with a few of our favourite exhibitors to offer you exclusive discounts and the chance to win some fabulous prizes. Some of our top picks include babiescostumes.co.uk, Poddle Pod and TidyTot, Snugglebundl (see pages 17 and 29), Bean Bag Planet (see page 17 and 35) and MediClock (see page 19 and 64).
All the costumes are machine washable to ensure your little one can enjoy dressing up, time and time again, looking completely adorable for any occasion. Now stocking Bobo Buddies backpacks with reins.
www.babiescostumes.co.uk
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! If you would like to win your choice of costume email your name and daytime contact number to promo@babiescostumes.co.uk (closes midnight on 30th September 2015).
Naptime with Poddle Pod
Weaning with Tidy Tot
Does your baby cry every time you try to pop them down in their cot or on their playmat? Whether you want to get your baby off to sleep so you can have some precious quality time with your toddler or you need the use of both hands to get things done around your home, it can be tricky to have a baby who wants to be cuddled all the time.
Tidy Tot is an essential piece of kit for any weaning parent. It comprises a wipe-clean tray and bib set that can be used with any highchair or booster seat to contain mealtime mess!
The Poddle Pod has been designed to snuggle your baby gently to sleep, anywhere in the house. The Poddle Pod is a naptime nest that gently snuggles little ones, giving them the feeling of being cuddled that they so desperately want so they can drift off to sleep in any room, leaving you with two hands to play with a toddler or drink a (well earned!) mug of tea. Available in two sizes and lots of funky designs at www.poddlepod.com
The tray simply ‘pops’ open and slots onto your highchair or dining table; held firmly in place with suction cups. The full covering bib attaches to the front of the tray using a Velcro fastening. This unique design means there is no gap between baby and the front of the tray, preventing food from falling into baby’s lap, the highchair seat and onto your floor – genius! The food safe tray is just wider than baby’s arm-span to stop food from being dropped to the floor. The green colour of tray provides a contrast with baby’s first foods to support early hand-eye co-ordination and the kit includes your choice of red or purple bib. Tidy Tot folds down to dinner-plate size and comes in a cotton drawstring bag for easy storage. Highchair not included
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! To be in with a chance of winning a Poddle Pod, email your name and daytime contact number to hello@poddlepod.com (closing date for entries midnight on 30th September 2015).
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www.tidytot.co.uk
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! You could win one of two Tidy Tot Kits worth £30 – to enter email your name and daytime contact number to competitions@tidytot.co.uk (closes at midnight on 30/9/2015.
● Suitable from birth to 7 years ● Comes with two removable/washable covers ● Helps reduce the risk of Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head syndrome)
SPECIAL OFFER RRP £64.95 – NOW £29.99
www.beanbagplanet.co.uk
BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding basics by Anna Burbidge for La Leche League GB ©
Many pregnant women are bombarded with information about breastfeeding, and can feel anxious about it. While some women decide that it is not for them, the majority of women start breastfeeding. It’s not always easy at first and getting the right information and support in the early days can make a lot of difference.
Know where to find support In the past women grew up seeing breastfeeding as a natural part of life, but now new mothers may not be surrounded by people who can help them if difficulties arise. Finding a breastfeeding support group before the birth gives women a chance to talk to breastfeeding mothers about how they overcame any problems, and boosts confidence in their ability to nurse their babies. Help from a breastfeeding supporter can make all the difference if small, initial problems arise.
Breastmilk is meant for our babies. It adapts to suit each individual, and if a baby is premature it will adjust so that it is ideal for the continued growth that baby needs.
Getting started Breastfeeding is a learning curve, as mother and baby get to know each other. What works for one may not be right for another, and can even vary from feed to feed. Watch for early feeding cues, sucking his hand, smacking his lips, turning his head towards you, rather than waiting until he’s crying. Find a comfortable position where you feel well supported, either sitting, reclining or lying down. Use pillows for your own comfort to support your head, shoulders, body, arms and legs rather than under your baby. A baby may find the best position by her/himself. This will vary according to the baby’s own mouth shape and the mother’s breast, nipple and areola shape and size. It helps to breastfeed as soon as possible but sleepy babies may need some encouragement. Ask about expressing your milk until he gets the hang of it to stimulate your supply. A baby’s tummy should be against you. He needs to feel well supported, his lower jaw needs plenty of room to move, his chin can sink into your breast and his head tip back a bit so he can open his mouth wide. He needs a good big mouthful of breast beyond the nipple; this makes it comfortable. If supporting the breast when nursing, try to keep the “lower jaw fingers” out baby’s way. The nipple is the last part of the breast to enter his mouth, aimed towards the back of the roof of the mouth to trigger active sucking. Once he is attached small adjustments to positioning maximize comfort, gently tucking his body in closer if necessary.
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How often? A one day old baby’s stomach is about the size of a small marble. It does not stretch to hold much more than 5-7ml. Colostrum, the first milk, is just the right amount for a baby’s initial feedings. It contains high concentrations of antibodies to help a baby’s immune system mature after birth. It’s normal for a baby to bob at the breast and lick the nipple. Small frequent feeds, at least 812 times in 24 hours, help to prevent engorgement when your milk comes in, and to make the transition from being drip-fed nonstop via the umbilical tube. Engorgement decreases but gentle massage or applying moist warmth will help if the baby is struggling to latch on. Once you feel your baby is properly and comfortably positioned and swallowing, he will let you know he has had enough by letting go or falling asleep. In the early days it is a good idea to offer the other breast to ensure a plentiful milk supply. Start with the opposite breast next time. Some mothers can feel when the milk “lets down” into the breast after the first few sucks and notice the baby’s increased swallowing. The more you feed the more milk you produce. Babies nurse for comfort as well as food and there’s always some milk there. Night feeds help to establish and maintain your supply and avoid engorgement. Wet and dirty nappies are a good indicator of how much milk your baby is taking; measuring weight gain from the lowest weight, not birth weight. A newborn can lose up to 7% of his birth weight during the first few days. Most babies regain birth weight by 10 to 14 days. They grow in length and head circumference too and from 0-3 months usually gain about 4-7 ounces a week. Look at your baby as well as his weight. Does he have a good colour, with firm skin and seem active and alert? If your baby was premature or ill weight gain patterns will be different. Once at home it takes time for you and your baby to get to know each other. Breastmilk is not just about getting food into a baby, it is part of the mothering package.
BREASTFEEDING
Expressing breastmilk with Ardo The birth of a baby is a time of great joy but it's also a time of major change for families. That’s why Ardo puts so much thought into developing products that offer everything an expressing mum needs. Ardo electric breast pumps are easy to use, powerful and extremely quiet, so breast milk can be expressed comfortably and discreetly. The vacuum strength and cycle frequency can be adjusted individually and independently from one another, allowing mums to control their own individual pumping experience.
Suitable from birth, the luxurious AmaWrap allows close contact with baby, who is soothed feeling your voice, breathing and heartbeat. It ensures absolute comfort for both baby and parent, and allows you to get on with everything else! The contact is proven to regulate baby’s heartbeat and temperature, increase breastfeeding success and help to ward off the baby blues in mum.
High standards of hygiene and safety are achieved thanks to “Vacuum Seal” technology. This ensures that no breast milk or impurities can enter the tube or pump, protecting mum, milk and baby. Ardo is fully compliant with the WHO (World Health Organisation) code of practice, supporting breastfeeding with products of highest quality and functionality.
www.ardobreastpumps.co.uk
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! Win a Calypso Double Plus breastpump – to enter answer the following question at www.ardobreastpumps.co.uk/myfamily (closes 30/9/2015) What can be adjusted individually and independently on the Ardo Calypso breastpump?
Quote myfamily on www.amawrap.com for 10% off!
Ardo understands that mums who express precious breastmilk need a breastpump they can rely on. Calypso Electric Breastpump – an award-winning personal pump which is easy to use and is the quietest on the market. Single, Double or To-go available. Carum Hospital Grade Breastpump – hire the latest in breastpump technology
Place your order by 2pm for next working day delivery; you even get a text telling you when your pump will arrive! Ardo are WHO code compliant
www.ardobreastpumps.co.uk myfamily 37
ETHICAL PARENTING
Eco essentials for a newborn Congratulations you are pregnant! You are about to start your parenting journey and are sure to want the best for your baby from the day they are born and for their future. New babies have many needs – food, clothes, nappies, nursery products, to name but a few. There is no denying that having a baby is demanding on the environment, but making greener choices for your little one doesn’t have to be overwhelming!
Choose organic Organic cotton is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre that is free from harmful allergenic, carcinogenic or toxic chemical residues – which makes it an ideal choice for baby’s clothing, bedding and towels. By contrast the non-organic cotton industry is a huge source of global environmental pollution, using almost 16% of all insecticides and thousands of chemicals. The residue from these
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chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause allergies, skin rashes or respiratory problems – babies are particularly vulnerable as their skin is much thinner than adults.
Organic wool Organic wool comes from farms that put the sheep and the environment first. So as well as being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and durable fibre, when you buy organic wool you are also supporting more sustainable farming practice. The production of organic wool doesn't use harmful manufacturing chemicals. Soil Association standards ensure that the chemicals used in processing textiles meet strict requirements on toxicity and biodegradability. The end garments are residue free and don’t contain allergenic, carcinogenic or toxic chemical residues.
Recycling Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. When your friends and family find out that you are expecting you will probably be swamped with
offers of second hand a baby goods – taking them up on their offer could be a great way of saving money and reducing waste.
Cloth nappies For every year your baby is in nappies, he or she will need nearly 2,000 nappy changes. With potty training averaging at two and a half years, that is nearly 5,000 nappies per child! Research by The Real Nappy Information Service shows that 3 billion disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK every year – equating to over 355,000 tonnes of disposable nappy waste every year. Disposable nappies can also take 500 years to decompose. Reports have shown that a 40% carbon saving can be made through using reusable nappies compared to using disposables – and that includes the washing!
Reduce waste To eliminate buying things that you don’t need, take time to talk to friends that have recently had a baby – they will have tried some of the items on your list and can give you an honest opinion about quality, convenience, what they found useful and what was a waste of money.
ETHICAL PARENTING
Funky gear for your little one If you’re a stylish mummy or daddy, and you want your little one to stand out from the crowd, take a look at the unique range of items by Steph Murrell at Funky Little Bugs. Steph’s creations have earned her online boutique the My Family Favourite award 2015 for Best Handmade Products. Funky Little Bugs has also become a favourite with parents looking for an alternative to high-street brands. The site offers a fabulous range of limited edition parasols, change bags, toddler bags, pram covers, moses basket coverlets, baby blankets and accessories, all handmade using upcycled fabrics featuring the famous Marvel Comic series, Disney, Minions, Harry Potter and many more funky designs.
www.naturalbabyandme.com
In fact, the success of Funky Little Bugs quirky personalised change bags with matching accessories encouraged Steph to launch a second site, where parents can shop for change time essentials – and Funky Little Bums was born! With a little help from Funky Little Bums, change time no longer has to be a bum deal!
Natural Sun
Natural Mum
Organic Baby
Natural and Organic Products for Mum and Baby 30% discount for My Family Magazine – Discount code MFM Ingredients from Certified Organic Agriculture. Gluten Free, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan options, Petroleum, Lanolin and mineral oil free, Paraben, SLS and SLES free, Nickel, Chrome and Lead tested. Not tested on animals and no animal based ingredients.
Fans of cloth nappies will love the range on offer by Wonderoos – creators of the original ‘one size’ pocket nappy and if you are looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable wipes, you will find Funky Little Bums handmade washable wipes and wet bags really useful. With the addition of Mama’s Moonshine, which is perfect for use with cloth nappies you can also care for baby’s bottom too. To find something a little different for your child check out the latest additions to the range at:
www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs and www.facebook.com/funkylittlebums
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ETHICAL PARENTING
Eco stuff and a newborn by Alex Wyver-Northam founder, fiesta-tots.co.uk
Before my first little one arrived, I was full of good intentions about being eco aware and not using disposable versions of many things. The reality kicked in very quickly and I resorted to disposable versions as much as possible (even bibs!). Now though, being eco aware isn’t as hard; be it using reusable nappies & wipes; or packing lighter to save weight; or using more environmentally friendly materials. Bamboo is a great example. It grows so fast that many more products can be made from it in
waterproof sheet, suitable from crib size up to single bed (just turn it by 90 degrees).
less time, thus taking up less space. Bamboo fabric has the added advantage of being very absorbent and has antibacterial properties. Bubble do lovely bamboo jersey wraps/blankets that are perfect as summer covers, swaddle blankets, burp cloths etc. (£37.50 for a set of 3).
One of the best ideas for babies recently, using recycled plastic has been a full pram. The Greentom UPP is a lovely wide stroller (£199) that can be added to with a carry cot and additional tilting seat (total price £499). Only the bearings are new – the frame is made from recycled plastics (with the manufacturers saying it is stronger than steel), while the main textiles are made from 62 drinks bottles.
Bamboo is also used in the Quack Quack Moo range which includes little vests and a great cosy
Another way to be ‘Eco’ is to change the way you use disposables. So, could you use
reusable nappies, of which the Close Parent version is very user friendly? Do you have to use a nappy bag every time you throw a nappy away (especially when only a wet one)? Why not have washable wet/dry bags with you to put stuff in that gets wet, rather than using plastic bags. The final way is just to get out and about with your little one and your carrier or buggy. Walk as much as possible and take in the fresh air. Enjoy each other.
Happy Nappies If you are taking your little one to the pool this summer you will need a reliable swim nappy. Funky Monkey Pants can help with a range of Happy Nappy™ swim nappies by Splash About – the only swim nappy insisted upon by most UK swim schools. It has a tried and tested leak free design and is available in a wide range of designs for boys and girls. At Funky Monkey Pants you will find a huge range of soft, hygienic, reusable cloth nappies and nappy accessories. If you live in Cornwall pop in to the shop at 5c Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate, Helston, Cornwall, TR11 0LW for a demonstration or if that’s to far visit www.funkymonkeypants.com for information including their fact sheet Cloth ABC. Alternatively call 01326617171 or email emma@funkymonkeypants.com.
Luxury, Bespoke & Organic Shop with confidence for the highest quality products for you and your baby. Stockist of Kickee Pants – The US brand that is loved by celebrity mummies and daddies for their luxuriously soft and seam free, organic bamboo baby and toddler wear.
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! Funky Monkey Pants are giving you the chance to win the UK’s bestselling swim nappy – Happy Nappy by Splash About. To enter email your name and daytime contact number, using subject MYFAMILY to emma@funkymonkeypants.com before 30th September 2015.
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www.littleeddiebaby.com GIFTS • BABY AND TODDLER WEAR • MATERNITY • TOYS • NURSERY
ETHICAL PARENTING
Greener homes Have you ever thought about how you could make your home greener? Most of us do the obvious things like recycling, turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use and using energy efficient lightbulbs. However, there are a few additional steps you can take to make your home greener – even if you don’t do everything on the list, every little change will make a difference.
AROUND THE HOME
on wildlife to help control natural pests, so wide field edges are left uncultivated for bugs, birds and bees to flourish. To find out how to make the right organic choices visit www.soilassociation.org.
IN THE BATHROOM Remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth – a running tap wastes over 6 litres per minute. Purchase a water efficient toilet – dual flush toilets have a split flush button which gives the user the choice of how much water to use. Dual flush toilets typically use 4-6 litres of water opposed to the old style flush systems which use a massive 13 litres per flush.
Hang dry – Make the most of warm days by giving your tumble drier a break. Get a clothes line or rack to dry your clothes by the air. Your wardrobe will maintain colour and fit, and you'll save money too.
Fit a Cistern Displacement Device – a CDD is placed in the cistern to displace around 1 litre of water every time you flush. They are super easy to install. Installing a CDD can achieve savings of up to 5000 litres per year – they are available for FREE from most water companies
Plant a tree – It's good for the air, the land and helps reduce the ‘urban heat island effect’ – this is where the manmade surfaces in urban centres absorb heat, becoming hotter than surrounding areas. On some days, central London can be up to 10°C hotter than its suburbs!
Take a shower instead of a bath – typically a bath uses around 80 litres of water, while a short shower can use as little as a third of that amount. But beware since many power-showers may actually use more than a bath – see more at www.waterwise.org.uk.
Buy organic – it is good for you and the planet, is kind to animals and wildlife, and allows you to make a big difference – simply through the way you shop. The UK Government’s own advisors found that plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms. Organic farming relies
From bath towels, to soap and toilet paper, many bathroom products are
laden with chemicals – consider purchasing green and certified organic products to ensure that you’re bathroom routine has less impact on the environment.
IN THE KITCHEN Before you make a hasty appliance purchase, check whether your old appliance can be repaired. If the time has indeed come to get rid of an old appliance, many councils have take-back programs, to help you to properly dispose of items that are likely to contain hazardous chemicals and materials. When you do need to replace a kitchen appliance look for the Energy Star rating and then choose a sturdy model that will last. Avoid purchasing pre-prepared, frozen foods, and make them yourself – this cuts the steps of your food's lifecycle and the associated energy in processing and transportation that comes from each step. Cut down the food miles and buy local produce if possible – the fewer miles from farm to table, the better. Food from a local farm will be fresher and less likely to contain preservatives than food that has been flown half way round the world.
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ETHICAL PARENTING
The World’s First Healthy Paint Jotun Sens Allergy Free Paint is like no other decorative paint range on the market, open the can and you will notice that it has virtually no smell; this is because vapours have been reduced to the lowest levels ever achieved in an interior paint. Sens Allergy Free paint contains virtually no emanating harmful substances, making it one of the safest eco paints available today and the ideal choice for situations where health considerations are paramount. With Sens, air quality is preserved during application and drying and incidents of respiratory irritation caused by exposure to fumes is virtually non-existent – you can actually stay in the room during and after painting. Finally your home can be painted without the need to move out of the rooms and a nursery can be painted for a soon-to-arrive baby. Further information on Sens Allergy Free Paint is available from SML Decorative Paints on 01285 862 132, by visiting our website at
www.smldecorativepaints.co.uk or by emailing info@smlpaints.co.uk.
Beautiful Décor for Kids’ Rooms
Save water, save energy, save money
Petit Home, is an award winning online boutique brimming with an exceptional selection of chic and enchanting items to decorate and personalise your child’s room.
ShowerBoB is a cute little addition to your family, providing a gentle nudge to take shorter 4minute showers.
At Petit Home you will find a fabulous range of contemporary kid’s bedroom décor and nursery decorations that have been lovingly handpicked to include a selection of gorgeous products that are both stylish and ethically pleasing. Lorena Canals cotton rugs which are hand tinted with natural and nontoxic colours, available in a range of designs that will add a cosy finishing touch to a nursery or kids' bedroom. Funky storage bags by Rex made with recycled plastic bottles – these offer the perfect solution to clear away and store kids clutter. Mimi'lou paper lampshade with adorable designs, are a great way to create a soft warm atmosphere in your child’s room. For a delightful range of unique and beautiful items visit:
www.petithome.co.uk 42 myfamily
Simply stick him onto your shower wall, twist and let the sand timer tell you when your time is up!
www.showerbob.co.uk
Ere-be-dragons’ wallpaper PaperBoy children's dragon wallpaper – design by Victoria Cramsie and made by Robert Hamlin-Wright at his small wallpaper factory in Norfolk, using FSC Accredited Sustainable forest paper.
www.nubie.co.uk Save 10% at checkout with discount code MYFAMILY10 until September 2015
KIDS’ FASHION
Eco fashion for kids Children’s clothing that doesn’t cost the earth! Fisherman's Sun Hat Fisherman's Sun Hat with Drawstring in Organic Cotton (UV sun protection 60-80). www.cambridgebaby.co.uk
Organic Cotton Dress Organic Dungarees Dungarees in Organic Merino Wool by Disana. www.cambridgebaby.co.uk
Blue-elly printed dress – 100% Organic Cotton super soft printed short-sleeved dress. Price: £23.99 www.tobytiger.co.uk
Spoilt Rotten 100% organic cotton baby clothes and kid’s t-shirts www.spoiltrotten.com
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KIDS’ FASHION Kids who are wild about fashion will also love the colourful range of bow ties that are available at Hold Them Up – they are a great way to jazz things up or to add a splash of colour to a wedding outfit.
‘Hold Them Up’ in style! From tiny tots to trendy teens, kids love to look good in what they are wearing. Once past the baby stage, it’s not long before they want to dress themselves and have some input on what they think looks good. If your child likes to stand out from the crowd, check out Hold Them Up for an award winning range of funky braces, colourful stretch belts and bow ties.
Take a look at the full range of belts, braces and bow ties at
www.holdthemup.co.uk
Hold Them Up’s belts and braces fit babies and toddlers through to teens and even the most active of kids will find them extremely comfortable to wear. Even if your
child isn’t losing their trousers, the brightly colour belts and braces will add a stylish finishing touch to their outfit. Choose from belts with a traditional pin buckle for older children or for little ones, the easy bottle opener belts have an uncomplicated clasp which will help them maintain their independence and save any embarrassment when they need the toilet.
The School Days collection from Frugi Grab your rucksack, make sure your pencil case is packed and join Frugi as they launch ‘School Days’, the first instalment for Autumn/Winter 2015.
LONG SLEEVE BABYGROWS SHORT SLEEVE BABY T-SHIRTS MATERNITY TOPS BABY GIFTS SCRATCH MITTENS MUM & DAD T-SHIRTS FATHER & BABY GIFT SETS BABY HATS & MORE
www.spoiltrotten.com
Packed full of beautiful organic clothing for newborns up to ten years, little ones will be hopping, skipping and jumping through the school gates come September. Inspired by fond memories of primary school, this collection celebrates the joys of early education, so watch out for science experiments, wildlife, sports, the alphabet and farmyard animals. Comfortable, scrumptiously soft and effortlessly stylish, Frugi has Autumn covered with items including lovely babygrows, bright long sleeved t-shirts, stunning dresses, cute skirts, practical leggings, woolly tights and much more. The School Days collection features classic Frugi items including brightly coloured applique tops, cosy reversible snuggle fleeces, super cool countryside dungarees, beautiful Twirly Bow party dresses and corduroy combats. The collection also sees the arrival of new items such as the improved parsnip pants and a range of tights suitable for boys.
www.welovefrugi.com
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KIDS’ FASHION
Simply Stylish… Timeless fashion for little girls
Ella’s Bows Headband & Bloomer Sets
www.littleeddiebaby.com Le Mu dress from the Autumn/Winter Collection
www.le-mu.co.uk
Le Mu dresses from the Timeless Collection
www.le-mu.co.uk
Petasil shoes
facebook.com/ stomp
Sun San sandals in yellow
facebook.com/stomp
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TIME FOR SLEEP
Summer Sleep Advice Summer time is finally here and while we welcome the sunshine and precious family time that it brings, all too often the long summer holidays can end with youngsters developing sleep difficulties. Light nights can result in little ones finding it difficult to switch off and go to sleep. When it is dark our bodies produce a sleep hormone called melatonin, which helps us to feel drowsy and nod off more easily. Blackout blinds can help to create a darkened environment and also to block out the early morning sunlight. Avoiding screen activities in the hour leading up to bedtime is a good idea too. Computers, phones and television screens all contain a blue light that interferes with melatonin production. The summer months can be particularly confusing for young children. Avoid using language relating to dark and light and tell them ‘it’s night time, time to go to bed’ rather than ‘it’s dark go to bed’ – this is a rule that you need to abide by all year round. You can also use other cues in order to support their understanding – close the curtains in the evening and open them first thing in the morning. Using music to signal the time of day can help – choose a piece of music that is calming and play it in the background once the bedtime routine begins. Your child will begin to associate this music with bedtime approaching. Children’s sleep can be disturbed by disruption in routines. It is inevitable that over the summer
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months you may be more relaxed in your routine or a holiday or stay with relatives may cause disruption. Where possible try to keep a simple routine in place even if you are more relaxed about the time your child goes to bed.
● Close the curtains during the day to prevent heat entering the room.
Suggested Routine
● Make the bath water cooler than usual
7.00pm Turn TV and screen activities off and have a supper time snack – avoid anything sugar or caffeine fuelled.
Back to School
7.20pm Spend some time engaged in calming activities such as playing with jigsaws, colouring in, jewellery making etc. 7.30pm Bath time 7.50pm Story in bed 8.00pm Kisses goodnight If you are going to be going away from home it can help your child to settle more easily if you do keep some aspects of their routine in place. While outdoor play is wonderful, it is best to limit it before bedtime as it can actually reenergise your child.
Keeping Cool Temperature plays an important part in our sleep and if we become too hot it disrupts our sleep patterns. Becoming overheated can also be dangerous particularly for babies. Here are some tips to keep cool this summer: ● Use cotton bedding if possible. ● Invest in a nursery thermometer and keep a check on the temperature in the nursery – it should be around 18 degrees for a comfortable night’s sleep.
● Once the temperature outside drops then open the windows. ● Cool little ones down with a sponge.
With the summer holidays looming it seems premature to think about September. The autumn is however the time of the year when we receive our most calls. Families have fallen out of routines with their children and then find that it is difficult to get them to bed once school starts. You need to be mindful of the fact that the holidays don’t go on forever. Focus during the last 2 weeks, on getting your child’s body clock back on track ready for school. If bedtime has become later and later you should gradually begin to move it forwards by 15 minutes every three nights until you get it back to the desired time. It is also important that you wake your child at a set time each morning. Again if this has crept back to a later wake up time then gradually wake them 15 minutes earlier every three days. Using this technique you will be able to reset your child’s body clock in time for September. For more information about our work please contact info@thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk or call 07912 667676.
TIME FOR SLEEP
Snuggle Sac provides an alternative bedding solution Snuggle Sac is a versatile, fleecy sleeping bag that is the perfect modern replacement to traditional bedding. It is endorsed by the Children’s Sleep Charity as an alternative bedding solution that helps provide a comforting, secure environment, to ensure a good night’s sleep for your child.
The simple way to keep your child from rolling out of bed
Award winning foam bed bumpers & mattress wedges - for cots, GET single and double beds 15% OFF
BUY ON LIN using co E d AB17 M e AG
Safe sleeping solutions for you and your child
Children of all ages can enjoy the benefits of a Snuggle Sac – for active sleepers it solves the bedding on the floor problem and for small children, My First Snuggle Sac resolves the problem of them waking upset and cold, because they have lost the covers.
Big Bed Starter Pack
Ideal for use at home or away, Snuggle Sac has a space within the head area to fit a standard pillow and conveniently packs into its very own travel bag – making it the ideal travel companion. Snuggle Sac's impressive range includes Harry Potter, Pirate, Fairy, Pony, Lion and many more, fun designs.
0118 324 2012
Visit www.acosybumpers.co.uk
SAVE 10% OFF by using code MF10 at the checkout when you order from www.snugglesac.com or call 01603 881705
Why do Abaca use wool in their mattresses? Wool is a wonderful fibre. For centuries we have worn it, walked on it and of course slept on it. Abaca has taken this most traditional of fibres and created a range of mattresses that mean that you get the very best of the old and the new. Recent research has shown that wool is the natural choice for sleeping on or under. It allows your body to breathe in a way which synthetic products just can’t hope to replicate. Wool helps your body regulate itself so that you get to a comfortable sleeping temperature faster, and stay there for longer. It is for this reason we use so much of it in our nursery range of mattresses. At Abaca we take great pride in the fact that we only use Welsh organic wool. Every mattress is handmade individually for each customer.
www.abacaorganic.co.uk
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TIME FOR SLEEP
The cot by Oeuf that grows with your child The chic grey of Sparrow Cot by Oeuf NYC available from Nubie, will certainly bring a wow factor to the nursery. The magical design allows this cot to grow with your child as they make the transition from cot to bed – an optional conversion kit will transform it to a toddler bed, which will support your child until they reach 5 years of age. It is perfect for parents looking for a sleek modern design with the addition of great craftsmanship and comforting safety features. The slim rails of the Sparrow Cot have been designed to give the cot a light and airy feel, the mattress height can be adjusted to three positions and the fixed rails, ensure that it is safe and sturdy too. The Sparrow Cot is made from solid birch with the exception of bottom rail and legs which are made from Baltic birch plywood for additional strength. It is made in Latvia, a nation with a strong woodworking heritage, from locally sourced wood and the finish is non-toxic and water-based, free of VOC health hazards. At Nubie you will also find children's natural and organic mattresses from The Little Green Sheep and Natural mat that fit perfectly with The Sparrow cot for safe and comfortable sleep.
TURN THE LIGHT OUT! ‘But I’m Scared of The Dark’. . . Even a low light in a bedroom can be disturbing to sleep patterns, but many children are afraid of the dark. LumiPotti’s nightlight provides a single solution to your child’s lighting needs whilst leaving them to sleep in the dark. Activated by movement with auto-fade 60 secs after the last detected movement, it’s on when you need it and off when you don’t! LumiPotti’s removable night light is perfect for: ● ● ● ●
Checking on baby Settling for night time feeds Night toilet training Portable night light
As your child grows they will come to trust that LumiPotti’s little light will come on if they need it, but leave them to sleep in peacefully in the dark! LumiPotti is available online at Amazon, Argos, Kiddicare, Direct2mum, independents nationwide and direct – see www.lumipotti.com for details.
Special buy direct discount offer on page 33.
Sweet Dreams with Ewan and Russell Loved all over the world, Ewan the dream sheep is the multi award winning sleep aid that has been designed to soothe unsettled children and promote healthy sleep patterns. He can be used from birth in almost any cot and helps babies and toddlers establish a healthy sleep pattern by closely mimicking certain sounds from the womb. This ‘womb experience’ helps trigger a calming reflex, so reducing crying time and inducing quality sleep. For toddlers, Russell the dream sheep dog is sure to provide a great companion for night time. His green and blue light therapy show calms little ones into sleep and his voice recorder facility allows mum and dad to record stories and lullabies, which provide toddlers the ultimate comfort.
Save 10% off all orders with discount code MYFAMILY10 at
www.nubie.co.uk (offer valid until September 2015)
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From £29.99 www.sweetdreamers.co.uk
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
Cool things for
kids’rooms If you are designing or updating your child’d bedroom, playroom or nursery, here’s a few items that will help to give a fresh new look to their space . . . Moba Moses Basket Quality is guaranteed with this moses basket which is made from a synthetic material that is hypoallergenic and non-toxic. It looks and feels great! The contemporary design is available in a wide range of colours. Included is a hypoallergenic and PVC free mattress. Suitable from Birth. Price: £99. www.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk
Snuggle Sac This cosy fleecy sleeping bag for children can be used every night of the year and makes a great alternative to conventional bedding. The lining is 100% cotton and it is fully machine washable making this a healthy way for a child to sleep. SAVE 10% when you order from www.snugglesac.com with discount code MF10 at the checkout. www.snugglesac.com
Be Happy – NEW COLLECTION Be Happy is a colourful collection of jacquards, appliqués and cotton prints designed to bring smiles to the faces of children everywhere. Nautical themes appeal to budding explorers while butterflies and kites encourage imaginations to fly sky-high. Lovely coordinating stripes and checks complete the picture. www.kidscurtaincompany.co.uk
Reading Chair – Willow textile The Wave chair – gently reclining, gives children a little oasis of colour and comfort, where they can drift off into their world or lose themselves in a book. Price £333.26. www.loubilou.com
Heico lamby lamb lamp in white Light up your child's space with this darling lamby lamb lamp – it makes a lovely addition to the room switched on as switched off. Price £48.00. www.petithome.co.uk
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
Visit Loubilou for the world’s best children’s wares Loubilou.com is the UK’s first online market place to offer parents an exceptional range of high quality décor, gifts, toys and children’s clothing from very best independent sellers around the globe.
A selection of chic bed linen, lighting, decorative accessories, wall stickers and musical playthings
At Loubilou you will find refreshing alternatives to the usual selection of mass produced goods offered by conventional high street stores. Recently chosen to receive the My Family Favourite Award 2015 for Best Kids’ Gifts, Loubilou brings together an array of items to delight and inspire children and their grown-ups. With more than 10,000 thoughtfully made and rare items at your fingertips, you can choose from unique and individual items from categories such as Designer Kids, Fit for a Little Princess, Cool Britannia, Hand Made With Love, Eco Baby Gifts and many more! With merchants adding new products daily, Loubilou delivers a more personalised and satisfying e-commerce experience for consumers. To learn more, visit www.loubilou.com or follow @Loubiloukids on twitter or loubiloukids on facebook.
www.petithome.co.uk
If you are looking for quality products that will give your child’s room the WOW factor, Kids Curtain Company specialise in handmade made-to-measure curtains, roman blinds, roller blinds and co-ordinating soft furnishings in eyecatching designs and styles. Going from strength to strength and celebrating their 11th birthday this year, Kids Curtain Company is the original children’s soft furnishings company. Visit:
www.kidscurtaincompany.co.uk Telephone 01323 482 628 info@kidscurtaincompany.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/Kidscurtaincompanyltd
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
SnüzPod The SnüzPod Bedside Crib is the perfect 3-in-1 sleep solution for all parents who want to keep their little one close by day and night. The innovative bedside crib allows parents to feed, comfort and settle baby without having to leave bed and gives them peace of mind that their little one is safe and sound. The SnüzPod™ can be adjusted to the height of your bed, meaning that your baby will be as close as possible whilst still having their own safe space to sleep.
Olli Ella's new collection Olli Ella are excited to present their summer 2015 bedding range. The collection is made up of 4 gorgeous prints Cosmo, Confetti, Terra and Tartine. With gentle hues of mint, grey, sea blue, peach and sunburst, the Cosmo and Confetti designs are cool, calm and soothing. With subtle hues of pale pink, navy, sherbert, and sunburst, the Terra and Tartine designs are soft, bright and playful, like a refreshing class of strawberry lemonade. The bedding is made of organic GOTS certified cotton, which has been said to be as soft as a cloud, ensuring your little one has the most peaceful night’s sleep. Prices from £25 at www.olliella.com.
The fantastically versatile 3-in-1 design means that the SnüzPod is not only a bedside crib, but it can also be used as a standalone crib for the nursery or can be taken from the foldable stand and used as rocking bassinette for around the home. Price £169 at www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk.
Frugi organic bedding Bouncing on beds, den making with your duvet or snuggling up for bedtime, Frugi’s bedding range promises the best night time adventures! Super soft, organic and beautifully designed, Frugi’s bedding collection surrounds little ones in comfort and style at bedtime. Frugi’s bedding collection is made from the brand’s signature, soft, organic cotton. The breathable qualities in organic cotton are recognised as being kinder to children’s delicate skin and less likely to trigger allergies. With no chemicals used throughout the entire production of Frugi materials, parents can rest assured this bedding is the safest around. From £49 at www.welovefrugi.com.
Happy Hopperz add a fun touch to a kid’s rooms Happy Hopperz, are perfect for indoors as well as outside, a Happy Hopper promises to brighten every nursery or bedroom. The perfect mode of transport for going from room to room or a comfortable seat for reading, a Happy Hopper is sure to make a bedroom a better place to be. The recently launched Car collection includes three fun designs including a blue and white police car and a red fire truck. With wing mirrors to hold, a comfy seat to board and four sturdy wheels to steady the bounce, tots will be racing to the crime scene and putting out fires in no time! £23.99 from www.happyhopperz.co.uk
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PARTY TIME
Helpful tips and inspirations for children’s party planning There is always so much to do when you are arranging a child’s party and the key to throwing your child the perfect birthday bash is organisation! Here are a few things that you can do to make sure that your child’s party is a fun and stress free event.
Choose a theme Ask your child what theme they would like – they may already have a great idea of their own but if they are short of ideas take inspiration from their favourite book, film or TV show. Some popular party themes are pirates, princesses, fairies, super-hero, Disney, Peppa Pig etc. For older kids you could host a sport and activity based party such as pool and pamper party.
Set the date Decide when to host the party – check that the party doesn’t clash with any commitments that you have made – you don’t want to double book yourself! Time the party earlier in the day for under 5’s to avoid children getting tired and irritable – a couple of hours should be sufficient, you don’t need to put on entertainment all day.
school etc. Around 15 children will be enough to make the party fun without being too overwhelming.
Helping hands It’s worth having a few pairs of extra hands at the party so ask friends, family and other mums and dads if they can help out.
Send out the invitations Buy or make invitations that match the theme of the party. On the invitation write the date and time and where the party will be, also let guests know if they need to dress to suit the theme or if they need bring a swimsuit, wear suncream and hats etc. Let guests know if you are supplying food and ask parents to let you know if their child has any special dietary requirements or if they have food/drink allergies. Give plenty of notice – hand the invitations out a month before the party and include rsvp information with a respond by date. You can’t invite everyone, so try not to hand the invitations out in
front of children who haven’t been invited, as this might make them feel sad and left out.
Buy or make the decorations Buy table cloths, party plates, napkins, piñatas, party bags, favours and decorations to match the party theme – you’ll usually find these at a good party shop or from online party suppliers. Alternatively your child could help you to make your own – they will love getting involved.
Party food and drink Firstly you’ll need a birthday cake – cupcakes and cake pops are also a popular choice for children’s parties too. You will also need party food but keep it simple as children can be put off if the food is too fancy. Finger food such as sandwiches, pizza, fruit, biscuits and crisps are usually favourite but you could offer hotdogs, fish fingers or hamburgers instead (remember to include meat free options for vegetarians). Make sure that children have access to plenty of drinks especially if it is a hot day – for younger children avoid fizzy drinks and serve squash, bottles of cooled water, fruit juice and milkshakes instead. If parents are attending cater for them too.
Book the entertainment You may want to book a professional children’s entertainer, magician, disco or bouncy castle for the party. There should be a number of local companies supplying this type of service but it’s a good idea to ask friends for recommendations. If you don’t want to use a party entertainer, you will need to put together some fun activities and games to keep everyone amused. You could use tried and tested party games like pass the parcel, musical statues and blind man’s bluff or tailor games to the theme of the party, for example – put on a treasure hunt for a pirates party.
The guest list Ask your child who they want to invite and write a guest list. Include cousins, family friends, neighbours and friends from playgroup or
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PARTY TIME
Celebrate with a nut free cake After Discovering two of their three children suffered from severe nut allergy Karen and Michael Woods decided to combine this difficult situation with Michael’s experience of working in the cake industry to set up the 1st Celebration Cake Factory in the UK to guarantee their cakes were nut free. Statistically it is believed that 1 in 55 children now have a nut allergy that means 1 in every 2 classrooms has a child with a nut allergy. From Michael and Karen’s experience it was these party food occasions that were the most difficult.
Mike says ‘When our daughter Danika first started going to birthday parties she was told the cake at the party was unsafe to eat and she had to be excluded from sharing it. As her Parent this was very hard to deal with. I was determined to make sure children with nut
allergies were not excluded. In the factories I ran before, it was not that the birthday cake actually had nuts in it – but we made other cakes on the same premises with nuts in them making it impossible to guarantee a small trace could not find its way in. Even the very smallest spec of nut protein is enough to cause very serious harm to my children and we could not take the risk.’ So after discussions with all the major supermarkets, Sainsburys stepped up and said they really wanted to give their customers a nut free option and agreed to launch two cakes so Just Love Food Company started with 11 people in April 2010.
Since then Tesco and Asda have followed suit and a number of kid’s party centres have also seen the need for a good quality but Nut free cake including Pizza Hut, Wacky Warehouse and Butlins. Just Love Food Company now employs over 45 people.
To see their full supermarket range or order a personalised design for home delivery look at www.justlovefoodcompany.com
Mini-Jumps will have kids jumping with joy It’s all the rage to theme children’s parties, but now you can go one better and theme the event on the enormous fun and healthy exercise generated by MiniJumps! It’s the activity that looks after itself and where the adults can join in if they want too!
Choose Red Ribbon when planning your next party… ● Themed children’s party boxes and special occasion boxes full of luxury party products ● All the essentials for a fantastic party
Mini-Jumps will have party goers bouncing around the venue burning off that sugar high in minutes and you can make proceedings as competitive as you wish, with scorecards, timers and rosettes available. Have a small course with circuits or an extended one around the garden to rival Burghley horse trials! Finally, once the last guest has left and your home is returning to some semblance of normal, you’ll hear just one thing - the sound of your own children leaping over their present. Mini-Jumps never go out of date and owners tell us they’re the “Best thing they’ve ever bought”.
www.mini-jumps.co.uk 54 myfamily
● Each Party Box contains over 100 items! ● We can design a party box for you – just give us your theme or occasion ● Delivered to your door with FREE standard delivery
View our party box range at
www.redribbonparties.co.uk Email: info@redribbonparties.co.uk • Tel: (01283) 519128
PARTY TIME
Themed party boxes from Red Ribbon We want to make organising your child’s next birthday party easy. At Red Ribbon Parties we provide themed party boxes with all the essentials you need for a fantastic party.
Snow White Disney Baby Princess Dress Adorable outfit perfect for parties or everyday dress up. From the Disney Baby Princess range, others to choose from. Includes headband and matching bloomers. Sizes 3 months to 2 years. Price: £25.
www.babiescostumes.co.uk
Your party box will be carefully packed with delightful decorations, themed tableware, two party games plus prizes, party bags filled with quality items and a party accessory for each guest. However that’s not all, each party box includes our exclusive themed invitations and thank-you notes plus themed party planner providing you with ideas for fun activities and party food ideas. Our party boxes contain over 100 items of thoughtfully handpicked luxury party products, which can be ordered from the comfort of your sofa and delivered to your door in one box. Visit our website and you will find a range of themed children's parties including Frozen and Superheroes. Also special occasion party boxes for baby showers and celebrations, but you are not limited to these. If you are unable to find the theme or occasion you looking for then get in touch and we can create a bespoke party box just for you. View our party boxes at
www.redribbonparties.co.uk All our party boxes include FREE standard delivery.
Gotrovo is perfect for parties Summer’s finally here and with it the promise of fun filled days in the sunshine, hooray! There’s nothing better than Friends and Family getting together to enjoy a BBQ or Party and what makes these events real memory makers are fun activities that EVERYONE can get involved in.
Gotrovo Treasure Hunt is the active run around game that gets kids of all ages up and moving, working together to solve riddles, clues or picture clues to find the treasure.
Pool Party Fun with SwimFin With a SwimFin nobody needs to miss the pool party! Suitable from 2 years+ the unique fin shaped swimming aid is worn on the back, ‘suspending’ the user in the water without tipping forward or restricting movement of their arms and legs.
Gotrovo contains everything for the perfect treasure hunt, including clues, map, coins and gold bar while Gotrovo mini is ideal for fun on the go. The beautifully designed cards mean laying the trail is quick and easy, leaving you time to relax while the kids have endless fun. The new riddle expansion pack is also now available with 70 additional riddles to fox your treasure seekers. There are even clues for seasonal Christmas and Easter egg hunts!
SwimFin can even be used for underwater fun such as snorkelling and underwater swimming without the worry of straying too far from the surface of the water. Priced £21.99.
www.swimfin.co.uk We think Gotrovo Treasure hunts are perfect for parties, but don’t just take our word for it as we are honoured to have been awarded My Family Magazines Best Party Game 2015. Recommended for age 3 plus. For more details visit
www.gotrovo.uk or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest * Expansion pack and new style Gotrovo (as pictured) available from mid August 2015.
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Parents’ needs . . . in the spotlight! We can better support our intense, super-sensitive, hyperreactive children with the summer to autumn transition – back to school or back to structured activities if you home educate – if we take good care of ourselves. That way we have the energy and resilience to deal positively with challenging situations and are able to support our children in a positive and caring way when they are upset or anxious. Lack of sleep can have a hugely negative influence on our ability to concentrate, focus and self-regulate. Let everyone slowly ease back into the normal weekly rhythm. Readjust mealtimes, and during the day, walk the dogs, go swimming, go-karting, trampolining before the evening ritual – so at night a tired body and lack of excess energy helps children sleep even though they might be worrying.
“Before the summer Steve (11) had already driven the route in the school bus with a friend, while I followed in the car and we had a look around the school. On the first new school day I made sure I had breakfast and lunch boxes ready before I woke Steve so I could focus on him. I knew the first day could be stressful for him. I managed to stay relaxed, firm and just calmly encouraged Steve to go through all the morning motions, steering him in the right direction when he got distracted and we managed to arrive in good time for the bus so I could hang around a while giving him extra time to adjust. I had been thinking how I could be at my best during Steve’s first week and had organised some afternoons in the weeks before with a dear friend, doing nothing but gossiping, drinking lots of tea and eating cake. Also normally it’s very tempting for me to go to bed late and drink one more glass of wine, as it gives some ‘hubby and me’ time, I hadn’t gone that route in the week before school started. I think it all helped, I felt much more confident and calm as I felt nurtured, rested and well prepared.” Mum’s confidence and focus helped Steve to get through getting ready for school as best as he could. She helped him to prepare for the unknown and created a stress free area as a starting point for him.
56 myfamily
Simone de Hoogh Qualified Parenting Consultant, Family and Life Coach and ‘ECHA Specialist in Gifted Education’, Founder of PowerWood – supporting individuals & families living with OE (intensity, superreactivity, hyper-reactivity)
www.powerwood.org.uk Taking good care of yourself as a parent gives you the resilience to be kind, patient and understanding when your child has difficulty with transitions.
“As a home-edder, during term time every day we do part of some exercise books. We came home from Devon two weeks before the start of term time to give Sarah (8) time to adjust and get connected with her friends at home again. I planned to start the first day with maths. I was psychologically prepared that Sarah would kick off again as she did before the summer. I made sure I didn’t have anything else on the calendar, nor my mind for the whole day. I sat down with her after breakfast and explained very clearly which part I expected her to do. I felt really determined that, whatever her reaction, I would just stay and repeat very calmly that she needed to do those two pages. And Sarah kind of accepted it, she must have felt my dedication, she just did it.” Sarah’s mum told me she had made sure she had meditated the evening before, as her personal method to be as centered and goal-focused as possible. She was more able to stay on topic and not get drawn into having arguments about what was and wasn’t necessary to learn. Making transitions as easy as possible is about the little details, and also about your own state of mind. You are the starting point from where your children explore the outside world. So mums, put your own needs in the spotlight!
BACK TO SCHOOL
• From 1st walkers to teens
OL! BACK TO SCHO
• New for 2015 - Lelli Kelly, Geox and Dr Martens • Measuring and fitting service • Nearby parking
STICK ON IRON ON SEW ON EW NO IRON - NO S S PENCILS & BAG
You name it - we label it! Call us on: 01635 298326
t: 0116 319 0606 e: shoes@stompfootwear.com
We are an independent nursery store based in West Sussex.
Our website offers an excellent range of products to care for your little one at home and when you are out and about. With many years of experience in the travel industry, we specialise in products that make travel and days out with little ones much easier.
www.fiesta-tots.co.uk myfamily 57
BACK TO SCHOOL
Mobile Dilemmas: Buying the right mobile phone for your child by Katie Lips, www.mobilemummyblog.com My parents had it easy; to generate a bit of back to school enthusiasm all they had to do was buy me a new pencil case. Nowadays parents have many more difficult decisions to make such as which mobile phone to buy their seven year old. Yes, kids are getting phones younger and younger and for reasons ranging from personal safety to peer pressure. Whatever your reason for ‘now being the time’, make it easy by being prepared and having your own strategy. We’ve put together a few hints and tips to help you weigh up which handset and network is right for your family.
Handset cost Even if you can afford to buy a more expensive handset, it is unlikely to last as long as yours – it could be dropped, smashed, lost, or even stolen so you might want to consider a cheap one as a first handset, to see how resilient it is with your child.
Pay As You Go versus Contract Costs For younger children, and by the way the National Literacy Trust suggests that 86% of all school-age children own a mobile phone – a low cost handset might do the job; giving you piece of mind that your child can call in an emergency. Many low cost handsets come with some credit to get you started and allow you to automatically top up. Whilst a smartphone might sound great for learning (as well as entertainment), the PAYG option might not offer a great deal if your child’s going to need access to the Internet and apps, let alone any music downloads.
3G versus 4G If you opt for a smartphone on contract and it’s a long one make sure it’s future proof and has plenty of 4G data. You could opt for a more flexible plan to start with (see below) and monitor just how much 4G data your child is using.
Recycling If you have an old handset lying a round or if you fancy an upgrade, get a SIM only deal. Try an alternative provider such as giffgaff – offering low cost deals without a contract.
Parental Tech Support Your child is likely a whizz with technology, but in case you’re asked to troubleshoot you’ll want to know how it works. A similar handset or operating system to yours could come in handy. Be prepared to make sure the OS is kept up-to-date to get all the latest features.
Compatability If you opt for an iPhone or Android phone you can share music and apps as a family. iPhone has this built in – it’s called Family Sharing.
The ‘will it impress in the playground?’ factor The new phone owner is likely only to care about how this new bit of kit lets them impress and fit in with their peer group. And that’s an important concern. Sending your child to school, let alone a new school with some obscure handset who’s features are voice and text isn't going to do them any favours. Before you rush out and buy a Samsung Galaxy S6 or and iPhone 6 however there are other quite stylish phones on the market. Apart from the iPhone 5C, other popular colourful handsets include the affordable Microsoft Lumia range. If you’re after an Android phone, there are a lot to choose from; the Samsung Galaxy range including the S3 Mini or the Core Prime. The pink LG L20 is a cheaper option. Of course if the phone’s just for use in emergencies, a simple Nokia 105 might do the trick.
Whatever you decide . . . Parental Controls All phones and operating systems have controls. Read up online and get these set up. Ofcom has a guide. Make sure you discuss issues of online safety with your child and involve them in understanding the dangers in social communities and help them to become a responsible mobile phone user. Secure It Make sure you make a note of the IMEI number and register it at immobilise.com. If your mobile phone is stolen, report it to the police and to your network operator as soon as possible. Your network operator can block the handset. Insure It If you opted for a more expensive phone, make sure it’s insured. Some bank accounts offer free mobile insurance for you and your family members. Shop around to get the best deal.
Welcome to the Mobile Generation! 58 myfamily
TAKE A BREAK
BRAND NEW FAMILY TRAVEL SHOW TO TAKE PLACE IN LONDON’S OLYMPIA! 31 Oct – 1 Nov 2015, Olympia London
Discover the world together at the UK’s first family travel show The Family Travel Show is pleased to announce its inaugural event this autumn! Taking place at London’s Olympia, this exciting new show is the UK’s first ever exhibition completely dedicated to family travel adventures. Family holidays are precious memories in the making and a chance to spend that all important quality time together. Whether you’re looking for a trip to open your children’s eyes to the world and allow them to experience new destinations and cultures, or a relaxing and indulgent family break where all you need to do is enjoy each other’s company, this new event will provide you with hundreds of ideas to plan that perfect family break.
Packed full of inspiration and information, the Family Travel Show will bring together the best specialist operators and family holiday providers all under one roof – covering everything from all-inclusive luxury getaways, exciting cruise voyages, action-packed resorts and familyfriendly villas to intriguing adventures, thrilling ski holidays and incredible wildlife safaris. As well as meeting with an excellent range of travel companies and taking advantage of their exclusive show-only offers, you are also invited to enjoy the
show’s interactive features for all the family including an Explorers’ Corner, the Travel Exchange, the Incredible Journeys Theatre, and an Around the World Theatre. The highlight of the show however is set to be the Family Travel Talks hosted within the show’s main auditorium – bursting with travel ideas and practical advice from celebrity speakers, travel writers and bloggers, journalists, and family travel experts. Esprit Ski will also be running a complimentary crèche during the show for all children aged between 17 weeks and 8 years old. Their team will ensure that your children will have just as much fun as you at the show! As the UK’s only event created purely for those looking for their next family adventure, the Family Travel Show is an essential date in every parent’s diary.
Reader’s Ticket Offer! Readers of My Family Magazine can get half price tickets when booked in advance! To claim your tickets for only £6, just quote ‘MYFAMILY’ when booking tickets online at www.familytravelshow.com or when calling 0844 209 7360. What’s more, under 16s go free! (Calls to the ticket hotline cost 10p per minute plus network extras. Ticket offer based on door price of £12).
The Family Travel Show takes place in London’s Olympia on 31st October - 1st November 2015. For full details, theatre timetables and to book tickets please visit www.familytravelshow.com or call 0844 209 7360.
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TAKE A BREAK
A staycation may be just the break your family needs the sea with man's best friend, with 9,000 miles of dramatic and diverse coastline on offer, there really something for everyone.
There really is no need to hop on a plane to find wonderful childfriendly hotels, attractions, events and culture, when the British Isles have so much to offer right here on your doorstep! The great British staycation is proving to be increasingly popular with us Brits and with the holiday season well and truly upon us, many British families are choosing to explore the splendour of the British Isles.
peace and tranquillity. If you want to experience unspoilt villages, star filled skies, rolling green hills and stunning scenery, there are many rural locations where you really can escape from it all.
Steeped in history our towns and cities wear their past well, making a city break the perfect place to discover the secrets of the ages and to look beyond the mist of time. One of the best ways of encouraging your child’s interest in the past is to make it fun and interactive. You can bring a subject to life with a visit to one of the many museums, stately homes and castles that can be found throughout the British Isles.
Cycling, horse-riding and walking are great ways of exploring our magnificent countryside. The wide-open spaces, hidden valleys and stunning woodlands are a natural playground, where little ones can learn about the UK’s diverse wildlife. Quaint villages dotted between flower-filled hedgerows are not only picturesque but offer a great spot to stop off for a bite to eat. Traditional British seaside holidays are still extremely popular with many but if you are looking for a brand new experience, a rural break could be just what you are looking for. Head for the countryside for breath taking scenery combined with rural
If a coastal adventure is more your thing the British Isles has it all . . . winding coastal paths, rugged cliffs and an abundance of fresh air. Ageold myths and legends along with stories of pirates and smugglers will fuel your child’s imagination. Britain is fringed with thousands of beautiful beaches and bays, where you'll find everything from old-fashioned seaside resorts to modern water sports centres. Whether you're planning a family trip to the beach or a rambling walk by
So, what’s stopping you? With an abundance of high quality accommodation and family friendly destinations to choose from, why not take a staycation and let the adventure begin!
Photos © www.visitbritain.com
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TAKE A BREAK Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site is situated in the peaceful rural setting of Mersea Island, just off the Essex coastline – around 10 miles from Colchester. Owned by The Lord family since 1918, the small well-appointed site offers a warm and friendly welcome, catering for tents, trailer tents, touring caravans and motor homes of any size.
In the charming south Norfolk countryside on the Burroughs family working dairy and arable farm, Wheatacre Hall Barns provide the perfect spot to relax and unwind. The attractive cluster of eight barns have been tastefully restored with stylish and comfortable interiors to create luxurious, well equipped self-catering accommodation, for couples and families alike. Each barn boasts its own private garden and furnished patio area with barbecue, where guests can take it easy and enjoy dining alfresco. Guests have access to a games room, fitness barn and plenty of grassy areas for football and other outdoor games. There is a play barn to keep under 5’s amused and children are sure to love visiting the animals on the farm. The Wheatacre site has extensive river frontage for fishing and nature lovers will be delighted with the abundance of wildlife and birdlife around the farm. For those who like to explore on foot, there are network of walks varying in length through the picturesque landscape.
Fen Farm boasts award winning loos, a laundry and shower block with solar powered water heating and a family sized shower room with plenty of space for parents to attend to little ones at shower time. The site’s proximity to the Essex marshes provides a unique and tranquil atmosphere, where kids can enjoy themselves without having to switch anything on or boot up! There is a play area with swings, seesaws and climbing frames, plus plenty of wide-open space to explore including a wonderful south facing beach within walking distance of the site. Awarded the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for working to protect the environment in and around the site – Fen Farm is popular with those wanting an eco-retreat.
For availability telephone 01502 677208 or visit
For information on our special offers call 01206 383275
www.wheatacrehallbarns.co.uk
or visit www.fenfarm.co.uk
Set in 230 acres of open farmland on the border of North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, Blackthorn Gate Luxury Lodges are perfect for those wanting a greener holiday experience. The eco-friendly pine lodges offer excellent self-catering accommodation with fully fitted kitchen, comfortable living room with dining area, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, second bedroom, bathroom and sauna. Two storey lodges ‘Skylark’ and ‘Lapwing’ sleep five people, and have a large wet room shower area suitable for wheelchair users – single storey ‘Curlew’ and ‘Chaffinch’ sleep up to four people. All lodges have fabulous views of Roseberry Topping and you don’t have to travel far to enjoy the rugged beauty of the area – there are five wildlife ponds and guests have exclusive fishing access three fully stocked ponds. Take a wander around the farm looking out for wildlife, then relax in your private sauna, play pool or table tennis in the games room or just unwind on your veranda with a drink and a bite to eat.
Set in the picturesque conservation village of Egleton in Rutland, St Monica's is a single storey thatched cottage overlooking scenic farmland, beyond which is the wellknown Rutland Water. The cottage provides luxury self-catering accommodation for up to 6 people, furnished to a very high standard with leather sofas, a fitted kitchen and central wood burning stove. Accommodation includes two bedrooms – one large double bedroom with king size bed and en-suite bathroom with roll top cast iron bath and large shower, plus a twin bedroom with adjacent shower room. The enclosed gardens are furnished with a table and seating, offering a peaceful place to enjoy views over open countryside and a safe space for children to play. Easily accessible by car or train, St Monica’s provides the ideal base to explore beautiful countryside – with cycling, sailing, fishing and bird watching available locally.
www.blackthorngate.co.uk
For more information visit www.holidaylettings.co.uk/95665 or telephone: +44 (0) 7771 610668 or +44 (0) 1572 722749
myfamily 61
calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor
Accessible Family Activity Holidays
015 98 763 221 01598 763221
ex moor@calvert-trust. org.uk exmoor@calvert trust.org.uk
rust E xmoor e nables p eople of an ya bility tto oe xperience C alvert T Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people any ability experience xciting challengin ga nd e njoyable activ ity h olidays. e exciting challenging and enjoyable activity holidays. ully ac cessible res idential ce ntre o n th ee dge of E xmoor At o ur ffully our accessible residential centre on the edge Exmoor ark a vities a nd fac ilities a re sp ecifically d esigned a N ational P nd National Park allll acti activities and facilities are specifically designed and e quipped tto o ccater ater ffor or e veryone. equipped everyone. Stay Stay with with us us for for a few few days, days, a week, week, or come come just just for the the day; day; however however long here discover long you’re you’re h ere yyou’ll ou’ll dis cover it's it's what what you you CAN CAN do do that that Counts! Counts! “We s simply imply llove ove it it here, here, where where d disability di isability is is turned turned into in into an an ability!” ability!” E Eves ves Fa Family, milly, A April priil 20 2015 15
ADVERTISE WITH US! My Family Magazine offers you effective marketing solutions to help deliver maximum return on your advertising. When you advertise with us you will be reaching thousands of parents across multimedia platforms nationwide – giving you direct access to potential customers for your business! We will support you every step of the way, with advice about how to catch your customer’s eye and the best ways to encourage them to respond to your advert. We offer affordable advertising packages to suit all budgets, with advert design included in the price. Join us now for My Family Magazine’s Bumper Christmas Issue which hits the stands in October! This issue will also include our Family Travel Guide, to celebrate our partnership with the Family Travel Show, Olympia, 31st October and 1st November, where we will be exhibiting on stand E5. To talk to a member of the team about advertising call Lois on 0116 2014465 or Jake on 0116 2014478. For further information email advertising@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk myfamily 63
SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY
AKO Charity Football Match
23 August 2015 Spurs Legends vs Celebrities charity football match will take place on 23 August at Bishops Stortford FC to raise funds for autism charity Anna Kennedy Online. Monies raised on the day will help to fund their helpline and training packages, to continue supporting families affected by autism and their work in schools. The event will hopefully attract in the region of 3,000 fans to watch the Spurs Legends Team including Paul Miller, Stuart Nethercott, Danny Maddix, Mark Falco, Gareth Howells, Andy Sinton and Tony Galvin against the AKO celebrity side which so far includes George Gilbey (GoggleBox), Jamie Reed (TOWIE), Will Childs, Connor Hunter (Ex on the Beach2), Richard Mylan (Waterloo Road) and Jordan Coulson (further players to be announced in the coming weeks). It will be a day for family fun with face painting, opportunities for children to be mascots and ballboy/ballgirls, photographs with the Squads and for the parents, a VIP after party featuring Will Childs, Twista DJ and The Dappa MC. Unite are official sponsors for the event. Book your tickets online now at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/annakennedy-online-8301961764.
Four Little Lovelies Here at My Family we have selected 4 really useful products to tell you about – each has been chosen for their quality and performance. The first is Orange Boost! This rejuvenating uplifting spritzer can help to soothe skin and calm anxiety. It can be used on the skin and a few sprays in the mouth can be taken to help ease anxiety. Contains 100% pure highgrade organic Orange Flower water. Suitable for use from 4 weeks of age. Price £15 from www.sootheme.com for 15% off enter MF15 at checkout. Second in our showcase is Chewigem, a range of non toxic, washable discreet chewing aids that are perfect for children and adults with a sensory need to chew. Recommended by parents, SENCO's and OT's, Chewigem is suitable from 3 years and up. Available from www.chewigem.co.uk with prices starting from £7.95. We also wanted to tell you about Real Easy nappies, which have been designed in the UK to be really easy to use, really easy to wash and dry – really easy all round! The versatile sizing meets the needs of older children (aged 5 years+) who due to disability may need to toilet train later. You can SAVE 20% off at www.wonderoos.co.uk with the code MyFamily until 30th September 2015 Finally, litecup is the only cup that lights up! This no spill sippy cup with an integrated nightlight is designed to help children with independent mess free drinking day and night. The patented 360° drinking valve allows drinking from anywhere around the rim. The nightlight is light sensitive – it turns on in the dark and off when the sun comes up. Price £8.00 from www.loubilou.com.
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SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY
Travel Safely with
Crelling Harnesses If you have a disability or are travelling with a loved one with special needs, we’re sure you’ll agree that it is important to have equipment that makes the journey and your holiday as enjoyable, safe and comfortable as possible. Crelling Harnesses is a friendly family based company offering a full range of seatbelts and harnesses for children and adults with special needs. All of Crelling’s belts and harnesses are designed to provide postural support or in the case of learning difficulties and challenging behaviour a certain degree of restraint.
Bibble Plus+ Bandana Bibs are the functional and stylish solution for older children, teenagers and adults who have difficulties with drooling and dribbling. Bibble Plus+ are available in 3 sizes and come in a range of colours and designs to suit every taste and enhance any outfit.
Receive 10% off your 1st order. Enter code: FAMILY10 at the checkout to receive your discount Valid until 30.9.2015
www.bibbleplus.co.uk
Knowing that there are some purchases in life that you don’t make lightly and to ensure your full peace of mind, Crelling Harnesses are OFT Approved and carry the CE marking. They are a member of The British Healthcare Trades Association, as well as being an approved supplier of Britax products. Crelling are happy to advise and help you choose the correct product for your needs. They offer extensive range of products from simple belts to full harnesses for use on all aspects of special needs equipment including vehicle seats, aircraft seats, wheelchairs, stairlifts and bathing & shower seats. They also make a range of walking reins designed to help and control children and adults with challenging behaviour or learning difficulties when out walking.
For more information Telephone 01253 852298, email info@crelling.com or visit
www.crelling.com
NEW! MediClock is a medicine dosage timer designed to give you peace of mind when medicating your child. ● Timing options 4, 6 and 24 hours count down. ● Alarmed to remind to take medication ● Silent to use as a point of reference to reduce potential overdosing of medication. ● Back light for use in dark and other safety features to avoid the timer being accidently reset. ● Low battery warning and also comes with 2 AA batteries. ● CE approved EXCLUSIVE OFFER – Purchase your MediClock for £12.99 (RRP £19.99) at medi2015.mediclock.co.uk Call 01872 279866 / 07714649898 Email: mediclock@outlook.com
myfamily 65
POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Hesley Group Independent Specialist Colleges – A Positive Outlook In July 2015, Hesley Group Independent Specialist Colleges (ISCs) will reach the end of their second academic year; a timely point to reflect on another successful year for the students and to look forward to the start of a new year this autumn.
to give the young people themselves all the credit for their wonderful achievements, but it’s clear that staff enthusiasm, consistency, expertise and experience have continued to play a vital role in ensuring a true multidisciplinary (care, education and clinical) approach designed around the unique needs of each individual.
The ISC’s (Wilsic Hall College and Fullerton House College), based near Doncaster, offer comprehensive care, support and enablement, delivered through a wide range of activities and opportunities, for young people aged 18-25, with complex needs, generally in association with autism and a learning disability, with the aim of facilitating their sustainable progress through the challenging period of transition into adulthood. This year, success for the ISC’s young people has been evidenced in a variety of ways participation in new activities, managing new situations, less reliance on staff support, developing life skills and positive work placements as well as fully accredited qualification achievements. For example, one young person has impressed so much in his IT placement that his duties have been increased to take on an important data transfer project – he is delighted! Understandably, staff are keen
Looking forward, one of the key focuses of the ISCs remains preparation for those vital, and often challenging, transitions. Some young people will be looking forward to their 3rd and final year whilst others will be starting their very first year in college; whether a final year student preparing for an adult, community placement or a school leaver accessing adult education for the first time, staff aim to help every young person to manage these potentially difficult
transitions as positively as possible. All staff are trained in the Hesley Enhancing Lives Programme (HELP), an ethical, enabling approach to care and support, based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), which originates from Cornell University and is an internationally recognised approach to positive behaviour support. College staff also have specific additional training geared to this service and those who use it; aimed at supporting staff to enable young people in optimal ways to promote skill acquisition and increased confidence leading to a reduction in staff support and therefore greater independence. It seems clear that just as the young people have matured and developed in their college learning environments, so too have the ISCs; widening curricula, a greater variety of learning opportunities, enhanced learning environments and more specialist residential accommodation will continue to add to the quality of the learner experience. Buoyed by the excellent achievements of its students, the enthusiasm and expertise of its staff and a growing demand for such specialist provision, Hesley Group remain committed to investing in their ISCs to achieve their aim of providing the best support for young people with their transition into adult life. With solid foundations laid since the ISCs opening in 2013, staff and students alike are hoping for a long and positive future; if the successes of the last two years are anything to go by, this hope appears well founded!
www.hesleygroup.co.uk
66 myfamily
“When I lived at home, we all struggled to cope. Now I love spending time with my family” At Hesley Group we know being a parent of a child with autism and complex needs can be challenging. We also know the decision to entrust their care to someone else can be one of the hardest a family will ever make. That’s why when children come to live with us, nurturing the family bonds is all part of the plan – regular, high quality contact supported by a team of professionals who know, understand and value the need for a family to be together. And, over time, the story gets better and better settled, happy and able to enjoy being with their family, children we have the privilege of looking after can start to reach their full potential. To find out more about how we make a big deal about quality family time visit www.hesleygroup.co.uk or call 0800 0556789.
Enquiries freephone 0800 055 6789 www.hesleygroup.co.uk Established in 1975, the Hesley Group provides specialist support through its schools, colleges and adult residential services with a highly experienced and expert multidisciplinary educational, care and therapeutic staff resource, in high quality purpose built settings. We’re focused on positive outcomes and progress towards sustainable independence.
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Autism’s GOT TALENT! 2015 POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Well done to the team at Anna Kennedy Online, Pineapple Performing Arts School and all of the performers at this year’s Autism’s Got Talent for producing such an amazing show. Every year I leave the Mermaid theatre and write about what an outstanding production Autism’s Got Talent is but this year you smashed it – this was the best show ever!!! I love that Autism’s Got Talent isn’t about picking one winner but instead showcases the talents of so many remarkable artists with autism. All of the performers have overcome so much to be there and I have to admit becoming a bit emotional upon hearing their stories but I know that I wasn’t the only one in the audience to shed a tear. Every act is thoroughly deserving of their time in the spotlight – thank you, to you all for making the evening so entertaining. From the moment that the The Hassocks Allstars Blues Band kicked off the show, I knew it was going to be a great night. We were treated to performances across a mix of genres by dancers, musicians, singers Aaron York, Aston Martin Avery, Bekah Cook, Bradley Turner, Callum Kirrage, Calvin Glen, Corinna Kampalis, Joshua Bateup, Hillingdon Manor School’s Autism with Attitude, Kaner Scott, Lauren Lovejoy, Luke Dolphin, Michael Alexander, The AutistiX, Thomas Puttock, Pineapple Performing Arts School, Anna Kennedy OBE and her People’s Strictly partner Robin Windsor. This is truly inspirational and unique event which is exactly why My Family Magazine have awarded Autism’s Got Talent the My Family Favourite Award 2015 for Best Autism Event. by Karen Reddell Editor
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Wear It For Autism 2015 The return of the spectacular charity fashion show ‘Wear It For Autism’ will take place on 4th October at the Millennium Hotel, Knightsbridge – so save the date in your diary for the charity event of the year! Produced by autism charity Anna Kennedy Online with the support of sponsor Living Autism; Wear It For Autism raises awareness of the challenges faced by people with autism and their families. Anna Kennedy Online asked for nominations for deserving individuals affected by autism including mums, dads, and young carers, children with autism and adults with autism. This year there was also the addition of a new category – Teachers or Teaching Assistants that go that extra mile. Judges Steven Smith, Denise Welch, Jane Moore, Maggie Paterson and Kaffa Mockbill, faced the very difficult process of selecting this year’s outstanding winners – Mums: Dads: Grandparent: Adult with Autism: Child with Autism: Teacher/Teaching Assistant: Carers:
Jo Perera and Annie Sands Richard Lonergan and Michael Fulligar Olive Shaw Kimberley Carscadden Seren Redfern Vicky Brumby and Caroline Mundy Aaron Avery and Kirsty Williams
These special individuals will be treated to a top-to-toe makeover by styling experts before taking centre stage in the Wear It for Autism catwalk, where they will be joined by supporters of the charity Classic Models. There will also be performances by Pineapple Performing Arts School and two acts from this year’s Autism’s Got Talent show. Tickets for the show are on sale now priced £15.00 – to order your tickets or to find out how to become a sponsor email lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk
POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Learners at Baston House School are working towards an Independent Living Diploma enough to have three Shetland Ponies on site, as well as Chickens and therapy dogs which has allowed our learners practise practical animal care and they now have plans to develop an onsite community farm. We have also visited several local farms and rescue centres to help the learners understand the needs of caring for animals and understand their individual need for shelter, food and water. If there is one overall lesson the learners have learnt, it is that animals help! The therapeutic effect of just having animals around teaches us empathy and love.
Over the last academic year, Independent Living and Life Skills Leaders Fiona Treadaway, Head of Performing and Creative Arts at Baston House School and Belinda Hopkins, Head of Food Technology, have introduced Independent Living as a qualification to the school. It has been so successful that all of our KS4 learners were entered for level two units of the qualification and are eagerly awaiting their certificates. Through teaching Independent Living, we hope to give our learners the tools to live a happy, safe and independent life for the future. Through developing their skills on and off site we hope to provide them with a rich and interesting learning experience, while they build their confidence in environment surrounding them. By building up the various learning units, our learners will be given the opportunity to leave school with a Diploma in Independent Living, which will hopefully inspire our younger learners coming up through the school.
They are now all super shoppers, who can write and gather food supplies from their personal shopping lists and they always enjoy the social side of our outings. Some of our learners have also completed a Food Preparation and Serving unit and have catered for many lovely community events including production day catering, Macmillan Coffee Mornings, a quiz night, an afternoon tea party and they will be catering for our upcoming vintage fayre where they will be making a 40’s style victory afternoon tea. Our learners are master bakers in the making and are hoping to open their own on site café/tea room in the near future!
We have enjoyed working with the learner so much over the last academic year, that we’re are not sure who’s had the most fun while learning! We have been privileged to witness learners overcome their individual challenges and watch their self- esteem soar – which makes us so proud of our learners. When we are told that they are lovely young people and how polite and friendly they are, it makes everything we do worthwhile and makes our job at Baston House School a pleasure! Quote from one of our learners: “I enjoy socialising with other people and going out on trips. I like ordering my own food and giving good eye contact, which I find hard to do.” – Harry Pettitt.
www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk
The current unit we are enjoying studying is an Introduction to Animal Care. We are lucky
This year we concentrated on Planning a Journey, Level 2 unit and as a group, we enjoyed many trips on public transport, visiting a wide range of locations. We travelled from our School in Hayes, Bromley to the Tower of London to see the Poppies and we happened to meet Boris Johnson during our travels! We’ve visited China Town, High Elms Country Park, Downe House, Crystal Palace Park, along with many local parks and shopping centres. By the end of the unit, learners were able to keep themselves safe while travelling, understand timetables and be able to buy their own train tickets. We also completed a Choices and Decisions unit, where we took learners shopping in a variety of locations for food, production props and art supplies. We visited many cafes for lunch, where the learners chose their own food and drink, and worked to a £5 budget – learning to be more confident in their choices when out in the real world or while planning an outing.
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POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Hillingdon Manor The largest school for children with autism, in the UK & Europe
Specialist independent day education for children aged between 3 and 19. • Local Authority referrals accepted • • Access to the National Curriculum • Hillingdon Manor School (Primary) Yiewsley Grange High Street • Yiewsley UB7 7QP
Baston House School Bromley
Specialist independent day facility for children diagnosed with autism aged between 5 & 19 years
Baston House School is a centre of excellence in education and development. • Local Authority referrals accepted • Admissions now being taken for Primary and Secondary School For further information about admissions, open days and upcoming events call 020 8462 1010 or visit
www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk
Hillingdon Manor School (Secondary) The Manor & The Lawns Harlington Road Hillingdon • UB8 3HD For information about admissions, open days and events, visit www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk or contact the Head Teacher, Akinyi Dulo on 01895 813679
Baston House School Baston Road • Hayes Bromley • Kent BR2 7AB
WLCC is an established specialist provision for adults with autism spectrum conditions including Asperger syndrome. Providing a 43-week service with sessions including. Social Drama • Functional Skills • ICT Vocational Skills • Work Experience Placements Horse Riding Classes • Art as Therapy Life Skills • Image in Action and Independence Sessions are carefully geared towards each student’s level of ability. GCSE’s and ASDAN can be incorporated into the timetable. For information call 01895 619700 or visit the NEW WEBSITE
westlondoncommunitycollege.org.uk
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POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Hillingdon Manor School Academic Year 2014 - 2015 Hillingdon Manor School goes from strength to strength, not only a resounding “Good” from Ofsted but a host of exciting and innovative strategies have been put in place to reinforce our position as London’s premier autism specific school. Not only are we able to cater for an exceptionally wide range of academic abilities but through our comprehensive therapy department offer support for diverse and complex needs.
We are now working with eighteen local authorities and have one hundred and seventy young people on roll; this is a fantastic achievement for a school barely fifteen years old that started with a handful of pupils.
worship, theatres and galleries. We have continued to build links with other providers, Bishopshalt School for A Levels, Abbotsfield for BTEC Sport and a host of interesting work experience placements such as The Dogs’ Trust and The Community Partnership Tearooms. All this is to develop the skills for life which our young people will need to fulfil their potential academically as well as socially and to maximise their ability to live independent and fulfilling lives. There have been so many exciting events this year it’s hard to choose which to highlight. One Manor student who excels at Horticulture has recently featured in a Channel Four series, “The Autistic Gardener” which is due to be shown in July. While our amazing dance group “Autism with Attitude” stole the show at this year’s “Autism’s got Talent”. We were proud to welcome Olympian Luke Lennox Ford to the school and to participate in his “Sport for School” initiative As usual we have been fund raising for the British Heart Foundation, through jacket potato sales and our annual St George’s Day lunch. HMS has International School status and is actually leading the way in teaching young people with ASC across Europe. In June, teacher, Dawid Deszkiewicz addressed a conference on “Autism: Examples of good practice” in Rzeszow, Poland. He was speaking to some of the foremost authorities on autism in Europe and was delighted to be able to inform them of the work of Hillingdon Manor; the response he
received was overwhelming and confirmed the status of our school as a centre of excellence in a European context. Also in June the school was pleased to welcome Colonel Chris Keeble DSO, who took the Argentinian surrender in the Falklands War, he visited as part of his work for the Farmington Institute of the University of Oxford, who had kindly supported a research fellowship for a member of staff. Colonel Keeble and staff from the Manor watched a presentation of the research findings entitles “Autism, Religiosity and Spirituality”.
www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk
At the Grange our youngest pupils are enthralled by the Free Flow Early Years curriculum, much of which takes place outside in our extensive grounds, promoting healthy lifestyles as they learn. Pupils at The Grange learn through topics arranged in cyclical plans known as “Learning Wheels” which promote a holistic understanding of the curriculum, which is further reinforced by active learning activities such as Grange Town. Grange Town is a bi weekly event in which youngsters can spend pennies they have “earned” in a micro economy which includes a café, a charity shop, a cinema and games. This not only expands understanding of maths through use of money but develops life skills at the earliest possible opportunity. This year students at The Manor have experienced the widest ever choice of subject options, with qualifications from entry level to A level, active teaching and learning at Hillingdon Manor is reinforced with trips to places of
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