Mums magazine autumn 17

Mums BABY

2

AUTUMN 2017

RAINY DAY

play

Wet weather entertainment ideas

NO.

What to expect the second time around

MONEYSAVING MUMMY Family budgeting tips

Stepping up!

The key to successful step-parenting

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

1

Compare and try out our complete collection of running buggies at our South East London showroom Several of the buggies are suitable from birth with a bassinet and then running after six months Most buggies are also ideal for country walks

Thule Glide

Mountain Buggy Terrain

OutnAbout Nipper Sport

Phil & Teds Sub 4

Thule Urban Glide

OutnAbout Sport Double

Getting families outdoors, together and having fun Brand New event concept with the support of the Forestry Commission Walk, jog or run with a buggy or wheelchair Start when your ready and nappy pit stop on the course Timed, traffic-free, off-road course Further information and enter online at www.buggyrunningevents.co.uk 2

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the autumn issue of Mums Magazine. First and foremost, we’ve got some exciting news to announce regarding our brand new team of Mummy columnists (page 4). With Suzanne Shaw and Michelle Heaton just a few of the names to now be gracing our credits, we’re looking forward to being able to bring you their wealth of insight and experience when it comes to all that matters to the modern mum. This time of year can bring with it many changes, especially when it comes to our family routines. As keeping the kids amused becomes more of a challenge with the inevitable risk of rainy days, we’ve put together some ideas for wet weather family fun - whatever the forecast! And it’s not just children that feel the contraints of autumn. Mums too can be somewhat restricted, particulary when it comes to fitness. If you’re looking to up your activity levels, but aren’t sure which route to take, why not give buggy running a go this autumn (page 12)? One thing that remains constant, nomatter the season, are the many and varied challenges that can often arise when raising little ones. From bedwetting to potty training, knowing which steps to take and how to get started can leave even the most knowledgeable of parents stumped sometimes, so we’ve got some helpful insights on both these subjects on pages 13 and 15. For all those mums-to-be, don’t miss out A-Z guide of pregnancy must haves (page 24), plus what to expect once your litte one arrives, whether it’s your first (page 6) or second pregnancy (page 5).

5. Baby no.2 What to expect with a second baby 6. Baby’s first week Prepare for your new arrival 8. Rainy day play Your budget-busting guide to rainy day fun 9. Childcare matters An insight into modern childcare problems 10. Stepping up Master the art of successful step-parenting 11. Hang up your hang ups Learn to love your postpartum body 12. In the running...

Could buggy running help you get fit?

Enjoy the issue!

13. Toilet troubles The best way to start potty training

Caroline Seekings

15. Bedwetting Banishing the misconceptions

Editor

8

5

17. Once upon a time Why education starts at home 20. Nappy days The ‘how to’ of preventing nappy rash 22. Great little minds Can you improve emotional intelligence?

24. Bump ahead The A-Z of pregnancy must-haves

12

26. Are you suffering from ‘scanxiety’ Are extra antenatel scans unnecessary?

27. Money-saving mummy Top money saving tips 28. Splash time!

The benefits of childhood swimming lessons

Mums BABY

2

AUTUMN 2017

RAINY DAY

play

Home entertainment hacks

NO.

What to expect the second time round

MONEYSAVING MUMMY Family budgeting tips

Produced by:

LIFESTYLE

Stepping up!

The key to successful step-parenting

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Information in Mums Magazine is not intended as a substitute for diagnosis, prescription and/or treatment by a Medical Professional.

Opinions expressed in Mums Magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, and the magazine is in no way liable for any such opinions. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this publication is accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. No advertisement, article or image may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers.

Mums Magazine Summer 2017

1

MAGAZINES

Get in touch: T: 07834 233346 E: caroline@lifestyle-magazines.co.uk www.lifestyle-magazines.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

The Team: Editor Caroline Seekings caroline@lifestyle-magazines.co.uk Tel: 07834 233346 Imagery www.istockphoto.com

Follow us: www.facebook.com/healthmagazine1 www.twitter.com/health_magazine www.instagram.com/healthy_magazine

Kim IT support

Caroline Editor

Chrissy Features Editor

Amy Column ist

Richard her Photograp

Meet the team Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

3

Meet the COLUMNISTS RACHEL LANCASHIRE I don’t think I knowit-all, or even know only a little bit (even though I am a primary teacher and they know everything, right?), I just love writing and I love my son and so wanted to pay tribute to the two.Stick around for truths, tears and memory making years! http://noahsark2by2.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/rachel. lancashire.8 www.instagram.com/mrslancs8

MICHELLE HEATON Michelle Heaton is formerly and maybe best known for her time in the Pop Band Liberty X, with whom she had 7 top 10 singles. After the group went their separate ways, Michelle appeared on various TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, and she then met future husband Hugh Hanley in 2008.That meeting was to change Michelle’s life in more ways than one.

JO WIMBLE-GROVES Guilty Mother is an honest and (sometimes funny) blog for mums who feel guilty about juggling work, kids and home-life. http://www.guiltymother.co.uk www.facebook.com/guiltymother www.instagram.com/guiltymother www.twitter.com/guilty_mother SARAH PATERSON Sarah Paterson is a mom to two girls, a stepmom to five children amongst two other moms, and the founder of Social Stepmom – a platform to network Stepmoms together. www.socialstepmom.com www.facebook.com/socialstepmom/ www.instagram.com/socialstepmom/ www.twitter.com/socialstepmoms BECKY GODDARDHILL Becky Goddard-Hill is a multi award winning blogger who focuses largely on parenting and budgeting. She has two children and lives in the Midlands.

Her first book How to afford Time off with your baby was published by Vermilion. http://www.babybudgeting.co.uk www.facebook.com/ FamilyBudgetingBlog/ https://twitter.com/BeckyGoddardH https://www.instagram.com/ beckygoddardhill/

4

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

SUZANNE SHAW Suzanne Shaw is an actress, singer and TV presenter. Her big break came in 2001 when she auditioned for the ITV show Popstars, and subsequently won a place in the newly-formed pop band, Hear’say.

The group’s debut single was the fastest selling non-charitable record in UK chart history, selling over 1.3 million copies. They went on to have 2 number one records and 4 top 10 hits. When the band split in 2003, Suzanne returned to her roots and has gone on to carve a hugely successful career in musical theatre, plays and television. In 2008 Suzanne won series 3 of ITV’s hit show Dancing On Ice. Due to her success on the show she was asked back to compete in the ninth and final series Allstars: Dancing On Ice. Suzanne also competed in three National Arena Tours of the show.

Suzanne’s numerous presenting credits include being a regular panelist on Loose Women and a part of the regular This Morning competition team. Suzanne is thrilled to have become an ambassador for Hope for Children, a charity that helps give education, health and empowerment to families in poverty around the world.

Follow Suzanne: www.twitter.com/SuzanneShaw www.instagram.com/suzi_shaw

The couple are now proud parents to Faith, 5 and AJ, 3. Michelle is a full time mum, with her work commitments arranged around her family.

Husband Hugh works for Virgin Active, and it was this mutual interest in fitness that kicked off Michelle’s healthy regime. Michelle decided to send herself back to college to qualify as a personal trainer and a certified nutritionist in 2009. She also later qualified as an expert in pre and post pregnancy fitness, whilst pregnant with her first child and later released the only DVD on the market to cover all three trimesters separately. She says ‘with Faith I struggled to get fit again after the birth, so with my second child AJ I decided to keep fit throughout the 9 months, hoping it would be easier afterwards. I knew that the things I could do in the first 3 months would be very different to what I could safely achieve in the last trimester of my pregnancy, so the idea of the DVD was born as it were!’

During all of this busy time for Michelle, she also fought a personal battle quite publicly. She is well documented to have the BRACA2 gene and underwent preventative surgery to reduce her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, which run in her family.

As a recent Disney Mum of the year Michelle often works with the company across PR for the parks, channels and the brand – something that obviously delights her children no end!

Follow Michelle: www.twitter.com/wonderwomanshel www.instagram.com/wonderwomanshel www.facebook.com/MichelleHeaton www.facebook.com/HughHanleyFitnessand Nutrition: www.youtube.com/Michelleheatoninreality

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Baby

For many mums, having a second baby can feel as reassuringly familiar as it is frighteningly new. On the one hand, you have all the experience and knowledge built up with your first child on which to draw for the second. Yet equally, each child can be so different (and the early sleep-deprived firstborn memories so vague) that it can sometimes feel like you are starting from scratch all over again.

no.2

Making the transition from one to two... and what to expect!

So what are the realities and considerations for having a second child, and is it possible to ever be fully prepared?

Pram predicaments The first time you went pram shopping, the selection process might have been based on what was, in hindsight, a fairly basic brief, especially when compared to your current travel system requirements. This first pram purchase is probably redundant now (there’s nowhere for the toddler to sit), and this is something that many parents don’t consider in all the shopping spree excitement of an impending firsborn. And why would they, as the logistics of a second child are often too distant a prospect to influence decisions at this stage? Fast forward a few years or more, and it’s back to the Mumsnet reviews for some salient points before the research begins. Combine these findings with the inevitable pickiness that comes from being a seasoned pram user, and the process of elimation could be a long one. If, on the other hand, you are brave enough to risk relying on your toddler walking and cooperating on shopping trips, then a simple buggy board is a useful alternative to buying a whole new pram.

Master Multitasking If you thought you were good at getting more than one job done at once before, wait until a second baby arrives! You might reflect on the days when you could sit quietly, either reading or enjoying a boxset, whilst nursing or feeding your new baby. With a toddler in tow, the peace and tranquility of feeding and nap times is often punctuated with general noise and mayhem. Many mums (and second babies) therefore become adapted to ‘mobile feeds’, perfecting the art of maintaining a latch whilst simultaneousy preparing a snack for an equally ravenous and impatient 3 year old. On the plus side, second children often adapt to become better sleepers as a result of the constant general background noise of their older brother or sister. Every cloud....

Tag team The inevitability of one child going back to sleep, as the other decides to wake up, can be one of the most difficult challenges of parenting two young children. While parents of one child might relish in being able to take turns on a night shift to secure a minimum quota of sleep, the ‘one each’ approach (often necessary with two) carries no such guarantees. This divide and conquor tactic is widely successful as a means to a more harmonious relationship.

After all, nobody wants to be dealing with two wakeful littlies while their partner snores away happily in their bed. But while there is no denying the exhaustion on both parts the morning after a ‘tag team’ night before, there is small consolation in the fact that all - if not most - children will sleep eventually. And in the meantime, there’s always coffee...

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Suzanne Shaw The challenge of entertaining age-gap siblings Hello lovely readers! I’m so thrilled to be the new columnist for Mums Magazine. I really hope you enjoy my column as much as I will sharing my trials and tribulations of being a mum to my two gorgeous boys, Corey (12), and Raffi (23 months).

I’m going to be candidly honest and not dress it up that I’m one of these perfect mothers that gets everything right, because I don’t! As we know, children don’t come with a manual and we just try our best and hope that they develop into great human beings.

As you can see, there’s a rather big age-gap between my two children and I’ll admit, it’s a little tricky at times! I mean, don’t get me wrong, regardless of your children’s ages, parenting has its challenges, but I’m talking in terms of finding things to do that entertain them both. If it’s not Corey being bored in a soft-play centre, it’s Raffi getting frustrated not being able to run around with his big brother, wanting to do what only big boys can do, and as you can imagine, that’s far too dangerous for a 2-year old! All I can say is that there’s been a whole load of bribery this summer, which has cost me!

Teenagers aren’t happy with a cupcake; they want cash!

However, I have to be honest, Corey’s an excellent big brother; he loves playing with Raffi and even helps change nappies...bonus!

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

5

Baby’s first week

The first week after a baby’s birth is often the toughest, as well as the most cherished.

Here’s why...

By Emma Elsworthy The first week after a baby’s birth is the part parents enjoy the most – but it is also the toughest, according to a study carried out among mums and dads.

Researchers found the unbridled joy of bringing a new baby into the world makes the new-born’s first days so exciting.

But gruelling sleepless nights feeding and changing the new arrival leaves many mums and dads in a blurry haze of exhaustion.

Cathy Ranson, editor of ChannelMum.com, said: “The saying ‘nothing worth having comes easy’ could have been born for the first year of a baby’s life.

“There’s no denying the first year can be incredibly tough, especially for first-time mums and dads, with the new-born week a shock to even the most prepared parents.

“But the highs outweigh the lows, and the sense of love and achievement gained from watching your baby develop and grow is one of the most amazing feelings in the world.

“So if you’re struggling, keep going as it will get better and you’ll remember the good times more than the tough ones.” www.channelmum.com

6

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

First week tips

by Rachel Lancashire

When you’ve been in the throes of labour for hours upon end, the only thing you’ll probably want to do is go home. Home to your own bed, your own fresh sheets and your very own four walls, but then when you get home, are you really ready for the week ahead?

Whilst I still lay in my hospital bed after having Noah, I received so many texts of congratulations and also warnings.

‘Don’t overdo it with visitors’ and ‘you can say no to people if you are tired – your body has been through a lot and you need to rest’.

Some might totally agree with this, and in part so do I but all I wanted to do was share our newborn bundle of joy with the world.

Little did I know how tired we both would be, all the ‘firsts’ were, of course, picture perfect moments that we will cherish forever but wow how those firsts drained us of all energy and we had a good little baby who slept when he was supposed to and fed like a dream. Looking back now, it was the most important week of our lives, the bond we all formed – Daddy and Noah, Noah and Mummy and Daddy and Mummy too, when we will ever be able to get that moment back? Never.

So my advice to you is – do what you can do and when you’ve had enough, stop. Sleep. Eat. Sit. Chill. Sip tea.

Look at photographs. Do whatever in the world you please and most of all don’t feel guilty about it. These are mastercard priceless moments, the men might add that if Carlsberg did memories, they’d be made of these.

Revel in your newfound joy and know that the best is always yet to come.

Keep telling yourself that, make it your mantra – the best is yet to come (and then crash on your bed with a big box of tissues and an endless supply of chocolate, it helps).

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Your first week at home with a newborn can be a huge shock to your system, as much as it is wonderful and exciting all at the same time. Not only are you still in the early stages of recovery after birth, but you also have a brand new little life calling on you at all hours of the day and night, leaving little opportunity for your body and mind to catch up with all that has happened in such a short space of time.

You might have already stocked your home full of products that you’d read or heard would be useful post birth, but there any many items that often wouldn’t have appeared on your ‘to buy’ list, which in hindsight might come in useful.

Among these are: A second sleeping space If you have a crib or moses basket already set up in your baby’s or your bedroom, you might be thinking that’s one thing ticked off your list. But because babies sleep for such a large proportion of the day, it can often help to have two designated sleep spaces, one upstairs and one down, for example.

You may only appreciate the benefits of this when faced with the potential minefield that is transferring a sleeping baby off your chest.

All of a sudden, the distance and noise involved in navigating even the short distance up some (never noticed before) creaky stairs can be too much to risk. The result? Poor mum (or dad) is sofa-bound for the sleep duration without food or refreshments - as lovely as the cuddles might be! When it comes to moses baskets, we just love this Speckles White Crossover® Noah Pod®, which creates a calming cocooned sleeping space for your baby. It is hand-dressed by the dedicated Claire de Lune team in the UK and features their exclusive Crossover® dressing which covers the edge of the wicker Noah® Pod for carrier comfort. £129.99 http://www.clair-de-lune.co.uk/buy/speckleswhite-crossover®-noah-pod®_777.

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Beyond the hospital bag...

You’ve thought of eveything you might need for your stay in hospital, from snacks to newborn babygrows, but what about when you get home? Beyond the essentials, we’ve thought of some of the other items you might need...and wish you’d brought!

Recovery supplies It is not very often that you read or are told about which personal care and medical items to buy for after birth, so we thought it worth listing these here: Pads If you’ve had a natural delivery, you will need to stock up on lots of high absorbency pads, and we’re not talking your average panty liner here. The hospital should give you enough to tide you over after leaving to go home, but it helps to have these in stock to avoid having to venture out to the pharmacy at a time when you will probably just want to relax on the sofa.

Cold packs Have these ready in the freezer for when you get home, as they can come in useful for everything from episiotomy pain to mastitis if and when your milk comes in.

Pressure relief ring cushion Sometimes women experience pain sitting down after giving birth, so an inflatable or foam ring can help to relieve some of the pressure.

Lanolin If you are going to breastfeed, a good quality lanolin product such an Lansinoh is a must for applying between feeds to help prevent and remedy cracking that can occur in these early days and weeks.

Online shopping If you don’t already do your food shopping online, now might be a good time to download the app, if only to pre-organise a shopping list of essentials that you can then hit ‘confirm’ on at an appropriate time after baby arrives. This is not the time to be thinking about what to eat, or what’s missing in the cupboard, so it pays to do this task well in advance.

Helpyfus l bu The Meelight

Healthy Home Coach

The Meelight from Meemoobaby cleverly attaches to clothing, making the nightshift that little bit easier, especially during those late-night feeds and nappy changes! RRP: £39.99

Healthy Home Coach tracks and records indoor environmental elements – air quality, humidity, temperature and noise – and offers advice to improve indoor climate and keep things cozy.

www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

www.netatmo.com

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

7

RAINY DAY

play

Your budgetbusting guide to rainy day fun The money saving team at PromotionalCodes.org.uk have put together their tips for keeping the costs down on a rainy day during the autumn.

Museums Head to a museum for a fun and educational day out. Most are free to enter and will have interactive displays or trails perfect for your children. Remember to take food and drink with you and if there’s a shop, set your kids a strict budget otherwise your free day out could become very expensive.

Junior cinema showings A trip to the cinema is perfect for a rainy day – but do your homework and see what deals are on. If you can get up early, check out what’s being shown in the morning. The movies may be older, but you’ll pay pennies to get in and if you missed them first time round, then it’s a good chance to catch up.

Cheap travel If you’re heading out for the day, check out the cheapest way to travel. You may automatically head to your car, but bus and train companies often run offers which could prove better for your purse.

Book in advance Planning a visit to a theme park or attraction? Book ahead.

You can save up to 20% if you plan your trip in advance and book your tickets online.

Play dates Never underestimate a play date. Meeting up with your mum friends and their kids will always result in a great day.

It can be as simple as a visit to the park - if the children are together and get on, time will fly.

Visit a stately home If you’re happy to join the National Trust or English Heritage, then make the most of that membership and get exploring. The initial outlay will soon pay for itself and you’ll have hundreds of properties and gardens to explore across the UK.

There’s no place like home Toyspiration for stay-at-home days

Hape Park & Go Garage There are plenty of parking spots for vehicles and helicopters in this four level Park and Go Garage from Hape. Includes two vehicles and one helicopter. It also helps to stimulate imaginative play and develop hand-eye coordination. £44.99 www.argos.co.uk Hape Mini-mals Hape Mini-mals Play Figures are perfect size for small hands and big imaginations. These innovatively designed, bamboo toys feature adjustable, removable limbs and head so children can play their way. Encourages creative thinking, and develops animal recognition and fine motor skills. Recommended for 3 + Hape Minimals collection are available from Amazon from £3.99 each.

Teach them how to bake Teaching your kids how to bake is a great way to get them learning how to cook from a young age. Watch out though, as it will get messy. http://www.promotionalcodes.org.uk

8

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

5 Benefits of Arts and Crafts for Your Child Art is much more than a fun way to pass the time and create sweet mementos of your child’s infant years. It can give children a great start in life, helping them to develop useful skills that will see them happy and comfortable by the time they reach school age. Here are the top 6 benefits of arts and crafts for your child.

Motor skills are encouraged by the finer details of art projects. From using scissors and pencils to colouring inside the lines and arranging patterns, children improve their dexterity and hand-eye coordination by exploring such activities.

Confidence is built through artwork.

Art being such a subjective topic, there is no right or wrong way to do it, and children learn to take pride and confidence in their works by being encouraged to get creative and expand their ideas.

Creativity is a skill that extends beyond art in later years. Professions from engineering and design to teaching and business management can benefit hugely from creative skills, and instilling them early will give children a good range of abilities to develop and use in later life.

Social interaction is learned from group projects, and community ‘messy’ sessions are a nice way for children to become comfortable around others without the presence of their parents.

When they work together on crafts, they begin to learn how to appropriately behave in such collaborative situations, which is hugely beneficial later on, in school and work.

Parental relationships are strengthened when adults do craft projects with their children. Children will enjoy sharing their ideas and creations with their parents, while adults get fresh insight into the tastes, interests and ways of expressing their emotions. It can be a very eye-opening experience to share as a family.

By Charlotte Baldwin, Operations Manager at IQ Cards: IQ Cards are a fundraising company that provide schools and establishments with the necessary tools to fundraise via selling high-quality and unique gifts designed by pupils.For more information please visit: http://www.iqcards.co.uk/

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

DISCOVER ART PLAY Art Play, published by Laurence King, encourages children aged 7+ to explore the wonderful, art-filled world of Marion Deuchars.

Get stuck into printing, painting, drawing and creating with over 50 unique activities spread across 224 pages of sketchbook paper, designed to house your mini-artist’s curious creations. This fantastic new book is the the perfect platform for creative play, and also helps to shape and form artistic ability and confidence.

! n i a r e h t e Embrac TOP TIP

from Suzanne Shaw

It’s not been the best of summers, weather-wise, and we’ve found ourselves stuck for things to do.

These are five things that have been a hit in our house: 1) Cupcake and cookie making 2) Hand and feet painting 3) Indoor picnic 4) Duvet and movies with board games 5) Indoor treasure hunt

Children love splashing about in puddles (much more than parents do cleaning muddy clothes!) so why not brave the rain and take a trip to the local park or nature reserve?

Rain coats and wellies are a must (we love these bright striped childrens wellies - £18 from www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk) and they’ll enjoy the chance to explore the great outdoors and all the different sights and sounds of the season.

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

9

CHILDCARE MATTERS Addressing the dilemma of childcare around the world

by Jo Wimble-Groves, Founder of www.guiltymother.co.uk

I love my work. I also love my children. Managing both and paying for childcare in the UK is no easy task. Over the last two decades, juggling work and family responsibilities doesn’t seem to have got much easier. Some women climb the corporate ladder and work towards more executive positions and feel confident to negotiate better pay. But, equal pay is not our only problem. There is also the other dilemma of: who will watch the kids?

10

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

It won't come as a surprise to working mums that British childcare is amongst the most expensive in the world. Couples spend more than a third of their income on nurseries and childminders in the UK – more than three times the cost in France and Germany. A full-time nursery place for a child under two costs £222 a week, up by a third in six years. A 2016 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that couples living in the UK spend, on average, a mind-blowing third of their income on childcare costs.

If you're parenting as a couple, the UK tops the chart for childcare costs as a percentage of income. For parents in Sweden, childcare costs take up just 4 per cent of families' incomes. Local governments there are obliged to provide at least 15 hours a week of childcare to children over one-year-old – or full-time hours in cases where both parents are in education or employment.

From September 2017, many working parents of 3 to 4-year-olds in England will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare, rather than the current 15 hours. This is a step in the right direction, but the reality is, no country has this really solved.

You can read more about my views on flexible working on www.guiltymother.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Stepping up!

As ‘blended families’ look set to become a modernday norm, is there anything that step-parents can do to prepare for (and excel at) their new parental roles?

7 Steps to Successful Step Parenting

By Sarah Paterson Founder, Social Stepmom www.socialstepmom.com

I would like to say that Stepmoms have 9 months to prepare for what’s to come next; that we benefit from the excitement and anxiety of reading ‘What to Expect’ and every other Mom-prep book and magazine available, that we tune into every ‘new mom’ pod casts on every drive around town ALL BEFORE we earn our title of Stepmom, but alas, we do not.

Instead, we are catapulted right into the role! A role that comes with fine lines to walk, challenges that you had no idea existed and some tears along the way. I wish I had had someone to help me when I was thrown into (what can often be) a real-life quagmire with no warning. I have five Stepkids (from two mothers) and two young children with my husband. So new Stepmoms, knowing what I know now, here is what I would tell myself six years ago!

1. You are ONLY the Stepmom, not the mom. Even though you might do all the things the Mom does, you are still the Stepmom so don’t take it personally (truly) when they don’t show you any gratitude.

2. Be sure to take time for yourself. It is one of the most important things you can do; bi-weekly yoga?, a trip across the world (perhaps deposit your cell in the ocean for the duration of the journey :) ) or simply head to a quiet book/coffee store and getting lost reading for a couple of hours.

3. Don’t over extend. Sometimes you will go above and beyond in an effort to have your Stepkids like you or make them happy. While this is laudable, it doesn’t always produce the results that one would expect. Do your best and stay authentic to yourself!

4. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Let it go sista – just let it go. Trust me when I say that it is not worth it.

5. Be their friend and, if possible, a mentoring figure. If you try to be their Mother they will resent you for just that - trying to be their Mother.

6. This too shall pass. Regardless of which family member is in a tough (even terrible) emotional place, I believe that HUGS (even forced!) can help make you and everyone around you feel (almost instantly) better. It took me a long time to get to where this approach became part of my worldview. It might not solve the issue at hand but it will help strengthen the bond of your family.

7. It is your family (though you will want to be sensitive to the needs/wants of other constituents). You will have a lot of outside influences on how your family should be run but remember it is your family and that most of the time you need to do what works best for you, your husband and your step (and natural) kids - not what’s best for the ex, the mother-in-law of the ex, the friends of the ex, etc; you get the picture :)

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

SUZANNE SHAW ‘I’ve struggled to allow my partner to have a say in the boys’ discipline’ Sam (my partner) is stepfather to Corey and I’ve been asked on a few occasions if I notice any difference in Sam’s parenting with the boys. I can honestly say I don’t. Sam gives them both equal love and support. Corey lives with us so Sam really does bring him up as his own. I suppose, when Raffi came along, it was me who found it hard. It was constantly on my mind that Corey may feel pushed out.

I know it’s normal in any case that parents feel that way when a new sibling comes along, but I felt it more so, thinking Corey may feel like an outsider, with Raffi being Sam’s first biological child. I know I still over-compensate at times - Sam will say I’m too soft on Corey if he’s misbehaved. I’ve also struggled to allow Sam to have a say in the boys’ discipline - it’s just that I’ve been so used to having sole-say for so long with Corey, that I automatically took that role on when it came to Raffi. Sounds silly, but sometimes I forgot that I have someone else to lean on and share the responsibility. It took a while, but we’ve found the right balance and now work great as a team.

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

11

Mums who loathe their post-birth bodies are sparking a body confidence crisis in their own children, a study has found.

Seven in ten mums say their young children have repeated back negative phrases about their appearance after hearing their mothers say it.

Four in ten children have complained ‘I feel fat’ along with 41 per cent who repeated ‘I don’t like my tummy.’

A further third have asked to go on a diet while 14 per cent have cried ‘I don’t like my body’.

And one in ten kids even criticised the size of their bottom, after learning the words from their mother.

The study from parenting site ChannelMum. com found the average new mum spends £1,871 attempting to get her pre-pregnancy figure back - but almost three quarters (72%) don’t achieve it and are far less body confident after giving birth.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum. com said: “Bodyshaming in all forms is wrong, but criticising a woman for looking a little different when she’s grown a whole new human is ridiculous. Giving birth is the most extreme thing a woman’s body can do, so of course the shape is going to change.

“Having a post-birth body is something to be celebrated, not shamed.

“Of course it’s good to be fit and healthy, but we shouldn’t be so obsessed with perfection that we raise a generation of children with body hang-ups.

Hang up

your

HANG UPS! Why it’s time to start loving your post-partum body

“Having a bit of a mum tum or some stretchmarks isn’t shameful, it’s a badge of honour for what your body has gone through. They are the markings of a mother.” #MamaFigure

If you don’t love your body, who else will?

By Rachel Lancashire

I remember watching Gok Wan teaching women of all shapes and sizes to love their bodies, and as I sat and watched I often wondered how people could get to a point in life where they had become so unhappy in their shell. That was until I became pregnant, my face filled out and people began to comment on how different I looked, as if I didn’t already know. Being pregnant gave me an appetite which I’d never experienced before and so I knew that all my weight gain wasn’t just the massive great big baby I had dreamt about trying to push out, but also my own bit of greed that no-one else could deal with but me.

After getting over the jelly-belly I decided that it was time to love the skin I was in, after all it had given me the greatest gift of all, it had given new life to my most precious baby boy, and I didn’t regret it one little bit. My body had grown a human, sustained a human and then forced it from the inside out. I was in awe of my body and began to understand the term that’s all too often bandied around – your body is a temple.

Mine is, and yes it might resemble temple ruins, but it’s still a temple nonetheless. Is yours?

12

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

Help boost their self-esteem ‘Minnie and Max Are OK!’ is a picture book aimed at 3 to 7-year-olds which aims to p r o m o t e self-esteem in youngsters from nursery age.

Authors Chris Calland and Nicky Hutchinson say they were inspired to write it after being confronted by shocking examples of children focusing on what they looked like – sometimes before they even start school.

Chris says: “We live in a looks-obsessed society where image and appearance is often seen to be the most important thing about you.

In Minnie and Max we encourage children to feel positive about themselves by thinking about individuals’ unique qualities and skills rather than prioritising looks. Parents are young children’s most important role model.

They should be aware that their own feelings, and conversations about appearance and body shape can influence their child’s feelings about their own body. www.mums-magazine.co.uk

For anyone who has thought that they would love to start getting fit or perhaps had a great fitness routine before the little one came along, but then reality hits that they don’t have enough time in the day, lack the motivation, or even both...then buggy running may just be the answer!

In the

running...

If you’re looking for a way to keep fit after having a baby, buggy running might be the answer

Buggy running can be enjoyed by anybody and it’s all about getting out and enjoying the outdoors with your little one. You can walk, jog or run, build it into a couch to 5km programme, venture off-road and best of all you don’t necessarily need any specialist equipment to begin with.

It’s recommended that you only start running with a baby from around six months old or when you’re comfortable that they are strong enough to hold their head. If your intending to go any faster than a quick walk then it’s advisable to use a buggy that has a front wheel that can be fixed into position, this will avoid the risk of the buggy from potentially flipping.

Preparation is key however and to make sure you, and your little one get to enjoy the run, my five top tips to start enjoying the benefits of buggy running would be: 1. Choose / design a route before you setoff and perhaps even walk it beforehand. The last thing you want is to keep on stopping / having to wait to cross roads. Incorporate a café or playground stop (or both) if you want to run for longer 2. Before you head out check over the buggy to make sure the wheels are fully inflated (if air), all moving parts are running smoothly and the rain cover is packed 3. Make sure you have a snack / drink for the little one, change of clothes and all the nappy changing essentials 4. Decide on the time of day when you know your little one will most likely sleep. You’ll be surprised that once they are comfortable in the buggy, the motion will soon send them to sleep

Once you’ve got the running bug then one way of really catapulting your enjoyment and fitness would be to invest in a running buggy. With larger tyres that are air filled, suspension system and models that have a permanent fixed wheel or the ability to fix the front wheel, you’ll be able to run for longer without getting as tired.

Deciding on which model of running buggy is right for you has never been easier as there are now three ways to help you decide: Compare the largest selection of running buggies online at www. buggyrunning.co.uk using the helpful buggy comparison table.

Visit Buggy Running’s showroom located in South East London, the only showroom dedicated to running buggies in the UK. Here you can compare and try out in the local park.

Come along to one of the Buggy Running Events where our complete collection of running buggies will be available and you can reserve one to try out on the course. Further information can be found at www.buggyrunningevents.co.uk

5. Record your performance on an app either via a smartwatch or phone Strava has a brilliant feature called ‘Tracked Runs’ which shows your average speed and time for all activities on the same course. This is great for seeing your performance improve over time as you get fitter!

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Buggy running can be enjoyed by anybody and it’s all about getting out and enjoying the outdoors with your little one Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

13

Potty training can be an emotional time for both you and your child. To help make the process less daunting try and stay relaxed, expect the inevitable accidents, and be prepared to try something different if it’s not working for one or both of you.

How do you know if your child is ready to start potty training?

Whether you decide to ditch the nappies at three-hours or three-years old, supporting your baby or toddler to pee and poo when and where it is appropriate, and stay clean and dry, is one of the challenges of early parenthood. Most parents think about potty training with their toddler after about 18 months or as they approach their second birthday but, like most milestones in childhood, there are no absolutes. Every child develops at a different pace and it’s more important to look out for the following signs that he or she is ready to potty train rather than their age: · Stays dry for a couple of hours each day · Takes an interest when you, your partner or older siblings go to the toilet · Has bowel movements at regular times of the day, say, after breakfast · You can tell when a bowel movement is taking place, by his squatting or making a grunting sound · Let’s you know he wants to be changed when his nappy is wet or dirty · Knows he needs to pee or poo and says so in advance Most parents would say it's not worth starting potty training until you’re sure that you’re both ready and you have the time to focus on it. Major upheavals, both physical and emotional, can affect the success of potty training. Toddlers can pick up the idea very quickly if they're at the right stage, when they have the ability to notice when they need to pee and wait to get to the right place.

Many parents will try to wait until the summer months to begin training, as it means there will be fewer clothes to remove if there is an accident. If the weather is warm and you’re outside, inevitable accidents will be easier to clean up as well.

How to begin potty training?

Start using words related to the toilet around your toddler, such as pee or wee, poo or poop – whatever you say in your home. Whenever they do a pee or poo in their nappy try to encourage their understanding of what happened and why.

There is so much equipment available to help with potty training, but a lot isn't necessary. Before buying your potty it may be worth considering the following things: · Will it be stable and large enough for your toddler to sit on by themselves? · Would you prefer a simple plastic potty with no extra parts?

Although more tricky when emptying contents into the toilet, they are light and portable, making them easier to take out and about with you. · Would you prefer a potty with removable inserts? · If your toddler is a boy, who has been potty training for some time, then you can buy a ‘potty for boys’ that will hang on the side of the toilet, allowing him to pee standing up.

GENERAL POTTY-TRAINING TIPS There are many tips on how to potty train your toddler, but here are some good start points to help you feel more confident when embarking on this new journey:

14

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

TOILET TROUBLES

Potty training can be among the most challenging of processes, for parents and children. So is there an easy way to start (and succeed at) saying goodbye to nappies?

· Leave a potty where your toddler can see it and make sure that they understand what it’s for. · If he has a regular bowel movement at the same time each day, try keeping their nappy off and suggest using the potty instead. · As soon as you see that your toddler is ready to pee encourage them to use the potty. If he’s too late, don’t make a fuss, you don’t want them to become anxious and worried. · You may find that your toddler will react well to lots of praise and encouragement, and will be more likely to ask to use the potty or toilet themselves. This is a good time to introduce hand washing too. · If your toddler has a doll or special toy, encourage them to ‘train’ them through the process at the same time.

TIPS ON HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A BOY: · It’s easier to start with him sitting down for both a pee and poo. · Get dad involved if you can and let him give some demonstrations. · Once he is starting to stand up to pee in the toilet you can help him aim better by playing ‘sink the cereal’ (float a few pieces of cereal in your toilet for him to aim at), or another suggestion is to put a ping-pong ball into the toilet. It won’t flush away so it’s great for target practice. ·Put some blue food colouring down the toilet. As your toddler urinates it will turn green and might make the experience more fun and exciting.

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

MICHELLE HEATON

‘NAPPIES AT AGE 5 .. RIGHT OR WRONG?’ I’d like to think I’m quite an open minded mum. I don’t pre judge other mums on their parenting, as I think each child needs a different approach. But before becoming a mum, I suppose like the rest of us, I had my own thoughts and opinions on the way I would be a parent. I used to say ‘’I’d never let my kids sit on an I pad in a restaurant, how anti social.’’ Then I had kids, I wanted to eat my food too.. I gave them the Ipads.‘’I’d breast feed as long as my little cherub needs it. After all, breast is best.’’ Then Faith chewed on my nipple so much it almost fell off, so it was ‘bye bye’ breast, ‘hello’ little bottle of joy! ‘’I’d have my kids potty trained and out of nappies before they started nursery.’’ Then came my kids.

TIPS ON HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A GIRL: · Allow your daughter to come with you to the toilet, and tell her what you’re doing so that she understands what you’re doing. · Remember to wipe from front to back to help prevent any infections from developing around her vagina. · If she has a doll or special toy, encourage her to ‘train’ them through the process at the same time.

Further information NCT's helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities <http://www.nct.org. uk/courses/postnatal> are happening nearby.

POTTY TRAINING PICK! My Carry Potty was invented and designed by a mum, to help with the challenges of potty training.

It’s lightweight, leak-proof and completely bag free. www.mycarrypotty.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

MUM TALK

Celebrity e their mums shar otty of p experience training

Faith took to the toilet training really well, after all there was a chocolate button every time she went.

She likes her food.. but at night? Not so good. She’s almost 6 and she’s the only one in her class that still wears nappies during the night. She’s embarrassed, and told me many times not to tell anyone (sorry Faith if you read this.) She won’t sleep over at her friends house in case they laugh at her, and that kills me. It’s not for the lack of trying, so don’t judge me! I’ve tried all the tactics; The rewards, the score charts, the no water at night, the disturbed wee break and yes, even the threats and arguments.

But we’ve never gone one night without her wetting the bed or her nappy. After 3-4 nights in a row of changing and cleaning and crying and shouting and exhaustion... I just gave up! I’m stressed out, she’s stressed out, and I don’t think I can take anymore disappointment on her face when she comes in at 2 am and tells me ‘’mummy I’m sorry I’ve wet my bed again’’. So what do we do? Answer is, wait. She’s smart enough to know she’s late in the training. and to tell me when she believes she’s ready. In time, in her own time, she will be ready, right? I hope so…..

SUZANNE SHAW

‘I’VE SKIPPED THE POTTY AND GONE STRAIGHT FOR THE TODDLER SEAT ON THE TOILET’ Potty training – blimey, that’s a challenge! Recently, Raffi has been coming to me and letting me know that he needs a change. So, I grasped the opportunity to start the potty training process. To start with, it seemed like a success. I’ve skipped the potty and gone straight for the toddler seat on the toilet, purely because he was using the potty as a hat! Although he’s far from conquering it yet, he’s on the right tracks. There’ve been just a few mishaps. For example, he went for a poo, got scared, and later decided the bath would be a better place to let go!

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

15

HEALTH MATTERS

BEDWETTING

Paediatric Specialist Continence Nurse discusses the misconceptions surrounding this common childhood problem, and the best approach to improving children’s bladder health

Research shows that bedwetting affects 1 in 15 seven year olds, and boys are twice as likely to suffer as girls. The risk is 44% if one parent wet the bed and 77% if both did, perhaps suggesting a genetic link.

Bedwetting has been shown to have a serious impact on a child’s self-esteem, emotional well-being and school/work performance. Most parents mistakenly think that bedwetting is a phase that will pass. In fact, bedwetting is usually caused by a medical condition – (over-production of urine at night, reduced capacity of the bladder, or an inability to wake up), and can be treated relatively easily.

Successfully treating bedwetting removes the emotional burden placed on the child and improves day time functioning, including social and school performance.

Q&A

with Brenda Cheer is a Paediatric Specialist Continence Nurse Q. What are some of the myths about bedwetting you wish people would stop believing?

A. One of the biggest myths is that “there is no point treating bedwetting as children will grow out of it eventually”. This is not necessarily the case and according to the UK’s NICE guidelines on the management of bedwetting in children and young people (https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG111/ chapter/1-Guidance), all children who wet the bed should be seen by a health professional from the age of five years. Recent research by Bristol University has shown that taking a ‘watch and wait’ approach and not seeking help means that children could be suffering from this condition and other bladder problems for far longer than they need to.

“Children wet the bed because they’re lazy” is another common myth as whether you stay dry or you wet at night is outside of a child’s conscious control. It just isn’t something a child does on purpose.

Some people also believe that punishing children will help them to stop wetting the bed but it makes no sense to punish them for something they have no control over. Dealing with bedwetting can be hard for everyone and though it can be challenging, staying calm and supportive will hopefully lessen any feelings of shame and isolation for the child.

Contrary to popular belief, bedwetting isn’t caused directly by psychological issues such as stress and anxiety, but dealing with it can cause emotional problems, especially low self-esteem.

Any psychological or behavioural problem should be managed independently of the bedwetting symptoms.

“Children wet the bed because they are such deep sleepers” is another myth around bedwetting. A recent study has indicated that children who wet the bed have poor sleep quality. Children generally

16

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

wet because they don’t wake up to their bladder signalling that it’s full and that’s the reason rather than them being a deep sleeper.

“Taking children to the toilet when they’re asleep will cure their bedwetting” or ‘lifting’ may help to keep the bed sheets dry but it is a management of the issue rather than a cure.

Q. How many children are affected?

A. Wetting the bed is a common childhood condition affecting half a million children and teenagers in the UK. Around 12% of seven to nine year-olds regularly wet the bed. For a small number (1.5-2%) the problem can continue into their teenage and adult years.

Q. What are the causes?

A. There are three main reasons why children wet the bed: Their bladders don’t stretch enough to hold all the wee they make at night: The cause of this could be constipation - a bowel full of poo is pushing on the child’s bladder limiting the space it has to stretch and fill causing day and night time accidents. An assessment by a doctor and laxative treatment is usually needed to sort out childhood constipation.

The child’s bladder may be ‘overactive’ and give an urgent signal to empty before it’s full.An overactive bladder usually holds lower than average amounts of wee. Any daytime wetting issues should be treated first.

They produce too much wee at night: The hormone vasopressin tells the kidneys to make less wee at night. If a child doesn’t produce enough vasopressin while they’re asleep, they make more wee than their bladder can hold.

They don’t wake up when their bladder sends a signal that it’s full.

Some children just don’t wake up when their bladder tries to tell them it’s full or they wake just afterwards when it’s too late.

Night time accidents can be caused by one or more of these reasons but the good news is, all are treatable.

JACK WORLD

VISITOR AND THENOTHER A FROM

SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE To help encourage parents and kids to seek help, two cartoons have been created: · Cartoon 1 <https://www. youtube.com/embed/ AG1RIXKTmSQ?autoplay=1> ·Cartoon 2 <https://www. youtube.com/embed/sbZC_ w1ICSU?autoplay=1> They are intended to show the bedwetting child that they are not the only one and that there is help at hand.

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Bedwetting also runs in families. If one parent wet the bed, their child has a 40% chance of doing the same; if both parents wet the bed, there’s a 70% chance.

For more information on the causes and treatments for bedwetting take a look at https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/ Category/bedwetting

TOYPS BU

BEDWETTING SOLUTIONS

Q. Is it just a phase?

A. Bedwetting is a common but complex problem that isn’t always talked about openly enough. All children over the age of five years who are still wetting the bed should have their bladder and bowels assessed by a health professional so that the cause of the wetting can be found. Delaying treatment can make the problem worse and mean that a child is suffering with this issue for far longer than they need to.

Q. What are the long-term consequences of wetting the bed?

Bedwetting can have a huge impact on a child’s day to day life affecting their self-esteem, emotional well-being, their achievement at school and social life. Children and teenagers may feel so embarrassed about their bedwetting that they avoid having sleepovers or going on school camp for fear of their ‘secret’ being discovered. If bedwetting is left untreated, sufferers are more likely to have bladder and bowel problems later in life.

Q. How can parents get the help they need? What solutions do you recommend?

There’s lots of information about the reasons why children are wet at night and the various treatment options on the ERIC website: https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/bedwetting and ERIC has a bladder and bowel helpline which is answered by expert advisors.

Parents and carers can take a look at these resources before booking an appointment with their doctor or school nurse.

Treatment options include looking at the child’s fluid intake, getting any underlying constipation resolved, alarm treatment to help the child wake to their full bladder signal and vasopressin medication which reduces the amount of wee a child is producing as they sleep. As there can be more than one factor causing wetting at night, combined treatment is often needed.

ERIC, the Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity have lots of information on their website on the causes and treatments for bedwetting https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/ bedwetting ******* ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity (insert link www.eric.org.uk) is the only charity dedicated to the bowel and bladder health of all children and teenagers in the UK. ERIC has been raising awareness of bowel and bladder issues since 1988. ERIC provides expert support, information and understanding to children and teenagers and enables parents, carers and professionals to help them establish good bowel and bladder health.

About World Bedwetting Day World Bedwetting Day was initiated to raise awareness among the public and healthcare professionals that bedwetting is a common medical condition that can and should be treated.

World Bedwetting Day 2017 took place on Tuesday 30th May and occurs on the last Tuesday of May each year. The theme is: ‘Time to Take Action’, in recognition that much more can be done to diagnose and treat children who suffer from bedwetting.

For more information please visit www.worldbedwettingday.com

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

PeapodMats PapodMats lie flat on top of sheets with a grippy material underneath that allows the mat to remain stationary and in-place without flaps, straps or Velcro. This means there is no need to tuck or wrap the mat around the mattress or mattress corners. With the design of the PeapodMat, not only does it remain stationary, but will stay flat without bunching or gathering. This provides a comfortable and protected sleep throughout the night. PeapodMats are suitable for kids as they progress through potty training and bed wetting. just wash and dry on regular cycle. No more changing the bedding sheets every day! www.peapodmats.com

Malem Bedwetting Alarm The Malem Bedwetting Alarm is ideal for children who do not wear pyjamas whilst they sleep. A smart, reliable, comfortable and rust-proof plastic Bed-Mat sensor is placed under the sheet and on top of the mattress, whih means that nothing at all is attached to your child. A slim and long (220cm) cord connects the BedMat to the Ultimate Bed-Side alarm unit, which is placed on a bedside table and ensures comfort for your child. Bed-mat sensor detects moisture and quickly activates the attached Ultimate Bed-Side alarm. £151.95 www.thebedwettingdoctor.com

Pjama Pjama are washable pyjama pants which protect sheets, blankets and mattresses. You can simply wash, change Pjama, and go to bed again. Pjama pants are easily machine washed, which makes them an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable products.Pjama pants are made of a breathable material that retains liquid in the pants and keeps the bed dry. They are as comfortable as any other pajama pants. www.pjama.co.uk

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

17

Once upon a time...

Why education starts at home, according to Laura Moore - Teacher and an Early Years Specialist @lauraloveslearning

For some of you, this year would have seen you and your little one take the first step into possibly the biggest adventure of all - starting school.

With this comes a whole bundle of excitement, nerves, anxious moments, tears, laughter and much more. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just you! For many of you, this may also be your first step into the world of education and all that it brings with it and that could simply mean it is a complete unknown and can be overwhelming.

I am an Early Years teacher and one of the most rewarding parts of my job is teaching children to read. I have seen, many times over, the delight in a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face when they independently read a word. That excitement almost explodes when they get their first reading book from school. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a joy! For me, it makes everything worthwhile. However, I have also seen very able children struggle to make that leap because they may not be getting any reading reinforcement from home. Just as parents need help and support from teachers, we too, as educators, need the support and help from parents to ensure children can reach their full potential.

One thing that has become apparent over my years inside the classroom, is that often this lack of reading input at home stems from the lack of information provided to parents. It may be that some of you are simply unaware of the reading expectations for each child at the end of their Reception year at school.

18

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

According to the Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage non-statutory guidance from the British Association for Early Childhood Education, at the end of Reception and in the 40-60+ month age range, the expectations are that: Children read and understand simple sentences.

They use phonic knowledge to decode regular words and read them aloud accurately. They also read some common irregular words. They demonstrate understanding when talking with others about what they have read.

I understand that this document is non-statutory but it is the main document used by most Early Years settings to provide guidance by way of the developmental steps that children, in this country, are expected to reach by the age of 5. This Early Learning Goal may be crystal clear to some of you and to others it could be as clear as mud. Therefore, I feel that it is essential that parents should be informed, in a simple way, of all that this means and entails.

In most schools, information evenings should be high on the agenda for new parents starting this wonderful, educational adventure. However, I am aware that this may not always be the case. Most schools use synthetic phonics to aid the process of learning to read. This is a minefield to those not-in-the know so I have made a list of helpful tips that you may find useful. www.mums-magazine.co.uk

1. Find out what phonics scheme the school uses. Ask the teacher directly. (Believe me, they will be delighted you are showing an interest!) The teacher should have some helpful hints or tips and could recommend websites that you could use at home.

2. Learn the sounds! Despite the numerous phonics schemes available, the sounds are all said in the same way - clearly! For example, the letter ‘m’ is said as ‘mmmmm’ rather than ‘muh’, a very common misconception. We should not be adding ‘uh’ to the end of the letter sounds. Your school may provide a CD that matches their scheme or offer a session for parents - always ask the question!

3. Not all words are phonetically decodable.

In other words, some words don’t follow the rules! Children need to know this. The technical term for such words is ‘irregular words’. They include ‘the’, ‘me’, ‘my’, going, to name a few (understatement of the year!).

3. Model reading. No, not posing with a book, magazine or the reading material of your choice!

This means that you should be showing your child how to do it when they are showing an interest.

They may see the word ‘cat’ in a book. Moving your finger slowly under each sound, model

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

“c-a-t, cat”. If your child is developmentally ready, encourage them to copy or join in.

4. READ! A child that sees people around them reading, will want to read. Fact. Show your child that you read for pleasure; you read to keep up with world news; you read emails for work or messages from friends; you read recipes when cooking; you read road signs while driving; the list goes on. Reading together and sharing stories throughout the day is quite possibly one of the best things you can do with your child.

5. Have fun! Remember at all times that your child, to all intents and purposes, is still a baby. They will do things when they are developmentally ready and able so it is best to encourage but not force.

I have only touched the surface on the world of learning to read and phonics. The main purpose of my article is to inform, not preach and to encourage you to ask the questions and educate yourselves. Do not be fearful - you are doing the best thing for your child!

For more hints, tips and ideas of fun ways to incorporate letters and learning into play activities, follow me on Instagram @ lauraloveslearning. Feel free to ask further questions on there too. I would be very happy to help.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” Dr. Seuss.

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

19

Nappy

There are certain trigger times1 when your baby may be more prone to nappy rash

days

Effective ways to help prevent and treat nappy rash

Weaning

Any change in diet can lead to looser stools and a greater likelihood of nappy rash affecting your baby.

Common Cold

When a baby has a cold, stools are often looser, meaning that nappy rash is more likely to occur.

Teething

A runny nose, lots of saliva and diarrhoea are often the signs of teething. It’s also a time when nappy rash can strike.

Antibiotics

Nappy rash is often linked to antibiotic use. Antibiotics may mildly upset the digestive system leading to diarrhoea and nappy rash.

First sleep through the night

Sleeping through the night means that nappy changing may be delayed, making nappy rash more likely to develop.

Change in diet

Such as moving on from breast milk may lead to more frequent and watery stools, potentially leading to nappy rash.

Diarrhoea

Many babies suffer from nappy rash at some time in their first 18 months. Nappy rash can be caused by prolonged contact with urine or stools, although having sensitive skin does increase propensity towards the condition. In addition, certain soaps, detergents, wipes and also chafing can be contributing factors. Nappy rash is characterised by red patches on your baby’s bottom, or the whole area may be red.

The skin may look sore and feel hot to touch, and there may be spots, pimples or blisters.

Nappy rash usually starts when the baby’s delicate skin is in prolonged contact with urine and faeces in the nappy. It’s much more difficult to prevent this if your baby has diarrhoea.

is here to help!

1.Morris H, The bottom line on nappy rash, British Journal of Midwifery, September 2012, Vol 20, No 9, pages 540-543

The best approach to treating nappy rash is prevention, and changing wet or soiled nappies as soon as possible can help to lessen the risk of irritation. Young babies need changing as many as 10 or 12 times a day, and older babies at least six to eight times. Be sure to clean the whole nappy area thoroughly, wiping from front to back and use plain water or baby wipes. It also helps to leave the nappy off for as long and as often as you can in order to let fresh air get to the skin. Barrier creams, such as zinc and castor oil may also help.

If your baby does get nappy rash, you can treat it with a nappy rash cream, although if the rash doesn’t go away or becomes bright red with white or red pimples, they may have a thrush infection. In this case, you’ll need to use an anti-fungal cream, available either from the pharmacist or on prescription from your GP. Ask your pharmacist or health visitor for advice.

20

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

is here to help!

We all know how unpredictable babies can be!

Even if you follow a regular routine, no two days are the same, and there are certain trigger times1 when your baby may be more prone to nappy rash 1.Morris H, The bottom line on nappy rash, British Journal of Midwifery, September 2012, Vol 20, No 9, pages 540-543

1

we an ing

Treatment

for Nappy Rash For occasions when it does strike, Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment can be used to treat nappy rash, relieving the irritation and redness.

Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment is a medicine. Always read the label.

www.metanium.co.uk www.mums-magazine.co.uk 8749 Mums Mag

2

com mon cold

3 teething

4

antibiotic s

5

fi rst sle ep throug h the nig ht

6

change in di et

7

diar rhoe a

Protection

from Nappy Rash For daily protection, use Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment or Easy Spray Barrier Lotion at every nappy change to help protect against the irritants that can cause nappy rash.

we

babiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bums

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

21

Great little minds

Is it possible to improve your child’s emotional intelligence?

Too Much Tech and Not Enough Socialising is Hindering Kids’ Emotional Intelligence

By Emma Elsworthy Children as young as three are hindering their emotional intelligence by spending too long staring at screens instead of socialising with other youngsters, it has emerged.

Studies have shown children need to spend time with each other to learn to share, communicate effectively with their peers and develop their emotions.

But the boom in ownership of smart phones, tablets and computer consoles among ever younger kids, combined with hours spent in their own company playing high-tech games, is inhibiting these skills.

The warning was issued by Dr. Amanda Gummer, founder of Fundamentally Children, an organisation committed to helping children develop skills through play.

She blames ‘Me, Now’ cultures, along with the fact children are being overprotected by parents who are not

22

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

encouraging them to take responsibility for their own happiness and well-being Dr. Gummer said: “In an increasingly interconnected world, it would be nice to think that children today are more emotionally intelligent, empathic and self-aware than previous generations.

“But there is a growing concern the increase in remote communication hinders children’s emotional development and actually children today can find it more difficult to understand and manage their emotions.

“Inter-personal relationships play a huge role in the development of emotional skills and there is a worrying trend for children to spend less time socialising with others and more time in solitary situations, so they may be getting fewer opportunities to practice those important skills.

“The last ten years have seen a massive increase in screen use and a trend for children to get access to and ownership of their first mobile device at ever younger ages.

“The main area for concern is with

very young children - if they develop a screen-based play pattern before they start school they’re likely to be less able to share and make the most of the learnings available in a social, classroom setting.”

According to Dr. Gummer the ‘Me, Now’ generation is a result of an over-focus on children’s needs and behaviour, to the detriment of other members of the family.

She added: “The ‘Me, Now’ generation is also used to having instant gratification as their needs are often met almost instantaneously, so may be more susceptible to perceiving negative events (not getting what they want when they want it) as worse than they are which can also have a negative impact on coping mechanisms and long term mental health.”

Emotional intelligence enables people to communicate effectively and relate authentically to others.

It also helps us manage our feelings and moods, and high emotional intelligence is believed to provide protection against some mental health issues.

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

A key part of emotional intelligence is autonomy and feeling in control of your life and well-being.

Children should develop the vitally important life skill to be able to cope with the full range of emotions modern life will throw at them.

Those who don’t learn this at an early stage could end up always being dependent on others for support with emotional health issues.

It’s not all bad - as children get older, there is an increased awareness of issues such as cyber bullying and body image which have reduced some of the negative effects of increased screen time.

But there is still a lot more support, education and resources needed.

Dr. Gummer who is also a psychologist said: “Parents can help children take control of their lives from an early age.

TOP 10 SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN 1. Children naming their emotions 2. Children realising that what they say and how they act has an impact on how other people feel 3. Children naming other people’s emotions 4. Older children making suggestions as to why they feel a certain way 5. Recognition and understanding of other people’s feelings 6. Imaginative role-play that includes narratives around feelings 7. Feeling confused about their feelings, but wanting to discuss them 8. Acts of kindness towards other people - especially those in need 9. Having a ‘moderator’ role within their friendship group 10. Normally being able to get what they want out of people

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

“They can limit choices to help decision making, offering only one or two things at a time – do you want to read a book or play with the ball?

“And as children get older they should be encouraged to make their own decisions about whether to wear a coat, or take an umbrella.

“Children who are encouraged to explore their own emotions are more likely to develop emotional intelligence than those who are told to stop crying or behave.

“As a society, we now have more understanding of emotional well-being and so children have access to adults who are better equipped to support their emotional development.

“Parents can avoid this by giving children the freedom to fail, whilst the consequences are minor, and then deal with the consequences themselves.”

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN: 1. Validate their emotions – Say: ‘‘I can see that you’re cross… but you can’t have another cake/let’s see what we can do to help you feel better/can you tell me why?’’

2. Look after your own emotional well-being and give them a healthy model to copy and learn from 3. Be authentic - don’t try and hide your feelings 4. Encourage imaginative role-play - especially with characters that have different expressions 5. Practice making funny (emotional) faces in the mirror together 6. Give children options for ways to handle difficult emotions (e.g. a pillow to thump if they’re angry, a quiet safe place to go if they’re scared)

Dr. Gummer also points out parents can help children develop key social and emotional skills by ensuring they have a balanced play diet with plenty of opportunities for social play with a variety of playmates and toys.

In addition she says emotional intelligence can be improved by imaginative role-play, reading books together which have emotional storylines, and talking to children about their various emotions.

A spokesperson speaking on behalf of Fisher-Price Little People, which commissioned the study into emotional intelligence said: “We wanted to look into the ways children can develop their intelligence both emotionally and practically, and it is clear that playtime is central to this.

“Children can learn about the world through play – by engaging with others and developing personalities.

Achievement starts at home Great Minds and How to Grow Them, written by leading academic Professor Deborah Eyre and award-winning journalist Wendy Berliner, is based on the premise that there is more room at the top of the class than we thought and children’s success can be made rather than born. The key is developing the right learning attributes and attitudes (such as curiosity, persistence, hard work) but with children spending as little as 15% of their time in class, life at home with parents has to be at the heart of this development.

7. Talk to your children about how you manage your own difficult emotions 8. Read books with your child that include emotional storylines and discuss them 9. Encourage children to play freely with other children - they gain a lot from mixing with a wide range of people 10. Don’t try and do it all for them - let them start to take responsibility for their own lives and happiness as early as possible

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

23

BUMP AHEAD! The A-Z guide of pregnancy must-haves

Pregnancy can be a wonderful yet sometimes difficult time for mums-to-be, as with a growing baby bump inevitably comes a multitude of necessary lifestyle adaptations. And we don’t just mean in terms of your wardrobe, which inevitably will have to make way for some much looser fitting garments as the months progress. You may also be surprised that even the simplest of daily routines once taken for granted, such as eating and going to bed, will also be subject to some significant changes and challenges. So here’s our A-Z of handy products to help you stay happy, healthy and comfortable: A - alcohol-free drinks If your home or social life used to involve a glass of wine or two, then sourcing an alternative drink to enjoy on these occasions is essential. See our tried and tested non-alcholic wines (opposite) for some inspiration.

B - Belly-Belt This ingenious invention will help you to enjoy wearing your favourite jeans or trousers for longer. £15.99 from www. cheekyrascals.co.uk

C - Crackers Something dry and easy to eat is always good to have to hand, particularly if nausea is a problem at any point in your pregnancy D - Decaff tea bags and coffee Since it is a recommendation to limit caffeine intake, decaff tea bags and coffee are top of many mum-to-be’s shopping list.

E - Exercise Gentle exercise can be useful for keeping your fitness and energy levels up during pregnancy. Often, it is the last thing you feel like doing, but by boosting endorphins and circulation it can actually help to revive flagging motivation levels.

F - Flat shoes Never will you be so grateful to kick off your heels as when you have a growing bump weighing down heavily on your tired, aching feet. Flats are the way forward!

G - Granny pants!

Comfort is a top priority when you’re pregnant, so feel free to indulge in wearing your favourite biggest knickers!

H - Help and support Particulary in the later stages of your pregnancy, having friends and family to call up to help with some of the everyday tasks that might have suddenly become more difficult can be invaluable. Don’t be

24

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

afraid to ask for help. More often than not, people are only too willing to lend a hand where possible.

I - Iron tablets If your iron count is low then your doctor might prescribe you iron tablets. They don’t make for the most pleasant toileting experience but, like the supplement Floradix, will help with fatigue and metabolism.

J- Jogging bottoms A pregnancy wardrobe staple. As your bump gets bigger, these will probably be your most comfortable clothing item.

K- Kegel exercises Preparing and strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with kegel exercises can help with labour and recovery.

L - Leggings Certainly as you progress into the last few months of your pregnancy, you might find your tolerance for any remotely uncomfortable clothing item rapidly declines. Often, this includes jeans and trousers, making the unsuitability of PJ or tracksuit bottoms for work or running errands somewhat frustrating. Luckily, leggings can save the day, since they are among the most comfortable (stretchy, soft) things to wear and can be dressed up with a tunic or down with a t shirt and still be considered not just appropriate, but perhaps even smart depending how you pull it off.

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

M - Maternity jeans Good maternity jeans can be hard to come by, but over-the-bump styles tend to be more comfortable and need less hitching up than other styles designed with a simple stretchy waist band. Having tried and tested a number of high street styles, these Mamalicious slim fit jeans came up tops in terms of style and wearability. (£45 from www.next.co.uk)

pillow can help alleviate some of the pressure and discomfort of sleeping on your side (£25 www.pregnancypillows. net)

Q - Quiet time Before baby arrives, it pays to really appreciate every opportunity for some ‘quiet time’ that you get. Savour the silence, for it will help you relax and take stock, which is essential for both your mental and physical health during a time of immense change.

R - Raspberry leaf tea Raspberry leaf tea can be useful once you go past your due date, for preparing and readying your body for labour.

N - Nightdresses The need for comfort often surpasses the desire for style at bedtime.

O - Oil Whether it’s in your bath or slathered on after a shower, regular moisturising can help to reduce stretch marks and prevent the itching associated with stretching skin.

P- Pregnancy pillow Sleeping can be one of the main challenges of pregnancy, but a support

S - Snacks A handbag essential. Hunger and low energy can strike more regularly when you are pregnant, so having a selection of healthy snacks to grab when needed should help to keep your energy levels on an even keel.

T - Treats During pregnancy, you have to give up so much (cheese, wine, pate, coffee!!) that it is only fair that you award yourself the odd treat. Whether it’s a pregnancy massage or a little of what you fancy, the small things really can make a big difference to how you feel

U - Ultrasounds Ensuring that you attend your scheduled ultrasound appointments is very important, as these are used to determine the health and progress of your pregnancy.

V - Vitamins Prenatal vitamins will help ensure both you and your baby are getting the right nutrients. As the demand for these increases as pregnancy progresses, it can be difficult to get everything you both need from diet alone.

W - Wireless bras As your breasts grow and become more sensitive during pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid underwiring in your bras.

X - X Factor There is enormous benefit to be had from lazy nights in in front of the TV, particularly when you’re pregnant, and it’s autumn! listen to your body, and if you can’t face the social scene, don’t feel bad in saying no in favour of some much needed chill out time... even if X Factor is your vice!

Y - Yoghurt Yoghurt is a good all-round pregnancy food, providing calcium and protein, not to mention beneficial bacteria to help keep your digestive system healthy. This can ony be a good thing, given the strain that your growing uterus can put on your bowel.

Z - Zzzzz Lots of sleep and rest. When you are tired – sleep. When you are weepy – sleep.

When you can’t be bothered – sleep.

Just sleep at every available opportunity.

While you still can.

THE NEXT BEST THING...

We’ve tried and tested some of the best alcohol free wines, and here’s the deal...

NO.1 Win Verdejo Our findings: This Spanish wine has a nice balance of flavours, without the after-taste usually associated with alcohol-free wines. It looked and almost tasted as good as the real thing, making it much better than the limited (often vinegary) varieties available in supermarkets.

Description: Win Verdejo has a bright, clear pale yellow colour and lemon edging with aromas of green apple, and herbal tones inherent to the Verdejo grape such as aniseed and fennel and a mild acidity and flavours of grapefruit.

0.2% ABV. Perfectly compliments salads, fish and seafood dishes. www.alcoholfree.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

NO.1 Win Sparkling Our findings: This 0.5% ABV sparkling wine is as close to Proseccco as we’ve tasted without the alcohol.

We enjoyed a few glasses, perfectly chilled and served in a champagne flute, and almost had ourselves fooled! Lovely, crisp and refreshing.

Description: This aromatic sparkling wine has a nose of fennel, anise and a hint of lavender which are typical of the verdejo grape. On the palate, it’s clean and crisp with notes of green apple and grapefruit with a medium acidity. It’s ideal with goat’s cheese salads and fish or light white meat dishes or to enjoy on its own right as an invigorating bubbly any time of the day. £6.99 www.alcoholfree.co.uk

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

25

Are you suffering from ‘scanxiety’?

Modern mums-to-be are suffering from ‘scanxiety’ – and are splashing millions of pounds on unnecessary antenatal scans during their pregnancy, a study has found.

Although the NHS routinely offers two scans at 12 weeks and 20 weeks to check the unborn child’s development, almost a third of pregnant women pay for expensive private ultrasounds as well.

Despite fears that too many highintensity scans may pose a threat to the foetus, 20 per cent of mums having extra scans pay out for two, while 18 per cent buy three or more.

spend an average of £217 extra on the treatments while pregnant - equivalent to a £42m a year industry.

This is enough to provide the NHS with 1,620 experienced midwives.

Worryingly, some clinics offer scans of longer than 30 minutes, against medical advice, while others use unregistered sonographers who are unable to provide diagnosis or support if a there is a problem with the pregnancy.

One in fifty even admitted to forking out for nine or ten extra scans while pregnant - more than one a month.

There have even been reports of ‘popup’ scan firms offering to carry out the treatment at women’s homes rather than in a clinic, and women being misdiagnosed as having a healthy baby when the pregnancy was ectopic - a lifethreatening condition.

And more than a third admit they underwent the procedure simply after feeling ‘anxious about their baby’, leading experts to dub the phenomenon ‘Scanxiety’.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, said: “Having a scan can be a wonderful way to bond with your baby and provide reassurance when you are worried.

The poll of 2,000 mums by parenting site ChannelMum.com found a further third (33%) confessed they just wanted to ‘check in’ on their baby without a medical reason.

“But mums need to remember it is a medical procedure and should to be treated very seriously.

Private scan images cost from £35 up to £1,000 for a repeat package - but clinics regularly offer discount vouchers and promotions on sites like Groupon to lure in extra customers.

Mums paying out for private scans

26

As more and more mums-to-be are turning to additional private scans for reassurance in pregnancy, the benefits of this trend are coming under scrutiny...

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

qualified.”

Mervi Jokinen, Practice and Standards Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Current advice by the National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is to have an early scan and then a screening scan for anomalies at around 18-20 weeks.

“These are recommendations based on the available research and takes into account the harm and benefit of scans.

“Any further scans beyond these recommendations should be clinically indicated and based on the needs of the women and her developing baby.

“It is a concern that women are needing this extra assurance. It may reflect a need for women to have more confidence in their pregnancy and this type of reassurance and support is, and can, be provided by their midwife.

“Anxieties caused by reliance on technology can have an impact on a woman’s pregnancy, causing undue stress and anxiety.”

“Clinics which allow multiple repeat scans without a medical reason could be risking the baby’s health - so let’s hope the scan industry isn’t the next medical scandal.

To help reassure mums who want to discover what their baby looks like during each week of pregnancy, ChannelMum. com have launched first 42-weeks of pregnancy videos complete with real scan footage.

“When choosing a clinic, never be afraid to ask if they are regulated and whether their sonographers are properly

See the videos at http://www.channelmum.com

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

MONEYSAVING

y m m u M

10 TOP TIPS FOR MONEY SAVING MUMS

By Becky Goddard-Hill www.babybudgeting.co.uk

1) Learn to budget. Knowing what you have coming in and knowing what you have going out will keep you on track.

It sounds SO obvious but many people never work out what they have left in their budget. Dedicating a little time to your finances can make a big difference.

2) Impulse shopping doesn’t lead to the best choices. I do an online grocery shop to a meal plan, and then I go back through my basket and remove anything we may not actually need. Considered shopping can save you money and avoid waste.

3) Don’t feel you have to have everything brand new for your little one. They really won’t care if their toy garage, first pram, favourite book or party frock has been pre-loved. Accepting hand me downs and buying second hand is smart financially and good for the environment.

4) Do find out about all your entitlements and make sure you are getting what you are due. You can do a

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

benefits health check here.

5) Be sociable – children love to play together and rather than forking out on activity classes, a playdate or a park trip with a little friend is both fun and free.

6).If you can’t spend what you used to on gifts then don’t, accept times have changed and gift with thoughtfulness instead of cash. Be creative - a batch of cookies or a baby handprint in a cheap frame both make lovely gift ideas.

7) Embrace your community. Your local library, inexpensive playgroups and free community events are all wonderful places to meet other parents and to entertain your kids on a budget. Have a look on the internet for what’s on near you.

8) Think ahead. Children change their interests so quickly so don’t get sucked into buying themed bedding / lunchboxes/backpacks or any other kind of paraphernalia. Instead go for items that will last a few ages and stages and make the most of your money.

9) Be assertive. If you are asked out for a meal and can’t afford to go it is fine to say so and suggest everyone comes to yours and bring some wine instead. It will save on a baby sitter too!

10) Be proud of being thrifty; learn to

cook on a budget, master the art of selling on eBay and become a ninja voucher code finder. These new skills will last you throughout parenthood and save you so much along the way.

Becky Goddard-Hill www.babybudgeting.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Baby products can be up to 80% cheaper than regular products It seems the cotton wool is being pulled over consumers’ eyes as new research reveals baby products are between 18%-80% cheaper than similar regular ownbranded products.

The research, conducted by money saving website Voucherbox. co.uk, reviewed own-brand baby products alongside own-brand regular products*. 80% of the products examined are far cheaper when purchased from the baby aisle. This includes products which are seemingly identical, such as cotton buds and cotton wool balls, both almost double the price when purchased as regular products.

According to this research, purchasing baby products could save over £8 a shop.

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

27

h s a l Sptime!

There are many benefits to introducing children to swimming at an early age, but what’s the best way to get started?

According to a recent survey by Swim England, 94% of parents believe it is important for their child to be able to swim by age 11. This is one of the biggest reasons that the popularity of baby swimming has increased over the last few years, with many parents recognising the value of getting children in the water early to build their confidence and water safety skills. Other benefits include gentle physical exercise strengthening your baby's heart, lungs and respiratory system, regular swimming often improves eating and sleeping patterns, and the lovely bonding time you spend in the water with your little one is invaluable.

The NHS advise that you don’t need to wait for your baby to have had their immunisations before you start taking them swimming, so many classes will allow you to begin as soon as you feel comfortable post-birth. Reputable swimming schools will always have their classes in pools of a suitable temperature, but it is worth making sure it’s higher than 30°C if your little one is younger than 6 months. However, despite the warm pool, young babies have trouble regulating their body temperature, so something to keep them warm like a baby wetsuit would be ideal.

Most pools insist on a double-nappy policy (a disposable swim nappy underneath a neoprene ‘Happy Nappy’) to stop any little accidents in the water, so do your research beforehand to find the best one to fit your baby’s bum!

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

A swim vest or jacket can help your todder build their skills and confidence in the water. Here’s our pick of the three best products for buoyancy and encouraging a natural swimming position.

Zoggs’ new Water Wing Vest provides fixed buoyancy and encourages a natural swimming position, to get little ones used to using their arms and legs to move around in the water. The vest features a zip which does up at the back and a tab to hold it in place so little ones won’t be able to remove the vest in the pool. £23 www.zoggs.com

The Original Konfidence Children's Swim Jacket is made from high-grade soft neoprene and offers a snug and comfortable fit. It incorporates eight internal float pockets, which positions the buoyancy around the wearer's torso and, most importantly, below the water line. £24.99 www.konfidence.co.uk

Of course if you missed the boat with baby swimming, it’s never too late to start attending lessons. Most baby swim schools have lessons up to the age of 4, and Puddle Ducks will teach your child to swim confidently and independently, in a nurturing and rewarding environment from birth right up to the age of 10. You can join their swimming journey at any age, with any ability, and at any point during the year.

The Zoggy Swim Sure Jacket offers complete freedom of movement in the water, encouraging children to develop a natural swimming position.

Puncture proof floats are built into the neoprene jacket with super soft flat stitching for added comfort and to eliminate chafing.

To find your nearest class, visit

£20 www.zoggs.com

www.puddleducks.com.

28

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

www.mums-magazine.co.uk

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

29

is here to help!

We all know how unpredictable babies can be!

Even if you follow a regular routine, no two days are the same, and there are certain trigger times1 when your baby may be more prone to nappy rash 1.Morris H, The bottom line on nappy rash, British Journal of Midwifery, September 2012, Vol 20, No 9, pages 540-543

1

we an ing

Treatment

for Nappy Rash For occasions when it does strike, Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment can be used to treat nappy rash, relieving the irritation and redness.

Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment is a medicine. Always read the label.

www.metanium.co.uk www.mums-magazine.co.uk 8749 Mums Mag

2

com mon cold

3 teething

4

antibiotic s

5

fi rst sle ep throug h the nig ht

6

change in di et

7

diar rhoe a

Protection

from Nappy Rash For daily protection, use Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment or Easy Spray Barrier Lotion at every nappy change to help protect against the irritants that can cause nappy rash.

we

babiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bums

Mums Magazine Autumn 2017

30