Baby Hampshire Magazine - Summer 2013

H A M P S H I R E ’ S PA R E N T I N G M A G A Z I N E | £ 2 . 9 5

B A B Y H A M P S H I R E . C O. U K

OUR TRAVEL

SURVIVAL GUIDE

with top travelling tips

PRACTICAL PLACENTAS The next step in green parenting?

25+ MINI

SUMMER TRENDS

Soak up the

SUMMER SUN Enjoy festival fun & glamping with the family

New! BaByBjรถrN BouNcer BalaNce Soft www.babybjorn.com

CONTENTS SUMMER 13 | ISSUE 32

82 FEATURES 26 PARK LIFE

Encouraging us to embrace those big green spaces

42 ECO-FRIENDLY PARENT

Reduce the eco-footprint of your party but still celebrate in style

46 JELLY ‘N’ WELLIES

Getting dirty in the kitchen with Maggie & Rose

60 COVER PRACTICAL PLACENTAS

Is placenta consumption the next step in green parenting?

88 SECONDARY INFERTILITY

Emma Oliver’s experience of secondary infertility

92 THE SPA SERIES

Rebecca Moore takes a trip to Careys Manor to enjoy the delights on offer at SenSpa

94 FROM ENGLAND TO GIBRALTAR

This season we travel to Gibraltar to talk to expat mum, Laura Wharfe, about family life on the rock

104 STRESS-FREE STYLE ACHICA shows us how being stylish can be stress-free 110 ANNABEL KARMEL’S SUMMER SENSATIONS

74

Annabel shares with us her favourite cooking creations

114 COVER SUMMER NIGHTS UNDER CANVAS Who knew camping could be so glamorous?

120 LEISURELY LUXURY

Alexandra Yankova embarks on a family trip to The Elms

130 COVER TRAVEL SURVIVAL GUIDE We’ve pulled together some top travelling essentials 135 CRAVING THE COAST

Let the North Cornish coast entice you this summer

136 THE ULTIMATE STAYCATION

A perfect getaway on the Isle of Wight

138 IDEALISTIC MUMS

Lianne Kolirin talks to experts about the road to parenthood

REGULARS 12 LOCAL BABBLE

Keeping you up-to-date with this season’s latest news, products and competitions

20 WELCOME TO THE WORLD

Proud Hampshire parents share their birth experiences as we welcome three new arrivals to the world

36 LOCAL HEROES

We recognise the work of inspiring individuals

40 DADS ROCK

Paul Bunker, TV and radio presenter, and dad of two, shares his fatherly experiences

158 THE BUMP AND BEYOND Lynne Taylor-Gooby talks about the burgeoning bump

54 REAL LIFE SPECIAL

164 TIME FOR BOREDOM An exploration into the desires of children, and parents alike, to be constantly plugged in

72 DIARY OF A MUM

194 Q&A WITH JOOLS OLIVER We chat about family life and Jools’ Little Bird clothing range

98 BOOKS AND MULTIMEDIA

We hear three truly inspirational stories Becky Dickinson is back again to fill us in on her chaotic, yet comical, family life What to read and listen to by Rachel Newcombe

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82 124

114

74

xx 103 FAMILY-FRIENDLY APPS Our summer countdown of our top ten parenting apps 107 CREATIVE FUN

Time for your little artists to get creative

142 QUESTIONS?

Parenting advice form this season’s experts at Greatvine

146 THE DIARY OF A NIGHT NANNY

An insightful look into the life of an overnight baby-care specialist

TIME OUT 19 SUMMER EVENTS

Fun things to do with your little ones this season

30 DAD VISITS HAMPSHIRE

Paul Bunker visits some of Hampshire’s best attractions

124 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS A round up of family-friendly destinations to be enjoyed locally and further afield

152 PARENTING DIRECTIONS

172 WHAT’S ON SUMMER Some fabulous events for you to enjoy this season

156 MEET THIS SEASON’S EXPERTS

182 GROUPS AND CLASSES A selection of local activities for you and your little ones

167 MEET THE HEAD An exclusive interview with Karen Chard Sherfield School

COMPETITIONS

Advice on health, fitness, nutrition and much more As they give their opinion on topics of interest

186 BUSINESS PROFILES A selection of business experts’ stories of success

Our summer issue is jam packed with competitions for you to enter. This season you could win top parenting essentials from Kiddy, an iPad mini with Metanium Everyday, a cot bed from East Coast Nursery, a fabulous staycation holiday in one of Blue Chip Holidays’ fabulous properties and many more.

SHOPPING

✽ To enter all our fabulous competitions please go to our website: www.babyhampshire.co.uk/competitions. Closing date for entries is 15/08/13 unless stated otherwise. GOOD LUCK!

169 SCHOOL NEWS

Keeping you updated with the latest local education news

35 ROYAL BABY PRODUCTS

69

Fit for a mini King or Queen

51 PIECE OF CAKE

Tasty treats for a summer tea party

67 HOT PRODUCTS

82

A round up of hot products to hit the market this season

69 COVER BABY FASHION NOTES

Get the look with our summer fashion trends

74 SUMMER FASHION

Set Sail to the Seaside with our summer fashion

82 INTERIORS

Giving your home an outdoors edge

SUBSCRIBE FOR JUST £10!

84 SUMMER BEAUTY BLOG

Receive the next four issues and treat yourself with a £20 JoJo Maman Bébé gift voucher!

149 MATERNITY FASHION

To subscribe call 0845 2997995 or order online at www.babyhampshire.co.uk

Our beauty tips from the top

The latest in maternity trends

6 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

Pure freedom.

Get out of the car and step into real life. The new Kiddy Evolution Pro infant carrier and the Kiddy Click ‘n Move 3 stroller give new parents maximum flexibility! From coffee with friends to a relaxed shopping trip, with a simple transformation of the infant carrier to a lie-flat position, your bundle of joy can continue sleeping safely.

Little Media Ltd Baby Hampshire Magazine Suite 2, Mitchell House, Brook Avenue, Warsash, Southampton, S031 9HP 0845 299 7995 www.babyhampshire.co.uk Editor Jane Freeman Sub-Editor William A. White Assistant Editor Rebecca Moore rebecca.moore@littlemedia.co.uk Design & Digital Christina Burgess christina.burgess@littlemedia.co.uk Hayley Warren hayley.warren@littlemedia.co.uk Sales & Marketing Amy Thacker amy.thacker@littlemedia.co.uk Jessica Way jessica.way@littlemedia.co.uk Webmaster Adrian Wilkinson adrian.wilkinson@littlemedia.co.uk Editorial Contributors Jenni Baden Howard, Becky Dickinson, Jaime Eastham, Helen Holmes, Lianne Kolirin, Viv Micklefield, Rebecca Moore, Regina Motalib, Rachel Newcombe, Emma Oliver, Clara Suess, Alex Yankova, Charlotte Tomlinson-White Cover & Fashion Photography Helen Marsden, Photographer www.helenmarsdenphotography.com Francesca Bartoli, Stylist www.stellacreativeartists.com Photographers Cristina Barton, Alexandra Joseph, Make Light Work, Eve Shepherd Louise and Jeremy Mason, Illustration Contributors James Brown jamesbrownillustration.blogspot.co.uk

media

Welcome

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

A

re my aging eyes deceiving me or is that the sun in the sky? Oh wait… blink and you miss it. While our quintessentially British weather decides what game it wants to play, let us dream about our holidays we’ve got lined up. Whether you’re clocking up your air miles, or travelling on your own turf we thought we’d lend a helping hand to alleviate the need to panic pack with our ultimate Travel Survival Guide on page 130.

To glamp or not to glamp? That may be the question on many families’ lips. Regina Motalib shares some scope for Summer Nights Under Canvas and how soggy sleeping bags and noncompliant campfires are long gone – check out page 114 to be inundated with inspiration.

Over the summer months no doubt we’ll see an abundance of little babies being welcomed into the world what with 2013 being marked as a ‘baby boom’ year. But let’s not forget there’s a royal baby on the way this summer too; check out our Royal Baby product page (p35) bursting with noble goods fit for a mini King or Queen. Although, as many of us appreciate, the stork does not always arrive as soon as we had hoped and Emma Oliver knows this all too well as she shares her experience with Secondary Infertility on page 88.

If you’re due a summer baby, no doubt you’ve been scratching up on perfecting your parenting. Put the hordes of books and piles of pamphlets down and turn to page 138 to read Idealistic Mums by Lianne Kolirin who’s discussing the road to parenthood for new mums.

The Freeman family will be stuffing our summer days with glorious bike rides, fun-filled festivals and treat-packed tea parties – and no party is complete without a cake. Whether you’re looking for a momentous mountain of cakey goodness or delicate - and easily devoured - cupcakes then we’ve got it covered with our cake product page on page 51.

Enjoy the summer holiday, while it lasts,

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS...

littlemedia Local parenting magazines

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine make any guarantees, warranties or claims as to the accuracy, currency or truthfulness of any of the contents of this magazine. We mention only products and services that we believe to be reputable but readers should rely on their own judgement. The publishers cannot be held responsible of any loss caused by errors, loss or negligence from staff. We cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited editorial, images or photographs published. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be found on our website, www.babyhampshire.co.uk at the time of entering. No part of this publication 6/11/08 may16:46:09 be reproduced in any form without the publishers' written consent. © Little Media 2013. All rights reserved.

FRANCESCA BARTOLI Fashion Stylist

RACHEL NEWCOMBE Books & Multimedia

REBECCA MOORE

Assistant Editor

EMMA OLIVER Feature Writer

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 9

L E T T E R S

MINI M@IL It’s time to talk, tweet, Facebook, email and even write a good old-fashioned letter. Here’s what you had to say…

Star Letter Prize!

Providing a healthy balanced diet for a baby or toddler is not an easy task. Now, as never before, starting the baby on healthy foods is the responsibility parents cannot overlook.

F

naturally want to do the same with our children. The advice we've been receiving from healthcare professionals and child-rearing books further supported our wish to keep the tradition. Almost unanimously they have told us, 'By the time your baby reaches his or her first birthday you can put them on to family dinners.'

Here is where I see the problem is.

This recommendation was perhaps right in the fifties or sixties, when most foods cooked at home were prepared with raw ingredients, as convenience food was only beginning to establish its markets. Right now, Britain is the nation with the highest percentage of obese people in Europe. According to the Department of Health, nearly 1 in 4 adults and almost a fifth of two to five

“How do we learn what good nutrition is and whether we are providing our babies with a balanced diet?”

31/01/2013 09:54

HAPPY READING

I recently subscribed to your magazine at the Baby and Toddler Show in Bluewater and I'm so glad I did as my son, Harrison (6 months old), seems to love it too! I enjoyed the article on Food for Thought (page 60 Spring 2013) as I'm starting the weaning process and I am keen to give Harrison the best start in life food wise. I’m looking forward to future issues!

Amelia, by email

your chance to WIN!

year olds are obese. So if the adults' unhealthy diets got us into the situation where we are, is it responsible to still advocate that our babies and toddlers should eat the same meals as we do?

In a poll of 1000 mothers of 9-36 month old children carried out by the Little People's Plates last year, it was found that 29 per cent of the toddlers were eating take-aways at least once a week; 65 per cent of the mothers never cooked fresh meals from scratch for their children; 19 per cent of them served ready-made meals or takeaways to their toddler for most of their meals. Meanwhile, 83 per cent of the mothers interviewed believed they provided healthy and balanced diets for their children.

A lot has to be said for convenience foods, they are often the saviours for our tightly-packed daily routines.

We just have to get better at understanding that the stuff that goes into convenience foods, their high salt, sugar and trans fat content, can be detrimental on childrens’ health in the long term, increasing the risk of heart diseases and diabetes. 

BIRTHDAY BONANZA

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TOP TWEETS @LittleMedia

W O R D S : K at ya b o b o v a | I l lu S t R at I O n : c h r i s m i l l a r d

eeding a baby is a wonderful experience. From the deep bond of breastfeeding to the enjoyment of seeing your toddler savour every forkful they carefully guide from plate to mouth, it's the core of parenthood itself. We all want to give our children happy mealtime memories, but like so many aspects of parenting, nowadays nutrition has become a complex problem. Considering the potentially grave consequences of obesity and malnutrition during childhood, we, parents, have a great responsibility to invest in getting it right. How do we learn what good nutrition is and whether we are providing our babies with a balanced diet?

Eating habits develop very early.

Most children acquire them from their parents and older siblings. They learn what to like and dislike by observing others. This is how it has been done traditionally, in Britain or any other country in the world – we saw our parents feed us the foods they ate, and we

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31/01/2013 09:53

EDITOR’S REPLY

Hi Amelia (and little Harrison!), it's great to hear that you're enjoying your subscription - we love meeting new readers when we exhibit at the different shows. And as our Star Letter a Spherovelo ride-on from Toyella is on its way to you. I hope you like our Summer edition too, happy reading and happy weaning (hopefully!).

Jane

A

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mat and wet zip bag - no wonder mums love it! www.pinklining.com/uk Write to: Baby Hampshire, Little Media, Suite 2, Mitchell House, Brook Avenue, Warsash, SO31 9HP. Email: yourletters@ babyhampshire.co.uk

@mel_wilde @LittleMedia Great publication-hats off!

RUTH CRAWFORD @ruthcrawford19 @LittleMedia yay, new

mag just landed on my doormat! Looking forward to reading it later!

EDITOR’S REPLY

words: Lianne KoLirin

Next issue's star prize is this fabulous bundle from Pink Lining, which includes the gorgeous Not So Plain Jane bag with equally lovely matching bottle holder and Mum-on-the-run bag.

The bag features 2 nappy pockets, 2 insulated bottle holders, padded changing

MEL WILDE

Excellent articles and illustrations. It was passed to others. Congratulations.

Priscilla, by letter

Most new mums start on the road to parenthood with high-minded ideals and the best intentions. But are we making a rod for our own backs with this parenting perfectionism?

In her view, healthcare professionals and experts “should give parents enough information to free them to follow their own instincts”. She adds, “Nobody should be dogmatic about what parents should do because nobody knows their situation better than that person themselves.”

One group who can be vocal about their opinions are grandparents, which can cause tension. “Grandparents can contribute a great deal”, says Dr Stoppard, but should sometimes take a step back.

A grandmother-of-eleven herself, she adds, “I don’t see myself as an oracle.

I help my children to bring up their children the way they want to do.”

Attitudes have changed immensely during Dr Stoppard’s lengthy career, but one thing that is especially dramatic is the advancing age of first time mothers.

“Women are staying longer in their careers and I think that the advancing age of mothers is causing problems – fertility for one!

“Quite a lot of women think that because they are in control of their careers, they can just flick a switch and

Just been given a copy of @LittleMedia Baby Hampshire by the dentist as I was enjoying it so much in the waiting room!

Hi Floyd, Aww this is a lovely story. If you’re looking to celebrate birthdays, then check out our Piece of Cake product page on page 51.

Jane

Idealistic Mums actually setting ourselves up for failure?

Is knowledge really power or simply a rod to beat ourselves with when things don’t go to plan? Whether it was hollering for the anaesthetist from the birthing pool or sending daddy out at 3am to buy the big bad and banned dummy, we’ve all felt rather sheepish about falling off the ‘good’ parenting wagon.

Yet what is ‘right’ changes over generations and varies from family to family and culture to culture, so parents shouldn’t tie themselves in knots, says Dr Miriam Stoppard, who has written countless books on pregnancy, birth, child development and more.

Dr Stoppard, who recently launched her own range of Galt toys, says, “There’s controversy about feeding, crying, sleeping and about toilet teaching. Mothers can get very worked up about them and they will quote one expert versus another. The only thing to do is what’s good for your family.

“Parents should assume parental instincts are best. They have been tried and tested over millenia and are nearly always right. The most you should do is to fine tune them.”

@SheasyDaisy

EDITOR’S REPLY

A PINK LINING CHANGING BAG, BOTTLE HOLDER & MUM-ON-THE-RUN

s mothers we want the best for our children and so we embark on the path to parenthood filled with good intentions and high-minded ideals.

No sooner has the blue line appeared on the pregnancy test, than the transformation into well-meaning mother begins. The resolutions and promises come thick and fast: eat, sleep and exercise well, no alcohol, caffeine or nicotine and nothing stronger than a Paracetamol.

Many women produce a birth plan, hoping to put themselves in control – although childbirth is notoriously unpredictable. And then the real business begins. Information about how to bring our children up is hurled at us from every which way. Midwives, health visitors and GPs offer their professional support, while friends and relatives chime in with advice. We fill in the gaps with books, magazines and websites for what we do and don’t want for our children.

But in being so idealistic, are we

SHEA

Recently my partner gave birth to our beautiful daughter Olivia-May, she shares the same birthday as her mum and grandmother. I’ve had a look online and it seems the odds of this are 1500000 to 1.

Floyd Spiller

get pregnant.”

That sense of control often spills into parenting styles which can be problematic, according to Dr Stoppard.

“This is one of the reasons women adhere to some extremely controlled methods of upbringing that involve feeding by the clock and having a strict routine. To my mind it’s bad for the mother and baby and sets the mother up for failure because it doesn’t take into account the baby’s physiology.”

Today’s parents are subjects to many more “factions, fads and fashions” than previously, which Dr Stoppard largely attributes to the online revolution.

She says, “There’s no hierarchy of information, so nobody knows what’s good or bad. Bad information has exactly the same prominence as good and results in a lot of confusion for parents.”

Similarly, not every newspaper headline should be accepted as truth, she says.

“Many things are seen as fact when they aren’t. The only fact is science.

Opinion is fickle, but science isn’t.”

And yet science is constantly evolving.

If national guidelines occasionally

“Quite a lot of women think that because they are in control of their careers, they can just flick a switch and get pregnant.”

FOR ALL AGES

revolutionised the way British babies and toddlers eat.

She says, “The amount of people preparing fresh food has increased hugely. I’ve shown mums that it isn’t difficult to cook with fresh foods.”

Our range has also changed. Annabel says, “There were worries about feeding children eggs because of allergies, but now the feeling is that withholding foods makes things worse.

“Eggs are important and very few babies will react to them. The same applies to fish and meat.”

The rise of the sterile kitchen is also partly to blame for the allergy explosion, she says.

“More and more children are becoming allergic because of being brought up in a sterile environment.

The only things that need to be sterilised are bottles, because milk is a perfect breeding ground for germs.”

While older generations may have weaned early, the current recommendation is six months.

“The general rule is to breastfeed exclusively until six months. It’s great if you can, especially if there are allergies in the family, but parents shouldn’t get 

Dear Jane, Looking for a new magazine to read, I saw a Summer edition – it was so interesting, I purchased the next issue. You will be surprised to learn I am 76 years old with no grandchildren. Your magazine is a family read. change, there is usually good reason, says Dr Stoppard.

“The fact that doctors change their minds about things isn’t frivolous – it’s because science and research pumps out new information all the time.”

Annabel Karmel

Annabel Karmel began devising recipes because of her fussy son.

That was almost a quarter of a century ago and much has changed since. She recalls, “Then babies were only given very bland food, but I couldn’t get my son to eat that. So I tried food with garlic and herbs, which he preferred.”

Annabel has almost single-handedly

Hello Priscilla, it's lovely to hear from you - I'm glad you're passing the magazine around and I hope everyone has had ten minutes to themselves to have a read.

The quality of design in our magazine is always at the forefront. I love the illustration on our Idealistic Mums feature on page 138. I hope you continue to enjoy our magazines.

Jane

L o c a L fa m i Ly L i f e s t y L e | 139

Photographing Milestones Newborn photography by Julian Porter

Baby jp PHOTOGRAPHY

02380 767084 | www.babyjp.co.uk | hello@babyjp.co.uk

GOT THAT FESTIVAL FEVER? Summer’s here and it’s festival time: Larmer Tree Festival Withwords 186 over 100 bands and performers, eight fabulous venues, a comedy club and 150 free workshops all taking place in a

beautiful Victorian Garden, the intimate Larmer Tree Festival is a firm family favourite.

Located in the gardens of the Larmer Tree

Local BABBLE

BRITISH BRANDS UNITE TO CREATE PERFECTION Silver Cross and Aston Martin join forces

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Dad’s

Favour

ite

✽ l armertreefestival.co.uk

WIN!

SPECIAL EDITION

✽ www.silvercrossbaby.com

access to your own car park, posh loos, hot showers, and a café. With a seven-day Holiday Ticket you can arrive from Monday 15 July giving you the chance to explore the surrounding areas of Dorset and Wiltshire before you enjoy festival fun. You’ll also be first through the gates when the festival kicks off with Van Morrison's headline appearance on Wednesday afternoon.

This five-day festival party is the perfect chance to pack up the whole family and escape reality.

your chance to

Keeping you up to date with this season’s latest news, products and competitions

Designed to perfection, Silver Cross and Aston Martin launch the Aston Martin Edition of the Silver Cross Surf. Aston Martin design touches feature throughout and the Silver Cross air-ride suspension guarantees a smooth ride. This stunning travel system is the ultimate in exclusivity manufacturing only 800 of the model worldwide. Available now exclusively at Harrods.

– in the heart of the Cranborne Chase - on the Wiltshire/Dorset border, from 17-21 July this venue will be full of some of the happiest festivalgoers in the land.

It’s easily accessible for buggies and wheelchair users and boasts over 20 delicious food stalls, four bars and a couple of convenience shops too. And, if you fancy something a bit more luxurious than a tent you can enjoy Larmer Tree in style with their ‘Comfy Camping’ field equipped with wigwams, yurts and much more. You’ll have your own team of friendly stewards,

NEW DESIGN, NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW EXPERIENCE! Smart-Trike continue to offer parents fun and innovative ways to encourage little ones to embrace the great outdoors. Their new generation of tricycles have taken trike technology to a new level. Smart-Trike's Dream Touch-Steering, 4-in-1, with patented Touch-Steering and Swivel-Wheel technology is with no doubt their coolest innovation to date. While strolling in the park with this new stylish design

there's no chance you'll go by un-noticed. Touch Steering enables you to manoeuvre with the lightest touch, without turning the handle. It's like a stroller but lots more fun! And what’s more you could be a winner of a Smart-Trike Dream ensuring you and your child will make the most of your summer by getting out and about Smart-Trike style. To enter visit www. babyhampshire.co.uk/ competitions. Good luck! ✽ www.smart-trike.com

HOT TRENDS

A SARTORIAL SUMMER IN STORE

Crave boast new summer prints

BRAND new!

AN APPLE A DAY

Fresh for the summer The summer season always promises a fabulous range of bright and beautiful colourful clothing, and when kitting out the mini-wardrobe sometimes you can’t resist. We love dreamgenii’s new sleepsuits and rompers made from the highest grade premium quality cotton with a touchably soft finish. Fruitfully fun! ✽ www.dreamgenii.com

It’s time to turf out clunky winter clothing and refresh your maternity wardrobe with beautiful summer prints. Crave Maternity’s latest line presents a plethora of key prints, to suit every deserving lady’s taste. You’ll expect to see all aspects covered, from day to dusk, keeping you

and your bump bang on trend. Crave also understand our Fair Isle’s unpredictable weather, so you’ll find many of their signature prints available in dresses, blouses and tunics so the weather won’t compromise your style. After all summer is about looking and feeling great.

✽ www.cravematernity.co.uk

CHOSEN CHARITY! It’s Hampshire Nannies’ birthday this month, and the locally based team have decided to celebrate by giving back to the community.

The Honeypot Children’s Charity, based in the New Forest, has been chosen as Hampshire Nannies Charity Of The Year. hampshire-nannies.co.uk

WIN ONE OF TEN PACKITS

Perfect for a Picnic

The summer months can be hectic, as you can be here, there and everywhere! Don’t let unpredictability scupper your plans, as the freezable and reusable food and drink storage bag from TrendyKid will keep contents chilled for longer. And the gel lining avoids using drippy ice packs. Simply store in the freezer - no mess or stress required.

And we’ll be giving ten bags away to our readers. To enter visit www.babyhampshire. co.uk/competitions ✽ www.trendykid.co.uk

Date for your diary!

DRESS TO IMPRESS THIS SUMMER We’re always eager to see Lulu and Flo’s latest collection and their fabulous summer wardrobe is no exception. Refreshingly delicate and feminine their latest line of little loveliness incorporates a fabulous range of ditsy and bold floral prints.

A favourite of ours this season is the ‘Martha’, beautifully detailed with a pretty Peter Pan collar and puff sleeves your little lady will feel like the belle of the ball, or the princess of the picnic! ✽ www.luluandflo.co.uk

Shop of the Season Little Soles opened in Warsash, a pretty village situated just outside of Southampton, last spring and hasn’t looked back since. It’s no surprise it’s a massive hit, and been deemed as a destination shoe shop with its fabulous collection of shoes and accessories for children. This light and bright boutique guarantees a stress-free shopping experience, and rest assured you’ll find the perfect pair for those tiny toes. And 2013 will see the opening of their second store, in the fabulous Whiteley Shopping Village.

After all, you can never have enough pairs of shoes!

7–7a Brook Lane, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FH 01489 809 319 www.littlesoleswarsash.co.uk

Keep it free: Thursday 23 May 9am, Whiteley Shopping Village’s doors will officially open – with 56 stores to explore there’s something for everyone. www.whiteleyshopping.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 13

PUTTING SAFETY AT THE FOREFRONT

Baby 2000 help Hampshire parents

for companies such as GMTV, Meridian TV and Which? so with their extensive knowledge and tiptop know-how rest assured you’ll be in safe hands. In fact, their knowledge is so trusted that their fitting experts are used

by Portsmouth City Council for their car seat safety check days.

Not only do Baby 2000 flourish in car seat safety they also stock an abundance Alongside the joy of hefty jargon, child of quality pushchairs of hearing those safety can leave any and travel systems, precious words, parent’s head feeling with one of the largest hazy. The Portsmouth “congratulations, selections in the south. you’re pregnant”, any based company are Allow Baby 2000 to first-time parent will the only retailer in the alleviate some of that also experience an south with certified parental pressure – invasion of panic and car seat fitters by the whilst ensuring that worry, in which child’s Institution of Safety safety is put first! and Health (IOSH), safety ranks highly. sales@baby-2000.co.uk and that’s not all With a market full of 43, Copnor Road, they have to boast gadgets and gismos, Portsmouth, PO3 5AB as they’ve worked alongside a wealth ✽ www.baby-2000.co.uk

Picnic Perfect Perfectly ripe, and naturally sweet Nature’s Finest fruit in pots are great for a summer picnic or lunchbox.

Packed only in juice with four great varieties the only decision you’ll need to make is which one to eat first! spcnaturesfinest.co.uk

BREASTFEED BEAUTIFULLY

The Breastfeeding Butterfly from Faye & Lou offers complete privacy while concealing your front, back and side. It quickly

14 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

slips over any outfit, meaning there’s no need for nursing tops. It allows you to engage in more skin to skin contact with your baby, which is crucial when establishing breastfeeding.

The Breastfeeding Butterfly provides a relaxed and cosy environment for your baby too, so feeding with no distraction, whilst still allowing that all-important eye contact with mum. www.fayeandlou.co.uk

PARTY PASSION Who doesn’t love a summer party? Although The Complete Party Box can’t guarantee the sun they can guarantee bundles of fun. The recently launched company offer the time-strapped parent an easy, cost effective and stress-free solution to organising a birthday party. thecompletepartybox.co.uk

71%

of British mums feel most jealous about other parents’ wellbehaved children, as shown in a recent survey. www.myvouchercodes.co.uk

TAKE THE PLUNGE…

Summer is here, so take the plunge along with the 3 million people who swim every week (compared with 2 million who play football and 1.8 million who cycle).

1 in 3 children say swimming is their favourite family activity. www.bbc.co.uk

BABY JP TO LAUNCH NEW STUDIO

Hampshire photographers, Baby jp, have delightfully announced that they’ve received approval for their new studio, designed specifically for the tiniest of models. Investing heavily in a new Italian lighting system, which has already proven to be a huge hit with newborns as there’s no heat, noise or flashing.

This ground floor studio will have a seating area for parents and no less than four separate shooting areas, one for boys, one for girls and two themed areas. To celebrate the news of the new studio they’re offering a 10% discount! Just mention Baby Hampshire. ✽ www.babyjp.co.uk

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PROTECT YOUR PRAM

Website of the season...

If you’re planning to enjoy a family holiday this summer, it may be worth considering travelling with a pushchair. The last thing you want is a broken pushchair when you arrive at your destination and unfortunately thousands of pushchairs don’t make it in one piece. We love the Stokke PramPack, lightweight and easy to use the innovative one-size design houses all types of pushchair.

Enveloping your pushchair it safeguards against bumps, drops and knocks. Priced £135. ww.stokke.com ✽w

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Bundles of Joy’s website will ensure a wealth of inspiration when looking for luxury christening gifts or personalised baby products - all without the extortionate price tag. Alongside quality gifts you can also rely on a quality service too with their free gift-wrapping and fast delivery service, throughout the UK

and worldwide.

Bundles of Joy appreciate how chaotic parental life can be, which is why they offer the super efficient next day delivery service when you order before 1:30pm. Or if you’re a mum on the move why not make use of their new fabulous app? Finding the perfect gift has never been so simple.

✽ www.bundlesofjoy-shopping.co.uk

WIN A COT BED WORTH £200!

The East Coast Nursery solid bamboo furniture range is the perfect eco friendly choice for today’s modern nursery. The delicate bamboo grain comes in a neutral amber tone that looks naturally beautiful, enhancing the clean and simple lines of the cot bed. And with style meets practicality as the cot bed has three base heights and a single handed dropside option which easily converts into a junior bed once your little one is old enough. Farmed bamboo absorbs greenhouse gases and generates more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

An extremely durable material it will not shrink or swell – withstanding everyday use without damage. To enter please visit www.babyhampshire. co.uk/competitions.

Good luck! ✽ www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk

Date for your diary!

Our winner's

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VENTURE COMPETITION WINNERS! After entering our competition to win a Venture experience and wall art in our Winter edition of Baby Hampshire, the Scragg family recently had their photoshoot at Venture’s Southampton studio.

Kate and her husband Chris thoroughly enjoyed the shoot but the star of the show was the adorable little Harrison. If you fancy becoming a winner of our Venture competition, see details on page 163.

✽ www.venturephotography.com

MARWELL GETS EXTRA CREATIVE THIS SUMMER

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Marwell Wildlife is bringing Go! Rhinos, a world class mass public art event, to the streets and parks of Southampton. And for

10 weeks throughout this summer (13 July – 22 September), rhino sculptures can be spotted inhabiting the streets of Southampton, showcasing the wealth of artistic talent in the

area, while highlighting the significant conservation threat facing wild rhinos and how the Southampton business community can make a difference. ✽ www.gorhinos.co.uk

Keep it free: Sunday 19 May 10am – 4pm. Watercress Festival, Alresford, celebrates its 9th annual festival, jam-packed with events, artisanal stalls, live music and cookery demonstrations.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 17

WEEKLY

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with Water Babies, the UK’s leading baby swim school

3 Fully qualified, world class instructors 3 Award-winning programme teaches babies from birth

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Summer Fun things to do with your little ones this season

8

until 14

August

September

16

June

Tea in a Tent at Forest Arts Centre Page 173 www3.hants.gov.uk/forest

11-22 June

The House at Pooh Corner Page 173 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

www.hilliergardens.org.uk

until 14 July

Cats at The Mayflower Page 178

Basingstoke Festival Page 176

www.mayflower.org.uk

www.basingstokefestival.co.uk

Falconry at Hillier Gardens Page 172

25-27

May

A Grand Victorian Day Out Page 172 www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout

until 29 August

Onboard HMS Warrior Page 174 www.historicdockyard.co.uk

7 & 21

30

June

August

Sunset Party in the Park at Marwell Page 175 www.marwell.org.uk

The Creature Teacher at Longdown Page 174 www.longdownfarm.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 19

Welcome

to the World WORDS: HELEN HOLMES | IMAGES: CRISTINA BARTON

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Florence Rose Hay staff Daughter of Laura and Ma tthew Haystaff Born on the 24th of May 2012, at the North Hamp shire Hospital, Basingstoke, weighing 7lb 15oz, Sister to Eadie, 4

Proud parents share their birth experiences with us and Baby Hampshire welcomes three new arrivals into the world.

M

atthew and I were married in the summer of 2007. It was a village affair – a ceremony in our family church, and then a walk down the lane to a marquee in a friend’s garden. It was the perfect English country wedding.

We live in a lovely village called Old Basing, in North Hampshire. We both grew up here, and went to the infant and junior schools, and Eadie, our eldest, started at the infants in September 2012. We also own the Topiary Hair and Beauty Salon in the village, which is where I work, and Matt runs an IT company from a property behind the salon. We can see both of our businesses from our house, we only own one car between us and we walk everywhere!

We both wanted to have another child and were delighted when we discovered that I was pregnant with

Florence – I’d been getting slightly concerned that it was taking a while.

I had horrific morning sickness in the early months. It was so bad that I struggled to work and eat. I became very dehydrated, so the doctor prescribed anti-sickness tablets. I felt better within a few days, and started to enjoy my pregnancy. I loved having a bump, and I loved feeling her move.

I also enjoyed talking to my clients about my pregnancy – I’ve known many of them for years, so they were really excited too.

We decided not to find out the sex – we were happy to have either, but, having an older sister who I’m very close to, I secretly loved the idea of a sister for Eadie. We had a short-list of names for our baby – Florence Rose for a girl, and Arthur William Bourne for a boy.

We re-used all of the furniture from Eadie – we got everything down from the loft and washed and laundered for days. Using the same things brought back lovely memories.

The day before Florence was born, I

had a show. I was really nervous that my waters would break on our new carpets, so I spent a lot of my early labour in the garden on our hammock swing! In the evening I went for a long walk around the village with a neighbour, while Matt put Eadie to bed. It had been a warm day and it was a relief to be out of the house in the cool of the evening. We walked past friends at the pub, Scouts who were out and about, and stopped on the village green to watch the mid-week cricket. It really sticks in my mind as one of the happiest days of my life.

I had a warm bath and settled down to sleep. When I woke in the morning, I knew that our baby was going to make an appearance that day. At 1pm I decided that it was time to head to hospital. When I got there, I was assessed and was only 3cm dilated. I wanted to go home but the midwives did a sweep and told us to go for a walk round the hospital. We went for a coffee, and Matt made jokes as we walked – laughter was the best medi- 

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cine. It took me a good fifteen minutes to get back down to the maternity unit, as I had to keep stopping in the corridor and crouching. I was then reassessed, and as I was then 5-6cm, I was admitted.

I was nervous about the birth, mainly because Eadie had been in a back to back position and a forceps delivery. I didn't heal well, and was in a lot of pain for weeks. But this time felt different. It was the hottest day of the year, yet the hospital felt cool and calm. I was told that all the delivery rooms were empty, and I realised that I might just get the birth that I had always wanted – a water birth.

Florence was in the right position, her heart rate was good, and I was coping well, so the midwife filled the pool. The room was really comfortable and we put on some of our favourite music. The freedom of the pool – being buoyant and mobile – felt fantastic. I wallowed in the water, and used the gas and air as I needed. I felt in control.

By 7pm, my labour was full-on. The contractions were on top of each other and my waters broke. The pressure was immense, and I could feel Florence move down. It was a relief to push away the pains. Matt talked to

me the whole time, he held my hand and even placed his hand on Florence’s head as she showed herself. Strangely enough, our favourite song by Florence and the Machine was playing as I pushed for the last time, and she came to the surface to take her first breath.

The birth seemed so straightforward and fast, compared to Eadie's. I was so proud of myself – I felt as though I was the best ever! Matt said, "it's a girl," and got his phone out to video her first moments. We were both deliriously happy to have our second daughter here, safe and well. She was just beautiful. Matt cut the cord, and held her while I was fixed up. I walked down to the ward with her in my arms. I couldn't sleep that night – I was on cloud nine.

Matt bought Eadie in the next morning to meet her baby sister. Her

reaction was priceless – it was love at first sight. I had a shower and felt so well. I put a summer dress on, and even managed some mascara. Matt took the most amazing photo of the three of us. The nurses discharged us at 10.30am, and we headed out. We wanted to keep things normal, so we took Eadie to nursery. She was as proud as punch, showing off her little sister. It was a beautiful sunny day and we chilled at home with visits from a few close relatives. We also popped into our workplaces to show off the new arrival.

Florence is just the happiest baby.

She has the biggest gummy smile for everyone she meets, and has fitted into our lives so well. We feel so blessed to have two amazing daughters with such lovely personalities.

I

was approaching thirty, and Ian and I had been married for three years so we decided the time was right for a baby. We were both so excited when we discovered that I was pregnant, it had happened very quickly, which was a big surprise.

I was in Spain with my mum, dad and sister when I found out, and I called Ian from the beach to tell him the good news. We decided to keep it a secret from everyone else until I was a bit further on in the pregnancy – it was tough not telling my family, but it was a brilliant surprise when they found out a few weeks later.

I suffer from scoliosis – a back condition where I have a curved spine – and I’d undergone a serious operation a year before falling pregnant. I was worried about how being pregnant would affect my back, but staying active got me through, and I really enjoyed the whole pregnancy experience. I swam nearly every day, right up to the day before I went into labour, and I also practiced

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Charles Gordo n Newport yoga daily. Sarah Wilks at the Yoga Sanctuary in Southampton was a great help to me and I would recommend her classes to all pregnant women. The breathing exercises got me through the labour and kept me relaxed.

My contractions started the evening before I was going to be induced – I was eleven days past my due date, and getting anxious about the looming induction. I pottered around the house, made tea, went for a walk and then took a couple of paracetamol and went to bed. I didn’t get any sleep as the contractions became more regular and stronger. I used yoga breathing right from the start, it came naturally and I didn’t even need to think about what I was doing. I tried a few contractions without doing the breathing,

Son of Carly and Ian Newport Born on the 22nd of May 2012 At Princess Anne Ho spital, Southampton, weighing 8lb

our bedroom doing lots of sweeping cats and pelvic wiggles.

At 5am I had a contraction which lasted for five minutes and I decided that it was time to leave for the hospital. I called to say that I was on my way, and they told me that there was no room and that I would have to labour in the corridor! It didn’t bother me at all at the time – I thought that at least I would be in the right place!

I was in the labour ward corridor for an hour and a half, waiting for a room to become available. The staff were all amazing – they were clearly very overworked, but they could not have been more helpful. A midwife finally came to see me and took us up to the pool room, which they opened especially

changed position with each contraction and Charlie was born in the water while I was on all fours. He popped out with one big push, I caught him between my legs, pulled him up and looked into his beautiful big wide alert eyes – it was the best moment ever.

It felt amazing bringing Charlie home. We gave him a tour of the house and garden, and showed him the nursery that had been kitted out for him. Almost a year on, we’re still really enjoying being a little family. Charlie changes every day and he always has a smile for us. 

I tried a few contractions without doing the breathing, and the pain was much more intense! just to see what they were like, and the pain was much more intense!

At 3am I called Princess Anne to check that a birthing pool was available, as I was very keen to have a water birth. I was told that the Broadlands Birth Centre was closed, because they were overrun on the labour ward, and that it would be best if I stayed at home for a bit. I got my yoga mat out, and my birthing ball, and hung out in

for me. I had my first internal and was 7cm, just on a couple of paracetamol – I was elated! The midwife ran water into the pool, and I jumped in; it was the best pain relief ever.

I really loved every minute of the birth, it was empowering, and actually quite fun. I was in the pool for eight hours in total, including more than three hours of pushing – which was hard going, though the breathing really helped. I

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 23

B

efore I became pregnant with James I’d had three miscarriages. I’d also had a number of surgeries on my cervix, to have pre-cancerous cells removed.

In fact, unknown to me, when I underwent my last surgery I was already pregnant.

My period was due a few weeks after the operation and I didn't worry when it was late, as the surgeon had told me that it would probably be out of sync.

I put it to the back of my mind until I realised that I was over three weeks late – I then took a test and discovered that I was five-six weeks pregnant.

I was stunned, because previously I had always miscarried at four weeks. As I’d been pregnant at the

24 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

time of my surgery, I thought that I would almost definitely miscarry again. I was cautious when I told John. I knew he would be over the moon, but I didn’t want to get his hopes up. I saw my GP the following week, and was told to buy folic acid, and to make an appointment with the midwife. I followed the instruc-

tions in a daze – I couldn’t let myself believe that the pregnancy would progress.

After we’d visited the midwife we were both excited, John more than me, though – I was still very cautious. This feeling stayed with me until I gave birth, though once I’d told my family I did relax a bit, and I tried to go with the flow of being pregnant and not worry all the time.

Because of my medical history, I was at risk of premature labour, so I had scans every two weeks from sixteen weeks onwards. However, I had no problems at all and I received brilliant care from the midwives, sonographers and consultants.

I wouldn’t let John buy anything for the baby until I was past six months. He was constantly on the internet, wanting to buy things, and

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I felt bad always saying no, but it was my way of making sure that I didn’t tempt fate. After six months we went crazy! John’s office had to be moved into the shed, and we turned the room into a lovely nursery. Mamas and Papas saw us most weeks! I had a lovely baby shower which my sister arranged for me.

Everyone was so kind – I was well and truly spoilt.

At my 40 week appointment with the midwife, routine tests showed that my blood pressure had risen and that I had traces of protein in

I’d worried so much that he wouldn’t make it to full term that it had never crossed my mind that he could be poorly after he was born my urine. I was sent to Princess Anne, and was monitored there for a few hours, before being sent home and told to return the next day.

When I returned they booked me in for an induction the following day.

The induction was initiated on the Friday, but nothing happened until Sunday afternoon – by which time I was all of 2cm dilated! I was given an epidural, which saw me through to the early hours of Monday morning, when I started to push.

I pushed for two hours but nothing was happening – and the pain had become horrendous, because the epidural had run out. I was taken into theatre and given a spinal. The doctors tried to get James out with forceps, but it still wasn’t working, so I had to be given an emergency c-section.

James was born at 7.56am. He had breathing problems, though, so they handed him to John and let me give him a quick kiss, before taking him to the neonatal ward. I’d worried so much that he wouldn’t make it to full term that it had never crossed my mind that he could be poorly after he was born – it hit me like a ton of bricks.

The doctors weren’t sure what was

James John S impson Son of Victoria Ho we-Piper and John Simpson Born on the 20th of August 2012 At Princess Anne Hospital, Southam pton, weighing 8lb 8oz

wrong. They told me that they’d done lots of tests, including one for meningitis. I asked them whether James was going to die, and they said no, and told me to try not to worry. It was awful, but on Wednesday James turned a corner and started to make progress. I still had no real explanation of what was wrong with him, but he was getting better all by himself, which was amazing. By Thursday he was discharged from the neonatal unit, and was allowed to be with me on the ward.

When we got back home I was still shell-shocked, and anxious. We still hadn’t had all of James’s test results back, and I was told to watch him closely for any changes, and to call the hospital day or night if I was concerned. On the second day at home he had some little white spots on his eyelids, which I tried to remove but couldn’t, so John called the hospital. They told us to come in, and a doctor removed the white spots from his eyelids with sterile swabs – he then told me that it was sleepy dust! I was so embarrassed and I apologised for wasting eve-

ryone’s time, but the hospital staff couldn’t have been more understanding and kind.

After that I began to relax, and as time goes on we’ve settled into a routine. I’m enjoying being a mum more and more each day. ✿

F E AT U R E Y O U R S T O R Y : If you are a Hampshire mum-to-be and you would like us to welcome your new arrival to the world please contact us at: www.babyhampshire.co.uk/birthstories.

All babies featured will receive a unique gift from The Day That of a beautiful framed personalised photograph of the dawn on the day they were born. To see what the world looked like on the day your child was born visit: www.thedaythat.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 25

PARKLIFE For many of us a visit to the local park can evoke instant childhood memories. Perhaps it’s captaining one of the craft that scurries around the boating lake. Or, being a brave explorer and crawling on hands and knees, in pursuit of a big hairy caterpillar...

WORDS AND IMAGES: VIV MICKLEFIELD

T

hese days, our green spaces continue to provide the perfect antidote to busy family life. From city gardens to the natural expanses of country parks, wherever you live, summer is the ideal time to give little ones the chance to let their imagination fly.

You only have to take a look at some of the inspiring outdoor play options that are

springing up, to see that their contribution to a young child’s healthy development is now widely recognised.

Existing sites have also been upgraded. “We have improved a number of our playgrounds to provide a safe, stimulating and exciting environment for play,” says Phil Newcombe, a spokesperson for Guildford Borough Council, which has invested £475,000 in early learning, parks and open spaces during the past five years.

Helen Wallace, learning coordinator at Alice Holt Forest Park, sees a growing number of families with young children discovering new joys each time they visit. Whether it’s build-

ing confidence by testing their physical abilities, using their senses to look, touch, listen and smell, or being creative. Helen says, “There’s plenty for the under fives to do.” She adds, “There’s nothing better than getting out into the woods to enjoy fresh air and fun – and it doesn’t cost the earth!”

If you’re looking for ways to fill the long school holidays, for less, you won’t have to look far to find parks that offer everything from teddy bears picnics and picture making, to animal handling and bushcraft. Some have gone a step further, by creating a permanent pre-school classroom.

Here, come rain or shine, games, story-telling and other activities take place in the great outdoors. Many city parks have introduced wildlife areas to focus young 

Hampshire Parks minds on protecting precious natural habitats, and numerous self-led trails will tempt even reluctant walkers into stepping-out.

For many though, it can be the simple pleasure of flying a kite or feeding the ducks that makes a trip to the park special. And few would disagree that a safe environment, in which to learn to ride a bike, or to gain water confidence by splashing in a paddling pool, has real benefits.

“Playing in the park is good for social skills and for making new friends,” confirms Monique du Plessis. Her children, Daniella, aged eight, and Zander, aged six, are regular visitors to local play areas, after school and at weekends. And this summer, she’s looking forward to six month-old Fin starting to find his feet there too.

But it’s not just the younger members of the family who get to have all the fun. New mums can often sign up for post-natal exercises classes, and if there’s an onsite café, it’s a good excuse to take time out for a coffee and a chat too.

Whether it’s a new weekly routine, an interesting holiday attraction, or a chance to feel part of the local community, as Percy the Park Keeper says, “The Park is a wonderful place, whatever the season.” And who’d argue with that?

Between the 27 July and the 4 August, special events will be taking place in parks up and down the country.

Contact your local park for details or visit: www.loveparksweek.org.uk

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Traditional Spaces Abbey Gardens

Winchester, SO23 9GH

These tranquil gardens have large grassy areas to let off steam. There’s a small play area and also a scented garden to explore. Toilets with baby changing available. Open from 8am.

College Park Copnor, PO3 5TF

The good sized play area in this park will keep everyone happy. Make time for the pet area where exotic birds, rabbits and guinea pigs also come out to play.

Frimley Lodge Park

Forest beachfront. Or stop off at the park office to collect a map for the nature and cycle trails. There’s lots of space for picnics and BBQs, a play area, café and baby changing. Open from 7.30am.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park Horndean, PO8 0QE

Hampshire’s biggest country park has trails and an animal themed play area. Or why not make your own den in the woods? A Little Squirrels group is for young explorers, and new mums can get in shape with exercise classes.

Bring food to BBQ or there’s a café.

Frimley Green, GU16 6NS

Southampton Common

A ride on the miniature railway is just one of the attractions to excite tots.

You’ll always find hungry ducks along the canal path and the under seven’s play area is very popular. This Hampshire/Surrey borders park has plenty of spots for picnics and BBQs. Open from 7.30am, Sunday 8am.

Highfield, SO15 7NN

After a run around on the Common tots will love cooling off in the paddling pool.

The Hawthornes Urban Wildlife Centre is well worth visiting for the garden, activity room and café.

Romsey Memorial Park

Hidden Gems

Romsey, SO51 8FE

With its grassy banks beside the River Test, this park has something for all ages. You can feed the ducks, enjoy a gentle cycle or visit the swings and activity area. There’s an onsite café. Open from sunrise.

Room to Roam

Oakley Park

Fleet, GU51 3YL

With its bats, squirrels and clear water woodland streams, this park‘s nature reserve is enchanting for the whole family. There’s a large grassy space for running around and ball games, and a play area.

Itchen Valley Country Park

West Walk

West End, SO30 3HQ

Wickham, PO17 6JD

This park’s an idyll for the under fives with meadows and woodland trails to explore. There’s a mini play area, and the chance to go pond dipping. Buggy accessible, with a café and toilets.

Open from 8.30am.

An enormous tree house takes centrestage but the fun doesn’t stop there.

There are teepees, more playhouses and venturing deeper into the forest, some unusual swings and great picnic spots to discover. Open from 8am.

Lepe Country Park

Park opening times and some facilities may be seasonal, so it’s best to check before visiting to avoid disappointment. ✿

Exbury, SO45 1AD

Make a beeline for the mile of New

in progress Toyella select only the best designed toys for its store and good design not only looks great, it functions well too.

Like this ‘Spherovelo’ from Early Rider a ride-on for children as young as one that specifically helps develop balance and mobility in readiness for their riding years.

Why did they design it? Because there wasn’t anything out there that did this job, so they created something that would.

That’s progress.

Early Rider Spherovelo 12 months to 2 years Policeman and jelly snake not included

Dad Visits Hampshire By the law of averages, we are due one of the greatest British summers ever! Bundle the family up, pack some supplies and enjoy some of these brilliant days out in Hampshire.

Dive.in to histor y

!

© Laura Scuttorn

WORDS AND IMAGES: PAU L B U N K E R

Royal.Navy.Submarine.Museum

O

ur Armed Forces are the finest in the world - integrity, honesty and resilience that is found in no other walk of life. After a visit to the Submarine Museum your respect will be magnified ten-fold.

Perched on the very outer limits of Gosport within a stone’s throw of the Spinnaker Tower, the museum has been designed to display the true grit of the boats and men that serve in the service.

Modern, interactive and engaging – the museum delivers all of the outrageous facts and figures in an interesting and compelling manner – for all ages. From the physics of how a sub submerges (using little pumps and floats that even Jack (aged 2) could get to grips with) through to the smells

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that the crew encounter on board - 65 men, no washing facilities and lots of cabbage make it an interesting concoction!

HMS Alliance is an ‘A’ class submarine that welcomes thousands of tourist to walk through and enjoy simply amazing stories of how she operated and how the crew worked and lived onboard. The tour lasts for 40 minutes so it’s worth taking plenty of rations for very small ship-mates.

Horrible Science is all about the sailor’s challenging lifestyle on board, delivered in a way that appeals to children aged 2+. Fancy dress, games, activities and videos relay the grim reality of life in a tin-can, underwater for three months without any fresh air or natural daylight.

Busy Boats Bay is the brand new

play area for under 5s. Toys, costumes, wet-play and games complement the museum brilliantly. The 20 minute tantrum on leaving is testament to just how desperate our crew were to stay.

The Coffee Shop serves a fine selection of snacks that a submariner could only dream of! It’s also a nice spot to just stop off, enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by.

It’s a thoroughly enjoyable family day out; as well as offering some fun interactive attractions, it also delivers some interesting facts that will have you shaking your head in disbelief at human endeavor. ✽ Check out the website prior to visiting as there are family events on throughout the year, particularly during the summer holidays.

Family Pass: £34 Adult: £12 Under 5s: Free www.submarine-museum.co.uk

toria Royal.VicCou ntry.Park

I

f the weather is playing fairly, an afternoon in the open air with food, family and friends is perfect. The Royal Victoria Country Park offers peace, tranquility and a selection of other little gems.

Many moons ago, the site was formerly a military hospital, inspired in design and location by Florence Nightingale. The corridors that once nursed tens of thousands of troops back to health are now replaced by grassy fields and play areas all framed by views out across the Southampton water.

The rich heritage of this country park gives visitors the chance to just kick back and watch the clouds float by or get involved in some of the activities that are on offer.

Miniature Railways are always a hit; for a handful of loose change you can enjoy a short chug around the park.

I’ve never understood why children get so excited about miniature railways, but as someone who was a child

once, it’s nice to see the thrill has been passed down through the generations.

Being located on the water, you can enjoy both woodland and shoreline walks and for those who enjoy poignancy, the walk up to the cemetery is a stark reminder of the magnitude of the Crimean War. The fifth and most loved member of our family Tane (the Border Collie) is in his element at Royal Victoria.

Dogs are very much tolerated off the lead and there are plenty of families and dogs charging around doing their own thing. There’s a sensible sense of respect from dog owners to keep their friends away from families who prefer human companionship.

It’s also a great spot for family games, I’d recommend taking any form of bat, ball or kite. There’s plenty of lush open space to burn off an over indulgent lunch.

The Cedar Tearooms stock a pleasant selection of hot and cold snacks.

From the perennial jacket potato

through to a mouth watering array of cakes, it’s a clean and functional area for those that decide against rolling out the picnic rug.

There are functions and events happening at RVCP throughout the year, particularly during the summer months – when families are encouraged to make the most of the long hazy summer days. ✽ Very few country parks are located right beside the sea, Royal Victoria Country Park is unique, fun and above all... free!

Parking charges apply. www3.hants.gov.uk/rvcp

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 31

S UN DAY

BE ST

P R E S E N TS

Multi Award Winning 4 Day Festi–Holiday … At A Castle Campsite By The Sea

www.watercressline.co.uk

27th May - 2nd June

Meet Peppa Pig here at the Watercress Line!

It’s going to be a really exciting day out!

Meet Peppa Pig at various intervals every day, tickle the piglets tummies and enjoy the piggy washing at the petting farm, have your face painted* and there’s a Peppa Pig Party* every afternoon! Standard fares apply giving you excellent value too! *additional fees apply.

1 * 2 * 3 * 4 AUGUST 2013 Lulworth Castle, Dorset

CURATED BY JOSIE & ROB DA BANK — FULL LINE UP & TICKETS —

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Opening Soon.

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Best shoes, school shoes, fun shoes, cool shoes, shoes for running, skipping, splashing and smiling. on

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Peppa Pig ©Astley Baker Davies/Entertainment One UK Limited 2003

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,seohs looc ,seohs nuf ooB c ,se s pniu ,gonhip kfs ,gninnur rof seohs love shoes, and we know you’ll eo hsloveloohcs ,se,go h,sseothssle soWe nippiks ,gninnur rof seo.g hn s ilims dna gnihsalps y new shop. It’s,sfilled our fun with lovely, g e l n .gh nis limn s du naf gnihsalps i itewell made children’s footwear,s and e o h s l o o c , s e o n accessories from around the world. e h ,gsoon! nippiks ,gninnur rof seohs Op n W Come and say hello i .gnilims dna gnihsalps www.facebook.com/LittleSolesShoes

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dnuora morf raewtoof s’nerdlihc edam llew !noos olleh yas dna emoC .dlrow eht HF9 13OS ,hsasraW ,enaL koorB 7 654 321 98410 .let ku.oc.seohsseloselttil@ofni ku.oc.seohsseloselttil.www

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We love new shoes, and we know you’ll love our fun new shop. It’s filled with lovely, well made children’s footwear and accessories from around the world. Come and say hello soon! www.facebook.com/LittleSolesShoes

7 Brook Lane, Warsash, SO31 9FH G3, Whiteley Shopping Centre, Whiteley, PO15 7PD

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32 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

Dig! Snap!

Contemporary and traditional clothing and footwear, handpicked gifts and toys.

Newborn to 8 years.

11–13 Upper Brook Street | Winchester SO23 8AL 01962 866592 parklifekids

Liberty’s.Owl.Raptor and.Reptile.Centre

Owl’s.that. for.a.great. day.out!

N

estling in Ringwood, just on the edge of the New Forest, Liberty’s is an interesting family day out, giving you the chance to meet some of the world’s most beautiful and bizarre creatures.

Liberty’s was once a conservation centre focused solely on the welfare of birds of prey, now it’s home to a cornucopia of different species, where visitors can get up close and learn about the animals.

Flying displays are brilliant and happen throughout the day. The handlers share their passion for these beautiful birds as they swoop around the unsuspecting audience. Rain, wind or shine (there’s an indoor display area too) you get to know each bird’s character and back-story.

Reptile Shows also happen throughout the day and give youngsters the chance to reach out and get to grips with a fascinating selection of creepy crawlies. From snakes to spiders and lizards, it’s a fun and interesting way to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

During our visit we were handed a newly discarded snake skin – you could even make out the snake’s

eyelids. Jack was curious, Molly ran a mile.

The conservation messages are a key part of Liberty’s mission and our children came away thinking more about the creature’s natural habitats and their survival challenges.

Eating and drinking on-site is basic, resources are directed more towards the feathered inhabitants – that said sandwiches, ice creams and piping hot beverages are in plentiful supply.

As well as the daily displays, there are plenty of additional events and activities throughout the year and

experience days for those that would like to get personal with a bird of prey. ✽ Liberty’s is great value for money – interesting, educational and fun. You’d be a twit-twooo not pay them a visit…

Adults: £8.95 U5s: Free Juniors: £5.95 Family of four: £27.50 www.libertyscentre.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 33

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2

1

3

4

5

8 6

7

9

The

Royal Baby

10

11

We’ve elected some of the cutest commodities in order to give any little one a royal reception.

S O U R C E D B Y: H AY L E Y W A R R E N

12

13

14

15

1 Pretty Paisley Baby Dress, £29 www.emmalevine.net 2 Toft Alpaca Crown, £45 www.toftalpacashop.co.uk 3 Changing the Guards T-Shirt, £25 www.babeswithbabies.com 4 Hand Screen Printed Crown Prince (or Princess) Baby Grow and Bib Gift Set, £20 www.scampbabygifts.co.uk 5 Regal Albert’s Long Sleeved Vest, £18 www.silversense.co.uk 6 The Very Hungry Caterpillar First Curl/Tooth Box, £19 www.portmeirion.co.uk 7 Belle & Boo 4 Piece Breakfast Parade Set, £30 www.belleandboo.com 8 Changing the Guards New Baby Gift Set, £39.95 www.babeswithbabies.com. 9 Balmoral Pram White & Navy, £1,450 www.silvercrossbaby.com 10 Orpheus Round Cot, £2,009 www.bambizi.co.uk 11 Brother Max Scoop Highchair, £339.98 www.kiddicare.com 12 Baby Britannia Footie Feet, £19.95 www.babeswithbabies.com 13 Vevian Handmade Girls Shoes – Maria, £89 www.vevian.co.uk 14 Starly Riding Unicorn, £369 www.steiff.com 15 Personalised Baby Brush & Mirror Set, £24.95 www.prezzybox.com

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 35

Local Heroes How one mum’s moment of inspiration has clothed sick babies up and down the country.

W O R D S : H E L E N H O L M E S | I M A G E S : M A S O N P H O T O G R A P H Y AT M A R W E L L H A L L

I

sle of Wight mum, Paula Smith, came up with the idea for Pop N Grow eighteen months ago, when her own daughter, Amelia, was in hospital. The charity now supplies most of the neonatal units in the country with specially adapted baby grows.

When Amelia was born, her blood sugar level was very low and she was admitted to the neonatal unit. Sitting at her baby daughter’s side, Paula was struck by how difficult it was to get clothes onto Amelia, while she was attached to various tubes and monitors. “With all her wires it was virtually impossible to get her dressed, so she remained partly undressed. The baby grow she had on was only done up to

her chest, and one sleeve flopped at her side because it wasn’t wide enough to cover her bandage.”

Like many parents with children in a neonatal or special care unit, Paula yearned to do as much as possible for her baby, but felt helpless. “Having a baby in NICU means that you can’t do a lot of things – like holding them as often as you would like to, or feeding them yourself. Being able to

“The demand from the NHS units was huge,” says Paula, “the more we gave out, the more we were asked for.”"

dress Amelia properly was something I wished I could do.”

Right there in the unit with Amelia, Paula came up with a solution. “I thought that, with a few adjustments, and some simple poppers placed along the top of the sleeves, a new design of baby grow, specifically created for babies in special care units, could make life so much easier – not only for parents, but for nursing staff too."

Amelia was soon discharged, and Paula found herself back at home with her new baby daughter and her five year old son. But she didn’t forget about her brainwave. “A few days after leaving the NICU I went to my friend Alison, who is a cloth nappy maker, and said ‘I have this idea, can you make it?’” 

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 37

Alison spent a week cutting up baby grows and adding poppers, until Paula’s vision for a special care friendly baby grow became a prototype reality.

Incredibly, less than eighteen months on, Pop N Grow has become a registered charity which supplies most of the main hospitals in the UK with clothing that’s safe to use in NHS neonatal units – from incubator vests and hats, to specially adapted baby grows – all completely free of charge.

“The demand from the NHS units was huge,” says Paula, “the more we gave out, the more we were asked for. Parents told other parents, our Facebook page grew, and now we send hundreds of free parcels out every month, all over the world.”

Of course, although Pop N Grow sends the clothing out for nothing, it isn’t free to manufacture, and Paula’s biggest challenge at the moment is raising the money to make it all happen. “We‘re always trying to reach the golden number, that means we can place the next clothing order with our supplier. All our money comes from donations, and we rely completely on contributions from the public, and fundraising events like skydives and cake sales. We have no employee costs, because we all work for free – so all the money that we raise goes right back

38 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

into the charity.”

Paula now has a team of volunteers helping out, but she admits that at times it can be hard to fit her work for Pop N Grow into her life. “It's not easy – sometimes weekends have to be sacrificed for events, and evenings are spent answering emails and sorting documents. But we have a great team who all work really hard to share the load, and I’ve also been blessed with a beautiful family, and a wonderful set of caring friends – who have all given so much to help Pop N Grow, and are involved on a daily basis.”

It’s a good thing that Paula has plenty of support, because she’s keen for Pop N Grow to do even more. “Evolving is a big part of our future plan. We already convert clothing for individual children, on request from parents, and we do this for children up to the age of sixteen. We’re working on new designs all the time – every day we seem to be told about a different piece of equipment or a new procedure, so we have to design a new item to meet the child's need.”

And not only is the charity constantly coming up with new items of clothing, but its geographical reach is extending all the time, too. Having covered most of the UK, Pop N Grow has now begun to supply neo natal units in Ireland,

and Paula has no intention of stopping there. “As more requests come in from abroad, we’re looking at going properly international. The demand is there.”

Though it may be tough at times, Paula’s work for Pop N Grow does have its rewards. “We get emails and phone calls, and even sometimes photos, from the parents we send to. It’s really nice to know that we’ve helped. I always find it quite amazing that people take the time to thank us, even when they’re going through such a difficult time. A few families have become firm friends, and one parent has even come to work with us, which is fantastic.”

And Paula is always looking for new people to become involved with her inspirational organisation. “We love people doing events for us, and if anyone would like to help with fundraising we’d love to hear from them. And do talk about us – tell people! We want to be there for the babies in special care, but if their parents don’t know about us, it’s pretty hard.”

Throughout all of the hard work and fundraising, though, Paula’s vision remains clear. “We would love, one day in the future, for Pop N Grow clothing to be in all hospitals, ready for the children who need it, just as standard as the sheets on their beds.” ✿ ✽ www.popngrow.co.uk

Elegant, natural, bespoke newborn and baby portraiture

www.cristinabarton.co.uk 07941 355027 Visit Cristina.Barton.Photography on Facebook for all our latest news and oers L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 39

“ Whereas I have more of a reactionary approach i.e. scrabbling around in the glove box, finding a petrol station receipt and then utilising it to wipe/clean /remove offending items.

“

Seeing life from a dad’s perspective!

Dads

ROCK !

Paul Bunker, TV and radio presenter, and dad of two living in Portsmouth shares his fatherly experiences!

L

WORDS: PAU L B U N K E R | IMAGES: M A S O N P H OTO G R A P HY

ong barmy evenings, the smell of a sizzling sausage on a distant barbeque and that slightly tingly feeling, reminding you that you should have opted

for the SPF 50.

Summer, the perfect time of year... for potty training.

It’s second time around for us, our first encounter five years ago was painless; we laughed in the face of pull-up nighttime nappies and those who wore them.

In what seemed like a matter of minutes, Molly mastered WC protocol, stepping into lavatorial independence without a single glance over her shoulder. Great parenting? That’s what we thought; our coercing and celebrating had done the trick – it’s a doddle.

Wrong.

We were lucky.

Rapidly approaching his third birthday, we’re running out of tricks for Jack. My over zealous imagination is creating these bizarre fabricated storylines, where he still hasn’t mastered his bodily functions and I’m to blame: “Daddy... I need a wee-wee,” he bleats, at his passing-out parade as he’s being sworn into the Royal Marine Commandos.

“Don’t worry Jack, it happens to everyone, just let me know next time son.” I shout reassuringly, as I bundle on to the hallowed turf at Twickenham, waving a packet of wet-wipes and spare knicks above my head.

After the second attempt at Operation

Squeeze (2012’s experience ended in tears for everyone involved) the question we keep asking ourselves is, what are we doing different this time around? What have we forgotten to say or do?

There is one main glaring difference of course; Jack has the X and the Y chromosome.

By their very nature girls/women, prefer to be cleaner, drier and all together more sanitised. Having shared a house at university with pals who didn’t change their bed-sheets for nine months, I know this is not always the case for us men.

There isn’t a carpet or laminate in our house that hasn’t felt the brunt at some stage. What with a dog and a child in the throws of potty training I spend at least three hours a day with one hand in a plastic bag.

If you dare ask the question online, there’s enough information to send Dr. Hawkings into a swirling state of confusion.

There’s a different theory for every little boy on the planet; use targets (table tennis balls, cereals?) put food colouring in the water, let them do as they wish… every child is different, so maybe there isn’t a standardised approach?

One article suggests, ‘Allow the boy as much time as is needed for potty training – it can take up to 15 months’. That’s a year and three months in old money!

I managed to train a dog, who speaks and understands very little English, in a couple of months – surely we can do better with a little human?

Car journeys are always slightly spicier when potty training is in progress too.

On a good day, you may be lucky enough to be given a pre-warning; skidding to halt in a lay-by, before darting around the car to suspend the child in a slightly odd squatted/seated position. Of course, sometimes there’s no warning, just that little face of consternation.

Another glaring example of the difference between the sexes is pre-journey preparation. My wife will plan ahead, she’ll have a bag containing: a portapotty, tissues, wet-wipes, an array of spare pants and trousers, nappy bags, a selection of creams and snacks (for celebratory purposes). Every predicament is covered and catered for, even if it calls for a complete makeover, she’s prepared.

Whereas I have more of a reactionary approach i.e. scrabbling around in the glove box, finding a petrol station receipt and then utilising it to wipe/clean/remove offending items.

Talking with a friend about our predicament, I was told, ‘Enjoy it, they grow up fast and before you know it, these days will be long forgotten’. Let’s hope so.

The ‘M27 Saturation Incident’ of April 2013 isn’t a story I’ll be recanting to grandchildren a few years from now.

Of course, the beauty of potty training in the summer is that the patio doors can be flung open and the curtains gently billow as fun and games are enjoyed in the garden.

A nappy-less toddler is a happy toddler and the smile on their cheeky little faces as they belly-flop into the splash pool is priceless. At our current rate of progress, let’s see if Jack is still enjoying that in December. ✿

eco friendly parent

The summer party season is upon us, along with all the excess that comes with it. Jaime shares some simple ideas on how to make this birthday a happier one for you, your little one and the planet.

WORDS: JAIME EASTHAM | IMAGES: PEACH BLOSSOM; EVE SHEPHERD

GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY Instead of having your party at home or hiring a church hall, think about inviting a few of your child’s friends on an outing to a local farm, pool, park, or Wildlife Trust. Everyone would get some fresh air, there are less things you need to buy, and your house will remain intact. For 1st birthday parties, a park is a great option. Just take along few picnic blankets, snacks and some outdoor toys to keep them amused like balls or bubbles.

PAPERLESS INVITATIONS The simplest way to save money and resources is to send your invitations electronically using Facebook, or one of the many e-invitation sites, such as Evite, where you can design and customise your online invitations and keep track of RSVPs. If you prefer to do it the old fashioned way, instead of buying invitations encourage your children to make them using materials you already have around the house.

THE GREATEST GIFT The greenest option would be to tell people not to bring gifts, or to make

om.co.uk © www.peachbloss

lossom.co.uk © www.peachb

T

he aftermath of my children’s parties used to look like a pink plastic wasteland... the place where deflated balloons, soggy paper plates and glittery wrapping paper came to die. A few years ago, as I sat picking mushed up birthday cake out of my houseplants and dropping plates of half eaten food into garbage bags, I decided it was time for a change. It wasn’t the mess that bothered me so much, but the sheer waste one small person’s birthday could create.

So now I try to make the occasion a bit greener (with some frivolousness thrown in too). You might think an eco-party will be more work, more expensive or, well, a little bit uglier. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

With very little effort, you can reduce the eco-footprint of your party but still celebrate in style. It will save you money, teach your children to be more environmentally aware, and reduce the amount of plastic tat cluttering up your house - always a bonus.

a donation to a charity instead. I’ve never been to a child's party with a no present rule... but I think I'd like it.

People might feel mean turning up with nothing, but if everyone did it more often it would feel less odd. So give it a try and see what happens. If the idea spreads, we could all avoid the mad Saturday morning dash to Sainsbury’s toy department to find something that's cheap but doesn't look it, before stuffing it in a gift bag while writing the birthday card in the car. A 1-year-old certainly isn’t going to care about presents anyway, and for older children you might just need to manage their expectations! And the smaller the number of gifts they receive, the more they will appreciate each and every one. Hopefully.

DIY DECORATIONS Decorations made from fabric look gorgeous and last a lifetime. So buy some fabric bunting (or make it if you're handy) to drape around the house and garden, and use fabric or colourful sheets as tablecloths. They can be thrown in the wash afterwards,  and you can re-use them.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 43

© Eve Shepherd

“though the paper ones won’t last forever, my daughter still has hers

hanging in her room almost one year on.”

I'm not a fan of balloons, but I'm also not a fan of seeing my children cry on their birthday so I usually give in and buy a few! Balloons are technically biodegradable (if they are pure latex - the foil and metallic ones are bad), but they can still harm wildlife in the time it takes them to break down.

A great alternative is fabric or paper pom poms. They come in all different shapes and sizes and look amazing.

And, though the paper ones won’t last forever, my daughter still has hers hanging in her room almost one year on. For babies, bright bouncy balls are fun replacement for balloons – they add colour, provide entertainment and can be used time and time again.

A cheaper option is to encourage your children to make decorations out of materials you already have around the house... papers, pens, glitter or fabric can be made in paper chains, banners, sparkly stars... it will save you money and keep little hands busy.

LAY A GREEN TABLE The biggest source of waste at children's parties is the tableware - disposable plates, napkins, cups and cutlery that get tossed away after one use.

Rather than buying plastic or paper products, think about offering proper, reusable child-friendly cups and plates.

Buying a few more plates and cups 44 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

might cost more initially, but you will use them for many years. If you have the kind of parties where you invite the whole class, or if you just don’t fancy washing up, disposable might be the way to go. There are a whole range of greener varieties on the market now, made from sialli leaf, wheat fibres, sugarcane, bamboo or palm leaves, which are all either compostable or biodegradable. They are more expensive than plastic or paper, so if you would rather not spend the money, why not forgo plates all together and simply offer finger foods and napkins?

One bit of unnecessary excess I love for birthdays are paper straws in a retro straw dispenser. Paper straws are single use, which isn’t ideal but they are biodegradable, and printed with water based inks.

LESS FOOD, LESS WASTE I'm yet to go to a party that doesn’t end with a table covered with enough food to have another party. So buy less than you think you need, buy organic if you can and source fresh local ingredients wherever possible – think about offering home-made sandwiches, bowls of berries, vege sticks and popcorn instead of processed junk food.

Avoid juice boxes and bottled water that create waste, and simply fill a jug instead. Most parents with babies or young toddlers tend to bring their own bottles or beakers along anyway.

BANISH THE PLASTIC PARTY BAG At the least sustainable end of the party bag spectrum is a plastic bag brimming with sweets and plastic toys. At the other end is a party with no bags and lots of spoilt, sad children (or is that just mine?) I try to find a balance between the two and either make fabric party bags the children can re-use, or buy paper bags that can at least be recycled.

You don’t even have to use bags.

Little boxes, cups, a mini metal bucket or even a small flower pot work just as well, look cute and are far more eco-friendly.

Fill them with a wooden toy, pencils, vegetable or flower seeds and home-

made biscuits, chocolates or cupcakes.

The market is moving on and there are many eco-party shops selling sustainable alternatives that will last far longer than cheap plastic toys (which rarely survive longer than the car journey home).

You could also turn the party bag into a craft activity. Give everyone a plain fabric bag and some fabric paint, or a paper bag with some crayons and stickers and they can decorate their own bag to take home.

For 1st birthday parties, think about whether party bags are really necessary at all. The children certainly won’t miss them... so who are you really doing it for?

LET THEM EAT CAKE Baking the cake yourself using locally sourced, organic ingredients is the most worthy option (if you can’t bake, just use a lot of icing to cover up all the crevices, or rope some grandparents in to help). Top it all off with some ecocandles made from beeswax. They are naturally fragrant and non-toxic, and a greener alternative to the paraffin wax candles most of us use.

So, wherever you can, try to incorporate a few green ideas into your child’s party this year. After all, a greener planet is really the best present you could give them (well… apart from the iPad Mini they’ve been asking for, obviously). ✿

RESOURCES Some useful sites to get your green party started...

O NLI NE I NVI TATI O NS ✽ www.evite.com ✽ www.paperlesspost.com PARTY SUP P LI E S ✽ www.littlecherry.co.uk ✽ www.paperpoms.co.uk ✽ www.peachblossom.co.uk ✽ www.pipii.co.uk

Joolz Day Tokyo

Colourful culture + Sacred ceremonies + Crafted design + Celebrate beauty

DESIGN AWARDS 2012

HIGHLY COMMENDED BEST BUGGY DESIGN www.juniormagazine.co.uk

my-joolz.co.uk facebook.com/JoolzUnitedKingdom

Jelly ‘n’ Wellies

Getting dirty in the kitchen with Maggie & Rose WORDS: MAGGIE BOLGER P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y: J O N AT H A N R O S E

S

ummer is a great time to let the garden, and what grows in it, inspire us with our cooking. It’s great to introduce little ones to the concept of where food comes from, the importance of what lives in our gardens and how they help everything grow, at the earliest stage possible.

Maggie & Rose have a special class called ‘Jelly ‘n’ Wellies’ where little ones as young as 18 months dig, plant seeds, get a pet worm and cook up a feast.

‘Jelly ‘n’ Wellies’ is one of their most popular classes; parents love the combination of the outdoors and the kitchen. The kids love solving the ‘mystery’ of where the food comes from.

Maggie & Rose have shared with us a couple of their favourite recipes in the hope that you will take it outdoors this summer; they have all been tried and tested by hundreds of children in the Maggie & Rose Cooking School.

Happy growing and cooking!

! s m r o real w

Carrot Bread At Maggie & Rose it's not always possible to grow all the produce in time for the exact classes so sometimes they cheat a bit and pre plant carrots (make sure you use the ones with the green tops for authenticity). Little ones love nothing better than digging these up and washing them ready for the kitchen.

‘Carrot Bread’ is a delicious and healthy sweet treat after a hard day’s gardening.

WHAT’S IN IT? • 2 cups of fine cornmeal (polenta) • 1 cup of millet flakes • 1 cup of grated carrot • 3/4 cup of raisins • Pinch of sea salt • 1/2 cup of olive oil or rapeseed oil • 11/2 cups of apple juice • 11/2 tsps of baking powder • 2 egg cups of agave syrup • Some olive oil for greasing the baking dish

HOW TO MAKE THEM 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C. a large mixing bowl, mix together the cornmeal, the millet flakes and the grated carrot with the raisins, sea salt and the baking powder.

3 Add the olive oil and the apple juice.

4 Mix the wet and dry ingredients together, even tually kneading the mixture into a wet, slop py dough.

5 Place the dough into a long baking dish, measuri ng roughly 12"x6".

6 Score the dough into individual pieces - 12 larg e or 16 small.

7 Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-60mins, or until gold en brown on top.

2 In

Sweet cressy Bagels WHAT’S IN IT? Buy some cress seeds and make a little cress garden. It’s very simple and quick to grow - you can use dirt or cotton wool and any old container. Make the ‘Cressy Bagels’ when the cress has grown enough to add to the recipe... you will be surprised how much kids love cress too.

• 1/2 juicy apple, grated • 1 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 tsp lemon juice • 1 tbsp cream cheese or ricotta • 1/2 carrot, finely grated • 2 black grapes, quartered and seeded • 1 carton salad cress • Bagels

E THEM K A M O T W O H

1

3

Carefully pick the cress

6

and add to the mix.

into the bagel and pop

Cut your bagel in half

the top back on, then

a nice creamy spread, add

and scoop out insides of

eat your new yummy

more cheese if needed.

one half.

creation.

Put the lemon juice

4

Next, add the

over the grated apples to

carrot and grapes and mix

stop them going brown.

together well, so you have

2

Add the mayonnaise and cream cheese.

5

Place your cressy mix

Pizzary

ploughman worms Maggie & Rose teach children the importance of worms and how they help food grow. Then when washed up, have fun with worm pizza.

WHAT’S IN IT? • 5 tbsp caramelised onion chutney • Pre-made pizza dough • 2 tbsp poppy seeds • Good dollop olive oil • 100g grated cheddar cheese

HOW TO MAKE THEM 1

Make up your dough as per the packet instructions.

2 Push

your thumb print into

this to a real worm).

5 Mix

your chutney with a

good dollop of oil and mix to

your dough to mix in the seeds.

3 Roll

out the dough into a

sausage shape, then continue to roll so it becomes a worm.

4 Then

flatten it

(it is not a good idea to do

6 With

the paste. a knife spread out

your chutney mix so your whole worm is covered.

7 Finally

sprinkle with cheese

and bake in the oven for 15mins on 200°C.

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1

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Hosting a tea party this summer? Here’s a selection of the finest cakes in the land.

7

S O U R C E D B Y: H AY L E Y W A R R E N

8

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1, 3 and 9 Clevercow Cakes www.clevercow.webs.com 2 Vintage House Bakery www.vintagehousebakery.co.uk 4 Cakey Makey Heart www.facebook.com/pages/Cakey-Makey-Heart/148316925204111 5 and 8 The Chelsea Cake Company www.chelseacakecompany.com 6 The Boutique Cupcake Company www.theboutiquecupcake.co.uk 7 Cakes to Impress www.cakestoimpress.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 51

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NEW

Real Life Special This season’s Real Life Special delves into the stories of three truly inspirational families all exploring parenthood in three very different ways.

WORDS: H E L E N H O L M E S | PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

ALEXANDRA JOSEPH PHOTOGRAPHY

W

e love to share different people’s experiences of parenthood – from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

And we often hear first time parents talk about the transformation that happens when they move from being from a couple, to being a family. If there’s one thing that almost everyone seems to agree on it’s that, as much as they love being parents, nothing could have prepared them for the challenges that having a child has introduced to their lives.

These challenges come in different shapes and sizes – from run-of-the-mill (though no less testing for that) sleep deprivation to the more exceptional difficulties that have to be faced when a pregnancy is not straightforward, or a child has a medical condition which requires special care.

James Cash chose to prepare for the trials and tribulations of

fatherhood in a truly exceptional way – by rowing in a two-man boat, across the Atlantic. The task took him over two months, and time will tell whether it has stood him in good stead for a lifetime of being a parent – he certainly demonstrated admirable composure when his baby son decided to make an unexpectedly speedy entrance into the world.

The story of Sharon Todd, who battled through a pregnancy that was difficult from the start, and spent six weeks in hospital, separated from her family, in order to deliver her second daughter, Rebecca, safely into the world.

But first, the Astur family have been faced with a challenge of a different nature – their son, Abe, has a form of cerebral palsy, and the specialist treatment that he needed was only available in America. Over the past year, Leigh and Gavin Astur have embarked on an impressive journey of fundraising in order to enable Abe to have the operation that they hope will change his life.

Abe’s Adventure

O

ver the past six months Leigh and Gavin Astur have been putting all their energy into raising money so that their son, Abe, can travel to America for a life-changing operation.

Abe was born in September 2010 – ten weeks before his due date. Despite being so premature, he made good progress, and Leigh and Gavin felt confident that their son was going to be fine. “He was such a little fighter, and, even though he was early, he was mainly well. We watched other families go through ups and downs in special care, but our experience was fairly stress free.”

At 10 months, though, Abe had not yet started sitting up unaided, and his parents, who also have an older daughter, Thea, began to get concerned. Abe’s paediatrician assured them that all was fine, but in March 2012, when Abe was eighteen months and was able to stand, but was not progressing to cruising or walking, Leigh and Gavin took him back to the doctor. This time, the diagnosis was more concerning.

“The paediatrician told me that he thought it was cerebral palsy,” says Leigh. “I felt deeply sad, but not shocked. I think I knew that there was

something wrong, although I never thought it would be CP.” Eight weeks later, the family were given an appointment with a physiotherapist, who confirmed the diagnosis. Leigh and Gavin were told that Abe had spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy which causes the muscles in the legs, hips and pelvis to be tense – making it difficult for the child to stand, walk, and even to sit comfortably.

Leigh and Gavin began a programme of physiotherapy to alleviate Abe’s day to day difficulties as far as possible, but they weren’t immediately aware of the full implications of Abe’s diagnosis.

“We weren’t really told what the long term consequences of spastic diplegia would be for Abe, and we had no real understanding of how the condition would affect him in the future. We thought that he would keep making improvements.”

A few months later, Abe’s prognosis became clearer. “I met up with another mum, who had an eleven year old

are sending the wrong messages and causing the muscles to tighten, SDR can improve the mobility of the patient and delay any deterioration in their condition. The procedure was developed in the United States in the 1980s, but it has only recently become available in the UK – and it is not available on the NHS in every area.

Having researched SDR, Leigh and

“we had no real understanding of how the condition would affect him in the future. We thought that he would keep making improvements.” daughter with CP,” remembers Leigh.

“She told me that, over the years, Abe’s muscles would continue to tighten, and that, as he grew, the muscles would shorten. His hips, knees and ankles would also be affected, because his walking pattern would put pressure on his joints. I was absolutely shocked! None of our medical professionals had told us what to expect.”

As well as explaining that Abe’s condition was likely to get worse rather than better, the girl’s mother told Leigh about an operation that her daughter had been given, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy [SDR]. “She said that she thought Abe was a perfect candidate and she gave me the details of the hospital in St Louis.”

SDR is a procedure which involves cutting some of the nerve fibres which connect muscles to the brain via the spinal cord. By cutting the fibres which

Gavin were convinced that it could help Abe, but they didn’t want Abe to be given this tricky operation by a relatively inexperienced doctor. “If you had to choose who should perform neurosurgery on your child, you would choose the most experienced.” They decided to go to Dr Tae-Sung Park, at the St Louis Children’s Hospital, in Missouri. “Dr Park is the pioneer of the procedure, and we felt that, in order to prevent Abe from suffering with associated deformities, and possible additional orthopaedic surgery, we had to go to the US.” Dr Park agreed that Abe was a good candidate for SDR, and predicted that after the operation he would be able to walk unaided. Having made the decision to go ahead, though, Leigh and Gavin were faced with the challenge of raising enough money to pay for  the treatment. To cover Abe’s surgery

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 55

and physiotherapy they estimated that they would need £50,000. They began a marathon of fundraising. “It has been emotionally all-consuming. Until Abe had the surgery which could change his future, everything else was on hold,” says Leigh.

Having put in a huge amount of fundraising work, Leigh and Gavin eventually managed to raise enough money to fund the trip. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone. An organisation called Tree of Hope have been amazing, and have taken some of the administrative tasks off our hands, and being able to fundraise via Just Giving has widened our reach. We’ve also had the support of local businesses, and, most of all, our friends and family, who have been so supportive and very generous.”

On the 2nd of March, Abe flew to St

Louis. He was given the SDR operation on the 5th of March. “Our emotions have been put through their paces,” says Leigh. “Seeing your child being taken away for surgery is heartbreaking, and seeing them in pain is awful – nothing could have prepared us. But to watch your child get progressively worse with CP must be soul destroying, too.”

The operation went well, and Leigh and Gavin are confident that it will make a huge difference to Abe. “Dr Park has predicted that Abe will be able to walk independently in all environments after intensive physio. If Abe achieves this our hopes and dreams will be fulfilled.”

Leigh and Gavin’s journey doesn’t end here, though. They will have to continue fundraising, in order to fund the specialist physiotherapy that Abe

will now need, and they’re also keen to spread information about SDR to other families whose children might benefit from the surgery.

“The biggest challenge that we faced was getting information. The UK is nowhere near the US in terms of their support and understanding of CP, Spastic Diplegia and SDR, and we feel that the lack of information is actually preventing many children like Abe from living normal lives.”

“We feel very grateful that Abe was a candidate for SDR, and that he will benefit from it by being able to walk and perhaps run independently in the future. We just hope that, sometime soon, this life changing operation will be more readily available to children in the UK.” ✽ www.abes-adventure.co.uk

Heroic Dad

M

ore people have been into space than have rowed across the Atlantic, but James and Anna Cash had put having a family on hold, so that James could fulfil his dream of completing this superhuman challenge.

After two and a half years of planning, James began the mammoth

56 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

expedition in December 2011, with his rowing partner Bertie Portal. For 63 days the pair endured blisters and sleep deprivation, cooped up in a seven metre long boat, while they rowed in shifts to finish the gruelling three thousand mile journey.

James and Bertie not only completed this huge feat, arriving in Barbados in February 2012, but they also raised £550,000 in the process – for the char-

ity Facing the World, which cares for children with severe facial disfigurements.

There was only one thing on James’s mind though, as he battled to reach the Caribbean – his plan to have a baby with Anna. “It was all I thought about while I was dragging myself across the ocean! I knew very early on that Anna was the one, and I couldn’t wait for us to become a family.”

Little did James know that, less than a year later, he would have a very different kind of challenge on his hands.

In fact, it was a year to the day since James had passed into the final 1000 miles of his rowing adventure, that Anna went into labour, at the end of a trouble-free pregnancy.

It was ten o’clock in the evening and James and Anna were at home watching television when the contractions started. “We started timing them,” says James, “and they were a minute or so long with two minutes between.

After about an hour I called the hospital, only to be told that we had ‘at least three hours of that!’”

However, things progressed a little more speedily than predicted. “Very quickly the contractions started to intensify, growing shorter but stronger. Anna started to get louder and louder, and started asking for an ambulance.” Now beginning to get quite concerned, James called the hospital again. “After being on hold for three minutes, while the person that answered looked for a midwife, I hung up and dialled 999 for an ambulance. Anna was in no state to go into hospital in the car.”

While James was on the phone, things advanced even further. “The

“After being on hold for three minutes, while the person that answered looked for a midwife, I hung up and dialled 999 for an ambulance. Anna was in no state to go into hospital in the car.” technician ran through some standard questions about how the night had gone so far, and whether there was any swelling or bleeding. At this stage, we felt the head, and we knew we weren’t going to make it to hospital!”

“The operator was adamant that Anna should get on her back, against everything we’d learned at ante natal classes, but very quickly it all started.

During the next few minutes, James

“It was all I thought about while I was dragging myself across the ocean! I knew very early on that Anna was The One, and I couldn’t wait for us to become a family.” kept his cool – while Anna gave birth on the bathroom floor. “The waters broke, Freddy arrived, and the placenta was delivered inside five minutes. It was all very shocking, but he was breathing, there were no problems with the cord and he was on Anna’s chest keeping warm.”

After safely delivering his son into the world, James was able to cut the cord and hand Freddy to the paramedics. “We had six minutes on our own before the paramedics arrived, during which we just sat there, staring in wonder at our little man. He was already very special.” When the ambulance arrived Anna and Freddy were taken into St George’s, Tooting, with a relieved James following behind in the car.

Having rowed three thousand miles across an ocean, James is now adjusting to the equally intense challenge of life with a small baby. “It’s lovely. Knackering, and noisy, but great. 2am can be a bit of a witching hour though!” And, in retrospect, he reckons that the key to a successful, surprise, home birth is to stay calm.

“I didn’t worry about complications, because I didn’t know of many – ignorance was bliss!”

James, who has just opened his own gym in Wandsworth, also feels that becoming a dad has made him more motivated, professionally. “It’s given me a drive and a focus for my new business that has taken me a bit by surprise.” With his combination of keeping his head in a crisis, and the determination that got him across the Atlantic, it seems that James is likely to take both fatherhood and running a business well within his  stride.

High Pressure Pregnancy

S

haron and her husband, Andy, had been through several rounds of IVF to conceive their first child, Meredith, so they were delighted when they conceived Rebecca naturally. “We had a couple of embryos in storage from the last IVF, but having been told that unexplained infertility often resolves spontaneously after a pregnancy, we decided to try naturally for a while first.”

The pregnancy, however, was problematic from the start. “I'd had elevated blood pressure from about 30 weeks with Merry, but this time, when I saw my doctor for my booking-in appointment at five weeks, the blood pressure was already as high as the worst it had ever been with Merry.”

Sharon was prescribed medication for her blood pressure, and, when her first scan showed that she also had placenta previa, the pregnancy was classified as high risk, and Sharon was put under the care of a pre-eclampsia specialist consultant, and a high risk midwife team.

Nevertheless, Sharon remained

and I couldn’t get a reading.”

Concerned, Sharon called the hospital, and was asked to come in. “It was about 9pm. We bundled a sleeping Merry into the back of the car, and, although I normally do the driving, I asked Andy to drive, as I was having some pains in my chest and feeling a bit spaced out.”

On arrival, the severity of the situation became clear. “All hell broke loose.

My blood pressure was 220/156 - absolutely off the chart! I had one midwife holding my hand and urging me to stay still, while another ran down to the labour ward for the doctor.”

“The midwife told me later that they had no idea how I was walking around looking relatively normal, at that pressure – they would have expected a stroke or heart attack.”

The following morning Sharon was told that she had severe pre-eclampsia, and that she would have to stay in hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy. The aim was to prolong the pregnancy for as long as possible – ideally until 37 weeks – when Sharon’s baby could be safely deliv-

“All hell broke loose. My blood pressure was 220/156 - absolutely off the chart! I had one midwife holding my hand and urging me to stay still, while another ran down to the labour ward for the doctor.” calm. “I was fairly relaxed about it all - I was being checked weekly, I had extra scans, and other than being very tired and nauseous for the first trimester, I felt pretty well. In retrospect, though, I think I was probably too blasé, and I didn't rest enough.”

Sharon’s blood pressure remained unpredictable, and she was asked to monitor it herself at home. One day, during the 29th week of the pregnancy, she was feeling unwell. “I was lightheaded and headachy, and when I checked my pressure it seemed to be a little on the high side. I decided that I’d check it again a couple of hours later, after I'd put Merry to bed and had some tea. When I tried to check it again the machine showed an error,

58 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

ered. However, Sharon was also given steroids to develop the baby’s lungs, in case an earlier delivery became necessary.

With Sharon in hospital, Andy had to step into the breach. “Andy was amazing. He had to look after a very confused and upset Merry, whilst also worrying about me and trying to keep me calm! His work were really supportive and flexible, so he was able to drop Merry at school in the morning, and leave early to pick her up in the afternoons. Family and friends also helped with some of the pick-ups, but Andy really did shoulder a huge burden of care for us both, and he did a fantastic job.”

Although Andy took three year

old Merry in to see her mother every day, and even took dinner in for Sharon, as she wasn’t particularly enjoying the hospital food, Sharon still found the time that she spent in hospital extremely tough. “The next four weeks were upsetting, painful, boring, frustrating and exhausting. It was incredibly hard for all of us, being separated. I had to be in a ward rather than a private room, so that I could be monitored more easily, but it meant I was constantly surrounded by women in early labour, who could be quite loud. I spent a couple of nights sleeping on chairs in the kitchen, just to get a bit of quiet.”

By 33 weeks, it was becoming clear that the time to deliver Sharon’s baby was approaching faster than had been hoped. “I was physically and emotionally battered. I was on the maximum level of oral medications, and I’d run out of good veins to use – my hands and arms were swollen and tissued, and I was covered in bruises. I was also getting very low, emotionally – I was utterly exhausted and I missed Andy and Merry terribly.”

Around this time the head of the hospital’s special care unit came to talk to Sharon about what she could expect during and after a special care birth. “She said one thing which really stuck with me, and which I thought about often in the days afterwards:

the outlook is far better for a healthy early baby than a sick full-term one.”

Three days later, blood tests showed that Sharon was developing HELLP syndrome - a complication of pre-eclampsia which damages the liver and can cause severe blood loss. A caesarean was scheduled for the following day. The birth itself went smoothly, and Rebecca was taken to special care. Sharon, however, was still not well. “I felt awful. I had a reaction to the anaesthetic and I couldn't stop shaking. I

“I was physically and emotionally battered. I was on the maximum level of oral medications, and I’d run out of good veins to use” was also clenching my jaw, and felt as though I couldn't open it.”

Sharon’s blood pressure continued to be erratic, and doctors remained concerned. “The next 48 hours were the worst of my life! I was weak, in pain, and uncomfortable; and aware that everyone was still very worried about me. They used my epidural to help lower the blood pressure, and I still had cannulas, my arterial line, and a catheter. I had pressure sores from being stuck in bed, and I was having aural hallucinations.”

“I felt completely helpless and, of course, I was bereft of my baby – she couldn't come to me and I couldn't go to her. The midwife was wonderful – she took my phone up to the SCBU and took photos of Becca so that I could see her, and when I couldn't express colostrum because my hands were so swollen, she did that for me, and took the tiny syringe up so that Becca wouldn't miss out on it.”

Eventually, after two more days, Sharon was well enough to be taken in a wheelchair to meet her newest

daughter. “By that time most of our close family had been in to visit, and Merry very proudly showed Becca off to me in the incubator. She'd done remarkably well – she’d had a little breathing assistance on the first night, but otherwise she’d been breathing on her own.”

From that point on, both Sharon and Rebecca improved, and, 42 days after her initial admission, Sharon was able to go home, to be followed, a few days later, by Rebecca. “It was very strange to be coming back without Becca, but since I'd been admitted before we had a chance to get the baby things set up and ready, at least I had a few days to sort out all the boxes I'd ordered while I was in hospital – it's dangerous being bored with an iPad and a credit card!”

“Becca seemed incredibly tiny when we brought her home. She’d regained her birth weight, but she was still under 4lbs. Her car seat looked far too big and, in the first weeks, people were amazed by the sight of her – she looked like a little doll in the buggy.”

A year and a half on, though, the whole family is thriving. “Becca's doing brilliantly - she's petite, but developmentally she’s pretty much on track. I've been advised not to have any more children – the likelihood of an early recurrence of the HELLP syndrome, and an even more premature delivery, makes it just too risky. But I love seeing how the girls are together, and our family really feels complete.” ✿

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 59

Practical Placentas Is placenta consumption the next step in green parenting or is this taking recyling too far? Becky Dickinson discovers why the humble afterbirth is gaining a following.

WORDS: BECKY DICKINSON

I

f you were to ask a pregnant woman what she was most looking forward to eating after giving birth, the answer would probably be blue cheese, seafood, pâté, or anything else that’s been off the menu for nine months.

But growing numbers of women are tucking into their placentas as an after birth snack.

Shocking as it may sound, placenta consumption is not a new idea. In different parts of the world, women have been eating their placentas for centuries. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the placenta is essential in re-balancing a new mother. It’s said to enhance her energy levels and boost her milk supply. Many animals also eat their placenta to help stop postpartum bleeding and speed recovery. And in parts of Africa and Indonesia, the organ is given a ceremonial burial.

The placenta, which is attached to the lining of the womb during pregnancy, protects and nourishes the developing foetus. It disposes of toxic waste and keeps the unborn baby’s blood

supply separate from the mother’s. It also secretes vital hormones needed to maintain the pregnancy and prepare for breastfeeding. As birth approaches, it floods the baby with antibodies. In short, the placenta is the unborn baby’s life support system. It holds our babies in our wombs until we can hold them in our arms.

In short, the placenta is the unborn baby’s life support system.

It holds our babies in our wombs until we can hold them in our arms.

To simply toss it into a bin labelled ‘clinical waste,’ seems a little, well, wasteful, not to mention ungrateful.

Yet, in recent years, the practice of placentophagy, or ingestion of the placenta, has gained a following in the UK. Advocates say placenta consumption replaces lost nutrients and hormones,

fights fatigue and protects against post natal depression. This is due to the rich concentration of vitamins, minerals and iron. The placenta contains high levels of vitamin B6 and the stress reducing hormone, CRH. Studies have shown there is link between post natal depression and a severe lack of both B6 and CRH. The placenta is also packed with stem cells and cytokines which play a key role in healing and tissue repair, as well as oxytocin, the hormone entwined with breastfeeding.

Lynnea Shrief, 29, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, is the Founder and Director of IPEN, the Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network. Lynnea’s interest in the subject started during her second pregnancy. ‘I just knew I didn’t want to throw my placenta away,’ she says. After the birth of her son, Roman, in 2009, Lynnea placed a small piece of her placenta onto her gums, to allow the hormones and nutrients to be absorbed. She blended another piece of placenta with fresh berries to make a smoothie, which she drank. She says, ‘within 10 hours, my  milk had come in, my bleeding had

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 61

almost stopped and I felt completely energised.’’

Placenta smoothies are now a popular option among women looking for a post natal pick-me-up. But if you prefer your placenta to look less, well, like something you’ve just given birth to, then other more palatable options are also available including: tinctures, creams, teas and pills.

Placenta encapsulation is the process of turning the placenta into easy to swallow capsules. This is normally done within 48 hours of the birth. The placenta is washed and dried, then steamed with lemon, ginger and green chilli. It is then dehydrated using a food dehydrator (or placed in an oven for 8-10 hours until crisp) before being ground into a powder and ‘encapsulated’ into empty vegetable capsules.

The process is usually carried out by a trained specialist. However DIY kits are also available and come with full instructions. A healthy placenta will produce an average of 120 capsules. These should be taken two to four times a day for the first six weeks, and then whenever necessary.

Leftover capsules can be frozen and used whenever there is a hormonal imbalance, such as around the time of menstruation. The pills can even be kept until the menopause.

Natasha Rogerson, 30, from London, is a firm believer in placenta encapsulation. She says, ‘I have a history of depression and had been mindful of my risk of PND. My mother had suffered from this after the birth of my brother and even in the last few months of pregnancy I had been feeling anxious and tearful.’

Following the birth of her son, Billy, in December 2012, Natasha’s placenta was turned into a smoothie. To her surprise, it wasn’t revolting at all. She says, ‘It was delicious and it did not taste of meat, or blood, at all.’ The rest of Natasha’s placenta was used to

To simply toss it into a bin labelled ‘clinical waste,’ seems a little, well, wasteful, not to mention ungrateful.

62 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

If you prefer your placenta to look less, well, like something you’ve just given birth to, then other more palatable options are also available make capsules and the new mum was delighted with the results. ‘I credit a good recovery, emotionally and physically, in good part to the smoothie and pills. Despite a traumatic birth, I haven't had so much as a whiff of PND. Another benefit is that my breast milk came in quickly and easily. A less important, but nice, side effect is how well everyone says I look!’

Natasha isn’t alone. Mum of two, Krishna Bakrani, 40, from Guildford in Surrey, also swears by placenta encapsulation. Krishna suffered from severe post natal depression following the birth of her first child, Sitara, in 2007. ‘I felt tearful, exhausted and overwhelmed,’ she says. So when Krishna fell pregnant with her second child, she dreaded the feelings returning. Thankfully, she had a much better experience, which she attributes to her placenta. Krishna describes feeling a surge of energy and happiness, just 30 minutes after drinking a placenta smoothie. She also took placenta cap-

sules and says the difference it made was amazing. ‘I didn’t feel depressed at all. I had loads more energy than I’d had the first time round. I also healed far quicker after the birth.’

Krishna’s son was born at home. But placenta encapsulation is equally possible following a hospital birth. A note should be made in the birth plan that the placenta is due to be retained for consumption. Then all that is needed is a sterile container and a cool bag, so that the organ can be taken away after the delivery. It can then be stored in the fridge until collected by a specialist.

Placenta encapsulation on the NHS may still be a long way off, but growing numbers of women are discovering the benefits for themselves. After all, we recycle most other things, why not our own placentas? ✿ ✽ More information is available from the Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network (IPEN) www.placentanetwork.com

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phil&teds continue to create innovative parenting products, which are built with sustainability. We adore one of their latest products ‘poppy’, with a refreshingly modern design, it’s light and compact whilst stylish and practical.

Best yet, the poppy high chair converts to ‘my chair’ for later adventures. Priced £84.99. ✽ www.philandteds.com

A parenting essential is the Moses basket and Shnuggle have created a modern day alternative that we adore.

The pristine, ivory shell-like design means it’s virtually silent avoiding creaky, scratchy sounds created from wicker based baskets. With a fully ventilated base regulating baby’s airflow and the super-strong material helps prevent allergies whilst repelling dust mites. Priced £75. ✽ www.shnuggle.co.uk

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Suitable from birth, the Plus Plus midi is an interactive building kit for little ones to explore. This Danish product has many developmental benefits including motor skills, colour recognition and spacial awareness, which is why you’ll find this product in most Danish schools. Priced from £9.98. ✽ www.toyella.com

Your to chance !

N WI

BREAST TO BOTTLE

Mimijumi’s design driven concept has seen the birth of the Very Hungry and Not So Hungry feeding bottles. Both fitted with a natural latch allowing baby to control flow rate, a soft-asskin nipple replicating breast and an anti-colic venting system – every aspect has been covered. You could win a Get Going gift pack, which includes two of each bottle. For entry details see our contents page. Good luck! ✽ www.mimijumi.co.uk

HOT Update!

PRODUCT We round up our favourite innovative products to hit the market this summer!

POTTY PAL

HUSH LITTLE BABY...

Created in New Zealand, the Magic Mitten is a handheld baby calming aid which is effective, safe and portable. This exclusive product is designed to deliver white noise at a safe and fixed volume level. Available at JoJo Maman Bébé from July. Priced £39.99. ✽ www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

This 3-in-1 potty sees little ones through all stages of potty training. Beginning with the personal potty allowing little ones to become familiar with the concept, the next stage is the toilet adapter retaining the sense of identity. Lastly, the potty works as a step stool when your little one is ready to use the toilet directly.

Priced £20. ✽ www.princelionheart.com

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 67

Ava & Barney’s present

Marie Chantal Sale

flash Exclusive ale in s summer with Hampsted !

70% OFF As seen in magazine Please email avaandbarneys@outlook.com or call 07850064386 for your invitation.

Tracking down marvellous things for minis and mums from around the world

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FEET FIRST

Angulus have been producing shoes for little feet for over a century. This adorable pair are manufactured with the softest calf leather and plantation crepe rubber soles. The high back and T bar, with velcro fastening, provides optimum ankle support. Priced £61.99. ✽ www.purebaby.co.uk

TOP AND BLOOMERS

We absolutely adore this rabbit print top and bloomer set from Marie Chantal. This design is typical of Marie Chantal’s style focusing on the playful nature of children. Little ones are infatuated with animals from a young age so they’ll have lots of fun wearing this cute set. The gathering of this top combined with breathable 100% cotton means it is perfect for days in the sun. Both priced £39. ✽ www.mariechantal.co.uk

FIT FOR A FESTIVAL

Zara Kids are fast becoming a mum’s alliance for their fabulous trends matched by their competitive prices. Tieing in with the festival vibe we adore this menagerie of quirky cuts and jazzy prints. And the t-shirt text ‘Happy Little Man’ will ensure he’s the coolest chap around.

See website for details. ✽ www.zara.com

N BABY otes!

FASHION

SUPER SWEET

Who doesn’t love the sweet taste of strawberries? We have fallen for this adorable, classic shaped dress from Kenzo. The colours are a balanced mix of delicate pastels and bolder pinks and reds which jump out from the subtle white background - making it a real fun summer print.

Featuring pleat details, colourful accent buttons down both the front and back for easy dressing and smart finish.

Priced £63. ✽ www.blossom motherandchild.com

For little ones hitting the beach or a festival this summer...

CREATIVE COLOUR

FUNKY SUMMER STRIPES

We love this little look from Little Bird, by Jools Oliver.

The stripes have a retro seventies vibe and the added vibrancy will ensure your little one will stand out from the crowd. And these cuffed joggers are a staple for the mini wardrobe. The perfect outfit for the festival scene. Both priced from £6 each, hat priced £8. ✽ www.littlebirdbyjools.com

Hit the beach with a splash with this brightly illustrated swimming costume. Designed

by Catamini, known for their colourful children’s collection it’s a tropical treat covered in eye-catching flowers, plants and birds. Designed with pink criss-cross straps at the back and double frilled edging behind and around the legs.

Available from years 1 - 4.

Priced £27. ✽ www.childrensalon.com

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 69

THE SWEETEST SUNDRESS

Adorned with a sweet ivory mini butterfly print, pearl effect buttons, ivory ricrac trim at the front and Peter Pan collar, and matching bloomers this gorgeous Rachel Riley sundress is a staple summer number. Also available in navy and ivory, from 6 months – 14 years. Priced from £59. ✽ www.rachelriley.co.uk

IN THE SWIM OF THINGS

AliOli Kids, the online children’s clothing store, has just launched its first own brand swimwear collection for babies and children 0-8 years. Designed and manufactured in Spain, the range features an adorable two-piece suit for 0–24 months, an elegant cross back swimming costume for little ladies and matching trunks for cheeky chaps. Swim in style!

Prices range from £15 - £35. ✽ www.aliolikids.com

NAUTICAL BUT NICE

Oh, we do love to be beside the seaside... well who wouldn’t in this gorgeous all in one? This is a little piece of art, covered in sea ditsy tells a story. Your little one will love picking out the different characters, including seaguls, shells and little boats.

Priced from £22.95. ✽ www.joules.com

N BABY otes!

FASHION We share our favourite summer fashions hot off the mini-catwalk

FASHION VS PRACTICAL

When an item is deemed an ‘everyday essential’ it tends to take the fun out of it. Well, thanks to the creative minds behind the online store Molly & Monty they’ve incorporated some quirky illustrations to add an element of fun to their bodysuits. Made of a thick organic cotton these bodysuits will provide all the warmth and comfort that your baby requires.

Priced £9.50. ✽ www.mollyandmonty.com

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SPOTS & DOTS

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

Step into Oilily’s enticing world of weird and wonderful, with striking prints and standout bold colouring. Their latest collection ‘World of Wonders’ is an eclectic bunch of fun. We adore this quirky Dilly Dress, and for your little scientist this To T-Shirt – both guaranteed to wow. Dress priced £56, T-Shirt £28. ✽ www.oililyshop.com/en

As always, no added sugar continue to sartorially impress with their fashion forward collection and this season is no exception. We’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for this shirt and short combo, which merges subtle and striking into one beautiful ensemble.

The pure cotton poplin shirt matched with these Liberty print swim fabric designed shorts creates a cool summer trend. Both priced £39. ✽ www.noaddedsugar.com

Diary of a

Mum

In part three of Diary of a Mum, Becky Dickinson gets to grips with having a trio of children – and unprecedented levels of sleep deprivation.

W O R D S : B E C K Y D I C K I N S O N | I L LU S T R AT I O N S : J A M E S B R O W N

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ewborn is 10 days old and I can count the hours of sleep I’ve had since her birth on both hands. I arrive back from the school run feeling like I’ve done a day’s work. I’m as frazzled as the toast I left under the grill this morning. I have vomit on my shoulder, milk down my top and a headache the size of a Jammy Dodger above my right eyebrow.

Newborn needs feeding, D needs her bum wiping (or bottom, as she’s started calling it since attending nursery) and I need a cup of tea. I can’t work out which to do first.

Then the doorbell goes. Brilliant. I kick a pile of washing out of the way to answer it and am greeted by a benevolent looking middle aged woman. It takes me a second to realise it’s not the postman.

72 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

‘Midwife,’ she chirps. Midwife?! Oh God, I’d forgotten these impromptu visits. The ones they call the ‘10 day check’ which are secretly designed to see if you’re coping, or at least not necking G and T before breakfast. I kick some more washing out of the way and let her in.

‘Err.. I’m really sorry,’ I stammer. ‘I’ve got one on the toilet, one screaming in the pram and... ‘The joys of parenthood,’ the midwife smiles. ‘You sort the one upstairs; I’ll sort the other one.’

Suddenly, I feel like crying. It’s the most helpful thing anyone has said all week.

“ I arrive back from the school run feeling like I’ve done a day’s work. I’m as frazzled as the toast I left under the grill this morning.”

A minute later, the screaming has stopped, D has her pants on and I sneak the opportunity to shove some damp washing on the radiators. I go downstairs to find the midwife reading D a story, with Newborn happily ensconced on her shoulder. I love this woman. I feel like asking her to stay, to knock up a couple of meals. To be my Mum. Instead, I just offer a weary, but heartfelt thank you.

Once Newborn has been stripped, weighed and prodded, it’s time for the questions. Does anyone in the house smoke? (No, I just burn toast). Recreational drugs? (Only a paracetamol habit). Do I drink? (Not before breakfast). Am I breastfeeding? (At least I get a bonus point for that one).

‘Have you thought about contraception?’ the midwife continues merrily.

I know she has to ask, but honestly, as if stretch marks, severe sleep deprivation, and leaking boobs weren’t enough

of a passion killer, do I really look like I’ll be getting into the missionary position anytime soon?

For a start, Newborn refuses to sleep more than a millimetre away from her milk supply. This means she spends every night either hanging off a nipple or with a milky cheek suctioned to one of my E cups. If I try to remove her, or even worse, attempt to place her in the crib (what a waste of money that was) she goes off like a car alarm. The only way to avoid waking the rest of the household, and possibly half the street, is to let her sleep with me.

Unhusband, meanwhile, has sought sanctuary in the spare room. Which means for the foreseeable future, sex is about as imminent as a decent night’s sleep. And given the choice, I know which I’d rather have.

Back to the contraception question.

‘It’s alright,’ I say. ‘He’s moved out.’

The midwife looks alarmed and I hastily explain we haven’t actually split up, he’s just keeping the futon company until Newborn learns to appreciate the difference between night and day, her body and mine.

The midwife looks marginally reassured. The questions continue until she’s satisfied that I’m as sane as can be expected. She offloads a bundle of parting literature on everything from breastfeeding support to post-natal classes which I won’t have time to attend.

‘It gets easier,’ she says cheerily. ‘You’re doing a great job.’ I’m not sure I believe either statement.

I feel like begging her to stay. To read D another story while rocking New-

born, so I can get ten minutes sleep.

But that’s what grannies are for (if you’re lucky enough to have one available) not overstretched NHS staff.

Newborn spends the rest of the day asleep, which means I’ll be spending another night awake. Nothing I do, from stripping her off, to subjecting her to Jeremy Vine at unnecessary volume can rouse her. I try explaining that she lives in England, not Australia, and that it’s customary to sleep between midnight and 6am, that even a couple

able afterbirth, and designed to keep me going until normal life resumes.

Unfortunately, I still need caffeine. And chocolate. And alcohol (in moderation, of course). Oh, and sleep.

Sleep. I count it in minutes, like other people count calories. I crave it, covet it and actively avoid people who get too much of it. In fact, I can barely disguise my disdain for anyone who boasts their baby is ‘sleeping through.’

Later that evening, just when everyone else is going to bed, Newborn’s

“as if stretch marks, severe sleep deprivation, and leaking boobs weren’t enough of a passion killer, do I really look like I’ll be getting into the missionary position anytime soon?” of hours between those times would be helpful. I am seriously tempted to emigrate just to fit in with her sleep pattern.

Unfortunately, the effects of the energy-boosting placenta smoothie I drank after giving birth, have long since worn off. And no, I’m not part of some bizarre cult; placenta consumption is all the rage. Well okay, maybe among humans just yet, but I’m a sucker for anything that claims to keep me out of the doctor’s surgery.

Anyway, after it was whizzed up with a load of fruit, it didn’t taste that different to anything out of a carton, just with the benefit of added iron.

I’ve had so much of the stuff, I must be magnetic. I also have a stash of placenta capsules sitting in the fridge – concocted from the rest of my size-

nocturnal activities commence. Fifteen feeds and several nappies later, she’s still either screaming or sucking. By 3am I’m still singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. It actually crosses my mind to post it on Facebook, though I manage to restrain myself in case anyone cool is reading.

Finally, as the sun rises, ready to launch another frenzied day, Newborn falls asleep. She snores softly against my boob. I touch her silky cheek, stroke her velvety hair and allow myself a moment of pride for producing something so amazing. Despite everything, I love every tiny ounce of her. I’m knackered and flabby, but she’s worth it. Just as long as I don’t look in the mirror. ✿ ✽ Becky Dickinson will be back in the next issue when she hopes to finally ditch the maternity clothes.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 73

Set

Sail to the

Seaside PHOTOGRAPHY: HELEN MARSDEN STYLING: FRANCESCA BARTOLI

SE T SAIL TO THE SEASIDE

Bold stripes , ric rac, crochet and ice cream shades make lazy days at the beach a truly stylish affair.

P H O T O G R A P H Y: Helen Marsden at Bonbon Kids S T Y L I N G : Francesca Bartoli at Stella Creative Artists G R O O M I N G : Freya Danson-Hatcher at S Management using Origins M O D E L S : Edward, Izelle, Leia, Jarvis, Joshua, Isla, Lainey-Rae, Teddy, Poppy and Laura O P P O S I T E PA G E : Jarvis wears blue striped shirt £65, by Caramel Baby & Child. Navy striped tank top from £18,

by Baby Boden. Navy cotton shorts £45,

by Aravore.

T H I S PA G E : Izelle wears navy dress with cream crochet bodice £59, by Aravore. Ribbon, stylist’s own. Two bows (part of a set of 3) £17, by Hucklebones.

Lainey-Rae wears pale blue striped tennis dress £12, by John Lewis. Hair accessory stylist’s own.

Teddy wears green v neck cardigan £72,

by Caramel Baby & Child. Striped polo £42, by No Added Sugar. Striped trousers £17.99, by Zara.

T H I S PA G E : Lainey-Rae wears pale blue top with white collar £42, by Jacadi.

Hair accessories stylist’s own.

Leia wears navy and white spotted top £44,

by Miller at Elias and Grace. Pale green frilled knickers £18, by ilovegorgeous.

Blue hairband £29, by Bonpoint.

Poppy wears red and cream striped tie back dress £22.95, by Gap. Red and cream shorts £14.95 by Gap. Green check bow £6,

by Caramel Baby & Child.

Joshua wear navy dungarees £59, by Rachel Riley. Seagull printed shirt from £8,

by Marks and Spencer.

O P P O S I T E PA G E : Edward wears pale blue and striped cardigan £42, by No Added Sugar. Pale blue and white striped shirt £49, by Marie Chantal.

Ticking striped shorts £19, by Monsoon.

O P P O S I T E PA G E : Isla wears sailboat printed navy dress £85, by Rachel Riley.

Flowers in hair part of a set of four £5 by John Lewis.

T H I S PA G E : Poppy wears red and cream striped tie back dress £22.95, by Gap. Red and cream shorts £14.95, by Gap. Green check bow £6, by Caramel Baby & Child.

Jarvis wears blue striped shirt £65, by Caramel Baby & Child. Navy striped tank top from £18, by Baby Boden. Navy cotton shorts £45, by Aravore.

Laura wears navy broderie anglaise dress with white collar £124, by Elsy Baby at Step 2wo - Harvey Nichols. Navy flower hair clip, one of a pair £4, from Accessorize.

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O P P O S I T E PA G E : Laura wears mint and white bold striped dress £45, by No Added Sugar. Sunshine yellow cardigan £12.95, by Gap. Yellow bow in hair £6, by Caramel Baby & Child.

T H I S PA G E : Izelle wears tiny check smocked sun dress from £83, by Bonpoint.

Navy crinkle trousers £52, by Caramel Baby & Child. Aqua frill sleeved cardigan £48, by ilovegorgeous. Hair accessory stylists own.

Jarvis wears green and stone checked linen shirt from £83, by Bonpoint. Stone trousers from £89, by Bonpoint.

Teddy wears red striped jumper £40, by Fub from Elias & Grace. Navy jersey trousers from £10, by Baby Boden.

STOCKISTS Accessorize : 0844 811 0068 www.accessorize.co.uk Aravore: www.aravore.com Boden: 0844 873 0000 www.boden.co.uk Bonpoint: 020 7235 1441 www.bonpoint.com Caramel Baby & Child: 020 7727 0906 www.caramel-shop.co.uk Elias & Grace: www.eliasandgrace.com Gap: www.gap.eu Step 2wo@ Harvey Nichols: 020 7201 8411 Ilovegorgeous: 0844 371 3301 www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk Jacadi: 020 7030 3922/020 7259 9697 www.frenchwear.com John Lewis: 0845 604 9049 www.johnlewis.com Marie Chantal: 020 7838 1111 www.mariechantal.com Marks and Spencer: www.marksandspencer.com Monsoon Kids: 0844 811 0068 www.monsoon.co.uk No Added Sugar: 020 7226 2323 www.noaddedsugar.com Rachel Riley: 020 7935 7007 www.rachelriley.co.uk Zara Kids: 020 7518 1550 www.zara.com

FORESTRY FUN...

Bring the outside in with this fabulous woodland scene fabric from Hibou, set up a den and let the fun unravell. Then once den time has been exhausted this fabric makes a great addition to any room, as a throw on a sofa or draped material over a chair.

Hibou have taken inspiration from childhood memories and created this magical narrative design and even better it's woven and printed in Britain. Priced £48 per metre. ✽ www.hibouhome.com Editor's

pick!

BOOK BUDDY

Let this giraffe take good care of your books after all we wouldn't want little monkeys taking them! He's the perfect companion for a bedroom or playroom. Priced £120. ✽ www.huggle.co.uk

The Great Outdoors

Interiors Inspiring ideas for your little ones SOURCED BY: C H R I S T I N A B U R G E S S

SPREAD YOUR WINGS

This Bryonie Porter chest of drawers will capture the imagination of any insect lover. The explosion of colour is enticing and will brighten up any room - making a stylish statement. Bryonie Porter is an independent company that produces beautiful, high quality, bespoke, hand finished, papered furniture. It's a magical must have! Priced £950. ✽ www.notonthehighstreet.com

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PENCIL TREE

Not only is this the coolest pencil holder on the market, it also encourages little ones to tidy up after themselves as they enjoy slotting the pencils in the different holes. Let the amusing design inspire your mini artists!

Priced £24.30. ✽ www.en.smallable.com

FEATHERY FAUX

ITALIAN-INSPIRED

Whether you employ as a stool or a little table this is a beautiful piece of furniture.

Its delicate floral illustration and wood effect side panels means it would work in a variety of room settings.

Priced £36.50. ✽ www.notonthehighstreet.com

Create the perfect enchanting kingdom by adorning a bedroom with wall stickers.

We love these fabric feathers from Rose and Grey. Intricately detailed, you'll find a mix of illustrated materials, from lace to paisley floral prints.

Designed with children in mind, adding a charming whimsical design offerering a speedy style solution. Add some quirky hooks to dress your wall with personal trinkets! Priced £35. ✽ www.roseandgrey.co.uk

TIP OF THE SEASON

OUTDOOR EDGE

If you're looking to refresh a nursery or bedroom this summer why not start at the hub and begin with bedding. Splashing out on some lovely linen will give the room a new lease of life and will save you having to redecorate. Pastels work wonders for cot-bedding and are bang on trend this season. Clair de Lune create some gorgeous bedding sets, with complementing blankets to finish the look.

See website for details. ✽ www.clair-de-lune.co.uk

Scatter nature inspired cushions and blankets to engage in some outdoor activity indoors.

See websites for details. ✽ www.donnawilson.com ✽ www.bouf.com

ROCKIN' ROBIN!

We love this quintessentially British printed wallpaper by Ana Moly. Your little ones will enjoy having cute characters to fill their nursery or bedroom. Ana Moly provides subtle print for children's surroundings, all papers use non-toxic organic inks. Available in delicate 'Butter Sun' and fearless 'Jade'. Priced £65. ✽ www.ana-moly.co.uk

PEG PASSION

Peg up some quirky postcards and images on this photo garland. With assorted apple, circles and heart shaped clothes pegs it's a mini installation of art! Priced £7.70. ✽ www.vertbaudet.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 83

Beauty Blog

SUMMER Dip into this season’s sweetest new colours for nails, get a safe, sunkissed glow and stop to smell the roses (and the jasmine!) with summer’s prettiest new fragrances. Enjoy!

MORE FUN THAN PICK ‘N’ MIX! (FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT)

Zoya’s Professional Lacquer (£8.95) in Piaf, Blu and Gie Gie; LCN’s Blossom Sorbet Nail Polish (£5.50) in Vintage Rose, Soft Daisy, I Love Mint and Lilac Blossom; Mavala’s Nail Polish (£4.50) in Lagoon, Lemon Cream, Aquamarine and White; Estée Lauder’s Pure Color (£14.50) in Dilettante; W7’s UV Nail Polish (£4.95) in Rave; Bourjois’ So Laque Glossy (£5.99) in Oh So Rose and Adora-bleu;

just

By Jenni Baden-Howard

GLOW with it

A

s every mama now knows, the only safe way to get a golden glow that will help you feel your gorgeous, summer bodyconfident best is to fake it. ‘Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, and the majority in skin cancers are due to excess UV exposure,’ says Dr Helen Robertshaw MBBS FRCP, consultant dermatologist and the founder of southfaceskin.com.

‘Melanoma is linked to the sort of intermittent sun exposure you get with occasional sunny holidays. Of course, some people are at higher risk: if you have fair skin that burns easily, lots 2 of moles and if you have had sunburn previously, you’ll need to be especially careful in the sun’.

How to get a safe, sunkissed glow? Be scrupulous about shielding your face and body with a high factor sunscreen - at home and away - and, of course, ensure your family are well protected too. ‘Children’s skin is more sensitive to UV light,’ explains Dr Robertshaw, who, as a mother of three herself, recommends the Sun Sense range for adults with sensitive skin, babies and children.

Meanwhile, to get a faux glow that will keep you radiant all summer long, try one of the following, tried and trusted self-tanning techniques.

9

8

7

✶ STAR BUY ✶

Espa’s new Essentials Body Lotion (£18) in Zesty Lemon, Ylang Ylang and Crushed Tonka Beans.

We can’t get enough of this summery smell! Hydrates with 98% natural ingredients.

TINTED SELF-TANNERS These don’t wash off - colour develops slowly over a few hours after application - but the product does tint the skin immediately so you can see where you’re applying it.

THREE OF A KIND: Origins’ The Great Pretender, £17 (1) goes on easily, has a lovely, peppermintfresh smell and produces a natural-looking, sunkissed colour; Clinique’s Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion, £18 (2), which has a cream-gel texture, and L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Body Self-Tanning Gel Tinted & Shimmering, £13.47 (3).

4

5

6

ESTÉE LAUDER

GET THE PERFECT BRONZED LOOK

01 BOBBI BROWN

INVEST IN AN EXPERT BRUSH BOBBI BROWN’S BRONZER BRUSH (£37.50) IS A CLASSIC

WASH-OFF TINTS Here, sprays less messy to apply than gels, which can stain your palms (the last thing you want to be doing is scrubbing your hands after giving your legs a touch of last minute colour before rushing out the door!).

THREE OF A KIND: Soap & Glory’s Glow Getter Sun Powder Spray, £10.50 (4) and W7’s Tights In A Tin, £1.75 (5) and Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Legs, £9.99 (6).

THE GRADUAL GLOW Ideal for self-tanning newbies and those with fair skin, ‘gradual’ tanners allow you to build up a sunkissed glow slowly, with each application. Top up colour once or twice a week, to maintain the effect.

THREE OF A KIND: XEN-TAN’s Transform Luxe, £24.99 (7), an award-winning formula which develops into a really authentic-looking, just-back-from-hols glow we’re very impressed with; Johnson’s Holiday Skin Body Lotion, £7.15 (8) and Garnier Skin Naturals’ Summer Body Moisturising Lotion, £5.10 (9).

3

02 1

XEN-TAN

MOVE BEYOND YOUR FACE DUST A LITTLE BRONZER ONTO YOUR EARLOBES, TOO, BLEND AT THE JAWLINE AND SWEEP SOME ONTO YOUR NECK AND DECOLLÉTÉ.

03 XEN-TAN

FINISH WITH A ‘POP’ OF ROSY-PINK BLUSH IN THE APPLES OF YOUR CHEEKS TRY BOURJOIS’ LITTLE ROUND POT BLUSHER (£7.49), IN THE SHADE YOU NATURALLY BLUSH. L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 85

5

PURE DKNY DROP OF ROSE

(£50, 100 ML EAU DE PARFUM)

BURBERRY BODY TENDER

is the latest addition to the Pure DKNY scent series.

It features roses handharvested by families in the Isparta Valley in Turkey.

A must-try for rose lovers...

(£62, 85 ML EAU DE TOILETTE)

This is a truly lovely, made-for-summer blend of fresh lemon, English rose and warm white jasmine.

Soft, fresh but with a modern, super-elegant edge.

Summer

Bloom in

Take your pick from five of this season’s prettiest new perfumes ...

MARNI EAU DE PARFUM

(£68, 65 ML EAU DE PARFUM)

is the Italian fashion house’s first fragrance. It’s a beautifully feminine yet modern mix of spicy, woody and rose notes (with a dash of sunny bergamot) and we love the chic bottle, too!

L’EAU D’ISSEY ABSOLUTE

(£35, 25 ML EAU DE PARFUM)

is billed as a ‘luminous floral‘, inspired by sunset.

The key notes are warm and sultry: honey and nightblooming jasmine.

CHANEL CHANCE EAU TENDRE (£50, 50 ML EAU DE TOILETTE)

is a vibrant, fruity-floral with top notes of grapefruit-quince, mixed with jasmine absolute and with a base of white musk.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 87

Secondary

Infertility

After having one child you assume that the second conception will be plain sailing, well this isn’t always the case... Emma Oliver talks about her experience of secondary infertility.

WORDS: EMMA OLIVER

L

ooking back, the hardest moment through all of my secondary infertility hell, was when my mother-in-law (stood right beside me), said to my two-year-old, ‘Ah poor little Esme, when is Mummy going to give you a sibling?’ I mustn’t forget to mention that she knew about my miscarriage history.

That cruel question was answered every month by my body, and hope would be replaced with disappointment.

Disappointment, anxiety, failure, loss, grief: these are all words that are associated with Secondary Infertility (also referred to as SI). An issue that is for the most part unexplained, and now affects as many as one in five couples.

Zita West, a fertility consultant and midwife who takes a holistic approach to reproductive health, told me why she thinks this is.

“The main reason is age; women are having babies later and this has a big impact on conceiving, for life’s events take over. Women are returning to work, they’re up through the night with the baby, perhaps still breastfeeding.

Energy is required to get pregnant and women are exhausted.”

“There are medical reasons for Secondary Infertility too,” says West.

“...women are having babies later and this has a big impact on conceiving, for life’s events take over.

Women are returning to work, they’re up through the night with the baby, perhaps still breastfeeding. Energy is required to get pregnant and women are exhausted.”

“For example, if a woman has suffered a miscarriage, is anaemic, has fibroids, polycystic ovaries or thyroid issues.

These can all have an effect.”

“Also, what a lot of women don’t realise is that after giving birth, it can take up to 18 months for your body to return to normal; to finally see clear of the baby fog.”

I concur. My little one is 18 months old and I am literally reclaiming clarity now. More than ever I find that much needed ‘me’ time (incidentally a prerequisition of optimum fertility) a long way down the subconscious stack of things I have to accomplish. Ha! I’m sat here wondering how long it would take to fall with baby number three? Forget it, I know to quit while I’m ahead; how lucky I am to have two. But is it down to luck? West would argue not. And she’s perfectly placed to do so.

For although Secondary infertility is on the rise, at her central London clinic, West has helped hundreds of couples a year to get pregnant naturally, many having tried for years before without success. So why is it a natural approach can be all that’s needed?

“Because Secondary Infertility is often caused by stress and the pressures a woman puts on herself.

Wanting a particular age gap between babies for example,” explains West.

I can identify with this, although I’ve since realised it’s complete poppycock.

The perfect age gap doesn’t exist. In truth, your children are either going to get along, or not. Everything else is inconsequential.

Everyone knows someone who’s fallen pregnant after stopping trying, or fallen pregnant naturally after having a baby through IVF. In short, fallen pregnant when all desperation has been removed. So it would seem remaining stress-free and positive can affect your chances of conceiving. West agrees.

“Yes, the hardest thing for my clients is the uncertainty. Not being in control and often having no confidence in their body’s ability to conceive; but this is just a case of learning how to manage those feelings; finding the right mindset.”

Of course that’s easier said than  done. Not conceiving is depressing.

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The stash of home test kits; ugly. The thought that you already have a child, what gives you the right to feel upset; confusing.

Having Esme, I knew we were incredibly blessed, but in some ways it made things harder, for I didn’t understand why I was unable to conceive so easily again or indeed, retain the pregnancy each time I did.

I was considered ‘old’ when pregnant with Esme at age 38. So by 40, I was positively ‘elderly’ according to the medical profession. Most certainly my body was producing far less healthy eggs by then. In fact, because of my age, I only had a 10-15% chance of conceiving with my own eggs.

I had tests with the gynae. So did my other half, who was delighted and seemed to strut around the house for the rest of the week after his result, (was it my imagination or was his chest really puffed out?).

I went on progesterone and baby aspirin (to help prevent miscarriage), but I didn’t want to take it as far as Clomid (the egg stimulating drug) or indeed want any further assistance medically under the NHS until I’d fully explored the alternative therapy avenue. Foolish, some may say. At my age, that would be pushing it… …But because of my age, IVF would only be offered privately ( fair enough), and then the success rate for the overforties is minimal. Looking to natural therapies felt right to me. Together with a time restriction.

West disagrees with the time restriction, as setting a limit is introducing yet more pressure, but for me it was necessary. I needed a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if

“Not conceiving is depressing. The stash of home test kits; ugly. The thought that you already have a child, what gives you the right to feel upset; confusing.” that tunnel was going to take me in a different direction to the one I’d first hoped. I gave myself six more months, determined to throw absolutely everything at it, so I could look back without doubt.

I changed my diet, cut back on coffee and alcohol, started up supplements and homeopathy. I had Manual Lymphatic Drainage to help circulate hormones. And I saw a cranial osteopath, who I believed helped me enormously.

I didn’t get to try acupuncture for, brilliantly, in the sixth month of my allocated time, I conceived. However, studies have shown a link to its aiding conception (it is said to help with blood flow to the uterus, decrease stress hormones and generally help you unwind).

Also recommended are hypnotherapy, reflexology and meditation. In short anything that can help with relaxation. Which reminds me, I’ll have to book in for a treatment next time I’m expecting a visit from the mother-in-law.

I realise how fortunate I am to have a sibling for Esme Grace, and I thank my lucky stars, oh and my omega 3s, for having little Sofia Faith in my life. ✿

If you too hope to overcome SI naturally, here’s how you can help yourself and increase your chances of conceiving: First thing’s first, get your other half checked out. Then if you haven’t looked up Zita West, do so: zitawest.com She has written several books on fertility and conception, which I found particularly helpful.

Address your diet – make sure you’re eating lots of omega 3, protein and anti-oxidants.

Take care, take supplements, L-arginine, amino acids, multivits, and folic acid. And if you have a history of miscarriage, consider junior aspirin (75mg).

I took the homeopathic remedy Agnus Castus (anything that affects your hormones can affect your ability to conceive) although Zita West did not think this would help everyone.

MLD is great for de-toxing and helping flush through hormones.

The clinic I used was Holistic Haslemere: www.holistichaslemere.com Cranial osteopathy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, reflexology and meditation are all recommended to help de-stress.

Oh and don’t forget – you will not conceive without it, so enjoy lots of sex!

You can catch up with Emma through her blog where you will find more on MLD, cranial osteopathy and homeopathy, as well as her stories on pregnancy, loss, birth and babies. To follow LIFE AS IT IS log on to 1grace1faith.blogspot.co.uk

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The Spa Series When you throw the words ‘world class’ into the equation, one cannot help but expect nothing less than the best. Well, SenSpa at Careys Manor in the New Forest certainly delivered, oh yes.

WORDS: R E B E CC A M O O R E | IMAGES: S E N S PA , C A R E YS M A N O R

T

he New Forest makes for the perfect path of escapism, and with over 200 square miles of beauty to be explored, I so much as look at those relentless peaks of green and feel relaxation ooze through. Okay, so it’s not Bali or The Seychelles but the New Forest is without doubt one of my favourite places to unwind without having to leave British turf. Although not far from the hustle and bustle of Southampton, Careys Manor sits in the quaint village of Brockenhurst and welcomes a mix of pamper cravers each day.

Before I indulged in a day at SenSpa, I had an evening of elegance to be enjoyed at Careys Manor first. This 17th century manor house is steeped with archaic grace and class. Boasting 79 luxurious bedrooms and sumptuous suites this posh pad is certainly fit for a King and his entourage. Primarily used

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as a hunting lodge the regal aspects of its history still resonate today, with high ceilings and grand décor gracing the entirety of the manor.

It wasn’t a struggle to make myself comfortable in my Oakwood Garden Room, with an overlooking view of the gardens, which could be appreciated through the Juliette doors. And with ample space I loved the unfussy opulence, which would be my home, even if it may just be for one night.

Careys Manor proclaims three dining options; suiting all diners’ tastes. The three restaurants; The Zen Garden, The Manor Restaurant and Le Blaireau all offer a different tasting experience from traditional British dishes to fine French cuisine. I opted for The Zen Garden with their authentic Thai menu. Serving a selection of Thai cuisine, within the realms of a tranquil atmosphere, the Zen Garden offers the finest taste of Thai. Proudly boasting an ethical food policy they exclusively source the very best ingredients and

endeavour to use local and organic products where possible. The décor and ambience only complemented the cuisine in hand. Pleasantly full, in a completely tranquil environment, my road to relaxation had begun and after a good night’s sleep it would take little persuasion to enjoy a day at the spa.

When dawn broke, I made my way down to breakfast, which was laid out in The Zen Garden Restaurant, displaying a selection of pastries, fresh fruit and cereals. I made sure that I tasted one of their fabulous smoothies too. I opted for a peanut butter based option, not something that instantly sounded appealing but I knew with its slow releasing energies it would keep me perky. And, despite reservations, it wasn’t like endeavouring on a ‘Bushtucker Trial’ at all, in fact like everything else it was delicious!

My treatment was at 10am giving me time to have a tour of the facilities beforehand by a receptionist, so I was assured there’d be nothing that would

Win The Essence of SenSpa Day for 2!

The Essence of SenSpa Day is the perfect opportunity if you want to experience all of the award winning facilities and enjoy a delicious Thai lunch and you and a friend could experience the following:

slip the net later on. You’re informed to report to reception 5 minutes before your designated treatment to fill out the necessary paperwork (and sip on a cup of green tea!). I specified that I’d like special attention paid to my back, standing at nearly 6ft and enrolling in a myriad of computer-aided work means my back gets a bit of a bashing so I hoped this could be eradicated.

As my therapist arrived at reception to greet me I was whisked up into one of SenSpa’s 40 treatment rooms. I’d already decided a few weeks back that I would opt for The Essential Relaxation Massage (principally a full body massage). Now, I’m fortunate enough to be a fairly regular spa-goer, and each time before I go my indecisive nature rears its ugly head and I land up in treatment

and dribbling down my chin.

Benefiting from an early treatment meant I had the whole afternoon to explore the facilities, which in themselves are worth spending the day on - so many routes to relaxation. My first port of call was the hydrotherapy pool, where you can really appreciate the therapeutic benefits of water. With different stations to submerge yourself, this replicated the comforts of a relaxing soak in the tub but of massive proportions. As I reclined on the underwater benches the gentle massaging bubble jets maintained my inner tranquillity alongside targeting pressure points with strategically placed water jets. I could have quite happily remained plunged all day. SenSpa boast a multitude of facilities including a Herbal Sauna, Crystal

“And with ample space I loved the unfussy opulence, which would be my home, even if it may just be for one night.” turmoil. And I’m not proud to say, I’m a bit of a ‘pick what you know’ type and as I’ve indulged in a few massages I couldn’t resist but be sucked up by this one. I find the results so rejuvenating making it very difficult to be swayed.

And my pre-determined expectations were more than pandered to. 60 minutes of sheer concentrated relaxation, with my requested back attention acted upon, this massage was faultless.

Head to toe, I was unperturbed. The professionalism and attention to detail, was truly second to none. Why did it have to end I thought? Although for a bit of self-dignity it was probably a good thing as I was minutes off dozing

Steam Room and Tepidarium. The Tepidarium was a personal highlight, a space to relax on heated loungers under the twinkling lights, and catch 40 winks.

You’ll also find Experience Showers, Laconicum and an Ice Room (ideal for a pulse of adrenaline!).

Their 14m ozone swimming pool, overlooking the Zen Garden, is great for a leisurely swim, or an ideal setting when relaxing on poolside loungers.

I can’t stress enough the exclusivity of this Spa, dosed with Thai inspiration, you really do forget that you’re in the UK. SenSpa is incomparable on so many levels. It’s just a shame it had to come to an end. ✿

• Full use of the award winning spa facilities - Hydrotherapy pool, herbal sauna, crystal steam room, laconicum, tepidarium, ice room, experience showers, health showers, ozone swimming pool, gymnasium, relaxation room and quiet room • Complimentary light healthy breakfast served in their Relaxation room • A delicious two course lunch in the Zen Garden Restaurant • A mind body class that is adaptable for all levels which involves relaxation, stretching or movement or a combination of all designed to help you truly unwind. Comfortable Thai pyjamas are provided for you to wear during your class too • Complimentary herbal tea and selected refreshments For entry details please see our contents page. Good luck! ✽ www.senspa.co.uk ✽ www.careysmanor.com

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From England to

Gibraltar

This season we travel to Gibraltar to talk to expat mum, Laura Wharfe, about family life on the rock.

WORDS: HELEN HOLMES

L

aura Wharfe and Rob Bailey live in Gibraltar, a British territory of just 2.6 square miles perched on the southernmost tip of Spain, with their baby daughter, Tabitha.

Laura was just 21, and living with her parents in Enfield, North London, when she met Rob on a work night out.

“We both work for the same insurance company, but Rob was based in the head office in Gibraltar and I was at our office in Enfield. After a couple of drinks we got talking, and then spent most of the night chatting about life in Gibraltar and the latest gossip from our Enfield office – the rest is history!”

Rob and Laura embarked on a long-distance relationship, and over the next few months they travelled between the UK and Gibraltar in order to spend time together. When, after six months, Laura was offered the option

of a transfer to the company’s Gibraltar office, she jumped at it. “I wanted to be with Rob no matter what, and I’d been getting really down about us not being able to see each other as much as we would like to. I told my parents that not only was I moving out, but I was leaving the country as well! I packed my suitcase, sold my little car, had a very drunken and emotional leaving do, and that was it.”

Once she was there full time, Laura found it relatively easy to adapt to life on the other side of Europe. Rob had been living in Southern Spain, and commuting to Gibraltar for four years, and he had a close group of friends that Laura was able to slot into. “I settled in very quickly. I love the Gibraltarian and Spanish way of life – everything’s very laid back, and Gibraltarians are very friendly and welcoming. It helps that the Costa del Sol, which Gibraltar borders, is full of British expats, and that English is the first language in Gibraltar – though

the majority of locals are fluent in Spanish as well.”

After a couple of years together in Gibraltar, Laura and Rob decided to start a family. “We both knew that we wanted children, and I wanted to be a relatively young mum, and to have quite a large family – I think Rob just went with the flow!”

Tabitha was born in July 2012, and Laura is full of praise for the maternity services at St Bernard’s – the only civilian general hospital on Gibraltar. “The care I received both before and after the birth was absolutely brilliant. The hospital is very modern, spacious and clean. I enjoyed going there for my prenatal appointments, and didn’t want to leave the maternity unit after the birth. I felt so well looked after that I can’t wait to have another baby there!”

Rob, Laura and Tabitha now live in a two bedroom flat, in the South district of Gibraltar. Space is at a premium on the peninsula, as Laura  explains. “There’s a shortage of houses,

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gardens and outdoor space. Our flat is in a beautiful complex and has a decent sized balcony, but to live in a house with a garden, which we would ideally have liked, would have been too expensive. It’s much cheaper to live across the border in Spain, but the traffic can get very busy – in the summer it’s not unusual for it to take three hours just to get over the border – which would make life extremely difficult with two parents working, and a child at nursery.”

However, according to Laura, the cost of property and lack of outside space is more than compensated by the benefits of living in Gibraltar.

“Obviously the beautiful weather is a big bonus. Our winters are very mild, and the summers are a lot of fun – the beach is a five minute walk, we have barbecues every day, and we spend lots of time sunbathing by the pool. I walk to and from work, and to drop Tabitha at nursery every day, and we spend most of our weekends walking to places and eating outdoors. There’s also a very low crime rate in Gibraltar, and a small community feel to the place – I always feel safe here.”

“I didn’t really think about how hard it would be having a baby abroad – it wasn’t until Tabitha was born that I realised that it was just the two of us and our baby, alone.”

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Laura also appreciates the way that the laid back attitude of the locals extends to children. “Children stay up quite late here – it’s not unusual to see young children up and having dinner after 9pm – and people seem to be happy to have them around playing, unlike in London where it sometimes feels as though there’s a bit of a tutting attitude towards kids. There are also lots of activities and celebrations here that are entirely for children, for example the Three Kings Cavalcade in January – when there’s a big parade and kids dress up on floats, and throw sweets to the crowds waiting below.”

And with Tabitha now at nursery, Laura seems very happy with the childcare and schooling options available locally. “The schools in Gibraltar follow the English curriculum which is great, as Tabitha may need English qualifications for university entrance or jobs in the future. There’s a private school here, which has a great reputation and is not expensive at all, compared to private schools in England.

That’s where we’re hoping to send Tabitha, though we’ll look around before making the final decision, as we’ve been told that the local schools are very good too.” As most local people are fluent in Spanish, Laura and Rob are also hoping that Tabitha will grow up speaking both languages. “Although schools follow the English curriculum, and lessons are in English, the majority of students will speak Spanish amongst themselves most of the time – so it’s highly likely that Tabitha will pick up the language.”

Another advantage of living in Gibraltar is that there is no shortage of nearby countries to explore. “The whole of Spain is right next door, and

there’s also Morocco. We can see Tangiers clearly from our balcony, and you can take a boat there. Marrakech is a 50 minute flight from Seville, Portugal is a four hour drive, and Ibiza is a 50 minute flight from Malaga.”

With all the sunshine and travel opportunities, there doesn’t seem to be much for Laura to miss about life in Enfield, though she does admit to pining for the London shops, “There are lots of British high street stores here - Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Monsoon, even a Morrisons – but space is very limited, so they can’t carry a wide variety of stock”.

And one thing that Laura has found challenging, is becoming a mum so far from her family. “I didn’t really think about how hard it would be having a baby abroad – it wasn’t until Tabitha was born that I realised that it was just the two of us and our baby, alone.

We’ve come to rely on friends to help us, and we do the same for them. It does make me sad, though, to think that Tabitha won’t grow up seeing her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins as much as we would like her to.”

Nevertheless, with London just a two and a half hour flight away, Laura and Rob aren’t planning to give up their relaxed life in the sunshine any time soon. “We’re very happy here – we enjoy our jobs, and we’ve bought our flat. We have some great friends, and I have a large support network of other mums who all live nearby. Hopefully we’ll stay here for a while yet – it really does feel like home!” ✿ Are you off on an exotic adventure? Or do you know someone who lives abroad and would like to share their story?

Get in touch: editorial@littlemedia.co.uk

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& multimedia Books

WORDS AND RESEARCH: RACHEL NEWCOMBE

CHILDREN’S BOOKS My First Touch and Trace – Count 123 and My First Lift and Learn – First Colours Both Little Tiger Kids, £5.99 These two bright and colourful books are part of a new series from Little Tiger Kids that are taking a fresh new approach to helping pre-school children get to grips with learning.

Both books use photographic images, rather than illustrations, to introduce children to colours and numbers and they’re packed full of easily identifiable images of everyday objects and animals.

In Count 123 there’s a useful addition of large, cut out grooved letters, so children can trace the number with their finger and get acquainted with

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WE LOVE! the pattern and shape of each number.

There are also flaps to lift on each page, with a simple prompt question underneath asking them how many items they can see. The book covers the numbers 1 to 20, plus there are some extra test questions at the back to see how their learning is progressing. First Colours uses big lift up flaps to help children learn each colour and identify the colour of different items. It covers a good range of colours and the book has a useful cut out handle built into the top of the design so it can easily be carried around. Both books are made from chunky hardboard, so should be durable and ready to take the demands of toddlers.

Naked Trevor

By Rebecca Elliott Templar, £6.99 Trevor the sparrow doesn’t want to get dressed in his feathers. Instead, much to the shock and horror of his feathered relatives, he wants to stay naked.

After trying to persuade Trevor that he should put on his sparrow costume, Trevor goes off in search of his own unique outfit, with interesting results.

This fun story is brought to life by the characterful illustrations, drawn by awardwinning illustrator, Rebecca Elliott.

meet th e auth or

M U LT I M E D I A

S A M M C B R AT N E Y

When I Was a Lad: A Collection of Children’s Folk Songs

By Megson Hanna & Hanna, £10 This lovely collection of folk songs

by Megson (aka husband and wife duo, Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna) features a nice mix of traditional and original songs aimed at children and families. It makes a pleasant change from the usual style of children’s music and is something that the whole family can listen to at home or in the car. The album was inspired by the arrival of their daughter, Lola Wren, and features some specially written tracks, as well as old favourites. www.megsonmusic.co.uk Baby Ballet: Class Favourites and Twinkle’s Surprise Party Baby Ballet, £10 Babyballet is a music and movement programme aimed at babies and children aged six months and older.

This new DVD brings together some

Mini Bears Adventure: Tummy Rumble Time Mini Bears Adventure: Meet Big Tooth Mini Bears Adventure: Dance of the Honey Bees Mini Bears Adventure: Saving Blue Fish Written by Geoff Stuart, illustrations by Cindy Catts Just Imagine, £3.99 Meet the Mini Bears, in this series of adventures by Geoff Stuart. The bears live deep in a forest in their own special tree house and each bear has their own quirky characteristics, in a similar vein to the Mr Men or Little Misses. For example, there are bears with traits such as Cheeky bear,

of the favourite Babyballet songs and action songs from their popular classes, featuring the characters Grandad Jack, Flutterby the Fairy and Twinkle the Bear. Part two of the DVD features a panto style performance recorded at a live show in Halifax, with plenty of audience participation required. www.babyballet.co.uk Tree Fu Tom: Tree Fu Magic Freemantle Home Entertainment, £9.99 Eight-year-old Tom transforms into super-hero Tree Fu Tom when he puts on his magic belt and performs a special sequence of moves. In this DVD children can join Tom and his best friend, Twigs the Acorn Sprite, for a series of action packed adventures in Treetopolis. The DVD doesn’t just encourage passive viewing – children are encouraged to get involved too, by performing their own Tree Fu moves to help Tom save the day.

Snoozey bear, Munchie bear and Miss Happy. The glossy, bold and bright illustrations are very child-friendly and make it easy to identify each bear – in fact, children are encouraged to pick their favourite bear and make a note of it in the front of each book. As well as an action-packed story, each book features the Mini Bear Song and a relevant Did You Know fact. www.cloudninebooks.com

Sam started writing children’s books when he was a teacher in his thirties, with the aim of helping out students who had trouble reading.

Since then he has written over a hundred titles.

Sam McBratney was born seventy years ago in 1943 in Belfast during the Second World War. Sam grew up in Lisburn, in the Lagan Valley where he attended the grammar school.

From there he studied History and Political Science at Trinity College Dublin and went on to become a teacher. Sam is most famous for his book Guess How Much I Love You, which was published nearly 20 years ago and still remains a well loved title featuring in children’s bookcases all over the world.

When writing Sam tends to concentrate on the relationship between parent and child, to render it truthfully, and importantly seek out the fun, and to present the relationship in a way that all ages can enjoy. He usually works in the evenings from about seven to eleven and draws on a whole line of inspirations, “There are people in this life who want to dwell on their experience, organise it, make sense of it through the use of words - and I’m one of them. It’s just something that you do as well as you can, and you don’t stop doing it until they put the pennies on your eyes.”

Sam’s beautiful new book There, There has just been published by Templar and is on sale now, priced £6.99. www.templarco.co.uk

The Interactive Art Book

By Ron van der Meer Tango Paper, £20 If your child is showing an interest in learning about art, then the Interactive  Art Book is an education in itself.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 99

CHILDREN’S BOOKS CONTINUED...

Two Shy Pandas

By Julia Jarman, illustrated by Susan Varley Andersen Press, £10.99 This cute and warm-hearted tale deals with the issues of childhood shyness.

The story focuses on two pandas – Panda and Pandora – who live next door to each other in Bamboo Gardens. Both pandas want to be friends and have company for playing games, but are too shy to speak to

Oh Dear, Geoffrey!

By Gemma O’Neill Templar, £6.99 Geoffrey the giraffe is tall and very friendly, but with his long spindly legs, he’s also rather clumsy. When he tries to make friends with other animals who are shorter than him, he gets into a bit of a pickle, but is there another way for him to make friends? This animal filled book is delightfully written and illustrated by Gemma O’Neill and is based on the theme of learning to be yourself.

Bear Has a Story to Tell

By Philip C Stead, illustrated by Erin E Stead Andersen Press, £5.99 This new children’s book from awardwinning duo, Philip and Erin Stead, tells the tale of a bear who wants to tell a story. Winter is coming and the bear is getting sleepy, so he sets off to try and find his friends. But they’re all busy getting ready for winter and don’t have time to listen. Poor bear wonders if he’ll get the chance to tell anyone his story before winter descends and his friends have gone to sleep…

Justin’s Funny Faces Sticker Activity Book

By Justin Fletcher Faber Kids, £3.99 Silly stickers and Justin – the perfect combination for young fans of CBeebies star, Justin Fletcher. This activity book features an array of empty faces waiting to be filled with the supplied stickers. Children can either use the prompts on each page and guidelines at the front of the book to create the suggested faces, or use their imagination and come up with their own creations. Finally, there’s the chance to give Justin a funny face too.

  

B O O K & C D G I V E AWAY We have the following fabulous books and CDs to give away!

 3 copies of When I Was a Lad: A Collection of Children’s Folk Songs

 3 copies of Naked Trevor  3 copies of Oh Dear, Geoffrey!



✽P lease turn to our contents page for details of how to submit your entry.

Closing date is 15/08/13. Good luck! Terms and conditions apply, for full details please see our website.

B O O K S F O R PA R E N T S

Yummy Discoveries: The BabyLed Weaning Recipe Book

By Felicity Bertin and Emma Ogden-Hooper Hale Books, £9.99 If you’re keen on trying baby-led weaning – where you offer your baby solid foods to feed himself – then this book is packed with information, recipes and ideas to help you. Written by two mums who’ve tried all the

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recipes themselves, you can restassured that there are menu ideas here that your whole family will enjoy – not just your baby. There are over 150 healthy recipes included that will make meal planning easier, plus useful information and tips on reducing food waste and using leftovers. Not all the recipes are illustrated, but some include actual pictures of the dish, plus there are tips from parents who’ve used baby-led weaning.

Birth Made Easy

By Paola Bagnall Hot Hive Books, £12.99 Subtitled, “The positive and enjoyable way to have a baby easily and naturally using self-hypnosis,” this

informative book is written by a hypnotherapist specialising in hypnobirthing and is designed to help women have the natural pregnancy and birth that they’d like.

If you’re new to hypnosis, then the first chapter of the book offers an introduction to what it is and how it can be a useful tool for childbirth.

Further chapters focus on breathing techniques and positive affirmations, plus there’s a useful visualisation script to use. There are practical tips and techniques for dealing with various pregnancy symptoms and concerns. Perhaps the most useful part of the book is the accompanying CD, which provides a self-hypnosis programme to use daily prior to giving birth.



each other or make a move. Will they ever manage to break through their shyness and make friends?



The book is a re-titled and updated edition of the classic work by paper engineer Ron van der Meer, and contains detailed information about how art is produced. Some of the information is perhaps better aimed at older children, but on every page there’s an interactive element which would appeal to younger siblings too.

There’s also a separate Interactive Art Activity Book which contains plenty of do-it-yourself activities for children of all ages to do. For example, there are ideas for doing potato prints, making collages and texture rubbings. As a whole, the book is a bit like a good visit to an interactive art museum, where activities for children run alongside actual art work, plus you’ll discover and learn new things every time you open it.

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FA M I LY - F R I E N D LY A P P S This summer's countdown of our top ten parenting apps

12 3 4 56 7

Guided Play £1.49 This learning app allows parents to play and teach their children.

There are 77 tips for sound related play including drumming, clapping, shaking, listening and speaking sounds. In the progress summary feature you can record the words and concepts that you have introduced to your child. Aimed for children aged 1-4 years.

Miffy goes flying £2.49 Miffy is back and ready to go flying in her uncle’s aeroplane.

They go on a trip over land, forest and sea.

Very young children can engage with the story, whereas older children can play the three interactive games.

Farm 123 Free Designed with toddlers and pre-schoolers in mind, Farm 123 pays special attention to learning reinforcement and is set up like a real book. Helps children cement their grasp of numbers 1 to 10 and the concept of sorting as they help Farmer Jo around the farm.

PoppetNeons Free Get some quiet time whilst your little ones piece together these interactive puzzles. Once the puzzles are completed the name is revealed, helping your child recognise words. You won’t see any computer-generated graphics here, all the illustrations are hand crafted by an artist. The app is silent – no distractions for you.

My Pregnancy Today The Baby Center £1.99 Simply enter your baby’s due date and your phone turns into an expert guide for each day of your pregnancy.

Feel more prepared for your baby’s birth and get the answers you need, whenever you need them. With Fetal development images, a nutritional guide and videos you will feel more prepared.

Spit Spot £0.69 Find activity ideas for your children such as cooking, craft or games. You can choose activities based on how much time you’ve got and the type of activities you want. The activities come with easy instructions and tips.

8

Home Bear £1.99 Help the bear find his way home whilst he stumbles across obstacles like walls and holes in the ground. Using tools you can help the bear overcome the obstacles, like using a ladder to climb. The levels of difficulty increase throughout the game.

Olly The Little White Van Free Follow the adventures of Olly and his friends in this interactive game. There are two games to play, Delivery Race and Fix It. Children can navigate the van to the parcels or fix various vans, like a puzzle. Young fans of the show can help Olly to fix his friends and deliver important packages. Ideal for children aged 4+.

910

Explore Learning Times Tables App Free Encourage children to have fun while they practice their times tables. The Times Table Guide lists all the times tables that are available to practice and several games that offer children a variety of fun ways to challenge themselves and learn.

Suitable for school children.

ShopChat Free Now you can put your shopping lists and conversations in one place to keep you on top of it all. Invite your friends to join the app and then you can share your shopping lists and wishes with them.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 103

Stress-free

Style

Can you compromise on cost and still maintain that designer catwalk look? We’ve been eyeing up ACHICA’s summer wardrobe, which is fitting for even the miniest of models.

WORDS: REBECCA MOORE | IMAGES: ACHICA

A D V E R T O R I A L

T

here are many perks to raising a child, but one that’s got to be a firm favourite is dressing up your little cherub. We all want to dress our little delights in the finest of frocks, but unfortunately the pull on the purse can leave one’s balance a little less desirable. There’s a key to getting it bang-on: spend wisely and utilise the domain of online shopping where you’re guaranteed to make a proud purchase.

The buzz that surrounds membersonly discount stores is ever growing and running exclusive daily shopping promotions is ACHICA whose sales last up to 72 hours. With no need to fight your way to the sale rail, you can be onto a winner without even leaving your sofa.

ACHICA host a range of clothing promotions for newborns up to age 12 at unrivalled prices, all of which have been vetted by their team of in-house buyers whose know-how ensure only the hottest trends will make the cut. You can expect to see top designer brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Angel’s Face and Darcy Brown, with a substantial slicing on the designer price tags meaning you’ll get more material for your money.

ACHICA’s fashion forte can come into play as soon as your bundle of joy arrives. Firstly, it’s integral to build up your little one’s wardrobe with coordinated pieces comprising of sleepsuits (The Gro Company and Merino Kids have gorgeous collections), vests and cardigans.

Little vests are an essential for summer as they replace a sleepsuit when it’s hot, and cardigans are always handy for layering up on those chilly summer evenings or helping out when the British weather is not on our side. Once you have taken care of those staples items, you can enjoy devising the cutest little outfits.

We all want our brood to boast a fabulous summer wardrobe, whether you’ll be showcasing it on your first family holiday, at summer parties, or simply embracing the sunshine at a picnic. Welcome the sun with open arms as ACHICA inspire with the latest fashion fixes, and if you are looking to swan off on a break this season ACHICA run holiday promotions ensuring that the whole family are ready to set sail in style.

Give the mini’s wardrobe a pinch of pizzazz, you won’t have to jet off to New York or mission it to Milan. In fact, you won’t even have to leave the sofa. Now, if ACHICA could promise some warm summer sun too that would be lovely. ✿

F E A T U R E

For the Baby

Alongside the wish list of cute clothing, adjacent sits the lengthy inventory of baby essentials required. When carrying a child the last thing you need is hunting high and low for bottles, bedding and a Moses basket. If you’re an avid organiser then you’ll probably have already formed a fine pile of baby bits before D-day, and if like most time-stretched mothers and fathers you’re feeling at a bit of a loose end not knowing how you’re going to fit in the birth let alone the preparation phase, let ACHICA kindly step in. The site often features fabulous brands such as Brother Max, Babyface and Natures Purest meaning you can cover feeding time, play time and bedtime and some of your own time too.

Explore ACHICA’s enticing world, it’s free to join – an easy answer to stress-free shopping. With a wealth of categories to discover including home furnishings, bed and bath, food, garden and pets, simply sign-up at www.ACHICA.com/littlemedia

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 105

when it comes to

babies...

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 2 3 456 7

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

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babies’ babies’bums bums

Creative Fun for your little one

Here’s Olive, why not use your best colouring pencils to decorate her and her snazzy dungarees.

Book Giveaway !

Join Olive in a hilarious brand new adventure Olive and The Bad Mood written and illustrated by Tor Freeman, Poor Olive is having a bad day despite her friends trying to cheer her up – will a trip to the sweet shop banish Olive’s bad mood? A wonderfully witty and sweet story with a twist in the tale.

WIN a selection of Brubaker, Ford & Friends books to cherish and share.

Send your entry to Little Media, Suite 2, Mitchell House, Brook Avenue, Southampton, SO31 9HP by 20 July 2013. For full terms and conditions visit our website.

Good luck!

Images © Tor Freeman 2013 Taken from Olive and the Big Secret

A N I MPR INT

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T HE T EMPL AR C OMPA NY L IMITED

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w i n nheer is. . .

Wi n Wi n Wi n!

The winner from our Naked Trevor colouring competition is o Lauren Crabb, wh r transformed Trevo ! into a spaceman

beat Heart Ev olu tio n

Your chance to

Pro

WIN

3 Move Click‘n

3 brand new

infant carrier products! courtesy of Kiddy

K

iddy, award-win­ ning manufac­ turer of children’s car seats, has just launched three products to make life easier for you and your newborn baby. These new products promise to offer numerous opportunities and complete flexibility giving you the freedom and lifestyle you choose – and you could win all of them!

Kiddy Evolution Pro – baby safety!

Group 0+ (0-18kg)

The Kiddy Evolution Pro infant carrier gives parents complete peace of mind.

When taken out of the car and placed on the Kiddy Click’n Move 3 or used as a rocker, with just one movement of the handle, the carrier transforms into a lieflat position so the baby can continue to sleep in a healthier position. Superbly

108 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

stylish, with excellent safety standards, it’s available in nine colours.

Kiddy Click’n Move 3 – the versatile 3 in 1 pushchair

Thanks to the practical, lightweight Click’n Move 3 frame, the Kiddy Evolution Pro transforms into a pushchair in seconds. As its role changes, so does the Kiddy Click’n Move 3. Initially it can be used with the Kiddy carry cot or the Evolution Pro (in lie-flat position) and, as your child grows, can be used as a forward or rear facing buggy making it a long-term companion.

Kiddy Heartbeat – 2 in 1 baby carrier

Infants are comforted by the closeness of their parents when carried in the Kiddy Heartbeat. Approved by the AGR (German Campaign for Healthier Backs), both parent and child enjoy a sense of togetherness in the best possible, ergonomically correct, position. The infant

sits in the baby carrier, either behind or infront of the wearer, in a position with legs spread and tucked up, which is considered to be the optimum position for hip joint formation. A comfortable back pad supports the spine and pelvis of the wearer and for optimal function; two sizes are available, small and large.

Kiddy are also giving away a range of accessories including the Kiddy Evolution Pro parasol and rain and mosquito cover – ensuring you’re fully equipped this summer. ✿ www.kiddy.de/en

How to enter...

For your chance to win this amazing prize, simply visit our website see contents page for details.

Terms and conditions: Only one entry per person.

Entrants must be over 18 years. This prize is nontransferrable, subject to availability, and no cash alternative will be offered. Closing date 15 August 2013.

Annabel Karmel's Summer Sensations

Summer is a great time to get your family to try exciting new salad ideas with a wide range of nutrients but also experimenting with new flavour combinations.

I struggled to get my children to eat salad, but when adding colourful bits like cherry tomatoes alongside delicious dressing it would instantly make it more appetising to kids. I still have bottles of the dressing in the pasta salad recipe in the fridge as my children love it!

Also, make fruit more exciting by threading chunks onto straws or making delicious ice-lollies.

You can use any fruit to do this, get your kids to decide on flavour combinations and make them up themselves.

WORDS: ANNABEL KARMEL

Serve in buns together with some salad and ketchup.

• 1 TBSP DARK SOY SAUCE

the onion and garlic until soft.

• 2 TBSP TOMATO CHUTNEY

INGREDIENTS • 3 SLICES OF WHITE BREAD

• 5 0G DESSERT APPLE GRATED

Tip into a bowl with two thirds of the breadcrumbs and the remaining ingredients and season.

•S UNFLOWER OIL FOR FRYING

• 1 TBSP SUNFLOWER OIL • 1 LARGE RED ONION, FINELY

METHOD

• 1 CLOVE GARLIC, CRUSHED

Put the bread into a food processor and whiz to make fine crumbs.

• 2 50G MINCED CHICKEN

Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté

CHOPPED

Using your hands, shape into 8 burgers and coat in the remaining breadcrumbs.

Heat the oil and fry the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes each side.

MAKES 8 PREP TIME 15 MINUTES COOK TIME 8 MINUTES SUITABLE FOR FREEZING

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‘Complete Family Meal Planner’ Ebury Press £14.99

CHICKEN BURGER

A N N A B E L

K A R M E L

• 6 SMALL CHERRY TOMATOES

METHOD

• 100G SWEETCORN •1 SMALL COOKED CHICKEN BREAST

To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend them until they are smooth.

DRESSING • ½ SMALL ONION PEELED AND FINELY CHOPPED

Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.

The secret of this salad’s success is its delicious dressing which all children seem to love. I make up a big bottle and keep it in the fridge as my three children put it on everything from chicken to rice and also use it as a dip for raw vegetables. This picnic salad makes a delicious summer lunch and can be served either warm or cold.

• 4 TBSP VEGETABLE OIL

Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables.

Peel and cut the carrot into think strips; top and tail the French beans, and chop the cherry tomatoes in half.

If you are using frozen sweetcorn, cook it either in a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave. Dice the chicken breast.

INGREDIENTS • 150G PASTA SHAPES

• 1½ TSP CASTER SUGAR

• 1 CARROT

•S ALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

• 75G FINE FRENCH BEANS

• 1 TBSP RICE WINE VINEGAR • 1 TBSP SOY SAUCE • 1 TBSP CHOPPED CELERY •¼ TBSP FINELY CHOPPED ROOT GINGER • 1 TBSP WATER • 1½ TSP TOMATO PURÉE

• 1½ TSP LEMON JUICE

Put the carrot and French beans in a steamer for about 5 minutes or until tender but still crisp. Drain the pasta and mix it together with the vegetables and diced chicken. Toss with 100ml of the salad dressing.

‘Complete Family Meal Planner’ Ebury Press £14.99

S UM M E R PA S TA S A L A D

S P I N A C H S A L A D W I T H M A N G O A N D S T R AW B E R R I E S

•5 STRAWBERRIES, HULLED AND SLICED DRESSING • 3 TBSP VEGETABLE OIL • 1 TBSP BALSAMIC VINEGAR • 1 TSP CASTER SUGAR

METHOD

Heat a dry frying pan and toast the pine nuts, continuously stirring for about 2 minutes or until golden.

This is a lovely combination of flavours, which is easy to prepare.

INGREDIENTS • 2 TBSP PINE NUTS • 2 TBSP DRIED CRANBERRIES

• 7 5G BABY SPINACH LEAVES •2 5G PEELED AND DICED RED ONION •1 SMALL OR 1 / 2 LARGE RIPE MANGO, PEELED AND CHOPPED

Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the salad in a bowl.

Make the dressing by whisking together the oil, vinegar, sugar and seasoning. Then toss the salad with the dressing and sprinkle the pine nuts over the top.

MAKES 2 PORTIONS

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 111

‘After School Meal Planner’ Ebury Press £14.99

•S ALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

LU S C I O U S LY C H E E FROZEN YOGHURT

I adore frozen yoghurt and it is a little less rich than ordinary ice cream. Lychee is one of my favourite flavours and is very refreshing. It’s worth investing in an ice cream making machine as you once you have tasted this you will want to make it again and again.

INGREDIENTS • 5 00ML FULL FAT NATURAL YOGHURT (1 X 500G POT) • 150ML SINGLE CREAM • 7 5G CASTER SUGAR • 1 X 425G TIN LYCHEES

You can also make frozen yoghurt using frozen fruits.

yoghurt, sugar and sieved fruit puree. Freeze in an ice-cream making machine.

INGREDIENTS • 2 00G MIXED FROZEN SUMMER FRUITS EG: STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, CHERRIES, REDCURRANTS

Alternatively, spoon into a suitable container and put in the freezer.

When half frozen beat well until smooth either with a hand-held electric whisk or a food processor, to break down the ice-crystals that form.

METHOD

• 2 00ML DOUBLE CREAM

Mix together the yoghurt, cream and sugar.

•4 00ML MILD NATURAL YOGHURT (EG ONKEN SET YOGHURT)

Blend the lychees together with 200ml of the juice from the tin.

‘After School Meal Planner’ Ebury Press £14.99

SUPER SUMMER BERRY YO GHURT ICE CRE AM

Freeze and churn the mixture in an ice cream maker.

If you don’t have an ice-cream maker, pour the mixture into a shallow container, place in the freezer for 1 hour, then transfer to a food processor and whiz until smooth. Freeze for 2 hours, then process again before freezing until firm.

SUITABLE FOR FREEZING MAKES 6 PORTIONS

112 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

Return to the freezer and stir one or two more times during the freezing process to get a smooth ice cream.

•7 5G CASTER SUGAR PLUS AN EXTRA TABLESPOON METHOD

Put the frozen berries in a small saucepan together with one tablespoon of the caster sugar and cook over a gentle heat for a few minutes until soft. Puree the fruit and press through a sieve to get rid of the seeds.

Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Mix together the cream,

30 MINUTES PREPARATION SUITABLE FOR FREEZING

Recipes can be found on ‘Annabel’s Essential Guide to Feeding your Baby and Toddler’ available from iTunes and Google Play for £3.99

sun and sleep shades for babies on-the-go

For prams, pushchairs, infant car seats and travel cots

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New Deluxe edition available from June

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BIVOUAC WOODEN SHACKS For the ultimate eco friendly glamping break, check in to a Bivouac wooden shack.

This glamping site has an unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism.

The wood burners supply heating and hot water and even the hot tub is heated by a log burner. From the privacy of their verandah guests can enjoy the sweeping views across the valley and moorland. The shacks have a stylish and snug

shabby chic décor and can accommodate up to 7 people. Features include gas hob and range, bed linen, a flushing toilet, a sink and a shower. There is no electricity so bring torches.

A short walk down the hill is the reception, shop, and café renowned for its delicious food. Guests can also use the shower facilities here with hot water provided by the carbon neutral wood chip boiler.

Summer nights

UNDER CANVAS Bid farewell to damp sleeping bags and a night time dash to the bushes when nature calls... join the luxury camping devotees and enjoy roll top baths & Egyptian cotton bed linen...

W O R D S: R E G I N A M OTA L I B

OUT & ABOUT Bordering on the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bivouac sits on a picturesque spot on the Swinton Estate boasting breathtaking countryside views. A short walk from the café is

Druid’s Temple, the local historical site constructed during the late 1800s. The historic market town of Masham, home to two famous Yorkshire Breweries, is only 3 miles away.

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✽ Bivouac at Druid’s Temple, Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 4JZ Telephone: 01765 535020 Reservations: hello@thebivouac.co.uk www.thebivouac.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT With its abundance of facilities, Priory Bay guests are spoilt for choice. On offer are superb spa treatments, tennis courts and a swimming pool. Activity options range from fishing and foraging to boating and yachting and a fantastic six-hole golf course. ✽ Priory Bay Hotel Priory Drive, Seaview, Isle of Wight, PO34 5BU Tel: 01983 613146 www.priorybay.co.uk

THE PRIORY BAY YURTS Glamping cannot get any better than a stay at a luxurious Priory Bay Yurt. Discreetly placed in their own woodland clearings above the private beach and in the woods, offering en-suite bathrooms complete with glamorous roll top baths and a flushing toilet. Molton Brown toiletries and the fluffiest of bath robes are also thrown in to add to the sheer opulence of these structures. Each spacious yurt is 20 feet in diameter and furnished with a king size bed with luxury cotton linen. There are sofas,

bean bags, soft lighting, accessories and exterior candlelit lanterns to add to the charm. From their private terraces guests can take in the magical views – whether it’s the dramatic Solent views, or spectacular vistas across the golf course and out to sea, or leafy, woodland boughs to the golden beach and crystal clear waters of Priory Bay. The only difficult task is deciding which of the two renowned restaurants to dine in or whether to opt for room service... or yurt service to be precise.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 115

Glynn

Barton

CottaGEs Eight award-winning child friendly cottages set in 13 acres with breathtaking views & excellent facilities

01208 821104 | glynn.barton@btconnect.com | www.glynnbarton.co.uk FHC ad - 163x123mm:Layout 1

28/4/13

22:57

Page 1

Luxury resorts with childcare Excellent value family rooms Online prices Heated pools Offers just for families Accommodation-only or flight inclusive packages

Help and advice from the experts, contact us

01279 639600

www.thefamilyholidayscompany.co.uk 116 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

OUT & ABOUT

CENTRE PARCS TREEHOUSES For a love of the great outdoors from the height of luxury, a Centre Parcs treehouse break will ensure a scenic setting and all the home comforts you need.

Set in a stunning village in either Nottinghamshire or Wiltshire, you will enjoy 400 acres of beautiful forest with lakes and streams.

Sitting amongst the canopy of 400 acres of woodland, the treehouses embrace the forest, incorporat-

Stay on site as there is so much to do. With a wide range of restaurants, cafés and shops and over 200 indoor and outdoor activities. Whether it’s the wild water rapids in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, swinging through the trees in the Aerial Adventure or even perfecting your archery skills - there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy. ✽ Centre Parcs Treehouses

ing the surroundings to create a true woodland experience. With four large luxurious bedrooms, all with their own private balconies and a fully equipped kitchen, the treehouses even have a large hot tub and sauna on the outside terrace to enjoy. Featuring the latest technology including a 42” plasma TV, iPod docks and a games den with a pool table and games consoles.

Bookings: 08448 267 723 www.centerparcs.co.uk

THE YURT RETREAT YURTS

OUT & ABOUT There’s an award winning Gastro pub within walking distance. The pretty town of Lyme Regis with its independent boutiques, second hand bookshops, cafés and museums, and famous for the French Lieutenant’s Women, is a 30 minute drive away. ✽ The Yurt Retreat, Fordscroft Farm, Fordscroft, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7TU Tel: 07773 505 671 www.theyurtretreat.co.uk

These four luxurious yurts will transport you to an idyllic country life. Nestled at the foot of a medieval castle site, they are set on an organic working dairy farm which has been in the same family for three generations.

Enjoy the natural beauty and abundant wildlife such as pheasants, badgers and deer grazing in the mornings. As it’s an adults-only retreat it is ideal for mums-to-be or tired couples who just need a break from their busy lives.

Each yurt has its own private bathroom and is tastefully decorated with vintage and hand made furniture and mains electricity powering the bedside lights. Guests have use of the spacious lodge with a farmhouse kitchen and comfy lounge

and a key to their own luxury shower situated in the lodge.

Toast marshmallows on the outdoor fire pit and gaze at the stars.

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 117

CAALM CAMP YURTS You will receive a warm welcome at this fabulous family-run rural retreat in the heart of the Dorset countryside. Stay in one of six beautiful handcrafted Mongolian Yurts. Sleeping up to 6 people, all yurts have electric lighting and sockets and travel cots are available on request. You can travel light as high chairs, baby baths, changing mats and bed rails are provided. Each yurt has its own fridge and luxury private shower room and toilet - complete with

fluffy white towels situated in the Old Hay Barn - a very short walk away. Guests also have use of a fully equipped kitchen and there is a large lounge with a children’s play area, flat screen TV, sofa and dining area. Children will love this secure ring-fenced glamping site, there are friendly goats, sheep, ducks and hens. They can scramble about on the wooden play equipment or get closer to the wildlife - deer, rabbits and pheasants are regular visitors!

OUT & ABOUT Caalm Camp is well situated for many attractions including Monkey World, the historic Saxon town of Shaftesbury and the beaches at Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Weymouth.

✽ Caalm Camp, Goods Farm, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0QH Telephone: 01747 838565 info@dorsetyurtcampsite. co.uk www.dorsetyurtcampsite.co.uk

MILL FARM CANVAS LODGES OUT & ABOUT Only 19.3 miles from Mill Farm is the amazing Longleat Safari Park. As well as the drive-through Safari which includes Lion Country, Tiger Territory and Monkey Jungle - there are other great attractions including Longleat House, Adventure Castle and Pets Corner. Tots will love the Postman Pat Village. ✽ Mill Farm, Belle Vue Farm, Poulshot, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1RZ Tel: 01380 828351 Email: info@millfarm glamping.co.uk www.millfarmglamping.co.uk

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Treat yourself to a simply divine short break in a Mill Farm luxurious canvas lodge. Situated on this friendly, family-run organic farm, each lodge is spacious and beautifully furnished and sleeps up to 6 people.

Parents will love the generous master bedroom and little ones will be thrilled with their cosy bunk barn.

The living and dining area has a stove with oven, hob and a wood burning fire for toasty toes. It also opens up to an attractive, covered veranda perfect for al fresco dining. Another great fea-

ture ‘camping shy’ families will adore is the private toilet and shower cabin on the rear deck of each lodge.

Younger guests will love collecting eggs for breakfast from the chicken coup.

There are also charming ducks, cattle and donkeys to interact with. Fun activities on site include laser clay pigeon shooting, bikes for hire, mini tractor and donkey rides and a superb under cover straw play arena. Guest can stock up on essentials from the honesty shop. There is also free Wi-Fi available.

If it’s a combination of relaxation, family time and stunning surroundings that you’re after then The Elms, in rural Worcestershire, is the hotel for you.

W O R D S : A L E X A N D R A YA N K O VA | I M A G E S : L U X U R Y FA M I LY H O T E L S A N D T H E YA N K O VA FA M I LY

S

inking into our deluxe duck and down duvet on our first night at The Elms Hotel in Worcestershire, part of the Luxury Family Hotels collection, I knew that the three hour, traffic blighted Friday journey at rush hour was definitely going to be worth it.

It didn’t seem to faze the welcoming receptionist remotely when we appeared at eight o’clock at night with

120 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

two rather disorientated and whingey children. Within two minutes all tears had been banished by the appearance of George, the recumbent hotel cat and the prospect of swimming at 7am!

In the dark, we hadn’t really been able to take in the magnificence of the façade of the Queen Anne Mansion that is now the home of the guests of the hotel, but the sweeping central staircase and roaring log fire (with fireguard!) certainly heightened our anticipation of our room.

Despite having been asleep for the past two hours in the car, Katya wasted no time in making a beeline for the stairs, which she returned to like a magnet at every given opportunity over the weekend. With no stairgates to hinder her sense of adventure, this was a baby’s idea of heaven!

All 23 rooms at The Elms are quirkily named after apples and pears, we found ourselves on the top wing in the double-roomed suite ‘Gladstone.’

From the furniture to the finishing

touches, this room felt like home: albeit a very luxurious one! Walnut antique furniture, a fireplace and beautiful prints adorning the wall, complemented by a stunning view from the ceiling to floor windows of the hotel grounds and hills beyond.

The hotel had been in touch beforehand and I was very impressed by the complimentary services they offered. Bed guards, step ups, children’s loo seats and milk are all available from reception. They even provided soya milk for our daughter who is lactose intolerant saving us the hassle. All rooms have a fridge and milk can be delivered to the room, warm or cold, at any time. There was something rather decadent about having our one year old’s milk arrive in a jug on a tray as room service!

The hotel also has sterilisers to borrow and a host of essentials such as nappies and nightlights that can be bought from reception if forgotten.

This attention to the sort of details that make or break family holidays were evident throughout. From an under stairs toy and book area, to a selection of wellies for guests to use, family is clearly at the heart of Luxury Family Hotels’ philosophy.

Nowhere was this better exemplified than early Sunday when the two Bears’ Den nannies came and collected our children from our room at 8am to take them to breakfast with other children in the crèche, leaving us to return to bed and await the delivery of our

own breakfast! The last time we’d had breakfast in bed was our honeymoon six years ago! This great service is offered every Sunday and was a real treat.

In fact, all the food we enjoyed over the weekend was a treat. The hotel offers a range of children’s two or three course meals for £5-7 including a high tea option, which then allows you to make use of the fantastic baby listening service and experience some fine dining without any children to distract you. We enjoyed a delicious menu of smoked salmon, steak and rhubarb crème brûlée – it was lovely to dress up for dinner knowing our girls were safely asleep in their room.

During the day, the Bears’ Den offers two hours complimentary childcare each day of the stay, including the day of departure, ensuring that parents have some quality relaxation time too.

The crèche had different daily activities and made a point of finding out what our girls’ interests were to help settle them quickly and leave us to enjoy papers by the fire, afternoon tea or a treatment in the spa. As a result, Sophia emerged from each session with her face painted as a different animal!

The crèche is also open for family use outside of the two-hour slots, situated in a woodland playground with a big trampoline as well as walks and ‘fairy’ trails for lots of fresh air.

There are a number of beautiful local towns and attractions if you wanted to explore further afield, including the

cathedral city of Worcester and the West Midlands Safari Park. It’s worth looking at the special offers on the hotel’s website too.

We were all more than content to just enjoy what the hotel had to offer, particularly their child-friendly spa, which still seemed to breathe tranquility despite the children splashing around. The girls could have stayed in the swimming pool and inside/outside hydro-pool all day, but I was more than ready to take advantage of the crèche in order to indulge my body to a blissful tranquility massage in the treatment rooms above. I found it remarkably easy to let go of all sense of parental responsibility as I drifted off in the ambient relaxation room afterwards!

We were all very reluctant to leave The Elms on Sunday afternoon. It was a true break for everyone and Sophia has already asked when we’re going back.

Not soon enough, is my reply. ✿ www.theelmshotel.co.uk or www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk

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The Hauck Colt

Website: www.hauckuk.com E-mail: info@hauckuk.com Tel: + 44 (0) 1978 664362

Takes you anywhere anytime Cares for you and your baby from birth

Your chance to

WIN your baby’s first beach holiday worth £500 courtesy of Blue Chip Holidays

F

amily holidays are where many memorable moments are formed and you just have to take a glance at Blue Chip Holidays’ portfolio to envisage the holiday of a lifetime.

Blue Chip Holidays are the leading provider of luxury 4 and 5 star self catering properties throughout the South West and Isle of Wight, and are offering one lucky winner the chance to win a holiday in one of their stunning properties.

With a gorgeous selection of cottages, apartments, barns and lodges nestled in some of the most picturesque areas and locations, you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to stay.

You’ll find properties perfect for tiny babies and toddlers, active teenagers, and couples who want to cosy up in a room with a breathtaking view. Each

property is chosen for its quirky style, stunning setting or good old-fashioned wow factor. Each property is different and each property is special…

Blue Chip Holidays have introduced a ‘Fabulous for Families’ collection; a handpicked selection of properties that especially welcome families. Take your pick from over 200 baby friendly

properties, each equipped with cots and highchairs free of charge, just perfect for your baby’s first holiday.

So whether you’re looking to explore some of Britain’s great beaches, or just hoping to embrace some relaxation let Blue Chip Holidays lead the way. After all, who doesn’t deserve a holiday? ✿ www.bluechipholidays.co.uk

How to enter...

For your chance to win this amazing prize, simply visit our website see contents page for details.

Terms and conditions – one lucky reader will be provided with a £500 voucher which can be used to stay in any one of the Blue Chip Holidays’ properties.

Vouchers cover many properties in full but can also be used towards the cost of a longer or more expensive holiday. Full terms and conditions are available at http://www.bluechipholidays.co.uk/generalcompetition-terms-and-conditions.html Good luck!

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 123

OVER THE TUSCAN HILLS

Travel Destinations

Prepare to be inspired as we’ve pulled together some of the finest family-friendly stays from near and afar... so sit back and enjoy the view.

Follow a winding five kilometre drive, consuming a wealth of views as you zigzag, and you’ll reach Podere Conti – a 17th century hamlet. Set on a 200-acre estate, this country hotel is enveloped by the undisturbed beauty of the Apennini mountains, which never tires.

You’ll be greeted by expat Cornelia and Italian husband Corrado, whose welcoming nature combined with impeccable attention to detail is second to none. Being parents to a bustling brood themselves, they appreciate the needs when holidaying with little ones in tow, and have addressed every aspect respectively. Boasting spacious self-catering apartments you’ll be reluctant to leave, but if you do manage to pull yourself away from the secluded delights (or the children away from the pool!) why not explore Tuscany? You could embrace a family ferry trip from historically plump Porto Venere to postcard picture town Cinque Terre. Podere Conti’s on-site restaurant La Tavolata offers surplus food for thought, you can enjoy delicacies which have been locally grown on the estate including olive oil, Porcini mushrooms and Lunigiana honey. Podere Conti is uncluttered luxury, where families can choose to relax, explore and enjoy the finest of food. Bellissimo!

✽ www.podereconti.com

A TASTE OF LUXURY LIVING We’ve found a slice of indulgent heaven with St. Nicolas Bay Resort in Crete. With its film-set location and panoramic views of the enchanting Gulf of Mirabello Bay, it seems appropriate that the resort should include not only a home cinema lounge, but also a restaurant which transforms into an open-air cinema. It’s luxury living at its best.

Accommodation ranges from rooms and suites to villas with private pools, some of which extend into a small peninsula. The properties, all individually designed and decorated, offer uncomplicated elegance.

You’ll be nestled in secluded ambiance, comfort and extra space (required when little ones are exploring!).

If you can pull yourself away from the luxury accommodation, there are a whole

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host of facilities to be enjoyed by parents and children alike. You may choose to spend your time relaxing on their private sandy Blue Flag beach, or the Poseidon Spa, with its full complement of Turkish baths, saunas and hydro jet bubble loungers.

If you’re interested in picking up the pace and getting amongst the

surrounding beauty, enjoy the host of watersports on offer including scuba diving and boat excursions. Families can enjoy a half-day or full-day trip to a private tiny cove just a 30 minute sail away, with drinks and snacks served onboard or at a beach barbecue. t. 01616 608 847 ✽ www.carrier.co.uk/family

PUTTING FAMILIES FIRST

Sani Resort boasts views of the shimmering azure coast, a surplus of white sands, an abundance of ancient olive groves framing the surrounding hills and a view of Mount Olympus – what more could you ask for? This gorgeous Greek resort encourages family fun with a variety of enticing activities on and off the water. The intimacy of Sani Resort ensures you’ll enjoy quality time together whilst still being able to make use of amenities. Equipped with three spas, 17 restaurants and an expansive selection of pools, rest assured all tastes are catered for.

New for 2013, childcare developments from the UK-run Melissa Crèche and Melissa Mini Club allow parents more flexibility than ever. Sani Resort now offers new childcare sessions during lunch and dinner, so parents can enjoy a romantic meal without little ones in tow or committing to a babysitter. ✽ www.sani-resort.com

Bolthole of the Season

SOAK UP THE SPANISH SUN If you’re on the hunt for a laid back holidaying experience, without the long haul flight attached, let the charm of Spanish hotel Caserío del Mirador entice you. The location is truly captivating, as you’re nestled in a fragrant valley in sight of the sea. The impressive view of the surrounding valley and dramatic mountains create a stunning backdrop, and the Spanish sun will only complement the view in hand. Set in the centre of a peninsular with an attractive coastline to tempt you, Caserío del Mirador’s a half an hour’s drive to the north, east and south so there’s scope for exploring. Nearby there are a variety of resorts with good facilities, coastal walks and a number of ports and marinas to visit. A day out at the coast can include a scenic drive, finding new play areas, an enjoyable lunch and of course splashing around on the beach.

It’s more than apparent that the owners, Sarah and Johnny Robinson, have little ones themselves as you’ll notice Caserío del

Mirador is not just child-friendly, but also a baby-friendly resort and the family-oriented approach has been applied in every aspect.

Caserío del Mirador provides a comforting and welcoming environment – which is essential on a first holiday with baby in tow.

The homely complex houses five apartments with a shared pool and terraced dining area to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Spain has a rich culinary heritage where meal times are central to Spanish life which Caserío del Mirador highlight in their fantastic food. Freshly prepared local ingredients provide a variety of Mediterranean dishes, served in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. And for utter seclusion, you can elect to eat in the privacy of your own apartment or terrace, or enjoy eating communally with other guests in the outside kitchen. Caserío del Mirador is a Spanish sizzler of a resort, catering for all ages. ✽ www.caseriodelmirador.com

This new family-friendly boutique hotel on the edge of Rhodes’ most picturesque village is offering clients of BabyFriendly Boltholes who stay 7 or more nights 2 hours complimentary babysitting and a candlelit dinner with wine in one of its more exclusive restaurants. With family suites, a kiddies play area, babysitting, kids menus and a long list of useful baby gear, Lindian Palace combines boutique hotel style, with family-friendly appeal. Week-long stays are from €874. ✽ b abyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 125

Family holidays on the Cornish coast A super-smart bolthole on the Roseland peninsula with views that tumble across trim lawns and splash down to the sea.

Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay

lans?

ing them secure the car seat. approved ood for nding.

om 9

CARES Airplane Safety Harness for children

• The only CAA certified harness-type child restraint approved for all phases of flight.

• The perfect solution for toddlers old enough to sit by themselves but too small for the seatbelt.

• Portable, weighs less than 1lb, simple to install, and fits most seats.

www.tinytottravellers.co.uk

01872 580206 rosevine.co.uk

SPF50+ UV Protection for your baby when you are out and about!

The Baby Sun Shade fits easily to most strollers, carry cots and prams with existing hood, extending the shade and keeping baby sheltered from the sun’s harmful rays.

For stockists info contact:

Order online at shademe.co.uk

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Available exclusively at

WIN A HOLIDAY IN DEVON

We’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for the latest holiday home to join Devonshire Cottage Holidays. Majestically positioned, overlooking the River Dart and Waterhead Creek. This luxury stay has been designed with a distinctive glazed gable end to take full advantage of the mesmerising vista, this luxury year-round venue will suit friends and family. A five minute trip across the ferry will bring you to the boutiques, cafés and fine dining restaurants that line the historic cobbled streets of Dartmouth.

Devonshire Cottage Holidays offer a growing selection of inspiring holiday for you and your family providing you with the widest possible choice of locations and styles of accommodation. And they’re giving away the chance to win a £500 gift voucher (either as full or part payment) to be used against any of their holiday properties. For entry details please see our contents page. Good luck! ✽ www.devonshirecottageholidays.co.uk

SOMEWHERE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY If you’re thinking of venturing on a first holiday with the brood, test the water by holidaying without leaving British turf.

There are some wonderful parts of the UK to discover, away from all the hustle and bustle. Cornwall makes for an ideal first-time holiday experience. We’ve fallen in love with the delights on offer at Glynn Barton Cottages, boasting eight stunning 18th century holiday cottages, the whole family is truly welcomed. Set in the heart of Cornwall let the breath-taking views engulf you, the fabulous facilities assist you and the nearby attractions entice you. Whilst embracing utter seclusion you’ll make an abundance of new friends with Jock and Rory the highland cows, Preston and Huxley the kunekune pigs, Muffin the donkey alongside sheep and chickens too. Your little ones will enjoy the daily animal feeding, getting to know all the characters.

Glynn Barton’s family-friendly ethos is undeniable, cottages and facilities have been designed with safety and happiness

at the forefront. Equipped with built in stair gates, plastic cutlery and crockery, bed guards, cots and high chairs for ultimate peace of mind.

You’re handed the best of both worlds; secluded on private grounds (about a mile from a public road!), but surrounded by facilities so you don’t feel isolated. And even better, all the children’s facilities are no more than a two minute walk from your cottage, but far enough away from the cottage gardens to preserve quality family time. All ages will appreciate the swimming pool, which is kept at an average of 88° whether it’s for splashing or unwinding. Or why not breathe in the crisp Cornish air and enjoy a game of tennis on their all-weather tennis court with stunning views down the valley. Little explorers will enjoy discovering the indoor soft play barn, the toddler ride-on area and play room, which is bursting with toys. A wealth of fun awaits at Glynn Barton Cottages, a fabulous place for a Cornish adventure. ✽ www.glynnbarton.co.uk

DEVON’S DOWNTON

Small babies and grand country houses might not seem an obvious mix but Huntsham Court near Tiverton, Devon, offers families the chance to be both posh and playful. It’s laidback luxury with log fires, lovely grounds and the chance to chill out, play games or simply be together.

You can cook for yourselves or call in recommended local caterers to be as formal or informal as you please.

Built in 1869 as one of the best examples of the Gothic Revival style in the country, the house has five fine receptions including a grand hall and 27 bedrooms, all generously proportioned and wonderfully furnished. Some rooms can be interlinked, one is suitable for anyone with disabilities, another can be turned into a dorm for older children. Get together to mark a special occasion at this down-to-earth Downton. ✽ www.huntshamcourt.co.uk

3%

rise in visits to the UK with people travelling from countries outside of Europe over the last year. www.ons.gov.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 127

FAMILY FUN AT BOVEY CASTLE Picture this: You and your other half check in to a hotel room after a long drive down to Devon. All you want to do is take some time out to sit back and relax, have a snooze, read the papers, maybe watch a little TV. The kids, however, have other ideas. The only way they will agree to stay in the room for any longer than it takes to put your bags down, is if you grant them unlimited bouncing time on the beds.

Now picture a parallel universe where you reach your hotel after a long drive and you are free to take a long uninterrupted bath or even visit the spa while your other half puts his feet up to watch the football (while still managing to keep half an eye on the kids).

It may sound like wishful thinking, but not at one luxury Devon hotel. The ultra

34% of holiday goers booked their holiday further in advance in 2012 compared to the prior year.

ABTA Travel Trends Report 2013

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luxurious Bovey Castle on Dartmoor has recently launched a world first: the LEGO room service menu. There are twelve sets to choose from and the selection caters for toddlers to teens, boys and girls. The service is free, besides a £50 deposit.

My children could not have been better guinea pigs for the new service. I have three boys aged nine, six and four – all of whom have been brought up on a staple diet of LEGO. As we drove up the long driveway from the narrow, winding road, my husband and I admired the spectacular surroundings. The hotel, which is what you might expect if you crossed Downton Abbey with LEGOLAND, is perched at the top of acres and acres of moorland on Exmoor.

When the boys first discovered that

they would have to hand the LEGO back at the end of their stay, they were bitterly disappointed. However, it works remarkably well. As anyone whose kids are into LEGO knows, the sets can prove quite costly. At Bovey Castle, once a set is completed, the child gets to play with it, photograph it, then pack it back up and exchange it for something else.

And with more than 275 acres of Dartmoor on its doorstep, Bovey offers many opportunities to relax and explore.

Besides, the leisure facilities, the spa and the 18-hole golf course, guests are invited to participate in a huge range of other activities including falconry, fly fishing, horse riding and much more.

Reviewed by Lianne Kolirin ✽ www.boveycastle.com

A LONDON LUXURY

The Baglioni Hotel, situated in Kensington, expresses Italian flavour without having to travel to Tuscany to acquire a taste. The Baglioni Hotels Group, created in 1973, has developed a collection which boasts 9 exclusive hotels, and we’re lucky enough to have one in our Capital.

Located opposite Hyde Park, the London lifestyle is on your doorstep allowing you to embrace this chic cosmopolitan setting whilst overlooking composure at Kensington Gardens and Palace. The elegance this hotel boasts is apparent but uncomplicated or fussy, making it the ideal abode when staying in the city with little ones. If you’re on the hunt for a touch of tutoring, some of London’s most prestigious museums are a stone’s throw away with the Royal Albert Hall just a 5-minute walk. With refined Italian hospitality at the forefront allow the Baglioni to create an unforgettable stay. ✽ www.baglionihotels.com/en

Why compromise on quality or value for money just because you have children? Our unstuffy approach means you can have fun with the family, but still have some grown-up time for yourselves. Stay with us and discover elegant yet comfortable interiors, fantastic seasonal food, pampering spa treatments, extensive gardens and even a complimentary crèche. Bliss!

The Ickworth, Suffolk / Fowey Hall, Cornwall / Woolley Grange, Wiltshire Moonfleet Manor, Dorset / The Elms, Worcestershire New Park Manor, Hampshire / Polurrian Bay, Cornwall

www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk

l e v tra vival sur e guid

The holiday is booked, the passports are in date, and the only thing left to do is pack – where to start? Well here’s a good place, we’ve pulled together some essentials when travelling with little ones in tow. Meaning the lines, ‘Are we there yet?’ and, ‘I’m bored!’ won’t be joining you on your holiday.

1

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TrayKit Traveller Collection £39.99 The ideal play-tray solution the TrayKit straps onto train and plane tray tables. Set includes journal, foldout map, travel games and more. With matching passport holders and luggage tags. ✽ www.contentandcalm.com

2

Holiday Snap £4.99 Who doesn’t love a game of snap?

This fun version of the popular card game has 26 pairs of holiday objects

130 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

5

and activities to match.

✽ www.usborne.com

3

Outlook auto-shade £29.99 The auto-shade is essential for comfortable travelling. Fitting most makes/models of four door cars it reduces heat, UV and glare, and keeps bugs at bay. ✽ www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

4

VTech Kidizoom Twist £49.99 Little ones love snapping away,

especially on holiday! Take pictures and movies to make those holiday memories last forever. Suitable from 3 years. ✽ www.kiddicare.com

5

Skip-Hop Zoo Neck Rests £15.00 Specifically designed for optimum neck support, the Skip-Hop Neck Rests are lightweight and easy to carry too, the perfect companion for young travellers. ✽ www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

What to pack?

Win a family break in Devon

Courtesy of Scot

t Dunn's family

A mini medical pack with essentials Mosquito net for buggy or ack what to p cot Unsure of ve e’ W itcase?

Sunshade/parasol for buggy in your su f o t lis her a put toget ntials for se Small UV pop up sun tent es ily m fa . for little ones ay your holid Plenty of high factor suncream and sunblock Mosquito repellent or bite cr ea m Swimming aids, arm band s, swim vest, swim seats Swimming nappies - not al ways readily available Formula milk - individual powder sachets are great fo r travel Sterilising equipment (unles s provided) Children’s cutlery/crockery an d favourite cups/bottles Handheld blender for babies being weaned (plus travel ad aptor) Baby monitor Baby wipes A baby sling/carrier for infa nts for walks on the beac h

team

To Pack!

6

iGuy £29.99 We love the iGuy, the free-standing iPad foam case, lightweight, easy to hold, he can stand on his own two feet and is perfect for the whole family. ✽ www.amazon.co.uk

buggies, protecting babies from 97.5% of UV rays it fits all single prams, pushchairs, travel systems and 3-wheelers. ✽ www.snoozeshade.com

11

SwimFin £21.99 SwimFin, the world’s only vertiNaturally Cool Kids £15.95 cal buoyancy aid, is the truly innovaUsing natural ingredients, including tive swimming accessory. It’s the safe aloe leaf and organic liquorice extracts, modern alternative to the traditional this sun cream provides SPF25 sun probulky armbands. Suitable 2 years+. tection for children aged from six months. ✽ www.swimfin.co.uk ✽ www.naturallycoolkids.com Travel Buddies Popo Parrot Trunki £39.99 £40.00 Designed to be used as hand lugChildren will love wheeling this perky gage, kids can pack Trunki with all parrot. Travel Buddies carry handle their favourite little things then ride off, and retractable pull handle has both whilst parents keep them in their sight. an adult and child pull height for when ✽ www.trunki.com little ones tire.

Travel I-Spy Game £5.00 ✽ www.johnlewis.com For up to two players, the game inTravelling Feeding Bowl £4.99 cludes six different themes – road signs, Feeding can be fun with this inthree vehicle and transportation, places genious travelling bowl, with 2 compartand animals. Suitable from 3 years. ments and a clever spoon that changes ✽ www.elc.co.uk colour when the food is the right temperature. Designed for comfortable SnoozeShade Original Deluxe thumb grip, convenient lid for travelling £24.99 A new deluxe version of the award-win- and the spoon stays secure and clean. ning sun and sleep shade for prams and ✽ www.tinytottravellers.co.uk

7 8 9

10

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Fancy escaping to Devon for a short break with the family?

Well, The Bulstone Hotel in East Devon are giving away a 2 night bed and breakfast stay with a complimentary dinner at their onsite restaurant.

The 16th century Hotel, nestled in just over three acres, is surrounded by green pastures, which are just waiting to be explored by adults and children alike.

Enjoy a surplus of unspoilt beauty nearby including coastline walks and leisurely strolls on Devon’s scenic beaches. Set in the heart of the quiet countryside this child friendly hotel offers an ideal location for a relaxing break with all the family and is the perfect base when wanting to discover what Devon has to offer. And after a day of taking in the views you’ll be treated to a complimentary dinner where you’ll get the chance to enjoy locally sourced freshly cooked delights. For entry details, please see our contents page.

Good luck! ✽ www.childfriendlyhotels.com

Safety First

We all try to put safety at the forefront when taking care of our little ones, but when travelling it’s hard to know what safety essentials we should use.

Highly recommended, The Child Aviation Restraint System ensures upmost safety and just like the car seat it provides your child with boundaries during your flight. The harness weighs just 1 pound and fits nicely into your hand luggage. Priced £59.99. ✽ www.tinytottravellers.co.uk L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 131

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this time is reduced and you’re advised to seek med ical advice before travel later in the pregnancy. These guidelines can vary from airline to airline so please advise at the time of booking if you are pregnant.

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Mums Love!

It’s our first family holiday with a baby, how can we alleviate some of the stress beforehand?

Holida ys really shouldn’t incur any easy as possible offerin g luxurious essential baby toiletries, nappies stress; it’s a time to look forward to. If you’re looking to save and wipes all gathere d together in gorgeous packages that can be yourself some time, try using a delivery service like Because Tots ordere d and delivered to specified Come 1st. Their aim is to make UK locations in time for your holiday. www.b ecausetotscome1st.com travelling with your little one as 132 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

Baby friendly holidays Beachside cottages. Toys and playrooms. Everything you need... Find your idea of luxury at one of our gorgeous, self catering properties in the South West.

At Blue Chip Holidays our Baby Friendly properties are equipped with cots and highchairs free of charge. We also have a stunning collection of Star Family Properties; a range of houses, cottages and apartments with a little extra something to make it a family holiday to remember.

Look out for our family icons and book online at www.bluechipholidays.co.uk or call us on 0845 591 9574 Cornwall

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Devon

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Dorset

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Somerset

stay somewhere special |

The

Isle of

Wight

Europe’s leading weightloss & fitness programme

we promise to offer you A life chAnging progrAmme thAt

you will never forget At New You Boot Camp we promise to offer you more than just a weight loss and fitness boot camp, we promise to open your eyes to an inspiring, life changing programme… this is why we’re Europe’s leading weightloss and fitness programme.

Our mission at New You Boot Camp is to create a lifestyle programme that re-energises, informs and inspires you to permanently change the way you look, feel and perform forever.

All of our bootcamps follow the same work ethic.

ClassiC Boot Camp - somerset

luxury Boot Camp - spain

This is our classic style boot camp with unbeatable results. With a tough regime to increase your fitness and weight loss you will also be able to indulge in exquisite treatments in the evening. This is a magical location where you can leave a completely “New You”.

A stunning Luxury Boot Camp in Southern Spain. An exclusive healthy holiday where you can choose your own balance between training and relaxing and when it all gets too much why not book in for a spa treatment that is perfect for you.

What’s Included at bootcamp? › 10-12 Hours physical training per day › Stunning hikes throughout the

› The New You Boot Camp’s Exclusive

Therapeutic Nutritional Programme › Opportunity for personal one to one beautiful countryside › Sumptuous accommodation in either training with world-class trainers › Cookery demonstrations from our suites, singles or twins › Delightful grounds, gardens for you wonderful chefs › All food, drinks & training are included to use as you wish throughout the › Average 9lbs weightloss & 9” in 1 week duration of your stay

Boot Camps based in ★ London ★ Somerset ★ Suffolk ★ Spain ★ Austria

For more information please contact 01202 559336 or visit www.newyoubootcamp.com or email enquiries@newyoubootcamp.com

Craving

the Coast

Rebecca Moore embarks on a trip to a five-star delight on the North Cornish coast.

W O R D S : R E B E CC A M O O R E | I M A G E S : R E TA L L A C K

A

s I began reclaiming my Cornish dialect driving down the Atlantic Highway, flying my black and white flag high en route to an exciting Cornish resort, I remember why I love this part of the UK, it’s more than a holiday destination, for me it’s home.

Retallack, situated a stone’s throw away from the quaint harbouring town of Padstow, is a five-star resort fully equipped to suit families of all sizes with self-catering accommodation housing up to 12, where you really rub shoulders with the great outdoors.

When faced with the term selfcatering, and being in Cornwall, you cannot help but assume you must fully prepare (just in case you end up down a mine, without a pasty to hand!), but with Retallack there’s no need to panic. Retallack appreciate the need for flexibility when little ones are involved. If you can bear to pull yourself away from the refreshingly suave properties (trust

me it’s difficult!), let The Green Room restaurant led by award winning chef, James Nathan, entice you. You won’t be disappointed by the refined Cornish culinary delights on offer.

And it’s not just the restaurant providing food for thought, the onsite activities are faultless too. An undeniable hit with the brood is the Flowrider, a first in the UK; this surf simulator guarantees barrels of fun. It’s a great introduction for mini surf-seekers wanting to test the waves before braving the sea. Ideal for children over the age of five this wave-pumping beast can be enjoyed through Retallack’s children body boarding sessions. It may look a little intimidating, the parent’s panic is far more noticeable than the young nippers flinging themselves on it, but it’s only a 2-inch thick wave driven at 30mph - and a whole lot of fun!

If surfing the loop isn’t your style, maybe relaxing in the Decleor Spa is – it was certainly mine! With a plethora of pampering treats to choose from, combined with coastal

air-filled lungs and a bed fit for a King, Retallack is a restful recipe for even the most shunning of sleepers. And after exploring this 40-acre resort your tots will sleep soundly too.

Retallack host a selection of activities for the minis too, including Twinkle Tots music sessions, Little Flippers Swim lessons and Ducklings swim mornings and the pool is kept at a warming 31 degrees.

North Cornwall hosts an abundance of family activities and Retallack is certainly amongst them. To name but a few there’s Crealy Adventure Theme Park, Newquay Zoo and the Newquay Aquarium all close by. But best of all, and speaking as a self-diagnosed beach buff, is the 250 mile Atlantic coastline that frames Cornwall. Beaches with high recommendations include Watergate Bay and Polzeath, both beautifully sandy beaches for playing on.

If you’re looking for a Cornish voyage with little ones in tow, Retallack may hold the key. ✿ www.retallackresort.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 135

Staycation The Ultimate

“She thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight, and she calls it ‘The Island’, as if there were no other island in the world.” Jane Austen

K

nown as the ‘Garden Isle’ because of its beautiful landscape scenery, the Island is a haven of unspoilt beaches, rugged coastline and rolling countryside. The West Bay Club is the perfect place to discover the many hidden secrets of the Isle of Wight.

The West Bay Club team are on hand to help you explore the Island on their guided walks or bike rides with qualified trail leaders, highlighting some of the best scenery that West Wight has to offer. Discover the Tennyson Trail coastal walk which takes you along weathered white cliffs with breathtaking

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views to the famous natural landscape, The Needles. Compton Bay’s long sandy beach is not only a popular spot for surfing and swimming, but also for its world famous dinosaur fossil finds.

Families will enjoy the golden sands of Colwell Bay with its beach huts and water sports.

Back at the West Bay Club there is plenty to do come rain or shine. Set in 15 acres of landscaped grounds and pathways, which are gated and childsafe, it’s the perfect place to let children play games on the grass or ride their bikes on the open paths. All-inclusive children’s activities include football, volleyball, water polo, wet ‘n’ wild fun sessions in the pool, basketball,

uni-hoc, kwick cricket, rounders and ultimate frisbee. For children with an interest in racquet sports there are coaching and fun sessions for squash, badminton and table tennis. All activities take place under the supervision of experienced and qualified staff, giving you total peace of mind.

If you enjoy tennis, the West Bay Club is the best place to learn the game, hone your skills or play socially and have fun! With three all-weather tennis courts, indoor sports hall and a world class coaching team, their Tennis Programme has something for everyone.

While the children are enjoying their activities you can unwind in the spa, sauna and steam room, relax in the beautiful heated indoor swimming pool, or enjoy one of the many exercise classes including yoga, Pilates and spinning.

Treat yourself to the ultimate stylish seaside break this summer... whether you are looking for the perfect weekend escape, midweek break or family holiday by the sea, the West Bay Club is the ultimate destination for luxury, relaxation and leisure. ✿ www.westbayclub.co.uk

Reader offer...

Prices in May start from £86 per cottage per night and include a £20 credit to spend on site during your stay to pamper yourself with a spa treatment, enjoy refreshments in the Coffee House or try out a tennis coaching session.

Quote ‘BABY13’ when booking by phone on 0800 138 9053 or send an email to info@westbayclub.co.uk.

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 137

Idealistic Mums

Most new mums start on the road to parenthood with high-minded ideals and the best intentions. But are we making a rod for our own backs with this parenting perfectionism?

WORDS: LIANNE KOLIRIN

A

s mothers we want the best for our children and so we embark on the path to parenthood filled with good intentions and high-minded ideals.

No sooner has the blue line appeared on the pregnancy test, than the transformation into well-meaning mother begins. The resolutions and promises come thick and fast: eat, sleep and exercise well, no alcohol, caffeine or nicotine and nothing stronger than a Paracetamol.

Many women produce a birth plan, hoping to put themselves in control – although childbirth is notoriously unpredictable. And then the real business begins. Information about how to bring our children up is hurled at us from every which way. Midwives, health visitors and GPs offer their professional support, while friends and relatives chime in with advice. We fill in the gaps with books, magazines and websites for what we do and don’t want for our children.

But in being so idealistic, are we

138 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

actually setting ourselves up for failure?

Is knowledge really power or simply a rod to beat ourselves with when things don’t go to plan? Whether it was hollering for the anaesthetist from the birthing pool or sending daddy out at 3am to buy the big bad and banned dummy, we’ve all felt rather sheepish about falling off the ‘good’ parenting wagon.

Yet what is ‘right’ changes over generations and varies from family to family and culture to culture, so parents shouldn’t tie themselves in knots, says Dr Miriam Stoppard, who has written countless books on pregnancy, birth, child development and more.

Dr Stoppard, who recently launched her own range of Galt toys, says, “There’s controversy about feeding, crying, sleeping and about toilet teaching. Mothers can get very worked up about them and they will quote one expert versus another. The only thing to do is what’s good for your family.”

“Parents should assume parental instincts are best. They have been tried and tested over millenia and are nearly always right. The most you should do is to fine tune them.”

In her view, healthcare professionals and experts, “should give parents enough information to free them to follow their own instincts”. She adds, “Nobody should be dogmatic about what parents should do because nobody knows their situation better than that person themselves.”

One group who can be vocal about their opinions are grandparents, which can cause tension. “Grandparents can contribute a great deal,” says Dr Stoppard, but should sometimes take a step back.

A grandmother-of-eleven herself, she adds, “I don’t see myself as an oracle.

I help my children to bring up their children the way they want to.”

Attitudes have changed immensely during Dr Stoppard’s lengthy career, but one thing that is especially dramatic is the advancing age of first time mothers.

“Women are staying longer in their careers and I think that the advancing age of mothers is causing problems – fertility for one!”

“Quite a lot of women think that because they are in control of their careers, they can just flick a switch and

get pregnant.”

That sense of control often spills into parenting styles which can be problematic, according to Dr Stoppard.

“This is one of the reasons women adhere to some extremely controlled methods of upbringing that involve feeding by the clock and having a strict routine. To my mind it’s bad for the mother and baby and sets the mother up for failure because it doesn’t take into account the baby’s physiology.”

Today’s parents are subjects to many more “factions, fads and fashions” than previously, which Dr Stoppard largely attributes to the online revolution.

She says, “There’s no hierarchy of information, so nobody knows what’s good or bad. Bad information has exactly the same prominence as good and results in a lot of confusion for parents.”

Similarly, not every newspaper headline should be accepted as truth, she says.

“Many things are seen as fact when they aren’t. The only fact is science.

Opinion is fickle, but science isn’t.”

And yet science is constantly evolving.

If national guidelines occasionally

“Quite a lot of women think that because they are in control of their careers, they can just flick a switch and get pregnant.” change, there is usually good reason, says Dr Stoppard.

“The fact that doctors change their minds about things isn’t frivolous – it’s because science and research pumps out new information all the time.”

Annabel Karmel

Annabel Karmel began devising recipes because of her fussy son.

That was almost a quarter of a century ago and much has changed since. She recalls, “Then babies were only given very bland food, but I couldn’t get my son to eat that. So I tried food with garlic and herbs, which he preferred.”

Annabel has almost single-handedly

revolutionised the way British babies and toddlers eat.

She says, “The amount of people preparing fresh food has increased hugely. I’ve shown mums that it isn’t difficult to cook with fresh foods.”

Our range has also changed. Annabel says, “There were worries about feeding children eggs because of allergies, but now the feeling is that withholding foods makes things worse.”

“Eggs are important and very few babies will react to them. The same applies to fish and meat.”

The rise of the sterile kitchen is also partly to blame for the allergy explosion, she says.

“More and more children are becoming allergic because of being brought up in a sterile environment.

The only things that need to be sterilised are bottles, because milk is a perfect breeding ground for germs.”

While older generations may have weaned early, the current recommendation is six months.

“The general rule is to breastfeed exclusively until six months. It’s great if you can, especially if there are allergies in the family, but parents shouldn’t get 

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all worried if they want to wean early because babies can tolerate simple solids from 17 weeks.”

Weaning is the easy part – the trick is to keep it up. A recent poll by Organix found that British toddlers are the most fussy in Europe and Annabel puts this down to snacking.

“Research shows 43% of mothers let their toddlers get away with not eating certain foods. And as far as vegetables go, it’s the same old thing, with almost half (48%) bribing their kids to eat them.”

She adds, “A hungry child is more likely to experiment with something new so the less they snack, the more hungry they will be. It’s common sense.”

As a nation we have become much more health-conscious, though what’s healthy for an adult is not always good for baby.

“We are all taught that low fat and high fibre is best, but babies’ digestion systems can’t cope with too much fibre.”

For that reason, she recommends a balance of a variety of food groups – including the odd treat.

“I have never been a purist,” says Annabel.

“There’s nothing wrong with occasionally giving them ice cream or fruit juice or going to McDonalds. If you ban things, they end up wanting them all the more.”

She adds, “Comfort foods like cottage pie, fish pies, and crumbles are all still popular so find your own versions. Kids

“Research shows 43% of mothers let their toddlers get away with not eating certain foods.

And as far as vegetables go, it’s the same old thing, with almost half (48%) bribing their kids to eat them.” also love ethnic foods like noodles and naans.”

“They don’t care how healthy something is, only whether it tastes good. That’s the challenge: to find something healthy that your child will like.”

Download Annabel’s Essential Guide to Feeding your Baby and Toddler available on iTunes and Google Play for £3.99.

Jo Tantum

Sleep, and how to get more of it, has obsessed new parents for generations.

There are several schools of conflicting thought, but baby sleep expert Jo Tantum says babies generally set their own routine.

She says, “Parents should choose which mode of parenting they want to do. It’s always best to choose something that fits in with your lifestyle. A lot of

people I speak to are routine people while others say a strict routine will not fit with them.”

Times may have changed, but a baby’s natural rhythm has not. According to the Baby Secrets author, newborns are naturally tired after every waking hour. They can stretch an extra half an hour by three months and manage two hours at six months.

“The most important thing a parent needs to realise is to be flexible. My routines are all about the babies’ natural rhythm patterns and flexibility.”

One significant change Jo has noticed in 25 years working with babies, is how hands-on fathers have become.

“Babies need that connection and bonding with Dad so I encourage them to do the dream feed. Dads love it because they’re in charge.”

The advice on co-sleeping has also changed, with previous generations actually being encouraged to share a bed with baby.

Jo says, “They used to say don’t cosleep if you have had anything to drink or any drugs or are desperately tired.

But can any new parent say they are not desperately tired?”

“A lot of parents do it out of desperation, but say they find it very unnerving because they’re so worried about rolling onto the baby.”

“The best thing to do is get a crib that attaches to the bedside. They are safe – the baby is in its own patch and you just roll across.”

Advice also varies about when to move baby out of your room. The national guideline is six months, but this is not always practical, says Jo. “If a baby at four months is sleeping in your room they will sync their sleep patterns. So if you come into a light sleep, they will too. It’s like they wake up at four months.”

With baby monitors now so sophisticated, parents should feel calm about finding their own path, says Jo. “Try not to listen to everybody and get your knickers in a twist. Pick one plan and stick with it.” ✿ For more information about Jo’s methods, visit www.babysecretsltd.com

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 141

QA &

QUESTIONS? meet this season's experts...

Speak to this season’s experts direct at Greatvine.com, a fabulous website offering individual advice by phone and email, direct from the country’s best parenting experts.

DILYS MORGAN

DR RICK NORRIS

SUZANNE BARBER

COUNSELLOR & AGONY AUNT

CHARTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

MIDWIFE & LACTATION CONSULTANT

Dilys Morgan is a writer, counsellor

Dr Rick Norris is a Chartered

Suzanne Barber has worked for

and agony aunt. As a counsellor, she

Psychologist and a Visiting Consultant

the NHS for over two decades as

has worked extensively with children

at an NHS hospital, who uses a

a midwife and more recently, a

as well as the broader family. As a

cognitive behavioural approach to

lactation consultant, chairing the new

result of this experience, she feels

help people with stress, anxiety

Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners.

she has gained valuable insights into

and depression. Rick is a frequent

Her NHS work includes promoting best

what makes families tick. She has a

media contributor on matters of

practice supporting breastfeeding and

particular interest in working with

psychological interest. He has written

providing a tongue-tie service. As a

the distressed children of separating

three books: Think Yourself Happy:

lactation consultant, in private practice,

parents, and young people with eating

The Simple Six Stage Programme to

Suzanne facilitates clinics where the

disorders. As an agony aunt, she has

Change Your Life from Within, The

service is not readily available on

helped countless people with family

Promised Land for Children: How to

the NHS. She is married with two

problems, relationship difficulties,

Improve Children’s Confidence and

daughters and it was the breastfeeding

and child-rearing dilemmas. She also

Raise Their Self-esteem, and The

difficulties she experienced with her

runs the website for Grandparents,

Water Carrier, a novel for teenagers

second child that motivated her to help

Grandparents Now. For individual

and young adults. For individual

others. For individual advice you can

advice you can contact Dilys direct at:

advice you can contact Rick direct at:

contact Suzanne Barber direct at:

W w Greatvine.com/dilys-morgan

W w Greatvine.com/rick-norris

W w Greatvine.com/suzanne-barber

Speak to me on 0800 063 1532

Speak to me on 0800 063 1532

Speak to me on 0800 063 1532

Consultations priced from £15 for 10 mins

Consultations priced from £15 for 10 mins

Consultations priced from £15 for 10 mins

142 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E



★

TOPIC: Preventing Tantrums From Taking Over Your Life ANSWERED BY: DILYS MORGAN

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♥

❉

★ ★

COUNSELLOR & AGONY AUNT

Tantrums are often the only way toddlers have of expressing themselves, so try to understand how frustrating this must be for your child (and how frightening a tantrum can feel) – and try to prevent them with a mixture of wily anticipation, pre-emption and distraction!

?

QUESTION:

We’re going abroad this summer for the first time since my two-year-old son was born. Over the last few weeks, he has started to regularly throw tantrums at dinner time, so I’m worried about how he will behave in restaurants, especially in a different setting. What would you advise we do to stop it affecting our holiday?

©Little Media Ltd/Dilys Morgan

a

ANSWER:

Try to isolate whatever it is that is making your two-year old have these tantrums. Have meal times become a battle and is he trying to avoid the fights by not sitting down? Or is it that he prefers to be permanently ‘on the go’ and resents sitting still? Or is he enjoying the sense of ‘power’ he has over you by not sitting down? Once you’ve worked this out, try implementing a system of rewards for good behaviour, which accommodate his strong views. So to avoid a fight, serve only his favourite foods for a while and make sure that sitting down quietly brings its own rewards – whether it’s your constant attention for ten minutes, a game you invent which makes eating fun, or his favourite pudding. Then gradually reintroduce a more balanced diet whilst keeping the atmosphere light-hearted.

If it’s the sitting down that bothers him, make sure he’s had plenty of exercise before every meal and is starving hungry. Invent energetic rewards like a special game of ‘rough-and-tumble’ or a ride on his tricycle - as long as he sits still long enough to eat a reasonable meal. And if it’s all about power, serve buffets of finger foods for a while so

he can control what he eats. When on holiday, don’t expect him to sit patiently at the table waiting to be served. Keep him entertained, hungry and exercising until his meal arrives and take a stock of small toys so that every mealtime he has something novel to entertain him while the rest of you eat.

?

QUESTION:

My twenty-month-old daughter has started to have a tantrum when we try to bathe her. She refuses to let me, or my husband, take her clothes off, and then she runs around the house screaming. Once in the bath, she’s fine, but causes such a scene beforehand. How can we get her to co-operate?

a

ANSWER:

At the moment, it sounds like your daughter has you where she wants you.

She’s having a whole load of fun running round screaming and escaping from you – no wonder she acts up every night!

Probably the best course of action is to try to latch on to her game and make undressing just as much fun. Turn this into a much-loved game when bath time is not even on the horizon. Start every morning making a game of choosing her clothes and putting them on. You could involve a favourite teddy or doll, allow her to choose the clothes, and dress both her toy and herself. She may end up with a mismatching wardrobe, with odd socks or pants on her head - but you’ll probably have a load of laughs, she’ll enjoy entertaining you and you’ll be taking the ‘sting’ out of the whole routine. As she gets used to enjoying

this, you can gradually reverse the process and help her enjoy undressing at night too. This may sound a rather involved way of overcoming your problem but she’ll gradually learn a new way of getting your attention and you’ll reap the benefits.

?

QUESTION:

My son, who is sixteen months old, has started throwing tantrums whenever other children visit. He refuses to let them play with his toys and often starts hitting out.

How can I prevent this from happening?

a

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ANSWER:

It’s only natural for small children to be possessive of their own toys – your son is too young to understand that it’s possible to lend a toy, let it out of sight even, and yet still get it back. But you can help him learn this by continuing to invite friends round and ensuring that he gets a chance to play with their toys – and hand them back – as well as having to lend out his own. It’s a tough lesson to learn, and he is still very young, so don’t be too hard on him if he takes time to change. I’m sure your friends and their children will all understand that this is just a phase he’s going through and with their help and understanding he’ll grow out of it. It’s always tempting to think it’s only our child who is having tantrums, but in fact, all your friends will have had similar experiences with their own toddlers. It’s just that some prefer to ‘act out’ privately and others do it in front of friends and family!

For more expert information visit: www.greatvine.com/dilys-morgan

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 143

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TOPIC: How to De-stress and Achieve Balance ANSWERED BY: DR RICK NORRIS

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CHARTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

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Being a mum has always had the potential to be either a genuinely fulfilling, or an incredibly stressful experience. But being a 21st century mum is even more difficult as so many women try to balance the demands of parenthood with a challenging job. Dr Rick Norris offers some advice below.

QUESTION:

I’m twenty weeks pregnant and have found myself getting continuously stressed.

What can I do to ensure that I alleviate some of these stresses to keep me and my baby happy?

a

ANSWER:

It’s important to understand what we mean by the term ‘stress’. Stress is our body’s response to a threat or challenge.

The response is both psychological and physical. The psychological response includes feelings such as anxiety, an inability to concentrate or relax, feeling irritable or frustrated. Typical physical responses are associated with ‘fight or flight’ – increased blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature which are designed to help us meet a physical challenge that we can literally fight or run away from. Anxiety is in fact a protection mechanism that helps us to focus on our fears so that we take action to deal with the problem effectively. So try to change your perception about anxiety: mild to moderate anxiety is a normal, and even healthy, response because it helps us to concentrate on dealing with our fears. Try to establish the cause of the stress. Lots of practitioners routinely recommend relaxation or yoga as a way of dealing with stress. Whilst these activities might be good at dealing with the symptoms i.e. they help us to reduce our physical responses, they may be ineffective at dealing with the cause of our stress. Ask yourself what you’re anxious about. It might be that you’re worried about not being a good mum, or you’re anxious about the baby’s health. You

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may be concerned that you’re not going to cope with sleepless nights or you’ll find breastfeeding difficult. Write down your worries and then next to each worry note what sources of help and support are available to you. Your partner, friends or family may be able to support you practically or emotionally. The NHS is still excellent at helping new mums, your GP and community midwives are there to help and advise. The internet has lots of free help and advice; and you can take advantage of virtual support groups on the internet or real life support in the shape of local mums and toddlers groups.

?

QUESTION:

After a long day at work, I find that I’m snappy towards my children and partner.

What de-stressing techniques would you recommend?

a

ANSWER:

There are some well-known techniques that work. Try to make sure there is a break between work and home life. A lady recently told me that although she finds it’s easier to take the car to work, she finds that if she uses the train, the journey home helps her unwind better. Perhaps going for a coffee or a glass of wine with work colleagues before heading home, or stopping off at the gym on the way home might help compartmentalise work and home life rather than allowing it to ‘spill over’. Many working mums have such a tight schedule that they leave no room for a buffer. Finish work, dash back to collect the kids from school en route home, cook a meal, help the children with homework, bath them, read a bedtime story, make

lunch boxes and then collapse. If you recharge your batteries first, the rest of the family benefit from a fully charged mum. So don’t feel guilty asking someone else to look after the kids for 45 minutes whilst you go to the gym or soak in the bath.

?

QUESTION:

Since having children, I’ve been working part-time. Although this helps me get some of my house jobs done, I really struggle with my time management. How can I get a good balance?

a

ANSWER:

Good time management is about prioritising. Lots of busy mums just launch into the chores and try to cram everything into the limited time available, with the inevitable outcome of feeling disheartened because they were unrealistic about what could be achieved in the first place. House jobs are never completed, because as soon as you ‘finish’ you have to start again, so it’s important to redefine success. Write down a list of your jobs and decide what is most important, and what can be achieved in the time available. Prioritise these jobs and stay focussed, don’t be tempted to stray off the prioritised tasks for something that’s easier! Success is completing the tasks that you prioritised, not completing the whole list. It’s worth remembering that the world will probably still turn, even if the shower didn’t get cleaned today.

For more expert information visit: www.greatvine.com/rick-norris

©Little Media Ltd/Rick Norris

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♥ ★

T O P I C : Dealing With Tongue-Tie ANSWERED BY: SUZANNE BARBER

★

MIDWIFE & LACTATION CONSULTANT

★

❉

★ 

A tongue-tie is a piece of skin under the tongue, the frenulum, which restricts the full movement of the tongue. It may be attached to the tip of the tongue causing a typical heart shaped tongue or it can be subtle and invisible to the untrained eye but still cause significant breastfeeding problems.

?

QUESTION:

I have a son with tongue-tie who is nine weeks old. He finds it very hard to settle and won’t sleep on his back at night, so I often have to sleep sitting down with him.

He has difficulty latching on for feeds and cries a lot. Should we get it cut, or will it just sort itself out?

©Little Media Ltd/Suzanne Barber

a

ANSWER:

An extended latch technique may be supportive of your baby getting onto the breast deeper if he is struggling to attach himself. It takes a little practice but as successful breastfeeding depends on your baby latching onto your breast correctly it is worth the effort. When an excessive amount of air reaches the stomach due to a poor latch, abdominal distension, belching, and flatulence often develop. Babies who suffer from reflux and excessive wind are often treated with medication but many no longer require the medication once the tongue-tie has been divided. If you find your baby struggles to settle lying down, it may be helpful to tilt the cot up at the head end, ensuring the baby has his feet at the bottom of the cot for safety, until you can get an assessment of the tongue-tie.

Experience has shown that tongue-ties are not outgrown, stretch or separate spontaneously as many tongue-tie babies have a mum or dad with intact tongue-ties. Therefore, if the tongue-tie is symptomatic, it should be assessed as early as possible for prompt division.

Finally, remember falling asleep on a sofa with your baby is one of the biggest risks of cot death, so make sure if you are cuddling him to sleep that you ensure

he cannot slide off you. A baby wrap will keep him safe using the kangaroo care principles.

?

QUESTION:

My daughter, who’s three weeks old, has tongue-tie. She becomes unlatched very easily when breastfeeding, which makes it sore for me. What would you suggest I do to alleviate the pain before she has it corrected?

a

ANSWER:

If you feel you are unable to breastfeed, due to the nipple trauma, expressing a minimum of eight to ten times in 24 hours and giving your baby all your milk will ensure a good supply is maintained until she is able to feed painlessly. The way your body uses hormones to produce and supply milk will be enhanced if you take time out to continue with lots of skin on skin contact with your baby. Ask a skilled breastfeeding supporter to demonstrate the extended latch, which helps your baby get a deeper latch onto the breast by flipping the nipple into the open mouth. Some babies benefit from lying on top of their mother and using gravity to help them get a deeper and more comfortable latch, also known as laid back breastfeeding. Using nipple shields may be an option, but it is important that a skilled lactation expert supports you, as evidence shows shields have a negative effect on milk production used inappropriately or in long term. Finally, if you have sore nipples, you may get some comfort from using a pure lanolin

ointment, sparingly on the nipples to prevent them sticking to your breast pads.

?

QUESTION:

My daughter is now eleven months old and was diagnosed with tongue-tie when she was two weeks old. As an older baby, should we consider getting it treated now, or have we left it too late?

a

ANSWER:

Worldwide evidence demonstrates the wide range of issues tongue-tied babies can experience right through until adulthood. Whilst a tongue-tie is not usually life threatening in its effects, it can be life affecting. A baby requires a good range of tongue movement to move food and liquid around the mouth and during swallowing it is vital to control bolus of food to ensure it reached the food pipe and not the windpipe. If your daughter struggles with thicker foods, a referral for assessment would be beneficial. Your General Practitioner may prefer to refer your baby to a dietician for coping strategies as in time your baby will adapt to eating solids and eat a normal diet. If a tongue-tie division is recommended, your doctor may recommend a light general anaesthetic to carry out the procedure safely.

Older babies usually have teeth, which although small can be very sharp and dangerous to fingers, and eleven-monthold children can also be very wriggly!

For more expert information visit: www.greatvine.com/suzanne-barber

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 145

The diary of a

night nanny I have finished with my last family and am planning a holiday when I get an emergency call from the agency: a mother with a 5 month old needs help with sleep routines.

W O R D S : G E O R G I E B AT E M A N

W

hen I get to the house at 10am for my interview, I am greeted with joy and relief by Katie who is holding her baby in her arms. We go inside and settle down. I comment on how calm Katie’s baby looks.

“She’s called Ella, and she doesn’t always look like this,” remarks Katie ruefully. “In the middle of the night she can be screaming for up to an hour at a time and often wakes every couple of hours or so. It never used to be like this – I used to be quite smug about how well she was sleeping, but now it has all gone awry and I don’t know what I am doing differently or where the mistakes were.” As she tails off, it is clear that

146 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

she is on the verge of tears.

“Don’t worry,” I reassure her. “Lots of babies start off by sleeping well, it’s the main occupation of their day and it is so important in terms of their development that they sleep well regardless of any routine or sleep association you might be putting in. So you may think you have a ‘good sleeper’ and you’d be right. But as they get older, and more aware of their surroundings, they can sometimes lose the good sleep habits of the early months.”

“Why does that happen?” Katie asks.

I explain how a baby like Ella can start off her life spending around 18 hours every day asleep, waking up only for a feed. But as they get older, they become aware of the world beyond their immediate desires.

They realise there are other people around, people like Mummy who feed them, cuddle them and make them feel secure. They also begin to notice the difference between day and night, awake and asleep, and the transition period between awake and asleep. “We talk about ‘falling’ asleep,” I explain. “And that is what it is like for a baby, that feeling of losing consciousness.”

I often use the comparison with a child using a slide for the first time.

Sitting at the top, she is scared to let go. So as her mother, you will hold her and take her down the slide. Gradually as she becomes more confident, you will let her go for a second, then for several seconds and finally she will slide down on her own, loving the feeling because she knows the loss of control is not forever.

Sleep can feel the same. As adults, we embrace that feeling of losing consciousness, we know we are falling asleep and we know it is good for us. But for a baby just beginning to be aware of her surroundings, that falling feeling can be scary. So she will fight it, doing what she can to stay awake and often needing her mother to comfort her through the transition from wakefulness to sleep.

“Of course, this generally takes the form of feeding or cuddling her to sleep,” I say, “which means she is no longer self-settling and this is how the bad sleep associations begin.”

“So can you sleep-train her?” asks Katie.

I take a deep breath and embark on a further explanation. “I don’t sleep train babies under six months who aren’t yet weaned.” I tell her. “It may sound pedantic, but I try to draw a clear distinction between sleep training, which is what I would do with a baby of over six months who is fully weaned and still struggling with disrupted sleep, and establishing good sleep habits, which is what I will do with Ella. Although lots of babies do sleep through the night before they are six months, a baby who is having difficulty shouldn’t be sleep trained in the accepted sense of the word.”

“Oh, I get it,” responds Katie. “You can teach her not be afraid of falling asleep, and you can teach her to selfsettle, but you wouldn’t deprive her of any feeds to get her to go for twelve hours straight through.”

“That’s right,” I reply. “Good sleep habits can be taught from birth without interfering with a baby’s breastfeeding – there are lots of things you can do to ensure that your baby is learning good sleep habits which will then enable her to sleep well, waking regularly for her feed. But a profes-

sional won’t teach a baby to sleep through until the baby is ready, or until she needs to at six months.”

“What is so important about the six month mark?” asks Katie.

I explain that this is the point when babies are currently fully weaned.

“This means they are having three meals a day, plus milk feeds, so they are getting sufficient nutrition during the day and don’t need a feed at night. Of course, they may still

“As adults, we embrace that feeling of losing consciousness, we know we are falling asleep and we know it is good for us. But for a baby just beginning to be aware of her surroundings, that falling feeling can be scary.” wake up because their body clock is used to feeding in the middle of the night, but it is no longer a nutritional necessity. In fact, quite the reverse.

At this age, a healthy baby actually needs to be asleep for twelve hours straight through in order to develop mentally and physically. Disrupted sleep after six months really does need to be addressed. And unfortunately bad sleep habits tend to beget worse sleep habits – so a baby who is waking early will then begin to wake in the middle of the night once or twice ... then three or four times … until finally she is waking at the end of every sleep cycle. All the research points to the fact that bad sleep hab-

its won’t get better without intervention and that to do nothing is much more harmful than to do something.”

“So what should I do with Ella?”

Katie asks. “Can you help her, or should I wait until she is six months and then go for the full sleep training process?”

“Well,” I say, “on the basis that you have called me in, you obviously feel the situation needs addressing.

I can certainly teach Ella not to be scared of falling asleep and to link her sleep cycles again the way she used to. Then her natural desire for sleep should do the rest, so that she will build on that ability over the next few weeks and when you wean her and she doesn’t need to be fed in the middle of the night, it will happen smoothly and easily. I also think that there’s no reason for you both to struggle with this situation any longer than you have to, because a good night’s sleep is important to everyone.”

“I agree,” smiles Katie. “When can you start?” ✿

RESOURCES For more information on anything mentioned in this article contact: Night Nannies Hampshire: Georgie Bateman 01794 301762 georgie@nightnannies.com Night Nannies Surrey: Louise Young 07800 843618 louise@nightnannies.com Night Nannies London: Contact Nicola Bennett or Anastasia Baker on 020 7731 6168 nicola@nightnannies.com or anastasia@nightnannies.com ✽ www.nightnannies.com For information on making up, storing and preparing formula milk, go to ✽w ww.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/making-upinfant-formula.aspx

For information on expressing breastmilk go to ww.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnan✽w cy-and-baby/pages/expressingstoring-breast-milk.aspx

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 147

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GETTING PREGNANT

Dr Nele Dumpert of Richmond Practice offers her expertise...

Once you decide it’s time to start a family there are a number of natural methods that can improve your fertility.

Firstly, before you start

trying to conceive consult your doctor for a pre-conception check-up. Untreated infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or poor health can

Parenting

affect fertility.

Try and eat a healthy diet rich in protein from vegetables and fish - aim for a ‘healthy’ BMI (18.5 to 24.9).

Learn to understand your cycle; one way is to measure your basal body temperature every morning. It should rise around 0.2 C once you’ve ovulated and stay up until your period – or longer if pregnant! If you have a regular cycle your fertile days usually occur around day 14 (counting the first day of your period as day one). This might not always be the case, especially if your cycles

are irregular.

Studies have shown that daily intercourse in the seven days before ovulation maximises chances of conceiving. Just after intercourse ensure you lie down for some time to allow the sperm to travel easier.

Consult a doctor if you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year without success. ✽ www.richmondpractice.co.uk

your chance to

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DIRECTIONS Our Parenting Directions pages cover topics of parenting interest for you, your baby, and your child. This section includes advice on health, fitness, nutrition, medical conditions and more.

BABY CARE APP

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The app features a range of subjects with demonstrations, covering all aspects of parenting including feeding, sleeping, crying, health, everyday care, first aid and accident prevention.

See our contents page for entry details.

Available on the iPhone App Store: appstore.com/essentialbabycareguide ✽ www.essentialparent.com

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Win!

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The iPad is pencil thin and unbelievably light.

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it in your changing bag without a second thought. All winners will also receive a free sample of Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment (Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment is a medicine, always read the label).

For your chance to win this fabulous competition please enter your details online. See our contents page for details. Good luck! ✽ www.metanium.co.uk

HOT PRODUCT REVIEW

STAY SAFE IN THE SUN

TOP 5...

BREAST PUMPS

JUST FOR MUMS!

By Laur

a Mason

1

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Tommee Tippee recently relaunched and improved this user-friendly electric pump. Taking the original pump, the redesign includes a unique, soft silicone cup to mimic a baby’s natural feeding action and provides an increased comfort making the milk flow easily into the bottle.

Priced £99.99 from Amazon

2

Nuby Natural Touch Comfort This pump from Nuby is a manual pump that is a great value for money option for those considering pumping or just needing to pump from time to time. It has a soft cushion that gently massages with a lever that allows you to comfortably control the speed and flow that’s best suited.

Priced £25.99 from Boots

3

Medela Swing This is a fantastic pump from breastfeeding experts Medela. Favoured by hospitals and industry professionals, it focuses on the very best technology and this one efficiently pumps a good quantity of milk thanks to a special 2-Phase Expression technology. The user can tailor their settings such as speed and rhythm and it is surprisingly quiet, making it great for discreet pumping.

Priced £129.99 from Mothercare

4

Calypso Amaryll The Amaryll manual breast pump is a simple pump from Swiss specialists Calypso.

Designed with ergonomic features, it is easy to use for both right and left handed mothers. Very straight forward to set up and easy to wash, it is a good pump for when on the go.

Priced £24 from www.ardobreastpumps.co.uk

5

Specra Dew This electric breast pump is an affordable, highly effective pump that can cope with any amount of use whether it is occasional or heavy duty. The pump comes with a single milk collection kit as standard however can be easily converted into a double pump with the addition of the dual expression kit to enable you to pump efficiently and save time.

Priced £59.95 from www.anawiz.com

Green People, the leader in certified organic body care products, will be donating 30p from every sale of Organic Scent-Free SPF25 Sun Lotion to The Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

It is has been found that gender-bending chemicals, mimicking the effect of oestrogen, are common in sunscreens and can have a dramatic effect on aquatic life. Keep little ones and sea life safe by using natural sunscreens. ✽ greenpeople.co.uk

Mojomums is a unique concept, providing information, guidance and support for mums who work, want to work, have their own business or are thinking of going back to work.

Offering mums a one-stop solution, Mojomums gives women the confidence and support to reignite their careers successfully. It comprises of a buzzing online community, which offers mums support, advice and practical services, as well as fashion, hot topics and blogs. ww.mojomums.co.uk ✽w

PEBBLE HAS IT COVERED second for women measuring from 5’ 6” and weighing up to 17 stone. Tall will also fit those up to 6ft if they weigh up to 15 stone. As well as the new Petite Plus and Tall sizes, Preggers have also introduced their new colours of Pebble UK recently Forget-Me-Not (Blue), announced that the Shake Rattle & Rose popular Maternity Support Hosiery range (Pink), Mermaid (Green) and Papyrus Preggers are now making their maternity (Cream/Stone), and footless maternity allowing mums-to-be to remain fashionable support tights in throughout the two new size ranges summer months. specifically designed ✽ www.pebbleuk.com for larger ladies. The first, Petite Plus, is for women who are from 4’ 11” but weighing up to 16 stone and the

25% of ingredients from the estimated 10,000 tons of UV filters produced annually are being released in the water over the course of a 20-minute swim. www.greenpeople.co.uk

BABIES’ BRAINS UK scientists have embarked on a sixyear project to map how nerve connections develop in babies’ brains while still in the womb and after birth. www.bbc.co.uk

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 153

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COVER UP THIS SUMMER

SHADE ME GIVEAWAY! You could win one of ten sun shades

Sunproof are giving away 10 of these fabulous Shade Me buggy shades to ensure you have a happy holiday this summer. Shading our little ones from the sun ensures comfortable travelling, reduces heat, UV and glare and keeps bugs away too.

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only shade that fits almost every size, from prams and strollers (both rear facing and forward facing), to travel systems and car seats with an existing hood – they’ve really got it covered.

To enter please visit www.babyhampshire. co.uk/competitions. ✽ www.sunproof.co.uk

Sleep Well Research shows that when sleeping on a wool underlay, babies move around less, indicating a more restful night’s sleep.

The same study also showed that babies cry less when sleeping on wool, with only 30% having a teary night, compared with 67% when sleeping on cotton. ✽ www.thewoolroom.com

HAVE A TEAR-FREE VACCINATION a vaccination. But try to stay calm, as your child will pick up on your anxiety. Usually, the nurse will ask you to hold your child on your knee. If you’re nervous, ask another family member or We’ve been provided friend to attend with with some great tips you to hold your child. from the NHS: Wear the right Give a painkiller clothes if needed Thin cotton layers with Vaccinations shouldn’t poppers are perfect hurt, although the area for babies (jabs in injected can be sore the thigh), and short afterwards. Your child sleeves are ideal for may develop a mild older children (jabs in fever (a temperature the arm). greater than 37.5ºC) after the vaccination.

Stay calm If a fever develops, you It’s natural to get can give your child anxious when your baby or child is having infant paracetamol or ibuprofen.

1

2

Date for your diary!

3

4

Allergic reactions A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is rare, it’s rapid and usually happens within minutes and children recover completely with treatment. Tell the nurse about any reactions your child has had following any previous vaccinations.

If your child is prone to fainting, ask if they can have the vaccination lying down.

Advice for relatives Relatives/friends (including fathers who don’t have parental responsibility) need a letter from the person who has parental responsibility.

5

STEVE POWER, WAVE 105’S BREAKFAST PRESENTER, SPEAKS TO US ABOUT SHIFTING THE POUNDS I decided to start 2013 with a health kick.

Towards the end of last year, I began to feel lethargic and flat and needed a boost to help me shift some weight and give me my vitality back. I signed up to Wave 105 Fitness in January and have not looked back. I have shed more than a stone and a half and not had to deprive myself of the food or drink that I love. Life is too short after all.

Wave 105 Fitness has been developed with Brightside Personal Training in Southampton and is based around a library of online personal training videos that can be accessed online using a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile.

As the Wave 105 Breakfast Show presenter, with my busy schedule of (ridiculously) early mornings teamed with a calendar of evening events left me little or no time to exercise, or so I thought…

Exercise is not something that I have ever had a good relationship with, I viewed it as a foe not a friend. As well as having no time or inclination, the thought of going to a gym fills me with dread and past escapades have never hailed any success.

You can do Wave 105 Fitness from the comfort of your own home; you can even do it in your PJs for goodness sake (maybe just draw the curtains)! It has proven to be really popular with new mums in particular, as with a baby to look after, there isn’t much time for them to pop on their lycra and head to the gym for hours on end. All you need to get started is an internet connection, you don’t need any gym equipment whatsoever and the best bit, it is as cheap as chips.

Wave 105 Fitness has shown me that exercise is not just about weight loss, but improving mobility and releasing endorphins. The sessions have given me an enormous sense of wellbeing.

Catch Steve Power at Breakfast, Monday to Friday 05.30 – 09.00 on Wave 105. ✽ www.wave105.com

S teve Po w er

✽ www.parentsasheroes.com

Keep it free: 1 - 7 August is World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme is Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers. www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

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Meet This Season’s Experts...

This season’s experts give their opinions on sleep patterns, preparing for childbirth and maternity discrimination Karen Bramall Baby Sleep The Night

Nigel Atherton PhD Elastolabo

NAP TIPS Every month I get tons of calls from parents struggling with naps, and they really can test your sanity! Even for a baby who sleeps well at night, naps can present difficulties and when I work with a family they are almost always the last thing to fall into place, sometimes a week or more after night time sleep has become consistent.

Factors that will help you achieve successful naps are: • Don’t let your baby become overtired.

They will find it far harder to fall asleep at naptime and are also likely to have shorter naps.

• Put your baby somewhere dark and relatively quiet to sleep. Ideally at least one nap a day in the cot, but when this is not practical you can get some great blackouts for pushchairs.

• Try to keep to a regular napping schedule, babies love routine! Though every baby has a slightly different level of stamina here is an idea of age appropriate number of naps: 0-3 months: 4 or 5 per day 3-6 months: 3 per day 6-14 months: 2 per day 14 months+: 1 per day For help with any aspect of your child’s sleep call for a free 15 minute consultation on 01794 341172 or email karen@babysleepthenight.com www.babysleepthenight.com

156 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

CONTEMPORARY LAWYER

HEALTHCARE DEVELOPMENT

SLEEP CONSULTANT

Karen is a certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant working with children from newborn – 8 years, based in Romsey, Hampshire.

Louise Taft Prolegal, Law Firm

Nigel has over 20 year’s experience of developing new healthcare products and is CEO of Swiss company Cederberg GmbH.

Louise Taft is a Solicitor with extensive experience bringing claims for women subjected to pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

PREVENTING SKIN TEARS IN CHILDBIRTH

MATERNITY DISCRIMINATION

Skin tears during childbirth are something we all hope won’t happen.

Unfortunately they are more common than you might think. It’s been reported that in up to 85% of women the tissue that needs to stretch during childbirth (your perineum) cannot stretch enough.

This leads to skin tears or the need for a surgical cut (episiotomy).

Up to 30,000 women lose their jobs because of pregnancy or maternity discrimination every year, according to organisation Maternity Action. Problems often arise from pregnancy related illness, and around the return to work. I would advise any woman experiencing discrimination to get something in writing as soon as possible. If things aren’t resolved, get legal advice.

Perineal massage during the last 6-8 weeks of your pregnancy can reduce this risk. This makes your perineum more supple by gently exercising the tissues as though they were being pushed by your baby’s head during childbirth. You only need to find 10 minutes each day, ideally after a hot bath or shower so that you are relaxed.

For a guide to perineal massage visit the Elastolabo website.

Your key rights as pregnant workers and working mothers are: • Paid leave for ante natal appointments • To be offered suitable alternative work if it’s assessed it’s unsafe for you to continue in your usual job. If that is not possible, to be suspended on full pay.

• To return to your job or a suitable alternative after maternity leave.

• To be offered a suitable alternative vacancy if your position becomes redundant during your maternity leave.

• The right not to suffer “unfavourable treatment”, a “detriment” or dismissed because of your pregnancy or because you are taking maternity leave.

• Not to suffer “unfavourable treatment” because of pregnancy related illness.

e. i nfo@cederberg.ch www.elastolabo.co.uk

t. 0 20 7743 6775 www.prolegal.co.uk

Until now you could only use simple lubricant oils to help the massage.

However, Elastolabo is a new Swiss product that has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of perineal damage during childbirth. Its soothing formulation contains vitamin E and the unique ingredient Elastocell – to soften your perineum.

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 157

TheBumpand

Beyond

Lynne Taylor-Gooby reminisces of that special period as an expectant mother, and asks herself should a women’s burgeoning bump be seen as private property?

W O R D S : LY N N E TAY L O R - G O O B Y

“I

wonder, when did pregnant women’s bellies become public property?” asked my son-in-law recently.

It took me a moment or two to work out what the question meant; apparently it is now common for all kinds of people, including total strangers, to stroke, fondle and generally make free with bumps in a way that my son-in-law found surprising and perhaps even offensive. I checked to see among my (numerous) pregnant or recently pregnant colleagues. “Oh yes,” they all said, “Lots of people comment.” The most extreme came from my PA. A total stranger – male – yelled across the aisle of a supermarket, “Ah yes – about 34 weeks – it’s not engaged yet though!”

“Maternity clothes of the time were full and flappy – the fashion generally was smock shaped dresses and tops. I don’t actually remember buying anything specifically described as maternity – more or less anything in Laura Ashley had sufficient room to accommodate triplets.”

I gave the matter some thought and the answer to the question was, March 1978.

My personal experience provides evidence of that date. As a pupil in a girls’ school in the 1960s, I was

familiar with the pattern of a new teacher arriving as Miss X and at an unspecified time later she would become Mrs Y. As I recall it was permissible to congratulate her on her marriage, perhaps even to collect for a wedding present. At a yet further unspecified time, Mrs Y left the school.

No reason was given and certainly it would have been deemed “indelicate” (a word frequently used by my mother) to enquire, let alone congratulate Mrs Y on the impending birth of her child.

We must have guessed the reason but to observe it or to comment on it would have been considered far too personal.

Rolling forward a decade and a half and I embarked on the first of four pregnancies. Maternity clothes of the time were full and flappy – the fashion generally was smock shaped dresses 

L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 159

and tops. I don’t actually remember buying anything specifically described as maternity – more or less anything in Laura Ashley had sufficient room to accommodate triplets.

On the date in question – March 1978 – I was coming to the end of my first pregnancy. I stuck at my job at a girls’ school in Bristol in order to see my Year 11 GCSE candidates through to their exams. The staffroom was, unfortunately, up two flights of stairs. On the day in question I stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding on to the rail, taking a few deep breaths to psyche myself up to drag my considerable bulk upwards. As I stood there planning my strategy, a particularly naughty girl aged about 15 passed me by. She turned back, patted the top of my tum and with a great grin, in a broad Bristol accent said, “Yerr comin’ on nicely Miss” and walked off.

Perhaps I ought to mention that a characteristic which seemed to coincide with my pregnancies was an enhanced sense of humour. I have never found anyone else who shared this symptom but the truth is that the most mildly amusing thing made me laugh hysterically.

I could have been affronted, I could have been shocked, instead of which I was amused. I laughed so loudly that I ended up in a collapsed heap sitting at the bottom of the stairs rocking backwards and forwards at the very idea that a school girl would not only mention my pregnancy but feel free to manhandle the evidence. The fundamental change in culture struck me as riotously funny.

Since then the Laura Ashley tent garment has given way to a much

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“I could have been affronted, I could have been shocked, instead of which I was amused. I laughed so loudly that I ended up in a collapsed heap sitting at the bottom of the stairs rocking backwards and forwards at the very idea that a school girl would not only mention my pregnancy but feel free to manhandle the evidence.

The fundamental change in culture struck me as riotously funny.” niftier style which is not so much concealing as revealing. Some years ago I was introduced to a parent who was expecting another child. She was tall and elegant with a beautiful mane of hair, perfect make-up and painted nails. She was dressed in a cat-suit – an all-in-one clinging black garment that started at the ankles and ended at the wrists and neck. To say that it was fitted is an understatement; her inverted navel was clearly visible, as was everything else.

I was both puzzled and perplexed by this and have reflected on it since.

I realise that I certainly still regard a pregnant woman’s belly as something private. I’ve heard reports of pregnant women wearing bikinis on the beach – something that I would never have done. Dare I say it, I would find it “indelicate” – but that’s my problem!

The opposite argument is that a pregnant belly is a source of joy and

pride. I certainly agree with both of those things so why not show it? Why not indeed? To quote Walter Davies: The Beautiful Three things there are more beautiful Than any man could wish to see: The first, it is a full- rigged ship Sailing with all her sails set free; The second, when the wind and sun Are playing in a field of corn; The third, a woman, young and fair, Showing her child before it is born. ✿

LYNNE TAYLOR-GOOBY is Headmistress of The Royal School, the first school to follow the diamond teaching model in Surrey. Boys and girls are taught together until Year 3, separately until GCSE and together again for Sixth Form. Mrs TaylorGooby has four children (two girls and two boys) and has long been an ‘unofficial expert’ on the different learning styles of children and their need for happiness and stability to fulfil their learning potential.

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 161

Baby Hampshire is Digital

INSTANT ACCESS TO EVERY ISSUE OF BABY HAMPSHIRE – Don’t Miss Another Issue – Subscribe to Baby Hampshire’s App today!

Baby Hampshire is available digitally for iPad, iPhone and Android.

Visit www.babyhampshire.co.uk/subscribe for more details

WIN a Venture experience and wall art worth Venture and Baby Hampshire have teamed up again to offer one lucky family an exclusive photographic experience.

WORDS: REBECCA MOORE

V

enture Photography are offering you and your little Hampshire beauties an opportunity not to be missed with the cutest competition around. It’s time for your little ones to practice their perfect pout, as your family could win a creative photographic experience.

Does your child have a face full of

character or a beautiful beaming smile?

Well, they could be photographed by the highly talented team at Venture Southampton in their new state-ofthe-art studio! You’ll be treated to an exclusive prize; a photoshoot and a massive £850 worth of Venture wall art to take pride position in your home.

With Venture’s signature style, let their photography light up your home.

They’re the UK’s largest family portrait photographer… so they’ll capture your family’s story brilliantly. Creating

unique memories of you and your tiny treasure. ✿ www.venturephotography.co.uk

How to Enter

It’s time for you to get snap happy; all you need to do is enter via www. babyhampshire.co.uk/competitions where you’ll supply an image. You must enter by 15 August 2013 to be in with a chance of winning. We can’t wait to see an abundance of little angels, let the hunt begin for the county’s cutest face.

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Time for Boredom Jane Gandee, Headmistress of St Swithun’s School in Winchester, explores the notion of boredom and the desires of children, and parents alike, to be constantly plugged in.

I

am sure that I am not alone in waking up some mornings feeling as though I have to rush through the day frantically multitasking, unable to focus for long on individual jobs, conscious that time is passing and there is still more to do. My pulse is racing as I run around the house hurrying my children from one pre-school chore to another. I am perfectly aware that this is not the most effective way to proceed, but it can be hard to snap out of it in a relentlessly demanding and immediate world.

We are in thrall to technology, addicted to screens, apparently incapable of surviving for any length of time without checking email, texts, Facebook. Everyone is at it – on the train, walking, during what appears to be a romantic dinner date, in the middle of conversations. When did

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WORDS: JANE GANDEE

we begin to feel that we always have to be in touch, that we always have to be doing something and that our minds have to be full of chatter and noise? When did we begin to fear that we might be missing something if we didn’t switch on and that our friends would forget us if we didn’t constantly post pictures of ourselves occupied in mundane activities? When did being busy begin to be equated with status – the more emails we have the more important we must be? Perhaps more importantly, when did we become afraid of simply sitting? Looking at nothing and listening to nothing.

And it is not just adults who suffer from this; children too move from one programmed, well-intentioned activity to another before reading and bed. Indeed, the amount of free time available to schoolchildren (after going to school, doing homework, sleeping, and eating) has declined from 45 to 25

percent of their waking hours.

As adults, we have perhaps fallen into the trap of believing that to have a worthwhile life we must be always busy, if not working or ensuring that our friends are aware of our existence then on a path of relentless selfimprovement. Take a look at groaning shelves of self-help books, particularly in airports because presumably on a flight we are thought to have far too much unstructured time on our hands. How can we help feeling in need of improvement when we are confronted with titles such as Getting things done: how to achieve more; How to win friends and influence people in the digital age and The Happiness Project: or why I spent a year trying to sing in the mornings, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle and generally have more fun?

And in our understandable desire to improve ourselves and our lives

we seek to produce perfect children largely through organising classes and activities for them. They become projects in their own right. We seek to improve on our own experiences as children and give our children more.

And we would be unusual parents if we didn’t want the best for our children. But I would suggest firstly that we pause to ask ourselves exactly why it is so important for our children to do each of their activities – what do we hope to achieve? And secondly that we need to take a step back from the busyness and the digital chatter that surround us.

Have you ever considered programming nothing into your children’s lives? What about allowing them to be bored even? Boredom is certainly painful at first and leads, at least with my children, initially to frankly unnecessary amounts of moaning and groaning, but then eventually to a new game or activity, often something wild and rumbustious but also personal to them because they are the ones to have initiated it, not me.

In a wide-ranging and informative article on children and boredom Dr Laura Markham on the website Aha! Parenting.com gives practical advice on how to deal with apparently distressed children in the early days of reducing their dependence on screens and on a highly structured diet of

“As adults, we have perhaps fallen into the trap of believing that to have a worthwhile life we must be always busy, if not working or ensuring that our friends are aware of our existence then on a path of relentless self-improvement.” activities. Reducing screen time can feel particularly traumatic because it is thought by researchers that the fastmoving frequently changing images found in video games, computer games and television stimulate the release of a chemical called dopamine which can cause addiction.

In addition, children have become passive consumers of entertainment and they therefore find it very difficult to come up with their own activities.

Which is precisely why leaving them to their own devices is so important.

We are doing our children a serious disservice if we don’t give them every opportunity to develop initiative and get-up-and-go. On a practical note, in the early days it is worth having a list of activities to suggest to them when they first experience the impact of reduced screen time.

Of course any child who can read always has something to do. And if that also seems too passive, any child

who can hold a pencil can create something. And every child has an imagination that needs to be given the space to develop. If you’ve never used your imagination, how will you learn to solve problems, make plans or dream?

Consider what writer F. Scott Fitzgerald had to say on the topic, “Boredom is not an end product; it is, comparatively, rather an early stage in life and art. You’ve got to go by or past or through boredom, as through a filter, before the clear product emerges.”

So, I would argue strongly that we need to create time for boredom in our daily lives if we are not to lose our ability to think and to create. I would argue that children risk losing the ability to tease out solutions to complex issues if they never face a blank sheet of paper in a silent room. I suggest that we all risk running forever in the same rut if we fill our heads with digital chatter. So I recommend striking a blow for boredom and regularly depriving both yourselves and your children of electronic devices and printed matter and seeing what happens. ✿ St Swithun’s, Winchester is an independent school for weekly and full boarders and day girls aged 11-18. It has junior day school for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11. t.01962 835700 www.stswithuns.com

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Hampshire Collegiate Prep School The best in everyone

TM

Prep School Boarding & Day 8 – 13 Years

| Pre-Prep & Nursery 3 – 7 Years

Hampshire Collegiate Prep School is a warm and welcoming independent day school for boys and girls aged from 2½ -11 years.

Life here is based on sharing, performing, achieving, creating and exploring, all adding up to learning in an atmosphere which the children love being part of and in which they feel safe and secure.

Please contact Mrs Julia Piper on: 01794 515737 to arrange a visit.

Hampshire Collegiate Prep School Embley Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6ZA Tel: (01794) 515737 email: info@hampshirecs.org.uk www.hampshirecs.org.uk

www.pgs.org.uk

T

he Portsmouth Grammar School Nursery offers outstanding care for girls and boys from age 2½ to 4 helping children to become active, independent

learners in a happy, fun and supportive environment. To find out more about your child joining the Nursery please call 023 9268 1337.

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“Full marks for pastoral care… good academics… fantastic grounds” The Good Schools Guide

For more information or to arrange a visit please telephone: 01428 728000 www.highfieldschool.org.uk

| Highfield Lane, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ

Meet the Head

Find out what it’s like to be head of a school from our exclusive interview with a local Headteacher.

WORDS: REBECCA MOORE

ISI Inspection report judged that we were ‘outstanding’ across the board – a judgement of which we are immensely proud and strive to maintain.

Karen Chard Head of Lower School and Enrichment How long have you been at Sherfield School?

I have been at Sherfield for nearly 9 years, since the very first day we opened in September 2004 in fact. It is hard to believe, as the time has flown by so fast. It’s true what they say, ‘time flies when you’re having fun!’

What is the history of Sherfield School?

There has been a school on this site since 1947, but Sherfield as it is now started in 2004 when GEMS (Global Education Management Systems) took over the school. Dick Jaine, formerly Surmaster of St Paul’s School in London, became Headmaster in 2012 and this has marked a new chapter in the history of the school. The Nursery began in 2004 and has gone from strength to strength since then. Our most recent

What is the ethos of Sherfield School?

Our ethos is primarily to enable all children to achieve their potential.

This begins with the very youngest children, as we place a high priority upon identifying each child’s unique talents as well as any areas where they may need support. We also recognise the crucial importance of children’s happiness and confidence, so place personal and pastoral development at the centre of our curriculum.

How do you help ensure every student achieves their full potential?

Little GEMS and the Upper Foundation phase of our school have a unique programme which ensures that all children are encouraged to reach their potential.

The bedrock of this is an excellent early years curriculum, committed and highly trained staff and a focus upon meaningful and dynamic parental engagement. We also offer bespoke programmes which enhance children’s physical and cognitive development, enable children to experience a range of world languages and embed learning in the areas of music, information technology and environment.

What feedback have you received from parents and students?

Our parents are hugely supportive of

Sherfie ld Scho o l

our work and, as part of our parental engagement programme, enable us to fine-tune our provision to meet the needs of our children.

What have you gained from working at Sherfield School?

Working at Sherfield has provided me (and everyone in our team) with opportunities to develop a unique learning pathway for our children. As with every new experience, it has at times proved challenging, but I am confident that we have succeeded in creating highly effective and creative early years education which provides secure foundations for children’s future learning.

Where do you see Sherfield School in the future?

I believe Sherfield will continue to go from strength to strength, not only in the early years, but also in the Preparatory and Senior sections of the school. I think that we have an exciting future ahead of us and look forward to continuing to develop the unique and exciting school which is Sherfield.

Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 0HU 01256 884 800 info@gss.gemsedu.co.uk www.sherfieldschool.co.uk

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“It’s just like having another family…”

Open Morning

Thursday 26th September ~ 9.30am-12.30pm Girls & Boys ~ Day & Boarding ~ Ages 3-16

Andover, Hampshire ~ 01264 325900 ~ www.rookwood.hants.sch.uk

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An independent day school for girls aged 3-11 & boys aged 3-7

“Here we have something really special: sparky, fun and innovative” Good Schools Guide 2012

At St Swithun's, every day is an open day!

To arrange a visit, please contact us: 01962 835750 office.juniorschool@stswithuns.com www.stswithuns.com Alresford Road, Winchester, SO21 1HA

168 | L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E

Colouring is a fun activity for children of all ages. It’s a potent educational tool that stimulates development, aiding a widerange of important skill-sets.

The activity of colouring-in can help increase concentration, develop coordination, stimulate

imagination, and increase recognition of colour, line, perspective, shape and hue. The activity can be easily performed as a group activity or alone, offering a perfect solution to calming the rowdiest of children! Colour-in Parties are a great way to keep children entertained whilst helping develop their artistic flair through colour. Eggnogg.co.uk have a great selection of colour-in products perfect for colour-in parties helping children’s creativity. ✽ www.eggnogg.co.uk

What are your thoughts?

l Education Secretary Michae ils pup t Gove has argued tha should endure longer days s and shorter holidays. He say day ool that a longer sch would also be more familyfriendly and “consistent with the pressures of a modern society”.

What do you think?

Have your say at www.facebook.com/ babyhampshire

School

news Keeping you updated with the latest local education news WORDS: REBECCA MOORE

Tougher Inspections for Nurseries childcare providers currently classed as “satisfactory” will undergo extra inspections and be labelled “requiring improvement” After a recent following concerns consultation, that nurseries are Chief Inspector of Education Sir Michael not improving fast Wilshaw announced enough, particularly in deprived areas. the proposals by Ofsted in a speech to Under the proposed an invited audience in changes from London that nurseries September, only “good” or better will and childminders be deemed acceptable in England will face tougher inspections. by Ofsted.

Under the plans, ✽ www.ofsted.gov.uk

When Choosing a Nursery...

We speak to Mrs Owen, headteacher of Charlton House about what to look for when choosing a nursery

C

hildren learn more in the first five years of their lives than in any other. The skills and experiences in those precious, formative years lay the foundations for their future education and help to shape the young adults that they will become.

An outstanding nursery will provide an educational environment that is stimulating, happy, safe, and caring and within which good manners and respect are promoted daily through good practice

and by excellent role models. Children should be supported and enabled to develop a positive sense of themselves and others so that they have the confidence to try new activities, play cooperatively and form relationships.

Children should have opportunities to: • Engage in a range of activities through play • Participate in a range of artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities so that they can flourish emotionally, behaviourally, mentally

and physically • Develop basic reading, writing and numeracy skills when they are ready • Undertake activities that provide highly memorable experiences and which are pitched at their individual ability High levels of independence, curiosity, imagination and concentration, combined with an eagerness to attend, define the child who is placed in an outstanding nursery. ✽ www.stmaryscollege. co.uk/charlton-nursery

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C A T I O N A N D D| E News V E L O |P Events M E N T Education | Schools | Sports | News | Events | Open Days | EducationE D| USchools | Sports |

Increase Your Child’s Concentration

by Colouring In

Education | Schools | Sports | News | Events | Open Days | Education | Schools | Sports | News | Events |

r u o y n a l P visit...

From 10-14 June it’s

Bike to School Week

B

ike to School Week, organised

by Sustrans charity, encourages children to travel to school on their bikes over a 5 day week this June. Did you know that as little as 15 minutes of activity St Swithun’s School

THE PORTSMOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL High Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2LN Saturday 28 September, 9:30am – 12:30pm www.pgs.org.uk

ROOKWOOD SCHOOL Weyhill Road, Andover, SP10 3AL Thursday 26 September 9:30am-12:30pm www.rookwood.hants.sch.uk

ST SWITHUN’S Alresford Road, Winchester, SO21 1HA Friday 17 May at 1:45pm & Saturday 29 June at 9:30am www.stswithuns.com

HIGHFIELD & BROOKHAM Highfield Lane, Liphook, GU30 7LQ Tuesday 21 May 9:30-11:30am www.highfieldschool.org.uk

ST NICHOLAS’ SCHOOL Redfields House, Redfields Lane, Church Crookham, Fleet, GU52 0RF Tuesday 21 May 6-8pm www.st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGIATE PREP SCHOOL Embley Park, Romsey, SO51 6ZE Thursday 19 September 6-9pm Wednesday 9 October 12noon-3pm www.hampshirecs.org.uk

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a day could cut in half a child’s risk of becoming obese? Not only will cycling kickstart a new exercise routine, it will also decrease busy traffic on school roads.

Not forgetting how much it will help the environment too! The

official Bike Week is just a week after Bike to School Week, taking place between 15 - 23 June. So why not start practicing with the school run – it’s a great way to encourage little legs to get cycling on a regular basis. ✽ www.sustrans.org.uk

A survey for the MCC and the Cricket Foundation charity revealed a range of statistics from the playing field.

2/3 of UK children feel under pressure to

cheat at sports because of a

babyhampshire.co.uk G U I D E

T O

E D U C A T I O N

“win-at-all-costs” culture and a ¼ of the children questioned thought team mates would cheat frequently if they could get away with it.

90% said their team mates felt

pressure to win while playing sport and more than 1/3 said they felt

no remorse at winning by cheating. www.bbc.co.uk

Find out even more!

In the online directory section of our website www.babyhampshire.co.uk we have an excellent Education section detailing information and reviews for nurseries, preschools, private schools and private tutors.

Outstanding

Education and Care for children aged 3 months to 5 years Open 7.30am - 6pm, 48 weeks of the year, Breakfast club

SHERFIELD SCHOOL NURSERY Little GEMS

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children to “Set within ideally located for a safe and in House Nursery is rld around them wo the ate stig Headteacher. inve ment.” Mrs D Owen, protected environ

Places available. To book or to arrange a visit to the Nursery, please telephone 023 8067 7575.

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What’s

SUMMER

ON

There are some top family events this summer happening all over the county. And whether the sun is shining or not, have fun!

WORDS: CHARLOT TE TOMLINSON-WHITE

Falconry on Father’s Day at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

© English Heritage

Sunday 16 June, 1pm and 3pm Celebrate Father’s Day at the Gardens with a fantastic static display of birds of prey. Witness magnificent falcons and a European Eagle owl, then enjoy a falconry presentation about the nature of the birds and the history and practice of falconry. The display culminates with the thrilling free flying of a team of hunting birds of prey through the open space of a specific area of the Gardens.

Admission: Display is free with usual admission fee.

Adult £8.95, Under 17s FREE ✽ J ermyns Lane, Romsey, SO51 0QA www.hilliergardens.org.uk, 01794 369319

A Grand Victorian Day Out at Osborne House

Saturday 25 - Monday 27 May, 10am – 5pm Visit Osborne on the Isle of Wight for a right royal day at Queen Victoria’s favourite home by the sea. As part of the Grand Victorian Day Out festivities there will be stunning equestrian displays, a superb parade of the Redcoats, and royal walkabouts

by Osborne’s very own Queen Victoria – all bringing alive the days of the Empire. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy Victorian music, traditional stalls and side shows.

Admission: English Heritage Members FREE! Adult £13.40, Child (5-15 years) £8, Family £34.80 ✽ York

Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6JX www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/ osborne, 0870 333 1183

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© The E.H. Shepard Trust, reproduced by permission of Curtis Brown Group

The House at Pooh Corner

the exhibition. Plus, to coincide with the exhibition, Mottisfont is hosting the Great Pooh Stick challenge over selected Saturday 13 July – Saturday 14 September, 11am – 5pm weekends, as well as the chance to build a mini natural raft. A must for Winnie the Pooh lovers and perfect for all the family, The idyllic National Trust property is showcasing a unique exhibition of classic illustrations featuring Winnie the Pooh and why not dress up as your favourite character? Don’t forget to take the family quest trail with your little ones! his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Pop along and Admission: Adult £9.90, Child £4.95, Family £23.40 marvel at the best loved children’s characters and then ✽ Romsey, SO51 0LP explore the theme of childhood and imagination through a collection of contemporary art, which is running alongside www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont, 01794 344020

at Mottisfont

Bumps & Babies Club at Spinnaker Tower

Mondays, 9.30am – 11.30am Every Monday from 9.30am to 11.30am, meet up with other new mums and mums-to-be for coffee and pastries in the inviting and spacious Waterfront Café.

Soft mats are available for little ones to play on.

Attendance is completely free. Plus, enjoy a coffee and pastry for just £3.

Admission: FREE! ✽ Gunwharf

Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3TT www.spinnakertower.co.uk, 023 9285 7520

Tea in a Tent

Tea Time at Forest Arts Centre

Thursday 8 August, 11am - 4pm The Playhouse Plays Out Tent is pitching up in the New Forest with a truly tantalising show. Tea Time, inspired by the games we have all played around the kitchen table, is a superbly silly celebration of meal times in words, song and dance. With music, performances, games and a few surprises, plus delicious Hampshire food fayre, it’s free family fun not to be missed.

Admission: Entrance to the tent is FREE! There may be a small charge for some events. ✽ F orest Arts Centre, Old Milton Road, New Milton, BH25 6DS www3.hants.gov.uk/forest, 01425 612393

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The Creature Teachers at Longdown Activity Farm

Friday 30 August The fabulous Creature Teachers are at the Farm with their menagerie of amazing animals. Meet owls, millipedes, rats, giant snails, lizards, snakes, and many other fascinating creatures too. Touch, hold, and learn about these fantastic creatures in shows in meet and greet sessions. Hold a barn owl – sessions in the afternoon. Don’t forget to bring your camera to record this unforgettable experience.

Plus: Our usual schedule of hands-on activities will run throughout the day. ✽ Deerleap

Lane, Ashurst, Near Southampton, SO40 7EH 023 8029 2837 www.longdownfarm.co.uk

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside! onboard HMS Warrior 1860

Wednesday 24 July – Thursday 29 August, 11am – 4pm Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the Summer Holiday, experience all the fun of a Victorian seaside holiday! Dress up in costumes and promenade along the “pier”, become a pier entertainer and put on a Punch and Judy show, plus learn about and play with Victorian style toys and board games. You can even make a souvenir to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission: FREE with a valid ticket. There are a number of ticket options. See website for details. ✽H M Naval Base, Victory Gate, Main Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3QX www.historicdockyard.co.uk, 023 9283 9766

Teddy Bear Story

at Portsmouth City Museum

Until Sunday 15 September, 10am – 5pm Celebrate the most popular and universally loved toy in the world – the teddy bear. Discover the history of these cuddly companions and how they are made, as well as how they have changed over the years. Showcasing bears from the V&A Museum of Childhood, including those from picture books, film and television, this engaging exhibition even features teddy bears with their own personal stories to tell. Perfect for reliving and creating many childhood memories!

Admission: FREE! ✽M useum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk, 023 9282 7261

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Sunset Party in the Park at Marwell Wildlife

Friday 7 June and Friday 21 June, 6.30pm – 9.30pm Marwell’s Sunset Party in the Park is back by popular demand! Venture into the park after hours and see the animals at sunset, meet the keepers who look after them and enjoy special talks. Dance to the Samba Band, have your photo taken with a giant rhino sculpture and jump around on the bouncy castle. Choose between two nights of incredible performances and entertainment, including Juggling Inferno the fantastic fire performers, Roo’d the bouncing kangaroo stilt walkers and the record breaking

bubble blower, Sam the Bubble Man who can squeeze a whopping 50 people into one of his creations. Plus, party with the birds in their new walkthrough aviary. Watch out for The Pigeons – eternally curious, they peck and scratch to investigate and might even leave you a ‘little present’ on meeting them. And don’t forget to say hello to Pongo the adorable and affectionate Giant Obobee Bird.

Admission: Adult £16, Child £12, Under 3s FREE ✽ T hompson’s Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH www.marwell.org.uk, 01962 777407

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Local Events Get out and about with your little ones. There are some fantastic events happening in Hampshire.

BASINGSTOKE FESTIVAL Thursday 20 June - Sunday 14 July Basingstoke and Deane’s annual festival promises something for all. It includes indoor and outdoor, free and ticketed family friendly events.

Admission: See website for details.

Various locations across Basingstoke.

See website for details. 01256 844844 www.basingstokefestival.co.uk

BASING HOUSE Bartons Lane, Old Basing, Basingstoke RG24 8AE, 0845 603 5635 www.basinghouse.org.uk HALF TERM LEGO® GEO-CACHING Monday 27 – Thursday 30 May 11am-4pm Join the team for LEGO® Geo-caching at Basing House plus visits down the Basing House tunnel, during half term.

Admission: £3 per team + normal entry ticket fees. Adult £5.10, Child £4.10, Family £14.30 FATHER’S DAY BBQ Sunday 16 June, 11am-4pm Head to Basing House for a tasty Father’s Day BBQ. Dads can also take part in Heritage workshops on this nationally important historical site.

Admission: Adult £5.10, Child £4.10, Family £14.30

BEAR HUNT AT ROYAL VICTORIA COUNTRY PARK Thursday 23 May, 11am-12pm or 1.30pm-2.30pm Join Eddie the Explorer on his hunt. A walk, craft activity, drink and biscuit are all included. Suitable for pre-school children, places must be booked and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission: £2.50 per child Netley Abbey, Southampton SO31 5GA, 023 8045 5157 www3.hants.gov.uk/rvcp

CARISBROOKE CASTLE Castle Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1XY, 0870 333 1181 www.english-heritage.org.uk CASTLE QUEST Thursday 1 - Monday 5 August, Friday 9 - Monday 12 August and Friday 16 - Monday 19 August, 10am-5pm Follow the clues around the castle to embark on the great castle quest. Don’t forget to collect your prize!

Admission: English Heritage Members FREE! Adult £7.70, Child (5-15 years) £4.60, Family £20

GRAND MEDIEVAL JOUST

Tuesday 6 - Thursday 8 August, 10am-5pm

A magnificent medieval joust! Watch fighting knights do battle in a live action show, plus be entertained by the court jester!

Admission: Adult Member £1, Child Member £0.90, Family Member £2.60, Adult £8.70, Child (5-15 years) £5.20, Family £22.60 CLASH OF KNIGHTS! Tuesday 13 - Thursday 15 August, 10am-5pm The ultimate in competitive historical combat, 4 teams, each of 12 armoured Knights, attempt to emerge victorious from a recreated Crest Melee.

Admission: English Heritage Members FREE! Adult £7.70, Child (5-15 years) £4.60, Family £20

LONGDOWN ACTIVITY FARM Deerleap Lane, Ashurst, Near Southampton, SO40 7EH 023 8029 2837 www.longdownfarm.co.uk THE GREAT FUN FARM FORAGE Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May inclusive and Monday 12 August to Friday 16 August inclusive. 10am–5pm The family will enjoy searching for farming objects carefully hidden around the Farm. With the help of a fun quiz sheet, super snoopers can follow the trail leading to a lucky dip prize.

LONGDOWN VINTAGE FARM RALLY Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June 10am–5pm Join the New Forest Vintage Tractor and Engine Club on the farm for a glimpse of yesteryear, with tractor rides, miniature steam engine rides, and the fabulous tractor v children tug-of-war.

PONY DAY Thursday 8 August Children can help with grooming the mischievous Shetland ponies, listen to talks from expert Julia Coles and enjoy pony rides. Height restrictions apply.

Admission: Normal admission applies Adult £8.50, Child £7.50, Under 3s FREE! Extra charge for pony rides.

TITCHFIELD HAVEN NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE Cliff Road, Hill Head, Fareham, PO14 3JT, 01329 662145 www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/ titchfield SEASHORE SAFARI Thursday 30 May, 10am-11.30am Equipped with specialist kit and expert guidance, this activity for families will uncover all sorts of hidden wonders.

Places need to be booked in advance.

POND DIPPING

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Basingstoke Festival Sunday 23 June, 10.30am–12pm or 2pm–3.30pm Armed with nets and equipment, a ranger will show you how to explore the murky depths during this hands-on activity for families. Places need to be booked in advance.

Admission: Adult £4, Accompanied Child £4

QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK Gravel Hill, Horndean, PO8 0QE www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/ qecp, 023 9259 5040 SOUTH DOWNS WOOD FAIR Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July, 10am-5pm Celebrating all aspects of wood, from its production to its uses. With animals, rides, music and entertainment for the children, plus a new Food Hall.

Admission: Adult £7, Accompanied under 16s FREE www.woodlandcrafts.co.uk 01243 641306

LEPE COUNTRY PARK Lepe, Exbury, Southampton, SO45 1AD, 023 8089 9108 www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/lepe LEPE INTO ACTION Wednesday 29 May, 10am–4pm Have a go at archery, boules, climbing, cycling, orienteering and more. Open to all, it includes activities for children and young people with disabilities.

Admission: FREE! Parking charges apply SANDY TOES STORY WALK Thursday 25 July, 2pm -3.30pm, Friday 26 July, 10.30am–12pm Ideal for children under six, enjoy a short walk with storytelling and activities along the way. All children must be accompanied by an adult and booking is essential.

Admission: £3.50 per child MARINE WONDERS Wednesday 14 August and Thursday 15 August, 10am–4pm Two days of activities with a marine theme, including seashore safaris, storytelling, arts and crafts and much more. No need to book, just turn up.

Admission: FREE! Donations welcome

GOSPORT DISCOVERY CENTRE

High Street, Gosport, PO12 1BT 023 9252 3463 www.hants.gov.uk/gdc ROCK AROUND HAMPSHIRE Tuesday 28 May, 10.30am-1.30pm Family drop-in event with fascinating fossil activities and a beautiful geological story mat activity to explore. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission: £1 per participating child UNDER THE SEA STORY TIME SPECIAL Saturday 8 June, 11am–12pm Suitable for under 10s accompanied by an adult, explore the exciting new yellow Discovery submarine and make a souvenir undersea mobile.

ANIMAL ANTICS Friday 19 July, 10.30am–11.30am MUSEUMS FOR BEGINNERS! An opportunity for under 5s to come and explore the SEARCH for Science room.

Admission: FREE! No need to book, but places limited unless stated otherwise FERRETS FOR FUN Thursday 15 August, 3pm–4.30pm Gordon Lewis looks at the ferret's history, background and uses, dispelling the myths surrounding these fascinating creatures, and shows that they can be affectionate.

Admission: Adult £3, accompanied children FREE!

MIDHANTS RAILWAY WATERCRESS LINE The Railway Station, Station Road, Alresford, SO24 9JG, 01962 733810 www.watercressline.co.uk TEDDY BEARS PICNIC WEEKEND Saturday 6 July and Sunday 7 July With spotting activities, paw print trails and Binky Bear as the guest of honour you’re guaranteed to have fun on the Watercress Line. Don’t forget to bring your favourite teddy bear!

Admission: Adult £14, Child £7, Under 2s FREE! Family £35. See website for details DAY OUT WITH THOMAS Saturday 10 August to Sunday 18 August All aboard for a Day Out with Thomas!

With children’s entertainment, activity sheets and rides. Also, receive a Thomas & Friends sticker and certificate! Plus, unlimited travel all day.

Admission: Adult £16, child £10, Under 2 FREE, Family £48

GILBERT’S GAMES AND COUNTRYSIDE FAIR AT GILBERT WHITE’S HOUSE Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August, 10.30am–5.15pm Fun and games for all the family at Gilbert’s Games and Countryside Fair.

Take part in some traditional 18th Century games and pastimes.

Admission: Adults £7, Children £2 High Street, Selborne, GU34 3JH www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk 01420 511275

Teddy Bears Picnic weekend with Binky Bear as the guest of honour!

Bring your favourite teddy bear along for bear spotting activities, paw print trails and a ride on a real steam train!

Standard fares apply.

6th - 7th July

Open Daily 10am - 5pm D E V O Lots of fun activities I M P RIMAL throughout the day.

N NEW!

A ING HANDNL BAR

Friendly farm animals to meet.

Indoor and outdoor play areas. Farm Produce Shop and Gift Shop.

Off A35 • Ashurst • New Forest Tel. 023 8029 2837

UNDER

www.watercressline.co.uk © Blackwell & Nankivell 2013

3s Are FREE!

For event details & much more click onto:

www.longdownfarm.co.uk

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Theatres

& Museums Hampshire’s theatres and museums have a whole host of shows and events to keep families entertained.

PUUURRRFECT CATS AT THE MAYFLOWER Tuesday 11 to Saturday 22 June Based on T.S Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking adaptation CATS blends fantasy, drama and romance effortlessly, fusing music, dance and verse. It’s puurrrfect musical theatre for young and old alike.

Admission: Times and prices vary, see website for details 26 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE, www.mayflower.org.uk, 023 80711811

KINGS THEATRE Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 2QJ, 023 9282 8282 www.kings-southsea.com MILKSHAKE! LIVE Sunday 23 June, 1pm Channel 5 and Premier Stage Productions bring the brand new milkshake! live tour! To Southsea.

Starring milkshake! favourites and presenters, it features new songs, classic favourites and funky dance moves, plus plenty of family fun.

SHAOLIN WARRIORS Tuesday 25 June, 7.30pm The internationally acclaimed Shaolin Warriors are back with a brand new show. Return of the Master features death defying Kung Fu, stunning scenery, atmospheric music and hundreds of costumes. Be amazed by their feats of agility.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Tuesday 6 August – Saturday 10 August, see website for details Don’t miss your chance to see Bill Kenwright’s “Superb” production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magical family musical. Discover the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours.

Admission: See website for details

TAMING OF THE SHREW, CITY MUSEUM GARDENS Thursday 6 June to Sunday 8 June Shakespeare’s Globe will once again premiere their tour at the beautiful south-facing gardens of the City Museum. Presenting Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s outrageous comedy, it promises to be a hilarious

piece of family theatre.

Admission: £17, Family £45. Times vary – see website for details Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ www.newtheatreroyal.com, 023 9264 9000

THE SPRING 56 East Street, Havant, PO9 1BS www.thespring.co.uk, 023 9247 2700 JACK AT THE BEANSTALK CAFÉ Thursday 30 May, 11.30am Hand to Mouth Theatre present a wholesome bean-feast of stories in the Beanstalk Café, including ‘The Old Woman in a Vinegar Bottle’, and Jack and the Beanstalk. Witty and comical with shadows, puppets and live music.

Suitable for ages 4 - 8.

Admission: Adult £7, Child £4.50 STORYTELLING Saturday 15 June and Saturday 13 July, 10.30am Immerse yourself in a magical world full of faraway places and silly stories.

Suitable for little ones aged 4 to 8 years.

Admission: FREE THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY Saturday 22 June, 12pm Bootworks Theatre presents The Incredible Book Eating Boy, a 5 minute intimate performance with puppetry and back projection, plus books to read, activity packs and the chance to meet Henry’s goldfish Ginger. Suitable for 4+ years.

Admission: £5 per adult and child

THE HAYMARKET TIDDLER AND OTHER TERRIFIC TALES Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June This family treat presents live music, songs, puppets and a host of colourful characters. Suitable for ages 3 plus, enjoy Julia Donaldson’s most popular titles including Tiddler, The Smartest Giant in Town, A Squash and a Squeeze and Monkey Puzzle.

Admission: £11. See website for details Wote Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW www.anvilarts.org.uk, 01256 844244

PRINCES HALL Princes Way, Aldershot, GU11 1NX www.princeshall.com/princeshallhome, 01252 329155 MILKSHAKE! LIVE Sunday 9 June, 1pm and 3.30pm Get ready for a magical milkshake!

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Cats at The Mayflower adventure with milkshake! Join the favourites who are bound to dazzle and delight, this musical spectacular will have you dancing in your seat!

Admission: Prices vary, see website for details £11 - £13 BEN & HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 July Times vary (see website for details) Live on stage for the first time, join Ben and Holly in the Little Kingdom where every day is an adventure! With actors, masks and colourful costumes, this beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence is jam-packed with games, songs and laughter.

Admission: Prices vary, see website for details £10.50 - £14.50

MILESTONES MUSEUM Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG www3.hants.gov.uk/milestones, 01256 477766 JOWETT CAR CLUB RALLY Saturday 25 May and Sunday 26 May 11am – 4.45pm Join the Jowett Car Club, the oldest one make car club in the world, as it celebrates its 90th Anniversary.

Hundreds of cars, including classic cars, and their owners from across Europe will descend on the grass area outside Milestones Museum.

Admission: Adult £8.50, Child £5, under 5s FREE, Family (2 adults & 2 children) £25 VINTAGE AT MILESTONES MUSEUM Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June 10am - 4.45pm The successful event returns with a variety of market stalls, selling vintage items such as clothing, lighting, records and more! Treat yourself to a makeover, enjoy the Lindy Hop dancing and listen to vintage music. Plus vintage catering outlets and classic vehicles.

Admission: See website for ticket prices.

THE ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE MUSEUM Haslar Jetty Road, Gosport, PO12 2AS www.submarine-museum.co.uk, 023 9251 0354

DAD’S CLUB: GASTRO GALLEY Sundays, 19 May to 21 July 10am – 12pm In partnership with the Organic Cookery School, Dad’s Club is offering six sessions to titillate your taste buds.

Meet a real submariner chef and learn about the more resourceful dishes that were served on board HMS Alliance!

Admission: FREE with a valid ticket.

There are a number of ticket options. See website for details.

Places must be booked in advance.

FAMILY PLAY AND TUNES: GOSPORT’S BIG DAY OUT Sunday 2 June, 12pm – 4pm Take the family for a free play session in the Under 5’s indoor play area Busy Boats Bay and enjoy live music from local musicians.

Admission: FREE! Donations to the Saving HMS Alliance Appeal appreciated SAMMY SARDINE’S SUMMER SCHOOL Tuesdays and Thursdays, 30 July to 29 August, 10am-3pm Be part of Sammy Sardine’s crew and see if you have what it takes to pass the submariner’s training. With a special themed events to help you gain your ‘dolphins’ each session.

Admission: FREE with a valid ticket.

There are a number of ticket options.

See website for details.

HOLLYCOMBE WORKING STEAM MUSEUM Iron Hill, Liphook, GU30 7LP www.hollycombe.co.uk, 01428 724900 FAIRGROUND WEEKEND & MECHANICAL ORGAN GATHERING Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 July, 11am – 5pm Enjoy a traditional steam fairground, with some rides specifically aimed at younger visitors, and visiting attractions including fairground models, transport, living vans and historic photographs.

Admission: Adult £13, Child £10, Under 3s FREE

Van Morrison DEXYS Seasick Steve IMELDA MAY Bellowhead RICHARD THOMPSON TRIO KT TUNSTALL The Beat Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit

THE BOMBAY ROYALE Gentleman’s Dub Club Clinton Fearon SAM LEE & FRIENDS LAU Larkin Poe Molotov Jukebox TREETOP FLYERS THE BEN WATERS BAND Blair Dunlop Curtis Eller GRUPO LOKITO Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids

17th-21st July Info 01725 552300 Wilts/Dorset border Book Tickets 023 8071 1820 larmertreefestival.co.uk

MEGSON The Severed Limb KESTON COBBLERS CLUB Plus over 70 more artists...

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE Join Steve Power for the South’s Biggest Breakfast

Camp Bes tiva l

Isle of Wight Festival

Tales Big Day Out

Summer Festivals TALES BIG DAY OUT: A MINI FESTIVAL Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE www.chickenshed.org.uk 020 8292 9222 Saturday 25 May, 2.30-5pm A perfect opportunity to enjoy a family day out, this mini festival has much-loved and new performances from the acclaimed theatre company’s Tales from the Shed, plus lots of stalls where children can watch or participate in fun and creative activities.

Admission: £8.

ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL Sealclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight www.isleofwightfestival.com 08448 440444 (ticket hotline) Thursday 13 - Sunday 16 June A traditional music festival which happily welcomes families. Their ‘Kids Zone’ is a magical area filled with entertainment to delight the whole family. With a relaxing and inspiring environment this year you’ll see a Rainbow Stage, Arts and Crafts Marquee and a Dressing Up Tent alongside a Toddler Area which features a mother and baby chill out area, with changing facilities. Camping and non-camping tickets are available, depending on just how adventurous you’re feeling!

Admission: Child (6 and under) FREE but ticket must be obtained, Child (7-12 years) from £85, Adult from £170.

WEST END LIVE Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN www.westendlive.co.uk Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June West End LIVE is back for its 9th year!

The annual festival – organised by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, in association with MasterCard – is the largest of its type in the UK. Theatre fans will not be disappointed with a line-up of exciting new shows performing for the first time ever at West End LIVE, alongside classic musicals. Visitors can also participate in many family-focused interactive activities and explore exhibits from many of London’s most popular

museums and attractions. The event, which attracted over half a million people last year, is free and takes place in the iconic setting of Trafalgar Square.

See website for participating shows, which weren’t available at time of going to press.

Admission: Free.

BLISSFIELDS Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, Winchester, Hampshire www.blissfields.co.uk Thursday 4 – Sunday 7 July Blissfields is an intimate festival for all the family in the Hampshire countryside. If largescale commercialised festivals are not your thing, then maybe this one will be. This year’s theme is The Director’s cut so it’s everything film! Their ‘Angel Gardens’ will be back again this year, providing entertainment especially for children including juggling and circus workshops, puppet shows, hulahooping and knitting, green crafts and openmic and campfire jamming. There is also a dedicated family campsite area and a luxury boutique camping area too.

Admission: Children (under 6) FREE but ticket must be obtained, Youths £59, Adults £85, Family (2 Adults + 2 Youths) £235, Car Park £10. Weekend tickets with camping included. Booking fees extra.

MAGIC SUMMER LIVE Stoke Park, Parkway, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1ER

Camp Bestival

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 July Proudly presented by Magic 104.5, this musical event welcomes families and music lovers of all ages and this year will be taking place in Stoke Park, Guildford. In addition to the Main Stage where you’ll see the likes of Jamiroquai, Bryan Adams and James Morrison and there will also be the 'West End' Stage, which will showcase performances from some of the best-loved musicals and shows.

Admission: Children (under 5) FREE, Youths £55, Adult £110. Booking fees extra. On-site camping isn’t available.

CAMP BESTIVAL Lulworth Castle, Dorset, BH20 5QS www.campbestival.net, 0203 3274810 Thursday 1 - Sunday 4 August Camp Bestival is a truly family-friendly experience and a real hit with children of all ages, with excellent children’s entertainment and facilities alongside top acts for grown-ups it’s no surprise this festival goes down a storm each year! The festival site devotes a lot of space to children with their Upper Kid's Garden giving them a bit of freedom to explore. Activities will also include BigTopMania to learn a circus skill, Kids Theatre Workshop, a Bouncy Castle, bikes and go-karts, a separate Toddlers' Area and their pioneering Breastival Mother and Baby Chill Out and not to mention lots of delicious food! Camping options are varied to suit all budgets and preferences. There is also a ‘Baby

Temple’ for feeding and changing babies in the civilised comfort you want for the tiniest of festival goers.

Admission: Children (10 and under) FREE but ticket must be obtained, Age 11-14 £98, Age 15-17 £113, Adults from £190.

Weekend tickets with standard camping included. Car parking extra. Advance Car Parking £11.

BESTIVAL Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, PO30 2NU www.2013.bestival.net, 0203 3274810 Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 September A multi-award winning full-on festival experience by the same talented organisers at Camp Bestival. Alongside a host of fabulous headliners, (including Elton John!) there’s a whole load of activities for all ages, including a roller disco, wall of death, a helter skelter, as well as the main field. You can camp your own way or, if the budget will allow, try ‘glamping’ in a Tipi, Yurt or Squrt – the options are endless! Check the website for more information and this year’s amazing list of acts, as more are being confirmed all the time.

Admission: Children (12 and under) FREE but ticket must be obtained, Teen (13-17 years) from £127, Adults from £180.

LOLLIBOP Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London, E20 2ST www.lollibopfestival.co.uk 0844 248 5113 Friday 16 – Sunday 18 August The Big Bash for Little People, is returning for 2013 which will take place in its new home – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Making the move from Regent's Park this is the first children’s event to take place in what looks set to become one of the premier event locations in the UK. Expect to see LolliBop Live, Lollipalladiam, LolliBop Kitchen, Tween Town, Imagination Stations, Science Zone, LolliSports and much more.

Admission: Under 12 months go FREE! Single ticket £28, family ticket £110.

Booking fees extra.

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BUGGY BOOT CAMP



The buggy boot camp with a difference...

 r e m 3 m 1 Su 20

groups& classes A selection of local activities for you and your little ones

RUSALKA SWIM SCHOOL

Rusalka Swim School One of the South’s finest, totally independent, private swim schools, Rusalka is the ONLY swim school in Hampshire to achieve and hold ASA ‘Aquamark’ Centre of Excellence status. A caring family business, owned and operated by Yulia and Graham Parker, they operate only within their own superb, warm, purpose built swimming pool complex in Horndean, providing top level swimming tuition and water confidence to babies and children from 3 months upwards.

In November 2011 they were voted one of the top three Swim Schools in the UK and in November 2007 Yulia won the ASA’s UK National Swim Teacher of the Year award. ✽ 02392 594449 rusalkaswim.com

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KINDERMUSIK

Kindermusik Classes in Romsey

Internationally acclaimed Kindermusik classes offer a wonderful experience for children.

The 45 minute class is packed with singing, listening, storytelling, discovering, dancing, instrument playing and making friends! With classes for newborns to 7 year olds, parents and their children are led through age appropriate and fun activities, using music and movement. Kindermusik is the best choice for your child as it has more than 30 years’ experience in creating curricula based on new and proven research in child development. ✽0 1794 519 364 or 07779 997 819 kindermusikwithpam.co.uk

Outside and undercover at the Ageas Bowl Cricket Ground West End, Southampton.

There is no need for childcare!

Suitable from 6 weeks post natal.

Fun and functional exercises that get results. It costs just £20 for five classes and you can choose from three classes a week.

The fun and friendly classes are led

by Liz who is not only a fully qualified and insured personal trainer but also a mum herself too!

Email lchealthyliving@gmail.com Facebook www.facebook.com/lchealthyliving Book your place today! ✽ 07887 914 413

lchealthyliving.co.uk

RUGBYTOTS

The UK’s first rugby specific play programme for boys and girls aged 2-7 years.

South Hampshire

With classes split into three age groups, Rugbytots combines the multiple skills used in rugby with a fun, energetic and structured play programme designed to enhance your child’s social and physical skills.

All classes are run by RFU qualified coaches trained in Paediatric First Aid. They operate daytime, weekend and after school classes across South Hampshire. For more information about Rugbytots and specific classes visit their website or contact Hogie: southhants@rugbytots.co.uk ✽ 0845 313 3244 rugbytots.co.uk

W H A T ' S

MAD ACADEMY

A PRECIOUS LIFE

Music, dance and a whole lot of fun!

Exciting movement and music classes for babies and toddlers from 3 months to 4 years. Sessions are packed with fun dances, funky songs, fascinating rhythms, fabulous instruments, fantastic props and games, all designed to capture your child’s imagination and develop their potential. Their games of co-ordination, listening, matching and imagination are guaranteed to surprise! The ethos at MAD Academy is a relaxed and fun time for the children and you!

Also available for birthday parties. ✽B asingstoke, Overton, Hatch Warren & Tadley 0118 9391055 sarah.maskell@madacademy.com

Bespoke Baby & Child First Aid Courses A Precious Life gives parents, parents-to-be, family and friends the crucial confidence needed to act in an emergency situation by offering bespoke courses designed to be adapted dependant on your needs. Dr Nikky Ellis, a member of The Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and fully GMC registered, will deliver the courses in your own home, at flexible times and group sizes to suit you. Individual manikins for each participant are provided with a breathing system that has been replaced after each course. If you are looking to gain vital life skills allow A Precious Life to step in. info@apreciouslife.co.uk

madacademy.com

apreciouslife.co.uk

waterbabies.co.uk

AQUATOTS SWIM SCHOOL

LITTLE KICKERS

LITTLE FUNKY ART

Baby Swimming Aquatots Swim School is dedicated to developing babies and their parents in the art of swimming. The founder and teachers have over 40 years of teaching experience and understand the demands and pressures of parenthood. Their structured progressive course of lessons includes emotional bonding and life preservation skills that will last a lifetime.

They offer a free swimming lesson for all new babies less than 12 weeks.

With a local midwife, they offer Baby AquaFit, a water workout with baby.

They also follow a national awards programme and teach children up to the age of seven.

For more information visit their website or call ✽ 07580 351 058

Little Kickers Classes for energetic boys and girls (18 months – 7 years) with an aim to use football as a fun forum to instil their growing squad with a little extra confidence, coordination, control and sense of camaraderie. Each class is age appropriate starting with Little Kicks aged 18-27 months through to Mega Kickers for 5-7 year olds. With a national network of informal yet professional run training classes little enthusiastic boys and girls are given a helping hand to stand on their own two feet. email: tdarling@littlekickers.co.uk Call for more info: ✽ 01489 871 916 Or visit their website for more details on their classes:

aquatotsuk.co.uk

littlekickers.co.uk

Classes in South Hampshire and Dorset

O N

WATER BABIES

Water Babies Venues are located across Hampshire.

Enjoy the experience of teaching your baby to swim with Water Babies, leading baby swimming experts and winners of 6 national awards as ‘Best National Baby and Toddler Activity’ and ‘Best in Britain Independent Business from The Great Exhibition 2012.’ And with 7 teachers from Hampshire making it into the national final for ‘most outstanding activity leader for the under 5s’. Water Babies have created a course that will teach your child a core life skill, confidence in the water and, ultimately, the ability to swim. Classes provide a structured and stimulating activity for you and your baby. ✽ 01794 324353

Art classes in Winchester Kids love art. Partly because throwing yourself into paints, glue and modelling clay is just about the best fun ever when you’re little. And partly because it’s a way for children to flex their instinctive creativity and imagination and make sense of the world around them.

That’s what littlefunkyart is about.

Messy fun that helps your kids develop real skills. Aimed at little artists aged 1-4 years. They can also accommodate to all your party needs too, hosting fabulous face painting and art parties. Classes are held at Otterbourne Village Hall, Twyford Village Hall and Winchester Discovery Centre. info@littlefunkyart.com ✽ 07809 209 442

littlefunkyart.com

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groups&classes STARZ ACADEMY UK

Ballet Babes Classes from 6m-6yrs £59 per 12 class term

Starz Academy UK has a class syllabus for babies, toddlers and pre-school boys and girls. Starz Ballet Babes classes support the development of children through movement and music under the direction of a qualified dance teacher. Each 1 hour session includes a 30 minute fun but structured ballet class plus 30 minutes of free play, with hot and cold refreshments for everyone. With over 40 classes every week across Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole and Winchester, hopefully there is one to suit you! Now offering Ballet Babes Parties for ONLY £65!

✽ 0333 1234140 LoCall rate email: balletbabes@starzacademyuk.com

BABYBALLET

babyballet Classes Join the fun at their award-winning classes in Hampshire, with many venues across Southampton, Portsmouth and Romsey. The nation’s favourite babyballet classes offer a magical introduction to ballet and dance for boys and girls aged 6 months to 5 years. Taught by qualified and friendly teachers, they offer a range of classes including: Babies/ Walkers (6-18 months), Tiny Toes (18 months-3 years), Mini Movers (3-5 years) and Mini Groovers (5+ years). Three week introductory courses cost just £15 but you can save 50% by quoting ‘Baby Hampshire’ when booking. ✽M iss Dani 07505 658860 or: southhants@babyballet.co.uk

MUMBABA

Mumbaba Music Group Bring your baby and toddler to Mumbaba Music Group for sing-along songs, coffee, play and chat. Mumbaba is more than just a music group – it’s a great place for children to learn valuable new skills, such as when to join in and when to sit and listen.

Mumbaba classes are also a fantastic place to meet new people, so turn up and join the fun. Prices are per family and classes are payas-you go.

Baby Hampshire readers get £1 off their first session with this advert!

✽ For more information on mumbaba locations and classes visit their website.

starzacademyuk.com

babyballet.co.uk

www.mumbaba.co.uk

BABYNATAL

DUCKLING DIVES

SING AND SIGN

BabyNatal – Southampton BabyNatal workshops lead you on the road to calm and confident parenting. They offer a variety of classes that cover many topics of parenthood in order to assist, support and prepare new mums and dads. You’ll find preparatory classes such as a Practical Baby Care workshop which will stand you in good stead for the day when you first hold your newborn baby, and for when your little one has entered the world. Their New Parents Group, BabyNatal, also hold subject specific classes with Baby Colic and Calming, Baby Sleep and Twins Practical Baby Care. email: babynatalsoton@mail.com ✽ 07585 793 288 babynatal.co.uk/south/southampton

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Bond with your baby in the water Duckling Dives Infant Aquatics provides the ultimate baby swimming experience. Learn to swim with your baby and give them a lifetime of water confidence.

Their small, friendly classes are run in fabulous locations and instructors have had specialist training in infant aquatics.

Duckling Dives’ prices cannot be beaten.

“Don’t book baby swimming without talking to us first. There are lots of options available, call now for more information.”

✽ 01962 860588 ducklingdives.co.uk

Baby Signing the fun way!

At ‘Sing and Sign,’ babies learn through music. Through specially written and adapted songs to target the important words in your baby’s world, as well as with musical instruments, props and pictures, parents learn the signs to use at home. You’ll have so much fun that it doesn’t feel like learning at all!

“My little one will be 16 months soon and is signing quite a lot now - ‘milk’, ‘all gone’, ‘eat’, ‘drink’, ‘horse’, ‘cat’, ‘cow’, ‘bird’, ‘fish,’ ‘no’ and probably a lot more that I’m not seeing!” ✽S outhampton, Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford, New Forest ,Totton and Hythe:

Christine on 02380 894132 or email pjm82@btinternet.com ✽F areham, Drayton, Portsmouth and Southsea:

Carrie on 07902 474218 or email

singandsignportsmouth@hotmail.co.uk

singandsign.com

SUMMER 1993

e 20 Y

ars Of Beau tiful Babi

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Visit our Winchester store: 75 St George’s Street, SO23 8AH. Tel: 01962 860 615 Mon to Sat: 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun: 10:30am-4:30pm

* Free delivery to UK and Ireland.

See website for full details.

Ways to keep in touch:

BU S I N E S S P ROF I L E S | Read how entrepreneurs turned their innovative business ideas into a success...

The Complete Party Box

Kiddylicious

A Precious Life

Jo Robertson www.thecompletepartybox.co.uk

Sally Preston www.kiddylicious.co.uk

Dr Nikky Ellis www.apreciouslife.co.uk

With lots of event and party experience Jo realised that many parents were overwhelmed at the thought of organising their children’s birthday parties. Jo realised there was another way, and launched The Complete Party Box, which is a whole new concept to party provision.

As an experienced food scientist who started her career with 11 years at Marks and Spencer, Sally was well placed to challenge the baby food industry and the quality of the food we feed our babies and young children when she became a mum to Hannah and Jack.

When Dr Nikky Ellis’ son had a seizure and stopped breathing at 18 months old, Nikky put her medical practice to the test. Unlike Nikky, most parents have not received the benefit of medical experience. This is what made her start up her training courses. In a recent survey, carried out by Nikky, of local parents 98% would have liked to have completed a first aid course and yet less than 50% had. Let’s face it parents are busy.

What makes The Complete Party Box unique?

The Complete Party Box is unique to the partyware market for several reasons; firstly it’s the only product that offers everything for a party in one place and offers a unique playlist of party music. The Party Boxes are themed and organised and save time but also a lot of money. Many of the items are reusable and the games and art based activities are also high quality and educational.

Likewise my pre-filled goodie bags are bursting with fun, quality items.

How does running a business fit around family life?

Running a business from home is the ideal work/home life balance for me, especially as a single Mum. I used to be a Project Manager for local government involved in building Primary Schools, until the funding was cut and I was given a week’s notice to leave. Now I enjoy working around my son and the freedom that gives me.

What plans have you got for the future?

The future is very exciting. More themes are on the way and I’m currently in talks regarding the CBeebies character Tree Fu Tom. I’d dearly love to produce a TFT Party Box and put together specific games and activities. My son is a massive fan and calls himself Tree Fu Sam!

What makes Kiddylicious unique?

I founded Babylicious in 2002 – frozen baby food that copies what mums do at home; Kiddylicious (the first toddler meal range) followed when mums asked me what they should feed their babies when they were 11-12 months old. The brand has expanded being the first fruitbased UK snacking range for toddlers – we now sell Fruit and Vegetable crisps, Fruit Wriggles and Smoothie Melts to every major supermarket across the UK (sold from the baby aisles) and in the last 12 months has doubled their market share with new ranges being launch this summer.

How does running a business fit around family life?

Family comes first for the whole team.

I’m happy for people to take time off for sports days or school assemblies; everyone makes up the time so the job gets done. I’ve a great work/life balance.

I see Hannah and Jack every morning for breakfast, check emails and walk our dog - putting me in good stead for a busy day at the office. In the evening we sit down as a family and have dinner together.

What plans have you got for the future?

My ambitions are to expand and this is imminent. Kiddylicious snacks are about to be launched in the US and we’re just about to air our first TV ad on Nick jr.

What makes A Precious Life unique?

I come to you... and I bring tea, coffee and goody bags. Each course is run by me personally so you always know who your trainer will be and as a doctor and a mum, my courses are relevant, up to date and able to adapt to your own needs. There is no sharing of manikins on my courses there is one for each participant, complete with a new respiratory system.

How does running a business fit around family life?

It is by no means an “easy option”. The flexibility is great, especially with a young family, but the “product” is just a small part of the operation – suddenly I’ve had to become a businesswoman, accountant, IT expert and sales person!

Thank goodness for my lovely husband who keeps me in check!

What plans have you got for the future?

I’m developing some new courses to include “Recognition of the Seriously Ill Child”, “Common Childhood Ailments” and a course for children to learn first aid. My vision is that doing a first aid course, as a parent, is the norm NOT the exception.

Because Tots Come 1st

Little Soles

Rochelle Milligan www.bambinomerino.com

Michelle Foley-Daniel www.becausetotscome1st.com

Andrea Marshall & Emma Rowsell www.littlesoleswarsash.co.uk

Rochelle created Bambino Merino following the unexpected premature birth of her son eight years ago.

Concerned about the health of her baby and the dangers of overheating, she sought out baby sleepwear made only from natural, breathable fibres to help ensure her son slept safely. With few quality merino garments available, Rochelle set about designing the first range of Bambino Merino baby sleeping bags and sleepwear from her New Zealand homeland.

Because Tots Come 1st’s story began after Michelle and her family arrived at their dream holiday destination only to find some of their luggage was missing.

Immediately they panicked and wondered where they’d buy baby essentials late at night. Luckily they had a spare nappy and wipes left in their changing bag to last until they finally found a shop that was open but it didn’t fill them with perfect first memories of their holiday.

Emma and Andrea both felt that it was not easy to access stylish, well made, well fitting children’s shoes on the High Street. They were sure they could offer a great customer experience to families by doing something a bit different from the standard High Street store. After talking it over for some time, one day over coffee, Emma and Andrea decided to put their money where their mouths were and along came Little Soles.

What makes Because Tots Come 1st unique?

Taking very small children on holiday can be stressful enough, even for the most organised parents. I wanted to create a unique service where parents wouldn’t have to worry about using precious baggage allowance or stocking up on baby essentials as soon as they arrived. You can get so many extras in your guestroom when you book a hotel, so why not baby essentials?

What makes Little Soles unique?

It’s a combination of many: the brands we offer, our fitting service, great customer service and a shop designed to appeal to children and parents alike, which makes us stand out.

What makes Bambino Merino unique?

Our focus is on practicality, quality and style and we’re often complimented on the practical features and elements of our designs. Hearing from parents that they find our garments easy to use and that they’re helping everyone sleep better is very rewarding. We listen to what our customers tell us they’d like and our past, current and future customers all influence our range.

How does running a business fit around family life?

I structure my working day around school hours and our showroom is just a short cycle ride from both school and home so it’s an easy circuit between all three. I work with a great team and between us we plan our week to enable the business to run smoothly yet each have plenty of family time too.

What plans have you got for the future?

A few design tweaks to some old favourites are on the way along with a new merino sleeping bag for babies to use on the move. We’re also expanding our export business and now supply over 30 countries with more in the pipeline.

How does running a business fit around family life?

I’ve found that running my own business fits in brilliantly around family life. My children have been a part of Because Tots Come 1st since the start, for example, helping design the logo and deciding what type of bag to use for packaging. They already call it, ‘our business’. I have a very supportive husband and extended family who have been behind me from my ‘light bulb’ moment to where I am now.

What plans have you got for the future?

I’d like Because Tots Come 1st to become a name that is synonymous with stress-free, child-friendly travel and to expand outside of the UK.

How does running a business fit around family life?

It is a family business really - all hands on deck. Our husbands have been heavily involved in setting up the shop including completing a lot of the shop fit out themselves. Our eldest girls (Eden 9 and Evie 8) have come along to a number of buying shows with us and their input is invaluable when selecting what to buy next season - they are our target market after all! By making it such a family affair the hard work doesn’t seem so hard, and we manage to balance our home life with work.

What plans have you got for the future?

2013 will see a couple of exciting new developments for Little Soles. We will be opening our second shop in the new Whiteley Shopping Centre at the end of May and also launching our new website allowing customers who are not able to pop into one of the shops to buy online.

BU S I N E S S P ROF I L E S | Read how entrepreneurs turned their innovative business ideas into a success...

Bambino Merino

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FASHION & GIFTS

Made in the UK from the softest organic cotton.

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Sugarpuss London create exquisite pearl and gemstone jewellery for children and babies. Each piece is hand crafted in the UK and many designs are one-of-a-kind or strictly limited edition.

A bespoke children’s design service is also available.

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 189

INTERIORS & GIFTS

Your Shopping

The Pottery Café of Bulstone The Bulstone Hotel The Hotel Winchester is Situated now Situated in the beautiful East Devon Situated in in the thecountryside, beautiful beautiful East East Devon Devon countryside, countryside, close to glorious beaches at The Pottery Barn close close to to glorious glorious beaches beaches

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The Bulstone Hotel, Branscombe, Devon (Between Sidmouth & Lyme Regis)

Same pottery, same service, same baby footprints, same commissions, same party hampers - just a different venue!

Plenty of Free Parking outside the door

Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00am 3.30pm or later by arrangement All Gift Vouchers will be honoured

‘The Hotel for Families with Young Children’ ‘The Hotel for Families with Young Children’

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New Season Clothing at We Love Squirrels.

Indikidual, Beau LOves & Boys&Girls.

20% off code Baby13

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

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hester@hesterphoto.co.uk

www.hesterphoto.co.uk

Maternity, newborn and baby portraits naturally and delicately captured in your own surroundings. t: 07951 382616 e: hello@lilymaymedia.com w: www.lilymaymedia.com Quote ‘Baby May’ for 15% discount when booked in May and June.

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For great parenting advice,

visit Greatvine.com Greatvine lets you talk to over 400 of the country’s leading specialists by phone and email, for individual advice whenever you need it.

Topics include breastfeeding, baby sleep, behaviour, weaning, postnatal depression, fitness, weight loss, childbirth, allergies and nutrition.

Just pick up the phone, dial and be instantly connected to a top expert.

You can now also send a question to an expert and receive a detailed response by email.

www.greatvine.com

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I wish I’d made the call sooner after my baby’s birth.

- Amy, London

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 191

Breastfeed

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The Breastfeeding Butterfly is a great alternative to breastfeeding Other products from Faye & Lou: The Breastfeeding Butterfly is a tops, it provides cover for your Rainbow Muslins have an alternative Faye & Lou are Cozio to extra large muslin great breastfeeding Discover the stylish way to breast, post-pregnancy extraordinary range stomach, of uses and squares are perfect for experienced mothers cover for yourin public with our breastfeed come inFeeding bright, eye-catching and expert nannies swaddling your baby. side and back. in atops, calmit provides breast, post-pregnancy stomach, colours which are stimulating creating products They can also be used for and cosy environment your baby smart,in chic and effortless side and back.

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Night Nannies Sound advice and a sound night’s sleep for you and your baby

• Do you need advice and support in looking after your little one?

• Does your baby still need feeding at night but takes time to settle again?

• Is your baby ready to sleep through the night, but you are too exhausted to get started?

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PREGNANCY & BABY

how is your baby sleeping?

If you suffer from sleepless nights you’re not alone and it really doesn’t have to be that way. I can help you!

Using gentle, proven methods sensitive to yours and your baby’s needs and with my one-to-one personal support I can help you achieve a FULL NIGHT’S SLEEP in 10 days, often much faster.

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Life is for living!

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L O C A L FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E | 193

Q& with

Jools Oliver

Husband to chef Jamie Oliver and hands on mum to Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo, Petal Blossom Rainbow and Buddy Bear WORDS: REBECCA MOORE

With a bustling brood and a busy home life, last year Jools Oliver even managed to squeeze in a successful launch of her Mothercare range, Little Bird, too. We got the chance to talk with this ‘supermum’ to find out just how she does it!

Your fashion brand Little Bird well and truly exceeded expectations, why do you think in the first month it was selling an item every minute?

I think it was a combination of many things, the collection being so affordable, the press coverage leading up to, and during, the launch and social media definitely helps spread the word too - and hopefully it looks unique! I wanted to produce a collection that was accessible to all mums and I believe we have achieved that. When it launched last year I realised how much people seemed to like the collection and it’s grown from there. Customers have been really kind and I’ve had so many people tweet pictures of their little ones wearing pieces from the collection which is lovely.

Designers differ in terms of inspiration. What’s your work system, what gets you motivated?

My main inspiration for the first collection was a piece my mum gave me – a newborn night gown with a little fawn embroidered on the front. My sister and I wore it as babies, and I dressed my four children in it. I wanted that vintage feel.

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Then I went to LA and took in a bit of that retro look as well: sunshine and rainbows, jeans and lumberjack shirts. I like to see children looking like children so whilst designing my collection I was motivated by my childhood memories, playing outdoors and innocence.

Have you always wanted to design your own children’s products?

Children’s clothing has always been a passion of mine and the collaboration with Mothercare came at just the right time.

When dressing your little ones, and having the option of boys and girls, who do you prefer dressing?

Of course, I love dressing both, I’ve always found it more difficult to find great clothes for boys and so have my friends.

So I’ve really concentrated on this in my own collection, and I hope everyone will like what I’ve done.

What with such a bustling offspring, how would you describe your parenting style?

I think I have a relaxed parenting style and we do have lots of fun as a family. Having four children makes everyday interesting and I absolutely love it. I am a natural worrier but I think that’s perfectly normal for lots of mums. All I can ask for is that the children are healthy and happy and that we spend lots of time together.

The Oliver household must be quite a busy one. What are your favourite things to do as a family?

We love spending time together on the weekends and often play in the woods near our home.

And lastly, as a fashionista yourself, what would you say will be a top trend for little ones this summer?

Look out for lovely floral prints, stripes and bright colours. Children look amazing in bright colours, which is why I have incorporated so many colours in my collection. ✿ www.littlebirdbyjools.com

Parents can be real life superheroes by making sure their family have their life-saving childhood vaccinations.

Speak to your GP practice today! www.parentsasheroes.com