April / May Issue 2014

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EDITORS LETTER Baby Buzz Magazine Limited London Can you believe we are into month four of 2014! Just because it’s Easter doesn’t mean you can overindulge on chocolate (although I very much would like to!) After starting the Clean 9 programme from Forever Living, I can honestly say that my body is starting to feel cleansed from the inside out and so it’s probably not a good idea to overindulge. And ruin all the hard work (but a little certainly won’t hurt).

So what exciting things have you been up to this month? New changes perhaps with a new business venture so you can spend more time at home (check out our fantastic parents who have done just that from page 8). April is also Cesarean Awareness Month, for any expecting parents scheduled for one, have you been given the full information about what to expect or any alternative options that are available to you? If not, check out our website for more details (www.babybuzzmagazine.com/pregnancy/healthandmaternity). We also have a fantastic review section this month and a dedicated shopping gift guide for things to give as an alternative to chocolate this Easter (although there is a little bit on chocolate too)!

Don’t forget that all our competitions have now gone online! Don’t forget to visit the website to see just how many amazing competitions we have!

Wishing you all a wonderful, chocolate filled Easter,

No purchase is necessary. All prizes must be accepted as offered. For products that have been reviewed and then given away as part of a competition giveaway, it must be noted that there will be minimal wear and tear to that said product. All prize details and prices are correct at time of going to print. Winners shall be notified by email after the closing date with a delivery date to be agreed. If the winner does not acknowledge prize awarded within 2 weeks, the prize shall be offered to the runnerup.

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Editor Nickie Evans nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com 0208 440 1159 07957 731 617 Arts Editor Cindy Evans Website & Design Emily Hewett, I am Emily contact@iamemily.co.uk Dean Baxter, ChimpMySite Dean@chimpmysite.co.uk

Baby Buzz Magazine is a monthly printed and online publication.

Nickie x

The views expressed in this magazine are not always those of the publishers. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine makes any guarantee, warranties or claims as to the accuracy of any of the contents of this magazine. We include and use products and services that we believe to be of a reputable standard but we advise readers to make their own judgements. The publishers and magazine will not be held accountable and or responsible for any loss caused by errors, loss or negligence resulting from Baby Buzz Magazine Limited. We do not accept responsibility for any unsolicited material or photographs published. Terms and Conditions for our competitions can be found on our website at the time of being published. No section of this magazine is authorised for use or reproduction in any form without the prior consent of the editor.

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Company No: 8234631

If you have any questions or would like to receive a hard copy, please email us at either of the following:

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Lifestyle P.14 Brave face of new parents masks needs for help - Kiddicare P.16 No time for family time - Novotel P.17 National Young Writers Awards 2014 P.18 Technology offers a route into reading for disadvantaged three - five year olds P.20 FEATURE #SBS Win for North London Businesswomen P.22 Bebe Jacobs - The Naughty Step P.26 Octonauts Partner with Marine Conservation Society P.29 FEATURE New Transport incubator can keep babies safe on land and in the air!

P.30 Mum Amie - A new, unique ‘meet-a-mum’ website about to launch!

P.46 Mummy Style Zone - Shoezone P.67 Clissold Arms, keeping it family friendly P.70 Motherhood & Business - Scoutbee Irelands Most Successful Entrepreneur, Marissa Carter of Cocoa Brown P.71 Babycademy - Impossible to seperate play & learning P.74 What’s On?

Regulars P.07 Parents in Business - Helping parents with their business start-up’s!

P.13 Little Signers Club - Easter Signing Fun For Everyone P.48 FEATURE Busy Bees Benefits - Will you be better off?

P.68 FEATURE Elizabeth Butler - So what’s your due date then?

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Travel Food & Recipes P.60 Cavallino Bianco - A small piece of P.38 A successful breastfeeding experience, heaven The value of Lactogenic Foods - Elena P.62 Stylish Glamping with Canvas Holidays Cimelli, Contented Calfs P.63 Homeward Bound - Spring into Action P.44 Organix - Mixed recipes with New Forest Activities Horoscopes News & Reviews P.6 Courtesy of Tracie at MagicandGlitter P.43 VW Touran Review P.51 Book Reviews - Toddlers & Preschool Health & Wellbeing P.52 Book Reviews - Toddlers & School P.15 Under 5’s at risk of becoming P.53 Book Reviews and General Products generation D-!

P.25 Tips for teaching your child to swim!

P.54 Meet the Author: Chris Haughton P.27 Getting through the teenage years!

P.55 Mamas & Papas Mylo 2 Review P.56 Childrenswear Review: Clothing & P.28 What’s your baby really thinking?

Accessories P.31 MOPP - Helping parents keep tidy P.34 Abi Adams - Yoga Lesson 5, Oolong P.57 Maternity Review: Lingerie P.58 Homeware Accessories: Food & P.36 FEATURE Embrace the British Accessories summer and protect our bees!!

P.59 General Reviews: Health, Beauty & P.37 Bees & your skin - A Beeutiful Relationship Home P.69 Q&A with Jo Megilley P.72 11 Top Tips for looking after your childrens teeth - Elleven Dental Grow & Keep Your Own P.41 The Baby Buzz Get Growing Guide P.42 Top Tips by Dawn Isaac Easter Specials & Gift Guide P.64 Easter Egg Alternatives Fashion Focus P.65 Mamas & Papas Latest Childrenswear P.66 Easter Egg Essentials P.71 Bringing gorgeousness back to nightwear with Amoralia P.83 Pearsons - Trendy Kids Childrenswear launching Summer 2014

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Names: Skylar Blake Koransky Weight: 4 lbs 7oz Names: Hannah Morgn Koransky Weight: 5lbs 4oz D.O.B: 6th December 2013 Parents: Shana and Evan Koransky

Name: D.O.B: Weight: Parents:

Roman Seymour 25th March 2014 9lbs ½ oz Laura Markall & Peter Seymour

Names: Piper Rose Penelope Foster Weight: 6 lbs 1oz Names: Paige Emily Carol Foster Weight: 5lbs 9oz D.O.B: 2nd March 2014 Parents: Carly Mecoy & Jamie Foster

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Name: D.O.B: Weight: Parents:

Dakota Pauline Mitchell 27th February 2014 97bs 10oz Clare-Anna Turner & Dai Mitchell

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Pisces February 20 - March 20 It’s looking like a profitable month for you, Lots of networking lunches to attend.

Put yourself forward, get noticed it will pay off.

Keep positive and keep your diary up to date.

Avoid mates with too many problems.

Aries March 21 - April 20 Fresh starts on the relationship front.

Someone you already know comes back into your life, you will soon be smiling from ear to ear. Take things slow there’s no need to hurry.

Avoid being your own worst enemy.

Taurus April 21 - May 21 Is it time for you to make amends. let people know what you’re thinking.

Open up and say you were wrong.

Stubbornness is not a virtue Avoid letting your mind do overtime.

Gemini May 22 - June 21 Work is as busy as ever make sure you read all the small print when it comes to contracts.

Pay attention to your personal life.

Someone needs some attention.

Avoid not listening to family members.

Cancer June 22 - July 22 Have you been thinking about a change of career, now is the time be more creative.

It doesn’t have to be just a pipe dream.

Start getting things in order.

Avoid becoming involved in others problems.

Virgo August 23 - September 23 Love life needs a bit of an overall There are deep feelings you need to deal with.

The finances seem a bit strained Hold back on the spending.

Scorpio October 24 - November 22 It’s a great time to plan for school holidays.

Get outdoors more, you love spending time with the children their innocence

Capricorn December 22 - January 20 New love interest is on the horizon, It looks like you will be perfect for each other.

You have been so busy lately.

Take time out for you and relax more.

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Leo July 23 - August 22 Everything seems all over the place right now You need to get your schedule in order.

Stay calm and optimistic, go with the flow.

Changes can expand your horizons.

Avoid rows with a loved one.

Libra September 24 - October 23 The spotlight is on home comforts.

New kitchen and new colour schemes.

A nice relaxing month coming up for you makes a nice change from the stress you have had recently. Avoid being with negative people.

Sagittarius November 23 - December 21 This month seems a bit changeling Family members don’t see eye to eye.

Your social life needs a boost Get the BBQ out invite your friends round.

Avoid being a party pooper.

Aquarius January 21- February 19 You have been on a long journey of self discovery.

All that thinking and planning you have done starts to pay off, time to put your thoughts into action. Avoid just day dreaming.

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We are thrilled to announce that Enterprising Mums will be writing a regular advice column to all the parents who need support, advice and inspiration with their new or existing businesses. We are also looking to secure legal advice, accounting advice and social media advice from the May / June issue also, so keep posted !

At Enterprising Mums, we aim to support and inspire each other in our chosen businesses, and through our networking meetings we impart knowledge with guest speakers and sharing of information. In our new regular advice column here in Baby Buzz magazine, we hope to help you with some advice and top tips. This issue, we talk networking and how you can get the most from your one-minute presentation…

know, which will help to get over the initial then you can adapt it to your audience and nerves. Test a few over the first few months the situation you are in. and then decide which ones will work for you 1. Who are you and the name of your and your business. You shouldn’t just go once business? and then disappear as people will think you 2. What do you do? are no longer in business and not refer you 3. A bit about you to others, find a couple that you like and stick 4. What do you want from the to them each month – remember word of meeting? mouth and recommendation is the best 5. Summary (catch phrase) promotional tool you can find.

Before getting into the fine details it is important to understand what networking is and how you can best approach it. It is the process of interacting with others to help develop your business. Essentially, the aim is to widen your network of contacts to bring in new customers. It is either done in faceto-face meetings, over the phone or through social networks and forums. Either way, it can be an excellent low cost method of marketing your business - after all its often about who you know that gets you ahead!

Planning is key to successful networking Plan what you want to get out of the meeting and go with an open mind. The contacts you make at these groups are your support group moving forward. Take leaflets and cards and plan to have a 1 minute brief verbal presentation about what you do (see below).

Just be yourself. and your confidence will shine through when you talk .

You can generally find local networking groups on google, local forums, or by speaking to other local women in business.

There are a range of them out there which vary from the more formal and structured networking clubs to more informal relaxed groups. If you are nervous about going, try a women’s only one to start with, and maybe go with a friend or someone you

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Just think to yourself while you are preparing it, why should this person want to listen to me and refer me to people they know? Write it, read it to people you know and practice it.

It will change as you move on, but it will help your confidence and belief in yourself and what you do.

Finally, don’t forget to follow up. If there are like-minded people there who you think could benefit from working with you and vice versa, arrange a meeting with them. This will make it easier to attend the next meeting if you have met someone outside the group, and will also be the starting point for you to promote what you do. Don’t forget if you get networking right, you can reap the rewards quite quickly and watch your business grow!

Did you know it takes approximately 4 minutes for us to form what we believe to be a solid opinion of someone upon meeting and conversing with them? This is based on the words we use, how we say them, tone and body language. Therefore, one of the key things to get right at any networking meeting is your one-minute presentation. This may be a different length of time depending on the individual group, but either way For more information on Enterprising Mums preparation is key – you will also feel much networking groups or to set up a networking more comfortable if you have something group yourself, please visit: prepared in advance. www.enterprising-mums.co.uk This basic structure below should help you info@enterprising-mums.co.uk form the basis of your basic one-minute and Or tweet us at: @enterprisemums

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Who is behind the Product?

My youngest daughter Lucy. She was born breech, so was immediately a high risk for Hip Dysplasia. She had her Ultrasound when she was at 6 weeks. Unfortunately, her left hip wasn’t aligned in the socket correctly and she had to wear a brace for 12 weeks to hopefully correct it for her. It was Lucy wearing this brace that provided the realisation and the drive to create my very own collection of baby clothes that would fit over this awkward contraption!

is always used in my fabric/garment design as I feel my brand identity will grow into my customers confidence in time. Quality is very important to me so I will ensure the garments are all 100% organic and handmade locally. I have invested everything into this business to deliver such a premium outcome, so I hope to be a real silver lining by truly helping people for many years to come!

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

For me, it is simply receiving positive feedback from my customers. I How did the company get started? am very proud of my garments and when my customers are as happy After experiencing my own frustration and thinking other parents must with them as I had hoped then it is a great feeling of satisfaction and be feeling the same – I started to do my research. Indeed, there are 3 motivation! babies in 1000 braced and treated for Hip Dysplasia, so it really is quite a common condition. I joined many Facebook parent support groups What has been the downside of starting your own company? and discovered parents all around the world were asking the same Those who know me will know how impatient I am. It was frustrating question: “how on earth do I dress my baby in a brace – what can they as so many manufacturers I tried along the way pushed me to cut wear?”. I guess this cemented there was definitely a demand and a corners with quality and fabric options and offered industry shortcuts, place for a little company like mine. I then considered the kind of range which I really did not want to do. Personally, one of the more stark I wanted to offer. The second key outtake from my research highlighted downsides for me has been getting used to so many deadlines being the sadness and worry that accompanied Hip Dysplasia. It really is an pushed out and things generally taking a lot longer than I had planned! awfully depressing time and each parent I came across felt seriously down about having to put their new baby’s clothes away, as the What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their impossibility of dressing them dawned. So I decided to offer a really own business? premium, 100% organic, essentials range to make the everyday routine Planning and organisation are both very important. Your duty as a much easier and to also add a bit of cuteness and prettiness into a grey parent will always take priority which means, and as I mentioned above, time. I set about finding a pattern maker, a local manufacturer and things don’t always go to plan and there can be constant interruptions. searching for the best fabric I could find. After more research, I had my Set realistic goals and timelines and bear in mind that it can be expensive fabric bespoke hand screen printed with my own logo design and finally and a bit of a juggling act. I think thorough research is absolutely crucial started to work on my website content. and you can never ask too many questions. However, I also say go for it and believe in yourself. When you experience your first transaction What is the company about? taking place or read a glowing review about your own business there is Silver Lining is all about providing some relief and support to parents nothing more rewarding! who are caring for a child with Hip Dysplasia. The brace the child wears makes it almost impossible for them to wear proper fitting clothes.

Moreover, there is a real danger of hindering the job the brace needs Silver Lining ships globally and offers our to do by adapting and stretching normal clothes. As well as problems readers a 10% discount. To claim just enter with finding clothing solutions there is also an emotional need as a parent to have some ‘normality’ back in their lives as well as the the promotion code BUZZ at checkout. practicality of keeping a ‘white’ brace clean for as long as 16 weeks! If I can make lives easier from a practical perspective while also trying to bring a bit of that pleasure parents enjoy when dressing and buying clothes for their little one then I am doing what I set out to do!

For further information, please contact: What do you hope to achieve?

I would like Silver Lining to be recognised as the ‘go-to’ (premium) clothing company globally for babies wearing hip braces. In terms of growth, I have plans to expand my age bracket and investigate a range of bolder prints, some different designs as well as looking at other braces. My strategy is to keep my collection small, simple and ‘cute’. I am certainly not looking to create a giant empire. I will ensure my logo

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Caroline Jones (t) +61 (0) 400 102 291 (e) info@silverliningbaby.com (w) www.silverliningbaby.com (facebook) silverliningbaby (twitter) @silverlining110

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What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

So hard to pick one thing… seeing the website go live was great. Our first order was brilliant. On a personal note, seeing my son’s face when I explained that I would soon be able to pick him up from school every day was great. He was so How did the company get started?

I was determined that having kids wouldn’t stop me going out and about pleased and it made me even and from the time the children were really small I sought out toys to more determined to make the keep in the changing bag to keep them happy in restaurants or on long business work. car journeys. When embarking on our first family holiday abroad, I spent ages looking through various online stores trying to find toys to take on What has been the downside of holiday that would be portable, non-messy and really interesting for starting your own company? the kids. Searches for travel toys just returned baby toys and I realised So far there hasn’t really been a I had found a niche in the market and started a specialist travel toy store. downside! It is amazing seeing your ideas turned into reality and gives you the energy to try and offer more What is the company about?

We want to help parents find the very best toys to take out and about. for the customers. One of the We sell toys that are easy to use on the go, small and lightweight and hardest things has been focusing on a bit different or quirky so they keep the attention for longer. Toys stocking just toys. There are so range from 30p to £15 and have really interesting things like magic ink many fantastic travel related books, story cubes and goody bags which showcase our very favourite products out there but at the moment, our budget and storage things. mean we can’t expand the range.

Our website also has advice and tips to make travel easier with children. One day though!

We want all our customers to go on holiday happy that they have a few tricks up their sleeve to keep their children occupied even if the journey What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their doesn’t go quite to plan. Often the journey is a stressful time for parents own business?

Find a supportive network group. I joined WIRE (Women in Rural of small children and we want to help make it fun!

Enterprise) which has been a great motivator and boost for my efforts.

Starting a business can be quite isolated, especially if you are used to What do you hope to achieve?

We aim to build a resource for parents who are going travelling with working in an office, and having people to bounce ideas off, ask their children. While the toys are key to the business, we want to offer questions and give you some moral support is invaluable. more than just products. We want to be a one stop shop for parents to For more information contact: find information, tips and tricks to make travel easier and hopefully fun!

Website www.takemetoys.co.uk We already have free resources like packing lists, car games and even Email: alice@takemetoys.co.uk a printable car bingo game and we will be building on this to add more Facebook: www.facebook.com/takemetoys info sheets and hopefully travel forums in the future.

Twitter: @takemetoys Who is behind Take Me Toys?

Take Me Toys was conceived by me, Alice Jennings. I started the business in 2013 with no experience of working for myself having had a career first as a research scientist and then as a business analyst. Starting my own business has been a big leap for me but has been so exciting, I love it!

www.takemetoys.c

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Carla Learoyd website: www.beadsandbobbins.co.uk email: info@beadsandbobbins.co.uk facebook:beadsandbobbinsfabricgifts twitter: @beadsandbobbins

Who is behind the product?: That would be me, Carla. I have had an interest in crafts and design for as long as I can remember, so when I gave up full time work after having my first daughter Georgia in 1997, I decided that if I were to work again, it would be for myself and in a career that would allow me to be creative! So I studied at a local horticultural college and gained qualifications in Garden Design and Landscaping and spent the next couple of years working as a garden designer, running my own garden maintenance business. This became very hard work as I was working on my own 6 days a week, working around my girls, so I decided to complete a Diploma in Soft Furnishings and Design, so I could move into something a little less strenuous!

How did the company get started?: Back in 2011, I made a personalised cushion for my youngest daughter Olivia who was in year 6 at the time and took it into the playground, along with an order form and some fabric swatches, to see if any of the other parents would be interested in ordering one for their children. I was surprised at the great response I had and I realised that there was definitely a market for personalised items that could be tailored to suit different colours or themes. Although I now make all kinds of bespoke orders from curtains to cushions to kitchenware, my most popular orders to date are still the personalised cushions.

What is the company about?: Beads and Bobbins is all about creating something a bit different from the norm, using beautiful fabrics, trimmings and beads. I especially love to make gifts that can be kept as a keepsake, such as a cushion for a christening or a blanket for a new born baby. Last year I introduced sewing classes and sewing parties for children. These have been such a joy to teach and I have met so many great children who want to learn a new life skill and who show such enthusiasm for sewing. I was so happy that 80% of the children who signed up last year are still coming to the lessons now.

What do you hope to achieve?: I would love to keep on creating beautiful gifts for people, and also find the time to produce and sell my own range of beautifully beaded cushions. It would also be great if I can continue to teach sewing skills to children, possibly moving into adult tuition. As long as I can continue to be creative in some way I will be happy!

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What has been the highlight of starting your own company?: Wow, there have been so many. Just being able to be my own boss has been a big highlight. But involving myself in the local community by selling my products at local fairs and events has allowed me to meet so many amazingly talented people, some of them becoming good friends. When you have been "just a mum" for so long, it is easy to lose the confidence to get out there and interact with people, but starting my own business has definitely given me this back. I recently used my new found confidence to enter The Enfield Innovations Awards 2014 with a new idea I had been toying with and to my amazement I won an award! This backing will allow me to move forward into a new direction, so I have got lots of exciting things to look forward to this year.

What has been the downside of starting your own business?: The biggest downside for me, because I work from home, has definitely been the long working hours. Some days I start work at 8am and I can find myself working all day, in between doing the usual household jobs, not turning off my sewing machine until 2am in the morning!

Thankfully, these days don't happen too often, but I have been known to work through the night to get a curtain order finished. I wouldn't recommend this on a regular basis! It is hard to be disciplined when you work from home and I sometimes have to try and work to a schedule so that at least I can make sure my family is fed! Another downside is the need to be organised, which sadly I am not! I know it's boring, but you will need to keep your paperwork and receipts in some sort of order to make it easy to complete the dreaded tax returns.

Otherwise it can be very overwhelming and a real minefield when the time comes for you to tackle this.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?: I would just say go for it! Keep your end goal in sight and keep working towards it. If like me you are lucky enough to have supportive friends and family, this will definitely spur you on when you might feel like giving up. When I was trying to do a lot of different things at once, a friend told me to just stick to one thing that you are good at and do it well. I would agree with this. Don't try to go in too many different directions. But don't lose sight of the fact that all the hard work will eventually pay off and allow you to do a job every day that you love and not many people can say that.

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For more information about setting up a group in your area, please contact us on the following: (e) info@enterprising-mums.co.uk (t) call 07795 257711 or 07973 614749 For more information about Enterprising Mums please visit: www.enterprising-mums.co.uk Facebook: Facebook.com/enterprisingmums Twitter: @enterprisemums Who is behind the Product?

What do you hope to achieve?

Enterprising Mums is run by Nicola Morgan and Kerry Haynes, alongside We want to see the benefits that a group like this brings in every region a fabulous committee of inspiring women. across the country. We want mums to feel there is support for them if and when they need it most. There is nothing more rewarding than How did the company get started? seeing the women who come to our group develop and succeed in what It was originally set up in 2009 as a Hitchin-based group who met once they have chosen to do! a month to share ideas and support each other. Since then the group has progressed considerably with guest speakers, fundraising events, We already have a new idea in the pipeline and have several more social media pages and a website. In 2014, we saw the expansion of initiatives we want to achieve this year and beyond! groups around the country with more planned throughout 2014 and beyond.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

Running our own business is not a new thing to us. Both of us have run What is the company about? our own businesses before and we each run a business alongside We are a business networking and support organisation for mums (and Enterprising Mums. Nicola has her own coaching and mentoring dads!) who are balancing their family with running their own business, company called icamani, and Kerry runs a marketing and PR consultancy whatever stage that may be - i.e. thinking of starting a business or those called Inspire Me Media. Having said that, it still throws up lots of who already run their own company.

Each area runs a monthly different challenges and rewards and continues to be a huge learning informal networking meeting which is supportive and friendly and has curve. We never stop learning! The highlight for us has been the a guest speaker. Everyone at the meeting has the opportunity to speak interest we have received from likeminded women who want to run about their business. There is an inexpensive membership fee, should their own group around the country. We only launched the Licence in visitors decide the meetings are for them, which then entitles them to early 2014 and we have already had a huge amount of interest! a number of benefits. Our values are: What has been the downside of starting your own company?

Support: We know its hard when you are doing it all on your own and The one thing we all lack‌time! There is so much we want to achieve with this and a world of potential, but like all working mums and dads, we understand that with the right support you can make it a success Knowledge: We create an environment that is about sharing we lack the time to do it. knowledge, experiences and enabling learning through our members and guest speakers. We provide business information and training.

Network: We enable you to meet others and market your business in a friendly and informal, yet professional way Inspire: We inspire each other with success stories and encouragement

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What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?

Once you have your idea, speak to people you know who have set up and run their own business and ask them for their learnings – the do's and the don'ts. Its much better to have a network of other people you can ask, than learn things the hard way yourself.

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Children as young as 12 weeks can use simple sign language. It is the most wonderful parenting tool for anyone with children under 7. Gesture is one of the building blocks of speech (I Can) and using signing is a fun and interactive way to help communication development for babies, toddlers and older children too. Children love being able to show off their developing communication skills and adding in just a few signs to everyday activities, such as nursery rhymes and songs, can really help encourage higher level learning. Older children especially love to learn new signs and these can help develop gross and fine motor skills for years to come.

“I've been signing with my son since he was 5 months old (he is now 7.5 months) and when he started signing back about 6 weeks ago it was simply wonderful!! Watching him gain in confidence, using his rapidly increasing repertoire of signs, gives me such a fantastic, heart-warming feeling.“

“I want to scream from the roof tops how amazing baby signing is!”

We’ve loved signing and singing along to this Easter rhyme in our classes this term!

Sign descriptions: ‘Easter’

Using your right thumb or index finger, make a cross on the back of your left closed hand ‘Sheep’ Close your hands and extend your little fingers; make forwards circles at the sides of your head ‘Rabbit’ Put your index and middle fingers together with rest of fingers closed into palm.

Raise hands to each side of your head and twitch forward.

‘Easter Egg’ Tips of fingers spread apart, curved fingers on each hand come together and tap twice

Easter

Rabbit

The Leaves on the Trees (Tune: Wheels on the bus) The leaves on the trees are lush and green lush and green, lush and green The leaves on the trees are lush and green Now that it is Easter The lambs in the field skip and jump Skip and jump, skip and jump The lambs in the field skip and jump Now that it is Easter

Sheep

Easter Egg

The bunny is hiding Easter eggs Easter eggs, Easter eggs The bunny is hiding Easter eggs Now that it is Easter

REMEMBER: ● ● ●

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SAY the word as you sign it SIGN in your child’s line of vision WAIT for a response REPEAT as much as possible Just four simple signs could prevent up to 90% of childhood tantrums and distress.

Find out what they are and how to use them effectively by claiming your FREE video signing programme today at onlinebabysign.co.uk

www.littlesignersclub.co.uk (e) info@littlesignersclub.co.uk (fb) www.facebook.com/littlesignersclub (blog) www.littlesignersclub.wordpress.com

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© BSL sign graphics Cath Smith - the Let's Sign Series - www.deafbooks.co.uk

Signing encourages peaceful, respectful and responsive interactions with happy, confident children who have the resources and capability to ask for what they need, with their hands, easily and quickly.

'BRAVE FACE' OF NEW PARENTS MASKS NEED FOR HELP !

Almost 79% of new parents found the first three months of parenthood much harder than they had expected, yet over 90% admit to exaggerating how well they’re coping, according to new research released today by Kiddicare.

The study of 1,000 new parents¹ revealed that 41% of parents wouldn’t accept or ask for help from family members or friends for fear it showed they were not coping; preferring to put on a ‘brave face’. Despite this admission, new parents did overwhelmingly (98%) say they would welcome more realistic advice and experiences from others that have been through it themselves. Even with all the mod cons of the 21�� century, 84% believe parenthood is harder today than for previous generations. Images in popular culture of the ‘perfect parent’ successfully juggling family life and work, whilst looking effortlessly chic, mount further pressure on today’s new Mums and Dads, according to 92% of those surveyed.

Vicky Shepherd, Content manager, Kiddicare, said, "It may seem strange that people who are finding parenting tough are reluctant to ask for help, but the pressure to prove you can do it all on your own is very strong. The research shows that what can really help is hearing the experiences - both good and bad - of other parents that have already been through it themselves. People are telling us they don't want this sugar-coated - they want to hear both the amazing highs and surprising lows."

In response, Kiddicare has launched a new free website called 'What I Wish I'd Known' (WIWIK) with the aim of gathering real experiences and handy hints from recent parents. Mums and Dads are being invited to share their stories at www.kiddicare.com/wiwik or via social media using the hashtag #wiwik.

3.

4.

5.

Forming a stronger bond with your partner (36%) Feeding time with your baby – bottle or breast (22%) Meeting other parents/forming new friendships (14%)

The five greatest challenges of becoming a new parent; 1.

Lack of sleep (69%) 2.

Financial pressures (35%) 3.

Relationship problems (31%) 4.

Getting out of the house with your baby (30%) 5.

Pressure to know all the ‘answers’ (22%) To celebrate the incredible journey that is parenthood, Kiddicare is working with three inspirational parents; campaigner and TV presenter Katie Piper, paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Apprentice finalist Claire Young. Here they share their 'What I Wish I'd Known' (WIWIK) experiences.

Dame Sarah Storey and Paralympic cyclist; Breastfeeding determines your day completely! We feed on demand but it's incredibly rewarding seeing her grow entirely from my milk #wiwik Katie Piper, campaigner and TV presenter; I should have got new, comfy bras straight away. I thought maternity bras would be really frumpy, I didn't realise they were so nice! #wiwik Apprentice finalist Claire Young; There are still negative points to being a single parent, but it's the most challenging & rewarding role so should be celebrated! #wiwik

Vicky Shepherd, Content manager, Kiddicare, concludes "Just knowing others are in the same boat can be a huge relief for new parents and we're hoping WIWIK will play a small role in helping parents navigate some of the challenges as they begin their amazing journeys." Other insights from the research:

About Kiddicare ● Baby specialist Kiddicare was established in 1974 and became part of the Morrisons family in February 2011 ● There are 11 family friendly Kiddicare superstores around the UK ● Kiddicare has won multiple awards for excellence in online, delivery, product range and customer services from influentials including Which? , Retail Systems and Tommy’s. Most recently Kiddicare scooped the Retailer of the Year accolade at the prestigious Mother&Baby awards ● Over 1m customers visit Kiddicare.com each month

The five best things about becoming a new parent; 1.

The little things – the smiles, the cuddles and gurgles (71%) 2.

Bath time (43%)

For more information to to find your nearest store, please visit: www.kiddicare.com

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UK UNDER-5’s AT RISK OF BECOMING GENERATION DChildren at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to parents’ lack of knowledge New findings reveal six in ten (60%) UK parents are unconcerned about the risk of insufficient vitamin D levels in their child. The new findings have raised concerns among health experts, who fear the UK's under-5s may be missing out on the essential vitamin, due to a lack of awareness of its benefits and the potential health risks associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Parents in the dark about vitamin D The Generation Dreport, commissioned by new public health awareness campaign Vitamin D Mission, reveals that despite its importance for childhood development, parents are not fully informed when it comes to their child's need for this important vitamin.

A cause for concern is that despite its crucial role in ensuring the healthy growth and development of children's bones and teeth, more than three quarters of parents (77%) are unaware of their child's daily dietary requirement of vitamin D, with more than a third (35%) stating they have never received information about their child's specific needs.

All children living in the UK are at risk of not getting enough vitamin D, with research revealing the average toddler is only getting 27% of the daily dietary vitamin D they need[¹]. However, a lack of education about the risks associated with vitamin D deficiency means a fifth of parents (20%) remain unaware that under-5s rank among the most at risk of low levels of vitamin D (See appendix 1).

Parents in the UK are largely oblivious of the major health issues associated with low levels of vitamin D, with many unaware of the potential link to multiple sclerosis (95% unaware), osteoporosis (91% unaware), diabetes (95% unaware) and rickets (62% unaware). Furthermore, studies have also shown deficiency can cause poor growth in children and heart muscle disease and hypocalcaemic seizures in infants[²], as well as muscle weakness at any age. The survey found that, despite a recent rise in cases of rickets in the UK, parents ranked low levels of vitamin D among the least worrying issues when it came to their child's health.

Meningitis topped the poll when touching on matters of most concern, with common child illnesses and conditions, such as flu and asthma, ranking higher than insufficient levels of vitamin D (see appendix 2). Clinical consultant for the Vitamin D Mission and paediatrician, Dr Benjamin Jacobs, comments: "As a paediatrician at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, I see first-hand the health impacts of low levels of vitamin D in children living in the UK. From poor growth, soft bones and seizures, to heart disease and rickets, not getting enough vitamin D can result in a range of serious health issues in children and adults.

"Many parents are still not getting the message about this vitamin and its importance for child health so children are missing out on the vitamin D they need for healthy growth and development."

Fortification and supplementation The Generation D- report found that despite government recommendations, only one in seven (16%) parents provides their child with a daily vitamin D supplement, with three in five (60%) admitting they never give their child vitamin supplements at all. Younger parents, aged eighteen to twenty-four, were found to be most likely to give their child cod liver oil or a vitamin supplement (47%) compared to just over a third of parents (35%) aged thirty-five plus.

Family GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, comments: "Labels like Generation Z and Alpha have been thrown around, but as this report reveals, the next generation is, in fact, set to be Generation D-. "With parents lacking awareness of the vitamin's role and therefore the need for supplementation, the UK's under-5s are at risk of being vitamin D deficient. The Vitamin D Mission aims to raise awareness of this issue and end deficiency in our nation's children, once and for all, to help ensure our kids grow up healthy and strong."

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Diet without the D Worryingly, all children in the UK are at risk of not getting the vitamin D they need to support their growth and development, with findings from the report revealing over a third of parents (35%) are not aware their child needs a daily dietary source of vitamin D. This is reflected in mealtime offerings, with the most popular kid's meals containing next to no dietary vitamin D. Of the top seven meals, which includes firm favourites such as spaghetti bolognese (46%) and fish fingers (43%), only one was found to add to a child's diet with vitamin D; scrambled eggs (41%) (See appendix 3). One in five parents (22%) believe they meet their child's specific vitamin D requirements through a healthy balanced diet. However, while the intention is good, the report reveals mums and dads are not always informed which foods contain vitamin D. A fifth of parents incorrectly think oranges (20%) and carrots (18%) contain the essential vitamin, with more than one in ten (11%) mistakenly saying cows' milk is a source of vitamin D. Furthermore, the survey also reveals that a quarter of under-5s (26%) are fed oily fish once a month or less, with one in seven (15%) never being fed this rich source of vitamin D. Half of parents (50%) have never fed their child liver, another good source of the vitamin.

The Generation D- report has been released to support the launch of the Vitamin D Mission, a campaign that aims to eradicate vitamin D deficiency in UK under-5s.

As part of the campaign, the Mission has launched an online test which allows parents to estimate how much vitamin D their child is getting as well as offering helpful tips and hints on how they can include more sources of vitamin D in their child’s diet.

For more information visit http://www.vitamindmission.co.uk/ Appendix 1 Reasons Under-5s are at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency 1) The Sun

In the UK, our skin isn't able to make vitamin D from winter sunlight (November to March) as the sunlight hasn't got enough UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation.

In the summertime, children are outside less and when they are playing outdoors many parents are concerned about sun safety, therefore putting lots of sunscreen on them, which makes it even harder to synthesise vitamin D. Just ten to fifteen minutes without sunscreen during the summer months (April to October) can help provide a child with the vitamin D they need.

2) Food

Not all children receive a varied diet and foods rich in vitamin D, such as oily fish.

3) Supplementation

Low uptake of vitamin D supplementation is also a factor. In fact, a report from the Vitamin D Mission reveals less than one in five (16%) parents provide their child with a daily vitamin D supplement.

Appendix 2 Health Issues of Most Concern to Parents Rank (1=Most Important) Health Concern 1

Meningitis

2

Obesity

3

Childhood Diabetes

4

Childhood Cancer e.g. skin cancer

5

Whopping Cough

6

Flu

7

Asthma

8

Low or insufficient levels of Vitamin D

9

Getting their five-a-day

10

Allergies

Appendix 3 Top seven meals served to children Rank

Meal

%

1

Spaghetti Bolognese

46

2

Fish Fingers

43

3

Scrambled Eggs

41

4

Pasta with Sauce

36

5

Roast Dinners

32

6

Baked Beans on Toast

32

7

Chicken Nuggets & Chips

29

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Novotel we welcome more than 250,000 children with their families every year and this year more and more families are looking to Famcation in 2014.”

Almost all (87%) UK mums agree that family holidays in the UK are important; the majority (69%) believes it is important to holiday in the UK so that children know their own country. More than half (55%) of mums want their children to enjoy the same type of holidays they had when they were young, and 51% believe holidays in the UK are fun and innocent, allowing children to be children. 47% of mums choose to holiday in the UK as it is cheaper than traveling abroad, and the same number choose the Famcation in order to support British tourism. Many also agree that family holidays in the UK are easier for the family. Looking back on their own childhood holidays in the UK, the memories of One in ten mums admit to spending an hour or less boredom, arguments, disappointing pebble beaches and the British weather ruining family holidays are proven to be a myth as less than 5% with their kids on a weekday! of mums cite these memories. Instead mums look back with fond and happy recollection of playing on the beach (52%), playing happily with The survey by Novotel of more than 1,000 UK mums found that: brothers and sisters (31%), exploring the magical world of rock pools ● More than half (56%) of mums look forward to holidays as it’s the (35%) and playing Knights of the Realm running around the many ancient castle of the British Isles (22%). only time they get to spend quality time with their children ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

1 in 10 mums spend an hour or less of quality time with their children on a typical weekday, and a third spend less than two 32% of partners spend less than an hour a day with their children during the week 20% of mums spend less than 6 hours with their kids over an entire weekend Two thirds of British mums wish they could spend more time with their children 48% of mums feel like they are missing out on their children growing up 87% of UK mums think family holidays in the UK are important 69% believe it is important to holiday in the UK so that children get to know their own country 55% want their children to enjoy the same type of holidays they had when they were young Novotel looks at why the family holiday is the answer for many mums.

As Easter and the summer holidays approach, parents’ thoughts turn to family holidays and many to the memories of holidays long since forgotten. At a time when lifestyle and work pressures can take their toll on family time, the family holiday is becoming more important than ever.

A survey of over 1,000 UK mums found that quality family time is getting harder and harder to find. Nearly 1 in 10 mums are able to spend an hour or less with their children during the week and 60% are spending less than four hours with the kids on a typical weekday. For partners the story is far worse: 4% spend no time at all with the kids and 68% of partners spend less than two hours with their children on weekdays. Time isn’t always made up at the weekend. More than a third of UK mums spend less than six hours quality time with the kids over an entire weekend.

The resulting feeling for the British parent is that of sadness and guilt.

62% of mums wish they could spend more time with their kids and three quarters of their partners agree. Quality time as a family is essential and much longed for. More than half (56%) of mums look forward to holidays as it’s the only time they get to spend quality time with their children.

Nearly half of British mums feel they are missing out on their kids growing up, because they can’t spend as much time with them as they would like.

Family time is precious time, with parents’ looking forward to family meals (88%), reading together (84%) and talking about their day (79%).

Novotel’s Jonathan Sheard added: “Our Top 10 UK Holiday Memories study has shown that 1.

Playing on the beach (52%) for 75% of UK parents, 2.

Playing with siblings (31%) days out and visiting 3.

Exploring rock pools (25%) attractions is their 4.

Visiting Castles (22%) favourite way to spend 5.

Visiting piers / seaside attractions (21%) time together as a 6.

The feeling of going on adventure (21%) family. It is this type of 7.

Fish & Chips (15%) activity that has long 8.

Reading (14%) 9.

Building sand castles (14%) been the backbone of 10.

The cold sea (14%) the great British holiday. It is a myth that childhood holidays were spent arguing with the family or sat in dreary towns in the rain. In fact, our survey has shown that our feelings toward the UK holiday is based on a desire to share our own happy experiences with our children and spend some quality time together. That’s why we’ve launched the Famcation packages, enabling families to share quality time when traveling together in our hotels. Sharing a meal, a day out, a fun experience – these are all key elements of the British family holiday. And what’s more, our Business Famcation enables parents away on business to stay connected to their families with free high-speed Wi-Fi to enable that precious Skype session before bed. We want to help families stay connected to each other and to their country.”

Kids stay and breakfast for free at Novotel hotels. Most Novotel hotels feature a dedicated kids corner to help keep the kids entertained, and the website is full of holiday tips and days out suggestions to help make the Famcation the family holiday trend of 2014. Novotel has also launched the Famcation offer to help families make the most of their time away together, and enjoy the shared time of the Famcation. As part of the offer, children will get breakfast and dinner for free as part of the stay.

For those parents working away from their families, Novotel is helping guests stay connected, with a Famcation Business offer that includes premium Wi-Fi to help make Skyping and face-time with the family that Jonathan Sheard, SVP Operations Luxury, Upscale & Midscale Hotels, much easier.

Accor UK & Ireland said: “We believe staycations are the savior of the family holiday. Famcations have struck a cord with the British mum as For more information about Novotel’s extensive family offering, visit: more and more parents look to share their experiences of family holidays www.novotel.co.uk/family in the UK with their children and enjoy some quality time together. At

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The National Young Writers’ Award Returns! With best-selling author, Liz Pichon to judge this year’s ‘fairytales and fables’ their OWN stories. I’m really looking forward to reading them so good luck to everyone and have some FUN!” Explore Learning, who have 89 centres located across the UK, will be running free workshops with local libraries, schools and community groups to inspire children’s love of writing and encourage them to get involved.

Heather Garrick from Explore Learning says: “We’re delighted to have Liz Pichon as our judge for 2014. Her illustrations and hilarious stories have made children and parents laugh out loud for years and she is a fantastic inspiration to children entering the competition.

Once upon a time Explore Learning launched the first ever National Young Writers’ Award. Children all across the land took their chance to delve deep into their imagination and write a story that captured the judges’ attentions and win themselves a prize of £500 worth of books for their school and a trip to the fairytale kingdom of Disneyland Paris for their whole family.

Since launching six years ago, hundreds of thousands of children all over the country have taken part, overwhelming the team at Explore Learning with tales of time travelling bears, of magical musical instruments, of lost letters and of heroes undertaking electrifying journeys that have made them laugh, and cry.

“We believe the theme of ‘fairytales and fables’ opens up a whole world of possibility for our young writers. We all have our favourite fairytale and we want children to get adventurous and create something that they and their families can treasure forever – and, most importantly, have FUN while writing!”

Last year’s victor was eight year old, Shathana Sivanesavajah from Tooting, London, who was awarded her prize by 2013 judge, Cressida Cowell.

Explore Learning provides English and maths tuition to children aged five to 14. Each session is tailored to a child’s needs and This year’s theme of ‘fairytales and fables’ is anticipated to Explore tutors work with children in a low ratio (1:6 maximum) attract more stories than ever before as children share their to create a fun and vibrant atmosphere for learning that has tales of princes and princesses, of dungeons and dragons, of results. witches and mermaids and goblins and giants! Children aged five to 14 can enter for free by submitting a 500 word story via For more information on the National Young Writers' Award www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters or popping into your please visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters. local Explore Learning centre. The closing date is Tuesday 3rd June.

Previous judges of the competition have so far included some of the UK’s most prolific authors, like Cressida Cowell, Alan Durant and Andy Cope – and this year is no different with award winning illustrator and author of the Tom Gates series of books, Liz Pichon taking the mantle. With countless awards for the hugely popular Tom Gates, she is perfectly positioned to review this year’s stories and inspire even more children to put pen to paper and give writing a try.

Liz says: “I’m thrilled to be the judge of this year’s National Young Writers’ Award. Competitions like this are a fantastic way to encourage as many children as possible to put pen to paper and write

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Technology offers a route into reading for disadvantaged three to five-year-olds This research, a collaboration between Pearson and the National Literacy Trust was designed to explore the use of technology by children in the early years. It marks our first year-on-year research at the National Literacy Trust to explore how often children aged three to five-years use print and touch screen technology.

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust says: “We are delighted to be launching the first annual Early Years Literacy Survey to explore the role of technology in children’s communication and language skills year-on-year, together with Pearson. Technology is playing an increasingly crucial role in all our lives and the ways in which children are learning are changing fast. It is important that we keep abreast of these changes and their impact on children’s education.

Technological devices such as Smartphones and tablet computers can offer a new and important route into reading for three to five-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. The National Literacy Trust and Pearson are calling on parents and early years practitioners to recognise the advantages of technology to engage young children in reading stories and have published tips and advice to support reading with three to five-year-olds on a touch screen and in print.

According to new research published by the National Literacy Trust in collaboration with Pearson, poorer children benefit more from using books and touch-screens for sharing stories, than books alone. If they look at stories using books and touch screen they are less likely to perform below the expected standard for their age than if they use books only (54.5% vs. 100.0%). More advantaged children tend to perform at or above the expected standard for their age regardless of what they use to look at stories.

“When parents read with their children, whatever the medium, they increase their child’s enjoyment of reading which brings life-long benefits.

Both practitioners and parents have a vital role to play in supporting children to read from an early age whether they use books or a touch screen.”

Ben Fogle, broadcaster, traveller and father to Ludo and Iona, aged five and three is keen to use technology with his children to read whenever possible. Ben says: “I embrace technology with my children. I read them stories down the line and even go to their school lessons (via iPad) from faraway lands to share my experiences live with the children's friends. My children love reading and touch screen technology enhances the experience for us all.”

Julie McCulloch, Head of Primary Marketing at Pearson, says:

"We are delighted to have collaborated with the National Literacy Trust on this important research project. Pearson is committed to helping people make progress in their lives through learning. Ensuring children, The findings show that technology is playing a large role in the lives of particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, get off to a strong under fives, with three-quarters (72.9%) of three – to five-year-olds start in literacy is key to this commitment. having access to a touch screen at home. Of these twice as many children of lower than higher socioeconomic status look at stories daily (16% vs.

"Technology is an integral part of today's childhood. We look forward to 7.2%). This is despite children from poorer backgrounds having less access continuing to explore how we can harness its power to establish a lifelong to touch screens at home than those from more privileged backgrounds love of reading in children."

(67% vs. 75.2%).

Using technology to read stories can lead to greater enjoyment of reading. Practitioners can find information on using technology to support The research found that children are more likely to enjoy reading if they children’s reading using at www.literacytrust.org.uk and parents can find use both books and a touch screen to look at stories, compared to books hints and tips on how to help their children at www.wordsforlife.org.uk. only (77.4% vs. 70.8%). This should set them up for success at school as National Literacy Trust research has found increased enjoyment of reading leads to better literacy outcomes.

In the first ever Early Years Literacy survey carried out by the National Literacy Trust and Pearson, parents and early years practitioners responded to questions on their access, use and attitudes to using books and touch screen devices with children aged three to five. These findings highlight the dominant role which technology plays in the lives of under fives, both at home and in settings. o o o

o

Three-quarters of children aged three to five have access to touch screen technology at home One in five early years practitioners say children use technology in their setting Three quarters of parents and practitioners consider it important for a child to use technology from an early age in order to get on at school.

Two thirds of practitioners feel their setting needs further access to touch screen devices

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Economic Climate has Influenced Parent’s Education Values A new survey has reported that an overwhelming amount of parents have been influenced by the changing economic climate. The review, which was commissioned by Mumbucks, the motivating reward system, has unveiled that 99% of the parents asked felt that teaching children the value of money is more important than ever before and cited today’s economic situation as one of the reasons.

It was even more interesting to learn that almost 60% of participants said that although they were spenders, they wanted their children to be taught the meaning of saving. It was also highlighted that over 600 of the parents involved felt children aged 8 and younger should be educated about money. This is a young age to approach the subject, but further shows the effects of the recession and financial uncertainty of late.

Parents affected by the recession may have come to realise the importance of preparing their children with the relevant practical lessons.

their children had to earn treats. As a mother of two, I created Mumbucks because the traditional reward systems started to lose their appeal and value and my children needed something more engaging.

She continued: “I can see from this survey that many parents are sensitive to the fact that teaching children the value of money is important, however it can sometimes be difficult to put it into practice.

Mumbucks provides a universal system that will support all families to educate their children on the realities of earning, saving and trading to prepare them for adulthood. Best of all, it works with children from 3 – 12, so great for siblings.”

Mumbucks is created around realistic looking note based currency which is EARNED for good behaviour, SAVED for special treats and TRADED for time towards doing favourite activities. The Mumbucks team are passionate about encouraging children to appreciate how money works from an early age and following this recent survey, it appears that many families feel the same way. * The ‘Teaching Children the Value of Money’ survey was hosted on social networking sites between the 7�� and 17�� March 2014 - 633 people answered this survey.

Amanda Allerton, the lady behind Mumbucks comments: “The results RRP: £14.99 of this survey reflect some of the core reasons behind the creation of Stockist: www.mumbucks.co.uk Mumbucks. I was very pleased to learn that out of the 633 people asked, 80% said that other than birthdays, Christmas and special occasions,

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#SBS win for north London businesswomen!

Nurturing Mums, unique postnatal courses set up by two experienced north London mums have won Theo Paphitis’ #SBS competition this week! Gemma Frenchman and Elise Mendelle set up Nurturing Mums 18 months ago and run regular 6-week courses in local venues with expert speakers and lots of added extras including a pamper morning and a professional photo shoot. Mums who join the courses benefit from time to chat, learn and relax with new friends.

Gemma and Elise are delighted to have won #SBS this week and have already seen a dramatic increase in the number of Twitter followers and Facebook page likes, as well as a higher number of hits on their website. They hope this will give them even more momentum to push their business forward to reach more mums in north London and the wider areas.

The Small Business Sunday competition was started by former Dragon’s Den investor and owner of Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas and La Senza in 2010. Each week, small businesses can tweet him @TheoPaphitis, describing their business with the SBS hashtag. Theo then reviews the entrants and chooses his favourite six to retweet to his 421,000 followers. The benefits to small businesses can be huge, with increased publicity and of course the endorsement of a hugely successful businessman.

Theo says, "I admire people who have passion and energy. If you cannot bore your friends to death about your own small business then something is seriously wrong. I was struck by the number of business owners on Twitter who wanted to tell me about their new products and services. Small Business Sunday was born so that people have a specific time slot to tweet and can pitch their 'sell' directly to me. More information can be found here: www.theopaphitissbs.com Groups are currently held in East Finchley and Crouch End, priced at £80, with early booking offers available from £64.

About Nurturing Mums Founder Elise Mendelle and Partner Gemma Frenchman Elise Mendelle, founder of Nurturing Mums, is a proud mother of three young children. She is originally from Canada and has been in the UK for 11 years. Elise is a qualified and practising chiropractor, has started and sold an online business, and also runs a successful culture blog. The idea for Nurturing Mums grew from her shock at being dropped into first-time motherhood, which she found overwhelming and isolating.

As Elise didn’t have family nearby to help out, she wished she had more support. She became part of a postnatal group, but wished that there

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were more discussions about the day-to-day issues she was facing. She felt like nobody wanted to open up and talk about their difficulties, as everyone was trying to seem as though they were super-mums! She is passionate about Nurturing Mums, and wants to help new mothers enjoy their babies through the early days, whilst making new friends and nurturing their inner mum.

Gemma Frenchman recently joined Nurturing Mums as a partner, and is a working mum of 2 young children. Gemma has blue-chip experience from Reuters and L'Oreal and went on to set up a private medical business, which she ran for seven years and was her first ‘baby.’ After having her second (real!) baby, Gemma set up a strategic business consultancy, working with growing businesses. Gemma works with organisations about which she is passionate and Nurturing Mums fits the bill perfectly. Gemma says “Working with Nurturing Mums gives me the chance to help new mums be happy, healthy and proud to be mummies and to help them enjoy the good times and share the bad times. Meeting bright, smart women along the way is an added bonus!”

“The course is brilliant. Succinct, professional, well run, in a good venue…Elise and Gemma are both an inspiration and very down to earth. I was so impressed.

I will and have recommended this course to friends.” Bonny, Finchley, June 2013

“Originally I joined the group to meet other mums and also to get access to the experts. I have left with a new circle of friends! The group itself was totally non judgmental and very supportive. Would highly suggest going to this useful and supportive group.” – Abbie, Barnet, Jan 2014 For more information, please contact: Email: info@nurturingmumsuk.com website: www.nurturingmumsuk.com facebook.com/nurturingmums twitter.com/nurturingmums

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21

Time Out requires a place for the child to go to become calm but by calling it the Naughty Step you reinforce the fact that the child is “naughty” and it can become a label. If you say to a child “Don’t tease/snatch/hit your brother” you put the picture of them doing it straight into their heads. In the same way if you keep saying go to the naughty step, you put a picture in their heads of them as naughty.

Whereas calling it the place for Time Out puts into their heads that they need time out to calm down –and that’s the message you want to reinforce. Call Time Out what it is, but instead of referring to the Naughty Step or Naughty Place, call the place where they are going to sit, the calming couch or relaxing chair as that’s what you want your child to do when they sit there. Some parents send their children to their bedrooms, but this is not the same as Time Out. Being sent to their bedrooms can lead them to associate the bedroom with bad times and it’s best for their bedrooms to be associated with positive experiences and the ability to feel safe and secure there, not for it to be where they are sent when they behave badly.

So what does Time Out involve?

You need a specific place for them to go to. (But not their bedroom).

Choose a place where you can stay nearby –this is important. So either your living room or your kitchen and a particular chair or even a rug is fine.

Joan has a lively 5 year old son whose behaviour often spirals out of control when he comes home from school. He’s clearly tired but won’t rest and still appears to have loads of energy. Most afternoons Darren and his Mum end up shouting at each other as Darren is less and less willing to co-operate, often throws his toys at her, and she ends up putting him on the Naughty Step.

Does this work? If you call repeatedly putting him back there, shouting at him to stay and sit still, and putting up with his screaming for nearly an hour until he finally calms down for 2 minutes –then yes . But is this an effective parenting strategy? The Naughty Step is a way of giving children Time Out – time to stop and calm down, a cooling off period when emotions are running high. Time Out is NOT meant to be a harsh punishment. What you want your child to do is calm down their emotions, think about why that behaviour is not acceptable and why you had to stop it and give them Time Out.

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Here are the Steps to take: 1. Explain in advance at a quiet time that from now on you will have Time Out when your child needs to calm down 2. Decide and explain what behavior will require Time Out. (Keep it Simple!!!!!)

3. Show your child the place and tell them where YOU will be which must be within seeing and hearing distance. Your presence is very important in keeping the child feeling safe and cared about even when they know you’re angry with them.

4. Explain it’s not a punishment but we cannot let our emotions get wild and we all need to calm down sometimes.

5. Decide on the amount of time your child should spend there.

Some parents use a minute per age – e.g. 5 minutes for a 5 year old. If it’s shorter than this because your child can calm down quickly then do 2 or 3 minutes whatever their age.

6. When your child starts to break a rule e.g. throws toys, give them a clear warning. Tell him he has a choice. State it positively: “ You have a choice. Either calm down, play properly with your toys by keeping them on the floor and in the toy box (what you mean is stop throwing them but as soon as you say “Stop throwing” you put that idea back into his head and you need to suggest an alternative and put that in his head instead) OR (you explain), you will have Time Out”.

7. If he ignores the warning, you need to clearly say “You need Time Out to calm down”. Ignore all attempts to negotiate or persuade you , and ignore any rude comments at this stage otherwise you will get distracted from getting him to the Time Out place.

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But remind your child Time Out only starts when he is sitting calmly (more or less –he’s a child!) But be prepared to start the time Out clock again every time he runs off, complains, whines or generally isn’t calm while sitting there. Remind him how long Time Out lasts (which you will have explained when you told him about Time Out) Stay nearby but don’t pay attention – except to PRAISE him for anything in the right direction. For example you could say “I see you’re sitting still now even though it’s hard”.

“You’re not arguing with me any more –that’s much better” If giving your child music to listen to on headphones (which doesn’t disturb you) works –then use it. This is a calming down period and if music helps a child to calm down –then great.

Set a kitchen timer or clock so a sound indicates the end of Time Out. This helps the child to recognize when time is up.

When Time Out is over PRAISE your child for calming down and give him a physical hug – before you use words, the physical hug is the biggest message you can give.

Now ask him why he had to do Time Out or why he had to sit on the calming couch? Don’t let him reply with “I don’t know.” If he says that, ask him to take a guess. PRAISE his reply so he knows you’ve listened and can accept his explanation. Just saying “Sorry” isn’t the answer you want as you want him to understand what he did wrong.

Then if he’s really calm –or you have time , (otherwise do it later when you do have a calm quiet moment –but do it that day), do an action replay which involves the child remembering what happened before they “lost it” and behaved badly, and acting out (dramatically!) what they could have done instead. (Handle this age appropriately).

But the idea is always to teach your child that there are alternatives to those emotional outbursts. (Our aim is to get our children to recognize and EXPRESS their emotions without shouting, screaming, having tantrums, throwing or hitting).

If a child really resists Time Out ask yourself the following: ∙ Have I explained it in too harsh a voice so they’ve still associated it with punishment? ∙ Am I using it too often so it’s lost it’s validity? ∙ What voice am I using when I’m giving my child the warning and telling them they have Time Out. (If you’re screaming or shouting it out then they may be very scared and resist hard. You need to practice saying it in a firm , confident tone of voice.)

Make sure you have a book, or knitting, or your computer nearby so you can really stay nearby but without paying him attention. (It’s only a few minutes remember so you won’t be stopped from doing other tasks for long). Being there shows your child he’s safe and you care.

And finally do remember that hug at the end!

Bebe Jacobs Parenting Coaching Now Info@parentingcoachingnow.com Tel: 07939 880 856 / 0203 734 7864

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LolliBop, the UK’s biggest kids festival, has announced its 2014 festival will take place at Hatfield House, August 15-17.

Situated in Herfordshire, just off the A1 or a 22 minute train journey from London Kings Cross, the stunning country house and gardens of Hatfield House offer an incredible array of spaces to house LolliBop’s vast activity and entertainment programme. With good motorways links, extensive on site parking and just a five minute walk from Hatfield train station, LolliBop 2014 is more accessible than ever before.

Renowned for bringing some of the biggest names in children’s entertainment to its live stages, LolliBop also plays host to science and educational zones, crafts areas and adventure activities. The 2014 lineup promises to be more diverse; exciting and extraordinary than ever before, with a host of brand new names, partnerships and play never before seen at LolliBop. Hatfield House is famous for its beautiful gardens and attractions, including the incredible sundial garden and fountains, a magical woodlands and the famous knot garden adjoining the Tudor Old Palace where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her time as a child.

Festival Director Gareth Cooper said: “For a family destination, Hatfield House can’t be beaten. LolliBop has taken place in numerous locations over the years, and we firmly believe our home for 2014 is our best yet. The setting is breathtaking - with stunning gardens, lush green areas and a woodlands just waiting to be explored - it’s allowed us to open our imaginations and programme an event like never before.

“We’ve been working hard to secure some of the best-loved names in children’s entertainment. The 2014 lineup will be jam packed with big names for the main stage, alongside an unprecedented number of live theatre performances; plus sporting activities; creative workshops; nature talks and brand new areas and acts, never before seen at LolliBop.” Hatfield House is one of the Treasure Houses of England, making it one of the top 10 most magnificent palaces in all of the UK. LolliBop Early Bird tickets go on sale on March 28, priced £17.50pp.

www.lollibopfestival.co.uk

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Tips for teaching your child to swim…

Children love to swim and generally as a rule the earlier you get them into the water the better.

When teaching your child in the water make sure your eye level is the same as your child's and always maintain a smile – kids pick up on negativity and angst so remember to reinforce the positive and never use negative comments. Lavish your child with praise in the water and you will see their confidence grow immensely.

If you yourself are afraid of the water it’s important not to let your child see this and make sure you don’t tell anyone in front of your child (or indeed him or her) that they are afraid of the water – otherwise they will start to believe it. Most children’s fear of the water is generated unnecessarily by their parents or peers.

If attending swimming lessons many parents find it difficult not to interfere when the child is crying during a lesson, the best thing to do if this happens is to leave it to the teacher and go and have a coffee! A good instructor will soon gain the trust of the child but not if the parent gets in the way.

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A fun way to teach children to breath properly in the water is to use phrases like “talk to the fish” by blowing bubbles in the water, or “listen to the fish” by turning the head with an ear in the water and breathing in. If your child really doesn’t want to get into the water then don’t force them – play it down and suggest they sit on the side with their feet over the edge so they can kick and splash the water instead. Just sitting will increase their confidence – not every child wants to jump straight in! They will soon realise what fun the other kids are having and slowly but surely will want to get in themselves. It just takes time and patience.

SwimFin want to provide and encourage a fun learning experience for children and family members of all ages and abilities. Most importantly have fun in the water by ensuring your child is safe at all times – whether it be during a lesson, for recreational use at the weekend’s or on your summer holidays down on the beach!

Kids love pretending to be a shark so make learning to swim more of a game than a chore.

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Silvergate Media has announced that Octonauts will be partnering with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the leading charity for the protection of UK seas, shores and wildlife. The partnership, which launches this month, will see Octonauts being featured in the MCS supporter magazine, on membership pack collateral and across the Society’s digital platforms. In addition, Octonauts will be collaborating with MCS at some of their key events during 2014 such as the M&S Big Beach Clean Up, the Beachwatch Big Weekend and the Ecover Blue Mile.

Among these brands are Peter Rabbit and Octonauts, two highly successful international properties for children.

About The Octonauts The Octonauts are a dynamic eight-member team of quirky and courageous adventure heroes who dive into action whenever there is trouble under the sea. Equipped with a fleet of aquatic vehicles, they rescue amazing sea creatures, explore incredible new underwater worlds, and often save the day before returning safely to their home base, the octopod. Based on the original books by Lesli Zador, VP Brand & Marketing at Silvergate Media said: “We Meomi, Octonauts is animated by Brown Bag Films and continues know that Octonauts is already helping to inspire and educate young to go from strength to strength as a unique and exciting global children about the ocean and our partnership with MCS reaffirms pre-school brand. our serious commitment to the marine conservation values at the core of our brand. The Marine Conservation Society’s messages About the Marine Conservation Society mirror ours very closely, not least in the Octonauts’ rallying cry of The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated ‘Explore! Rescue! Protect!’, and we’re delighted to be able to deliver to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns some exciting Octonauts content for their younger members.” for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life. Through education, community involvement and Debbie Stenner, Marketing Manager for MCS added: “A vital part collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face of MCS’ work is to inspire and engage young people and their our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action families about marine wildlife and conservation. The partnership to protect the marine environment. MCS provides information and with Octonauts will add a whole new dimension to our programme guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the for children and we’re very much looking forward to working annual Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk), the Good together.”

Fish Guide and www.fishonline.org relating to sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects such About Silvergate Media as MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend (www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch) Silvergate Media is a highly creative TV Production and licensing and Basking Shark Watch www.mcsuk.org. company driven by big ideas and big collaborations. Formed in 2011, and with offices in New York and London, Silvergate develops worldclass brands which inspire, entertain, educate and engage through innovative content, great products and strong partnerships.

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Getting through the teenage years !

So here’s what we can expect:

when something is really troubling them. Nearly a ● Parents of teenagers can expect to be shouted at 59 times a year third of teenagers will ● While doors will be slammed once a week talk to their parents ● More than half of parents found the teenage years the hardest of about changes in their all when bringing up their child bodies while 28 per cent ● 30% who suffer from ‘growing pains’ will talk about how they ● Other worries include no-one fancying them, looking the part for look or feel about their parties and nights out, and a fifth of teenagers “just want to be image. normal” And while 37 per cent of A study of 1,500 parents who have, or recently had, teenagers has students are concerned illustrated the hard times other mums and dads are set to go through about doing well in their when their children enter the teenage years. subjects, one in six fret about fitting in with the cool kids at school. Other worries include no-one During a time when emotions run high, teenagers can experience bouts fancying them, looking the part for parties and nights out, and a fifth of of sulking and are likely to spend hours in the bathroom 66 times a year. teenagers “just want to be normal”.

They are also likely to empty the fridge of all its contents once or twice a week and arrive home late fortnightly. As the study commissioned by TOP 20 TRAITS THAT CAN BE TYPICAL OF A TEENAGER: bonjela Junior shows, more than half of parents found the teenage years 1. Sulking the hardest of all when bringing up their child.

2. Texting all the time 3. Surfing the internet However, by understanding the underlying causes of this ‘typical’ teen 4. Using the floor as a wardrobe behaviour, parents can equip themselves to provide their children with 5. Shouting at you or about something the support they need to help them through this tricky time. Life Coach 6. Playing their music loudly for Children, Naomi Richards explains: 7. Arguing with you 8. Answering back “Between the ages of 13 and 18 young adults are going through enormous 9. Spending hours on social network websites changes both physically and emotionally. As a consequence, parents need 10. Asking for a lift to be aware that their child is striving for independence, and is wanting 11. Lots of time spent sleeping to stand on their own two feet.”

12. Grumbling about nothing in particular 13. Eating all of the food in the fridge With this growth and progression can come a tide of emotions, as 14. Telling you how unfair it all is teenagers try to express themselves, deal with growing pains and worry 15. Slamming doors especially how others perceive them. “It’s important to remember that 16. Obsessing about what they look like your teen is trying to figure out who they are. In their search for identity, 17. Singing loudly they will compare themselves to friends, family, peers, figures in the 18. Asking for money all the time media etcetera in terms of their body and that will have a strong bearing 19. Spending hours in the bathroom on their self-esteem.”

20. ‘Tutting’ As well as the emotional challenges of being a teenager, the physical is a common source of anxiety. The study found over half of teenagers turn into younger versions of themselves when suffering from physical pain.

Almost 33 per cent of teenagers surveyed suffer from period pain, followed by 30 per cent who suffer from ‘growing pains’, 22 per cent from mouth ulcers and 20 per cent from problems with braces. Parents have an important role to play here too.

A spokeswoman for bonjela Junior said: “These findings highlight the different emotional and physical pains many teenagers are faced with today. “Whilst your teenager’s emotional turmoil can be challenging to address, you can help with the physical growing pains they may experience. As the results show, some of the most common complaints include mouth ulcers and problems with braces. There are a number of treatments and techniques out there designed to meet the very specific needs of teenagers. For example, new* bonjela Junior is specially formulated to relieve pain associated with mouth ulcers, often caused by braces, helping you to make your teens experience a little more bearable."

BREAKDOWN BOX Shout at you Sulk Say they hate you Empty the fridge Refuses to talk to you Takes selfies Threatens to leave home Answers back Asks for money Slams doors Arrives home late Worries about looks Locks themselves in the bathroom Falls out with friends Sleeps in

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TIMES PER YEAR 59 times 71 times 27 times 84 times 51 times 67 times 21 times 95 times 70 times 51 times 38 times 74 times 66 times 36 times 81 times

For more information on Bonjela please visit their website at: www.bonjela.co.uk

The findings also reveal the way they look is also of major concern for teenagers – the survey results indicate they spend a lot of time taking ‘selfies’ to post on social networking sites, and a fair amount of time is spent in front of the mirror worrying about their appearance.

A quarter of young adults worry constantly about spots, while one in 10 hate having to wear braces or glasses. Despite being hard to communicate with sometimes, six in 10 teenagers still tend to confide in mum and dad

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What’s your baby really thinking? Is she a little baby expert?

It’s a question every mum asks. What’s my baby thinking? Does she know me? Does she trust me? What’s she laughing at? infaCare wants to know too, so along with clinical psychologist Linda Blair has taken a look at what’s actually going on in your little one’s mind and what those precious giggles mean.

Evidently babies know more and learn more than we ever thought was possible.

Your baby's brain is working really hard, and in fact developmental scientists are discovering that babies are figuring things out right from birth. Baby brains grow at an astonishing rate, from newborn to one year old the brain more than doubles in size.

To help with all this growth and learning, babies’ brains have about 1,000 trillion connections between brain cells - twice that of an average adult!

studied thought processes by measuring how long babies look at events – it seems baby is more engaged and you can hold baby’s attention for longer if you do something unexpected, like dangling a box by a string. They are thinking about how objects behave and interact⁴.

Movement is particularly interesting to them. ● Funny sounds: Babies automatically experiment with their voice box, but they don’t have the skills to coordinate sound with lip movement – in fact before six months babies around the world will make the same spontaneous universal sounds! From six months imitation will begin to take off. ● Baby genius: Research shows that babies are thinking well before they are talking, and they can grasp what some words mean. For example, babies as young as six months old can understand the link between images of objects and their names, linking a picture of an apple with the word “apple”, indicating they know the meaning of that word, long before they can speak the words themselves.

So is your baby really thinking? Yes, infants are thinking all the time.

They are busy trying to make sense of the world around them from the moment they are born and have been described as “little experimenters". Psychologist Linda Blair, says: “In a funny way babies and toddlers are actually doing their own research and experiments it’s called play! And when they play they are inventing, gathering intelligence and drawing conclusions. They’re learning and they’re Linda Blair says: “Babies are engaging all their senses. They have fascinating minds and it looks like there really is some genius in those learning fast. goo-goos and gaa-gaas. Baby is the expert, so it’s really important for Babies are thinking well before they are talking. They can understand mum and dad to listen to and look for cues from their baby, so they can words and expressions before they can return them. They learn from understand her thoughts and needs. visual cues and can also understand mums’ emotions and pick up on her mood. Linda Blair says: “It’s proof that it’s good to talk to your baby, “Bath time provides an ideal opportunity to tune in to your baby, a time even if you’re not sure that baby understands. And when is a better to reflect on what your baby might be thinking. All that fun playing with bonding time than when you’re giving your baby a lovely bubbly bath?” bubbles can help them to learn through touch and play, and parents can learn to recognise what their baby is trying to tell them.”

Linda Blair shares some of the research that exists to show that baby Just as it’s vital that your baby learns to trust her carers, so it’s important really is a little expert: for parents to trust their baby and try to understand his reactions. That ● Mum or dad? Babies can tell the difference between their way, your child will grow up to trust himself. Long before baby starts mum and dad. Babies as young as three months old can to talk this can work beautifully using visual cues, facial expressions, distinguish between photos of adult male and female faces, laughter and hand and arm movements. and studies¹ suggest baby favours the gender of the person For more information, please visit: www.infacare.co.uk who’s their primary carer and that preference tends to be learned from experience. ● His name: By two to three months baby is responding to your face and your voice. Within the next few months baby will turn to your voice and your words and by five or six months should consistently respond to his name, although won’t yet understand what it means². ● Laughing: When your baby laughs it’s a positive thing – she’s References: Paul C. Quinn, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the University of Delaware, in Newark. enjoying herself – but it doesn’t mean baby actually thinks 1.

2.

Margaret Hostetter, MD, chair of Pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine. something is funny! Developmental psychologists are split 3. Dr Jodi Mindell, PhD, Associate Director of the Sleep Center at Children's Hospital of over whether babies are born with the ability to feel and Philadelphia. express basic emotions, or whether they learn to identify and 4. Sue Hespos, PhD, a Cognitive Psychologist at Northwestern University, Illinois.

5.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. communicate different feelings through experiences with others. Baby’s first laugh will probably be before she’s four Linda Blair is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, a Chartered Scientist, an Associate Fellow of months – for example, at bath time she’s picking up on the the British Psychological Society, and a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council. She has a private practice in Bath. She is the author of four sounds and expressions mum makes when the two of you are and books, including The Happy Child and Straight Talking. Her latest book is The Key to Calm. having fun - it’s also a sign of socialisation.

She is a trustee for the charity Kidscape. ● Dreaming: Babies spend almost 50 percent of their snooze time in REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement, or ‘dream sleep’), infaCare Baby Bath has been a firm favourite with mums for decades. Ultra-mild it gently cleans and cares for baby’s skin and creates lots of bubbles too. It’s pH balanced and clinically so it’s logical to conclude that babies dream and that it has tested. Mums tell us infaCare works brilliantly on little ones with allergies - probably one of something to do with their brain development as they spend the reasons it’s recommended by midwives and healthcare professionals and why nearly one million bottles are bought every year. You’ll find infaCare in Asda, Boots, Morrisons, so much time in this stage of sleep³.

Tesco and online at Ocado - available in a 400ml bottle / £1.99 and a bumper ● Thinking: Babies gather information about their environment Sainsbury’s, 750ml bottle / £2.99. www.infacare.co.uk and are great at picking up patterns. Researchers have

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New transport incubator can keep babies safe on land and in the air The Globe-Trotter GT5400 has been tested and certified according to international standards for ground and air transport. The heart of the system is the TI500 incubator by Dräger. It also includes a ventilator and the option to combine a vital signs monitor, active humidification, and infusion pump holder with locking mechanisms for up to 4 syringes.

Any medical team travelling with the baby needs to be able to constantly monitor both the baby and all important functions, so the Globe-Trotter GT5400 has a separate digital display to make this easy. It has also been ergonomically designed, so all of the operating elements can be reached easily.

Hemel Hempstead – Latest figures reveal almost 7,500 poorly or premature babies were moved between hospitals in England last year[�] – now a new transport incubator system is being launched to provide complete care for babies transported by ambulance, helicopter or aeroplane. The Globe-Trotter GT5400

by Dräger has been developed to keep babies safe, warm and ventilated while they are being moved between hospitals - with the system configured to fit an ambulance, helicopter or aeroplane.

Jackie Knowles from Ware in Hertfordshire knows only too well the importance of having the right transportation system for premature babies. Her daughter Anais, born prematurely, needed urgent transfer to a specialist baby unit at another hospital.

She said: “When my waters broke at 22 weeks pregnant it was terrifying.

I was rushed into Harlow hospital and managed to hang on for another seven days before I went into labour. My baby girl Anais was born weighing just 600 grams on 18�� August 2011. The doctors told us they wouldn’t resuscitate and were going to hand me the baby to pass away in my arms. But Anais came out trying to breath. They managed to intubate her and she was transferred to the neonatal unit where it took four hours to put in all the lines she needed.

“At first we didn’t think she would make it. It was very touch and go and at one point we were told nothing could be done so had her blessed.

The doctors advised that her best chance of survival was to move her to Luton and Dunstable Hospital, which is one of only three units in the East of England to provide specialist intensive care for premature and sick new-born babies but it was more than 20 miles away. Transferring tiny premature babies can be extremely stressful and the hospital didn’t want to move Anais until she was stable as she might not make it.

“Luckily Anais is a fighter and very feisty – something that’s still true today – and her blood gases stabilised enough to transfer her to Luton.

Anais remained there for six months. We went through lots of highs and lows and Anais had to be ventilated for ten weeks but we eventually brought her home on 14�� February 2012.

“She is now over two years old and, although she still has lots of hospital checks, is a very happy, cheeky, beautiful little girl who loves Peppa Pig and her brother and sister. She is my little miracle. I’m really pleased to hear that Dräger has developed a transport incubator that will keep premature babies like Anais safe, stable and supported during the move to another hospital – regardless of the means of transport. I doubt Anais would have survived without being transferred to a specialist unit equipped to deal with her needs. Keeping her safe during the transfer process was a critical part of this and equipment like Dräger’s can make a real difference to saving tiny lives.”

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Luke Bourdillon, Sales and Marketing Manager for Neonatal Care at Dräger UK, said: "The latest audit of neonatal units across England shows that in 2012 there were 7437 babies transferred at least once during their time in neonatal care.

Transporting a tiny baby who is very ill or premature can be an extremely stressful experience and we want to make these journeys as stress-free as possible.

“That’s why we are delighted to launch a universal neonatal intensive care unit on wheels for neonate and new-born transfers which can be used by ambulance service-providers and patient transport services moving this precious cargo every day."

Dräger. Technology for Life® Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Our products protect, support and save lives. Founded in 1889, in 2012 Dräger generated revenues of around EUR 2.37 billion.

The Dräger Group is currently present in more than 190 countries and has about 12,500 employees worldwide. Please visit www.draeger.com for more information.

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Mum Amie is a new, free to use, meet-amum website that matches users’ profiles for compatibility enabling mums to make friends.

The website has been created by mum Aimee Foster and her friend Gemma Dorsett and is a unique way of helping mums find other mum friends. The site uses dating site technology to match up mums and help them find friends with similar interests, circumstances and personalities both easily and quickly. Mum Amie will be a valuable tool for mums to join together based on their chosen criteria such as location, parenting style, interests and children’s ages. The website also aims to help single mums, mums in same sex relationships and mums that have children with disabilities find each other for friendship and support.

Aimee Foster, co-director of Mum Amie, says ‘the idea came to me about 3 years ago when I was trying to find mum friends of my own.

Being the first of my friends to have a baby, I realised that I needed to find some mum friends but I found the whole process difficult and frustrating. When meeting other mums online, it became a regular joke that this was just like dating. And so the idea was born. I now have a great network of mum friends and I wondered if I could make the process easier for other mums. Being a mum can be a lonely experience and Mum Amie aims to help mums forge friendships with other mums based on criteria that is important to them’.

Praise for Mum Amie: ‘Cant wait for the launch and to meet other like minded mums in my area’ – Amy, Hull ‘What a fantastic idea, I moved back to the UK in October, after 5 years. I have a three year old and due in 3 weeks. I do not know many mummies near me as going to groups is hard with a toddler who wants to play’ – Debbie ‘Fantastic badly needed’ – Noreen ‘Personal circumstances is important to me, I'm in a same sex relationship and want to meet other mums with children in the same position’. – Lucy ‘Wonderful idea this website. We are looking at ways to help new families integrate into our children's centre and help new parents make new friends. This could be a very helpful website to encourage and enable this’ - Oonagh For more information, or to pre-register your intrest, please visit:

www.mumamie.com The new website launches at the end of April, so register your details now…

Mum Amie has already received a great deal of interest from mums, with hundreds signing up to pre-register on the website and liking Facebook page in the past few weeks.

BAD MOOD = MORE FOOD !

Recent research has shown that being in a Bach Emotional Eating Kit includes the following essences: ● For self acceptance - Crab Apple – When you feel unclean or good mood can make you up to 77% more dislike something about yourself, don’t rely on food to make likely to eat healthily. An upbeat mindset you feel good. means you’re more likely to be thinking ● Be rational - Cherry Plum – When you fear you might lose about the future and therefore recogniscontrol of your diet. ing the long-term benefits of consuming ● Gain Knowledge from experience - Chestnut Bud – When you nutritious food. If you’re in a bad mood, find yourself repeating the same dieting mistakes, don’t fall you’re more likely to choose foods that have an immediate, indulgent reward. into your old bad habits, for example reaching for food when things get tough.

To move away from negative thoughts why not try talking to friends, listening to music or giving Bach™ Emotional Eating Kit a go. The set is Bach Emotional Eating Kit costs £11.55 and is available from Boots, made up of three 10ml flower essences to give a helping hand with diet Holland and Barrett and all good independent health food and and healthy living regimes. You can create your own individual combi- pharmacy stores. For more information, visit nation and adapt it to suit your changing moods. The essences are www.bachremedies.co.uk alcohol free and suitable for the whole family.

Nelsons is the UK's leading manufacturer of natural healthcare products, with a long-standing commitment to supplying the highest quality natural healthcare products that meet all regulatory and quality standards. Their brands are recognised and sold in over 60 countries worldwide and include Rescue®, Bach™ Original Flower Remedies, Arnicare®, Teetha®, Nelsons® Homeopathy, Spatone® and Nelsons Pure & Clear®. For more information about Nelsons, visit www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com

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Cutting edge UK cleaning company, Mopp, recently announced the launch of their iPhone app ‘MOPP’, which helps busy mums book and pay for a trusted cleaner online or using their smartphone in just 60 seconds!

The app includes card-scan technology that saves you time by scanning your card number rather than having to type everything in. Perfect for busy mums running around cleaning up after kids all over the UK. Founded in April 2013, Mopp is an online platform that connects customers with professional, vetted and insured cleaners, all booked and paid for online at a flat rate of £10 an hour. Their mission is to take the stress out of hiring a quality, trustworthy local cleaner, with no contracts or agency fees. Their service takes care of all booking, payments, background checks, insurance and quality control on behalf of the customer. As of today customers can now download the Mopp app to make the process even easier. You enter your location, choose the amount of hours cleaning you would like, your preferred date and time and any further details, and make the booking through your phone.

The company was founded by two friends, Pete Dowds and Tom Brooks, after they had a party and couldn’t find a cleaner. The launched Mopp and 2 weeks later quit their jobs to run the company full time!

Useful Mopp Facts ● Mopp is a UK Limited company based in East London ● Mopp currently provides cleaning services in most major cities in the UK ● Mopp’s cleaning services include weekly cleans, fortnightly cleans and one-off cleans; Mopp customers can keep the same cleaner on a regular basis. ● All Mopp cleaners are English-speaking, personally interviewed

by Mopp, and must pass a cleaning exam ● All Mopp cleaners are independently reference checked by Onfido

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● ●

Mopp pays its cleaners consistently higher rates than cleaning agencies Mopp provides a better solution for independent cleaners, including geo-location technology to efficiently assign jobs for cleaners and help them travel less and earn more

With a much deserved clean wanted and needed at home we decided to put MOPP to the test to see just how good they were.

The booking process is incredibly simple and can be done online or via the new iPhone app. You simply choose the date you want, how many hours you need and enter your card details (if online) or you can take a snapshot using the capture with camera option (card scanning technology that reads your card details) if using the app. That’s it! It literally takes a minute to complete. The day before your cleaner is scheduled to arrive, you receive a message letting you know the details of your cleaner.

Our cleaner Lessy arrived 15 minutes early and set straight to work. The finished product was a fantastically clean bathroom and kitchen and vacuum to downstairs and I can only imagine what she would have done if we had booked her in for longer! Something I hope to find out soon!

A fantastic overall service definitely worth repeating…

www.mopp.com

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Celebrate Earth Day with the Limited Edition Good Natured gPants on April 22nd 2014 !

Screens, whether it’s in the form of a TV, handheld game console, laptop, computer or touch screen tablet device are now a fundamental part of our children’s lives.

This, coupled with my son’s fascination with the ipad and Smartphone meant my ears pricked up when I was asked to try out a new service for preschoolers and their parents which allows them to watch their favourite TV shows and interact with them within a safe and advertisement free environment on a tablet or smartphone.

OobEdoO, pronounced oo – be – do offers two to six year olds ‘on demand’ TV from some of the UK’s classic children’s shows like In the Night Garden, Teletubbies, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom and Humf. My son headed straight for the Tractor Tom icon where he found lots of episodes to watch. Apparently there are other programmes coming soon like Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu and Angelina Ballerina.

I like the fact OobEdoO isn’t all about watching TV. With each programme there is a series of fun and educational games which have received the backing of one of the UK’s leading early years’ children’s specialists, Brian Neish. They are all linked to the Early years Foundation Stage so you feel they add value to your child’s screen time. I set a personalised video message for Stan to congratulate him every time he completed a task correctly, such as the pairs game.. The service also has a very nice online sticker reward system, which he loved too. What’s great about OobEdoO is there are no adverts so there’s no pestering for gizmos, gadgets and toys. Instead children can have fun in a safe, warm environment and can’t stumble upon in-app purchases, something I’ve fallen victim to before.

I spoke to Tim Lowe who is a former CBeebies Executive Producer and has worked closely with OobEdoo Founder, Myke Crosby. He says: “Having spent many years working in children’s broadcasting, I understand that trust is at the heart of any relationship with preschoolers and their parents. Broadcasters and programme makers owe a duty of care to both the child and the parent to ensure that the content which appears on their platform is not only appropriate for that age group, but is also entertaining, high quality and educational.

OobEdoO has been built with these values at the core of the creative process.”

Be kind to people and the planet - it's simply good natured. Celebrate Earth Day with these limited edition gPants. gNappies gPants are reusable ecodorable covers that you use again and again.

About gNappies gNappies' soft cotton nappies make changing times brighter. Let your baby's delicate skin breathe for fewer rashes and - with the world's only 100% compostable disposable nappy insert - the Earth gets a breather too. gNappies are redefining disposables for babies, parents and the future. Cute & biodegradable gNappies give parents a unique, eco-friendly way of changing nappies, and combine the ease of disposables with colourful nappy covers called gPants. Better for baby and better for our planet.

About Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

www.gnappies.com Good Natured gPants £17.95

All good things have to come to an end and I think, like most kids, Stan is prone to throwing a tantrum when it’s time to take the ipad away.

The folk over at OobEdoO have thought about this and there’s a clever ‘timed off’ button so you can programme OobEdoO to wave goodbye and be the bad guys when screen time is up!

OobEdoO is a subscription based service costing £4.95 per month. To get a free ten day trial visit www.oobedoo.com

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Every single weekday, we host at least two community groups, including two singing groups (Al’s Little Singers & Music Bugs), an arts & craft group (Creation Station) and two language classes (French and Mandarin). It’s a great way to help kids to learn as well as giving mums the chance to meet other mums over a coffee, and maybe stay for a bite to eat.

Our garden is also a great area for families too, boasting a bouncy castle and even a paddling pool in the summer months, so the kids can enjoy it as much as you do. There is also a huge outside bar which opens at the end of April, so we are ready for the summer with smoothies, cocktails and snacks.

We are also a popular venue for children’s parties – we can recommend a plethora of entertainers (or you can bring your own), and provide a variety of buffets in a private room, the Terrace, furnished with Astroturf and fairy lights.

Christmas, Easter and are also great times at the Clissold Arms, as we have all sorts of activities, entertainment and treats in store: at Christmas, we have a Santa’s grotto with present for all the kids, at Halloween, the garden is transformed into a haunted house – all the The Clissold Arms is a family-orientated gastro pub in between East staff get involved to create a spooky atmosphere. Coming up is an Easter Finchley and Muswell Hill, providing good food and drink in a cosy, egg hunt around the entire pub, with lots of Easter eggs to hand out to quirky environment. We have presented it as five distinct, adjoining all of the kids. spaces, from our Kinks Lounge, adorned with rock’n’roll memorabilia, the heated indoor Terrace (perfect for a birthday party), which opens There are plenty of events for the adults to enjoy as well, with monthly up in the summer to become an outdoor space, where we welcome all Motown nights (the biggest night in town), Comedy nights, plenty of of our customers with drinks and food throughout the year. We also live music nights and many more. Please visit our website to get a full provide blankets and outdoor heaters to keep you warm in our beautiful list of upcoming events, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter. garden, festooned with fairy lights. The Clissold has a lot to offer.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see what’s coming up and let us We also have TVs and DVDs available for children’s entertainment, an know what you think. We are always open to suggestions to improve integrated sound system either for live music, disco or background our service to families and children. music, disco or background music, and baby changing facilities and We hope that you enjoy lunch with us soon, and please do not forget disabled toilets and disabled access to all our spaces. to bring the voucher below!

But it is so much more than a pub.

Our focus has been to be a pub which welcomes families and is part of the local community. George Karageorgis, owner, has strived to make our place memorable, even if it is just for a coffee – we adapt to our customers’ needs. Sunday lunch, of course, is a family favourite, as we serve our traditional Sunday roasts – we also have a children’s menu available.

105 Fortis Green, East Finchley, N2 9HR | 0208 444 4224 | info@clissoldarms.co.uk

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Email: info@clissoldarms.co.uk Tel: 0208 4444 224 Address: 105 Fortis Green, East Finchley, N2 9HR Twitter: @clissoldarms Facebook: Clissold arms

Valid until 31st May 2014 Please present this voucher on arrival to redeem. Advance booking.

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Due Date ‌ !

By Abi Adams

And so, my due date has arrived.............. What am I doing?

Eating chocolate and writing this blog. What else would I be doing?

The shocked looks and gasps I got from close family and friends when I told them I still had clients booked in on my due date actually sent me in to hysterical fits of laughter. Put your feet up. Why? What's wrong with my feet? You need to rest. I do?

On her visit the week before, my midwife said how I could have a membrane sweep on my due date if the baby hadn't arrived.

How interesting that if a baby doesn't run to a schedule, we can make it.

I find this extremely sad to see how the world has turned everything into a convenience or inconvenience. How on earth did we manage before and it again comes down to someone else telling you how, what, when and where (with the nicest of intentions I'm sure). Women have been giving birth of millions of years, if only we would just trust ourselves, judgement and let nature take its course, so much anxiety could be dispelled.

Ladies - take back your inner power and realise you know exactly what you need to do and when (and I don't mean this in a Geri Halliwell, aggressive manner). These last 9 months has seen me realise just how strong I am (a wee bit of a control freak to boot, but we won't tell the husband that). I've come to learn to let go of the things that aren't going the way I wish them to and let the Universe take the lead. And guess what? It's always worked out in the end. I've learned to laugh more and appreciate the family that I have for who they are. I've learned to let go (a bit!) of perfection. It doesn't exist in the physical world and perfect will always need to be perfected.

I've realised that I need to let my husband take the lead more.

Going back to that (little) control element of me, I always voiced how I wanted my husband to take the lead sometimes and make me feel looked after. But I see now that I never gave him the chance. He never had a voice in our relationship as I always shouted over him. And for him to come into his own and be the father I know he wants and naturally is, I need to learn how to whisper.

Just like the wedding dress I eventually chose (soooooooooo not what I had in mind or thought I would EVER buy but did and loved), pregnancy has been the complete opposite to what I thought. Relationships have changed (from changing and softening my point of view), emotions have been realised for what they truly are - a 5 minute wonder that if you just let go give you no grief, but if you hang onto cause no end of mental and physical drama and I know I have the strength to role through labour and become the best mum I can. Just because you realise your inner strength and wisdom, doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Open your heart and you'll realise just how much love and support you have around you when you need it.

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Posture Perfect Back Care - Ardha Uttansana My back has been a complete legend of support from practicing Ardha Uttanasana (half intense forward stretch). The idea is to create space and openness in the torso, before folding over for flexibility.

Place a chair in front of you on the mat and stand with your feet hip distance (or go with the size of your bump) and turned slightly inwards.

Interlace the fingers, turn the palms away and inhale plams up towaqrds ceiling (think about pushing into the heels and balls of the feet and lengthening from the plevis to the armpits). If you are flexible, turn on your thighs (as if you were about to sit in a chair or lift the leg from the ground), exhale, extend your spine and fold forward from the hips till your hands find the chair. If tight in the back and legs, bend the knees as you fold forward.

Maintaing a soft belly, push into the sides of the hands (little fingers pushing into the chair with palms still facing each other) with straight arms, keep the front legs strong and lengthen out through the crown of the head, with the tailbone lengthening in the opposite direction. Stay here for 5 deep, slow breaths.

To come out, look towards the hands and walk the feet towards the chair.

Push into your feet to raise the body through bent knees.

Benefits - Relieves stomach pain, strengthens abdominal organs, creates space for baby to grow and extend limbs, soothes lower back pain, calms the mind.

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Persil Washing Up Liquid reveals 88% of parents avoid cooking with their children because they worry about mess British parents avoid cooking with their children because of the mess they make, reveals a new study of 2,000 people.

The research, conducted by Persil Washing Up Liquid, found that 88%* of parents say they avoid cooking with their children because of the mess and washing up it will lead to. Almost half (47%) of parents said they prefer to keep their kitchen clean and tidy ‘at all times’ and a further 41% said they are simply too busy to clear up the mess afterwards.

In contrast, just 12% said they weren’t worried about making a mess when cooking with their children. In fact, only a quarter (25%) of British parents regularly spend time cooking with their children. It seems grandma is most likely to show children how to cook, with 27% of parents saying she shows them the ropes in the kitchen. Cooking seems to have always been a job for grandma, with 43% of parents saying they cooked with their grandma when they were little. For those who do cook with their children, it seems parents prefer to make dinner with their kids rather than bake cakes. Parents and kids are mostly likely to make lasagne (14%), pizza (13%) and pasta (13%).

Lyndsay Jones, spokesperson for Persil Washing Up Liquid, said: “Parents seem to be reluctant to cook with their children because they prefer keeping their kitchen clean and tidy. It’s a shame because baking can be a fun way of bringing the family together. We believe making a mess can be a good thing as long as you clean up eventually! Hopefully, as a result of our ‘Cook with the Kids’ promise, more parents will be encouraged to spend time with their children in the kitchen.”

Persil Washing Up Liquid’s ‘Cook with the Kids’ promise aims to get 100,000 parents to sign up to spend time baking and making a mess with their kids in the kitchen. Find out more at www.persildishwash.co.uk/cookwiththekids.

Persil Washing Up Liquid’s new formula, available now, will clean 12% (1,400) more dirty plates than before.

Persil Washing Up Liquid reveals the food fibs parents tell their children!

Almost a third of parents (31%*) admit to telling their kids that eating crusts will give them curly hair, reveals a new study of 2,000 people.

The research, conducted by Persil Washing Up Liquid, looked into the true and not-so-true stories that parents use to coax their kids to eat at meal times.

believe it’s not the iron within spinach but the inorganic nitrates which boost muscle power. One in seven parents (14%) admit to telling little ones that runner beans will make them run faster, which is nothing more than wordplay and has no scientific basis. Almost one in five (18%) parents were coerced with the same fib in childhood. Just over one in 10 parents (11%) tell their kids that green food will turn them It found that 36% of parents were told the same food fib when they into a superhero, and a quarter admitted hiding or disguising were growing up, and although curly hair is entirely genetic, they’re vegetables in meals. happy to use the same story on their children. Among the over-50s surveyed, almost half (46%) said they’d been promised curly hair if Lyndsay Jones, spokesperson for Persil Washing Up Liquid, said: “It’s they ate their crusts. clear that the most persuasive stories about food are passed on from generation to generation. “Our research shows that ideas stick, and The research also discovered that one quarter of parents tells their kids we tell our kids the same things our parents told us, even if it’s not that eating carrots will help them see in the dark. Although there’s some always entirely true. Crusts truth to this one - due to high levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene may not make your hair curly, found in carrots. In fact, this exaggeration was widely used during but there’s plenty of research World War 2 when Britain wanted to conceal the real reason for the that says the crusts contain Royal Air Force’s success, the Airborne Interception Radar. more of the goodness than the rest of the Due to a temporary oversupply of carrots, the Government used loaf. propaganda to suggest that the Royal Air Forces's exceptional nightflying and target success was due to eating high beta-carotene content “Hopefully, as a result of our carrots. This lead to the consumption of carrots increasing and took the ‘Cook with the Kids’ promise, pressure off other food supplies. Another favourite persuasion tactic more parents will be among parents is that milk makes you strong. One third (33%) said their encouraged to spend time parents told them this, and 29% tell their kids the same thing. Opinions with their children in the are split on milk - there’s substantial evidence that it is good for you, kitchen and teach them the however a raft of scientific papers disagree. truth about foods.”

Spinach made Popeye strong and it will do the same for you - at least that’s what 15% of parents were told and what 11% of us still tell our children. There’s also some truth in this one, although scientists now Find out more at www.persildishwash.co.uk/cookwiththekids.

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EMBRACE THE BRITISH SUMMER

A country walk on a summer day is pretty unbeatable. With the scent of flowers and the sound of the birds and bees it is the perfect time to be outside. But this year the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking people not just to walk and enjoy the countryside instead they are inviting everyone to help them by monitoring the bumblebee population in a national census across the whole of the UK. Bumblebees are an essential part of the countryside, responsible as they are for pollinating our crops and wildflowers and ensuring the food we need, can grow and be harvested. It is a little known fact that without bumblebees, fruits such as tomatoes, apples and strawberries would simply cease to exist.

BeeWalks are simple and fun, and offer an education experience for all the family to get involved in. By either attending a guided walk or by creating your own route and recording the bumblebees seen in your area, you can help the Bumblebee Conservation Trust monitor how the bumblebee population is changing.

About Bumblebee Conservation Trust The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a UK based charity that was established because of serious concerns about the ‘plight of the bumblebee’. In the last 80 years the bumblebee populations have crashed. And two species have become extinct in the UK. Bumblebees are familiar and much-loved insects that pollinate our crops and wildflowers. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is driving awareness to ensure our communities and countryside are rich in bumblebees and colourful flowers, supporting a diversity of wildlife and habitats for everyone to enjoy. The common bumblebee species contribute significantly to our economy through the ecosystem service that their pollination of crops provides. Pollination is vital for many of the nation’s wild plans and it helps to maintain affordable five-a-day fruit and vegetables.

The Bumblebee is vitally important to the UK countryside, without it we would lose the delicious British fruits and vegetables that we all enjoy such as Strawberries, tomatoes and apples. Sadly though our precious bee is declining and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust need people to get involved in bee walking so we keep track of the bumblebees across the UK – no easy job!

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To find out how to get involved in creating your own Bumblebee walk route or where you can join in on one of the many guided trips set up for families across the country, please visit www.bumblebeeconservation.org.

Full information on what to look out for when launching your own walk is also available online.

Becoming a BeeWalker ● For more information please visit www.beewalk.org.uk ● Anyone can become a BeeWalker – all you need is a spare hour or so every month to walk a fixed route of about a mile (you choose where it goes) and send the Bumblebee Conservation Trust your sightings ● It is essential that the route is fixed to allow direct comparisons of bumblebee population trends over time ● The Bumblebee Conservation Trust will help as much as possible with identification. They’ve got resources online and a website - BeeWatch http://bit.ly/beewatch– that photographs can be uploaded to. ● Information collected by BeeWalk volunteers is integral to monitoring how bumblebee populations change through time, and will allow the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to detect early warning signs of population declines

NORTH LONDON - LOCAL EVENT May 11�� - Bumblebee talk and walk in Walthamstow Join our staff for a bumblebee talk at Lloyd Park, Walthamstow on 11th May between 2pm - 4pm. The talk will be followed by one-hour walk around the park grounds to get up close to the bumblebees. Booking is required so please contact Rachel Hoyes on 07787 193 981 or e-mail r.hoyes@tcv.org.uk. Meet at the Community room in the Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park, E17 4PP. This event is suitable for adults, and you should dress for the weather and wear outdoor footwear.

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Bees & your skin a “

” relationship

We are all used to seeing bees foraging in our gardens and parks in the summer months and most of us know they produce honey, but not many of us know how these tiny insects can benefit our skin.

Bees produce beeswax and honey, the wax to store pollen, nectar and subsequently honey as well as in which to breed baby bees. Both beeswax and honey are extremely beneficial to our skin.

First, a little history; beeswax has been used in toiletries and cosmetics since Eygptian times and can be found in hair products, lipsticks, face creams, foundation and mascara.

A perfect emollient beeswax locks moisture within its structure whilst also providing an effective barrier protecting the skin in all weathers without suffocating and blocking pores.

Beeswax is high in beta-carotene, a bioflavonoid that is converted by the body into Vitamin A, necessary for cell regeneration and with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties it is useful in treating wounds and acne as well as dry skin conditions. Beeswax also contains non-allergenic properties that help protect the skin from airborne allergies.

Similarly, honey has been praised for its skin enhancing properties since the Eygptians.

Legend has it Cleopatra bathed in honey and milk, as did Poppaea, the wife of Roman Emperor Nero. Honey provides many benefits to the skin and not just through eating it, putting it ON your skin provides a myriad of positive effects. Honey is a humectant, it attracts and retains moisture – leave an opened jar of honey on the side and you’ll soon see this, as it starts to granulate where it absorbs moisture from the air. Using honey based products means moisture is encouraged onto the top layer of the skin which will then penetrate, encouraging softness, suppleness and elasticity. With a PH level ranging from 3.2-4.5, similar to our skin, it is very gentle, suitable for even the most sensitive and the antioxidants it contains help skin fight free-radicals that cause skin damage.

Its ability to extract water makes honey naturally antibacterial, denying bacteria microbes the water they need to survive. This antibacterial property and moisture retaining element is why honey is so good on wounds and was used for centuries before the advent of antibiotics.

With our increased knowledge regarding the negatives associated with chemical laden skincare products, antibiotic resistant bugs and increased allergies maybe it’s time to return to more natural methods of skincare, Beeutiful has done just that!

It began with the bees. It was all about looking after the bees, aiding their declining population and maybe getting a few jars of honey for my troubles. However eighteen months later Beeutiful was launched. The goodness oozing from beeswax and honey and the benefits when applied topically as well as actually eaten were too great to not utilise and share.

Beeutiful hand-makes 100% natural skincare products using beeswax and honey from our bees, or those in the local area. With a current range of ten products Beeutiful has taken the local market by storm (or should that be swarm? ;-)) with products for babies, children and adults. Three Lip Balms, two Body butters, a Foot balm, Healing Balm, Honey Soap, Baby Balm and Botty Balm are all receiving great reviews. Baby Balm is becoming the answer to infantile eczema, cradle cap and dry inflamed skin, to date our youngest customer was just two weeks old. Botty Balm has been substituted for market leaders by busy mums and our Healing Balm is rectifying and soothing eczema suffered by children and adults for years. Rosacea, dry, cracked skin as well as childhood scrapes, grazes and wounds are all being healed by Healing Balm. Our star product this is fast becoming a family must-have.

With its simple recipe and honey content Beeutiful Honey Soap is suitable for the most sensitive of skin and working alongside our Healing Balm is providing another layer of protection from dry skin conditions. Our Foot balm is being used by reflexologists and beauty therapists in their foot treatments as well as preparing many dry cracked feet for sandal season!

For more information on bees and Beeutiful products please see www.beeutiful.co.uk or like our facebook page www.facebook.com/beeutifulskincare or follow us on twitter @beeutifulbees, Carly x

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With a little girl who has sensitive skin and prone to eczema type issues we are always curious to try new and interesting products.

We were given the privilege of testing out the Frankincense Body Butter (for me) which was a luxurious thick butter which left the skin wonderfully soft and got rid of dry patches (especially to the elbows) and left a beautiful yet subtle scent to the skin whilst toning and rejuvenating the skin.

We also tried out the Healing Balm which was incredible and very soothing to sore areas and as this was designed to be suitable from 3 years and upwards, it was perfect for Lillie.

The products are quite thick in appearance and texture but this is because they are genuine butters rather than a water based cream. Taking a small amount and warming it between your palms will quickly melt the butter into a smooth paste perfectly suited to all over body application.

www.beeutiful.co.uk 37

By Elena Cimelli

Prolactin Prolactin is the hormone that’s responsible for stimulating the mammary glands to produce milk (lactation). Lactogenic substances such as Tryptophan, sedative vegetables and polysaccharides all promote increased levels of Prolactin, and can be found in the following foods: Tryptophan: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Fruit: apricot Grains: oats, barley, wheat Herbs & spices: basil, chives, black pepper, fennel, garlic Leafy greens: watercress, spinach Legumes: beans, chickpea, peas Meat & fish: Calf liver, halibut, lamb, salmon, tuna, venison, poultry Natural sugars: honey, malt syrup, maple syrup Nuts: almond, cashews Seeds: evening primrose, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, fenugreek Vegetables: asparagus, carrot, cauliflower, celery, fennel, jerusalem artichoke, lettuce, onion, potato, sweet potato.

● Elena Cimelli of Contented Calf runs through the basics of how a lactogenic rich diet can contribute toward aiding milk supply during nursing…

Sedative vegetables: fennel, lettuce, onion, potato.

Polysaccharides: barley, oats, yeast.

Breastfeeding can be demanding on energy levels; on average a mother will burn between 300-500 calories a day to produce milk. Some of my favourite recipes containing foods that promote prolactin Eating sufficient calories and getting an abundant supply of nutrients include: Sweet Potato & Pecan Muffins, Thai Coconut & Chicken Soup is in itself helpful for lactation. A lactogenic diet, along with a correct and Apricot & Cardamom Crumble (in the words of one of my friend’s latch and frequent feeding, are all ways to facilitate a successful husband: the best crumble he’s EVER had!) breastfeeding experience.

Oxytocin Here at Contented Calf, we are dedicated to supporting the chemistry Oxytocin helps support the milk flow or the ‘let down’. If the of lactation through the aid of lactogenic foods and herbs which we’ve production of Oxytocin is in anyway suppressed, the ‘let down’ is incorporated into our recipes to ensure the correct nutritional balance inhibited (regardless of how successful actual milk production has to satisfy both mother and baby’s needs. been). The result of a poor level of Oxytocin can mean that the breasts aren’t fully emptied and so, milk supply gradually dwindles.

A successful breastfeeding experience is governed by a number of contributing factors, as highlighted in this Milk Supply Equation¹: Stress hormones can contribute to suppressing the production of Oxytocin, so it very important to eat meals and snacks throughout the 1. Sufficient glandular tissue day, as hunger can induce stress. Hilary Jacobson, Author of Mother Food and lactogenic expert, provides a list of food remedies for + 2. Intact nerve pathways AND ducts problems with let-down, originally recommended by the 1st Century + 3. Adequate hormones AND hormone receptors AD Greek Doctor Dioscorides. This list comprises the following foods + 4. Adequately frequent, effective milk removal and stimulation and herbs: anise, basil, dill, fennel (garden and wild), lettuce. = GOOD MILK PRODUCTION A lactogenic diet plays a role in the third point: hormones. The process of making breast milk (lactogenesis) is heavily dependent on two hormones - Prolactin and Oxytocin. Anything that helps the body increase the levels of both in our bloodstreams can help increase milk supply, and improve flow.

What are Lactogenic foods?

Lactogenic or Galactagogues are terms applied to foods & herbs that help stimulate lactation by helping to increase the levels of prolactin in the bloodstream. Lactogenic foods contain substances that interact with and support the chemistry of lactation. Lactogenic agents include tryptophan, natural plant sedatives, polysaccharides, fatty acids, saponins and plant sterols, among others.

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Some of our favourite recipes in The Contented Calf Cookbook containing these ingredients include: Vanilla & Star Anise Poached Plums, Grilled Prawns with Fennel Slaw and Oven-baked Beetroot Risotto.

Good Fats i) Essential Fatty Acids Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other Omega 3 fatty acids are fundamental to the development of the brain in infancy and childhood. Breast milk can help boost brain growth, provided the mother eats foods rich in essential fatty acids. Having a diet with good levels of DHA has also been linked to promoting a mother’s own

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If you ever thought risotto was too much effort to make at home, this oven-baked version will make you think again. A few minutes stirring, then into the oven and it’s done.

10 minutes to prepare | 8 minutes active cooking | 40 minutes total cooking time | Makes 4 servings 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 300g dried risotto rice 250g cooked beetroot, (not stored in vinegar), finely chopped 150ml white wine, such as Pinot Grigio 700ml hot vegetable stock 50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated 25g butter 1 tbsp fresh dill, roughly chopped

psychological and emotional well-being; helping fight against postnatal depression.

Essential Fatty Acids are divided into two main types: Omega 6 and Omega 3. The body cannot make these fatty acids itself, so we need to ingest them through foods and/or supplements.

1.

2.

Food sources for Omega 6 are: butter, cream, eggs, grains, meat fat, nuts, whole-fat milk. ● Food sources for Omega 3 are: flaxseed oil, green leafy vegetables, legumes, organic eggs and fish, walnut oil. Sources specifically for Omega 3 derivative DHA include: algae extract, cod-liver oil, fish oil.

Ii) coconut oil ●

Your body’s anti-microbial fatty acid (monolaurin) is made from lauric acid. Monolaurin is anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Adding foods rich in lauric acid to the post-partum diet, will increase the quantity found within breast milk, this in turn, can help breastfed babies fight-off colds and infections. In countries where coconut oil is part of the staple diet, lauric acid levels in breast milk can be as high as 21% (normally around 3%). In The Contented Calf Cookbook, we are not scared of using butter, whole milk and eggs. And for a fabulous, scrumptious combination of good fats, check out our Coconut Fairy Cakes!

3.

4.

Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/ 200 ° C/ fan oven 180 ° C. Warm the oil in an ovenproof casserole dish over a medium heat.

Add the onion, season well, and fry, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until the onion has started to soften.

Stir in the rice and beetroot, then add the wine and cook, stirring, for 2– 3 minutes or until the wine has been absorbed. Stir in the hot vegetable stock, cover with a tight fitting lid and bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Stir in the Parmesan, butter and dill. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve on warm plates with a peppery green salad.

KITCHEN TIP Leftover risotto can be shaped into rounds, dipped in flour and fried in a splash of olive oil, turning once, until crunchy and heated all the way through. Serve with salad and a poached egg.

Keep a batch of these cute cakes in your freezer and wow your friends when they come round to admire the new baby.

For more in depth information on all of the above, head to www.contentedcalf.com/breastmilk.

25 minutes to prepare | 20– 25 minutes total cooking time | Makes 18 fairy cakes

About Contented Calf The Contented Calf Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes for Breastfeeding Mums is a unique book of delicious meals especially devised to help breastfeeding mums boost their milk supply. It provides an easy way of introducing lactogenic ingredients into the postpartum diet, but over half of the main meals are designed to be made in the final weeks and months of pregnancy and frozen, so new parents will have a freezer full of tasty, nourishing ‘ready meals’ for the first few weeks of parenthood.

Cake Mixture 75g butter, softened 160ml coconut cream 125g caster sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract 150g self-raising flour 50g desiccated coconut

First published in 2011, it’s the inspiration of mother of two, Elena Cimelli and food writer Jassy Davis. Drawing upon her experiences of parenthood and breastfeeding with her first born, Elena was led to consider the importance of lactogenic ingredients. Armed with first-hand experience of just how time consuming a new baby can be, the aim was to provide new mums with quick, simple, tasty and nutritious meal options that would help support nursing mums milk supply.

The cookbook (£14.99), a NEW ‘Sneak Peek’ recipe booklet (£2.99) and NEW e-book (£7.99) are all available to purchase from The Contented Calf website which is also packed with useful information and resources for nursing mothers. Visit: www.contentedcalf.com

Cream cheese frosting: 75g butter, softened 150g full fat cream cheese 60g icing sugar, sifted Silver balls, to decorate 1 2

3

4

Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/ 180 ° C/ fan oven 160 ° C. Line 2 x 12-hole bun tins with 18 paper cake cases and set aside.

Beat the butter, coconut cream and sugar together until soft and creamy. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and add the desiccated coconut. Fold in to combine.

Spoon the cake batter into the cake cases and bake for 20– 25 minutes or until the cakes are risen, golden and springy to the touch – a skewer inserted in the middle should come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat the butter until it’s soft and creamy and then beat in the cream cheese. Sift in the icing sugar and stir to make a thick icing. 5 Spread the icing over the fairy cakes with a palette knife so they’re thickly covered and decorate with little silver balls. The cakes will keep, un-iced, in an airtight tin for 2– 3 days and the icing will keep in the fridge for the same amount of time. ©Elena Cimelli. The Contented Calf

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SWEETEN UP THE NATURAL WAY WITH NEW PALMYRA JAGGERY FROM CONSCIOUS FOOD With a GI of 40, palmyra jaggery is a rich source of vitamins and minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium and phosphorus. Its 100% absorption rate will ensure that you get the most out of each essential ingredient. Palmyra jaggery may also help to break down the opiate-like chain of chemical dependency in your brain, meaning that people who are constantly craving sugar (sweets, soda drinks, etc) will find their sugar cravings diminish the moment they start eating palmyra jaggery. Palmyra jaggery is also widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for respiratory, digestive and blood sugar conditions as its ingredients help to cleanse the liver and body, reduce bloating and water retention and improve the digestive and respiratory systems. There are no chemical agents, preservatives, bleach or pesticides.

If you are looking for an essential ingredient to ensure your recipes are both healthy and delicious, sweeten up the healthy way with palmyra jaggery, the natural sugar replacement that is full of taste and health benefits! Palmyra jaggery has been shortlisted for the 2014 FreeFrom Food Awards Palmyra Jaggery retails for £7.99 for 250 g and is available from: www.consciousfood.co.uk Ditch the sugar and artificial sweeteners that can harm your waistline and your health, and opt for palmyra jaggery, nature’s ultimate sugar alternative. This completely sustainable and natural low GI sweetener is as tasty and versatile as sugar, and brimming with health benefits.

The perfect addition to any food or drink, whether hot or cold; palmyra jaggery is sure to become your kitchen essential!

Palmyra jaggery is derived from the sap of the Palmyra palm tree (Borassus Flabellifer), which is grown organically in South East India and is sourced directly from farmers. It is also the only plant-generated natural source of vitamin B12 which is known to help increase energy levels, combat stress, improve hair, skin and nails and maintain a healthy digestive system. Palmyra jaggery has one of the highest concentrations of natural iron found in any foods – helping to ensure healthy joints and bones. It is also alkalizing. Along with its intensely rich flavour and versatile nature, you only need to use 30-50% less than processed sugar and it also has fewer calories, making it the ideal sweetener for those looking to stay healthy and in shape. There is no need to drastically change your diet or way of cooking; simply replace your normal sugar ingredient with palmyra jaggery and you’ll start to reap the benefits.

With the amount of obesity and health issues concerning our children these days I’m always happy to try an alternative means to sugar. Having tried a small amount of the palmyra jaggery means I can only give a brief review but so far, absolutely, so good! You really do need to use a tiny amount compared to that of processed sugar which is definitely a bonus. The taste is what you would expect, sweet, but not excessively so. Definitely something I’d be interested in trying on a longer term to see if the benefits really weigh up.

A great product to get away from too much processed sugar and the dreaded artificial sweeteners!

Palmyra Jaggery retails for £7.99 for 250 g and is available from: www.consciousfood.co.uk

Specialist Pregnancy & Post Natal Exercise ●

Personal Training before, during and after pregnancy in your home or the gym

●

Post natal group classes that you can bring your baby to

●

Stay fit and healthy throughout your pregnancy, get back into shape after baby is born with an expert

●

Pelvic floor and diastasis (tummy gap) programmes to strengthen and condition your core

For more information please contact: 07811 954 739

www.bodyconpt.co.uk

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We are extremely privileged to be joined by Cbeebies Mr Bloom and well renowned gardening consultant, Dawn Isaac for the Baby Buzz ‘Get Growing’ Guide for 2014!

Growing your own is such a great family activity that gets everyone involved and provides you with an edible end result! What could be better? Growing your own doesn’t have to be expensive and you can cultivate your own seeds if you do your research. Most vegetables will have the seeds that you can keep, dry out and in turn sow when the time is right. Why not give it a go and send in your photos to feature in the forthcoming issues? If you are a novice at growing your own, there are so many websites giving you tips and suggestions and if you visit Suttons website they have a Vegetable Garden Planner that suits all types of outdoor space from allotments to pots and large gardens to grow bags! Why not get your school involved too.

Suttons have the new online gardening store aimed at helping schools (primary and junior) to introduce the joy of gardening across the whole school community. To register your school or for more information, visit: www.littlegreensprouts.co.uk.

MONTH TWO: THE BABY BUZZ CHALLENGE, SEEDLING OVERLOAD! We were given an amazing selection of growing essentials from Sutton’s Seeds to kick start our ‘Get Growing’ feature and all I can say is wow! With our Garland Super 7 Propagator we had seedlings within 3 days and now the house is covered in seedlings in every available space waiting to transfer to bigger pots and then eventually be placed outside. We also had a tomato planting propagator as a complete set and in my infinite wisdom sowed every seed thinking that perhaps some would take. No… not some, try all!!

As you can see from my picture below, I may have a small problem on my hands trying to replant these - if they all fruit we will be eating a lot of tomatoes!

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By Dawn Isaac It's SPRING! And yes, this season should always 5. be written in capital letters - it's that exciting. It is also the perfect time to be outside with the children - sowing and growing new things, playing games and exploring everything the great 6. outdoors has to offer - even the odd creepy crawly (now then, there's no need to pull that 7. face).

Have an Easter Egg hunt around the garden - you can use pictures clues to lead children from one location to the next until they find the Easter Bunny's treasure Take crayons and paper outside to make bark rubbings of different trees; Sow some edible flowers like cornflowers and pot marigolds to brighten up your garden and give you something fun and colourful to add to salads and sandwiches So here is a list of my top ten things to do in April 8. Go for a nature spotting walk - make a with your little ones: picture list for the children to tick off with items such as blackbird, blossom, tulip, 1. Sow runner beans, tomatoes and forget-me-not, snail; nasturtium seeds in compost filled seed tray or small pots and then place them on a 9. Plant some potatoes. If you haven't got space in the garden, you could use a large sunny windowsill - they need a little extra container, a stack of painted tyres or an warmth and protection to get them going; old compost bag with some holes added; 2. Personalise wellies with some acrylic paint pens - you can even add some glitter to the 10. Take the matchbox challenge - give each child an empty matchbox and give them paint before it dries for added outdoor bling 10 minutes to fill it with as many different 3. Sow some carrots, peas, lettuces, radishes, items from the garden as they can. spring onions and, for something a bit different, kohl rabi outside - if you sow a few each week, you won't find yourself with Dawn Isaac is a garden designer, writer and mother of three. Her most recent book is 101 too many ready all at once; 4. Decorate a scrapbook and start a garden Things For Kids To Do Outside published by Kyle diary with the children - they can draw Books (RRP £14.99) (check out our review on pictures of what they see, stick in empty page 53) and you can follow her blog about seed packets to show what they've sown or gardening with children at: even come up with their own fantasy garden design; www.littlegreenfingers.com

Getting rid of those nasty niffs!

Now that the warmer weather has given us a taste of what’s coming, it’s time to prepare outside. As I’m sure most people do, I absolutely detest the smell of dirty bins that have been filled to the brim with the leftover barbeque and picnic remains and then just sit there and fester. So when we were given the opportunity to test the latest products from Bin Buddy, I jumped at it. I’d seen the Bin Buddy products for the outdoor bins in the shops and was intrigued as they resemble little outdoor wheelie bins and are scented in either citrus zing or berry blast. We opted for the citrus zing as this is lovely fresh scent and were amazed. This product is amazing! Quite simply it gets rid of every nasty smell (and even though there is a product for indoor kitchen bins this works perfectly well if you use a lessor amount). Bin Buddy have created a selection of products for various bin types from the stainless steel so you can get rid of the tea or food stains that sometimes get onto the outside of the bin so there’s no excuse this summer! Prices start from £2.19. It’s time to freshen up!

Now that we’ve dealt with the nastiness of the bins what happens when your plugholes and drains get blocked?

Buster have also come up with some fresh scented products to combat issues for both the kitchen and the bathroom. Buster Kitchen Plughole Unblocker is a one-shot solution which tackles fat and food deposits. The fast-acting heating granules can be used to both prevent and clear blocked sinks and trapped debris within 15 minutes. Buster Bathroom Plughole Unblocker acts quickly to dissolve hair and sludge build-up in showers and baths. Simply pour the whole bottle down the plughole and leave for at least 15 minutes, but for more stubborn blockages leave the formula to work its magic overnight. Remember to read the instructions properly otherwise it won’t work. Both products retail for around £3.40. We’ve used the kitchen plughole unblocker and this also works extremely well and leaves a really nice smell. Great products for the home and outdoors!

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The next in line for the Baby Buzz car test is the VW Touran. Whilst I confess that when we were told this was the next one to review, I wasn’t overly thrilled. I’ve seen the older models of this type and to be honest they just look ugly. They were the archetypal box on wheels and whilst this isn’t fair to make a judgement on appearance, unfortunately that’s what a lot of people will look at first!

You can imagine my delight when the chap dropped this off and I came to collect the keys from him. Whilst the frame is still box-like it has rounded curves that finish if off just nicely. One of the first things you notice about the Touran is the space, there is lots and lots of space! The ultimate in family cars when you want or perhaps need the extra room! The other thing we noticed was the amount of storage - there were loads of little storage compartments and pockets everywhere!

The Touran is a great sized 7 seater MPV perfect for the family. We felt very secure driving this, with the security of being sat higher up and seeing more around us and also with the car feeling really solid without being too heavy to drive.

Basic ‘on the road’ recommended retail price* £23,350.00 *includes £725 (delivery, number plates, VAT, £125 VED (band E) and £55 registration fee) Engine Capacity (litres/cc)

1.6 / 1598 (4 cylinders, 16 valves)

Power output (PS @ rpm)

105 @ 4400

Max torque (llbs ft / Nm @ rpm)

185 / 250 @1500-2500

Top Speed (mph)

116

0-62 mph (seconds)

12.8

Fuel economy (mpg)

Urban - 51.4; Extra-urban - 68.9; Combined - 61.4

CO2 emissions (g/km)

121

Insurance group (1-50)

14E

Warranty

3 years / 60,000; 3 years paint; 12 years body protection

Breakdown Assistance

1 year Volkswagen Assistance (UK & Europe)

Safety The Touran is fabulous when it comes to space, but in terms of safety there is no room for compromise, especially when you have the most precious of all cargo in your car your children. The Touran is equipped with the latest intelligent safety features, it provides maximum protection for every occupant, enabling you to drive safely and at ease, and focus purely on the driving experience. Just some of the features are as follows, but should you opt for the SE or the Sport then there are many more additional safety features available.

The High beam assist function ingeniously senses the lights from oncoming vehicles and switches between main and dipped beam accordingly. In the 2nd row, all three single seats are equipped with head restraints and three-point automatic seat belts, and the outer seats are fitted with height adjustable seat belts. Up to two child seats can be fitted easily and safely to the outer seats in the 2nd row, using the Isofix fixings attached directly to the vehicle’s chassis. The standard airbag system consists of driver’s and front passenger’s airbags with passenger’s airbag deactivation switch, curtain airbags for front and 2nd row passengers, and front seat side impact airbags. Together with seat belts, airbags reduce the risk of serious head and chest injuries: as soon as the crash sensors register a collision, a gas generator fills the airbags within 30 to 40 milliseconds. The activated airbags then cushion the head and upper part of the body, distributing the impact of the collision over as wide an area as possible and ensuring less forward movement of the neck, significantly reducing risk of whiplash and injury.

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Additional optional equipment on the review model test drove by Baby Buzz: ●

RNS 510 touchscreen DVD navigation/DAB radio system with integrated voice control and rear-view camera. Includes, 30 GB hard drive, SD card reader, MP3, WMA and DVD files compatibility with AUX-in socket and MDI (Multi Device Interface) for connection to an external multimedia source (£1,835)

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front and rear carpet mats (£95)

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convenience pack – electrically foldable door mirrors, including reverse activated kerb-view adjustment on passenger’s door mirror (£155)

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family pack – electrically activated/deactivated rear door child locks, including leatherette on rear of both front seats (£90)

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Metallic paint (£535)

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Ingredients

For the tomato & basil sauce

For the gnocchi ½ small butternut squash 1 small potato (around 200-250g), ( like Kind Edward or Maris Piper) 1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese 270g plain flour ½ tsp thyme

400g tinned tomatos 3 tbsps water 100g carrots, grated 50g red pepper, chopped ½ tsp garlic puree A pinch of ground black pepper 1 large handful of basil (20g)

Ingredients 8 small slices (80g) of chicken or lambs liver 1/4 pint milk, for soaking 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp olive oil (or sunflower oil, or butter) 1 tbsp tomato puree 1/2 tsp mixed spice a sprinkle of ground black pepper 1/2 onion, finely diced 1/2 red or yellow pepper 2 mushrooms 1 medium carrot 1 medium potato Makes 4 servings Suitable for freezing 30+ mins for preparation 10-30 mins for cooking

Makes 2 adult and 2 children's portions 30+ mins for preparation 30+ mins for cooking METHOD: 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6 2.

Cut the butternut squash into half, scoop out and discard seeds. Put on a greased baking tray with the cut side down and roast for 40-45 minutes or until tender.

3.

Meanwhile, peel and boil a small potato until very soft. Drain the water and let the potato steam dry. Mash the potato while it’s still warm and make sure the mashed potato is dry in texture. Microwave to get rid of more moisture if necessary.

4.

Scrape out the flesh of the cooked butternut squash onto a plate and let it cool and steam dry for 10 minutes. Mash the butternut squash into thin layer to cool further. Microwave to get rid of more moisture if necessary. You should have a thick puree and not a wet consistency.

5.

6.

7.

METHOD: 1. Make sure the liver is free from any vessels (these will not be very pleasant for your baby as they are difficult to chew and will not blend very easily) 2.

Soak the livers in milk to absorb the bitter flavours for half an hour before cooking

3.

Boil some water and cook the potato, mash once ready - keep the cooking water from the potatoes for later

In a large bowl, combine the cooled, mashed squash, potato, parmesan cheese, 220g flour and thyme. Mix with your hands until it forms very soft dough (it will pull away from the bowl). It will be a bit sticky, but add more flour if needed.

4.

Finely chop the onion and carrot and slice the mushrooms

5.

Mix the black pepper and mixed spice with the flour and roll the liver in the mixture

Generously flour your work surface. Take a handful of the dough and place onto the floured work surface. Roll the dough into a thin sausage shape, about 1 inch in thickness. Continue the process until you have all the dough rolled out.

6.

Heat up the oil in a pan and add the onions, pepper, carrots and mushrooms and saute until slightly brown

7.

Add the tomato puree and some of the cooking water from the potatoes

Cut the dough into small gnocchi pieces and add more flour if necessary to prevent gnocchi sticking together. Press a fork on the top of each piece to give it a stripe pattern. Put the pieces on a floured baking sheet and set aside.

8.

Add the liver to the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes, making sure the liver doesn't dry out

9.

Spoon the mixture from the pan into a blender and blend to a smooth paste. Add the mashed potato to the mixture and puree. Use more water to thin the mixture if you need to

8.

For the tomato sauce, add all ingredients apart from basil into a medium sauce pan and bring to boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender. Chop and add the basil and blend with hand blender into a sauce.

9.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Boil gnocchi in batches until they rise to the surface, for about 4 minutes; cook 30 seconds longer and then lift with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel to drain off any excess water.

10. Place the cooked gnocchi into a large serving bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add the tomato sauce over and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

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For the pastry

Ingredients

For the dipping sauce

75g butter, chilled but not straight from fridge 150g plain flour 1 free-range egg 1 tbsp water (optional)

1 clove of garlic A drizzle of sunflower oil A thumb-size piece of ginger 2 spring onions a pinch of red chilli Handful of cabbage 4 shiitake mushrooms A handful of beansprouts Small handful of coriander 1/3 red pepper 1 tsp lime juice For the outer spring roll: 4 sheets of filo pastry 2 tbsp sunflower oil 1 tbsp butter

2 tsps honey Juice of 1 lime A large pinch of coriander 1 spring onion

For the tart 3 figs 2 tbsps honey Zest of ¼ orange (optional) 1 tbsp milk

Make 10 portions 10-30 mins for preparation 30+ mins for cooking

METHOD: 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6 2.

To make the pastry, place the butter, flour and egg in a food processor and blend together. If the dough look dry and not come together, with the blender still running, gradually add the 1 tsbp of water to bring the pastry together into a dough

3.

Roll the dough out onto a floured surface into a round shape and about 6mm thick. Tidy up the edges by cutting into a round shape. Place the flat dough onto a baking tray lined with grease proof paper

4.

Quarter the figs and arrange standing up onto the pastry, leaving 1.5cm around the edge. Drizzle the honey onto the figs and sprinkle the zest of orange over the figs

5.

Fold the edges in, pinching a little to make sure they stick. Brush the dough with milk to give you nice golden brown colour after baking

6.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the pastry edges are golden brown

Makes 6 spring rolls Suitable for freezing 30+ mins for preparation 10-30 mins for cooking

METHOD 1.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. 2.

Mince the garlic, grate the ginger, slice the spring onions into matchstick pieces, finely chop the chilli, finely shred the cabbage, slice the mushrooms, chop the corriander and finely slice the red pepper 3.

Combine all the spring roll filling ingredients in a bowl (apart from the coriander and lime juice) 4.

Heat up a wok until really hot and pour in a drizzle of oil 5.

Add all the ingredients from the bowl and stir fry for a few minutes until they begin to soften (do not overcook, leave them slightly crunchy as they will be cooked in the oven). Add the lime juice and coriander and remove from the heat.

6.

Wait for the mixture to cool before making into spring rolls 7.

To make the spring rolls, turn the sheet of filo pastry so the long edge is facing you, cut in half vertically 8.

Place a small amount of filling at the end of the filo pastry closest to you 9.

Oil around the edges of the pastry 10.

Fold away from you once to cover the filling 11.

Fold in the sides long the length of the pastry and roll up the spring roll 12.

Brush with oil and place on a baking tray 13.

Repeat with the rest of the mixture.

14.

Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden, alternatively you can freeze them and cook at a later date To make the dipping Sauce 15.

Chop the coriander, juice the lime and finely chop the spring onion 16.

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, adjust to taste

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Research out today shows over three quarters (78%) of women fundamentally change the way they dress when they have their first child. The new “mumsy” dress code sees 40% drop their heel height by two inches,18% cut their hair into a practical bob whilst 7% stop colouring their hair altogether. But it seems this overhaul is just a phase as women realise they miss the “old me” and rediscover their style mojo before their child’s fourth birthday.

when their child reaches three years and nine months. This typically sits in line with women (21%) wearing their old wardrobe when they went back to work, and one in ten (11%) said they rediscovered the style of their old self when their child went to nursery.”

Why? Nearly a third (27%) of mums confirmed they missed their old clothes and old self, 22% were fed up feeling too ‘mumsy’, and 17% missed their high heels which made them feel glam.

Commissioned by high street and online value footwear retailer, Shoe Zone, the study of over 2,000 UK mums revealed that most women (51%) have no time for fashion after becoming a mum, 42% blamed looking after children as a messy job, and nearly a third (27%) admitted they stopped trying to look glamorous as speed and comfort became a bigger priority when choosing an outfit.

Tracey Warmington, 31, a mum of two, and part-time employed from Oxfordshire says: “When you first become a mum it can be daunting and you start to re-think who you are and what your purpose is. You take your ‘new job’ very seriously, and like with all jobs you start adapting elements like your wardrobe to ensure you are dressed for the part. “I personally got my style mojo back when I went back to work.

The Mummy Style Code I needed to look professional and like I meant business again, so I New mums confirmed certain elements they changed about their style, ditched the comfortable jeans and practical top for more sassy items and it seems there is a ‘Mummy Style Code’ that women feel pressure such as a skirt with high heels.” to adhere to.

Celebrity Mummies Top ten items of clothing women said they ditched as soon as they When asked what celebrity mums style they desired, as well as whose became a mum are: style left little to be desired, mums voted Holly Willoughby’s effortless 1. Short skirts (21%) relaxed style on top, while Katie Price was voted the least stylish: 2. High heels (18%) 3. Skinny jeans (17%) 4. Crop tops (16%) 5. Plunging necklines (15%) 6. Bodycon dresses (15%) 7. Bikinis (13%) 8. Shorts (12%) 9. Leather fabric items of clothing (5%) 10. Animal print (4%) The Mummy style must haves: 1. Flat shoes, 45% opt for ballet pumps or trainers 2. Comfy tops (25%) 3. Neutral coloured clothing (15%) 4. Simple patterns on clothing (12%) 5. A decent coat (20%)

Best dressed celeb mums (above) 1. Holly Willoughby (18%) 2. Emma Willis (9%) 3. Davina McCall (7%) 4. Kate Middleton (7%) 5. Myleene Klass (5.5%)

Some new mums (7%) admitted that they changed their style because they wanted to fit in with other mums, 7% said they were influenced by what celebrity mums were wearing, while 4% wanted to look more ‘mumsy’ for their children. On average women who are not parents spend £612.44 a year on clothes, yet the research revealed this spend typically drops to £340.60 a year on clothes after having children. In comparison mums spend an average of £523.16 on clothes for their kids Worst dressed celeb mums (above) 1. Katie Price (28%) every year.

2. Kerry Katona (10%) 3. Kim Kardashian (8%).

Three is the magic number 4. Amanda Holden (8%) Naomi Shefford, Marketing Director at Shoe Zone says: “For most 5. Coleen Rooney (6%) women, having children completely changes their pattern and routine, and in turn they find themselves revamping their wardrobe to fit in with their new lifestyle. While mums might not be dressing up, they’re still looking great!

www.shoezone.com

“However, despite the initial style changes, our research has shown that most mums reach for the high heels and start dressing to impress again

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Tax-free Childcare – Will You Be Better Off? Stephanie Forrester of Busy Bees Benefits gives you the latest facts and advice about changes to financial support for childcare.

The Government has announced details of the proposed Tax-free Childcare scheme which will be introduced in September 2015. We told you about the proposals last year. Here are the latest facts.

2.

Most schemes are operated as salary sacrifice. You tell your employer how much you would like to be deducted from your salary. This can be up to £243 per month (or £55 per week) depending on your circumstances.

3.

The Childcare Voucher is used to pay your registered childcare provider directly, saving you up to £933 per year as it is non-taxable and exempt from National Insurance Contributions.

4.

Offering a Childcare Voucher scheme via salary sacrifice won’t cost the employer anything – in fact they will save money because the amount they pay in Employer National Insurance contributions is reduced (by up to £402 per year per employee on the scheme).

5.

Your employer could provide Childcare Vouchers as a benefit in addition to your salary, instead of via a salary sacrifice.

Key facts for parents: ● ●

●

●

●

●

Tax-free Childcare will only be open to families where both parents are working, or the lone parent works.

For every 80p paid into a Tax-free Childcare account, Government will add 20p. This will apply to childcare costs up to £10,000, so you could put in £8,000 and the government will top it up with a maximum of £2,000.

(This is more than was originally proposed).

The scheme is called Tax-free Childcare because 20% is equal to the current basic rate of income tax, but otherwise it has nothing to do with tax.

The money can only be used to pay for registered childcare. Registered childcare means those registered with a governing body i.e. Ofsted.

Within the first year, the scheme will be available for children up to the age of 12, or 17 if they are disabled.

(The original proposal applied to children under 5 in the first year, rolling out gradually over several years to all children under 12).

Available to those who are self-employed. Any household with a parent earning over £150,000 will not be eligible.

Once it is introduced, Tax-free Childcare will help more parents with childcare costs. However, a scheme to help make childcare more affordable already exists. The Childcare Voucher scheme (also known as Employer-supported Childcare) is run based on each working parent and their individual tax status. This means if both parents worked and were in a Childcare Voucher scheme, together they could save £1866. The Childcare Voucher scheme will be open to new joiners until Tax-free Childcare is launched and will continue for as long as parents use it.

Childcare Vouchers – 5 things you need to know: 1.

Childcare Vouchers are offered via employers. Check if your employer has a scheme in place and if not, ask them to set one up.

Leave your details at http://www.busybeesbenefits.com/contact/index.php and Busy Bees Benefits will contact your employer on your behalf.

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Childcare Vouchers or Tax-free Childcare - which will be best for you?

You don’t need to do anything yet, but forewarned is forearmed as they say and it’s important to realise that despite the headline figures, most parents won’t save anything like £2,000 from the Tax-free Childcare scheme and many will be better off using Childcare Vouchers. The illustration shows which households would be better off with Childcare Vouchers compared to Tax-free Childcare, based on the tax band of each working parent and according to the monthly childcare costs for one child.

Even if you would be better off with Tax-free Childcare, it won’t be available for well over a year which isn’t much use if you need help now.

If you are in a two-parent household where you both work but are expecting one partner to stop working in the near future, you may be better off in the long run by staying on the Childcare Voucher scheme.

If you are planning to have a child between now and autumn 2015, bear in mind that Childcare Vouchers can be claimed as soon as your baby is born. This gives you the opportunity to save up to £933 in vouchers for future childcare. Under Tax-free Childcare you will only be able to claim for the child when you have returned to work.

If by September 2015 your child has turned 11 and needs, for example an after-school club or a holiday scheme, they will not be eligible for Tax-free childcare, so your only way to save would be with Childcare Vouchers.

Once Tax-free Childcare is introduced, the Childcare Voucher scheme will be closed to new joiners, so if you are currently employed, pay tax under PAYE and are not currently using Childcare Vouchers, talk to your employer about putting a scheme in place now. It could save you and your employer hundreds of pounds.

For more information, visit www.busybeesbenefits.com

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Party like a Popstar with Popdance Kids !

There is no better way to introduce kids to concept of exercise than through a dance party. International Dance Day takes place on the 29�� April, and people across the world of all ages will be encouraged to celebrate dancing.

Popdance, the team behind the internationally successful dance exercise classes, have been working extra hard to ensure even little ones learn just how fun dance can be, by hosting birthday parties across the UK! At Popdance parties, children will learn the moves to pop songs of their choice. Whether they are mad about One Direction, or crazy for Jessie J, the team of expert teachers are able to cater for all tastes and abilities.

Before the party, families can browse the ever-expanding portfolio of tunes, and little ones can choose their absolute favourite tracks to create their very own perfect party. It doesn’t matter if not every child has a natural talent for dancing, it’s certainly not about getting the moves spot on, it’s all about having a lot of fun and burning off plenty of energy before that yummy birthday tea! Children’s parties are a hot topic of conversation in the playground these days, but instead of sitting down and watching a show, eating fast food or being spoilt rotten with expensive party bags, Popdance keep parties all about the fun, and most importantly keep little ones active. Children who have never danced before will soon see exercise doesn’t have to be boring! They’ll just love learning the moves to their favourite tunes. At the end of the party, children will leave feeling energised and best of all they’ll have a new dance routine to perform. Parents can come along at the end, and the party guests can perform. It’s a fantastic way to end the party, and you can guarantee little ones will be busting out their moves for weeks to come. Parents will love the fact their kids are leaving with a skill and having done some exercise.

The Popdance team really have thought of everything when it comes to their children’s parties. They can organise everything from funky invitations to party bags and badges for all the guests. Party bags cost

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just £2 and come with a punch balloon (so kids can continue to be active at home!) a mirror ball key ring and a even a voucher to attend their local Popdance Kids class! Parties really are the ultimate way to get every child keen to dance. A Popdance party lasts two hours, and can be tailored to your needs to accommodate breaks for sandwiches and cake. Parents can either choose their own venue, or ask the team to find them one.

Founder of Popdance, Sue Wybrow commented ‘We have had so many enquiries about birthday parties we felt it was about time we introduce them! We wanted to create a whole concept, and had a lot of fun designing all the little extras such as party bags and badges. We are confident they will be a great success, and hope that they encourage children who have never danced before to get involved. The whole point of Popdance is that it’s a lot of fun, and we hope everyone enjoys getting involved.’

Parties start at £169 and go up to £279 Package 1 – up to 20 children Includes 1 Popdance Kids Teacher Without party bags = £169.00 With a Popdance Kids party bag for each child = £209.00 Package 2 – up to 30 children Includes 2 Popdance Kids Teachers Without party bags = £219.00 With a Popdance Kids party bag for each child = £279.00 Party includes: A 2-hour birthday party which consists of 1 and a half hours of dance with 30 mins for food and cake – our teachers will stay until the end of your party to ensure your children have a fantastic time and to help them to perform the routine they have learnt to show parents at pick up time if they would like to A really fun descriptive moves section where the children learn 4 basic moves and can even choreograph something themselves A simple to follow Popdance Kids choreographed routine chosen by you and your child from our ever expanding portfolio Professional, qualified and CRB checked Popdance Kids Teachers Rehearse and perform your final routine to parents, if desired Popdance Kids party invitations A Popdance Kids T-shirt or bag for the birthday boy or girl

Book your party here: http://popdancekids.co.uk/have-apopdance-kids-party/birthday-parties

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Each month we review an amazing selection of new and innovative products, fashion wear, baby and toddler essentials and travel systems and this month is no different! This month we had the chance to review the latest from Mamas & Papas with the Mylo 2 and also one for the families with multiples, the Joovy Caboose 2 (The Big One!) This month we continue reviewing the fabulous books being released and seeing just how well the latest in childrenswear stands up to the test! We’ve also gone all out on lingerie for all you expecting and new mums and we are seriously impressed with the styles available to keep you looking and feeling fabulous!

As always, if you would like to join our focus group and join our review panel, please contact me at info@babybuzzmagazine.com.

A fabulous new addition to the Cbeebies range of books for Tilly & Friends.

These two lift-the-slap books are wonderful to read and interact with your toddler. Beautiful illustrations and soft colours with easy to lift flaps - definitely something to be enjoyed with a younger child.

Prices from: £4.99 each Available from www.walker.co.uk These two large print books are aimed at teaching your child, by way of association, things done by people, pets or just general day-to-day activities.

The book has key early concepts to stimulate development and high contrast illustrations to encourage sensory awareness. The front cover has ‘eyes’ that shake if you move the book, something our little girl found very amusing!

Prices from: £5.99 each Available from www.walker.co.uk From the celebrated picture book maker John Burningham (who has been illustrating and writing picture books for over 50 years!) is this magical picture book taking you on a journey with ‘Sylvie’ as she encounters the wonderful animals at the zoo! The book is beautifully illustrated and will allow your child’s imagination to run wild! Definitely an author we would like to see more from.

Prices from: £12.99 Available from www.walker.co.uk We had a little chuckle at this one at first as we realised it was one of the most practically drawn pictures books (with mum having a tattoo) that we’d seen in a long time! The book is very realistically written in a poem that every parent will understand and one that your baby / toddler will love to hear recited over and over. A really fun interpretation of being a baby.

Prices from: £11.99 Available from www.walker.co.uk ‘A is for Awesome’ is a fantastic way of interpreting the alphabet. With an array of pictures representing each letter and bursting out of the page, this book is a great way of teaching your child the alphabet whilst enjoying a beautifully written poem. A fun way to learn.

Prices from: £12.99 (Available from www.walker.co.uk from 1�� May) From learning the alphabet to counting numbers. Have You Seen My Dragon is a beautiful, if not highly detailed, series of illustrations that will capture your little ones attention instantly as a small boy searches for his dragon! Creator Steve Light’s skill at creating this book using pen-and-ink illustrations with the occasional splash of colour is incredible and your children will love it!

Prices from: £11.99 (Available from www.walker.co.uk from 1�� May) www.babybuzzmagazine.com

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Book Reviews - Toddler & School Age A hilarious diary written from the perspective of ‘pig’! This book has been written in a unique way that I’m yet to see elsewhere and almost in the style of Ali-G (most parents will understand who this is). There are moments where you uncontrollably laugh out loud, both adult and child! Children from approx 6+ will love this book. It is a surreal pig life story that just somehow makes sense, in a world according to farmyard animals.

A really fun interpretation of farmyard life! We all loved it.

Prices from: £5.99 Available from: www.scholastic.co.uk

Winner of the English Association Picture Book Award is this stunning book that is part poetry, part scrapbook of recipes and facts and fragments. The illustrations take you to a place of reminiscing about the days you were a child and went in search of all things nature. A beautiful gift to give to a parent who would want to share these experiences with their children. Amazing!

Prices from: £12.99 Available from: www.walker.co.uk The first of two books written and illustrated by Russell Hoban and Quentin Blake. The rain door is all about imagination! Beautifully depicted and easy to read, this book is great for the young reader who is that little bit more confident in their reading ability. One to be enjoyed over and over again.

Prices from: £6.99 Available from: www.walker.co.uk

The second of two books written and illustrated by Russell Hoban and Quentin Blake. A Near Thing for Captain Najork is a kooky story about a young boy called Tom. A fun, if not head-spinning tale full of names and words that are somewhat bewildering. Targeted towards the slightly older child, this book is sure to bring enjoyment.

Prices from: £12.99 Available from: www.walker.co.uk

An amazing book for Dads to read to their children. This book is a must for all dinosaur fans but it also brings a more sensitive approach to understanding relationships and growing up. A lovely story for the whole family.

Prices from: £11.99 Available from: www.walker.co.uk

This is one of those books that has a deep and wonderful meaning behind the story. All about a little girl who tries to make friends but isn’t so readily accepted at her new school. This would be the perfect book for schools to read or to give to children who perhaps weren’t making friends so easily or even a family to share with their children to show how easy it is to make friends or to try and include others in the games, to make them feel welcome. A lovely warm and gentle story supported by beautiful pictures.

A definite must for everyone regardless of age.

Prices from: £7.99 Available from all good bookstores, Amazon and www.harina-hanga.com

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Written by award-winning garden designer and mum of three, Dawn Isaac (also Cbeebies show Mr Bloom’s Nursery gardening consultant!) Is this fabulous book for those times when you want your child / children to get outside and do something whether it be enjoy the fresh air, get away from the game console or just participate in a family activity! It covers everything, there is literally no excuse! Fantastically simple to follow instructions with easy lists, your child is guaranteed to enjoy themselves whilst being creative and learning something new! I can guarantee my children will be outside a lot this summer!

Price: RRP £14.99 Available from: www.kylebooks.com For those wanting to go a little further afield than your back garden is this incredible book featuring 201 free and affordable ideas to go and do things in London! Arranged month by month there is something for everyone. At the end of each entry is all the information you will need for your visit or a list to breakdown the things you will need to get creative. It’s so nice to see a book that doesn’t just show all the expensive places to go to and when money is tight, this book opens up the world to so many more possibilities. An amazing book that we also wish we’d had when growing up. The best £12.99 you will spend to explore an amazing city!

Price: RRP £12.99 Available from: www.eburypublishing.co.uk Written by one mum who experienced the issues a parent faces when there child is diagnosed with multiple allergies. You can never fully appreciate the problems a family faces when a member is diagnosed with an allergy. Not only does it cause complications with that individuals diet but it also plays havoc on the rest of the family. What can be cooked, what has to be avoided, what products are linked, the list is endless!

Author Charlotte Muquit has captured in extensive detail not only the issues faced but also the best ways of dealing with them. With the help of several families all experiencing the same thing and giving their advice and views, this book is a must for families going through the same thing. The book has been written with the support and guidance of consultant paediatric allergist Dr Adam Fox and paediatric allergy dietician Rachel De Boer this book will become an essential in many households!

Price: RRP £14.99 Available from: www.kylebooks.com

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR™ GROWS EVEN BIGGER IN 2014 This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which was published in 1969.

Perfectly capturing the magic of childhood, Portmeirion is pleased to announce the extension of its beloved The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ collection, with seven beautiful new additions to the range. All featured items are available to purchase from www.portmeirion.co.uk and come beautifully presented in The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ themed gift boxes.

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3D handled mug (SRP £12.00). A gorgeous grown-up cup that even little hands will be able to grip with ease, thanks to its adorable caterpillar handle.

Apple Money Box (SRP £12.00). Probably one of our favourites, is this beautifully designed money box, an ideal first birthday present for a little one to treasure and keep forever.

Further items available include: We were privileged to have been sent a selection of the ● Trinket box (SRP £15.00). products and they are even more beautiful than as seen ● Caterpillar Figurine (SRP £15.00). online. Each piece has been carefully crafted by ● Baby’s First Christmas Photo Frame (SRP £12).

Portmeirion’s world-renowned giftware designers and ● ABC Photo Frame (SRP £12). expertly adorned with The World of Eric Carle’s iconic For more information or to purchase your own beautiful caterpillar. Featured items include: piece of an historic story, simply visit the website: ● Book Ends, set of 2 (SRP £20.00). These are adorable and will add a touch of whimsical www.portmeirion.co.uk charm to your home and help keep a child’s growing library of books orderly and accessible.

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Chris Haughton is an Irish designer and illustrator, named one of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators in 2011. Chris trained at the National College of Art in Dublin. After working in Ireland, Hong Kong and travelling around Asia he is now based in London. His debut picture book, A Bit Lost, is published into 19 different languages around the world and has won nine awards in seven countries, including the Dutch Picture Book of the Year and CBI Book of the Year. His second title, Oh No, George! came out in March 2012 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love Japanese prints and Indian painting and, in fact, most Asian art has something ornate and very beautiful about it, which is part of the reason I wanted to travel in Asia. I used to be crazy about Rousseau’s work until I saw a book on Bengali painting which just blew me away. The patterning and colours are just awe-inspiring.

Explain the process you go through when creating your work? I generally have an idea, sketch it out a few ways, scan a few of them in and mess around with them on the computer. Usually I get rid of some elements...

I kind of simplify the drawing I have, sometimes I’ll scan more elements in then for the final drawing... I don’t use most of it, there’s an awful lot of waste. I never ever start work without scanning something in... I’ve tried to do that so many times but it always ends up just looking bad. I used to work at this animation studio that only had one scanner in the whole building between about 15 animators/designers, I used to use it so often that it got moved onto my desk.

What mediums and materials do you work with?

I draw most of the bits with a pencil, I make a lot of the textures with charcoal or graphite. And a few times I’ve got my inks or poster paints out but mainly it’s just pencil.

What do you on the days when you need a little creative spark?

I visit museums pretty regularly, at least once a week. I live quite close to the British Museum and I go in there quite often, it’s an amazing place… The standard of design and illustration I think is really very high in London so it’s very inspiring just walking around the high streets over here. I spend hours in bookshops too… Having said all that, drawing from life and observing people doing everyday things is pretty good too.

I used to always listen to a Walkman on the bus until I discovered that listening to other people’s conversations is much better.

You are involved with numerous Fair Trade organisations, would you mind explaining a little more about how you got started with them?

I was a bit disillusioned with design for a while because all the jobs I was working on at one point were these very slick ad campaigns and I was going to marketing research meetings in ad agencies and I was very cynical about it. I kind of felt a bit hypocritical. Many of the projects are set up to employ either women who may have been divorced through domestic abuse or disabled people who would not be otherwise be able to earn money outside of their family. They help get extra income into some of the poorest areas and increase self-esteem and independence amongst the disabled people who work at the projects. We still have a long way to go though, it can be frustrating work sometimes and it’s a constant struggle to do nice work under limited resources but it’s very fulfilling.

What advice would you give to anyone starting out as an illustrator?

I think the best advice to anyone who wants to do good work is know that whatever you do can always be improved on. If you look at a piece of work you are really very proud of and think ‘how could I make it better’ often it’s quite difficult to see at first how it could be improved, but if you do that often enough and with every piece of work and then look back with time you can start to see how far you have come.

COMPETITION TIME We have a signed copy of Shh! we have a plan to giveaway to one lucky reader! For your chance to win this brilliant book, simply answer the following question: How much does the hardcopy retail for at www.walkers.co.uk?

(Answers can be found in the March issue of Baby Buzz Magazine or online at www.walkers.co.uk

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² I’ve tried and tested a lot of high end travel systems and strollers of the last 15 months and whilst some have been good and others just haven’t lived up to their name, they have all had one thing very much in common, they have all been very expensive. Many of the brands reviewed have been priced purely because of recognition and I can rest assured you that they aren’t worth the price on the tag.

quality fabrics and adjustable leather look handles and features a reversible seat system enabling you to switch your child to face you or the world. There is a multipositional seat recline and an integrated insect net and sleep I am always curious, therefore, to try out the more recognised shade to keep your child cosy. brands to see just why they price themselves way above everyone else. The first on our list of big recognised brands is Mamas & Additional Benefits Papas. Mamas & Papas started 30 years ago when two people Easy rider - front and rear decided to change their world. With the arrival of a new family, wheel suspension for a smooth David & Luisa decided that the best out there wasn't good enough and comfy ride and an idea was born - Mamas & Papas. Part of raising a family Striking style - iconic design means instilling principles and values and David & Luisa treated with a choice of coordinating Mamas & Papas just like their children. They know how important accessories it is to give children the best start in life and they have held onto Auto lock - chassis stays secure when folded Safe and sound - five point safety harness with adjustable height that thought throughout everything they do. setting Wheel lock - swivel wheels can be locked for easy manoeuvrability First Impressions Our first impressions are good! I have done my research and read Sun smart - UPF 50 fabric for maximum protection against UV rays what was a lot of negative comments about the original Mylo system, but was is very much apparent, however, is that the people The full unit does not come cheap but what you get is fantastic behind the brand have listened and not only have they listened, value for money and the knowledge that your child will be but they have taken action! comfortable and secure.

What do you get?

The unit comes as a stand alone pushchair / stroller with the additional options of adding a car seat (the Aton Carseat 0+ - car seat adapters necessary) and carrycot to create the complete travel system. The unit is supplied as a chassis, shopping basket, seat unit and universal rain cover.

On the Move?

The pushchair is very easy to handle and very smooth. You can push the pushchair with such ease and at times when we had to use one hand, we didn’t feel like we were about to lose control.

Our little test-driver looked exceedingly comfortable and snug and at no point did she grumble about being uncomfortable and wanting to get out. I loved that the seat unit was higher up than the majority of other pushchair’s and I imagine the same comfort would be felt to a parent of a much younger baby / toddler perhaps.

Closing Up For me one of the biggest tests is to how easy the unit closes down.

Not only is this extremely easy to close (it does state you can do this one handed if need be, but I imagine that will come with practice and familiarity), but it also collapses down into a nice compact size leaving plenty of room for other bags or shopping should you need the space. We don’t have the largest boot space so this was a nice surprise.

Features & Benefits There are many great features with the Mylo² with the vibrant colours being just one of them. The pushchair is made using high

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Baby Buzz Rating: 9/10

www.mamasandpapas.com

We have been extremely fortunate to have been given the review pushchair to give away to one lucky reader!

For your chance to win this, simply email the answer to the following question to me at: nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com How many years ago did original founders David & Luisa start up Mamas & Papas?

(Please note the wheels will show some usage due to the review, otherwise it is in near perfect, brand new order.

Competition closes on 24�� April 2014)

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I saw this brand initially at The Baby Show and was so impressed with the styles, the colours and flexibility of the products that I had to review it. There are an array of colours, all very vibrant and each product is fully reversible.

The biggest plus for me for this brand is the equality of options for both boys and girls which is highly unusual!

A really great gift option if you want to buy something that is different to the usual childrenswear on the market or alternatively a nice little present for yourself, they are also really great value too!

Website: http://flippersclothing.com/ We were recently contacted by this company who wanted to introduce their brand / product to our readers. It was after looking into the history that I realised each product is handmade. We were given the chance to pick a couple of sample products and weren’t prepared for just how impressed we would be when the samples were delivered. The little dungarees with the monkey print and the dungaree dress with the multi-coloured birdie print are just adorable and the quality of the fabric and attention to detail is just beyond impressive, coupled with the fact that the items are all reversible, well you can’t get any better really. You can pick from an array of different fabric options and clothing styles to give you something beautiful and unique. Prices start from £22.00.

Website: http://www.cococrafts.co.uk There has been a real surge of companies trying to bring out slogan t-shirts / vests / babygros and the recent Baby Show had many all trying to join in with the fashion rage. Many of them aren’t the greatest of quality so when NappySlapped contacted us with their range we were curious to see the quality. It is really nice to see that they haven’t scrimped on the quality of the tees and vests but also that the slogans are really fun without being too cheesy or predictable. The range is limited at the moment but I’m sure this will rapidly change with demand.

Really impressed! You can review what our four mums thought of their tees and vests online at www.babybuzzmagazine.com/newsandreviews/childrenswear.

Website: http://nappyslapped.com/ Solillas footwear range is a fun, luxurious update on a traditional Balearic leather sandal, which designed between London and Ibiza, draws inspiration from real bohemian Balearic life itself. We were given two pairs to review and I can wholeheartedly say they are fabulous! Made from real leather they are of a superior quality and the sizes fit really well!

We love the vibrant colours and the grip on the bottom making it easy for little feet. Great value with prices from £26 / £29 for toddlers, kids and (adults available too from £44)!

Website: http://www.solillas.com/ These are the most gorgeous little swim nappies we’ve seen yet! The fact that this is the world’s market leader, and most trusted brand for a swim nappy then they are clearly doing something right! It is recommended and insisted upon by UK Swim Schools and therefore should be the most essential item in your baby swim kit. The nappy fits really snuggly without being uncomfortable and doesn’t leave any nasty marks on your little ones soft skin. Made of 1mm premium quality neoprene and finished with snug fitting, deep bands of fabric with a high rubber content (to keep all nasties inside and ensure a leak-free swim); The Happy Nappy can be worn with or without a disposable swim nappy (though a liner is advised for cleaning). Taking care of your Happy Nappy couldn’t be simpler: after use simply Rinse, Roll and Reuse! From £9.99.

Website: http://www.splashabout.com Rockley Cove have created an amazing array of products suitable from ages 3-4 up to 11-12 in a wide selection of prints and styles. Whether you opt for the Rashkini (bikini with a matching protective vest) or simply the Bikini. The bikini starts from £18.99 with the Rashkini starting from £41.98. Brilliant product!

Mum Charlotte:

Bethan and I both love the fresh colours and bright daisy print of the rashkini. Age 5/6 came up a little bit big, but Bethan is quite small for her age. She said it felt really comfortable and we both agreed she looked very stylish by the side of the pool. Loved the fact that it is 3 coordinating pieces and can't wait to test out the sun protection factor on our holidays later this year!

Mum Francess: My daughter is three years old and loves her new rashkini. She has the modern dot contrast tie bikini. The design is bright and fun. In fact all the Rockley Cove designs are great and have UPF 50+ Protection! The best part is Mummy and Daddy don't have to worry so much when the sun's ray are at their strongest as we can pop on the rash vest for extra protection. All in all a great piece of kit and highly recommended!

Website: http://www.rockleycove.co.uk/ Another company that has taken great detail into account in MoochicBaby. Apart from loving the name, the products are all handcrafted in India using a centuries old craft called hand block printing. In this process, a design is carved on to a teak block and a separate block is required for each distinct colour in the design. The printer applies colour to the block and presses it firmly and steadily by hand on the cloth repeatedly until the length of cloth is fully printed. The variations in colour and print are natural to the process and give the collection a 'made with love' and almost vintage look. The quality of the fabrics is unparallel to those seen for double or even triple the cost. The printed quilted blankets start from just £39.99 with the large muslins from just £11.99. Their are a variety of prints all as adorable as the next!

Website: http://www.moochicbaby.com/

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Mum Lauren:

Having just had my little girl very recently I was looking for a good fitting and comfortable nursing bra. I love the Amoralia Cupcake Petal Nursing Bra. It looks and feels lovely and is a very good fit. It is very easy to unclip whilst being very practical and the best thing is it doesn’t have the usual maternity feel to them. I actually feel very womanly wearing it.

Mum Nickie:

The lingerie came as a matching set and apart from the nursing clips you couldn’t tell that this was a nursing bra. When I was a new mum, the lingerie available then was horrible and frumpy and I’m only going back a maximum of 10 years. It’s amazing what new styles and trends can do and how great they can make you feel.

http://www.amoralia.com/

Prices from: £35.00

Mum Nicola:

The bra is a feeding bra allowing quick and easy access for breast feeding.

You'd never know it was 'maternity lingerie'. My husband was impressed with how it looks too!

Prices from: £21.90

Prices from: £34.62

Prices from: £34.62

Mum Darima:

I always thought that maternity and breast feeding underwear is no where near being pretty or sexy. But I was wrong . The Hot Milk maternity lingerie is just lovely. Very comfortable, great quality and design and looks stylish and sexy at the same time. I highly recommend it! Thanks a lot!

Mum Kayleigh:

The set I received was black with lace design which had a 'sexy' feel about it, the bra was a nursing one with many different adjustments to allow for the fluctuation in breast size after having a baby! The pants were lovely, with a cut out bit at the back- again, giving the 'sexy' feel. I liked that they were so very practical but you couldn’t tell by looking at them that they were nursing or maternity wear. I loved them, and found them a perfect mix of comfortable,practical and sexy!

Mum-to-be-Sharon: The floral set that I received was just beautiful and whilst they didn’t ooze sexy that made me feel great which is so important. I can’t wait to wear these again once my little one arrives in just a few weeks. I would highly recommend them to any mummy-to-be and new mum.

http://www.hotmilklingerie.com/

Prices from: £34.62

Prices from: £34.00

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The maternity underwear is absolutely gorgeous. I love wearing it- it's feminine yet comfortable. I feel sexy yet secure wearing it. The bra will allow for a little more growing, isn't underwired (safest during pregnancy) but is moulded to fit perfectly with the satin and lace sitting soft against my skin.

Mum Lauren:

After having reviewed the first sample from a different brand, I received this and thought it looked a little more dated. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable it felt. Again the nursing clips were very easy to undo and it fit very well. It made me feel very womanly without feeling too mumsy.

Mum Nickie:

When we received this to give to the new mummy to try, we did think that perhaps it looked a little old fashioned and dated. I guess a lesson to be learned is that looks can be deceiving and what perhaps doesn’t look great can turn out to be just perfect.

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A great product to take out and about. Robinsons SQUASH’D is a super concentrate which is added to water, ideal for the pocket or handbag to enhance healthy hydration when outside of the home. It is the perfect drink whether you are on the commute, shopping with friends or even a weekend away. SQUASH’D is small enough to get through airport security, making it the perfect travel companion. A great way to save money than buying expensive drinks when out and about with your family. I would gladly take this with me on a day-trip with bottles of water and just make my own drink. Great way to keep costs down. Available in three different flavours Apple & Blackcurrant, Orange & Peach and Summer Fruits.

Available from all good major supermarkets, prices from £2.49 A brilliant product to help mum (and dad) with weaning their baby. These pre-prepared sweet and savoury dishes are exactly what you would do if you wanted to puree your own meals - except these save you the mess and the inconvenience. The apple and pear puree is delicious (even if I do say so myself) and the the savoury dishes are seriously yummy without any of the additives or preservatives. The company is very new having held their launch event on the 1�� April at Newlyns Farm Shop in Hook.

Kiddiecubes are a market first and are simply cubes of food packaged in portion controlled cube shapes with pre-prepared sweet and savoury dishes. Unlike ambient jars and pouches which are heat treated for preservation on shelf (and are therefore totally devoid of nutrients) KiddieCubes are frozen, ensuring that the goodness is locked in. There are different cubes for each stage of weaning. A great variety that don’t stick to the usual market shelf bland options!

For details on where to purchase, please visit the website: www.kiddiecubes.co.uk Like most families, we have all been drinking an increased amount of juice in the efforts of consuming our 5 a day, so when we were given the opportunity of reviewing the latest in technology from Tefal we jumped at the chance.

The Infiny Press Revolution is amazing! You get so much more out than we ever thought possible! The Infiny Press Revolution reduces the amount of clearing-up required; whilst pressing the fruit, the juicer dries out and ejects any waste, meaning there is no waste chamber in the machine to clean out during juicing. Really what’s there not to love about this! What’s more, all the removable parts (the filters, the screw etc) are dishwasher-safe, meaning you can relax and enjoy your juice drink. There are two stainless steel filters which make use of the latest technology to produce an infinite number of textures and tastes. The instructions are simple and straight forward and you can get juicing in next to no time at all!

Available from Tesco, Littlewoods and John Lewis RRP: £199.00

Available from Amazon.co.uk £20.99

If any parents have little ones obsessed with Lego or Duplo then you are going to love this!

After visiting the Harrogate Nursery Fair recently we spotted this dinner set from Placematrix, an interlocking Kids Tableware Meal Set - compatible with other Interlocking Bricks, Lego Duplo ect. My face was a picture when I saw it but my little girls face was even more amazing. A great set to keep your little one attentive during meal times!A brilliant idea and amazed no one else thought of it before! For more information, please visit: www.placematix.com

New from Ambrosia are these gorgeous little mini pots of custard and mini rice. They call them mini but they are larger than some of the other well known branded ‘mini’ pots of yoghurts. These taste absolutely gorgeous and my little girl ate two within seconds of each other and still wanted more! Great, taste, easy to take out and about and even better, they are a great price at just £1.49.

Available from all good retailers.

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Always happy to support a new local business and one that involves cooking with the family.

WannaPizzaThis is a fab and easy way to get your children involved in the kitchen, why not invite a group of their friends over too. A basic kit (which we reviewed) costs just £3.50 (plus delivery).

There is also a full pizza kit for £10.50 which includes a mixing bowl, apron, hat and pizza tray.

These little kits are delightfully easy to use and both my girls thoroughly enjoyed making the Available from pizzas. Having made one myself the end result Ebay, Etsy from was well worth the price paid for the kit! Great £3.50 product!! www.wannapizzathis.com

An incredibly easy and fun way for your child to make ice-cream! (with a little help from mummy of course as she’s only small.) The great thing about this is that you know exactly what you are putting into your ice-cream, no artificial colouring or additives or sweeteners!

Once you’ve mastered the basics you can create any flavour you wish and www.smythstoys.com/ then become a bit more adventurous for the older child / adult! The kits come in £12.99 three characters Ninja Turtles, Minnie Mouse and Spiderman.

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www.cinnamonsue.co.uk £10.50

There are many products on the market that claim to help nappy rash but none of them claim to be pure of any nasties - except this one. The Tushi stick is actually a dream for those who really don’t want to plaster unnecessary ingredients onto their childs sensitive skin. This new baby product has been tested in a lab and came out clean after being infected with 5 strains of bacteria! Lovey’s Tushi Stick has enough natural preservative to kill the nasty bacteria on the stick and on the baby’s skin. This just proves that you don’t need chemicals to soothe sensitive skin! Although designed as a nappy ointment, the Tushi Stick can actually be used on any kind of dry and chafed skin, and Canadian customers have claimed that it soothed their eczema, eases windburn and scrapes. It truly is a miracle product! Whilst it may be a little more expensive than other more well known products, the end result is great. Another big bonus is the fact that this comes in a roll-on style tube, so no more messy fingers and getting cream stuck under your nails! You won’t have to worry about finding a tissue to clean your hands and having a wiggling baby left unattended. Great product, will be hopefully getting some for our readers to review too soon!

This brand has a great story behind it as it was borne out of a fathers’ desire to ensure his son did not have to suffer from such debilitating physical and psychological effects of severe eczema as he had done. Grahams Naturally Kids Skincare Eczema Cream contains Colloidal Oatmeal which has unique anti-inflammatory and antihistamic properties to reduce the itch and inflammation associated with eczema. It provides a hydrating and protective barrier on the skin, replenishing moisture levels and preventing further moisture loss. The cream soothes red and inflamed skin and takes away the burning desire to itch the skin and is gentle enough to use on babies from 6 weeks old, children and adults who may suffer with Eczema on sensitive skin (on the face, around the eyes). With two children who both suffer from quite dry and patchy skin, this has worked wonders and leaves the skin smooth and irritant free.

If this works as well on eczema suffers as it has with us then what an amazing result! www.Amazon.co.uk £18.95

If you are an eczema sufferer or have a child who suffers with it, we would be interested in hearing from you to give this cream a try. Please email me on info@babybuzzmagazine.com.

www.birchbox.co.uk From £10 per month

Over the last 15 months I have reviewed an array of baby “surprise” boxes that were subscription based and contained lovely products suitable for babies and toddlers. However, we came across one that we think would be amazing as a lovely, inexpensive treat for Mums, called Birchbox. Each month you'll receive 5 luxe samples, carefully selected and tailored to your beauty profile. You can test them out in the comfort of your own home, read exclusive features online and then if you like the product you can find the full-size products in the Birchbox e-shop. There is no commitment to buy the full product but the sheer surprise of getting a beautifully wrapped box every month with something just for you, yes please!! All this comes in at £10 per month (there are special deals available if you sign up for 6 or 12 months). Our trial box was also the box collaboration with Lulu Guinness and so we had a real treat. Highly recommended as a little gift to yourself or to your girlfriends and worth every penny!

With the nights still a little chilly, we all want to snuggle up and get cosy. We were thrilled to try out this amazingly soft blanket! When we first unwrapped it, we were a little worried as it was quite static (yes we had a bit of fun with the electric shocks) but after the first wash it went away (simple washing machine cycle so no dry-cleaning). The blanket itself doesn’t look very think but it has an official tog rating of 1.4 and once you are wrapped up in it, it keeps you very warm. A fabulous blanket at a great price! There are also other products £25.00 available from socks, jumpers, hats and gloves. www.heatholders.com/uk

We love, love, love the BornFree cups and the new Straw Cups are no different!

The size of these are perfect coming into summer and are easy to handle for small hands.

The cups are also BPA-free meaning no harm to your toddlers. The Straw cup is also spill proof and incorporates the twisting soft silicone straw mechanism to keep the straw clean and ensure comfortable drinking.

Suitable from 12 months plus.

www.toysrus.co.uk - £4.99

We like to think that we are doing our bit by being Oh my gosh these are incredible!! So far eco friendly and have already reviewed many we’ve only had to use three out of the products by Ecover in previous issues. Phosphates possible nine that we’ve been sent to review are a common ingredient in many dishwasher but considering that one was a huge white tablets which turn our lakes and rivers green and stain on the carpet (residue from trying to harm aquatic life. Ecover is proud that all its clean pasta sauce - don’t ask!) and the other being said pasta sauce on a white top - both 25 Tablets (RRP £6) products, including the new All-In-One Dishwasher have come up perfectly! Not almost, but 70 Tablets (RRP £15) Tablets, are free of this type of ingredient. We are pleased to say that the tablets work really well and completely clean! I’m almost tempted to leave dishes clean and glasses streak free and better make a mess just to try out the others now! www.dr-beckmann.co.uk The products also don’t cost a fortune which still are well priced to entice other homes to switch From £1.99 brands. Available from Ecover Direct, Big Green is great. More than highly recommended!

Smile and Ocado.

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The Baby Buzz Travel & Review Guide

I’d like to start by introducing my readers to a little piece of heaven!

Nestled in Alto Adige, northern Italy is the most beautiful little town called Ortisei which is surrounded by the stunning Dolomites. Ortisei is an idyllic pedestrian zone with a beautiful park, stylish shops and bars and then a mere stones throw away are more than 175 km of amazing ski slopes, both world cup standard alpine descents and for the non-skier (like me) there are the most magical cross-country walks to be discovered. I personally found that there was a more Austrian influence to the town but it certainly didn’t detract from the magic and atmosphere that we were all consumed with immediately upon arrival.

The main reason for our visit was to see a hotel that has been tailor made for Children called Cavallino Bianco. This is no ordinary hotel and everything, every small detail has been thought of to ensure that not only the parents enjoy their stay but that the child has everything they could wish for to. The hotel caters for everyone whether you are a single parent, a family group, a parent who has a child with special needs or simply new parents embarking on their first holiday with their child. It is no wonder that the Cavallino Bianco has been awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice 2014, 2013 as the best Family Hotel Worldwide, the Prestigious HolidayCheck Award 2014 and 2012 (which enlist it as amongst the most popular hotels worldwide).

time! Security is strict, as you would expect, you want your child protected at all times and they follow guidelines to ensure this is maintained. The rooms and equipment for Lino Land are up-to-date and they can cater for parties, cooking lessons, crafts just about everything. In the evenings, the staff also put on a show for the children (which they loved according to another set of parents who had gone with us).

First Impressions The hotel is beautiful and situated in the most idyllic of locations. The reception is spacious and elegant without being pretentious and fragile.

The staff were attentive and processed check-in promptly. It was only once we had been given the keys to our room did we appreciate just were we were. The view from our balcony was immediately facing the mountain side with the sky lifts edging their way up 2,000 metres+. You could barely see the top of the mountain with everything fading into a bank of clouds, a very calming and peaceful experience, only shattered with a small voice asking what we were doing next!

After our tour we were taken into the restaurant for dinner and again we were not disappointed. As the holidays are based on All Inclusive packages, you simply sit down, choose which meal option to go for (bearing in mind this is a 5 course meal) and enjoy your evening. There are highchairs and bibs all pre-laid for younger children and slightly older children can help themselves to soft drinks from alongside the buffet bar (and where dessert is also made available). The menus are all well thought out and cater for the fussiest of eaters. Their salad bar to start the meal of with is exquisite and whilst many would think that was quite trivial, when you see the attention that has gone into it, it’s well worth a mention!

The Experience Once we had been given a couple of hours to freshen up we all met in the Posta Bar. This for me really summed up the hotel. With little toy cars and other toys scattered around the bar for the children to roam freely around, you didn’t feel like you had to watch their every move, make sure they didn’t touch anything. There was even a little bar with (obviously) non-alcoholic cocktails! After meeting CEO and General Manager Ralph for a talk about the hotel and what it stood for and also understand the history behind the hotel and also Ortesei, we were escorted around the hotel for a whistlestop tour. One of the biggest assets to the hotel is Lino Land. Now Lino Land is a fun daycare style place that takes up one of the lower floors. With rooms catered for varying ages of children they have something to suit every child. With a little girl who doesn’t go to easily into places unknown, she was off within minutes and having a wonderful

After dinner we all headed to our rooms, it had been a long day of travelling with the children even though the actual flight times and transfer times came to just a couple of hours in total!

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What to Do The following morning saw me take on a challenge! Not being the fittest of people and having a fear of heights saw me have to conquer two obstacles all within an hour or two of breakfast!

Before I get into what our day entailed, I have to say that we had two of the most amazing people with us on our excursion. Dr Jaro Rataj (who is the hotels PR & Marketing Consultant) and also Nives Avanzini (Marketing Assistant & Reception). Whilst you could say that they were doing there utmost as we were there on business, believe me when I say they went

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well above and beyond our expectations. Two of the nicest people who actually made our stay that much more enjoyable. Both major assets to the hotel.

Our day started off by walking a steep way up to the mountain lift, this gave us the most amazing views as we edged 2000+ metres up the opposite mountain. It was reaching the top that we got our first real glimpse of snow, I mean proper snow. My little girl was in her element and didn’t know where to play first! After a much needed stop for a drink we started our walk. This was for about half an hour climbing higher until we reached the most stunning of chalets, that had been converted into a restaurant and lodgings and we all sat down to enjoy a hot drink and something to eat. It seemed pretty surreal that we were sitting so high up, sitting outside with blanket around our legs, just watching the most amazing scenery. It was just blanket white and stunning. After lunch we had to head back down but this time the children were given a helping hand with sledges. My little girl had the wonderful Nives pulling her down and at one point, she sat behind her and they sled all the way down with squeals of pure delight echoing behind. Once we made our way back down to the hotel we had time to freshen up before a few of us headed into town to see all the little wonders and delights it had to offer. The village is so beautiful and peaceful that you can’t help but to slow down and move with the same pace.

Once we had made our way back it was time to meet with Jaro who would be discussing the new projects at Cavallino Bianco. Their new holiday philosophy: Time is Life: Living our time in a different way to create a perfectly balanced holiday. The concept is one that makes sense in so many ways. In order to be happy you need to ensure that everyone is happy, whether that’s doing things as a family unit or simply taking some time out for yourself or for you to do something alone as a couple. The project comes with a board game style board made out of wood and resembling a tree. The tree is split up into four sections, with each section representing a time (yourself, your children, your partner etc). Once you have completed certain tasks you get a bonus until all the activities are complete. The great thing with this I found is that you can take the board home and incorporate it into your home life and understanding and creating ways of doing more together as a family or simply taking time out for yourself. I was so glad that they gave us one of these trees to take home! After the tour and collecting my little one from Lino land (again) we headed to dinner again. Dinner was just as lovely and after not too long we all headed back to rooms with very, very children (and very very tired legs for me!) We were headed home the following morning and with a heavy heart vowed to come back again, hoping that it wouldn’t be too long.

Features & Benefits The hotel has been making vast improvements since 2013 and now has a wide range of activities available to its guests. At the very heart of the hotel we know is Lino Land (this is over 250 sq m of brand new spaces and games); a Family Play room dedicated to parents and children that perhaps don’t want to be left unattended and a Teenies Room for the older child, giving them that bit of independence whilst still keeping parents happy knowing where they are. For those wishing to borrow a pushchair you can do so from here also.

Another major factor is the Wellness area which counts as an outstanding surface of 2900 sq m which incorporates 4 swimming pools, a giant outdoor heated pool with breathtaking views over the Dolomites, the Family Lagoon with a triple track waterslide and a baby designed pool.

The new panoramic Fitness house, the sandpit and the playground complete this unique hospitality concept.

But it doesn’t stop there, as you then have the added luxury of Theresia’s Beauty & Spa which offer a wide selection of beauty treatments with a particular emphasis on treatments for mums and babies. The treatments include Pre-Maman, the remise-en forme post partum, romantic couple treatments, shiatsu, and ayurvedic massages. What more could a family possibly ask for!

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Prices do vary according to season, but for more information, please visit the website as they often have offers available:

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For a holiday with a difference, experience glamping in the stunning region of North Brittany and enjoy a luxurious, fun packed summer break from just £663 with Canvas Holidays.

Stay in the heart of North Brittany at Domaine des Ormes, Dol de Bretagne, set in the idyllic grounds of a 13�� century Château. This award winning campsite is home to Canvas Holidays’ new, ultimate glamping holiday accommodation – Safari Tent Deluxe. Brand new for 2014, the tents offer all the comforts of home while providing an authentic, camping holiday. Holidaymakers can enjoy a taste of the wild, while staying in luxury with a fully plumbed bathroom and kitchen facilities as well as dining room and lounge for cosy, relaxing evenings.

Domaine des Ormes has plenty of experiences on offer, including an 18 hole golf course where Tiger Woods wannabes can practice their swing, a horse riding centre perfect for those looking to follow in the footsteps of Zara Philips, as well as a treetop adventure course. After a day full of activity, guests can cool down in the on-site pool, before unwinding with a drink at the bar in the converted water mill.

The campsite is also ideally located for a visit to the medieval town of Dol-de-Bretange, a trip to the beach at St Malo or day trip across the border into Normandy to visit the famous abbey at Mont-St-Michel. Seven-nights at Domaine des Ormes, Dol de Bretagne costs from £663 staying in a Safari Tent Deluxe (sleeps five) and arriving onsite on 1 July 2014.

For more information on Canvas Holidays or to book, visit www.canvasholidays.co.uk or call 0845 268 0827.

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Now that the days are longer and the weather is warmer it’s the ideal Events diary time to get outdoors and enjoy canoeing with New Forest Activities, Canoeing Easter Egg Hunt – April 13 and 28 Battlefield Live or swing through the tree tops on ropes.

Taking place on the Beaulieu River this is an Easter egg hunt with a difference. Paddle out on the river and use the map to navigate the For messing about on the water for all ages and abilities, kayaking and way to the hidden rewards. The hunt is suitable for any age making it a canoeing tours are perfect to learn new skills, explore hidden creeks great activity for all the family. and spot the local wildlife on the picturesque Beaulieu River. There are even Easter egg hunts in canoes!

Kids Woodland Adventure Days – April 16 A perfect way to keep kids entertained this Easter, they’ll spend a full King of the swingers can take to the forest ropes course to show off day in the woods learning woodland skills and learning the ropes on the their skills and those who think they’re brave enough can jump from ropes course. A great day of outdoor activities. the leap of faith.

Family Adventure Days – available throughout Easter Thrill-seekers can take part in Battlefield Live, the most realistic combat For adventure days the whole family can enjoy, get out for a day of simulation without joining the military. Located in a disused RAF base, exploring the New Forest by bike and then take to the water by canoe Battlefield offers close-quarter tactical gaming and with a variety of on a two-hour guided tour. An activity which is suitable for all ages. weapons to choose from it brings computer games to life. Prices start from £25 per person.

Children who love to go ‘wild’ can join in the family Bushcraft course and learn a range of skills, and practical techniques such as how to build the best shelter and light the perfect campfire. Camouflage yourself for spotting wildlife and learn about the fantastic forest foods that are good to cook and eat with wonderful foraging days which start from just £25.

Or take to two wheels to get you closer to nature in the New Forest National Park with plenty of cycle networks both on and off-road and fun interactive treasure trails starting from just £6 with clues to solve and questions to answer.

Based in their office on Beaulieu High Street, the NFA is the one-stop shop for activities and attraction tickets in the New Forest.

The booking centre is open seven days a week from 8.30am – 5pm. For booking and enquiries call 01590 612377 or for more information visit www.newforestactivities.co.uk

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Whilst many of us will overindulge with chocolate this Easter, I thought I would show you some alternative gifts aimed at the younger members of our family, whom perhaps we don’t want getting too sugar-coated!

1) My First Flopsy Plush Toy, John Lewis £11.99 2) The latest in the Thomas the Tank Engine series ‘Spills & Thrills’ DVD, Amazon.co.uk £12.99 3) The cutest little dinosaur rattle and selection of soft toys created by Best Years (bringing back the tradition of beautifully crafted crocheted and knitted toys), www.justforbaby.co.uk from £8.99 for the small rattle, £12.99 for medium soft toy and £24.99 for large soft toy (these really are adorable) 4) Bunny Jump Game by University Games, www.Amazon.co.uk £19.99 5) Owl created by Breathable Baby (safer for your baby, details to be released shortly 6) My First Shop by Lego Duplo, www.lego.com/en £19.99 7) The Original Maxi Micro Scooter, www.micro-scooters.co.uk from £99.95 8) Colouring in Tabloeclothes with an Easter theme, www.eggnogg.co.uk £11.99 (pack of 2).

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2 Piece Jersey Set - £20

Tee, Short and Shirt Set - £42.00

Contrast Knitted Woven Dress - £28.00 Welcome to the World Sailor Romper - £20.00

Limited Edition 3 Piece Tuxedo, Tee & Jean Set - £54.00

Welcome to the World Sailor Dress - £30.00

2 Piece Shirt and Short Set - £38.00

Floral Corduroy Dress - £24.00

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Gingham Dress £22.00

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Floral Playsuit £22.00

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Clearly one for the grown-ups…

Easter is the ideal time to treat yourself, friends and family to a little gift or two. This Easter, British tea merchant Ringtons is offering some fantastic and exclusive Easter gifts which are a little different to the usual chocolate egg and will appeal to all ages.

The items are available via Ringtons’ traditional doorstep delivery service whereby Ringtons’ tea, coffee, biscuits, cake and seasonal items, such as the Easter collection is delivered directly to homes all over the UK on a fortnightly or monthly basis. The special and doorstep range is also available via the mail order website www.ringtons.co.uk or via customer care on Freephone 0800 052 2440.

All Ringtons products are available from www.ringtons.co.uk.

Looking for something completely different - look no further!

www.hotelchocolat.com/uk

http://www.lindt-shop.co.uk/

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Funspiration activity guide offers 15 weatherproof activities, needing no more than five props, for when mums have 15 minutes to spare Half the mums (54%) across the country are holding out for good weather this Easter according to a new poll by Flora Buttery. The unpredictable British weather means nine out of ten (90%) mums are calling for weatherproof inspiration for the forthcoming Easter holiday; with over three quarters (77%) admitting that being forced to stay indoors all day can lead to arguments and tantrums.

Flora Buttery has teamed up with award-winning parenting author Tanith Carey to offer a solution - The ‘Funspiration’ activity guide, which has been created to give busy mums inspiration for quick and simple home-grown fun activities this Easter– come rain or shine.

There are 15 ideas to do in 15-minute slots, with no more than five items found around the house. With a little imagination and a few bits and bobs, mum can have oodles of fun at the kitchen table (or even in the garden if the sun decides to shine).

have even the most hands-on mums begging for a break, with over half (52%) claiming that bad weather often scuppers their plans at the last minute. “So whether you are waiting in for a delivery, have a blank diary day or a 15-minute window before the next adventure, the Flora Buttery Funspiration Activity Guide offers the simple and easy ‘lucky dip’ of activities to keep your kids entertained.”

Flora’s top 5 things to do this Easter Bake Flora Buttery’s All-in-one cupcakes requiring just five ingredients and 15 minutes Make super snappy egg carton crocs Organise a fashion show Be mad scientists Hold your own boating regatta See the rest of the ideas and download the free Funspiration activity guide now at www.flora.com/funspiration.

Tanith Carey says “We all know that family life doesn’t always go smoothly. The sun doesn’t always shine, the shopping doesn’t always turn up on time and sometimes, truth be told, we frazzled mums would rather stay at home rather than venture out on another exhausting, not to mention expensive, outing with the kids.

The Flora Buttery research showed that being stuck indoors can

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So what’s your due date then?

Estimated Due Dates (EDD's) are calculated with the use of 'Naegele's Rule' (devised by Hungarian obstetrician Franz Karl Naegele in 1830). The beautifully simple equation starts at the first day of a woman's last menstrual period and adds 40 weeks. EDD's are very rough estimates and only about 5% of babies arrive when they are due. The average arrival time for first time mothers is 41 weeks 1 day and for second time mothers 40 weeks 3 days. 90% babies arrive during the safe-zone of 37-42 weeks, with boys tending to gestate several days longer than girls (yes, we mature faster even in utero!).

My first baby arrived just outside of the safe zone at 36.6 weeks, luckily he was totally ready and we had a dream birth, it was lovely. When it came to my second pregnancy, based on the trend for pregnancy length to decrease with consecutive children, I worried the baby would come too early... I needn't have, he came at 39.6 and, at nearly a pound heavier than my first, had serious difficulty getting out- in fact he only just made it.

Having done my research on factors that can influence pregnancy length since then I believe I know what the difference was between my two pregnancies that led to my first being quite early and my second staying in to a point that he was too big for me- and I know what I'd be doing in an attempt to steer another pregnancy into my personal safe-zone if one came about....

Sex. Levels of certain prostaglandin's are key to the onset of labour and one source that can boost the levels in the vagina to that associated with birth is found in semen (where its function is literally to aid muscular contraction to help the sperm reach the egg). This is part of the reason some women with other risk factors are advised not to engage in sex during the third trimester. Of course, when baby is term or if like me experience has shown that I need baby to arrive a little earlier it can also be a really good idea to utilise this nudge (as much as possible!). It's effect on speeding up delivery has seen nipple stimulation actually being increasingly seen in birth plans but studies suggest that an overdose of oxytocin can cause foetal distress so women are encouraged to only ever stimulate one at a time! Some prostaglandin's that definitely do not encourage the onset of labour though are those whose release is triggered by eating of the infamous pineapple! The presence of the enzyme bromelain does aid the production of prostaglandin's but not those that act on a woman's reproductive system. In addition, stress raises heart rate and blood pressure which diverts blood from the uterus which can encourage it to contract leading potentially to labour. Group B Streptococcus (GBS: a common infection all women should be tested for in early pregnancy) can also lead to shorter gestation periods due to a release of prostaglandin's.

Completing a course of antibiotics where it is present lengthens the likely gestation period but may not work for or appeal to all women. It may be particularly prudent to ascertain the policy of your hospital when considering how to manage infections as many insist on maternal intravenous antibiotics where a mother has tested positive, certainly, for GBS at any point during pregnancy (regardless of her status since treatment or at the time of birth) which will enable baby to have a safe passage through the birth canal in most cases. For women who have experienced problems with infection historically self monitoring of vaginal PH and 'yogurt treatment' (that is literally finding a way to get natural yogurt in there, I find the kind of syringes they give with kids medicines now really useful for this!) has proven to be effective for many women.

uterus in some cases) can also lead to poor circulation in the pelvis which again increases the likelihood of early babies. Where under 10% of singleton babies are born pre-term over 50% of twins are. Women with a history of loss connected with natural malformations often find that Progesterone Therapy (which relaxes the muscles in the uterus, maintains cervical length and has anti-inflammatory properties) can maximise the length of pregnancy they can achieve. Another procedure that can be apt is Cervical Cerclage in which a suture is fitted around the cervix to hinder shortening.

Many aspects of a mothers physiology can influence the length of her pregnancy, age features with both young mothers (defined as >16 at the time of conception) and women over 35 being more likely to give birth earlier. The size of a mothers natural build also impacts. This is because size affects metabolism, there being a limited number of calories any one person can burn in a day and during pregnancy women approach that ceiling, tending to give birth just on the cusp of reaching it. Smaller people have the potential to burn fewer calories so tend to birth younger (crucially smaller) babies. Heat raises metabolism so a heat wave can be particularly bad news for some and saunas should be avoided at all costs. The length and regularity of a woman's menstrual cycle can effect the likely due date with women having longer or irregular cycles having longer pregnancies (that's even when calculations are adjusted from LMP to measurements taken during scans). A 2003 study in London found that Black and Asian mother's birth dates averaged 39 weeks compared to White Europeans averaging 40 weeks. There were also higher rates of preterm delivery in the Black and Asian communities but, crucially, in these 'preterm' deliveries there was a higher rate of merconium (baby's first poo) stained amniotic fluid indicating foetal maturity- so those babies were ready to enter the World. Speculative theories suggest that this is a result of Black and Asian women having smaller pelvis' thus an imperative to get the baby out before it is too big to fit. This is unproved however- and in societies such as Japan where high amounts of Omega 3's (from fish) are consumed babies tend to gestate for longer than either of the groups mentioned in this study with no difficulty entering the World. Many maternal medical conditions such as Thyroid Disease, Diabetes, Asthma, Heart Disease and Pre-Eclampsia as well as being either underweight or overweight make it more likely that babies will be born early but it is unclear how much the figures are affected by safe, planned inductions. Certainly though, for women suffering with any medical condition it is wise to optimise their medical therapies prior to conception. Post conception frequent visits to medical professionals and as much education as possible lengthens the likely period of gestation across the board, for the most and least healthy of prospective mothers.

Lifestyle factors also have their effects: use of mouthwash lengthens (bizarrely), as does good massage by licensed therapists (poor massage often having the opposite effect) and good hydration (dehydration can actually cause contractions which can then be stopped with rehydration), rest- where appropriate- and, finally, more than one year (pre-conception) on folic acid supplements. Lifestyle factors that can shorten the length of pregnancy include: heavy/ physical work, long walks and standing for more than 6 hours per day (which all potentially stretch the uterus), air pollution, anxiety, depression and suffering abuse, carbon monoxide exposure (get your appliances checked and use alarms), night shift work, and working upwards of 42 hours per week.

The most beneficial action we can take for the safe delivery of our babies is educating ourselves as much as we possibly can. So read up on your risk factors, attend as many appointments as you can squeeze out of your An increasing issue for British women is stretching and weakening of the healthcare team and don't hesitate to question them, persist where uterus which can lead to earlier births. This can be as a result of a natural brushed off (!) and flag up concerns. malformations, fibroids, an excess of amniotic fluid, previous abortions or, crucially, multiple pregnancies (twins, etc.) which are increasing in incidence as a result of IVF (in-vitro fertilisation). The adoption of specific Written by: policies in fertility treatment such as limiting the number of embryos Elizabeth Katherine Hobson implanted during transfer has been shown to decrease the number of IVF Twitter: ElizabethHobso6 babies born prematurely. Multiples (as well as the shape of a woman's Blog: http://elizabethhobson.wordpress.com

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Dear Joanne Every spring it seems we get a tummy bug, my son is 5 and picks them up from school (previously nursery) and it means he is ill for two days and then both me and my husband afterwards! I want to know how I can avoid getting them and possibly speed up our recovery, as we are in quarantine for a week!

Dear Joanne There has been a few cases of threadworms at my son's school, I really don't want us to get this as I am pregnant and could do without it! My son is 8 years old. What can I do to prevent it and if we do get it, what can we do to treat it please?

Thanks Tracey

Thanks Suzanne

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Suzanne Hmm‌ Spring is a lovely time of year but can really help harbour nasty bugs. The warm and damp weather doesn't help, same with colds!

I'd suggest very simple measures to help prevent; ensure good hygiene and hand washing, particularly for your son to follow whilst at school without being under your watchful eye! I'd also look at strengthening the immune system by taking a good pro-biotic, eating lots of fresh fruit and veg and not forgetting our lovely friends garlic and ginger! So long as there is no sensitivity to either, they both have really good anti-microbial properties and ginger is specifically indicated for digestion - hence ginger for nausea.

Chamomile tea is also good particularly f you do get struck down, it's prebiotic and anti-inflammatory to the gut so very soothing.

Hi Tracey Oh the joys of children!

Threadworms are parasites and very common with children, they are thin white thread-like worms which live in the intestines. The females lay their eggs (tend to be at night) around the anus, this makes the bum very itchy and so children are inclined to scratch, get the eggs under the fingernails and pass them on by touching other things. The eggs can last several weeks outside of the body which is not a nice thought.

With threadworms it really is hygiene again - Top tips: Keep nails short, instigate a really good hand-washing regime, keep children’s hands away from scratching their bottoms and wash pyjamas and bed-linen daily if you can. Avoiding sugar is a biggie too - the worms love a nice sugary gut so keep away from the stuff. I also put lots of raw crushed garlic in foods and use anti-microbial herbs in foods Keeping you hydrated is key, so chamomile, water or re-hydration like thyme - this helps but it's not strong enough to treat. sachets (electrolytes) is really important for you all. You know your Scratching their bums is a warning sign that they have got them, bodies and so if you are at all worried, call your GP or NHS direct. and to confirm you should check their poo - if you have threadworms then you will see little silvery strands in the stools. The worms also Wishing you the best of luck! tend to come out of the anus at night time, when it's nice and warm Joanne - so a night time bottom inspection will also confirm. Not pleasant but these things aren't.

As for treatment - if you're looking for the natural approach then Do feel free to get in touch, either by phone or email. best to contact me directly, there are allopathic over-the-counter I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. remedies available but you'll need to speak to a pharmacist or GP especially with you being pregnant. Best of luck - I do really hope t. 07729 891083 you manage to avoid them, let me know how you get on! email. info@jmherbalist.co.uk website: www.jmherbalist.co.uk

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Love Joanne

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Having children can create an opportunity for an exciting new This is where ScoutBee’s Nina and Jennie can help; during the day, they career. Proving that childbirth classes aren’t just about changing can build relationships with the estate agents on behalf of their clients, nappies and drinking coffee, two new mums have launched an identify and view opportunities early, draw up a shortlist based on the independent property search agency in Winchester. individual needs of their clients and advise when a they think a quick decision may be necessary. Once a property has been agreed on, they With two young children each, Nina Burrows and Jennie Mugridge, who can then ease the hassle of the sale or rental process, liaising with the first met at the National Childbirth Trust’s (NCT) ‘new mums classes’, solicitors and estate agents on their clients’ behalf to ensure the ‘moving have embarked on a business venture together that gives them the home’ wheel keeps turning. Personal service – and affordable service flexibility to combine motherhood and the school run with business. – is at the heart of the business, and, in a ‘sellers market’, where, Both passionate about Winchester, they now run an independent according to local estate agents, sellers can choose their pick of the property search agency, ScoutBee Ltd (www.scoutbee.co.uk), helping buyers, it is important to have someone fighting your corner and making others who don’t have the time or local knowledge to find their ideal the task of home finding less daunting. home in Winchester.

Finding a rental property with ScoutBee costs just £500 for one month The current Winchester property market is particularly buoyant, with of searching. For those wishing to purchase a home, a three-month movement from within the city as well as an ever-growing influx of search period is provided at the rate of 0.5% of the final purchase price commuters choosing the ancient capital as their home instead of (capped at £3000). enduring the inflating London prices.

As co-founder Nina Burrows explains “Winchester is a beautiful city and With convenient access, top schools and beautiful countryside, it is not widely regarded as one of the best places to live in the country. Our difficult to see why. However the majority of commuters, by their very mission is to help people find their perfect home in or around the city nature, are working long hours and have little time to spend trawling as quickly and easily as possible. As our overheads are minimal, we can the Winchester estate agents, understanding the subtle differences in offer competitive prices, whilst still providing a personal service, tailored every area of the city, and then being able to react quickly when to the needs of our clients; we are motivated by happy customers, not hefty fees”. something new comes on the market.

For more information, please contact: www.scoutbee.co.uk 01962 862033

An Irish Girl with the Golden Touch, Marissa Carter is Ireland’s most successful entrepreneur and the brains behind award-winning beauty brand Cocoa Brown (their most popular product sold out in 2 hours following the UK launch). Marissa’s beauty business initially started from the laundry room of a rented house she shared with 4 boys – one of whom is now her husband. But it wasn't until she was on maternity leave that she defied the credit crunch and followed a life-long dream to launch her own tanning brand.

Cocoa Brown 1 HOUR TAN launched in Ireland in November 2012 and became a best-seller overnight. Now stocked online at feelunique.com and in Superdrug stores nationwide, the brand and its extended product range (totalling 7) is headed for Hollywood following an invite to be the official tanning brand at the pre-Oscars 2014 gifting suite. Cocoa Brown is already stocked across Ireland and the UK in thousands of retailers, including Penneys, Primark, Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Superquinn, as well as on all Aer Lingus flights worldwide. With one bottle of Cocoa Brown sold every three minutes across Ireland and the UK, and a product line already extending to over 7 different products, Marissa truly is one to watch. Guests who attended the announcement of the winners at The Royal Hospital Kilmainham included Ireland’s RTÉ Radio

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1’s George Lee and Marian Finucane; Lucinda Creighton; designer Heidi Higgins; Sonya Lennon; and PR Sonia Reynolds.

With no finance and little means to make it happen – other than faith in a great product and determination – Cocoa Brown has become a multi-million pound business in just 12 months. Alongside driving her thriving brand forward with best friend and brand leader Sarah, Marissa is also a beauty expert for Ireland’s Daybreak-equivalent, Irish Parenting’s beauty editor and Mum to one year old Charlie.

Melanie Morris, editor-in-chief of IMAGE, was delighted to host the seventh annual IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards at The Royal Hospital Kilmainham, saying “In a particularly challenging business environment, it’s hugely refreshing to see the enormous contribution of women to Irish business and professional life. The calibre of this year’s winners, and their drive, determination and business sense in tough times make them inspirational ambassadors for all Irish women. We would like to congratulate [our winners] on their hard-earned and well-deserved accolades.” For more information, please visit:

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It’s impossible to separate play and learning !

The clever kit gives parents everything they need to create structured, fun playtime sessions with developmental benefits. Packed with original music and enchanting stories, parents will feel confident in their role as baby’s ultimate playmate, and babies will have a great time at the same time as learning. One of the reasons music goes hand in hand with play, explains Dr Todd is that that ‘the regular rhythms help to pace play and babies will learn to eagerly anticipate the appearance of actions and activities which accompany songs.’ She also adds that music can help babies learn how words are used and can help develop memory, as With so many educational toys on the market, parents are naturally sounds, words and actions are all integrated. As babies grow parents tempted to buy lots to ensure their baby is permanently entertained can progress through the lessons, with each one adding new and and intellectually stimulated. Dr Todd, the expert behind Babycademy, exciting elements as they go. an educational playtime kit for parents, explains that actually, all parents need to create engaging playtime is confidence and a little guidance. Founder Bernice commented; ‘When I came up with the concept for She goes on to explain that something as simple as a game of ‘peek-a- Babycademy I trusted my own instincts as a parent, but it was so boo’ or passing an object to and fro can engage and interest a baby. interesting to learn more about the psychology of play from Dr Todd.

Although parents may not feel their baby is ready to ‘play’ Dr Todd says The fact that we developed the product together means we have really that ‘Right from the start, you can support your baby’s enjoyment and covered all bases, and parents really can be confident that all the their learning about the world around them with simple one to one activities in the kit are totally beneficial to them and their baby. It’s interactions full of smiles and fun.’ Everything is new and exciting, and really great to know that playtime does not have to be full of gadgets it’s all really important for building relationships and attitude to both and electronic toys!’ play and learning. These might not seem like ‘fun’ activities but they are to small babies who learn by exploring the world around them.

Play and learning go hand in hand for babies according to Dr Brenda Todd, leading child development expert and academic psychologist. She explains that even the simplest of play activities almost always serve developmental aims, even if they are not immediately obvious.

Dr Todd explains that in the early stages babies enjoy and learn from routine and repetition interspersed with gentle surprises. Simple things like banging two objects together or shaking a rattle provide endless entertainment, and teach baby that their actions can make interesting things happen. Although these simple actions may seem easy to initiate, many parents do need some support and guidance to ensure they are confident in their own ability to create fun and varied play sessions. This is exactly why Bernice and Dr Todd teamed up, to create Music Time, the first in a series of innovative toolkits for young families.

www.babycademy.co.uk

Bringing gorgeousness back to maternitywear …

Now that the storms have passed and spring is starting to blossom, it’s time for mums-to-be to ensure their maternity wardrobes are blooming in time for the warmer temperatures.

Jules Canterbury, owner of Britain’s first luxury maternity lingerie company Amoralia, said all women loved updating their wardrobes for the new season but that mums-to be were particularly sensitive to a change in temperature – especially at night – and would need to invest in some key essentials to help them cool down.

“There is nothing more important when you’re pregnant than feeling comfortable at night, particularly when it’s hot and you’re somewhat bothered!” said Jules.

“One of the essentials to invest in and one which women often forget is a good pair of pyjamas.

They are a spring and summer staple in a maternity wardrobe because they are multifunctional throughout pregnancy and during those early stages of being a new mum. Look for pieces that combine comfort and style with fabric that will accommodate a growing bump and which you will be happy to wear when your first visitors pop round.” Its new spring collection includes key pieces that allow expectant mums to chill out

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while still looking and feeling great and include transitional must-haves that work for pregnancy, hospital stays and even welcoming visitors when the new addition first arrives home. The Daddy PJ short set is the perfect pairing for coping with hotter temperatures and a blossoming bump. The super soft stretchy fabric will accommodate a changing body shape while the short sleeved-top and flattering shorts are ideal for keeping cool. The Amoralia cami and pyjama set doubles up as both nightwear and loungewear, again in the most comfortable of fabrics and with an in-built shelf bra for nursing. The strappy-style of the cami is top of everyone’s list for those spring and summer basics. For the ultimate in support when it comes to keeping cool and calm during those hot and sweaty nights when pregnancy hormones are running riot, invest in the Second Skin Organic sleep bra. Breathable so you get less sweaty is it also designed for easy nursing at night with a crossover front design. Added Jules: “Each item in our maternity nightwear collection has been carefully created to look great, flatter those pregnancy curves and support you through breastfeeding which all adds up to feeling naturally comfortable.

“All women love that luxury of feeling relaxed and at ease and it helps if you also feel able to brave any of the elements, including the heat.”

Amoralia (www.amoralia.com) was founded in 2005 and is now stocked in more than 150 outlets across Europe, including all 11 UK branches of Kiddicare.

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11 Top Tips for Looking after Your Children’s Teeth !

Our children’s health is extremely important to us and we all want to ensure that their teeth and gums stay healthy. Children’s dental hygiene can be confusing and with children developing new teeth at a rapid rate, it can be a tricky to determine the best hygiene solutions for them. There are lots of simple things you can adopt into your child’s everyday routine that will make a big difference to their oral health, putting them in good stead for the future. Here, Sameer Patel, Clinical Director at award-winning, highly specialist dental and orthodontics practice, elleven, offers his top tips on how to look after your children’s teeth…

1.

Brushing- Brushing teeth removes stains, plaque and bacteria on the teeth and gums, plus toothpaste that contains fluoride will help keep the enamel in the teeth strong. Make sure your children brush their teeth twice a day and change their toothbrush at least every two to three months. When teaching your children how to brush their teeth, try showing them in front of a mirror so they can see the areas they are brushing and the technique used. Your child should be brushing in a circular motion cleaning the gum and the tooth.

Be careful not to use the brush too hard to ensure you don’t wear away the gum.

2.

Flossing- Many parents are unsure as to when a child should start flossing their teeth but the answer is simple. As soon as two of your children’s teeth touch they should begin flossing.

Make sure that you practice the flossing technique with them to ensure effective plaque removal, going deep in between the teeth until they reach the gum and moving the floss either side of the tooth several times to dislodge any plaque.

3.

Eat their way to healthy teeth- Dairy products are great for keeping the enamel in teeth strong. Enamel is very similar to bone and can be kept strong with calcium found in dairy so make sure they drink plenty of milk and eat lots of yoghurt to strengthen teeth from a young age.

4.

Regular check-ups- Take your child to the dentist when they're as young as possible and at least once by the time they're two. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can help to prevent decay and identify any health problems at an early stage.

5.

Water- This is the best drink possible for your children as it is pure and also helps wash away any bacteria from their mouth. Steer clear of fizzy drinks as these are full of sugar ad are harmful to teeth enamel. Also be aware of fruit juice as although you think it may be a healthy option for your children, it is full of sugar which in the long term will cause tooth decay.

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6.

Sugar- Everyone knows that sugar is bad for teeth but did you know that there is lots of hidden sugar in foods that are considered to be healthy? You may be surprised to hear that bread contains a lot of sugar as do yoghurts and ready meals.

Always read the label on food packaging and look for alternatives with less sugar.

7.

‘H’ for Hygiene – Regular hygienist appointments will help to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The hygienist will be able to give your children’s teeth a thorough clean, something of which they cannot achieve by brushing and flossing alone.

8.

Healthy Snacks- When considering giving your child a snack you need to ensure that it is healthy and low in sugar. Try giving them plain popcorn as a snack as not only is it naturally low in fat, if eaten after a meal it can be very beneficial. The texture of the popcorn acts as natural toothbrush removing some of the harmful bacteria your child may have eaten during their meal.

9.

Thumb sucking- Thumb sucking is very common habit for children but as their permanent teeth develop, sucking their thumb will cause the teeth to be pushed outwards, resulting in them needing to have orthodontic work. Try to encourage your children to stop as young as possible.

10. Milk before bed– You may be surprised but drinking milk before bed time is very bad for teeth. Although milk is great for growing bones and teeth, the sugars in milk will cause tooth decay as your child sleeps. The reason behind this is that your saliva glands stop working when you are asleep, resulting in your child saliva not able to break down the bacteria in their mouth.

11. Straighten up their smile- Did you know that straighter teeth are easier to keep clean reducing the risk of long term gum disease and dental decay? Not only is straighter teeth important for your child’s self-esteem, having straight teeth are also easier to clean and can will reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. With the latest technology, your child now has several different brace options from lingual, invisalign and the traditional Damon braces.

www.ellevendental.com

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