mums &tots ISSN 2009-437X
IRELAND’S FAVOURITE FAVOURITE MATERNITY MATERNITY MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
www.mumsandtots.ie Embracing Life - Pregnancy
to Parenting
PURE IRISH
ISSUE 11 SUMMER 2014 €3.00
Win! 5* trip to Castlemartyr
ALL ABOUT:
TEACHING BABY TO SWIM
with Aquababies
ALTERNATIVE PAIN RELIEF IN LABOUR
Dealing with Fussy Eaters
Babyproofing
Imaginary Friends SAYING ‘BYE’ TO BOTTLES AT BEDTIME
CHARITY FOCUS:
Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice
9 772009 4 3 7 0 0 2
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ISSN 2009-437X
Back to Work YOU, ME & BABY MAKES 3
Post Baby Relationships
WEANING RECIPES
from Annabel Karmel
Win!
A Samui Jewel Pacapod changing bag
news / top products
Mum’s
SHOPPING LIST
Birchbox In addition to its monthly product-filled subscription box, Birchbox also boasts a bestin-class online shop, for you to replenish your favourite products from your box. 1 Month: £10.00 + £2.95 P&P to Ireland. www.birchbox.co.uk
Glowwbox The luxury beauty box. With samples from staple brands like Flori Roberts & MicaBeauty as well as niche brands like LEOR, Skin for Life & Root2Tip. 1 Month: £10.00 + P&P to Ireland.
Paleo Meal Deliveries Diet to your door. A portion controlled weekly meal plan. Chef’s Tasting Menu: €27.00 / 7 Day Plan: €135.00 / Monthly 7 Day Meal Plan: €508.00 www.paleomealdeliveries.ie
Yummy Mummy Box 6 x products Per box: €24.95 For the mums. New from The Chic Treat Club is the limited edition Yummy Mummy box. The perfect gift for mum to be! www.chictreatclub.com
PowderPocket Ireland’s newest monthly beauty subscription service, introducing beauty fanatics to an array of premium beauty brands from haircare, cosmetics and skincare, to sample without buying the full size items. 5 x products
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1 Month: €12 (plus P&P) / 6 Months: €60 and 1 free box / 12 Months: €120 and 2 free boxes www.PowderPocket.com
Juice Delivery Dublin Delivering to Dublin, Cork. Limerick, Carlow and Naas. Each juice detox is made up of 5 juices per day. Made from the usual juicing ingredients such as apple, orange, carrot and pineapple and combined with some unusual ones like broccoli, avaocado, beetroot and yellow pepper.
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3 Days: €85.00 / 5 Days: €135.00 / 7 Days: €195.00 www.juicedelivery.ie
PRESENTS BY POST Love Lula A box for those in search of the very best organic and natural beauty products such as; Burt’s Bees, A’Kin and Trilogy. 3 Months: £52.50 (includes P&P) / 12 Months: £210.00 Glossybox
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mums&tots 11
news / top products
Panty by Post Get a complete Panty by Post makeover! Enter to win a Panty by Post subscription or a whole year!! Simply send your contact details to us at competitions@mumsandtots.ie with ‘PBP’ in the subject box.
mambaby.com
Look! I can drink so calmly and relaxed. MAM Anti-Colic: 80 % less colic* for babies, relaxed nights for parents. Breast milk is best for babies. However when mums want to become a bit more flexible or involve their partner, the Anti-Colic bottle gives them some independence. Studies confirm the benefits of the MAM Anti-Colic for babies and parents: thanks to the innovative vented base, babies can drink calmly and relaxed, without swallowing air. The effect: an even drinking flow and 80 % less colic*. The MAM Silk Teat® also provides a familiar feel and makes the switch between breastfeeding and bottle especially easy. And the self-sterilising function ensures simple, safe bottle cleaning. * Medical study 2011 / Market research 2010, tested with 204 mothers.
Our MAM Anti-Colic: In assorted colours and sizes with Silk Teat® and new self-sterilising function. self sterilising
Self-sterilising in 3 easy steps:
SCIENTIF ICALLY PROVEN Teamwork for maximum safety: Only after an OK from our Med-Experts is a MAM innovation ready for baby life.
° MAM Anti-Colic
1. Fill with 20ml of water
2. Put the bottle parts together
3. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes
MAM Silk Teat® in different sizes
°All MAM bottles are BPA free according to Regulation (EU) No. 321/2011
mums & bumps / labour
ALTERNATIVE T
Pain Relief words by Therese Handibode
Childbirth is an intense experience for any woman and it is undeniable that it is extremely painful. It can be a positive or a negative time for a woman, however, depending on how her labour progresses and how it is handled.
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he pain levels reported during the different stages of labour vary widely and so other factors such as fear, how knowledgeable a woman is and the support she has available to her may have a significant impact on how she copes with the pain. Maternity hospitals openly encourage women to remain mobile for as long as possible, to take hot showers and to use bouncy balls to help cope with pain, but they are also quick to offer analgesic pain relief in the form of epidurals and pethidene. For this reason, statistics available from the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street show that the percentage of women having completely natural, “normal� births for their first baby can be as low as 4%. There are other alternative forms of pain relief available, however, which may help women who are reluctant to introduce medicinal options.
A TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine uses electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for the purpose of providing pain relief. The unit is usually connected to the skin on the lower back during labour using two or more electrodes and is typically battery operated. It is non-invasive, and works by suppressing the pain signals in the brain. There are a significant number of TENS machines specifically to cope with labour pains and some can even track the duration and distance between contractions. The machines are widely available to rent or buy but unfortunately there is little evidence of their effectiveness. A study done by the University of Oxford said that TENS machines have “shown not to be effective in postoperative and labour pain”. According to Mairead Murphy, a lactation consultant from Meath, although she used a TENS machine for 4 labours, “it was the little tips like making low guttural noises and asking my hubby to make a fist and push into my lower back that really helped”.
HYPNOBIRTHING
According to the creator of this method, Marie F. Mongan “when you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change”. The theory behind the method is the idea that by removing fear and tension, severe pain will not necessarily have to accompany labour. The focus is on training your mind to fully relax so that your muscles remain relaxed, thus aiding delivery. There are a number of HypnoBirthing practitioners throughout Ireland and their details can be found on the international HypnoBirthing website: http://hypnobirthing.com/ directory/?country=Ireland
BIRTHING POOLS
ACUPUNCTURE
A form of traditional Chinese medicine which aims to treat a range of conditions by stimulating specific points in the body with the use of thin needles. The use of acupuncture to manage labour pain began in the 1970’s but research has still failed to prove its effectiveness. According to Professor Steer of the “International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology”, women who use acupuncture may be less likely to take analgesic pain relief as they feel they have already been treated for pain, and so there is no harm in trying this approach, regardless of its effectiveness. There are many acupuncturists available throughout the country and many maternity hospitals will allow them to treat you whilst in labour, once prior consent has been obtained.
GENTLEBIRTH Despite the name, HypnoBirthing is dissimilar to hypnotism, as the method does not put you in a trance-like state but instead teaches you to focus your mind in much the same way as if you were daydreaming, or when you are engrossed in a book. According to the “Mongan Method HypnoBirthing”, a woman’s body and the baby she carries both know what to do during labour and so there is no need for a complex set of instructions in order to have a calm and comfortable birthing experience. The method is designed to teach women to trust nature, and their bodies, to relax and do what is needed, without any intervention.
endorphin production. The programme involves listening to a series of CD’s on a week by week basis throughout your pregnancy in order to prepare you for the birth, and to inform you of the support strategies that midwives will use. It aims to change your conscious thought pattern so you are less anxious, to change your belief about birth so that you have no fear and also to understand your options during birth so you retain control over the experience. Further information can be found by visiting www.gentlebirth.ie
Similar to HypnoBirthing, GentleBirth is based on the fact that high levels of stress hormones negatively impact on mum and baby during birth and that fear slows down labour and makes it more painful. Under this method, mothers are taught to create a deep state of relaxation, in order to keep stress hormones low and enhance the body’s natural pain relieving
More and more women are now choosing to labour or give birth in water and many believe that a water birth results in a more relaxed and less painful experience. A 2009 study of water immersion for the first stages of labour recorded less epidural use and as water supports a woman’s perineum, there is a decreased risk of tearing or need for episiotomy. Although all midwifery units in the UK have birthing pools, we have very few in Ireland. Birthing pools are widely available to purchase now, however, and are relatively affordable, so many Irish women are choosing to labour at home in a pool before attending their maternity hospital, or continuing to deliver their baby at home. According to the research of UK midwifery lecturer Ethel Burns, healthy first time mothers with no complications are in a very high risk group for emergency C-section, but getting into water will significantly reduce your chances of this occurring. For more information about birthing pools, pricing, and what the experience entails, see www.birthingmamas.ie. Despite the alternative methods of pain relief that are available, or their effectiveness, modern medicine continues to play a pivotal role in assisting women during pregnancy and labour, and without it, we most certainly would not have the low maternal mortality rates that we now have. Regardless of which route is taken, the most important thing is the health and happiness of mother and baby at the end of experience, however this is achieved.
mums&tots
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mums & bumps / labour
TENS MACHINE
mums & bumps / trend
Stokke Xplory Bag in Purple, €111, Mothercare
Baby Mule Pegasus, €79, U Mamma
Navy Blue Mule, €99, U Mamma
Vintage Metro Bag from Lassig €99, Clever Clogs
Bags of style
Skip Hop Duo Deluxe in Uptown Stripe, €67.50, Clever Clogs
Bea Tan Bag, €285, Sugar Jack Large Owl Pink Lining Bag, €94.99, Hey Baby
Win!
Samui Jewel, €78, Pacapod
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This gorgeous Samui Jewel Pacapod bag. Email your contact details to competitions@mumsandtots.ie with ‘Pacapod’ in the subject box.
babies / lifestyle
CHILD’S
Play
As parents we all know it’s important to play with our children, but during baby’s first year it’s not always easy to know what to do, or what kind of games your baby will enjoy. It’s normal to worry about these things, so Dr Brenda Todd, the expert behind Babycademy, a unique new playtime toolkit for parents is here to offer some tips!
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DOES PLAYTIME ALWAYS NEED TO BE CHALLENGING TO BE ENGAGING?
It is never too soon to start having playful interactions with your baby, at first these will only be brief interludes with lots of smiling, soft words and tender touches on your part. You’ll instinctively choose a time for play when your baby is awake and alert.
Play activities should be fun, they don’t have to have an immediately obvious purpose but they almost always serve developmental aims. It is impossible to separate play and learning – the two things are happening at the very same time.
From about four months old, they will begin to ‘play’ with their own voices by making babbling and cooing sounds. This is the way they learn to manage the sounds they’ll use when they begin to talk. You can join in by repeating your baby’s own sounds back to them and introducing new ones, perhaps by singing and showing them toys or objects which make interesting noises.
As we have seen, babies enjoy repetition and gentle surprises. It is very important to take things at your baby’s own pace and let them lead the play. You might feel eager to get on to new activities but be patient and trust yourself to know when your little playmate is ready to extend the routines. Good tips are to try introducing new songs, new sounds and new toy characters alongside the familiar favourites. When games have been played with just you two, you can introduce a third person – let Daddy, Grandma or big brother join the party!
In the middle of the first year, when they are learning about the properties of objects, a baby or young child might bang two objects together and shriek with delight at the noise they make. As they shake a rattle or maraca or drop a toy they learn that their own actions can make interesting things happen. Babies take pleasure from simply passing an object to and fro with you or their brother or sister, getting used to how things look and feel and getting an idea of what it means to take turns. Your baby will love to repeat these simple actions (again and again) until they really understand them – and parents may need to be patient, relax and join in the fun! WITH SO MANY GADGETS AND ELECTRONIC TOYS ON THE MARKET, DO SMALL BABIES STILL BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL PLAY ACTIVITIES? Right from the start, you can support your baby’s enjoyment and their learning about the world around them with simple one to one interactions full of smiles and fun. Parents all over the world engage in similar kinds of play, for example, simple games like ‘peek-a-boo’ or ‘round and round the garden’. Parents and babies learn about one another and how to have fun together through pleasurable routines which involve repetition and ‘surprises’. The Babycademy Music Time Kit makes great use of this, and music, stories and activities are gently repeated throughout to aid with learning. The best thing is its really easy for parents to get involved, more than any other kind of play, games with a real live partner facilitates positive emotions with shared smiles, vocalisations and even laughter.
It is very important to take things at your baby’s own pace and let them lead the play. DO BABIES RESPOND BETTER TO ONE ON ONE ATTENTION AT HOME, THAN IN A CLASS SETTING? In the early months, babies cope best with sharing attention with just one other person at a time, though they will be interested in watching other babies and children. Sharing joint attention is the very start of communicating with others and is the first step on the journey to becoming an individual person with their own ideas and intentions. In the beginning, you and your baby will be conversing about one another and your relationships together and they will be using your facial expressions and tone of voice as a guide to their own responses. By the middle of the first year, babies are getting better and better at communicating and will want to ‘talk’ about the objects and events going on around you both. There is a lot of learning going on and they will take this forward into their play with other toddlers and young children later on! HOW DO BABIES RESPOND TO MUSIC, AND WHY IS IT SO USEFUL FOR PLAYTIME?
Babies love music! It has the same tonal quality as voices – and more so! Music engages your little one at the whole-body level and resonates with their emotions. It is a wonderful idea to introduce music into playtimes early on in baby’s development as high quality music and song, which is created especially for their age group, can foster a life-long appreciation of the art of music. This is why we decided the first in the Babycademy series should focus on music. It’s something babies can appreciate right from the beginning and will continue to enjoy throughout their childhood. The regular rhythms of music help to pace play and babies will learn to eagerly anticipate the appearance of actions and activities which accompany songs. The use of music during playtime also aids baby to learn how words are used and can enhance the development of memory as sounds, words and actions are integrated. WHAT KIND OF CONCENTRATION SPANS CAN YOU EXPECT FROM BABIES AND HOW LONG SHOULD PLAYTIME BE? Very young babies are only able to stay focussed for a few minutes, but this will start to increase gradually as they grow. Babies pass through different states of attention and levels of concentration quite quickly when they are younger. The best time to engage in play is when babies are active and wide awake, not when they are quietly alert. Every baby is unique and what is an appropriate play time for one will not necessarily work for another; just like the rest of us, babies also have good days and bad days and may be ready and willing for a longer session when they are feeling happy and relaxed. This is where the parent’s sensitivity counts – respect your baby’s signals that show they are ready for fun or that they have had enough just now and would appreciate a break. Avoid the temptation to distract or hurry them and take notice of what kind of activity, story or music engages them most so that you can structure playtime around their preferences. Dr Brenda Todd is an academic psychologist who specialises in infant and child development. She teamed up with Babycademy founder Bernice Hewson to create Music Time, the first in a series of innovative toolkits for young families to create fun and varied play sessions in the home.
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babies / lifestyle
WHEN IS THE IDEAL TIME TO START INTRODUCING PLAY TIME FOR BABIES?
babies / health
We are always told about the amazing benefits of breastmilk, it really is the best way to feed your baby in the first 6 months. It is the only natural food designed especially for babies and health experts inform us it protects them from infections and diseases.
B
reastfed babies not only have less chance of becoming obese and therefore developing type 2 diabetes, they are also less likely to develop eczema. It is also free and on tap whenever you need it so the convenience factor is a no brainer! However, we felt it was about time we found out everything about breastfeeding and to uncover once and for all just how special breastmilk is. To help with this we have been speaking to Sioned Hilton, Lactation Consultant at Medela. She has been working with breastfeeding mums for more than 20 years and certainly knows her stuff!
ALL ABOUT:
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It is important to know when your baby is born his stomach is the size of a marble, so the colostrum you produce will be just the right amount to fill him. Breastmilk works on a supply and demand system so when your baby feeds your breasts know to produce some more for his next feed – nature really does know best. Typically mums can expect growth spurts when baby is about two to three weeks, six weeks and three months. Mums should continue to feed on demand for a couple of days during this time but this phase will pass and the balance between supply and demand will be restored. So mums one thing we cannot neglect is your life. Do you have a social event or night out coming up, or maybe a work event once you have returned? Being a breastfeeding mum doesn’t mean you have to put the dampeners on, but be sensible and aware that the booze does come through into the breastmilk. There are things to know to ensure you are informed. Alcohol levels in milk peaks about 30-90 mins; wait 2-3 hours after drinking before breastfeeding if you consume a moderate quantity. If you want to let your hair down you can but you should have plan B for having enough milk for your baby in advance so have some expressed milk ready for the next feed. You may prefer not to breastfeed at all and you can express your milk and discard so that you remain comfortable. Also do bear in mind whatever you choose your breasts will become fuller and hard and you may need to express to relieve any discomfort – just be prepared really.
YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW… • After six weeks it is normal for breastfeeding babies not to have a dirty nappy for 3-7 days as the milk is easily digested and tailor made that there is very little waste product. • The lactating breast is an organ
• Bear in mind when it is hot your baby may feed more often as they become thirstier. This is absolutely fine, but do ensure you keep your energy levels up and drink lots of water too! • Babies naturally nurse in 2 phases – Initially they suck fast and light and then slower and deeper.
NUTRIENTS Recent research has shown that there are a remarkable 415 individual proteins in breast milk –wow! This is the ultimate high-protein diet. This discovery certainly tells us more about the significant role breastmilk has on infant growth and development.
• Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day
Your body cleverly produces the right nutrients and volume of milk to match baby’s needs. It also adapts to meet baby’s changing developmental stage. It really is the ultimate all-in-one meal • Breastfeeding doesn’t give you ‘saggy boobs’ – it’s the influence of progesterone on the smooth muscle during pregnancy to support the developing uterus in the pelvis. If mums smoke before, during and after pregnancy the stretched muscles lose their tone and may retain their shape. • Now to the breastmilk itself – given how incredible this potent liquid gold is we thought we would give you the facts 5 things about breastmilk you may not know.
THE FACTS:
TASTE TEST Breastfeeding is a great time to educate your baby’s palate. We are all aware that what we eat is transferred to baby during a breastfeed which is of great benefit, but to learn that this transfer also potentially supports the infant to learn about tastes and flavour adds another dimension to the power of breast milk. BONDING Not only are you providing your baby with all the nutrients they need, helping to protect them and giving them the best start it is also important to remember the wonderful bonding time you and baby will enjoy. Those all important cuddles and skin-to-skin contact is a great way to find that mum-baby connection. SUPER CELLS And now we have saved the best till last - Ready for the science? It truly was a remarkable discovery but your breast milk contains stem cells. Stem cells that actually have the ability to become a load of different type of cells in the body. Stem cells are like gold dust to medical research and there’s hope that their presence in breast milk could mean they’ll also be boosting your baby’s development.
ALL IN ONE Your body cleverly produces the right nutrients and volume of milk to match baby’s needs. It also adapts to meet baby’s changing developmental stage. It really is the ultimate all-inone meal.
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babies / health
Sioned tells us that mums must always know that breast size is not important! No matter what size you are, you’ll make enough milk for your baby – pretty clever really. She explains that babies breastfeed until they’re full, not until they ‘empty’ your breast, on average babies remove 67% of the milk you have available. The average breastfeed lasts 16 minutes and it will take approximately 56 seconds for letdown of milk to happen.
babies / food
Perfect
Purees When it comes to weaning, and moving on from first tastes, we can often get stuck for new foods to give our little ones, but this is just the time to start adding more adventurous flavours. Just as we can get stuck into a routine with our own food, it can be easy to give your little one the same flavours that you know they will enjoy. But variety is the spice of life, and this is the perfect time to get your little one trying new flavours. Not only does giving them a variety of foods ensure they get a good selection of nutrients, but also you have a window of opportunity between 6 months and a year to try lots of new ingredients and combinations. Why not try Annabel’s stage 1 and 2 Organic Baby Purees, inspired by her home-cooked recipes, or her new cooking sauces? Available in major supermarkets. with Annabel Karmel
Chicken with Carrot & Apple
From ‘Top 100 Meals in Minutes’ Ebury Press
Prep 10 mins Cook 25 mins Makes 6 portions Suitable for freezing
Ingredients 60g leek, finely chopped 25g celery, chopped 75 g chopped carrot 1 clove garlic 100 g chicken cut into chunks (half cup) 250g chopped and peeled sweet potato(1 ¾ cups) 75g chopped apple 250 ml boiling unsalted chicken stock or water A sprig of thyme
Method Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the leek for 2 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and cook for 5 minutes. Add a small clove of crushed garlic and sauté for one minute.
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Stir in the chopped chicken and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the chicken is sealed. Add the chopped sweet potato and the apple, pour over the chicken stock or boiling water and add the sprig of thyme. Cover and cook over a low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the sprig of thyme and blitz to a puree.
Strawberry babies / food
& Banana
Ingredients 150 g (5 oz) strawberries, hulled and halved 2 small bananas, peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons apple juice
Method Measure all of the ingredients into a jug. Blend until smooth using a hand blender.
Prep 4 mins Makes 2 portions Suitable for freezing
Prep 7 mins Cooking 15 mins Makes 5 portions Suitable for freezing
Sweet Potato, Spinach & Peas
From ‘Annabel’s Essential Guide to Feeding your Baby & Toddler’ available on iTunes
Ingredients 25 g (1 oz) unsalted butter 50 g (2 oz) leeks, washed and finely sliced 375 g (13 oz) sweet potato, peeled and chopped 50 g (2 oz) frozen peas 75 g (3 oz) fresh baby spinach, washed and any tough stalks removed
Method Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the leeks for 3–4 minutes or until softened, then add the sweet potato. Pour over 200 ml (7 fl oz) water, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 7–8 minutes. Add the peas and spinach and cook for 3 minutes. Purée the vegetables in a blender to make a smooth consistency, adding a little of the cooking liquid if necessary.
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Stripe T-shirt €2, Denim Shorts €8, Print Canvas Runners €4
Straw Hat €4, Print Shirt Dress €8, Sandals €6
Endless Summer The days are getting longer and the sun is getting warmer, which can only mean one thing - Summer is just around the corner! Penneys revives a nostalgic summer holiday look with the simplicity and charm of the 70’s influencing the trends for your little ones. Sun-faded denim is a staple for the season, worn back with simple plaids and vintage florals for girls; for the boys’ retro sportswear and terry towelling t-shirts make for comfortable yet fashionable summer looks. The nod to eras past allows for daydreaming of sun filled adventures, making the boring beautiful, infusing everyday life with a sense of excitement for your adorable darlings.
www.primark.ie | Tel: 01 888 0500 www.facebook.com/PenneysIreland www.twitter.com/primark
www.instagram.com/primark
Stripe T-shirt €2.50, Jersey Shorts €8, Print Canvas Runners €4,
Print Playsuit €7, Print Canvas Runners €7
Trilby €3, Stripe T-shirt €2
Polo Shirt €3 Stripe Shorts €6, Canvas Runners €3
Sunglasses €1.50
Print Playsuit €7
Yellow Tee, €3, Penneys
tots / trend
Malibu Tee, €3, Penneys
Retro Sunglasses, €1.50, Penneys
Denim Flag Shorts, €9, Penneys
Pepe Jeans Shorts, €48, Alex and Alexa
Flag Tee, €7, Next
Baseball Cap, €2, Penneys Yellow Spotted Belt Dress, €54.50, Alex and Alexa
Frugi Surf Tee, €22.99, Arnotts
California Cool Surfs up for your little dudes and dudettes with these summer brights
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Daisy Bando, €7.75, Monsoon
tots / trend
Mantaray Shorts, €21, Debenhams
Cross Over Bag, €22, Marks and Spencer
Blue Floral Playsuit, €10, Mothercare
Pink Tie Shirt, €17.50, Marks and Spencer
Graphic Tee, €6, Penneys
Swim Shorts, €14, Next
Yellow Shorts, €13.50, Marks and Spencer
Strap Flip Flops, €4, Penneys
Stripe Camisole, €11, Marks and Spencer
Dog Tee, €14, Next
mums&tots 67
family / travel
Through the beautiful countryside and up the hill of Puig de Missa to the white washed 16th century church of Santa Eulària, we listened to the bells knell. The parishioners arrived, the men in gold adorned waistcoats and the women with dozens of gold necklaces and rings on every finger. Women wear a traditional dress with up to 10 underskirts of hand stitched linen (the number of layers symbolises her wealth). From here, we walked along the Route des Riu, beneath the azure skies, beside the only river on the island which during the summer is a mere trickle.
Queen of the
Belearics words by Roberta von Meding
Known in the 90s as a one stop party island, Ibiza has become a haven for family breaks away. The island is a literal ying and yang of bustling nightlife to the south and tranquil beaches, quaint churches and sleepy villages to the north, with a little of everything else in between. Yes, the Ibizan clubbing scene is still alive and
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well, with people visiting to hear world renowned DJs like David Getta but this is only a small part of what the island has to offer. In fact before visiting Ibiza I thought there would be hundreds of clubs everywhere. However, our tourist guide, Vicky, set the record straight. There are actually only 7 night clubs in Ibiza and these are only located in the south of the country! So, that was me told.
Ibiza is awash with culture and history. Dalt Vila, the old quarter of Ibiza, a World Heritage Site as declared by the UNESCO, is a beautiful walled town full of narrow, winding streets and cobble stones, with vendors selling white linen clothes and offering an assortment of fresh juices and traditional foods like paella. Not recommended for buggys with all its steps but great fun for older toddlers to explore, plus lots of cafes for pitstops along the way. Outside the walls is a favourite spot for locals, staging concerts, poetry events, exhibitions and cultural activity throughout the year. With 210 km of beaches in total there are so many coves and islets to choose from. Temperatures are mild and balmy throughout the year with June, July and August being the hottest (and busiest) months. Some of the best family beaches include; Cala Sant Vicent in the north, Playa Talamanca in the east (a favourite for locals), Cala d’Hort in the west and Playa de Ses Salines in the south. These beautiful sandy strips offer a friendly atmosphere where families can enjoy the tranquil, cerulean waters, white beaches and delicious local cuisine. Be warned though, you will probably encounter a few topless beach goers even if you are not on a nudist beach. One other word of advise if you go swimming or snorkelling do be on the look out for purple jellyfish. They are not harmful but can give a nasty sting. Fortunately as the waters are so clear they are quite easy to spot. If you do visit Cala d’Hort make sure to have some lunch in El Carmen for fresh paella or tapas. For something sweet try some traditional Ibizan dessert like Flaó which is a baked goats cheesecake with spearmint leaves. We were lucky enough to get the recipe! A great way to see hidden coves and undiscovered beaches, which are
There are many different options when considering where to stay in Ibiza, depending on what sort of holiday you are looking for, but the accommodation that sets Ibiza apart is its argroturismos, which is a definite buzzword on the island. Argroturismos are farmhouses built before 1960 and located in rural areas, which combine accommodation, services, with agricultural work, animal husbandry and/or forestry. If you choose such a facility it is best to rent a car to get from farm to beach. We visited the converted, stylish yet rustic, 200 year old farmhouse, rural-agrotourism hotel, Can Gall, which is a beautiful family run farm, with orange and lemon groves lining the avenue and vines leading the way to the infinity pool.
Not what the word ‘farm’ usually conjures up and not a cow in sight! Baby monitors are provided so you can put the kids down to bed and go for a bite to eat without being confined to the room. Agroturismos come in all shapes and sizes. If you want something a little larger, visit Atzaro, a luxury natural hotel and spa, which Shakira has been known to frequent. The sprawling paradisal gardens echo Bali zen with a Balearic twist. Balinese beds, a 42m swimming pool and breath taking views of the majestic Ibizan countryside, the smell of jasmine and lavender waft through the gardens. The only downside to these agrurismos is that you can expect to pay €290 in high season for a double room, although this drops to about €150 from October. In terms of nature and wildlife there is plenty to see on the island even if you are not looking for it, lizards scurry everywhere and there is a constant hum of nature around every corner. If the salt flats of Bolivia or Utah are a bit too far for you, take a trip to see the salt flats in the Ses Salines Natural Park. The white
Markets During the 60s and 70s many Americans and Europeans came to Ibiza, turning it into an international refuge of the hippy movement. From this freedom loving and easy going atmosphere Ad-lib fashion was born - comfortable and simple. Many market places across the country stock hippy crafts and clothes. Here are our Top 3: 1) Hippy Markets in the Port of Ibiza Port of Ibiza and at the promenade (Paseo Maritimo) of Ses Figueretes. Open 7 days a week May-October. 2) Hippy Market at the Promenade S’Alamera Paseo de S’Alamera in Santa Eularia. Open 5 days a week May-October. 3) Craft Market in Sant Rafel. Sant Rafel. On Thursdays from JulySeptember.
Waterparks Slip and Sliding fun for the whole family. All parks are open May-October Serenis Aquagames Features a Pirates of the Caribbean themed area with 10 slides and splash barrels. Good for kids age 4-10. www.sirenisaquagames.com Aquamar Great for small children with small slides, playground and picnic area.T: +34971396790 Waterpark of El Greco Hotel Small waterpark with lots of half pipe slides and tunnels. T: 34971320570
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inaccessible by foot, is by kayak. We took a short excursion from Cala d’Hort and paddled through the crystal clear waters, close to the mysterious and supposedly charmed island of Es Vedra, along the rugged cliffs to a deserted pebble beach where we had a picnic before returning to the sandy shore once more. If you are with smaller children, opt for a tour with a glass bottom boat to see the coast by sea.
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mounds of sun dried salt are usually harvested in August. During the rest of year, the park is home to many migratory birds including flamingos and herons.
FLAÓ D’EIVISSA Ingredients Base: 50g flour 1 tablespoon pork lard 3 eggs
The Acuarium Cap Blanc is a natural aquarium at sea level, which functions as a recovery centre for many Mediterranean species of fish. Kids will love going into the cave to see all the marine life. One of the best spot on the island to see a spectacular Ibizan sunset is Sant Antoni so after a trip to the aquarium you can walk around the corner and view the spectacular glowing horizon. Make sure to bring a light jumper or jacket as once the sun goes down the temperature does get quite cool. Ibiza is truly the Mediterranean’s best kept secret. With something for everyone and only a short 2.5 hour flight with Are Lingus away make sure it is on the top of your holiday wish list.
USEFUL INFORMATION Ibiza Events and Maps www.ibiza.travel.en Route des Riu River of Santa Eularia. www.santaeulariadesriu.com Cap Blanc Aquarium www.aquariumcapblanc.com Can Marca Caves Located in the Port of Sant Miguel www.covadecanmarsa.com Agroturismos Agro Con Gall - www.agrocongall.com Atzaro - www.atzaro.com
200g sugar 1 tablespoon yeast 2 tablespoons anisette Filling: 500g sheep or goat’s cheese 4 eggs 375g sugar 6 spearmint leaves Method To make the base, beat eggs and sugar and add remaining ingredients. After kneading everything together, leave to rest for 15 minutes and then spread the dough over a greased round cake pan spindled with flour to prevent sticking. Beat together the remaining four eggs and sugar for the filling and add the crumbled cheese. Mix together until even and add six spearmint leaves cut into small pieces. Pour the mix into the pan and bake for 35 minutes at 180 degrees. Leave to cool and sprinkle with sugar.
Aer Lingus operate three weekly flights from Dublin to Ibiza on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. One-way fares start from €71.00 including taxes and charges. For more information on fares and schedules and to book log on to www.aerlingus.com.
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Luxury in
Lyrath words by Roberta von Meding
Set amid 170 acres of parkland and just 1 km away from the historical Kilkenny city is the stunning 5 star Lyrath Estate Hotel. Architecturally, Lyrath is post modernity at its finest. The original 17th century house was extensively restored and remodelled in the 1860s in Italian Renaissance style retaining all the original elements. It now connects to the stunning contemporary wing, by a dramatic, double height, bright marbled foyer flooded with light. There is an exclusive series of 3 period bedrooms in the old house, where country house tradition is paired with modernity. In the new wing there are 130 contemporary bedrooms, classically decorated in shades of rich browns and creams, and gentle lilacs and lavenders. We took our two girls, Juliet 4 and Robyn 2, on a two night break in May. We stayed in the Clare Suite which was possibly the most beautiful room we have ever visited in any Irish estate, exuding comfort and luxury from its plush carpets to the high
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ceilings. The layout is open plan with a sitting room, dressing area, ensuite with rain forest shower and stand alone- bath, master bedroom with panoramic views of the gardens below which Juliet was able to do her bunny-spotting from in the morning. Oh and my favourite - under flood heating! The girls had plenty of space to play in the room and enjoyed watching the massive tv from mum and dad’s comfy bed which almost almost swallowed them in pillows. The first night we had dinner in Yindees which is the hotel’s Pan-Asian restaurant. It was delicious and very well priced at only €38 per person for a three course meal plus some prawn crackers. The kids loved their noodle dishes which weren’t too spicy. My only criticism would be that the funky clear stairs leading up to it are lethal so make sure to ask for a table on the other side well away from them. The second night we had dinner in the beautifully elegant La Perla restaurant which Juliet was very happy about as it also has panoramic views of Lady Charlotte’s bunny filled gardens. A wonderful culinary
experience was had my all and the atmosphere was relaxed. For me, the pea risotto to start and succulent fillet of beef for main, for him, a balsamic goats cheese salad and beef too. Their highly-qualified Sommelier was on hand to accommodate us in making the perfect choice of wine from their spectacular cellar containing over 140 of the world’s finest wines. The most impressive starter by far was for the girls; two colourful plates dotted with blueberries, cubes of watermelon, slices of yellow melon and a generous scoop of mango sorbet. Mum and dad may have had to steal a bite or two. The staff were friendly and prompt with food, which is all too important when your time dining is limited by your resident ticking time bombs. A very exciting treat before bed was milk and cookies served to our room with compliments from the hotel. A really nice touch so make sure to ask for this nice little extra. The best meal of the day was breakfast, also served at the La Perla restaurant. They literally have everything. A full buffet is on offer with the usual array of; sausages, bacon, beans, eggs and pudding
Lyrath is a great place to bring kids due to its extensive grounds with plenty of trails to walk and explore, bridges to cross and a great playground too. During the holidays if it is a rainy day, there is a private cinema where kids can come and watch movies, play video games or parents can drop them to the daily kids club for a host of activities. For the older kids, Lyrath offer activities such as archery, mini golf, mountain biking, paint ball or pottery and for the smaller ones arts and crafts or storytelling. If you manage to get a bit of time to yourself book in for some time at the award-winning Oasis Spa, with its thermal suite and outdoor hydrotherapy pool and heated massage chairs. The infinity edge pool is an outdoor haven with jets of water to soothe away aches and pains, in a calm, peaceful area, overlooking the landscaped gardens. Simply blissful! If you really want to treat yourself I suggest getting a hot stone massage. Probably one of the best I have ever had - conking out after 20 minutes!
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or for something a little more European (if you are like our eldest!); smoked salmon, cheeses, salami and ham. There is also an a la carte menu which we ordered the most delicious Eggs Benedict from with crispy bacon and Hollandaise sauce. Breakfast perfection, all washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice.
NEARBY: Woodstock Gardens Situated alongside the beautiful village of Inistioge home to the film ‘Circle of Friends’ from the Maeve Binchy Book. Woodstock Gardens date back from 1740 and offer over 4 miles of footpath. The Monkey Puzzle walk is the largest and most mature avenue recorded in Europe. Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny’s Medieval 12th century castle is one of the most recognised buildings in Ireland. Set in 1830’s splendour with extensive gardens and parkland. Kilkenny Arts Festival A ten day festival held in August each year providing the best in music, art, theatre, craft, dance & literature. Kilfane Glen & Waterfall A pristine example of a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling its way to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees, wild fox-gloves, ferns and other historically correct 18th century planting.
If you are looking for a staycation this summer, check out Lyrath’s family packages which are valid Sunday to Thursday and the price per adult also includes 2 children sharing under the age of 12 years. Children are on a B&B basis only - dinner is extra. For further information about Lyrath Estate Hotel, log on to www.lyrath.com or call +353 056 776 0088.
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NEW INNOVATION
Stokke® Steps™ Chair design: Anders August Kittilsen, Tore Vinje Brustad, Andreas Murray. Stokke® Steps™ Bouncer design: Anders August Kittilsen, Jon Andre Teigen, Tore Vinje Brustad, Andreas Murray.
Made for each other
Stokke® Steps™ The All-in-One seating system from birth. The bouncer and highchair combination - made for each other. Stokke® Steps™ is an innovative, functional and modern All-In-One seating system, it can be adapted to your child’s needs with a wide range of seating solutions, through every stage of childhood. Allow your baby to join in life around the table, for connection and development. Like you and your baby, each part of Stokke® Steps™ is made for each other. Check www.stokke.com to see the Stokke® Steps™ highchair modules and colour options.