May - June issue 2014

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EDITORS LETTER How is everyone doing? I hope you all had a good Easter break and your children have all settled back in at school. I’ve had a busy few weeks so far what with celebrating my littlest one’s 3�� birthday and about to celebrate my oldest daughter’s 13�� birthday (boy do I feel old …)

We have an extremely packed issue this month full of editorials, exclusives, features and an extended ‘Reviews’ and ‘Clothing’ section but we also kick-start our Home & Furnishings feature pages in finding out all the latest furniture and accessories for your child and also your home. This month we are showcasing Room to Grow, a fabulous company who really have amazing products (most of which are within the average / affordable price bracket I hasten to add!) Next month we are also launching our ‘Guide to Family Travel’ where we will find the best deals, the best accessories - in fact just everything you need to make your family holiday as easy and stress free as possible.

We have a fabulous interview with Apprentice Winner Tom Pellereau as our Celebrity Parent in Business and next month we are looking forward to featuring Michelle Heaton in anticipation of her Fitness DVD being showcased at the Baby Show, Birmingham this weekend. Perhaps our biggest piece of exciting news is that we have a new resident fitness expert on our panel, Ruben Tabares! Ruben is one of the most in-demand strength and conditioning coaches in the world and he boasts a client list with the likes of the former World Heavyweight Champion Boxer David Haye. Former light welterweight champion, Amir Khan. Actor Mickey Rourke and rapper Tinie Tempah, Ruben's world-renowned approach to weight loss, strength and condition, as well as nutrition, continues to attract some of the most elite clients from around the world and now we have the privilege of getting his insight, knowledge and experience to guide us too!

Company No: 8234631 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

Wishing you all a wonderful month,

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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Baby Buzz Magazine Limited London

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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Exclusives P.24 Kids want an extra hour in school - with Weetabix and Mo Farah Ultimate Sports Day - Enter for your chance to win!!

P.42 Happy Fathers Day to these and all the wonderful daddy’s out there!

P.46 Make a wish Kids Drawing Campaign judged by Peter Andre Lifestyle P.06 Little Signers Club - Signing Fun for Everyone P.15 Rocket Lawyer - Legal Advice P.16 Denise Van Outen joins Alton Towers Resort for Cbeebie’s P.18 National Smile Month - Giraffe!

Beckham children named as most stylish P.20 Top Tips to be School Satchel Savvy - with The Money Advice Service P.29 Which? Top 10 Car Seat Fitting Checks P.32 Being the last one picked, by Kristen Harding P.34 My Letter to You… P.35 One Plus One - Splitting Up? Put Kids First P.36 UK First Time Parents spend £492 million preparing for baby!

P.73 Leapfrog launches LeapBand Shnuggle joins iCandy as Red Dot Design winner P.74 Three words to remember, by Truprint Lack of sign ups to Government free parenting course!

P.75 Vivofoot - One Step Ahead!

Fashion Focus P.20 Little Fashion Gallery - Re-launches website

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Business & Successes P.07 Parents in Business P.07 Enterprising Mums - Getting Social Media Right P.13 Celebrity Parent Profile - Tom Pellereau P.22 Cuddledry - Celebrates more global success P.48 Business Card Directory Section P.79 And the Awards go to… Belle Enfants

Food & Recipes P.30 Cut the Junk from our Children’s Food P.38 Organix Recipes

News & Reviews P.50 Book Reviews - Toddlers - 6 Years P.51 Book Reviews - For the Parents P.52 Book Reviews - For School Age P.53 Travel System & Pushchair Reviews P.55 Maternity Wear - Tiffany Rose P.56 Health & Beauty Reviews P.57 Baby Products & Essentials Reviews P.58 Fun & Games Reviews P.59 Food, Kitchen & Gadget Reviews P.60 Restaurant Reviews - Giraffe P.69 Travel Accessories Reviews P.71 VW - Car Review

Shopping & Gift Guide P.61 Tiffany Rose - The Latest Collection P.62 Ava James - Timeless Clothing for your child P.63 Vertbaudet - The AW14 Collection P.64 WeLoveFrugi - The latest fashions P.65 Home & Furnishings - Showcasing Room to Grow P.66 Fathers Day Gift Guide P.81 Tots Amaze -Fun, funky beds

Health & Wellbeing P.21 Sleep, A View from the Other Side Child Sleep Works P.26 Healthy Mum, Happy Baby - Ruben Tabares P.28 Allergy UK - Lactose Intolerance?

Regulars P.31 Jo Megilley - Q&A’s P.05 Welcome to the World Feature P.33 Human Race - Cycletta Exclusive P.48 The Buggy Network - Chin Up - Butter P.37 Birth Your Way, Michelle Eshkeri Cup P.44 One size does not fit all!

P.70 Busy Bees Benefits - Plan now for the P.47 Murad - Taking care of your skin the Summer Holidays right way!

P.76 How much damage? By Elizabeth P.49 A Labour of Love, by Abi Adams Hobson.

P.78 5 Top Reasons For Dads to carry their baby - By Slumberoo Baby Buzz Family Travel Guide P.67 Embers Camping - Launches new site Grow & Keep Your Own P.68 Lapping up the luxury in Tenerife!

P.40 The Baby Buzz Get Growing Challenge P.77 By George - UK Toddlers are Taking Off! P.41 Dawn Isaac - Top Tips for May/June

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Photography by Johanna Urschel

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At Enterprising Mums, we aim to support and inspire each other through our networking meetings. In the second of our new regular advice column here in Baby Buzz magazine, we hope to help you get your social media right.

Getting social media right - Facebook..

Upload a suitable cover image. This could be a bespoke image that advertises your business, a product shot or maybe a library image, but do make sure you have the right to use it, or risk a hefty fine.

Upload a professional profile image - this should either be a head and shoulders shot or your company logo.

Secure your custom URL as soon as you’re able to. This is essential as you’ll need to publicise your Facebook URL on all your printed material, business cards, email signatures etc.

Now you’re ready to get started. The first thing to do is search for some similar businesses and look at how they use Facebook. Decide what you like, what works and what doesn’t, and that will give you a really good starting point. Try and plan for some of your content around relevant awareness days, key events on the calendar, promotions you are running, and then keep up to date with current affairs, so you can Social media is a great way for you to market your business and is still comment on things that may be relevant. The key aims are not only to one of the least expensive forms of advertising available to you. There increase your ‘Likes’, but also to engage with your Likers and have a are a lot of social media options out there – Twitter, Instagram, Google conversation with them, so they keep coming back to your Page. +, Pinterest and Facebook to name but a few. This month, Lesley from Lesley Whiteman Social Media and Committee Member and Local Finally, visit my facebook page at: Leader for Enterprising Mums gives you her 7.5 Top Tips for getting https://www.facebook.com/lesleywhitemansocialmedia started with Facebook for your business click on Like and ask me if you’re not sure about anything.

Happy Facebooking!

Set up a Page for your business. Profiles are for personal use, Pages are for business. If Facebook catch you breaking the rules that you agreed For more information on Enterprising Mums networking groups or to to when you signed up (you know, the ones that no one bothers to read) set up a networking group yourself, please visit: they’ll close it, without warning!

Website: www.enterprising-mums.co.uk Aim to have three admins for your Page. Make sure you REALLY trust Twitter: @enterprisemums. them, as they‘ll have exactly the same ability as you to post as your Page, or even delete it!

Fully complete your “About” section.

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Who is behind the Product?

Blue Almonds is the brainchild of Polish businesswoman Izabela Minkiewicz who left her high flying career in hedge funds to pursue her dream of building a business and brand that would complement her new lifestyle as a mother-tobe. With a six-year old son herself, Iza knows all too well the struggles of juggling a business with motherhood. Along with her team, she is the creative force behind all the bespoke children’s interiors and works flawlessly to interpret the clients’ vision.

What is the company about?

Blue Almonds first opened its doors on Walton Street in the chic Knightsbridge area almost seven years ago. The boutique is all about bespoke children’s interiors perfect for modern, light, pastel coloured rooms that parents and children alike fall in love with. Be it drawings of gently grazing animals for the young adventurer or gorgeous naval stripes for a budding seafarer, Blue Almonds caters to all luxury tastes and what’s more, our highly customised and quality hand-decorated furniture can be specifically tailored to the client’s taste with a choice of over 2,000 colours and a number of collections from Pine wood to choose from, meaning we can offer the exact details which they are looking for.

mother myself, I know only too well the time constraints that many women face on a daily basis – so much so that even shopping seems to move down the list of priorities! What’s more, Blue Almonds is set to move to an even bigger store this summer to keep up with the increasing demand. We will stay on Walton Street but the new store will be 60% bigger – we can’t wait!

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

The highlight of starting my own company definitely had to be when Kate Middleton came to the store while pregnant with the soon to be royal baby. She had her mother Carole in tow acting as her ‘trusted advisor’ and they spent lots of time browsing all our collections. Our beautiful range, The Royal Collection, was inspired by The Duchess’s pregnancy, “The Royal Collection” and the luxe line of nursery furniture and accessories is made from the finest materials and fabrics.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?

The most difficult aspect I have found has been timing. My business was in the very early stages when I had my baby which meant I never got a good maternity break – there was just too much to do so I didn’t really get a chance to take a break from the business to spend enough time with my son. This is continuous as I am always working inside my head – there is little downtime and always too little time for the family. It’s great being busy but it would have been ideal if the timing had been a bit more fortunate!

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

What do you hope to achieve?

You need to learn to accept that fact that you will have to spend a lot Blue Almonds has been going from strength-to-strength since its of time juggling your business and your family life and children – be opening and we are aiming to grow exponentially over the coming confident in your ability to find this balance and don’t wreck yourself seasons. We started off producing just bespoke interiors and now we with guilt. You can only do your best! have extended to childrenswear and accessories too to complete the look. We hope to appeal to a whole host of interior desires, from those For more information please contact: who want to go for a traditional, rustic approach with woven wicker Moses baskets to tumbling fluffy teddy bears and stunning cribs.

Blue Almonds is keen to expand its international reach and the launch of our new e-commerce site is the perfect way to take this forward. As well as making our beautiful products available to those outside of London, the site also aims to provide a friendly and enjoyable experience for mothers and their friends to shop online for the newest and most desirable treasures for their little bundles of joy. As a working

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Website: Email: Facebook: Twitter:

http://www.bluealmonds.co.uk/ info@bluealmonds.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Almonds https://twitter.com/BlueAlmonds

We have a fantastic ‘15% off’ offer on Ready-to-Wear & Accessories when you quote “Baby Buzz” at check out!!

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How did the company get started?

I was born in Argentina and my father ran his own business for many years so it’s in my blood to start something. And after working in Television for 15 years and having 3 children, I decided it was time to start a business myself. I wanted to work in something that I am passionate about rather than following somebody else’s vision.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

The freedom to do what I want is precious but its took a long time to get where I am today. Selling items right across the world from Australia, South Korea, China, Japan, Chile, US, Canada, Iceland and all over Europe and of course to my amazing customers in the UK, it’s amazing how the web makes you global while my heart loves the interaction with my local customers.

What is the company about?

My aim is to offer something different for my customers so they are happy, my aim is to make the customer experience as good as What has been the downside of starting your own company? possible. I offer a very warm welcome in the shop and am always Being responsible for everything is a downside and when you are willing to offer advice if needed. small, I am building a small team but you have to be prepared to get the call at 2am <x-apple-data-detectors://0> because the shop alarm Many of the children’s clothes I liked when I had started Hop like a is going off and everything in between.

Bunny had limited or no distribution in the UK, there were many good stores and web sites that sell one brand but, with Hop like a Bunny, What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their you get a few pieces from many of the best children’s clothes own business? manufacturers. In addition, I have a personal crusade for giving boys Spend as much time as you can researching your market; you can better options for looking cool; my 11 year old son is always wanting never do enough excel schedules on cash flow. Make sure you have the latest things from the shop. It’s not about spending a lot of money enough cash to get you through the times when you need to invest - I carry clothes across all price ranges, there is a lot of me in all the and try to be as cold as you can about making decisions. Try to not items I choose for the shop and my customers appreciate that. let your heart and passion for something make you lose your sense of reality. It’s tough to do start ups in business but when it works, it’s What do you hope to achieve? very rewarding.

Most parents do not have the time to think, let alone choose clothes, shows and furniture for their children. I visit the large trade shows and choose a collection for Hop Like a Bunny which is the best of love For more information please contact: from the designers such as Simple Kids, Bellerose, Finger in the Rose, Cristina Rhode, Angulus. I believe these companies are outstanding Website: http://www.hoplikeabunny.co.uk/ as I am not good at taking second best in anything. I spend a lot of Email: info@hoplikeabunny.co.uk time putting the collections together so customers can buy an item Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hop-like-a-Bunny/ of a whole outfit including shoes, coats and now furniture so there Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopLikeABunny1 is a lot of me in what I do. On a most simple level, I hope customers like what I do and come back, that is the essence of my mission. The second is that if it’s a single item purchase or a whole outfit in my shop or website that their children will be happy to wear, if the children are happy then I think I will have achieved something too!

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Chris also specialises in weight loss and helped mum of 5 Kim Lee lose five stone in 6 months!

Who is behind the Product?

Me, Chris Tuck

What has been the highlight of starting your own company? My Breaking The Cycle Clean Living Programme provides a safe place where people can express themselves in a supportive, confidential How did the company get started? environment. This is the starting point of positive change for most I was working as an accountant in a rehab and psychiatric centre when people. One of our group posted this just a couple of days ago. I think I suffered my own breakdown in 2000. I had grown up in an abusive she says it better than me, each person I am able to help is a ‘highlight’. home, was starved, emotionally abused and neglected throughout my childhood. Aged 30 while outwardly leading a normal life, a working “I just wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on here. I have been professional, married with two children my past finally caught up with feeling free from my past for a while now but today was the first time me.

I woke up and felt REALLY free I don't think about it I don't have nightmares I don't have flashbacks. I really am a survivor. I can talk I helped heal my past through nutrition and fitness. Survivors of abuse about the future and not the past I can live for the future and not in the are often very poor at nurturing themselves as they are so depleted of past thanks to each and everyone of you. I will still be on here to try and any kind of self-worth. For the next 10 years I studied nutrition and help others I feel so alive and happy and hope one day all of you will fitness and trained with some of the leading experts in the field. I feel the same.” created my nutrition & fitness business and launched my Breaking The Cycle Clean Living Programme because I wanted to help others who What has been the downside of starting your own company? Every were also suffering, not only survivors of abuse but anyone with poor time I hear someone’s story it can trigger me back into those unhappy self-image and low self-esteem which often leads to emotional over- childhood years. I have to manage that quite carefully making sure that eating, and/or self-medication through smoking, alcohol, or drugs; in I don’t get too tired and become overwhelmed and that I am able to short poor choices that keep people stuck and prevent them from stay resourceful. I’ll go and take a walk with the dog bringing myself leading happy and fulfilled lives. back in to the present.

As part of my recovery I also wrote a book about my experiences called ‘Through The Eyes Of A Child’. All proceeds go towards funding my Survivors of Abuse Charity which supports survivors with access to therapy and counselling.

What is the company about? Helping people overcome the challenges that face them in their lives through mindset, nutrition and fitness. Low self-esteem and low self-confidence often manifests through overeating, self-loathing and an inability to form and healthy and lasting relationships.

What do you hope to achieve? I want to help as many people as possible to lead happy and fulfilled lives by breaking the cycle of whatever is holding them back. When we are stuck in a rut we know that we are not happy but we don’t necessarily understand how we can change.

Usually self-love isn’t there so I start by helping people to love themselves initially through nutrition and fitness. Thankfully not everyone has been abused as a child but the issues of poor self-esteem are endemic in our society today.

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

Have passion about whatever you are choosing to do because there will be lots of rocky times. It will take longer than you think and cost more money. Make sure you invest in yourself with education and training to become the best that you can be in your field. There will inevitably be set-backs and at times you will be out of your comfort zone massively; commit to see it through. All successful people have had times when they want to throw in the towel and give up. So persist, surround yourself with the right people. If want something badly enough you will achieve it.

For more information please contact: Website: Email: Facebook: Twitter:

http://www.survivors-of-abuse.org/ info@survivors-of-abuse.org https://www.facebook.com/CT.WWHF https://twitter.com/ChrisTuck_WWHF

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What is the company about?

I’m Joanne, a busy working mum to two pre-school girls Erin and Florence. Aside from their father, I have a love affair with retro design. I am highly influenced by Scandinavian design and particularly love the designs from the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.

Having spotted a gap in the market for retro inspired children’s products, I set about creating a one stop shop for all things retro and a little bit quirky, you may even find a vintage inspired item or two!

How did the company get started?

I took a voluntary redundancy opportunity. Having two pre-school girls, I decided to try and create the perfect work-life balance us parents all crave!

Childcare costs amounting to £1,300 a month made it very attractive and an opportunity I just couldn’t pass. I purchased the domain name www.retrokids.com in December 2013 and whilst still working full time, set about sourcing the perfect retro inspired products that compliments each other. I finished work mid-February and have been able to concentrate more time on Retro Kids.

Who is behind the Product?

All products have been especially handpicked from very talented independent artists and top quality brands and some smaller brands trying to break out into the market, all of which I am proud to promote and sell. It was important to me that all the products chosen were ethically produced too. Many of the clothes are made from Organic cotton with labels carrying the Fair Trade, GOTS or Oeko-Tex certificate, which means it’s nothing but the very best for your little ones. The vast majority of the British products are made right here in Britain, helping to support local industries. The European brands all use ethical factories of which many are based in Europe.

I have spent a lot of time sourcing the perfect stock and seeking out talented artists. It’s a very enjoyable part of my daily workload. I have found my products from many different sources, from spotting something great on a blog, in a magazine, when on holiday or via word of mouth. I choose items that I love and hope that you will love them as much as I do. I don’t stock anything that I wouldn’t

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be happy to have for our own children or give as presents to family or friends.

Currently my range of stock consists of: • retro inspired children’s clothing (0-6) • accessories • gifts • greeting cards and gift wrap • soft furnishings • toys • nursery & bedroom wall art.

What do you hope to achieve?

I hope to establish a successful business doing what I love best and that is sourcing the best retro inspired products for the design conscious parents who appreciate products that aren’t mainstream and a little bit different! I would love to have a physical presence on the high street in time, I don’t believe the high street is completely dead and appreciate people still want to feel and touch products.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

I hadn’t realised how creative I am and I have been heavily involved in the logo and website design, to see the end result and know that I have played a significant role in the overall outcome has been amazing!

I am also proud how the products look collectively that I have independently sourced.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?

As a parent, you always feel guilty if you are not down on the floor playing with your children giving them your undivided attention. It has been extremely difficult at times to magic another 24 hours in the day to get all the things that need looked at immediately, whether that’s a clothing order deadline you need to place or dealing with technical issues out of your control.

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

You need to have an extremely good support network. The ability to be super organised and to give yourself some slack and also remind yourself why you are working so hard. You reap what you sow.

Listen to everyone’s advice but don’t take all of it and make good use of all the free business support networks out there.

Network network network!

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For more information please contact: Website: Tel: Email: Facebook: Twitter:

www.retrokids.com 0333 3583 228 info@retrokids.com www.facebook.com/retrokidsonline twitter.com/Retrokidsonline

We have a fantastic ‘10% off’ any first orders, just quote “BABYBUZZ10” to redeem!

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Who is behind the Product?

The concept of hair extensions has been around since the time of Cleopatra so if would be unfair to say that I am behind the idea of hair extensions. That said, I would like to think of myself as the face of Tatiana Hair Extensions as our concept is very much based on several unique selling points which I have developed.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

There are many high points so it is hard to single out just one. From providing a fun, comfortable and stable workplace for our employees, to achieving recognition in the way of referrals from our competitors in the U.S. and Australia to experiencing tremendous growth year-over-year, these are all definite highlights. But if I had to How did the company get started? single one out. It would be the fact that we have The idea to start the company was a result of been able to impact the lives of over 20,000 spending several years working in a prominent women by giving them the self-confidence that The Only Way is Essex - Jessica Wright salon - I simply believed that I could do it better. is instilled in long hair.

After leaving the salon I started to work from home in order to minimise financial risk. After a What has been the downside of starting your while it got to big so we moved into our first own company? salon. We are now into our second larger London The difficulties in starting a business is was salon, have a second branch in Manchester and probably accepting risk. It took me a long time are set to open up in Los Angeles after the baby to save the monies required to open up my first is born. salon and then it was gone in an instant. If the business had failed my life would have been very What is the company about? different.

In two words - hair extensions. This is the only thing we do. I always believed that if I What would your advice be to any parent concentrated on one product or service it would wanting to start up their own business? be easier to master.

Be passionate about your business. Being a parent is a full-time job in itself and quite often it What do you hope to achieve? is hard to find the time, energy and enthusiasm I never set out with any definitive goals. I was for â&#x20AC;&#x153;workâ&#x20AC;?. If you are passionate about the The Only Way is Essex - Lauren Goodger always passionate about hair, beauty and fashion product or service your business provides then and this seemed at the time like the best outlet finding the time becomes so much easier. to express myself. That said, as with any company For more information please contact: I wanted to be financially successful but also believed that we could accomplish this whilst at Website: http://www.tatianahairextensions.co.uk/ the same time behaving towards our clients and Tel: 020 7937 1989 competitors in a socially responsible manner.

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Celebrity Parent Profile: Tom Pellereau How did winning The Apprentice change your life?

Yes. A record 10 million people watch me win the Apprentice and it’s incredible that 3 year on people still recognise me in the street. Working for Lord Sugar is a fantastic opportunity. He is a genius! He is insightful, has great experience and has helped to guide me in the right direction.

What you see is most definitely what you get with Lord Sugar. Of course he can be a little demanding at times and he definitely keeps me in check, but that is all part of the experience What is your goal for the next few years?

In September 2014 we launch 5 new inventions! I’ve been working on them night and day for the last 6 months and I can’t wait to show people. In 2015 we have more planned. Hopefully I can continue to excite and solve real problems for people. What I love most is seeing people’s faces as they hopefully go ‘wow’ when trying the idea !

Perfectly Stylfile’d fingers crossed.

About Booktrust How did you get involved with Book Trust?

Following the birth of my first baby and launch of my first baby product in June, Booktrust kindly invited me to get involved. I feel incredibly privileged and totally un qualified compared to the other judges. But it was a great process. I’m looking forward to the winner being announced.

What do you look for as essential qualities within a children’s book?

Engagement, creative and a great story.

Who is behind the Product?

Lord Sugar and me!

Why is children’s literature so important to you?

How did the company get started?

After winning the BBC Apprentice, Lord Sugar and I started the business. Education and interaction. As a dyslexic I really struggled with reading when I was young. But reading is vital. Fun books make learning to read so much easier. Secondly, bed time story’s are one of the best times for What is the company about? parents and children to interact. We all remember our parents reading Inventing smart ideas that make life easier. stories to us when we were young. When reading there are now distractions, phone calls or TV’s to distract you. In our busy, constantly What do you hope to achieve?

Cutting babies nails is often a daunting and traumatic experience which connected this time is priceless. Story time is the best. can result in injuries to both baby and parent. Babies nails grow really quickly and need cutting once a week. Babies often end up with Tom is a judge for the Booktrust Best Book Awards with Amazon in July. scratches on their or their parents faces! The Nipper Clipper helps in For more information visit www.booktrust.org.uk three ways: the safety spy hole lets you see exactly what you’re cutting, whilst our app Timmy Tickle Baby helps distract active babies. Finally, the curved S-file baby gently smoothes baby nails after clipping.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

Working along side Lord Sugar has been an incredible experience. But the highlight has to be seeing my inventions on the shelves at Sainsburys, Boots, Tesco, Mothercare and from May John Lewis.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?

Not being able to turn off. Night and day you have to stay focused, strong and creative.

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

Do your research and be ready for the long haul. Don’t expect to get your product into any store for a min or 12 months. I would strongly suggest you keep your day job for as long as possible. Start your business in the evenings and weekends.

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For more information please contact: Website: http://www.tompellereau.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tompellereau Twitter: https://twitter.com/inventor_tom

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Who is behind the Product?

Streetz Ahead was founded by me, Elizabeth Lahav, in 1995. My passion was to provide high quality dance and performance training for young people. Regardless of any financial, social, emotional or any other barrier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and I was determined to reach the kids that had a thirst for dance and performance. My sister Olivia Wakeford, joined in November 2013 as General Manager to help with running the charity.

How did the company get started?

I have always had a passion for dance and as a child I enjoyed teaching the local kids on my road. When I got older, I used to hire the local church hall and started to teach on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, I hated dance as a child as I hated wearing leotards and I didn't enjoy Mrs Millers's tap and ballet classes as she was so strict - I hated that she chose the best kids to always stand in the middle or at the front - I was petrified of her blue front door every time my mum took me there. I think this must have played an important part in the ethos behind Streetz Ahead. When I came to my final year at university reading Education and Dance at Middlesex university, I discovered a man called Jacques D'amboise who was a former member of the New York City ballet, he decided to go into tough schools in inner city New York and teach a style of dance that would attract mainly boys. I was fascinated by his work and I asked to follow him for a week so that I could base my final year dissertation on his organisation - The National Dance Institute. I spent a fascinating week there shadowing him.

Our first meeting was on Monday morning when I was sat in a huge auditorium in a school in New Jersey and he hadn't turned up so I offered to teach the kids waiting on the stage he suddenly entered the room to gasps from the kids and he then instructed me to continue - at the end of the class he called up his partner and told her that there was a young lady from London here and that he wanted to fly me out to New Mexico to teach - he then took me to a local cafe, ordered chicken soup and heard my story of how I wanted to take the NDI to London. He took my hand and told me that I didn't need him and that I could do it all by myself. It was a memorable moment that I will never forget and it was the inspiration I needed to set up Streetz Ahead in London.

What is the company about?

Streetz Ahead now teaches over 300 children every week throughout North London in Barnet, Enfield, Wood Green, Tottenham, Crouch End, Woodford and St Albans. Classes are provided in schools, after school and evening classes at The Chocolate Factory in Wood Green. Streetz Ahead also puts on two productions each year in large theatres to give the kids a chance to show their parents all their hard work. Saturday Performing Arts Clubs and Summer schemes are also available.

What do you hope to achieve?

My plan is to continue providing high quality dance training and performances but I also want to raise the profile of the dance musicals that I am writing. These musicals are to give the opportunity to young talented dedicated kids who have a real passion for performance. The musicals are innovative and unique using dance, song, acting, film, rap and mime. I personally write the scripts, music and lyrics and I also teach, devise and direct the shows. I want to provide high quality dance theatre for young people and families that is memorable, funny and skillful.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?

The amazing quality about Streetz Ahead is that the kids stay with us for years. Shane Sloane has been with us for 10 years and has just become our apprentice. That's what makes the job worth while.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?

The downside is trying to run a company with not a lot of money. The principles of Streetz Ahead is to provide subsidized dance training to allow access for all. The answer is not to raise fees as I am trying to attract the young people that love dance but may not be able to afford it. The answer is to get funding which is very time consuming but it has to be done!!

We also offer pop video parties, the idea is to raise money to help subsidise Streetz Ahead.

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

I believe that if you have an idea to start a company, the first thing I would do would be to research your competition and find out why you might be different or find out what you can offer to make it more appealing than your competition. Another important factor would be to ask people what they want, when you know you have a market place, it's so much easier to get that back up and support you really need once you know what others need and want.

With 6 children between me and my sister we have to fit everything around school hours and term time. Running your own company is really hard work, but we are able to drop off and pick up our kids from school and be with them during the holidays. That is the benefit of starting your own business. Your work fits around your personal life so it is all worthwhile and in turn makes your job so rewarding.

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For more information please contact: E: info@streetzahead.org Tel: 07956 987 387 W: www.streetzahead.org F: www.facebook.com/StreetzAhead.org Registered Charity 1078388 14

How stay-at-home parents can use legal documents to their financial advantage…

Author: Mark Edwards, General Manager at www.rocketlawyer.co.uk, an online legal service providing families and businesses with easy-to-use, professional legal documents and affordable help from specialist lawyers.

As parents, we know the feeling all too well. Money is tight and time is sparse and there’s only so much we can squeeze out of our income, so we have to turn to more innovative ways of making a bit of extra cash.

One way is to use legal documents to our financial advantage and here are our top tips on how you can do it yourself Rent out your car parking space Renting out your parking space can be a good way of raising some extra cash. You can advertise your parking space for free on Gumtree (www.gumtree.com/parking-garage), or there are websites that will manage the advertising and rental for you for a price. It's best to put things in writing from the start by creating a car parking licence so that everyone is clear on where they stand. The licence helps you to formalise the arrangement and be sure of getting the space back when you want to and it covers everything from the fee to your and the licensee’s responsibilities and indemnity for all claims arising from the use of the space.

side, as well as ensuring you can easily get the room back or have a lodger leave when you need to.

Turn your spare room into an office If you work from home or operate through a limited company, you can formalise the arrangement by creating a home office space contract for yourself, so you can claim back the overheads in running the business for tax purposes. Such contracts cover the fee payable for the space, the rights given to the user as well as termination details so you can get your space or room back when you need it.

Rent out your property as a holiday home If you’re going to be away from home for a while, why not rent out your home for the duration you’ll be away? Not only will you be earning a bit of extra money, it also means your house won’t be sitting empty – ideal burglar bait. Make sure you have a holiday letting agreement in place beforehand though to protect yourself as well as your tenant. This agreement makes it simpler and quicker to remove guests who refuse to leave or cause damage to your property. It also lays out payment terms and highlights both your obligations and your guest’s rights.

All the aforementioned documents can be created on www.rocketlawyer.co.uk. There is currently a one week free trial in which you can create as many documents as you wish. Membership Take in a lodger thereafter costs £25 per month and includes unlimited legal documents, If you have a spare bedroom, take advantage of the government’s ‘Rent 30 minute free consultations with lawyers and up to 33% off additional a Room’ scheme which allows you to earn £4,250 a year tax-free. As legal fees. long as you get the details right, a lodger can be a tax efficient way to raise some extra cash and give yourself a bit of company. Again, there are websites for advertising rooms, such as www.spareroom.co.uk. A lodger agreement covers the rent, deposit and responsibilities on each

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15

DENISE VAN OUTEN JOINS THE TEAM AT ALTON TOWERS RESORT

TV favourite Denise Van Outen is today unveiled as the presenter of a brand new video series giving the nation a first glimpse behind-the-scenes at the construction of the hotly anticipated CBeebies Land at Alton Towers Resort. The popular actress and TV presenter will invite parents with young children to follow her into the brand new land as she asks all the right questions for mums and dads looking for a fun family day out.

Denise Van Outen said, “This series is all about trading Essex glamour for a construction site. I watch CBeebies with my daughter Betsy all the time and now she will get to meet some of her favourite characters in person when the attraction opens in May. More than that though, it’s a great chance for her to learn as well; I’ve seen an amazing mix of practical education and laugh-out-loud entertainment. I think the CBeebies Land team has literally thought of everything, but best of all, I got to see it first!”

Opening on 24�� May 2014, CBeebies Land is a new 5-acre attraction situated in the heart of Alton Towers Resort. A fun and safe environment for preschoolers to play and learn, CBeebies Land will include rides, immersive play areas, live experiences and appearances from some of the most well-known characters on CBeebies.

Katherine Duckworth, Head of Consumer Marketing at Alton Towers Resort commented: “Denise has got stuck in with absolutely everything and we’re sure she will offer parents a helpful perspective on the new attraction. Everyone’s getting really excited about the opening of the area – there’s going to be so much to see and do at CBeebies Land, and it’s great that we’re able to give everyone a Along with family favourites Postman Pat, Tree Fu Tom, Mike The sneak preview thanks to Denise’s brilliant on-site reporting.”

Knight and Iggle Piggle, visitors to CBeebies Land will be offered the opportunity to learn through play and fully engage with the The 3-part web series will be available from 14th April, which you characters and stories as CBeebies comes to life. can see at: www.altontowers.com/cbeebiesland.

The new video series consists of three episodes and will follow CBeebies Land opens at Alton Towers Resort on 24th May 2014. mother of one, Denise, road-testing the new CBeebies Land attractions on behalf of parents across the nation. Throughout the For more information and to series – hosted on Alton Towers Resort’s YouTube channel - Denise book tickets, please visit investigates how children learn through play, how the needs of an www.altontowers.com/cbeebiesland energetic young family are met and what you can expect from the new area of the UK’s number 1 theme park.

Follow @cbeebiesland on Twitter or www.Facebook.com/cbeebiesland for the Denise shines a light on all the features CBeebies Land has to offer latest news.

- whether that is using shape recognition skills to help Postman Pat sort the mail, learning about the five senses with Nina and the Neurons or learning about plants and herbs in Mr Bloom’s Allotment.

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‘National Smile Month’ will leave you beaming at giraffe! (19�� May – 19�� June) Family-friendly restaurant group giraffe is well known for serving up Mini giraffe fans also have the chance to win one of 20 awardits mix of global fresh food that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your winning Sophie la girafe teething toys in a competition run on face. To help keep children’s pearly whites gleaming they’ll be giraffe’s website. teaming up with National Smile Month to offer a series of toothfriendly fun treats from the 19�� May – 19�� June.

Visit www.giraffe.net/nationalsmilemonth for wonderful food Simply bring your little one in to giraffe during National Smile Month to brush up on tips from the British Dental Health Foundation and enjoy tooth-tastic competitions and offers.

and gleaming teeth this National Smile Month!

For more information, please visit: www.giraffe.net twitter.com/giraffetweet www.facebook.com/girafferestaurants

Smiley treats include a free glass of Cravendale milk with every kids meal and a month’s free trial of the kid’s app Hopster TV, with a tooth-themed cartoons and a chance to win an iPad mini. The iOS app is packed with safe, ad-free TV and learning games for kids aged 2 – 6 years.

Beckham kids named most stylish ●

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Following in their fabulously fashionable mummy’s footsteps, A third of mums say their children really like shopping so they can pick Harper, Brooklyn and Romeo named the three most out their own clothes and outfits, a fifth say they have daily battles with their children who often want to wear something different than what fashionable celebrity children in new poll they’ve picked out for them, while one in seven say their kids always Survey of mums also shows that nine is the age when children keep an eye on the latest fashions. find their fashion feet

To check out the newest trends, log on to Start-rite’s Facebook One in ten say their children want to wear fancy dress most days of the page to watch the Start-rite children’s catwalk show, where week, which can be a challenge on a school day! cool kids model some of the newest and most comfortable To see the latest trends for kids on the catwalk, you can view the styles Start-rite Shoes 2014 fashion show, on the Start-rite Facebook page Their mum is one of the most stylish women on the planet and it seems (www.facebook.com/startriteshoes). the Beckham brood are following firmly in their mother’s footsteps, according to a new poll which has seen three of the four Beckham children top the list of the most fashionable celebrity children in the world. ●

In the week that Brooklyn Beckham has made his modelling debut, the eldest of the Beckham brood has joined his siblings Harper and Romeo at the top of the list, followed by Suri Cruise, Willow Smith and the fourth of the Beckham’s; Cruz in sixth. Ava Klass, Maddox Jolie Pitt, Blue Ivy Carter and Shiloh Jolie Pitt rounded out the top ten.

The survey of mums by Start-rite Shoes saw nine named as the average age when children really start to show their fashion independence but with kids starting to help mum pick out their clothes in the morning from as young as 3 or 4, it seems it’s not just celeb kids who know a thing or two about what’s hot and what’s not.

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· · · · ·

Clare in Bright Pink Leather RRP from £49 (this is the style similar to those seen on Harper Beckham) Botanical in White Sparkle Canvas RRP £27 Moon Flower in Taupe Leather RRP £36 Cobweb in Black Leather RRP from £33 Flexy-Soft Milan in Bright Green Leather RRP £40

www.startriteshoes.com 18

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Little Fashion Gallery, the original online kids concept store, has re-launched its website.

TOP TIPS TO BE SCHOOL SATCHEL SAVVY Money Advice Service research indicates that the average value of gadgets in a UK school bag is £122* that’s almost £1bn pound’s worth of gadgets being carried to school daily across the UK! With one in ten children aged 6-10 year olds taking an electronic tablet to school, and over half of 11-16 year olds taking a smartphone – the Money Advice Service urges parents to be school satchel savvy!

The new look site features improved navigation, recommendations, enhanced search tools and provides customers with an enhanced shopping experience. Ultimately a visual experience, the website inspires customers with dynamic images, brand profiles and the latest fashion news. Since 2006 Little Fashion Gallery has been the destination for stylish parents looking for original, affordable and cool clothing, interiors and toys for their children.

Ever since it launched, Little Fashion Gallery has been proud of its ʻfirsts': the first online concept store ever dedicated to kids, the first to sell H&M's highly successful ʻAll For Children' collection, the first to collaborate with the world's coolest department store, Colette in Paris, the first to create a capsule collection with fashion label A.P.C…the list goes on.

In addition to the new website, Little Fashion Gallery is delighted to announce some exciting changes to its own label range, which launched in February 2013. Thanks to increased production volumes, overall prices will be reduced by 30 - 40%, making the label even more affordable. Now, prices range from £15 for t-shirts to £28 for sweaters and is designed for kids from 2 - 10 years.

A great deal of attention has been paid to the quality of the materials used throughout the own label collection, as well as the designs themselves. The collection features lots of contrasts: it is graphic, yet easy to wear and the cuts are precise. The collection says everything there is to say about Little Fashion Gallery's style: casual and cool.

The latest addition to the Little Fashion Gallery own label collection are Little Fashion Shoes, a capsule collection of cool and super stylish shoes for girls which include metallic Chelsea boots to ʻA ‐ Z' slippers. Prices range from £50 - £71 and the shoes are all made in Europe.

Little Fashion Gallery customers like to be a bit eclectic, and above all, are looking for value for money. The new look website and improved price points will ensure that Little Fashion Gallery continues to inspire and set the precedent for all that is new and exciting in the world of kids!

For more information, visit www.littlefashiongallery.com Psstt…Watch this space for Little Fashion Gallery's first ever stand alone concept store opening in the heart of Paris soon!

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Jane Symonds, Head of Service Delivery at the Money Advice Service offers advice and ten top tips to help parents protect their children’s valuables outside the home: “Electronic devices are so integral to our everyday lives now. It’s incredible how quickly they have become ‘must-have’ items – even for children as young as six years old. It’s easy to underestimate the cost of replacing them or to simply forget to update your existing insurance cover to include newly-purchased gadgets.

“If your kids are heading back to school this autumn to take a moment to check what your home insurance covers – look at policy limits and excess amounts. If there are protection gaps, put the right cover in place. If you are unsure what steps to take, our online guides will help you understand the options and get a sense of what a ‘good’ policy looks like.”

10 tips from the Money Advice Service to help parents protect their children’s valuables outside the home: 1.

Know exactly which valuables your child takes to school each day, and check what your policy covers.

2. Consider stand-alone possession insurance if your home contents insurance doesn’t automatically provide suitable protection.

3. If a bag is left unattended at school, check if the valuables are still covered either by your policy or the school’s own.

4. Remember, items left unattended or damaged through negligence may not be covered.

5. If a valuable item does go missing, file a police report within 24 hours.

6. Consider second-hand electronic items for your child or cheaper alternatives to the most popular or trendy items; 7. Physically protect valuable items or gadgets which are easily damaged. For example buy a shock proof and/or waterproof case and buy a school bag with a hard base for additional protection.

8. Ensure electronic devices have strong passwords and note down the serial numbers - consider marking items with invisible theft deterrents such as smart water.

9. Protect your SIM in case of theft - note down the phone’s ‘IMEI’ number so the contract can be stopped before expensive bills are run up, or consider a Pay As You Go SIM. 10. Don't invite casual theft – encourage your children to think about their surroundings when on their phone or tablet.

Need more advice, simply visit: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/things-to-watch-outfor-when-buying-insurance.

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Sleep, a view from the other side..

By: Maryanne Taylor, Child Sleep Works www.childsleepworks.co.uk Ah, life in that other place was so different. Warm, peaceful, relaxing , food on tap, and no-one telling me when I could and couldn’t sleep.

Happy days. I felt a little sleepy, I took a nap, for however long I wanted.

And then, one day, think it was about 9 months in, out of nowhere, I felt like something was pushing me out of my cosy little room. Not just one push, but many, many pushes, until I ended up in a strange, very narrow corridor. Then suddenly my head was sticking out in a weird place with a lot of noise, shouting and bright lights. One more shove from heaven knows where and I was being hoisted through the air, landing on a sweaty, crying person. What on earth was happening??

Fast forward a few weeks. All things considered, it’s not so bad here in my new world. Lots of milk to drink, lots of interesting faces to look at, but what is their problem with the sleep thing?? It’s not clear to me why, when I’ve had a little sleep and then wake up after a few minutes (what can I say? I like to chat, drink, poo, cry or play, so sue me!), this is such an issue for them. From what I understand, they’d like me to sleep for a few hours when it’s the dark time (and sometimes when it’s light outside as well – they call that ‘nap time’, it’s all very confusing…), but how can I when it’s been a while since I’ve seen them and anyway, I don’t even know how I’m supposed to go back to sleep! They don’t seriously think I can do that by myself, do they?! And if I hear about that ‘other baby’ who sleeps 7 hours in a row one more time, I swear I’m going to scream even louder than I do already.

There is occasionally a strange scenario when they don’t do any of that stuff and instead when I call them, they stand next to my cot and say things like ‘shush, sleepy time’ and try and pat my back. What’s that all about?! Clearly, that’s not going to do it for me and we all know that it’s going to end with a snack or some rocking. Why are they even bothering to do this? Adults can be so odd sometimes.

Anyway, that’s it from me for now. Think I’ll have a short nap. I will be popping in from time to time to update you all with how I’m getting on with my sleep and my best tips to help me become a ‘good’ sleeper, whatever that is. To keep getting my updates, give a ‘like’ to my resident facebook page www.facebook.com/childsleepworks and check out my Let’s move on to my next milestone – 6 months old. I wish I understood resident website www.childsleepworks.co.uk. what ‘terrible sleeper’ means because apparently that’s what I am. I wonder if that’s a good thing. I’ve also noticed that they’re not so chatty Sleep well! and fun when I call them after my little snoozes in the daytime. And during the night time, which seems to go on for ages and ages, they really don’t seem all that happy to come visit me!

What I have cleverly worked out though is if I shout loud enough, they will come and try and give me that sucky thing. I quite like the sucky thing sometimes but what’s really great about it is that I get to see them all the time when I spit it out. How much fun is that?! Sometimes if I keep going with the shouting, they’ll give me some of the white stuff (‘bloody milk’, I think it’s called), which, even though I’m not even hungry, is still nice for a snack. After all, who’s going to refuse food when it’s offered? Other times, when I can’t really be bothered to go through the palaver of sucking or drinking, I go for the rocking thing. I do like this one as it does make me nice and sleepy. It’s so great to have all these different ways to get to sleep!

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© Child Sleep Works 2014

If you would like some help with your child’s sleep, please contact Maryanne at Child Sleep Works, please contact:

Website: Call: Email:

www.childsleepworks.co.uk 07760 252750 info@childsleepworks.co.uk

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Cuddledry go global Cuddledry celebrate yet more global success!

When the two entrepreneurial mums Helen Wooldridge and Polly Marsh shocked the nation back in 2007 by turning down all offers of investment for their ingenious Cuddledry Apron Towel on hit TV show Dragons’ Den, they had no idea that they would go on to be a worldwide success!

“We asked hundreds of parents and found that mums and dads everywhere battle with baby towels held awkwardly under their chin or in their teeth or are forced to put crying babies onto towels on cold bathroom floors all to get over the need for an extra hand to hold the towel at bath time,” explains Polly Marsh, one of Cuddledry’s creators.

“It is of course impossible to safely lift a baby without two hands, but you also somehow have to hold a towel and wrap them in it!”

Made with unbleached cotton and natural bamboo fibres, the Cuddledry comes in a range of four subtle colours, is silky soft and super warm – ideal for safely removing babies from the bath whilst cuddling them dry.

After appearing on the show, Helen and Polly were inundated with investors and suppliers interested in their product. The entrepreneurial duo secured private investment and the business has expanded beyond all expectations. By reinvesting the profits and building the company little by little they have grown their idea from a kitchen-table business into a multinational brand in just 6 years, whilst working around the needs of three young children.

The Cuddledry range is now sold in over 30 countries and has recently launched in the Middle East and South Africa with major new distribution partners. With these new partnerships in place and others in the pipeline, plus sales growing in the US and elsewhere, Cuddledry is expecting further dramatic international sales growth this year.

Cuddledry’s UK sales figures are projected to increase by 30%-40% in 2014-2015 and their International sales have more than doubled this year at over 214%. The Cuddledry is now used by tens of thousands of parents, endorsed by celebrities and recommended by midwives and maternity nurses worldwide. It has won over 40 prestigious awards and is recommended again and again as the number 1 baby bath-time essential.

Cuddledry designers, Helen Wooldridge and Polly Marsh, made a big impression on the Dragons back in 2007 when they pitched the idea for their simple yet practical Cuddledry Apron Towel. The two mums were inspired to invent the Cuddledry after watching their husbands struggle with their babies at bath time. Any parent who has struggled to lift a slippery baby from the bath and into a small towel will appreciate just what a juggling act it can be! This was how the idea for the Cuddledry was born. With a unique apron towel design that keeps you dry and The Cuddledry apron is available to buy for £29.99 from Mothercare, leaves both hands free for safer lifting, Cuddledry makes bath time John Lewis, Boots and Kiddicare, JoJoMamanBebe as well as the easier and more enjoyable for you and your baby.

Cuddledry website www.cuddledry.com.

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KIDS WANT AN EXTRA HOUR IN SCHOOL British children call for longer school days…but only if it and exciting obstacle they would like to see at their own sports day, with two winners then seeing their creations come to life at an means more sport! exciting day of sport at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer. On top of the Ultimate Sports Day, hundreds of kids An extra hour in school might sound like every kid's worst nightmare, across the UK are in with the chance to win a range of prizes, but new research from Weetabix suggests that British children including sports equipment for their school and individual prizes would welcome a longer school day…but only if it made more room such as top-of-the-range trainers. for sport.

Over half (55%) of the children surveyed by the nation's favourite breakfast cereal said they would like to play more sport at school, with 47% willing to extend their school day to make sure it happened. The report suggests that such a move could also be beneficial to parents as 60% said that watching their kids play sport encouraged them to play more themselves. There was also a suggestion of a generational shift as half (51%) of parents surveyed said that they played more sport in their youth than their child currently does.

The campaign has won the backing of double Olympic gold medalist and now marathon runner Mo Farah - who will feature in TV adverts and on-pack promotion to champion the cause. Wendy French, Senior Brand Manager at Weetabix says: "We're really excited about this campaign and are delighted to have a such a great role model in Mo Farah involved – he is the perfect example of what hard work and determination can achieve (along with a nutritious breakfast!) The survey revealed that, two years on, the magic of the Olympics can still inspire and excite the next generation. A quarter of children said they would give up their games console for the chance to take part in a sports day at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and nearly half (43%) said they would quit fast food - so we're hoping the campaign will capture the imagination of the nation's kids."

However, if kids are to get an extra hour of sport – a healthier approach to breakfast may be required to fuel it. Nearly half (40%) of kids surveyed admitted skipping breakfast at least one a week, while 15% say they never eat the most important meal of the day.

When asked what prevents kids from playing more sport, just under one in five (18%) blamed general tiredness, while a worrying Some of the most interesting facts are listed below: 15% said that they didn't play more because they get their sport fix from playing on games console. ● 55% of kids want to play more sport at school. ● 47% are willing to extend their school day to make sure it The report coincides with the launch of the Weetabix Ultimate happened.

Sports Day. The campaign aims to encourage children and parents ● 40% of kids skip breakfast at least once a week, while across the UK to fuel future champions with Weetabix, by inspiring 15% never eat breakfast. kids to get active and reigniting the passion for sport the nation felt ● Tiredness (18%) and playing sport games on consoles (15%) are during the 2012 Olympics. Children are invited to design a unique highlighted as the main obstacles to playing more sport.

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MO FARAH FRONTS WEETABIX ULTIMATE SPORTS DAY Double Olympic champion launches campaign giving children the chance to win their Ultimate Sports Day London Olympics hero Mo Farah has been revealed as the face of Weetabix's Ultimate Sports Day campaign, which offers youngsters the chance to create and take part in their dream school sports day.

Farah's double-gold at London 2012, coupled with his now legendary "Mobot" celebration, installed the Londoner as a national treasure and cemented his position as one the best British track stars of all time. Now training for the London Marathon, Farah has joined forces with the nation's favourite breakfast cereal to back a campaign that aims to encourage UK kids to get excited about exercise.

Children are invited to design a unique and exciting obstacle they would like to see at their own sports day, with two winners then seeing their creations come to life at an exciting day of sport at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer. With the London Marathon on the horizon, Weetabix has launched the Ultimate Sports Day campaign with the hope of encouraging children and parents across the UK to fuel future champions with Weetabix, and to inspire kids to get active by reigniting the passion for sport the nation felt during the 2012 Olympics.

Olympic gold medallist and Weetabix fan Mo Farah, commented: "I'm really looking forward to being part of the Weetabix Ultimate Sports Day campaign. As an athlete and, more importantly as a dad, I know how vital it is to inspire kids get active and a big part of that is making sure they get a nutritious start to the day.

"Being a champion isn't just about being the best; it's about looking after yourself and having the attitude to maintain that. It would be amazing if we ended up fuelling future champions this summer – and hopefully I'll get some extra fuel ahead of the Marathon!" and fortified with vitamins and iron, a bowl of Weetabix with milk, On top of the Ultimate Sports Day, hundreds of kids across the UK eaten as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides the nutritious are in with the chance to win a range of prizes, including sports start to the day that healthy minds and bodies require ². equipment for their school and individual prizes such as top-of-theIn order to enter the Ultimate Sports Day campaign, simply pick up range trainers.

Two winners and their schools will be selected and invited to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Monday 14�� July 2014, to take part in 2014's most exciting day of sport under the watchful eye of Olympic legend Mo Farah and fuelled by Weetabix.

a pack and visit www.ultimatesportsday.co.uk, letting Weetabix know what a dream sports day obstacle would be: whether it's a giant sack race or a one-of-a-kind relay - the more creative the concept, the better.

The campaign compliments official guidance from the NHS to encourage moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity for children three times a week ¹. High in fibre, low in sugar and fat [¹] http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Documents/children-and-young-people-5-18-years.pdf ² With Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic Acid and iron for stamina as they contribute to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue. A source of protein that contributes to growth in muscle mass and in kids is needed for normal bone growth. A two biscuit serving contains 9% of an adults protein RI. Enjoy as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

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Healthy Mum, Happy Baby

By Ruben Tabares, RT Fitness

In an age when information overload is the norm, it’s often hard to find A breast-feeding mother’s diet needs to be highly nutritious and contain, the correct path to fitness and healthy living. There are so many as a base, the following foods: conflicting opinions that it’s easy to become confused about what you should be doing for yourself and your family. ● Coconut oil ● Avocados As a father myself, I feel for you. Luckily, I’ve had the benefit of spending ● Hemp seeds the majority of my life sorting fact from fiction when it comes to training ● Olive oil and nutrition and so to start my series of exclusive features, I will be ● Nuts such as almonds (but soaked in water overnight) focusing on post-natal nutrition and postnatal training tips. ● Free range organic meats and poultry, especially liver ● Wild fish Child birth, I’m told is one of the most painful and difficult things a ● A wide variety of organic vegetables and salads human being can go through, and having witnessed the birth of both of ● Fruits especially berries, melons, pineapple and papaya my children I have no reason to doubt this. Add to this the large number ● Super foods such as cacao, maca and acai of women who also breast-feed and who are suffering from lack of sleep ● Probiotics and we begin to realize how much good, nutritious food a breast feeding ● Bee products such as bee pollen and honey mother needs. ● Carbohydrates in the form of sweet potatoes, brown and wild rice, lentils and red kidney beans As you know, breast milk is highly nutritious and it is recommended that babies be breast fed for at least the first six months with further If a breast-feeding mother doesn’t have enough of the right fats in the breast-feeding and introduction of foods for up to two years. Breast diet along with all of the other nutrients then there is a cascading milk is made up primarily of proteins (Whey 60%, Casein 40%), fats detrimental effect on the body. (primary calorie source), vitamins (A,D,E,K, C, B2, B3, B5), minerals, carbohydrates (lactose) antibodies and colostrum. We can see that to In order to produce breast milk the body will start to rob the brain of produce such a highly rich and nutritious source of nourishment for the its essential fats, which in turn means that the brain will not function baby takes a lot of work and energy from the mother so, unfortunately, optimally and depression and other mentally related ailments may not all breast milk is created equal. In short, it depends on what the occur. Calcium and other minerals will also be taken, resulting in issues mother is eating. such as loose teeth and osteoporosis.

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Skin cells are also made up primarily of omega 6 fats, which means, that As a word of caution, due to the levels of elastin in the body in the the one million cells that are regenerated every second do not have the postnatal phase; take care when stretching or performing yoga, as it is correct building blocks. The result is poor regeneration, making for still possible to overstretch certain ligaments. wrinkles and a lack of elasticity throughout the body and skin.

Individuals who have been highly active before their pregnancy will be So a great nutritious diet is not only vital for the baby but also for the able to return to activity much more quickly. For those of you who have never exercised before, this is a genuinely good time to start, but long-term health of the mother. remember that slow and steady is the key to success. You should ensure An organic diet is always best but wherever possible and in terms of that you don’t burn yourself out so that you can maintain your energy supplements I always advise that people juice and add super foods to levels and deal with any sleep deprivation. their existing diets. Juicing vegetables and certain fruits adds enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids to our diets which, because of over You will have noticed that I haven’t introduced abdominal exercises farming and certain non-organic farming practices, don’t deliver the here, there is a reason for that, and I will cover that in an article nutritional content they did 100 years ago. Super foods are also an dedicated to that subject. Don’t worry, we’ll get those abs working too amazing way to supplement our diets. Raw Cacao (raw chocolate) has – one step at a time though! a tremendous array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In fact, it has the second highest number of antioxidants of all super foods. So we now begin to understand that our food mostly needs to be raw, not over cooked, wherever possible free range and organic and as varied as possible.

Reader Question

The next phase in looking and feeling good and secondary to nutrition is training. It’s often advisable to start training after being on a nutritional plan for several weeks, ensuring that one is strong enough to be able to do so.

The best way to start working out is to do the most natural thing first, and that’s walking. Go back to walking as soon as you feel comfortable – work your way up to 45 minutes to an hour a day. Introduce the pram, which will add some resistance to your muscles as soon as you feel able to do so.

Walking is such an underrated form of exercise and, just because you don’t feel a burn or get a pump, it doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. In fact you’ll get a great increase in blood flow to all major muscle groups, tone up the legs, and increase blood flow to the brain. Oxygenating the brain will make you feel better and lead to greater enthusiasm.

Once you’re comfortable walking you can introduce some bodyweight exercises that you can perform straight after the walk or at another time of the day. For example: Squats Place the feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with the toes pointing slightly outwards, lower yourself down until the thighs are almost parallel to the floor, making sure that your toes point in the same direction of the knees, then return to the start position.

Start with 3 sets of 10 repetitions with a minute or two between sets, aim to get to 4 sets of 25 reps over a 3-week period.

Chair or bench reverse dips Sit on a sturdy bench or chair with your hands placed on the chair on either side of you. Take the weight onto your hands as you move yourself off the chair. The elbows should be slightly bent before you start. Using your arms, lower your body down until you have made a 90-degree angle with your elbow making sure that your back is always very close to the chair. Ensure that the elbows are pointing straight back throughout the exercise. Return to the start position and repeat. Start with 3 sets of 8 repetitions, aim to get to 4 sets of 15 repetitions over a 3-week period.

This should be sufficient for the first four weeks, by which time you will be ready to move onto a more comprehensive program. As your fitness and energy improves, you can integrate activities such as: ● ● ● ● ●

Mum Maria Ackroyd asks: I'm very aware of what I feed my kids but am overwhelmed with the contradictory information. The WHO suggests eating lots of carbs then some veg and then a bit less protein on that infamous food pyramid we're all used to seeing. But I’ve been reading up and our bodies aren't yet adapted to a grain and cereal rich diet. The Paleo Diet seems to fit best with regards to our evolution but I am also fearful of going too off track in case I'm wrong. What would you advise?

Ruben Says: I agree that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to our daily dietary requirements.

Although we can eat meat we are not really designed to do so, therefore I would have to disagree with the Paleo diet. Add to this the fact that no one really knows what the Paleo diet really consisted of and we are back to square one – confusion!

We are also designed to eat grains but in very small amounts. The problem today is that peoples’ diets mainly consist of soy, wheat and sugar, instead of free-range organic meats, wild fish, organic vegetables, fruits, grains and superfoods.

As I discussed in the article, if we have a varied enough diet and eat as many different things on a daily basis, we would be far healthier as a nation. My advice is not to follow any one particular diet, as there is usually an agenda with them. Instead eat as varied a diet as possible, staying away from processed and packaged food and with foods that have lots of e-numbers and preservatives.

Please join me on Twitter and Facebook and keep your questions coming in to myself and Peter Marcasciano, one of the worlds top experts on health, nutrition and physiotherapy. To get the inside track to a healthier life please follow us on the following: Twitter: @rubentabares, @petemfitness Facebook: RubenTabaresFitness Website: http://www.rubentabares.com/

Swimming Spinning Pilates Aerobics Weight training

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Lindsey McManus, Deputy CEO of Allergy UK explains the difference between food allergy and intolerance and what symptoms you should look out for if you suspect that your baby has developed a lactose intolerance. conditions, it is best to be thorough. Your GP would be able to refer you to an allergy specialist if allergy is suspected.

Food intolerances, unlike food allergy, do not involve the body’s immune system, and one of the main food intolerance that affects babies and young children is lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is caused when the gut in unable to break down the sugar (lactose) found in milk. The enzyme lactase is produced in the gut and is needed to break these sugars down, this is sometimes missing in some babies.

This is often the result of a tummy bug and in most cases will resolve itself after a relatively short period of avoiding lactose. However, we do sometimes see infants that are born with what is known as primary lactose intolerance and in these cases the symptoms do not correct Food allergy is getting more and more common, and many parents are themselves after a period of avoiding milk and milk products. concerned their infants and young children are developing symptoms that may be linked to their diet. Most serious food allergies start in Symptoms of lactose intolerance are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and infancy and early childhood, and although on the whole are caused by vomiting, this can be diagnosed by something known as the ‘breath test’ a relatively small number of foods, we do see some children who are in adults, but in babies it is usually carried out using a stool sample. Your allergic to more than one food. The type of foods that can cause an GP can arrange for these tests to be carried out. As with food allergy, allergy range from nuts to seeds, milk, eggs, fish, gluten containing avoidance is necessary to lessen symptoms, so all foods containing milk grains, soya and shellfish, to name just a few. should be removed from the diet. There are low lactose baby milk formulas available as an alternative and your GP or health visitor would However, there is much confusion surrounding the difference between be able to advise you on them. Lactose intolerance is often dose food allergy and intolerance and how this affects babies and toddlers. dependant, meaning that some people can tolerate a small amount in True food allergy symptoms are known as immediate IgE mediated the diet. For example, a person who suffers from lactose intolerance reactions. These reactions can vary from hives (urticaria) rashes, may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk in a cup of tea, but a full vomiting, wheezing, swelling of the lips and mouth through to the most glass of milk would cause them severe discomfort. severe form of allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, (although thankfully this is quite rare in infants). More commonly, we are starting to see the If you are at all concerned about your baby’s symptoms you should more delayed non-IgE mediated allergic reactions to foods, in particular consult your GP. You can also ask for a referral to a dietician who will cows’ milk, which can be the triggers for conditions such as eczema, be able to advise you on milk alternatives to ensure your child is still reflux, colic, diarrhoea, and faltering growth in babies. Because of the having a nutritious diet. delay in symptoms, non-IgE reactions can be more difficult to identify as an allergy.

For more information contact our helpline on 01322 616898 or visit: If your baby has been showing any of the above symptoms you should www.allergyuk.org seek medical advice. Although they may be down to other medical

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The consumer champion Which? has launched a new handy guide for parents to help them make sure their child's car seat is fitted safely. ● ●

●

The guide has 10 quick checks to make sure children travel safely.

Top tips include making sure the car seat sits squarely, checking seatbelts follow the correct route guides or that Isofix points are connected, removing any thick clothes and making sure seatbelts go across the shoulders and hips of older children.

The guide can be downloaded for free from their website at www.which.co.uk/carseatchecks

A Which? spokesperson said: ‘Even if you have bought the best child car seat, it won't be effective if it's not fitted correctly. There are several dangers to watch out for and many can be easily rectified, so our advice is to follow the top 10 car seat tips to make sure your child is protected.’

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TOP 10 CHECKS: 1. Is the seatbelt secure and untwisted?

2. If the seat is rearward facing, is the handlebar in the position shown in the instructions?

3. Is the car seat sitting squarely on the seat of the car and is the headrest in the correct position as shown in your instructions?

4. Is the seatbelt following the correct red or blue route guides?

5. Is the seatbelt buckle in the right place?

6. For Isofix seats, do the visual indicators show it is fitted correctly?

7. Is your Isofix drop down foot securely on the floor, and/is the top tether firmly attached?

8. Have you removed any thick clothes?

9. For younger children, are the shoulder pads level with your

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Cut the Junk from Children’s Food Say Mums Across the UK Mums want healthier food for children, without the added junk, according to a survey released today to launch the Organix No Junk Challenge. The survey reveals that nine out of ten (90%) Mums think children eat too much junk. Three quarters (75%) want the food industry to reduce the levels of salt, fat and sugar in food targeted at children. Organix, pioneers of organic toddler and baby food, is launching the ‘No Junk Challenge’, a campaign to encourage parents to cook with fresh natural ingredients and to challenge the food industry to remove the ‘junk’ from children’s food.

to show parents what is in the food, and simple recipes to try out at home. “We are also calling for the Government and the food industry to do their part. We need regulation and clear easy to understand labelling that will help parents choose the best for their children. So we’re calling on parents to sign up to the No Junk Pledge.”

Call to Action The challenge aims to create a groundswell of support beyond this initial campaign phase, to move on to develop a manifesto for children’s food in October 2014. The No Junk campaign will call on the government The No Junk Challenge will help families reclaim healthy eating by and food industry to address the artificial additives and to remove the pledging their commitment to ‘no junk’ and to say ‘yes’ to healthy, high quantities of added salt, fat and sugar content in foods targeted at children. natural and simple food for the family.

The challenge is supported by a team of mums and bloggers, which Sign the pledge at www.organix.com/nojunk and includes Holly Bell (finalist in Great British Bake Off and blogger ‘Recipes join the conversation at #NoJunk from a Normal Mum’) and the Crumbs Sisters (creators of the popular ‘Crumbs’ TV and blog). Along with River Cottage, Leon, Riverford and Organix, each partner will contribute a day of recipes during the Parents will be able to take part in fun activities to explore what is in children’s food, help expose some of the junk found in children’s food, challenge. and share their own healthy and delicious recipes to cook simple meals In a national survey commissioned by Organix, we asked Mums about with natural ingredients. how they feed their families and how they feel about the state of children’s food: There’s too much junk in children’s food ● ● ●

Nine out of 10 (90%) of Mums think children eat too much junk these days.

Three quarters (75%) want the food industry to reduce the levels of salt, fat and sugar in food targeted at children.

Six out of 10 (59%) are sometimes shocked at the number of ingredients in food aimed at children, with more than half (55%) worried about what is goes in children’s food.

Parents are trying to avoid the junk in children’s food ● ● ● ●

More than three quarters (78%) try to avoid buying food that’s high in fat, salt and sugar More than half (56%) try and avoid buying food with artificial flavourings Although four out of 10 (41%) say that avoiding artificial additives is almost impossible More than a third (37%) said that particular additives affect their child’s behaviour.

While parents try to choose nutritious meals for their children, most said it was hard to make the right choices – and wanted clearer labelling and regulation to protect the nutritional value of children’s food. A third of parents struggled to understand the ingredients in products.

Call for clearer labelling ● ● ●

More than a third (37%) say they don't understand what half of the ingredients mean on the back of the packet More than six out of 10 (62%) say food labeling needs to be much clearer.

Half (49%) say clearer food labeling would help them make healthier food choices.

Parents don't trust the food industry and want stricter regulation of children’s food ● Less than one in 10 Mums (only 8%) trust the food industry to make sure the food they produce is safe and healthy for their children ● Three quarters (74%) believe that many of the foods claiming to be healthy are high in salt, fat and sugar. ● Two thirds (65%) want increased regulation to ensure that food targeted at children is healthy and nutritious.

Anna Rosier, Managing Director of Organix, comments: “We know that parents want to give their children good, healthy and nutritious food, but it’s not always easy to make good food choices. We are launching the No Junk Challenge to help parents with advice on how to read the ingredients, to identify the dirty dozen, as well as providing fun activities

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Welcome...I am Joanne Megilley BSc Hons MNIMH, a qualified Medical Herbalist. I treat people and not simply illnesses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by doing this, I can help to restore wellbeing, working from a deeper level whilst also reducing symptoms which may disrupt normal functioning. Because I do not focus on an illness, it means that together, we can work on many different levels and with many different problems simultaneously. If you have any questions, please let me know, thanks Jo x Dad Stuart Asks: I suffer terribly with IBS and have done for many years, I know that stress makes it worse and I am mindful of what I eat as I can identify certain problem foods. The main issue is my son, he's 8 and we have been told it is likely he has it too as he does suffer with constant loose bowels. We are really careful as to what he eats as there is a significant link to his diet, but obviously he is a 8 year old and goes to parties, play-dates etc so we can't watch him all the time!

I'd like to see if we can find a good alternative to help him in the first instance and maybe then me!

Many thanks for your help Stuart

Joanne Says: Hi Stuart I completely understand where you're coming from, it's so hard to watch a child's diet when they have these social activities to go to!

My first question is, does your son know how his diet affects him?

If he's aware that his choices have an impact it will allow him to make 'good choices' where he can. Of course, he is still a child and bound to want the odd chocolate/packet of crisps, it's perfectly natural.

Next, have you kept a diet diary? This is the first thing that I would do, so I will email you one for you to keep for a few weeks and let me have it completed for some feedback, this is one of those situations where honesty is the best policy, if you went to MacDonalds for lunch then let me know - I wont tell you off! Its just important that we are transparent about these things.

My go-to remedy for children is chamomile tea, something which I blogged about myself a while back. I love it. It's so simple and so effective in treating almost all digestive problems, yet it's mild enough that it'll be suitable for children. I give it to my own son with some honey if he's complaining of a belly ache, or has been in contact with someone unwell, had constipation/diarrhoea...you name it. In fact, Peter Rabbits mother gives him Chamomile tea when he has a tummy ache, so I have always told him that story when he has it. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, soothing and antispasmodic for the digestive tract and has a lovely anti-anxiety effect which I think is especially good for children if the tummy upsets are causing some emotional distress or vice versa. Of course I'd also suggest we need to get to the root of the problem, but this is great for starters.

Then we shall work on you - as you rightly point out the impact of stress is huge on digestion and so we will look at taking a slightly different approach, I will ask you to also keep a diet diary and to note down how you have been sleeping, how work is, things at home etc. I am likely to also suggest chamomile, but would also look at other herbs to help reduce anxiety, such as Lemon Balm which is one of my absolute favourites and adaptogenic, or 'tonic' herbs like Siberian Ginseng which help your body to deal with periods of increased pressure. If you've had long-term stress then I'd also be looking at the adrenals, these endocrine glands are situated on top of your kidneys and are responsible for producing the 'fight or flight' hormones; they also produce hormones when 'fight or flight' has turned into 'resistance' and can be exhausted where the issue is not resolved. We will discuss this but it is fairly common for the adrenals to struggle when you're under stress for a significant length of time, I have treated this in quite a few patients using adrenal tonic herbs like liquorice and Withania, with some great success. It's fantastic you've contacted me as this is really an area where herbs are great, and because the prescriptions are tailor made, we can work on everything simultaneously and specific to you.

Stress management is of the utmost importance so we will look at ways of helping you to manage it better as well as using herbs, I love the introduction of what I call 'golden time' which is what my son has at school. It's time to down tools for half an hour a day and spend quality time with your family, this is particularly important if work is incredibly stressful and you find yourself taking it home. Monday to Friday can be tough, but I do find that suggesting this short break on a daily basis helps a family to reconnect and play together with no distractions from 'phones, emails, TV's, computers etc. It's now a family rule in our house and has made the world of difference to both our and our sons stress levels. A game of mouse trap or snakes and ladders can be very therapeutic, you just need to find out what works for you. It could be a game of football or games in the park but this quality time with your kids will help you no end too.

I'll email over the diet diaries and we can take it from there - thank you for getting in touch as I am sure this is something which other parents will be familiar with and something which Herbal Medicine is great for Love, health and happiness, Joanne xxx For more information, please visit or contact me on the following:

Tel: Email: Use 1 teaspoon chamomile flowers (you can source these from me, Web: the mass produced teabags aren't great), cover with boiled water Facebook: and then put a lid or saucer on top of the cup, or brew in a pot - this Twitter: helps stop the essential oils escaping. Then strain the tea and add honey if required, cool and drink two cups per day.

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07729 891083 info@jmherbalist.co.uk www.jmherbalist.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/jmherbalist https://twitter.com/JMHerbalist

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Being the Last One Pickedâ&#x20AC;Ś

by Kristen Harding - Childcare Expert at Tinies.com Being the last one picked for the team can be stressful for parents and children, but building up confidence in children helps limit the effect it has on teenagers.

Do you remember a time when you were a teenager at school and the time came for the sports captains to pick who they wanted to play on their team? Were you the first to be chosen, or the last?

Do you remember feelings of relief and pleasure as you were first to be chosen or the feelings of disappointment and probably anger when you were the last one picked? Did you find over the years that you got picked at a different point depending on what the activity was? The last one picked..

Self-worth It was hard for us, it's hard for them! We know how hard it was for us From security and significance comes self-worth, so that they can feel and we know it breaks your heart to see your child down cast and good about themselves. deflated when they don't get picked for the team or don't achieve a goal that is set for them.

Whether the teenager is 'the last one picked', grades are not achieved or academic expectations are not met, there are likely to be feelings of As parents we cannot control the challenges our children will have to disappointment, sadness and anger as they grow up. face. However we can help them to be so secure in who they are that they will be prepared when they face conflicting situations. Teens that Parents need to help the teen acknowledge and express their strong are self-confident and have high levels of self-esteem will be more feelings which will help them to keep things in perspective. When teens resilient facing conflict than others. can share with their parents in this way, they feel supported and building their confidence so that they can handle the problem, whatever it is.

How do parents develop certain qualities in their children?

It has been suggested by Barbara Whiting-Smith, a Parent Support Kristen Harding works for Tinies, a leading childcare specialist, with over Adviser (www.pcapproach.co.uk), that there are three building blocks 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience helping families, nurseries and other childcare our children need for sound mental health which can help them to be settings find the right childcare professionals to suit their needs; from resilient in times of conflict, and this support and guidance needs to nannies to maternity nannies, nursery staff to event nannies and begin at home. everything in-between. For those hiring a nanny themselves, we provide Nanny Screening services which include Nanny CRB Checks, Security reference checking and provision of employment contracts.

Teens need to be secure in the knowledge that they are loved and www.tinies.com. accepted by their parents whatever they say or do.

Significance We all need to know that we matter to someone for who we are, not for what we do. This is especially important for the developing teenager.

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Cycletta welcomes Macmillan Cancer Support as title partner as they join forces to encourage more women to cycle in 2014!

Cycletta, the UK’s leading women only cycle series welcomes Macmillan Cancer Support as title partner of the series which will now be known as Macmillan Cycletta. The series returns in 2014 following its most successful year ever in 2013 as almost 4000 women were encouraged to get on their bikes. The events have seen growth of more than 130% since its inception just three years ago, which is reflective of the surge in popularity of women’s cycling. Olympic champion, Victoria Pendleton who will continue as an ambassador for the series said “It has been such a pleasure to be involved with Macmillan Cycletta so far. I’m proud to have been a part of it since the very beginning and am delighted to see more and more women continue to take up cycling.”

take in spectacular views. On 28 September Macmillan Cycletta will be at the beautiful Tatton Park, Cheshire and will return to Scotland for the second year on 5 October where Scone Palace, once the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, will play host. The final event which will take place on 12 October at Loseley Park, Surrey will mark the final event in the series.

The series will start at the prestigious Wiggle Dragon Ride on 8 June, in South Wales. This event is the toughest in the Macmillan Cycletta calendar as it takes in some steep climbs and more technical sections of road. Next up is the Bedfordshire event which takes place on 29 June at the stunning Woburn Abbey where wild deer roam in the beautiful grounds. Next up is the New Forest event on 21 September at beautiful Beaulieu Palace, which is set in stunning countryside, allowing riders to

Secure your place now by visiting:

Each event will feature all the unique touches that made the 2013 events so popular such as regular and well stocked treat stops along the route, fantastic goodie-bags, friendly and knowledgeable marshals and buzzing event villages. The Recovery Zone by Unlisted will also be providing a complimentary spa experience for all entrants after the Macmillan Cycletta 2014 caters for cyclists of all ages and abilities, and events. This provides the perfect opportunity for ladies to relax, refresh will feature Novice, Classic, Challenge distances as well as the new and rejuvenate after a day on the bike.

Macmillan Cycletta 100km distances. The new longer route has been created due to demand from the Macmillan Cycletta audience for a At Macmillan Cycletta events the younger kids will also be able to get longer women only cycle route. This reflects recent explosion in the involved and get active at the Scootathlon which takes place on event popularity of women’s cycling and the new 100km distance will be day, at each of the venues. The Scootathlon is a mini, fun triathlon for children between the ages of 4 and 8 where they scoot (150m), bike available at Macmillan Cycletta New Forest and Scotland events.

(600m) and run (200m). Girls and boys will race together in various age All Macmillan Cycletta routes will wind through sensational categories, completing the three disciplines. surroundings on quiet, safe and well-managed roads. The Novice distance will be a manageable 20km route which is perfect for beginners Cycling Programme Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, Liz Hemming and is a similar challenge to running 5km. The Classic route which is said: “Macmillan Cycletta is really exciting for us as the series continues 40km is perfect for anyone with a little more confidence on their bike. to grow in 2014 and we look forward to seeing more women at the Finally, the Challenge distance is aimed at somewhat more experienced events. Macmillan Cycletta is a great way for female cyclists nationwide riders, who are seeking a slightly sterner test or for those in training for to raise money to help people affected by cancer through taking on a longer sportives, as the distance ranges from 60-70km. Macmillan cycling challenge. The new title of Macmillan Cycletta reflects our Cycletta is open to girls as young as 12-16 years old when accompanied commitment to encouraging more women to get on their bikes, and by an adult. use their challenge to help others”.

www.humanrace.co.uk/cycletta Also keep an up-to-date at the Macmillan Cycletta Twitter feed and Facebook pages. Macmillan Cycletta is part of the Human Race WomenOnly series which includes triathlon, swimming, running and cycling events.

Time to join the dream team - but who will you choose!

Have you ever dreamed about competing in the same team as one of your heroes? Fancy joining a triathlon dream team?

This is your chance! Olympic and World Champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton and Spice Girl Melanie C will both be leading their own triathlon relay teams at the Shock Absorber WomenOnly Triathlon on Sunday 13 July, and Human Race are offering an exclusive chance to join them for 2 lucky

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winners who will each take a place in their relay teams.

Winners will be chosen at random and contacted on 31 May 2014 so there will be lots of time to get in some last minute training and do your team proud.

not get a group of girls together and enter a relay team of your own? The atmosphere on the day will be fantastic and participants will get the chance to see Melanie and Victoria in action.

To secure your place, please visit:

In addition, to this great prize Shock Absorber will give a bra to 5 lucky runners-up. If you aren’t lucky enough to win a spot on one of their teams why

http://humanrace.co.uk/ victoriavmelaniec 33

My letter to you..

One readers harrowing account of her experience at the hands of domestic abuse…

You probably think that I’m bitter or jealous, or maybe he’s told you that I’m crazy? That was always a favourite. The truth is, that I wish someone had told me then what I know now. I can only hope that you read this and know I am talking to you and and that you realise it’s not too late.

I have always been an intelligent girl and considered that I’d never fall into the trap of domestic abuse, saying that if ever a man hit me, I’d leave. The truth is, by the time I’d been hit for the first time I had already been abused for many years. It started for me when I was 21, I met him and was swept off my feet in a world of going out, dinners and fun! It was only ever meant to be a fling, but somehow I ended up getting drawn in by his charm. I was young, impressionable and still at the age where I felt that anything was possible, seeing the best in people and being undeniably inexperienced in the field of relationships. Him being older than me made me feel reassured that he knew what he was doing, would look after me and care for me.

After a year or so I noticed that any worry or concern I had, I was being constantly told I was crazy. I started to worry that he was cheating on me and stealing from me, but had no proof and any time I questioned him or tried to talk I was told that I was making things up, creating problems and 'going mental'. This went on for some time sporadically and then he started to tell me that friends and family thought I had mental problems. Eventually I got so convinced that it was all in my head that I found myself putting up with of his nonsense, I got to the stage where I presumed I was mad and that I was being unreasonable, him being older and wiser made me think that this was surely what a relationship was about? It was me that wasn’t normal, it couldn’t be him.

I questioned my own mental health so much that I think I really did start to have a breakdown. I became alienated from my friends and my family, I stopped speaking to them, socialising and sharing my problems, after all if they thought that I was mad then by verbalising my concerns I was only going to confirm it. I didn’t tell a soul that I was worried that he was cheating and I never admitted that he stole from me. You’ll start to notice that you’ll see your friends and family less too, maybe it’s something which has happened organically but chances are he will have been a catalyst, moving you out of the area or possibly by having disputes with them. I’m not telling you this from spite, I’m telling you this because I wish someone had to me and I can’t see another young girl go through what I did at the hands of a bully.

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Arguments would start and he would tell me that I was mad, I shouted back that I wasn’t, he threw in that ‘everyone thinks you’re mental’.

There was still a glimmer of the old me inside trying desperately to believe it wasn't true.

He would tell me to take a look at myself whilst I was crying – why would anyone want to be with ‘that’? It then started, the implications of being fat and ugly… ’you’re not going to eat that?’, ‘are you really going out like that?’ The confident person that I once was would have fought back and told him what to do if he didn’t like what he saw, but there was so little fight left that all I could do was to believe it. After all, if he was cheating then surely it was because these things were true? Who would want me…

The arguing got worse and worse but it was always my fault, because I dared to ask where he had been, or could I have the rent money. On occasion he threatened to walk out. He was going to leave and there was nothing I could do to stop him. But he couldn’t leave me, what would I become without him!? Nobody would want me, I was nothing without him. Pause.

That’s when he had me at the point of no return.

When I had become so downtrodden and lost all self respect, dignity and belief that I actually believed everything he had told me. At 24 years old it was not too late; my logical brain would speak up and tell me that, but after three years of being conditioned and manipulated slowly and carefully I concluded that it had to be true; this was what my life was to be like and I was just going to have to deal with it. You may think the same, that this is part of the compromise of a relationship and that it’s normal. It isn’t. Of course no one could see this from the outside, I didn’t have a close relationship with friends and family anymore and those who I did see had no idea of what was happening. It all seemed hunky dory, I smoothed over the cracks and made excuses for any strange behaviour. Then, in an unemotional exchange I conceived my son. My goodness I can’t begin to tell you the mix of feelings which I had when I found out. He was thrilled, he said all he had ever wanted was a family and couldn’t wait to be a Daddy, this was some relief as I thought that he was committed to us as a family and he would change his ways.

He didn’t and only got worse, spending the nine months going out and drinking, taking drugs, gambling our money and cheating on me, with the excuse of he’s going to be a responsible dad soon and needed to get it all out of his system.

Did I believe him? I don’t know, I was hormonal on top of my already high emotions but I wanted to believe him, I didn’t want to have to bring up the child alone. A few arguments with violence erupted, but it was only because I

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questioned him, silly me, I shouldn’t have done that. As usual it was all my fault, because now I was hormonal on top of my paranoia. Please stop me when you start to hear echoes of this in your own life.

But of course I did raise my child alone. We were still together, but nothing changed then and it won’t now! He will make promises but he won’t keep them, make excuses for his behaviour but never change. He’ll accuse you of being hormonal and hysterical and right now you’ll believe him more than ever because you have a new baby. The few friends you still have and your family will agree and say that it’s a period of adjustment and that everyone struggles and it’s true they do, but if you have a two-parent family then there should be two adults struggling and working together, not one fighting the other constantly. Then you’ll find that you’re the one who is trapped. You have no money, a baby and no partner present. You can’t talk to friends and family because this has gone on for so long now that you’ll know what they say and you can’t handle that right now.

The arguments have started again but now there’s something new. ‘Who will want you now you’re damaged goods? No one will take on a single mother’! When my son was five weeks old I got the breakthrough I needed. On one of his all-too-frequent benders I suddenly realised I didn’t care where he was, who he was with or what he was doing, that this little person in my arms needed my energy and love more than anyone else. I couldn’t be strong for myself, but I needed to be strong for him. He came in at 5am, drugged up to the eyeballs expecting my usually sympathy and worry and got nothing.

This infuriated him and so started a physical fight, whereby he snatched the child from my arms, kicked me and spat in my face. Hours later, with no tears left I looked in the mirror and realised that this is what my son would see as his mother. He would forever think that it was normal and acceptable for relationships to happen like this, that mummy’s cried all the time and got hit and that daddy’s hit when they were cross and walked away from their problems and their families.. He’d also soon learn that his dad did not care for him enough to step up and that his mum did not care enough to leave.

Now I’m not saying that’s true, but through the eyes of a child they do not understand the levels of fear and the years of manipulation that go into such a campaign. They don’t understand that mummy doesn’t think she can leave, they just know what they see. Did I leave? No. Something, somewhere inside me fought back. I wasn’t leaving, I wasn’t walking away. He was.

I slowly started to rebuild my life. I felt a strange sense of peace and inner calm, or maybe that

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was numbness I don’t know. It took a long while and unfortunately a messy break up but I then decided to move out of my home and start afresh. I told my family that we had split up and gave them a brief indication of the recent problems, but I didn’t dare tell them that this had been going on from all but the start of the relationship. It’s only now, six years later that I feel I can tell you this. That’s because I know he is doing the same to you. I moved away, went back to work and started to rebuild my life piece by piece. I started socialising and meeting people and gradually got my confidence back.

Not only back, but better than before. I had an inner strength that made me what I am now, whether that was because of the relationship or being a mother I don’t know. But I know that having my son gave me the strength to move on and I know that you can do that too. You don’t have to put up with this and you can get away and be happy. I read something, ‘Happiness isn’t a destination, it’s a journey’ and it’s so true.

Being a single mother is hard work, but your energy is being focused in the right places, on

you and your child, not on a man-child who treats you so badly and doesn’t deserve the time of day. I wasn’t (and I’m not) perfect, but none of what happened was my fault. He cheated because he has no confidence, he stole because he’s greedy, he gambled because he’s selfish and he drank, partied and used drugs because he wasn’t happy in his own skin. None of those things are my fault, or yours and there’s nothing that we can do to fix them either because he would rather blame anyone else than look at why he behaves this way.

And you know what, I did meet someone, eventually! I genuinely didn’t care if I did or not, I realised that I couldn’t compromise, that only someone exceptional would be worthy of being with me and my child and that I’d rather be on my own forever than with someone just for company’s-sake. I know that I’d never put up with such behaviour ever again and so does my husband. He knows what I have been through and can’t believe that I would have put up with it. Neither can I, but I did and I am through it.

I’m telling you because I see the pattern now, I

see what’s happening. He lies and cheats and steals because he’s made you a shell of a woman and you truly believe that you can’t leave him and that it’s acceptable. He’s not hitting you, no, but he has taken everything you are and manipulated you so that you are needy, with no self confidence or dignity. I know you’ve chased him, barefoot down the street begging him not to leave all because you think that’s all you’re worth. But he’s made you feel that, it’s not true.

It’s better to be alone than to live forever like this, think of the child you’re growing and see whether you could live knowing your son grows up to treat his wife that way, or that your daughter accepts this behaviour from her husband. You don’t have to do this alone, but you do have to do it, there is help out there.

Good luck, enjoy your life and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re anything less than amazing Xxx Anon xxx

FREE ONLINE SERVICE OFFERS SEPARATING COUPLES SUPPORT AHEAD OF CHANGES TO FAMILY JUSTICE SYSTEM

Leading relationship research charity OnePlusOne has created Splitting Up? Put Kids First, an innovative, free online service to help separating couples continue to parent in the best way possible, despite their break-up.

The government has made major changes to the family justice system.

As a result of the new Children and Families Act 2014, which comes into force on April 22. Under the changes, it will be mandatory for separating couples to attend a MAIM (mediation, information and assessment) meeting to find out about mediation before they are allowed to take disputes over finances or child custody to court.

A growing number of fathers don’t live with their children. Just under one million (980,000) men in the UK have children under 16 years old ⁴ who they do not live with. The number of single parent households in the UK has tripled over the past 30 years, according to latest Office for National Statistics data. ⁵ Penny Mansfield CBE, director of OnePlusOne said: “Separation is a major upheaval in the lives of parents and children, so having access to support early on is critical to meeting children’s needs and keeping them connected to each parent and other family members such as grandparents.

OnePlusOne’s new service has been designed to help parents work out “OnePlusOne’s innovative online service Splitting up? Put Kids first is arrangements for the children themselves, and as early into a break-up available free, anytime from anywhere and is designed to equip mothers and fathers with the knowledge and skills they need to make as possible, reducing the need to go court. a workable parenting plan - by themselves.

It aims to help parents create a joint parenting plan to sort out arrangements for their children in the most amicable way. The charity “Since it’s online, the parenting plan can be revised as circumstances is particularly keen to get dads who are less likely to seek face-to-face change, providing separated parents with a communication channel to support using the service. Evidence shows that men prefer accessing continue to meet the needs of their children as they grow.”

Splitting Up? Put Kids First is available in Welsh and English. It has been online services than other kinds of support. created to Double A accessibility standard so people with visual Latest government figures show that more than half (52%)¹ of parents impairment can use it. say they find it hard to access the support they need when they separate. There are a quarter of a million separated parents in Britain² and the number of single parents with dependent children in 2012 was recorded as just under 2million.³

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UK FIRST-TIME PARENTS SPEND £492 MILLION PREPARING FOR BABY

Pre-Baby Spending Up 17% In Two Years To £1,600 ● ● ●

Expectant parents spend more than £1,600 preparing for arrival of first baby But six in 10 admit they bought things they didn’t need or use A fifth of expectant / new parents move house, typically spending £40,000

unexpected. Life insurance should be seen as just as much an essential as the pram or the car seat, as it’s there to protect your loved ones’ futures.

“It’s interesting that most new parents admit they’ve spent money on items they didn’t need or never used. Life insurance is of course anothFirst‐time UK parents spend more than £492 million⁽¹⁾ each year, pre‐ er thing that people hope they’ll never have to make use of, but the paring for the arrival of their first baby, according to research from life peace of mind of knowing your family will be provided for, should the insurance provider Aviva. This equates to £1,619 per family and shows worst happen, is absolutely invaluable.” a 17% increase to the £1,389 total in March 2012⁽¹⁾. The new Aviva study of 2,000 recent parents, found that this is the average amount Aviva offers free life cover of £10,000, per parent, per child to new spent on baby essentials such as prams, baby clothes, cots, car seats parents in the UK to run until the child’s first birthday⁽⁴⁾. New parents and nappies, as well as other nice-to-haves like nursing chairs and can register for the Aviva offer either online by visiting mum‐to‐be treats⁽¹⁾. However, six out of ten parents admit that with www.aviva.co.uk/life by phone on 0800 404 6465 or by speaking to hindsight, they had bought things that they either didn’t use or could their financial adviser. have done without. The most common ‘unnecessary’ items were revealed as mum-to-be toiletries (14%), Moses baskets (13%) and baby 1.

Aviva research, conducted by One Poll, among 2,000 parents with children under five in April 2014. The average ‘first baby spending’ slings (12%). In addition, more than a quarter of expectant / new breakdown is revealed as follows: parents (27%) said they bought or changed their car, with an average Preparing for baby purchase Average spent 2014 Average spent 2012 spend of £5,298 (up from £2,658 in 2012). A further one in five (20%) moved to a bigger house, with the majority forking out around £40,000 £225.59 £203.98 in the process, but with one in seven movers spending more than Pram / pushchair Cot / mattress / cot bedding £152.11 £139.64 £150,000 to upsize.

Furniture for nursery £160.27 £130.75 However, the study also showed a worrying proportion of new parents could be risking their children’s financial futures by skimping on life cover, with just one in five saying they’d taken out life insurance or reviewed their protection needs at this time. New parents were twice as likely to start a savings account for their new arrival, with two out of five (38%) saying they’d taken this step. New parents are shown to be rightfully vigilant at protecting their children against risks within the home. A third (33%) of new parents install life-saving smoke alarms and over a quarter (31%) fit carbon monoxide monitors. Stair gates are a must-have for over half of new parents (53%), and four in 10 fit safety catches on kitchen cupboards. But many are not considering the importance of also protecting their family’s financial future.

Aviva data shows that almost two-thirds (64%) of families have no life insurance in place and the typical family only has £2,773 in savings⁽²⁾ which, without any other income, would last less than two months on average. Yet if a ‘typical’ family paid £15 a month on a standard life insurance policy for both parents for 18 years, they could receive more than £224,000 tax-free if a parent died or was diagnosed with a terminal illness within that period⁽³⁾.

Louise Colley, protection director for Aviva and a mum to six-year-old twins says: “It’s only natural that people want to give their baby the best of everything, particularly when they’re about to become parents for the first time, but it’s also important to think about planning for the

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Baby clothes Decorating nursery Maternity clothes Baby toys Car seat Nursing chair Mum-to-be toiletries / treats e.g. massages Moses basket / bedding Baby bouncer / swinging chair Nappies / baby toiletries Breast pump Bottles / steriliser Mobile for cot Baby sling / papoose Total

£143.54 £141.10 £119.61 £130.79 £89.59 £105.98

£115.45 £115.01 £102.83 £100.79 £88.20 £79.91

£94.87 £64.93 £62.29 £36.99 £22.26 £30.34 £20.58 £18.51 £1,619.25

£68.48 £65.09 £60.06 £34.97 £21.28 £21.03 £20.94 £21.03 £1,389.44

The figure of £492 million is derived by calculating the number of babies born to UK first-time mums in 2012, and multiplying by the average amount spent per baby as detailed above. ONS data shows that 812,900 babies were born in the UK in 2012 and 37.4% were to first-time mums. Using this data, this equates to 304,025 babies born to UK first-time mums.

2.

Source: The Aviva Family Finances Report, December 2013.

3.

Aviva Standard Life Cover on a level term plan for a husband and wife aged 28 (the average age of first-time mothers in the UK), non-smokers, with monthly premiums of £15 over an 18 year period, information correct on 15 April 2014.

Amount of cover purchased: £224,224 if either parent were to die or be diagnosed with a terminal illness within the term of the plan. Aviva life insurance includes terminal illness benefit. This means we pay the policyholder a guaranteed lump sum if he or she is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is not expected to live more than 12 months.

4.

Terms and conditions apply.

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Shortly after my first son was born, I attended a baby/child first aid course run by St.John’s Ambulance. I was petrified that if some emergency arose with his health that I wouldn’t know how to help him.

So I learned how to do resuscitation, deal with choking, head injuries, bleeds and recognise the signs of illness in babies and young children.

That was 10 years ago and so this year I thought that an update of my knowledge was definitely well overdue and that it would be great to be able to offer first aid courses to local parents and parents-to-be, so I recently attended a first aid trainer course.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) recovery position choking head injuries meningitis fever/febrile convulsions bleeding Burns

Class sizes should not be too big, so that everyone gets sufficient Baby first aid is often high on the list of topics that my clients want to practice when it comes to learning the techniques of resuscitation and know about in antenatal courses. In the NCT, some branches offer first coping with choking. aid courses and others do not. Of the branches which do offer courses, certainly in the North London area, these tend to be over-subscribed and run fairly infrequently. First aid, should, in my opinion, be on the national curriculum. It’s as important as reading and writing, but many people lack either the skills or the confidence to help in the event of an emergency. Baby first aid in particular, is a skill which, if available to all new parents, could significantly reduce their anxiety levels in the first few postnatal weeks. Many parents say that they find it difficult to relax as they are always listening out for their baby’s breathing. This can cause extreme fatigue, which could even lead to postnatal illness (depression).

According to a survey carried out by Baby and Mother magazine, more than 80% of parents have little or no first aid knowledge and would not know what to do if their child stopped breathing, started choking or suffered burns. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also has some alarming statistics. Every year one million children under the age of 18 are taken to A&E following an accident in the home. Two hours of your time attending a local first aid course could mean the difference between life and death for a loved one or indeed a stranger in the street.

Birth-Your Way is now booking baby first aid courses for all parents. We also run paediatric courses for nursery staff, childminders, teachers and other adults who work with children. Our baby first aid session lasts around 2 hours with an investment in your child’s long-term future health for as little as £25 per person (or £45 for couples). Can you afford not to learn?

This article was written by Michelle Eshkeri, CEO & founder of Birth-Your Way, a Barnet-based company which provides private and NCT group courses as well as tailored individual birth and parenting coaching Basic baby and child first aid can be taught in groups of around 12-16, sessions, pregnancy & postnatal massage, first aid courses and parent covering topics such as: personal assistant services. For more information, email info@birthyourway.co.uk or visit http://www.birth-yourway.co.uk. ● assessing the situation ● primary survey of the casualty (checking the airway and For more information on NCT antenatal courses, visit breathing) http://www.nct.org.uk

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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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Ingredients

Tasty Little Mouthfuls

Ingredients

A Healthy Summer Snack

100g parmesan cheese 20g plain flour A grind of black pepper

Makes approx. 10 biscuits

100g blackberries 80g raisins (or we used a few boxes of Organix Raisins) Half a medium banana 200g Greek yogurt 1 tsp vanilla extract

Makes 4-8 portions (depending on appetite!)

Suitable for freezing 10-30 mins for preparation

Suitable for freezing Under 10 mins for preparation Under 10 mins for cooking

METHOD:

METHOD:

Step 1 - Finely grate the parmesan into a bowl

Step 1 - Mash the banana with a fork in a bowl. Separately blitz the blackberries, raisins and 2 tbsps of the yogurt with a hand blender. Mix the banana with the fruit mixture and then push it all through a sieve to make it really smooth

Step 2 - Mix in the flour to the cheese and grind in some black pepper Step 3 - Put a dessert spoonful of the mixture on a tray flatten down slightly

Step 2 - Add the rest of the yogurt and vanilla extract to the fruit and mix together

Step 4 - Put under a hot grill until starts to colour Step 3 - Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container (plastic/tuppaware is good) - make sure you only fill up to half way

Step 5 - Remove from grill and with a palette knife take off the baking tray whilst still warm. Place on a wire rack to cool

Step 4 - Freeze for 2 hours or until it becomes firm around the edges.

Use a fork to stir up the mixture and break down any ice crystals.

Re-freeze for another hour and repeat the stirring process with a fork if necessary. Freeze overnight and enjoy the next day.

Step 6 - Repeat until all the mixture has been used up Serving suggestions Either eat as they are or top with dips like guacamole or salsa

METHOD:

A tasty way to introduce figs to your little one Makes 4 servings 10-30 mins for preparation Under 10 mins for cooking

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Step 1 -

For the nut free pesto, put all the pesto ingredients into food processor and blend until the basil and chickpeas are finely chopped. Or pound the chickpeas, garlic and basil in a pestle and mortar until finely crushed and mixed in the oil and cheese

Step 2 -

Preheat the grill to 200°C. Cut the pitta breads in half side ways and halve and thinly slice the figs. Place the pitta bread onto a baking tray and spread a thin layer of pesto onto each one.

Arrange sliced figs round the bread leaving some gaps for the mozzarella. Tear the mozzarella into small pieces and arrange around the figs

Step 3 -

Place the baking tray under the grill for 5minutes or until the mozzarella is melted

Ingredients x mini pitta breads 2 ripe figs, halved and thinly sliced 1 big ball of mozzarella

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For the nut-free pesto: 5 tbsp (55g) extra virgin olive oil\ 45g cooked chickpeas ½ clove of garlic 25g or 2 handfuls of basil 20g parmesan cheese Juice of ½ lemon

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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 THREE: THE BABY BUZZ CHALLENGE, THIS WEATHER!!!!

So this month we have seen a surge in growth of our little seedlings. The tomatoes have rocketed and whilst this is great news, our weather also seems to be fluctuating rather drastically and so my lovely plants are being blown in every direction. I’ve called in the help of my much talented brother and sister-in-law (also landscape gardeners http://evansonearth.co.uk/) to come to the rescue and secure them in some way without blown out of the pot! I have to say the strawberries have come on a right treat and have lots of little strawberries coming out! The pictures taken to the right show my poor tomato plants having taken a rather nasty battering and thanks to a faulty gutter they were also flooded out twice! I managed to rescue them luckily and they don’t seem to have suffered to badly. Do any readers have any pictures they’d like to send in to show others? Maybe some tips or ideas?

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8.

Find a small vase or even a simple mug and let the children cut a few flowers and stems to create a mini flower arrangement 9. Make your own scarecrow 10. Use acrylic paint pens to personalise small watering cans and encourage the children to keep their plants well watered in hot weather Dawn Isaac is a garden designer, writer and mother of three. Her most recent book is 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside published

by Kyle Books (RRP ÂŁ14.99) and you can follow her blog about gardening with children at:

www.littegreenfingers.com It's OK - you can put away your thermal vests - things are properly warm outside now. Plants are feeling it too and although they may not be shedding fashion-challenging underwear in the same way, we can start planting and growing tender crops.

Here are my top ten things to do with your junior gardeners at this time of year 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Sow some pumpkin and squash seeds in the ground - you can try growing giant varieties, but if you're limited on space you can also select types which are happy to grow in a large pot instead In a sunny spot, use long bamboo canes pushed into the ground in a circle and tied together at the top to form a wigwam structure. You can then plant runner beans or climbing French beans at the base of each cane to form a leafy teepee in a few weeks time.

Make some outdoor bunting from old plastic bags cut into pennants and stapled to string Find a sheltered sunny spot and plant sunflower seeds in two rows just over a metre apart to form a giant flowering alley for summer Sow beetroot, dill, chard, rocket, courgettes and basil in your vegetable and herb garden or even in pots Have a picnic tea in the garden or at the park.

Hide two or three of the children's soft toys around the garden and send them off on a bear hunt

For all your special occasion cakes, always fresh and never frozen..

Goffs Oak and surrounding areasâ&#x20AC;Ś www.facebook.com/cakeangelcakesbynikki 07851233208 cakeangel78@hotmail.co.uk www.babybuzzmagazine.com

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41

Happy Father’s Day!!

My daddy gives the best cuddles and always makes me giggle!'

The reason they love him so much is because he works really hard and takes them on holidays (and grows funny moustaches that annoy mummy!)

He is an amazing daddy, better than I could ever have imagined & Alexia loves him to the moon & back.

I always knew James would be a great dad, but it wasn't until Ralph was born that I got to see just how amazing James is with Ralph, he is so hands on in every way, even down to changing Nappies and dealing with sick!!! Ralph loves being with James and watching them both together is the most special thing. James in my eyes is the best daddy ever..

My daddy is amazing as he looks after me for two whole days a week while mummy goes to work and we have a wonderful time together x

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Words can not express what a fab daddy Paul is…

Thank you for being you x You are our rock x

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He is a great dad because he’s still a kid at heart and has as much fun as the kids do xx

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Tas is a great Daddy, he manages to balance fatherhood with running a business and always makes time for the children with the patience of a saint.

I love that Lee comes home from work and straight away spends time with his boys.

There my world.

Even though I am the "creative" one out of us, Andrew is the one who will always get out the paints and make pasta necklaces with the girls or let them attack his face with the face paint set & not worry about the mess. He is such a fun & caring dad to be around, the girls are very lucky .

Adam is the best daddy because he gives the biggest cuddles, does the best raspberries and tickles, loves watching Disney and Pixar and even sings along to all the songs! And above all he has the biggest amount of love to hand out and looks after us all and treats us - he's just the best!

He works tirelessly but always has time for the kids too!

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My Granddad is amazing because he takes me out to play in his beautiful big garden and plays ball games with me..

Because he would do anything to put a smile on his baby boys face and when you watch him look at his son all you see is love xx

Richie is a firefighter and dad to 3 girls who all think he is a hero, he's kind and funny too!!

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ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

By JAYSHREE VASANI

As a registered dispensing optician in practice I have to ensure that people are happy and comfortable with their glasses. Never is this more important than when a child need to have spectacles. Children are not always capable of complaining about a poor fit. Instead they lose their spectacles or break them rather than wear them. This is even more the case when we talk about a child with Down syndrome.

Fit is a key factor for any child as their small faces are still developing and their facial characteristics are quite different to a mature adult face.

As such they require specialist frames –specifically tailored to their needs. Poor fitting frames can mean the glasses slipping and the child looking over and not through the lenses. That is an unacceptable situation as children are learning every second of the day and if the world is in poor focus that can only hamper progress.

My own personal journey with Erin’s World started when I came across a patient with an Erin’s World frame. The mother was not happy as the glasses still slipped and out of curiosity I asked her who measured her daughter for the glasses. No-one she said –she took the size on her daughter‘s existing specs and ordered them from the web. The sizing was too big and this time we measured the little girl’s face and ordered new spectacles. The new glasses fitted perfectly thus highlighting the need for proper fitting and assessment for fit &comfort. That is why when I took over UK distribution of Erin’s World and considered how we raise awareness of the product we decided to highlight to both service users and professionals the need to see a qualified eye care professional who can properly measure and adjust your spectacles and A 1993 study at Cardiff University concluded that Down syndrome provide warranty and back up as needed. children cannot be fitted with conventional frames. This is because the facial characteristics of children with Down syndrome do not change As a parent it can be daunting trying to locate one such professional with age and rarely coincide with those of other children, either of and to assist with this our website has a location section whereby once similar age or younger. As such, a specially designed range makes the you have hit the UK button you are able to see who in your local area job of the dispenser much easier, and actually provides the child with is a stockist of our frames. Also on recent attendance to a Down syndrome event I realised an important fact when I was speaking to a spectacles that fit their needs. parent. That is, sometimes a child will only want to be seen by their Maria Dellapina, a USA Certified Optician has a Down syndrome optician-not the stockist down the road. If this is the case, you could daughter and came up close and personal to this problem when her get your optician to get in touch instead. own daughter Erin required a spectacle correction. She got frustrated and decided to get a frame manufactured to fit her little girl’s unique Optometrists and opticians are getting more in tune with the needs of features better. Hence ERIN’S WORLD FRAMES came about. children and adults requirements aided by charities such as SEEABILITY http://www.seeability.org/eyecare_hub/optometrists_or_optician_se To address these unique features she designed a range of frames with arch/optometrist_search.aspx who have also have a section on their the following features: website for eye care professionals to register their expertise and ● A Lowered bridge –to make the frame sit higher and more centred commitment to providing eye care services to parents of Down ● Custom designed shorter temples lengths-to ensure better fitting syndrome children and adult DS individuals.

It is a well known fact that of 50% of the 60,000 people living with Down Syndrome in the UK wear spectacles but not known is that 100% have low quality of vision. What’s more, children (and adults) with Down Syndrome are VISUAL LEARNERS. Their vision is key to their everyday activity, making a well fitting pair of spectacles essential. However the common picture you see in practice when you see a Down Syndrome child is a pair of low fitting specs and the child having to continually push the glasses up. The petite nose, broader bridge and shorter distance from the ears to the front of the face mean that regular spectacles constantly slip and the child is looking over the top of the frame.

● ● ●

Extra wide frame front-to ensure a comfortable fit Made of titanium &memory flex-creating a durable frame 180 Degree spring out flat folding joints-ensuring the frame takes life little mistakes better!

Finding a professional who can give you the time and expertise to provide a customised pair of spectacles can make a huge difference to your child’s vision. Erin’s World Frames are suitable for children right The range of 14 models and twenty up to adulthood. Opticians have told us that the frames also fit children colours mean that for the first time without disabilities who have low bridges,and who also look over their a Down Syndrome child or adults glasses rather than through them. has a choice of colour, size and style REMEMBER ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL – something we all take for granted when we choose spectacles.

Dellapina started sharing the information and launched the range via a website to gain exposure and get the message out there that there is something to fill this previously under developed need.

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For more information or to find your nearest stockist of Erin’s World Frames, please visit: Website: http://specs4us.com/doctorlocations.html Email: vasanij@hotmail.com

UK DISTRIBUTOR FOR ERIN’S WORLD FRAMES Specially formatted frames for Down syndrome individuals and anyone with a low bridge.

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t na e se by As e Ba cel, Th w Ex o S h 2 0 14

Our beautiful bouquets ooze elegance and provide the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; factor that comes with it.

These bouquets contain 7 items each made from 100% cotton and all have lovely soft to touch teddies included.

Our gorgeous cupcakes melt in your mouth and make any baby shower or party complete!! Our cupcake socks are so creative that you will not believe they are not edible.

For more information or to place an order, please visit us at: Website: http://www.angelsurprise.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelsurpriseltd Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelsurpriseuk www.babybuzzmagazine.com

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45

Make-A-Wish Kids Drawing Competition The competition will be judged by none other than celebrity superstar, Peter Andre – who officially opened London Designer Outlet Playpark.

Peter will pick one winner of the grand prize, plus ten runners-up entries, which will all be displayed here on the London Designer Outlet website!

Print off the entry form from the following link and drop in your children’s creations to our Customer Service office at London Designer Outlet for your chance to win! : http://www.london-designer-outlet.com/whats-on/make-a-wishkids-drawing-competition Alternatively, entries can be emailed to: LDOpressoffice@haygarth.co.uk, or posted to the following address:

To celebrate the opening of the new London Designer Outlet Playpark, we’re looking for talented children to send us a drawing of their dream play park. It could have a helter skelter, or even a waterslide – the more creative, the better!

LDO Press Office, Haygarth, 28-31 High Street, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5BY (The competition closes on 3rd July 2014).

London Designer Outlet has teamed up with top charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, to help raise money to grant magical wishes for children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. For each entry received, London Designer Outlet will donate £1 to Make-A-Wish and you are in with a chance of winning a VIP family fun day out, including family tickets to a show at Wembley Arena.

Summer skin confidence for 5.6million people More than 4m UK adults suffer from eczema and 1.26m of the population suffer from psoriasis – dry, sore skin conditions which are exacerbated by cold weather and central heating. As we leave the winter months behind, millions of people across the UK are looking to regain their skin confidence, and get ready to bare all in the sunshine.

Hope’s Relief is the perfect way to prepare your skin for the summer months, completely naturally. It is Australia’s number one dry skincare range, packed with natural goodness and scientifically proven to help soothe, nourish and protect your skin, leaving you feeling ready for summer. The ‘Intensive Dry Skin Rescue’ cream is specially formulated to nourish deep down and help repair the skin’s natural barrier, for targeted relief. The ‘Hydrating Lotion’ can be used all over the body – its breakthrough formula with mango butter intensely moisturises, penetrating deep to restore flexibility and regenerate new skin cells.

The Hope’s Relief range contains high strength herbal extracts, such as Calendula, Licorice, Gotu Kola and Aloe Vera, which hold antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and collagen boosting qualities. A key ingredient is hospital grade UMF10+ Active Manuka Honey, which has proven healing properties; Independent tests comparing Manuka and Australian Tea Tree found Manuka to be up to 33 times more effective on common gram-positive skin bacteria. It has even been shown to be highly effective against antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA. George Adams, aged 16 months when his mum Verity was in touch with us to trial Hope’s Relief. Within 3 weeks, the cream had calmed his skin dramatically (see pictures)!

The Hope’s Relief range is available now from Wholefoods, Nutricentre, Revital, Planet Organic, John Bell & Croyden, www.hopes-relief.com, and all good health stores and independent pharmacies.

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For more information, please visit: www.hopes-relief.com 46

Taking care of your skin, the right way ..

By Nickie Evans I used to be one of those people who didn’t really believe in the whole cleanse, tone and moisturise thing, purely because I thought it was either a) a gimmick b) someone's opportunity to make money out of women desperately wanting younger looking skin c) a waste of time and money. I have friends and family who have spent a considerable fortune over the years buying every new product that has come to the market, most of which haven’t worked . After attending a recent Press event (and meeting the lovely Myleene Klass) I also had the chance to speak to a lovely lady who was displaying a vast range of products by Murad. Being the type of person who doesn’t have a clue about what product does what I, rather tentatively, sat down and waited for the long and complicated explanations, which I have to say quite pleasantly didn’t happen. I must say that with so many products doing a variety of things it did become quite bewildering looking at so many tubes and pots but after explaining what I was looking for in a product Sarah brilliantly explained (without looking at all bored or ready to run) what the products could do for me.

I have to say that the first product she gave me to try on my hand, the Renewing Cleansing Oil, was an odd sensation purely as the texture was so overly ‘oily’ and the thought of putting this on my face felt a bit like covering my face in grease and didn’t feel natural at all. I have to confess that the sample sent to try out at home didn’t prevail much more than the initial trial and this has been given to a family member to try out instead. However, the next line to be tried on the night has been somewhat of a revelation! The ‘Age Reform’ programme is a 3 stage series based on Cleanse/Tone, Treat/Repair and Hydrate/Protect. The first step is the Refreshing Cleanser, which is so easy to apply whilst in the shower or bath - by simply gently massaging onto your face and neck area and then rinsing off. Just this step alone leaves your skin feeling unbelievable soft! The second stage of Dr. Murad’s three-step regime, Treat/Repair, is the most important in a Murad skincare regime.

There is at least one Treat/Repair product in every Murad product range and this is usually the serum product. Murad serums are a targeted skincare treatment with the highest percentage of active ingredients.

They deliver key ingredients directly to where skin needs it, making it the most powerful and results-driven product in the range. Treat/Repair products, or the Murad Step 2, stimulates the deeper layers of the skin which treats your main skin concern and helps to repair it. If you wish

to invest in just one product, then a Step 2 Treat/Repair which targets your skin priority is the one to choose. Step 3 the Perfecting Day Cream (there are variations that you can use i.e. for night time which have no SPF but this is the version we reviewed for the morning ritual). I can safely say my skin has never felt, or looked, better whilst I’ve been using the Murad creams and whilst it’s not the cheapest option on the market it most certainly is one of the best. You can go into House of Fraser on Oxford Street, which has a skin scanner and this will tell you what’s really going on with your skin and what product will work best for you (and it’s totally free of charge!). This is one regime I will definitely be keeping up once my trial session has finished!

So who is behind the Murad brand?

Jeff Murad is vice president of product development at Murad Inc., overseeing the formulation, testing, regulatory compliance and packaging compatibility of Murad’s entire selection of products. Joining Murad Inc. in 2000, Jeff works alongside his father; legendary dermatologist and Murad founder Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, on the development of new products and formulations. Continuing to further the science-based, results-oriented family of products, Jeff is also responsible for ensuring that new product development is linked closely with consumer demand by working seamlessly with Murad’s marketing division.

Under Jeff’s stewardship, Murad’s product development department has tripled in size to meet escalating demand for support functions sparked by the growing pipeline of innovative products created. In addition, Jeff is active in furthering Murad's international growth and co-created the successful Murad Man line, that includes various products tackling male-specific skin concerns. Jeff holds an MBA from University of Southern California with a special focus on strategy and marketing. He completed his undergraduate studies at New York University and is currently on the ICMAD Board of Directors, an elite consortium of the most experienced cosmetic company owners and executives in the industry.

Murad, Inc. was founded in 1989 by Howard Murad. M.D., one of the world’s foremost authorities on skin health and a pioneer of the clinical skincare movement. Murad is sold in over 40 countries and is the #1 selling clinical skincare brand at many locations including Sephora and Ulta.

For more information, please visit: www.murad.co.uk

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The thing about starting up your own business is that its hard work… By Eve Tudor, The Buggy Network You have to have passion about it or you won’t see it through. You need to stay up all night thinking about it. You don’t sleep because you are either excited or you are panicking because you need everything to be perfect. You go on courses to make sure you know all that you need to know and you don’t stop till the job is done and just how you want it to be.

LIFE IS HARD!!! And to top it all of, you have a couple of kids that want to go to the park or need their hands wiping every five minutes as you are letting them eat everything in the house just so that you can get 10 minutes to write an article!!! And Breath. But, at the end of the day, I can do anything I like. I don’t answer to anyone except an occasionally moaning husband and at least he can see my vision.

I’ve worked for some very interesting people in my time, and I use the word interesting as it has a very wide range of what it could mean. I have experienced all sorts of people and its been amazing but it’s also something I don’t want to go back to. As I've said before, I've been in positions of not just needing to make decisions about my business but also my life. Yes we work and yes our guilt is strong about not being with our kids but we must make the most of the time we have. I went to a friends house at the weekend and although I was worried whilst I was there that I wasn't working I had a really nice time. She was talking about her guilt about working full time and not spending time with the kids, but we also talked about our schools having indulgence evenings and going to each other for support. We both went along to mine first and had a really lovely time. We both had a couple of treatments which was a real treat. I felt amazing. I had a chat with my dad about this too and he practically told me off! Not for being selfish for having some time to myself but for not doing it regularly and looking after myself! Initially I was shocked that my Greek Cypriot father was telling me to go and have a pamper but I realised that he was saying it as I hadn't been looking after myself at all. I've been going to my wonderful friends Salon, Pure Hair and Beauty Salon in Enfield as he's been experimenting with my hair with some of his treatments that he does at the salon and its been amazing.

I have very long hair which is great for him, but I'm very fussy about my hair and I have to take 2 hours out of every week to have my hair done which I've never done in my life. A lot of my friends are actually shocked that I'm having it done at all but I'm really enjoying stand feeling wonderful looking nice afterwards.

Soft furnishings ******* Sewing tuition ******* Kids sewing parties 07502 980 822

So the moral of this months story is not to get your hair done every week like a crazy person. Or to working so hard that you cry because you have to succeed!

Its harder to find a balance. Sometimes things crop up and we don't realise that we’ve stopped looking after ourselves until we can't find any clean underwear because we have been so busy making sure that the kids have something to wear and then realised that we don't. That's always fun!

Don't forget to look after ‘YOU’ whilst you are trying to change all of your lives for the better with your business (or just working full stop).

Everything actually begins and ends with you. If you aren't looking after yourself then how can you look after everyone else.

Chin up and keep pushing!

For more information, details of next events or to join up, please visit: www.thebuggynetwork.com

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A Labour of Love Are you getting close and counting down the days to your labour? How are you feeling? Excited with a splash of nervousness? Throughout the whole of my pregnancy, I was constantly asked about my birth plan. The only plan I knew I had was to have a baby at the end of 9 months, and hopefully I would be graced with a homebirth (with the birthing pool lovely pumped up by the hubby in the dinning room).

By Abi Adams

The eventual birth of our baby boy was so far removed from my anticipated homebirth, I would never have dreamt I would have ended up with an emergency caesarean. But lest we forget what this is all about, the safe arrival of a precious gift you have been carrying for 9 months. I honestly would have done anything recommended when the little life inside me was in danger. And after all, no matter how much I wanted a homebirth, it was never about me.

Whatever happens, I promise you will get over it. You will forget. And Strange that throughout our entire pregnancy I was happy to go with you won’t be able to stop staring into the most amazing eyes you the flow and let things be, so outside my usual planned and thought helped conceive and think how wonderful life is. out life. So, birth plan. Do you have one? Have you had it engrained in your mind since before your little one was even conceived? Or are Enjoy Tipsxfor Labour you pretty happy to let nature take its course? Allow me to share, from ● At the beginning of contractions, I would stand and lift all my toes experience, a little loving advice. It all began on Friday 18th April off the ground pushing strongly into the balls of my feet and heels.

2014...… Nearly 2 weeks overdue, I was doing everything (and more) to assist this impending labour. My yoga practices now consisted of ● I found this really helped reduce the pain. more breath work and meditation and I was now fit to walk Everest.

Spicy food had been a constant throughout pregnancy, but now ● Have a birthing ball handy. These are great for sitting and leaning seemed to be on the menu each evening. Not even a somersault of on and can help increase contractions. excitement, until that Friday 18th. After a walk with my husband, I began to get those wave like period pains - yayyyy! There was actually ● Inhaling sharply and deeply in through the nostrils and very slow and controlled out through the mouth when the contractions a baby in there and not just too many chocolate brownies trying to surge. Helps take the edge off. escape.

On the advice of my dear friend Clare, I began gentle exercises on a birthing ball (must have) to help the contractions along. Through excitement and pain, I didn't really sleep at all that Friday evening (big mistake! Rest as much as you can at the start). And so, the contractions went through to Saturday where I was due for an induction. I managed to persuade the doctors to give me a sweep instead, in that if nothing happened I would return the following morning and have the induction. Saturday evening flowed into Sunday morning and me and the hubby made our way to the hospital for my first induction. Word of advice, try and plan your labour for Easter as the Maternity wing was empty and we got amazing personal service from the team! As I planned a homebirth I was treated as an out patient and allowed home to let nature (hopefully!) take its course.

Another long hilly walk followed where I was having 3 contractions every 10 minutes, which is what the midwife said I needed for labour to ensue - SCORE! Excited, we went home and I got euphoric looking at my birthing pool that it could still be a possibility. Nothing. I was beginning to wonder whether this bump was actually doughnut induced after all as we made our way to the hospital again for my second induction on the Monday morning (day 4 of labour). Again, this proved fruitless and I was told I had to stay at hospital. So long homebirth AND the joy of a birthing pool, but I wasn't fazed at all by this. I just wanted the safe arrival of our child.

That evening, merconium was found on the sanitary towel I was wearing (this is where the baby poos inside you and comes out as a green discharge, indicating distress). The team at Whipps Cross Hospital were amazing and I was taken down to the labour ward where I was placed on Syntocinon to increase contractions. Now, in my loosely drafted birth plan for my midwife, I stated no drugs, especially an epidural. After 4 days of contractions, no sleep and worry and the 4 hour duration of forced contractions, as much as I didn't want to take the epidural, I didn't think I could support my child at this point. And a good job too as the 4 hours turned into 9 hours. At this point I was only 4 cm dilated (WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOU CERVIX?!), our babies heartbeat was decreasing with every contraction and more merconium was being released which was threatening to choke our child. I was immediately wheeled into theatre for an emergency caesarean. And our beautiful baby boy arrived 9.30am Tuesday 22nd April.

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● Even though you don't feel like it, take a walk. It really gave me focus, got me out of the house and cleared my mind from silly thoughts. ● For any unexpected eventuality, pack your bag (For you - maternity towels, breast pads, a nice sweet treat of choice for the following day as your appetite decreases, comfy clothes, wet wipes to freshen yourself up if you can't shower. For baby - nappies, wet wipes, baby grows, hat, mitts and booties, blanket)!

Please do not use if suffering from synthesis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

Labour posture - Supported Squat This really helps open the cervix and I found it really comfortable and felt very supported when aided by my hubby.

This can be done either by squatting in front of your husband whilst he is on a birthing ball (he can also give your shoulders a nice deep rub too). Or you can hold onto a door handle, end of a bed and lean backwards into the squat. Either way is really nice and helps ease pain.

Oolong 07951 101 049 www.loveoolongtime.com 49

Book Reviews Toddlers - 6 years old

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 a brand new travel system from Ickle Bubba (you have to love the name!) 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 we’ve also been given a few samples from the new collection of maternity wear from Tiffany Rose for all you expecting mums.

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

A very brilliant way of helping your children understand that it’s not nice to be mean or horrible to your friends and that you should do your best to make things right, perhaps a lesson we could all learn as adults too. Books with meanings behind the story are fast becoming popular and I think are a great way of teaching our children valuable life lessons.

A fabulous idea on how to keep your children occupied whether getting dinner ready or to just get creative minds flowing! Cuddle, doodle and draw away with Maisy and her friends with this amazing doodle book. With 50 different activities to keep small hands busy this is a great and inexpensive way of giving your child something fun to do!

Beautifully illustrated and written by Michael Foreman, this story is one that won’t grow old.

Of course, it’s not just for mealtimes, this book is great to take away with you too if you are going out on your travels whether it be plane, train or car journeys!

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Lucy Cousins 3+ £7.99 www.walker.co.uk

There are an amazing array titles under the Early Reader banner with something to suit every child. We’ve had the chance to review three of them with the first being ‘Monster Finds a Home’.

A beautifully illustrated book by author and illustrator Ed Vere about a fearless kitten called Max. A very easy to read and fun interpretation of the old cat and mouse tale. Adults and children will love this book, making it a great bedtime story.

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

I almost wish I were 5 years old to read these fabulously detailed books that encapsulate your child into the world of make believe. Such a easy story to get through but one that is fun and upbeat, you almost bounce along with Monster!

Ed Vere 3 - 5 years £11.99 www.puffin.co.uk

An adorable “pirate” picture book with a beautifully rhyming story that all little boys are sure to love. You can turn this story into so much more with a little imagination (and maybe a little dressing up) that your child will want you to read it to them every night.

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Michelle Robinson & Nick East 3 - 5 years £6.99 www.puffin.co.uk

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Michael Foreman 5+ £11.99 www.walker.co.uk

The story is a very jolly tale about a brother and sister who want a pet and their ‘mad scientist’ mother & father create one for them - introducing ‘Monster’ who is snuggly and fun and eats lots and lots of green porridge!

A fantastic book that you should definitely encourage your child to read again and again!

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

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Steve Cole (Illustrated by Pete Williamson) 5+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

50

Horrid Henry is a very popular television programme for children and has been turned into a series of books for children to read.

As many of my readers will know, I am a keen ‘Grow Your Own’r’ - not that I am the best at it but I do try. This book is a good understanding about the process of growing your own (carrots) and then at the end of the book there is actually a very simple guide / instructions on how children can do exactly that!

In this book, Henry is up to his dastardly ways again but this time at Aunt Polly’s wedding! As is the norm, Henry gets up to no good and causes as much mayhem as possible. His poor little brother Peter gets caught up in the mess and his family deal with the aftermath.

Well drawn and very much easy to follow, this book is great for schools who want to have their own veggie patch as well as families who aren’t sure where to start. Thoroughly enjoyed by us.

Fun story line that any fan of Horrid Henry will enjoy!

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Francesca Simon (Illustrated by Tony Ross) 5+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Claire Burgess (Illustrated by Marije van Veldhoven) 5+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

A great read that although targeted towards 5+ children, I really enjoyed reading (over a number of nights) to my 3 year old.

Never let it be said that education books are dull! This inspiration from Nicola Davies (and illustrated by Emily Sutton) helps us teach our children all about Microbes.

She became more and more engrossed with what Pigsticks and Harold were getting up to and you could see her eyes widening as we read each page trying to take in all that was going on and what was going to happen.

A fabulous book that gets the imagination running wild. Looking forward to the next adventures of Pigsticks and Harold.

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Alex Milway 5+ £6.99 www.walker.co.uk

Book Reviews For the Parents..

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Nicola Davies (Illustrated by Emily Sutton) 5+ £11.99 www.walker.co.uk

I’ve read so many books from a mother’s perspective and I think one as written by dad and so I’m always keen to read something new, especially when it’s written by ‘dad’. Rob Kemp’s ‘The New Dad’s Survival Guide’ is brilliantly written and is a must have for all new daddy’s to be and new daddy’s! There’s no excuse now - you’ve been given the helping hand as to what to expect and the best ways in which to do it! As all mum’s will know there is a Bounty Pack given to mums during and just after their pregnancy, well this is a must have inclusion to give dad a helping hand!

Mums if need be, invest - it will be one of the best things you do!

A fabulous way of helping new and existing mums who just need a little helping hand.

Dr Claire Winstanley uses her medical experience as well as common sense as a parent to give concise, clear cut information ranging from an amazing medical breakdown of different issues your child could face to feeding, sleeping and relationships.

As any parent will tell you becoming a parent is a tough thing to adjust to, surely having such sound advice and knowledge can only be a good thing!

Author: Dr Claire Winstanley Price: £12.99 Buy From: www..co.uk

Beautifully depicted in easy to understand images and descriptions. A great way to encourage our little ones to learn.

Author: Rob Kemp Price: £10.99 Buy From: www.eburypublishing.co.uk

Dr Claire Winstanley is a GP currently based in Bristol and mother to 3 young children. Her interests within medicine are diverse and amongst other things have led her into a fascination with all alternative therapies, acupuncture, and to a Chinese herbal medicine Diploma. She is greatly interested in diet also and how it affects a person’s health and wellbeing.

Above all, she enjoys the variety general practice offers and the challenges it presents.

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Book Reviews School Age The illustrations of Jim’s Lion are what grab you first - they are striking!

I love how the book stops with the words and you have pages with the most incredible illustrations almost to b left to your own devices and create your own story, diving deep into your own imagination. Jim’s Lion would work well for any families who have children who are in hospital possibly having an operation, have an on-going illness. However, it really is a must read for all children as it is a very poignant story and you can’t help but feel powerful towards at the end.

One of my favourites this month!

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Russell Hoban (illustrated by Alexis Deacon) 7+ £9.99 www.walker.co.uk

A really fun mystery for the younger child. We gave this to a younger child of a friend to read as Mia felt she was too old for it. The friends daughter, Clare, thought it was a very funny book and mum was really pleased that she became so engrossed in it (any time away from the TV is a good thing!). Mum will be investing in the other books in the series with the hope they will go down just as well!

Great job tackling the younger girls in something that will create imagination and encourage reading!

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Kate Pankhurst 7+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

Wow, I didn’t realise just how big Tom Gates really was - but then again I am old (according to my two girls!). Trying to read this just left me confused so I quite gratefully handed it to my oldest daughter who at almost 13 really enjoyed it! I think it must have been the mischievousness that sealed it for her. She chuckled her way through with me trying to understand and her just exhaling in exasperation at trying to explain!

Okay I give up!

Author Liz Pichon was a World Book Day author in 2013 with the bestselling title of the event, Tom Gates: Best World Boo k Day Ever (so far). The first book in the Tom Gates series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011; The Best Book for Young Readers - Red House Book Award; and the Best Fiction for 5-12-year-olds category of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

Tom Gates: Genius Ideas (mostly) won the Blue Peter Book Award 2013 and was shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year 2012.

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Most parents with children at school will have heard of the BBC Programme Deadly 60 where they showcase the worlds deadliest animals! Following on from the series is a great range of books from Reptiles & Amphibians, Mammals, Minibeasts, Spiders and Insects, Fish, Squid and Jellyfish and the one we reviewed Bizarre Beasts. The book contains an array of beasties along with an amazing collection of facts, most of which we don’t realise! A great gift idea for a party bag instead of a bag of sweets and silly toys!

By: Age: Price: Buy From:

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Author: Age: Price: Buy From:

Richard Brassey 7+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

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Orion Children’s Books 7+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk

A fantastic book written by a champion rider and Grand Slam winner herself! Tillys Horse, Magic is the next instalment from Pippa Furnell.

This story watches how Tilly grows with her horse, Magic and faces new challenges and tasks leading to the ultimate goal of being chosen for the Pony Club Eventing Championship. Beautifully written in a way that any horse or want to be horse enthusiastic child will thoroughly enjoy reading.

One for all the daddy’s out there to enjoy with the children! A well illustrated book detailing the historical highlights of football since its origination. A real mixture of fun and unusual facts from famous football fidos to infamous fouls, dads all over the world are sure to love this book!

Just in time for the World Cup!!

Liz Pichon 9+ £1099 www.scholastic.co.uk/tomgatesworld

Pippa Funnell 7+ £4.99 www.orionbooks.co.uk / www.tillysponytails.co.uk

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Travel System & Pushchair Reviews

The last 17 months have since us review many different styles of pushchairs, strollers, and travel systems most of which have been highly recognised brands where reputation has often proceeded them or the press have made a big deal out of.

I was, therefore, thrilled to be contacted by an amazing PR firm, BumpPR, who we have worked with for quite some time and who are representing a relatively new company to the pushchair / travel system market called Ickle Bubba. As any parent-to-be, new parent or even much-experienced parent will tell you, one of the biggest purchases they will make upon finding out they are expecting is the wheels in which to transport their baby. There are so many varieties on the market already, many of which claim to be great at everything, many of which cost an arm and a leg and many of which won’t last half as long as you need them too!

Coming onto the market with a new product such as the Stomp V2 was no mean feat and overall we were extremely impressed with what it had to offer.

One of the biggest bonuses about the Stomp V2 is that you can purchase the full system ready to go, therefore taking out any confusion or stress about what other bits need to be bought in addition to a chassis! Additionally, there are different packages to go for, so if you already have a car seat you can opt for the Stomp 2-in-1 which has everything you need pram, carrycot, raincovers etc and saves you £70!

The travel system is delivered in two boxes; one containing the car seat and the other containing the following • Stomp v2 chassis with shopping basket • 2 large rear wheels and 2 smaller front wheels • carrycot with apron • seat unit • changing bag with mat • bumper bar • hood • seat liner • cosytoes • car seat adaptors • instruction manuals.

As other reviewers have mentioned the simplicity in putting the pushchair and car seat into the main chassis is great! The car seat is by far the lightest we’ve carried and whilst we only tested it on a very short term basis with a friends 6 week old, we both agreed that it was sturdy and didn’t cause any issues with the weight once said child was placed inside. We loved the hood fabric on the car seat, carrycot and pushchair as it is made from a light and stretchy material and gave a very clean cut look to the overall product.

The pushchair element is stunning and we loved the finished style. My 3 year old whilst a little big for pushchairs and extremely heavy was very comfortable sat in this and the 5-point harness was secure, easy to fasten and strong enough to hold even her!

Pushing her around was effortless and very easy to handle and the height of the handlebars ensured we didn’t have to stoop over the pushchair. Unfortunately for us the carrycot proved to be a bit of a stumbling block and whilst the sample we reviewed had us having to detach the pram fabric from the frame to attach the carrycot fabric (something that was not so easy and became quite frustrating), having spoken to the people behind the brand they have reassured us that as from July the carrycot fabric will be attached to the frame pre-delivery! The pushchair comes in a good selection of vibrant colours and provides ample storage with the shopping basket. It also has the flexibility to use different car seats with the purchase of additional adapters such as Maxi-Cose and Besafe. Opening and collapsing the Stomp V2 is etremely easy and whilst you need to hands you do adjust very quickly to how to use it.

For a new pushchair unit it really does have a lot of offer and is a great price for a complete package!

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Travel System & Pushchair Reviews Hauck London - £469.99 (Available from http://www.mothercare.com/ All in One Pram and Pushchair Travel System What’s Included - chassis, seat unit, hood, carrycot, car seat, cosy toes, rain cover

One of the very first travel systems we reviewed for Baby Buzz Magazine was the Hauck Malibu All-In-One, which at that time was approximately £289.99 (including changing bag). Whilst we absolutely loved this travel system for the value that it offered and the quality of the unit we weren’t surprised to find that the London was the super upgraded equivalent. With each fixture simply clicking onto the chassis with no fussing around this really is the most amazing travel system.

The travel system is delivered in one very large box and contains a • car seat • London chassis with large shopping basket • 4 wheels • carrycot with apron • seat unit • bumper bar • hood • cosytoes • car seat adaptors • instruction manuals.

The ease is which you can put together the London is effortless and you can change between the full set within a matter of minutes. Collapsing and opening the chassis takes just a few clicks and again you can be on your way in next to no time at all. The chassis folds down remarkably well and fits into the standard boot (our little Vauxhall Corsa had more than enough room for shopping after this was placed inside.

As our little girl is extremely tall for her age she often struggles to fit into a pushchair so most often than not we walk or get in the car but she also fits very snugly into the London pushchair and didn’t appear to squirm or be uncomfortable. The London comes into two colours, the Rainbow & Black and also the Cross & Grey both of which are very in keeping with the market trends.

The chassis is very easy to manoeuvre and feels firm under grip. As with the Malibu the shopping basket is more than adequate to store your essentials and it comes complete with everything you need to get on your way. Hauck are definitely one of our market leaders when it comes to pushchairs / travel systems and just goes to show, as with the Stomp V2 that not everything has to cost the earth! I’ll be targeting the big name brands in future issues to see if you really get that much better for twice the price!

Anyone up for a challenge?

Visit our website NOW for your chance to win this amazing travel system. www.babybuzzmagazine.com./competitions As this is the review product, please note there will be minimal wear and tear to the wheels.

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Maternity Clothing Review : Tiffany Rose

We’ve been very fortunate to review a selection of maternity wear from some of the biggest named brands on the market and this month we have 4 beautiful pieces to review from Tiffany Rose.

Tiffany Rose began in 2003 with a simple aim: to offer pregnant women the chance to wear exciting, elegant, beautiful and well-made designs for special occasions. The designs are inspired by icons of the 50s and 60s, timeless classics that will never go out of style, with a touch of vintage or a modern twist. Evoking the sense of special and occasion, they bring to you unusual shades, tonal hues, sumptuous textures and unique prints - all in classic, flattering and wearable styles. They have dressed famously stylish women from all over the world, including most recently a member of the Swedish Royal Family for a number of Royal Engagements. The collection ranges from beautifully tailored jersey and lace maternity dresses, silk evening gowns and their stunning selection of maternity bridal wear. Every single garment in the collection is designed and Made in Britain. In April 2013, Tiffany Rose also received The Queen's Award for Enterprise - the UK's highest accolade of business success.

The Anastasia ‘Poppy’ Gown is quite simply, stunning! Whilst these are all maternity clothing, I tried this one on and was blown away with the cut, the quality and just how it felt and looked. I was a little apprehensive as to what it would fit like, but even with no ‘bump’ this dress accentuated all curves and made me feel very glamorous. Putting into the equation that the material is stretchy enough to enable you to wear continuously throughout your pregnancy, this is a must have piece to have in any expecting mums wardrobe. You can dress up with heels for a night out or for a summer day a simple pair of sandals and casual cardigan means you can wear it anytime for any occasion!

Mummy-to-be Claire Says: As I am still working, trying to find a pair of smart trousers that were comfortable was proving to be a little difficult! The trousers from Tiffancy Rose however are very soft and the fabric band makes them extremely comfortable. I have worn these on a few occasions now and have to say they are a great investment. They seem to wash really well (on a cold wash). Will definitely pass these on to family member or friends when they are expecting.

£69.00 Mummy-to-be Claire Says:

£149.00 ** Baby Buzz Must Have **

Mummy-to-be Claire Says:

£149.00

I love, love the style and elegance of this top. I’ve won it on two occasions already and the comments I’ve received have been great. I don’t have to compromise on style just because I’m getting bigger. I’ve worn this with the trousers as reviewed here but also with smart jeans and a pair of boots, both looked great! I’ll be curious to see how this fits after I’ve had my little bean as I’d love to keep wearing it and get as much use out of it

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£21.00

Whether you are expecting or not, you can never go wrong with a good fitting vest top.

However, finding one that fits nicely over you bump without putting too much pressure isn’t so easy. The vest top we tried has ruching detailing on the side and therefore allows you to grow and have continual wear. It was a little on the expensive side at £35 but these have now been reduced to £21 and for that you get a quality item guaranteed to provide comfort throughout your pregnancy.

For more information and to see the full collection, please visit:

www.tiffanyrose.com 55

Health & Beauty Reviews

I love the thought that goes into certain companies and products and the Natural Birthing Company is definitely one of them.

The first Midwife developed line of skin treatments has been launched with the aim of lending new mums a helping hand during pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding, with its “DOWN BELOW” perineal massage oil, “COOL IT MAMA” body spritz, “BLISSFUL TINCTURE” to help ease discomfort after birth and “BOSOM BUDDIES” breastfeeding survival kit.

We were given the opportunity of reviewing a selection of these products and with a very new mummy (little girl is just over a week old) some of these have already come in very useful! As mummy has just got into a breastfeeding routine, I’m sure she will need the Bosom Buddies breastfeeding survival kit and I’ll be happy to give the feedback in a future issue. Our lovely new mummy has just started using the Blissful Tincture and said that it has started to bring her much more relief.

My first thoughts for this company and its products were just how incredibly useful they would be to women in pregnancy, labour and after. Instead of getting a pregnancy pack that contained little to no information or any useful products, why couldn’t they put these into the relevant packs? We all know as parents that we get our pregnancy pack at 3 months and then at birth and then sometime after, surely having something like this included would be so much more valuable! How many new mums have you heard have experienced engorged nipples, cracking and just extreme pain, wouldn’t it make sense to get them prepared beforehand and give them the necessary products to help them along?

I almost wish I had the power to create a pregnancy pack myself, with the products and information I see every month, there are so many wonderful products and equipment that should be ‘a must have’ as soon as you see those two little blue lines..

For more information on Natural Birthing Company, please visit their website: www.naturalbirthingcompany.co.uk I’ve often been told about children being ultra sensitive to shampoo and bathing products and as a result break out in rashes or are left with very dry skin. We were contacted by the company behind Nisim - a Newhair Biofactors Shampoo. This one shampoo claims to been suitable for the whole family irrelevant of what scalp irritations they suffer from. Perhaps you are a new mum and your baby has cradle cap, or maybe it’s a case of eczema or psoriasis. We were given a few samples to trial out and whilst the worse case scenario in our household is dry scalp and possible dandruff we were keen to see what improvements it would make. I can agree that it helped with the dry scalp, this has markedly improved. We have since given a few sachets to other readers who suffer from more serious ailments and will come back with their thoughts and results. Nisim not only treats scalp problems but it can also control hair-loss within one week. With a blend of natural and herbal active ingredients, Nisim is safe enough even to use on cancer patients and babies.

For more information, please visit: http://www.body4real.co.uk/

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I am definitely one of those people who likes lotions and creams and smellies! We were contacted about a great company founded by a lady called Niki and her creation Niki’s Organic Balms. Niki has created a range of wonderful balms each with a distinctive aroma and purpose. From the Organic Lavender and Chamomile balm for any multi-purpose use (and Eczema, Psoriasis, Burns Sunburn, Bites, etc) to the Organic Warming balm (which can be helpful for Cold hands and feet, Raynauds symptoms, Arthritic pain and stiffness, Sore, stiff muscles, Cramp) there is something to suit everyone. My personal favourite is the Lavender & Chamomile as I put this on my little girl before she goes to bed, the Lavender has a wonderfully soothing aroma to help send her off to sleep and isn’t too bad for me either. There are 5 different types of balm and prices start from as little as £4.99 for 10ml. A great organic product that you can be sure doesn’t contain any hidden nasties!

For more information, please visit: http://www.nikisbalms.co.uk/ I’m sure like most women we’ve all heard of a certain oil that can help scaring, blemishes, stretchmarks etc but that it costs a considerable amount of money.

Well we’ve just been given something new to try! After a lot of research, there are a lot of positive comments on how well this does. I’ve been using it on 3 year old scarring and have to say that the scarring is fading but only very slightly. Considering that I’ve only been using it for less than two weeks, this is a marked improvement and I have to say for the price of just £1 for the smaller sizes, I’m convinced! I’d be curious to know if any readers have tried it. You can buy it from Savers, Poundland, HomeBargains and Bodycare. Email me your findings as I’d be intrigued to know how you got on! For more information, please visit: http://www.rescueoil.co.uk/ With a little girl who constantly picks up a cold or chest infection it was only a matter of time before this came in handy! Low and behold the day before yesterday saw the tell-tale signs of sniffling and tissues! So yesterday we started by trying out the snuffle babe and whilst at first we had a fit of giggles that it tickled, afterwards it became quite clear that she was able to breathe clearly and became less irritable.

This is also good for children who suffer from allergies and hayfever and can help to act as a decongestant.

Snufflebabe – the facts - Snufflebabe is a tried and trusted paediatric decongestant rub for babies and children aged from three months. Inclusive of natural ingredients, Snufflebabe offers a safe and mild yet highly effective solution for easing the distressing nasal congestion caused by the sniffles, colds and coughs. For more information log onto www.snufflebabe.co.uk Snufflebabe is available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

RRP £2.54 for 24g.

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Baby Products & Essentials Reviews Loving the new range of baby bottle from the Netherlands, the S-Bottle.

Designed to reduce the risk of stomach cramps it has an ergonomic S-shaped design which encourages a more relaxed posture and eye contact between parent and child. Developed by the Difrax medical team, these bottles can be used from birth, are available in 4 sizes 310ml, 250ml, 200ml, 170ml and come in 6 trendy colours (although I have the limited edition colours with dummy ready for the World Cup!) From £7.49 per bottle they aren’t the cheapest but they certainly work.

For more information, please visit: http://uk-en.difrax.com/ We were very curious to try the new ‘The Essential Baby Care DVD Guide’ being sold at Tesco. Topics include breastfeeding, bottle feeding, sleeping, crying, nappy changing, introducing solids, everyday care, health, development, first aid and accident prevention.

The guides are narrated by Professor Robert Winston and all the topics are explained by experts including midwives, teachers, doctors & consultants, first aid trainers and nurses from organisations such as The Royal College of Paediatrics, St John Ambulance and UNICEF. We wholeheartedly agree that the best thing is they 'show' you rather than just 'tell' you how to master key skills, which is really useful especially for things such as first aid or breastfeeding. A really good, insightful guide to help any new parent in what is the biggest experience they will face!

The full Essential Baby Care Guide (RRP £19.99) is available now in Tesco.

There are also 6 individual guides on key topics - Breastfeeding, Formula Feeding, Introducing Solids, First Aid, Your Baby’s First Month and Sleeping (RRP £3.99 each). For more information, please visit: www.tesco.com

It never ceases to amaze me just how essential some products are when you have children. Sadly most of them cost a great deal of money! We were curious to try out the Diono Easy View Mirror (as seen recently in William & Kate’s car for Prince George) and it really is a very handy piece of kit (and all for the princely sum of just £15 (sorry pardon the pun). This makes things so much easier to see what you little one is up to in the back of the car and gives you an element of satisfaction that you can check they are okay whilst you are driving. Great product, even better price! For more information, please visit: www.diono.com

This year has seen a real influx of changing bags in a range of colours and styles and we were thrilled to be sent another great option for parents. The Metra Bag from JJ Cole is a fabulous, spacious bag that is available in a range of colours suited for both Mum and Dad to carry! The full kit fetures a Roomy interior with organizer pockets • Insulated bottle pockets • Wallet organizer • Removable padded shoulder strap • Pacifier podTM keeps pacifiers clean and handy • Includes GripsTM stroller attachments and coordinating changing pad We found some great deals at www.amazon.co.uk where they had been reduced to just £45.52! A great affordable option.

I’ve been very fortunate to review some of the most stunning baby furniture of the last few months and this is by far one of the sleekest! If you aren’t familiar with the Nuna brand, they have a range of amazing pieces from the swing ‘Leaf’ and their strollers the Pepp and IVVI. This month we were sent the ZAAZ High chair and it really is a piece of art - yet has all the functionality that you would expect from a high chair (except that it caters from when your child is able to sit up unaided to adulthood or approximately 100kg!) The ease that you put this together is quite impressive. First impressions you think it will be quite complex but actually every clicks together very easily. There is a 3 or 5 point harness depending on age of child and then you have the full flexibility to remove all the additional parts and it become a very sleek and attractive chair to use when you have extra guests! This has to be one of our favourite products to come from the Nuna brand and I’m sure you will all love it just as much! The seat retails for £180.00 and can be purchased from many outlets including John Lewis.

We have been extremely fortunate to be able to give the review chair away in a competition prize so please check out our website (www.babybuzzmagazine.com) from the end of this week for your chance to win! The product shown is the same colour as the competition prize.

For more information, please visit: www.nuna.eu

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BabyBjörn are renowned for their carriers and have to date had over 30 million children carried in one.

However, they are also the creators of one the most elegant and sleekest of travel cots called the ‘Travel Cot Light’.

This ergonomically designed travel cot is suitable for newborns and children up to 3 years old. It's light, durable, easy to fold, and comes complete with a carry case. It's compact fold and practical carry case mean it takes up the minimum of space and is easy to take with you. The adjustable design features generously padded shoulder straps and a waist belt. This updated take on the classic design also includes full mesh sides, meaning you can see everything baby is getting up to. In one quick and simple movement, the travel cot pops open, ready for use. Then all you need to add is the mattress, which conveniently folds into the carry bag. Developed with pediatricians, it provides the right support for your growing child's head, hips and spine. Both the mattress cover and cot fabric are removable and can be machine washed using a gentle detergent. Assembly instructions included.

We love how simple this is to open and close, and just how easy it is to pack away in its own little bag. It’s not the cheapest option available but it is one of the nicest and you can be sure what you’ve bought is off the highest quality! Prices from £199.99 and can be purchased from many online retailers including: www.johnlewis.com

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Fun & Games Reviews I was first introduced to the Hexbugs at a friends house after her little boy had them racing all over the floor! The sheer joy and delight on his face as these little creatures scurried around was brilliant. So when given the opportunity to try out the latest incarnation, the Hexbug Aquabot, there was really only one person to give it to! The latest incarnation of the popular HEXBUG Aquabot offers all the excitement of owning a pet but with a spooky twist! !! The new HEXBUG Zombie Aquabot’s (RRP £7.99) translucent black exoskeleton casing glows in the dark for fun robotic play, day or night. Its lifelike behaviour, created by electro-magnetic propulsion, is eerily mesmerising as it dives and dashes around underwater ! These micro robotic creatures, which aim to get kids thinking about the science behind them, use smart fish technology to activate when dropped into water.

Suitable for ages 3 and up, the ghoulish HEXBUG Zombie Aquabot will be a terrifying treat for any child. ! Needless to say we had one very happy and excited little boy who was thrilled to pieces with the newest collection! I think I may have caused a few issues with mum though … Available now at www.toysrus.co.uk Galt recently launched their Marble Racer, an exciting marble construction game in which up to four players can build a high speed marble race track and compete against each other to reach the finish line. This exciting construction set features three special racing pieces; a starter gate, a racing vortex and a podium, as well as a variety of chutes and wheels for a really fascinating race. What’s more, the Marble Racer is also fully compatible with the Galt Marble Run! Oh boy, can this get competitive! As an adult I’m ashamed to say nothing was getting in my way, sorry Mia (yes, yes I know 13 years to ++years!) I have to say the game is fantastically priced for what gave us a good few hours of fun! This won’t be put away for too long as you can design so many different tracks trying to improve on your previous one. Really great fun!

Prices from £24.99 - For more information please visit: www.galttoys.com We love everything to do with bath time and there are so many amazing toys and game that you can get! One of our favourites seems to the latest offerings from Skip Hop with the DUNCK. With their new colour combination (pink,yellow and orange) the set of three floating bath toys are bound to thrill both boys and girls! These multi-function colourful ducks can stack, float and pour, providing endless bathtime fun, while also doubling up as mum and dad’s rinse cups for swiftly getting baby clean. With their sleek curves, these ‘bird shaped’ toys are easy for little hands to hold on to and once bath time is over the three toys stack up neatly for easy storage.

Our little DUNCK toys seem to follow us everywhere and get included in most everyday games, so we’ve had great usage out of them and all for just £10.00.

Suitable for use by children aged 10 months plus, DUNCK is moulded from BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free and PVC-Free plastic. DUNCK is also dishwasher safe so can be given a thorough clean every so often. For stockist stockist details visit Maguari at www.maguari.com or telephone 01293 774924.

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Anyone who knows Lillie Poo knows how much of a crazy fan she is of Peppa Pig! She absolutely love it! The Peppa Pig 35 piece giant muddy puddle jigsaw puzzle has a brightly coloured image that shows Peppa Pig having fun jumping in a giant muddy puddle with all her £12.99 friends and family. At 3 years old she could just about complete this puzzle with little interference from me, needless to say once it was built it was all dismantled and redone, over and over and over …. There are no straight edges to this jigsaw puzzle making it even more fun for children and because all the jigsaw pieces are larger than standard jigsaw pieces, little ones will find it even easier to place the puzzle together. This fabulous puzzle is suitable for children aged 3+ and measures 100x70cm (approximately) when finished - making it the biggest floor puzzle that Jumbo Games have ever produced.

Available from all good retailers including Amazon, www.jumbo.eu

Have you ever thought what could you get for the child with everything or wanted something so unique that you could be sure no one else would think of it first? I’ve just found the perfect gift!

KORG’s brand new digital ‘tinyPIANO’, is striking a chord with both parents and children, and is a great way to get young children away from modern technology and help encourage creativity at an early age. The new tinyPIANO is not a mere toy; it comes from the same stable as KORG’s world renowned digital pianos and traditional design and construction mean it’s a real piano in miniature - a family heirloom to be handed down through generations. tinyPIANO is lightweight, compact and strong and can be moved easily, taking up minimal space when stored. tinyPIANO is battery-powered allowing it to be played anywhere. The real wood cabinet gives a natural and warm feel and is available in four different colours – Black, White, Pink and Red. tinyPIANO has the same high quality sound as KORG’s full-sized digital pianos and has 50 in-built demo songs that can be as a music box. The famous classic tunes include “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Happy Birthday” and “Jingle Bells”.

This really does give the biggest ‘wow’ factor we’ve seen and it provides hours of (albeit noisy) fun! Whilst not the cheapest at £239.99, this is a gift no one will forget! For more information, please visit www.korg.com A fantastic Giant Foam Floor Puzzle includng nine giant puzzle pieces that are brightly coloured and extremely durable so they can be enjoyed and pieced together inside and outside. You can combine the different pieces from Jumbo’s Giant Foam Floor Puzzles to create an enormous floor puzzle from the 5 different themes. The puzzles are suitable from 3+ and measure 90x90cm when finished. Really great fun and one of the first things she wants to play with.. Great at £14.99!

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Food, Kitchen & Gadget Reviews Part of a sell out range and gaining in popularity, Amanzi has seen celebrities and consumers alike moving their children onto tea as an alternative to sugary drinks. This is also part of a growing trend for children to consume adult orientated products such as the babycino and green superfood juices, as tastes for mature food continues to grow in the children’s sector. An example of this is the Coco Loco, a caffeine free tea blended with Honeybush, Chocolate and Caramel.

We had a sample to try of the Coco Loco and thought it was quite nice, you only need a small amount to diffuse with hot water. The flavours are quite strong but overall tasted very pleasant. Not too sure if they will catch on for children as such but adults who like their herbal teas will love the variety that Amanzi have created. For more information, please visit www.amanzitea.co.uk/

Another really popular craze to hit the market at the moment are coconut waters whether they are straight and organic or flavoured. The leading producer of premium quality coconut water is venturing into the children’s market with its new range Jax Coco Kidz. Recently launched on the 1�� May at Harvey Nichols, Jax Kidz introduces a youthful take on pure, micro-filtered coconut water.

We had the chance of sampling a few of the five flavours (which include original coconut, banana, chocolate, guyabano and calamansi and were really surprised at how good they were. A great healthy alternative for children (just 50 calories per juice box) and a great price at £4.25 for a pack of 5 x 110ml juice boxes.

Available from www.harveynichols.com

I’ve been a fan of bottlegreen’s sparkling presses for a while and often drink their Elderflower sparkling water so when we were asked to try out two new products we didn’t hesitate.

One of the biggest benefits of bottlegreen is that they don’t contain artificial sweeteners or artificial flavours. The two new cordials recently launched are 1) raspberry and grapefruit cordial and 2) Lime cordial (The only premium and natural pure lime cordial on the market. Both are rich in flavour and give a full flavour to your drinks, a really nice alternative to squash.

Both options are just £3.15 for 500ml and are available from Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose. For more information, please visit: www.bottlegreendrinks.com I’m pretty sure most of my readers will have heard of the Brita Water Filter Jugs that many of us will have at home or friends will have. They have now launched a version which you can take out and about called the Fill&Go. This has to be one of the best products we’ve reviewed in the last few months purely for the simplicity and overall benefits it has. Thanks to the little filters that fit into the cap of the bottle you can now just refill your bottle with ordinary tap water and thanks to the filter it takes out all the impurities giving you a great tasting filtered water. A great way of saving money instead of buying water whilst out and about and mine now goes with me everywhere! From £10.00 (available at Tesco) you can purchase a pack of 8 filters for just £8.00 (you need to change the filter every week! Highly recommended by us! For more information, please visit: http://www.brita.co.uk/

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I absolutely love my kitchen gadgets and one of the best additions to our kitchen was the Tefal Fresh Express.

The Fresh Express is a really ingenious creation designed to make your life that much easier when chopping or preparing vegetables! With 5 blade attachments you can make the most laborious of tasks whizz by and have a little bit of fun in the process - great for salads! Very sad to see it go back, but a definite must have for any kitchen.

Retails for £45.00 For more information, please visit: http://www.homeandcook.co.uk

Anybody who has children and has an iPad or iPhone understands that little fingers and expensive gadgets usually result in cracked screens, dropped phones or soaked in water or juice!

Whilst this isn’t the cheapest of cases or the prettiest of cases, it certainly covers for all eventualities! From being water proof, dirt proof, snow proof and shock proof Lifeproof have clearly thought of the parent! Available in an array of colours the new frē case is really essential! A great option for the keen sportsman too where you don’t want to leave your phone behind. Retails for £69.95 For more information, please visit: http://www.johnlewis.com or http://www.otterbox.co.uk

We love, love, love these headphones!

These stylish & clever headphones are perfect for gadget lovers regardless of age & will ensure those wires stay untangled. Available in red, black & white they are an absolute bargain at just £13.99.

For more information, please visit: www.mobilefun.co.uk

I loved this when I first saw it and thought it would make an excellent gift (to me of course). So what exactly is it? Well it’s a Chocolate First Aid Kit. We all need a little bit of TLC so take a break even if you haven't got a headache with these appetising chocolate chill pills and first aid kit!

Made into mourish medical equipment, the box is packed with chocolate in the shape of plasters, mini thermometers, pills and emergency bars!

Available from www.prezzybox.com for only £19.95!

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Restaurant Review at: I had heard about the giraffe restaurant chain through mutual friends and colleagues but hadn’t actually had the opportunity of visiting it before, until now. As giraffe are teaming up with the British Dental Health Foundation for National Smile Month (19th May – 19th June) to bring kids free milk in their restaurants nationwide, as well as a host of other tooth-tastic activity, we thought it would make an ideal opportunity to go along and see what it was really like.

When we arrived at the restaurant it was just hitting lunchtime and there were already a few people sat down ordering. The Muswell Hill branchis very friendly, clean and has ample space for pushchairs. We were sat in a booth towards the rear of the restaurant which suited perfectly and we were attended to pretty much immediately. Lillie was given a colouring in placemat and container with several crayons along with an assortment of little plastic giraffe toys (younger children do need to be careful as these are a little sharp in places, but the host was very quick to point this out), needless to say Lillie loved the crayons and the giraffe toys! After briefly being sat down for 2 minutes, Lillie declared she needed the bathroom which gave us a good opportunity of seeing what the facilities were like. I have to say we were quite disappointed. The flush on the toilets were far too high for a child to reach, even for children slightly older than Lillie who can use the bathroom unattended. The wash basins were also very cramped and it was almost impossible to see the hand dryer. The final bit of disappointment was the baby changing table - this was outside of the main toilets but immediately outside the gents door, so it would have been a very tight squeeze trying to change your child.

I ordered a large cappuccino and was thrilled to see it really was a ‘large’ not just larger price! The main menu has a wide variety of dishes from all over the globe and the children’s menu is pretty much the usual with omelette, pasta, bolognaise, burgers, popcorn chicken etc something for everybody. They have a great meal deal for £4.95 which includes a main and a soft drink and puddings for children are extra, I would possibly create an all inclusive menu option for children with dessert. The main menu didn’t have any gluten free signs but by looking at it, it was apparent that some of the dishes would be suitable and perhaps it was just a case of asking.

For the starter I had a mixed meze with flatbread. This dish was great and full of different little tasters. The Haloumi had been cooked to perfection and wasn’t over salty and couple with the red pepper dip, it was a match made in heaven (in fact I wanted more of the red pepper dip as this was great with everything on the plate!)

The tzatsiki was a little bland but the humus and tabouleh and bulgar wheat salads were delicious. It was the falafel that surprised me most - renowned for being dry they were superb and I would have happily eaten more! Lillie opted for Fish and chips and peas and whilst she declared she didn’t like it, she promptly polished off most of her dish and stated that was nice! How to confuse a chef by a 3 year old!!

Sorry!!

The main course was, quite simply, a work of art! I had ordered the hot duck stir fry, which came with a chili jam and a few large chunks of duck (it would have been nice to have a little more). The crunchy noodle decoration did become a little frustrating at times as it was quite brittle and so kept snapping off and falling out of the bowl but overall the flavours were incredible with just enough of a chili kick.

Pudding was just to die for! I’ve always been one to look at a menu and see Key Lime Pie and think meh, not for me. Oh my gosh, I am converted! I don’t know what the chef has done to create this little piece of heaven, but I know what I’m going back for. I almost wish I’d ordered the whole thing to take home. The sauce that it was served with was just on the balance of being too tart but this is what perfectly offset it to the creamy taste and consistency of the pie! It was beyond perfect! Would we go back, absolutely!! I can already taste the Key Lime Pie hmmmm…..

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For more information, please contact: 348 Muswell Hill Broadway, London, N10 1DJ Tel: 020 8883 4463 Website: http://www.giraffe.net/

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www.tiffanyrose.com

About the Founder Tiffany began her career as an interior decorator’s assistant for Nina Campbell, working later as a marketing manager for a London law firm. At the end of 2003, after entertaining the idea of owning her own business for a number of years, she founded Tiffany Rose, a maternity label specialising in occasion and bridal wear. Inspired by her pregnant sister who was searching for a dress to wear to a wedding and with an initial investment of just £1,000, Tiffany recognised there was a gap in the market for beautiful maternity wear designed to flatter pregnant figures and to ensure women feel fabulous during all stages of pregnancy.

Incorporating exquisite fabrics, elegant styles and classic tailoring, Tiffany Rose was born heralding a permanent change in the way brands and consumers view maternity wear. Now in its tenth year, Tiffany Rose is a pioneering enterprise with a multi-million pound turnover, shipping hundreds of orders a day and with sales more than doubling every year into markets including the US, Norway, Australia, Sweden and Denmark.

From the outset, Tiffany Rose has been proud to support British manufacturing with each and every garment designed, draped and manufactured in the UK - a luxury rarely afforded in fashion. With an in house design team based in Surrey and manufacturers across England, the company has developed a skilled network of partners, which allows the business production flexibility from 'design to rail', unrivalled expertise and unmatched quality control.

Slimfit Trousers Black £96.00

Heritage and service are rooted in the brand's key values with fashion and retail being in the London family since the early 19th Century: Tiffany's great, great grandfather founded the renowned British fashion house "Louis London & Sons" in 1851 and the business was subsequently run by three generations of the London family. Tiffany Rose values its custom and goes the extra mile to offer unparalleled customer service reflecting on their in-depth understanding of their customer.

Currently Tiffany Rose is sold in over 80 countries.

Tiffany Rose garments are a favourite with celebrities and have been worn by the likes of Holly Willoughby, Emma Bunton, Myleene Klass and Kate Silverton in recent years.

Jewel Block Dress Coffee Bean £89.00

Amber Dress Midnight Blue £139.00

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Anastasia Gown Long Poppy £149.00

Jersey Camisole Cream £35.00

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Rosabelle Dress Sapphire £139.00

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Ava James website will be launching May 20. Please follow their social media platforms for an amazing upcoming contest! www.babybuzzmagazine.com

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Mary Jane Shoes From £45

Grey Marl Cardigan from £23, Dress untreated from £25

Poppy Beige Sweater, from £19; Chestnut Cardigan, from £23; Grey Marl T-Shirt, £9; Stonewashed Jeans, from £19; Jeans, from £19; Cap, £9; Trainers, from £29; Trainers, from £27

Cropped Jeans stonewashed from £16, White Hooded T-Shirt from £19, Taupe Shoulder Bag £17

Blush cardigan, from £19; Floral Print Blouse, from £19; Jeans, from £21

Coral long sleeved T-Shirt from £8, Chestnut Trousers from £19, Coral check long scarf £9

Polka dot and grey & yellow print blouse from £19, Yellow Perfect Fit Trousers from £17 Orange & beige neck warmer £8, Grey Assorted Party Dresses, from £27; marl t-shirt £9, Chestnut cardigan from Sand Waistcoat, from £23; Sand £23, Jeans stonewashed from £19 stripe Trousers, from £17, Sandals, from £35, Sandals, from £35, Ballerinas from £29, Shoes, from £45

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I had the pleasure of going into Kiddicare Enfield last weekend and not only was I amazed at the store and what it had to offer but also the clothing ranges. I have to say one of my favourites was the Frugi collection. I am yet to see such a varied selection of clothing that cater from babies 0-3 months up to 10 years old. Some of the items were classic in style and were effortlessly stunning whilst others were super modern and very much on trend. I’ve highlighted some of my favourites below but to judge for yourself, head to your nearest Kiddicare store or local stockist and check out the full collection - believe me, you won’t be disappointed!

Cornish Printed T-Shirt - £15 Twill Shorts - £24

Flower Bike Applique T-Shirt- £19 Twirly Whirly Skirt - £24

Beach Short - £18

Pretty Party Dress - £28

Cornish T-Shirt- £14

Applique Envelope Top £18 KneePatch Crawlers - £18

Boat Neck Party Dress - £17

Seaside Playsuit - £18

Reversible Snuggle Fleece - £30 Twill Shorts - £24

Flower Button Dungarees£25

Pretty Party Dress - £26

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Home & Furnishings - Exclusive At Baby Buzz Magazine we love searching for new products, themes and ideas. to show how to make the most of your child’s space. To kick start our ‘Home & Furnishings’ section this month, we have great pleasure in introducing you to‘Room to Grow’. Check out our review in next months issue of their gorgeous Stompa Play 3 - Cabin Bed with Play Tent and Slide, needless to say I am very excited to see my little girl have so much fun with her bed. Room to Grow have a range of beautiful furniture and accessories to make your children’s bedroom, play area or den something truly special.

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www.roomtogrow.co.uk 1) Teamson Sunny Safari Bookcase with Drawers - £125.00 2) BabyFace Bunting - £19.99 3) Teamson Transport Themed Step Stool £49.50 4)Stompa Uno Small Clip On Shelf - £26.40 5) Teamson Magic Garden Table & Two Chairs - £199.00 6) Thuka Trendy 12 Cabin Bed - from £240.00 7)Magic Garden 3 Bag Storage Unit - £149.00 8) Izziwotnot Tempo Ribbons & Rosettes Raised Bed - £349.00 9) RTG Play Wild West Wigwam - £176.00 About Room to Grow Once upon a time parents and their children could never agree on what was best for each of them. The age old battle raged between the wants of the child against the practical needs identified by the parents. Hunting for beds was no exception, where the child craved space and adventure and the parents demanded functionality and storage. All in all, this led to some very unhappy children together with miserable parents, locked away in a bedroom nightmare. So it came to pass in the year 1996 that a shining knight appeared with magical key to unlock the nightmare and make everybody happy again. The knight in the guise of Room To Grow provided a range of practical solutions - cleverly designed beds, furniture and accessories that allowed fun, functional and fabulous bedrooms to be created, satisfying even the fussiest of children.

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1) www.yoursportsid.com is the only website that allows you to personalise a selection of Premiership footballs and merchandise. An ideal Father’s Day gift for you to let your Dad know that he’s number one this season. The website allows you to design the perfect individual gift for all football fans.

Footballs start from £12.00.

2) Finest Cufflink Box of Assorted Chocolates, 125g £6.00 www.tesco.com 3) Baby hands and feet are cast by hand in glass to capture unique moments in your newborn's life: Baby Feet start from £1,020 http://wrightsonandplatt.com/ 4) Micro Scooter - Proving you’re never too old! From £139.95 www.micro–scooters.co.uk 5) For all the Game of Thrones enthusiasts out there, this exciting new product from 4D Cityscape will give Game of Thrones fans a chance to build Westeros from the ground up. £39.99 www.hboshopeu.com 6) Dad Tankard Mug - £5 www.cargohomeshop.com 7) The Jermyn is the ultimate cufflink box. In smart tan leather, its wealth of compartments can organise even the most unruly cufflink collection. Superbly finished with magnetic clasp and even a carrying handle, our Jermyn box makes a fabulous present for men of all ages. £75.00 www.leatherandlavender.co.uk 8) Vivofit, Blue - £99 www.garmin.co.uk 9) Gingerbeer, £1.50 275ml www.fentimans.co.uk

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THE BABY BUZZ FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE EMBERS PITCHES UP IN SOUTH EAST WITH NEW CAMPSITE FOR 2014 – Traditional campfire breaks bring camping magic to East Sussex -

Embers Camping has announced it is to open a second site in the South East near Lewes in East Sussex for the summer 2014 season, following the successful launch of its first UK campsite in Beaulieu, New Forest last year. Situated in the beautiful Bentley Country Park near the village of Halland, Embers Bentley offers guests the chance to camp on this stunning 700 acre estate. It will offer a campfire at every pitch – one of the key elements of the Embers Camping concept; plus a host of modern facilities and on-site attractions to ensure guests have a memorable outdoor adventure.

Ideally located for a short weekend break away, Embers Bentley is just 1.5 hours from London by car or 80 minutes by train (nearest station: Uckfield).

Murray McPherson, Founder of Embers Camping, said: “We are thrilled to be adding Embers Bentley to our portfolio – it is the first campsite to be located on the picturesque Bentley estate and is within one of the most beautiful areas of the South East. I’m sure our guests will be truly impressed by the stunning surrounding landscape and the amount of open-space available at their disposal.

Embers Bentley, which is available for bookings from 16�� May 2014, offers a contemporary yet traditional camping experience at an “Whether you’re a seasoned camper or first-timer, the Embers Camping affordable price of just £20 per adult per night, and £5 per child per experience is camping how it should be – a chance to enjoy the beauty night – so a family of four will pay just £100 for a weekend break. of the outdoors whilst sitting around your own campfire, toasting marshmallows, stargazing and telling stories.

Key elements of the Embers Bentley campsite include: “However, we also recognise that time is precious and expectations are A campfire at each pitch, plus communal campfire high so our added on-site ‘concierge-style’ services are designed to take Trained staff on-site from dawn to dusk to assist guests away the hassle, meaning guests can just sit back and relax. From Modern toilets and shower facilities on-site staff and a shop selling local produce, to equipment for hire and On-site shop selling staple food items and camping accesso- modern shower facilities, Embers really does ignite the passion for ries camping!”

Easy-to-assemble tents for hire with pre-pitch option before arrival on-site Following a successful launch in 2013, the original Embers Beaulieu Activity programmes including hiking, mountain biking, horse campsite in the New Forest is also now available for bookings. riding, canoeing, and swimming Wealth of attractions on-site including the Bentley Motor For more information, please visit: Museum, Bentley Tearooms, Bentley House & Gardens, Wildfowl Reserve, plus an adventure playground and miniature railway A complimentary ticket to Bentley (Motor Museum, House & Gardens) is included as part of the Embers Camping package

http://www.emberscamping.co.uk/

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COMPLIMENTARY BABY CLUB AT ROCA NIVARIA GRAN HOTEL LETS PARENTS LAP UP SOME LUXURY IN TENERIFE

Family-run 5* Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel in Southern Tenerife offers complimentary Baby Club services throughout the year, ideal for new parents seeking a stress free holiday and much needed relaxation in sunny climes. A self-contained oasis of calm and tranquillity, the hotel is located in the peaceful Playa Paraíso area on the Southern coast of Costa Adeje, just a short drive from Tenerife South’s international airport.

The Baby Club, located within the hotel’s impressive Mini Club facility, is suitable for babies aged from ten months to three years old and is open daily from 10am – 1pm and 1pm -3pm.

The hotel’s highly qualified and experienced childcare team consult with parents to provide the best possible care for their child in a safe, fun and vibrant environment.

With four restaurants and bars the hotel offers a wide choice of menus from poolside snacks to traditional Italian and Spanish cuisine, and welcomes families wishing to dine together. To make life easier for parents, the hotel provides complimentary homemade soup to babies and toddlers during lunch and dinner service.

Of the 289 modern and stylish rooms, every standard double room is equipped with a cot. For couples wanting a separate sleeping space for their baby, the Junior Suites offer an ideal arrangement; allowing guests the space and privacy to enjoy a glass of wine on their balcony or terrace after lights out.

The Baby Club is offered to parents on check-in and on a first come first served basis and places must be reserved in advance.

With a few precious hours to themselves parents can make the Prices at the Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel start from €160 (£130) per most of Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel’s peaceful gardens and host of night during mid season for a standard double room based on luxurious onsite facilities, including an infinity pool with two people sharing, including half board and taxes.

Balinese chill-out beds which offer views of the Atlantic Ocean, open air Jacuzzi and large sun terrace on the property’s top For further information and to arrange bookings, please visit: floor.

www.adrianhoteles.com

For a spot of pampering guests can retreat to the hotel’s Azules de Nivaria Spa which covers 1,800 sq feet and specialises in a range of water therapies and packages designed to rejuvenate body and mind. For more sporty types there are two tennis courts, gym, archery range and beach volleyball to try out. www.babybuzzmagazine.com

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Travel Accessories - Reviews As a not too confident swimmer I have always looked at ways of avoiding going swimming. Unfortunately the downside of this is that I have a little girl who still can’t swim, when most children can at her age and an older daughter who loves to go swimming but can’t go with no-one to be with her! After all the amazing swimming costumes and bikini’s I’ve see and reviewed, it is perhaps this one that fills me with the most confidence. I absolutely love that not only does it give the maximum SPF50+ sun protection, the removable floats allow me to help Lillie find her buoyancy & help her get more confident in the water which in turn will give me more confidence when being in with her!

£27.99

Benefits Whilst positioning your child correctly in the water, (unlike armbands) the unique Float Suits remove any restriction of arms and legs and supporting the body in a natural swim position and leaving arms and legs free to kick and splash! The easily adjustable float system allows parents to gradually reduce the number of floats as the child gains water confidence and begins to swim independently.

Watch this space as I’ll keep you updated as to how we get on at our first swimming pool session together - eek!!

For more information, please visit: www.splashabout.com

We all know the importance of keeping our children’s skin protected in the sun as well as our own and whilst we haven’t had the chance to use it much (thanks to our good old UK weather) we have been sent a range of the latest in skin care protection. We are impressed with the Eucerin 50+ as we all want to make sure that our children £19.50 - Boots are as much protected as possible from the dangers of skin cancer. The Eucerin lotion is a good thick consistency and is free from perfume and colorants and is clinically proven to be suitable for children with allergenic or dermatitis-prone skin as well as being extra water resistant! For us adults we have the Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh spray which can be applied at any angle. The spray smells fresh without being too over-powering and £6.28 - Nivea is at a factor 30 which should be suitable for most climates. In case of over-catching the sun we have the Nivea Sun In-Shower refreshing after sun lotion which is so simply to apply and smells of refreshing cucumber.

As a mum, I always remind people to keep your children and you well protected in the sun, better to be safe than £11.00 - Nivea sorry!

For more information, please visit: www.nivea.co.uk I think I’ve lost cost on the amount of times my youngest has declared her need for a plaster, whether it’s on her lip for biting it or a little cut from a magazine, either way you can never have enough! For your travels however, I quite like the security of having a quality product that also happens to be water proof and Elastoplast have exactly that with Aqua Protect. With extra strong adhesion they are sure to last the course.

Available from just £2.70 at Tesco. For more information, please visit: www.elastoplast.co.net

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At first I thought that these things were just a gimmick but after completely draining my iPhone on a satnav journey for the 10�� time, I began to get really fed up. What a turnaround! My little ‘Soap’ Power Bank now goes everywhere with me and is a god-send!

You simply charge it up, which takes no time at all, and then that’s it, pop it in your bag and off you go!

The ‘Soap’ Power Bank is the perfect solution for gadgetloving families on the go, as this one small and light device will prevent you from having to worry about charging your devices. With three adaptors, this device provides emergency power for the family’s mobile phones, game consoles and e-readers; all in one handy and stylish pocketsized power bank. The Soap Power Bank is priced at £24.99 & available from www.mobilefun.co.uk Originally used as hammam towels, foutas are now an elegant and chic lifestyle accessory. Foutas double up brilliantly as sarongs, tablecloths, wraps for the beach and are much lighter than the regular towels, plus they don’t collect sand at the beach and dry in half the time! Babooshe’s foutas are the perfect travelling companion and Babooshe's kids beach towels feature bright colours that will stand out on the sand! Made of 100% cotton with a beautifully soft texture Babooshe's foutas are handwoven in Tunisia.

Starting at £18 with a colour palette of over thirty colours the range has three sizes: 138 x 73 cm, 100 x 200 cm, 200 x 300 cm with honeycomb, bi-colour, sparkling and chameleon options alongside the classic fouta.

For more information, please visit: www.babooshe.com We were sent a tin of the Rescue Remedy Pastilles to try out and first impressions by Mia (13 years old they look like sweets mummy) - ooh these are nice!

Tick! My turn proved just as impressed with not tasting like what I thought they would, I had anticipated them tasting like medicine but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Rescue Pastilles are ideal for coping with exam stress, driving tests, first day of school nerves, job interviews and high pressure environments. The funky tin with an easy “press on the lid” opening and closing mechanism.

RESCUE Pastilles cost £5.90 from Boots, Lloydspharmacy, independent pharmacies and health food stores as well as grocery stores nationwide.

I have just received my Bevgo sample and lunch bag and it just fabulous! The Bevgo Bag can be used either on its own or with the children's lunch bags (there are currently 4 designs). They are re-useable. The Bevgo Bag, measuring approximately 11ins x 8ins, allows you to fill up the bag with any non-fizzy drink through the screwable cap, once sealed it is leak-proof and can be put into any bag to take with you when you're away from home. When needed just dispense from the dispenser. My youngest daughter Lillie absolutely loves it and carries it Full Pack: £14.99 everywhere with her! So practical and so affordable! For more information, please contact: Just Bevgo: £5.99 http://www.bevgobag.com/

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“Ne'er cast a clout till May be out” the saying goes. But here we are welfare of your child. Some providers have monthly payment plans. already and it’s nearly summer.

Holiday camps and schemes are available for children from the age of 4 to 16. For working parents who are unable to take enough time off Summer brings the long school holidays. If you are a working parent work to cover the whole school holiday, they may be the only solution and are lucky enough to have time off work over the summer, there are for part of the summer break. The camps provide a wide range of lots of things you can do with the kids for free or relatively little cost. activities throughout each day including sports, arts, crafts and Activities such as going to the local park, making a simple picnic or going nature/adventure activities. They are a great way for kids to use up for a family bike ride can all make for a great day out. some excess energy. Many local nurseries and schools will run holiday schemes too. Local authorities usually publicise what’s available in However, it’s hard to avoid the pester power created by numerous advance of the summer break but competition for places can be fierce billboards and TV advertisements for days out at big attractions such as as they are not as costly as private schemes. Prices can vary from a theme parks, which can turn out to be really expensive for a family. To couple of pounds a day to more than the standard daily cost of bring down the cost, look for vouchers and offers on eg cereal packets pre-school childcare. It depends on the level of subsidy in your local which can halve the entry price. Some big supermarkets have points authority area. schemes which can be exchanged for vouchers, saving you more money on entry prices. There are lots of ways to save, but keeping the family Many holiday scheme providers accept Childcare Vouchers, which are happy all summer on a budget requires lots of planning. available to working parents via their employer. Childcare Vouchers are a voluntary employee benefit so you must ask your employer to provide Surprises can be found in unlikely places and believe it or not your a scheme. The scheme will not cost the employer anything to offer and employer may be able to offer help to reduce the cost of entertaining could save them around £400 per year for each staff member who uses the family. Some employers offer schemes such as retail discounts which it. If you join your employer’s scheme you can currently exchange up include savings on days out, leisure activities and entertainment. Any to £243 per month, which is deducted from your wages and is not employer in the UK can access the scheme for their staff and as a subject to income tax or National Insurance contributions, hence you member you can receive regular updates about the latest deals. You save money. This amount is exchanged for Childcare Vouchers. Parents night need to buy, for example, a gift card in advance for the then pay their childcare provider with the vouchers. Through taking entertainment of your choice, be it a restaurant, cinema or theme park. Childcare Vouchers, each working parent can save up to £933 per year.

It’s worth talking to your employer to suggest they offer such a scheme Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for holiday schemes for children to staff. Employers which offer them find that such benefits improve up to the age of 16*. staff morale and retention for very little cost.

Get them while you still can…Childcare Vouchers will not be available If you are a working parent it’s unlikely you will be able to take time off to new joiners after the proposed Tax-free Childcare scheme is for all of the summer holidays. Many parents therefore need to use introduced in autumn 2015. To save money for this year and for summer childcare in the form of a holiday scheme, activity club or “out of school” 2015, ask your employer if you can join a Childcare Voucher scheme club. They can be great opportunities for kids to learn new skills and now. make new friends while they are being looked after.

For more information about how you can start saving using Childcare There are a wide range of holiday camp providers from which to choose. Vouchers or access a Retail Discounts scheme, visit Camps can be booked for just one day or for the whole holiday period. www.busybeesbenefits.com They must be registered with the appropriate body, such as Ofsted in England so you can be confident in the level of supervision and the *The first week of the September after the child’s 15�� birthday.

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All style and lots of substance!

I’ve almost reached the end of the line when it comes to the family cars with VW and so for this issue we went for something slightly different! As you can see from the pictures, we had the enjoyment of reviewing the new Golf Cabriolet GT 2.0-litre BlueMotion Technology. Whilst I know this isn’t your normal family car, it certainly has enough space to have some fun. We were very lucky that on the day the car was delivered, we had glorious sunshine so of course we did what any self-respecting person would do…. ‘Roof Down’! The look on my little girls face when the roof tucked away into the back was priceless, she couldn’t understand where it had gone but that soon passed into squeals of delight as e drove on. The Golf is extremely easy to handle, although it is very loud! Perhaps the Diesel option we had coupled with a soft top roof meant the noise would be more apparent than in any other vehicle. Either way we then picked up my oldest daughter from school and as we waited for her to come out, there were quite a few comments as to how ‘nice’ the car looked. With the leather heated from sports seats to the sleek dashboard the car certainly provides kerb appeal and I could see many singletons and couples really loving this car. Friends and family members mentioned that whilst the Golf appeared considerably bigger than the Beetle, which we reviewed a few months ago, the Beetle still felt bigger inside and the suspension provided far more comfort. I also had to explain to the driver collecting the car that for whatever reason, birds seemed to take a real liking to the car and no amount of washing kept it clean for very long! To sum up the Golf Cabriolet, it really is an eye pleaser and for Diesel consumption it is amazing! On a full tank of Diesel we still had over a quarter of a tank remaining and that’s after driving it for almost a week and a half!Solidly ! Would I choose this as my car of choice, with a family? Honestly, probably not. This would be for the younger couple or singleton where they can really enjoy it without any constraints. Still a great car but I think most cars are going to struggle to live up to the Beetle!

Basic ‘on the road’ recommended retail price* £26,745.00 *includes £605 (delivery, number plates, VAT, £0 first year rate VED (band C) and £55 registration fee)

Engine Capacity (litres/cc) Power Output (PS @ rpm) Max torque (llbs ft / Nm @rpm) Top Speed (mph 0.62 mph (seconds) Fuel Economy (mpg)

2.0 / 1968 (4 cylinders, 16 valves) 140 @ 4200 236 / 320 @ 1750-2500 129 9.9 Urban - 52.3; Extra-urban-68.9; Combined - 62.8

CO2 emissions (mpg) Insurance Group Warranty

119 23 E 3 years / 60,000 miles; 3 years paint; 12 years body protection 1 year Volkswagen Assistance (UK & Europe)

Breakdown Assistance

Comfort and Convenience: • battery regeneration (recuperation –energy recovery during braking) • Stop / Start function • hill hold function • 2Zone electronic climate control with automatic air recirculation; dust and pollen filter • electrically adjustable and heated bodycoloured door, mirrors with integrated indicators • multifunction computer, Highline, includes visual gear change recommendation for optimum fuel consumption • front sports seats with height and lumbar adjustment • cruise control • electric windows, front and rear wind deflector • ultrasonic front and rear parking sensors, audible with audio volume reduction when activated and optical parking display via vehicle’s audio

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system and reverse activated kerb-view adjustment on passenger’s door mirror automatic coming / leaving home lighting function; dusk sensor – automatic driving lights; rain sensor and automatic dimming interior rear-view mirror High Beam Assist height / reach adjustable steering wheel; speedsensitive power assisted steering RCD 310 radio/MP3 compatible CD player with six speakers and AUX-in socket for connection to an external multimedia source; MDI (Multi Device Interface) with USB and iPod connection cables Bluetooth telephone preparation split folding rear seat backrest 50:50 Isofix child seat preparation

Additional optional equipment on this vehicle: • RNS 510 touchscreen navigation / radio system with integrated voice control, 6.5” colour screen, six speakers, 30 GB hard drive, SD card reader, MP3, WMA and DVD video data files compatibility with AUX-in socket and MDI (Multi Device Interface) for connection to an external multimedia source (£1,785) • carpet mats, front and rear (£85) • winter pack – headlight washers, heated windscreen washer jets and low washer fluid warning light (£285) • upholstery upgrade to ‘Vienna’ leather including heated front sports seats with heated side bolsters and lumbar adjustment (£1,980) • metallic paint (£535)

Baby Buzz Rating: 8/10

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For our Baby Blankets, I take United Kingdom and British Falkland Islands Merino Wool, which is naturally soft to the touch.

Where I need colour, I hand dye it to give varying depths of shade. The resulting yarn is then washed in a no-rinse solution before being allowed to air dry. I don't use any softeners as it doesn't need any. I then use a hand loom, a design unchanged in centuries, to weave light, yet warm, Baby Blankets.

Each blanket takes nearly two hours to create and each one is made with care and enjoyment.

Blankets are then wrapped in tissue paper, tied in ribbon, boxed, and sent securely to you or a friend to give delight.

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** 20% off to Baby Buzz Magazine readers, just call or email us quoting â&#x20AC;&#x153;BabyBuzzâ&#x20AC;?

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Your own colour options are available at no extra cost!'

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LEAPFROG UNVEILS LEAPBAND™, THE FIRST WEARABLE ACTIVITY TRACKER FOR CHILDREN, DESIGNED TO GET THEM ACTIVE AND LEARNING WHILE HAVING FUN!

Shnuggle joins top nursery brand iCandy as UK Red Dot design winners !

LeapFrog, the leader in educational entertainment, has just unveiled LeapBand, the first wearable physical activity tracker designed just for children that encourages active play and healthy habits while nurturing their very own personalised virtual pet. The LeapBand activity tracker gets kids moving and having fun with 50 different activities and challenges, tracking a child’s physical movements so the more active a child is, the more points they earn with their virtual pet. As the child earns points through active play, they can unlock additional games, challenges, levels of play and virtual rewards for their on-screen pet. LeapBand has an aspirational fit-band style designed with kids in mind. High-tech features include a built-in accelerometer, highresolution colour screen, rechargeable battery and water-resistant design, making it the ultimate activity wearable for kids. The device also doubles up as both a digital and analogue watch.

The Shnuggle baby bath has joined premium brands iCandy and Aquafresh as a proud winner of the 2014 Red Dot design award.

This prestigious prize is awarded by panel of internationally renowned design experts. Forty design experts from around the world judged the Shnuggle bath to be innovative and beautiful. The bath is at the cutting edge of design with its iconic curves, specially created baby-safe material, and attention to detail. Other winners of this year's Red Dot design award in the nursery category include Stokke, Joie and BMW’s baby car seat.

“We understand that helping a child reach their full potential not only includes helping them learn numbers and letters, but encouraging them to establish healthy habits and get the exercise they need every day through play,” said Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos, director of LeapFrog’s Learning Team.

“LeapBand is a great way to get kids up and active and help them develop a strong foundation for healthy lifestyles. LeapBand takes inspiration from the growing trend of adult fitness wearable technology and makes it perfect for kids by bringing the fun and play of physical activities to life with their very own virtual pets. One of the best parts of the LeapBand experience is that kids will have so much fun playing they may not realise all of the physical exercise they are experiencing and the healthy habits they are learning.”

Fit Made Fun! The LeapBand activity tracker comes with eight different customisable pets from LeapFrog’s popular Pet Pals franchise – a cat, dog, dragon, monkey, panda, penguin, robot and unicorn – which can be customised by colour and name. With their very own virtual pal, children can play 10 preloaded active games and challenges with access to 40 additional free challenges. As they move and earn points, kids can unlock each of the additional eight pets and earn virtual toys for each of them as they stay engaged and learning with mini-games including Pet Boogie, Pet Chef and Pet Salon. Kids will have fun completing a variety of activities including “Walk like a crab,” “Spin like a helicopter” and “Pop like popcorn” no matter where they are. LeapBand activity challenges are designed to keep kids active by tapping into their own individual movements without any required equipment.

Extend the Fun! In addition to the active play on LeapBand, the fun is extended to include a free downloadable companion app called the Petathlon™. In the Petathlon app, kids can compete as their virtual pet in six mini-games like archery, surfing and bobsledding to win extras including medals and new tracksuits for their virtual pet. The Petathlon app is available for download to a child’s LeapPad Ultra, iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.* Availability The LeapBand activity tracker (RRP £29.99, for children 4 to 7 years old) will be available in green, pink, blue and orange online and at major UK retail locations in August 2014. Additional activities and challenges are free and available for download via LeapFrog Connect for LeapBand.

For more information, visit www.leapfrog.com/leapband.

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As parents to three young children, Northern Ireland-based Shnuggle founders Adam and Sinead Murphy knew what a baby bath should do: keep baby warm, safe and upright. They created a soft foam material that insulates the water. The bath is textured inside to ensure the baby is stable, and outside to allow for easy grip. Adam Murphy, Shnuggle co-founder and managing director, said: “We’re so proud to have received the Red Dot design award.

We spent a lot of time ensuring that the bath met our strict design criteria: modern, beautiful, innovative and practical. The Shnuggle bath has been designed with baby and parent firmly in mind. We have been bathing our youngest daughter in a Shnuggle bath since she was just a few weeks old, so we have first-hand experience of how a well-designed product can help to relax babies.”

The Shnuggle bath’s innovative design features place it in the top league of design. The supportive ‘Bum Bump’ and sloping back supports babies from birth up to six months. The bath weighs just 400g, so can be carried easily while filled with water. The Shnuggle bath comes in a range of colours, ensuring that it stands out from traditional plastic white baby baths.

Red Dot initiator and CEO Prof. Dr. Peter Zec said: “The importance of a competition is defined only by its credibility. Clear criteria for granting awards, jury members with integrity as well as excellent framework conditions for product presentation are the characteristics of the Red Dot. With the great reliability that these factors ensure, our award has been uncovering design excellence in all conceivable product areas for a period of almost 60 years now.”

Shnuggle have been supported by the Invest NI R&D Program. The company have designed an award-winning Moses basket which sells throughout the UK, ROI and Europe. Shnuggle have been a familiar member of the nursery scene since the launch of the award-winning Moses basket which sells throughout the UK, ROI and Europe. The brand is known for its baby products that are innovative, beautiful, and practical.

For more information or to purchase the Shnuggle Bath, please visit www.shnuggle.com.

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Three key words to remember to keep yourself on track as a new Dad ..

Becoming a Dad for the first time is scary, wonderful, confusing and life-changing all at the same time. You have been through those strange pregnant months, when all your partner wanted was a tub of ice-cream at 3am and a chance to lie comfortably and sleep despite having a bump the size of a bowling ball.

you see yourself as protector too. Whatever, your role before your child, you role is now changed forever! You are a carer, and helping to look after a helpless little one who needs your attention, love and care. You have someone in your life that needs you to put them first as much as possible. Understanding that you are taking on this changing role, will make your transition to being a father so much easier.

Now, you are home from the hospital and you have a small person to look after, and not a clue how to deal with this latest transition in your life. Wait though, it’s just as easy as remembering these three words *honest* Hormones [Raging..]

After childbirth, your partner is likely to be “all over the place.” The emotion, pain and excitement of the delivery is one thing, but then there are the hormones that are coursing through her veins helping her body recover, and provide for the new baby. Remember this whatever the reactions that your partner has to you, and the new baby. It’s a difficult time for us all to adjust, nevermind with the added complication of hormones thrown in. If your partner is out of sorts, or just a little Well done to all those DADS out there. To celebrate fatherhood, different; bear this in mind. Particularly if she starts throwing dirty Truprint are giving 50% off the purchase of a mug on their site, nappies at you! Bounty have a wonderful guide to post-pregnancy and 70% off two! (Starting at £7.99 each) hormones for Dads, it is worth checking out: http://www.newdadssurvivalguide.com/articles/ThePregnancy/Hormones-explained.html Sleep [Lack of...]

Be prepared for not getting any of it! Depending on how much you are helping with the new arrival, you might be up after your partner has fed the baby trying to settle your bundle of joy, or giving a bottle to your child at night. Whatever your role, you will need more kip. Go to bed earlier, and cut back on alcohol, so that the sleep you are getting is good value. No matter how much you feel like you need another beer, that extra forty winks might be better for you and your new family.

Roles [Changing..]

Being a father is a completely new role for you to take on; perhaps you have been the provider, or sharing that role with your partner. Perhaps

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LACK OF SIGN UPS TO GOVERNMENT FREE PARENTING SCHEME, SUGGESTS NEW PARENTS AREN’T BEST PREPARED FOR PARENTHOOD, CHARITY SAYS Leading relationship research charity OnePlusOne says figures showing However, a parliamentary question asked by Shadow children and the reluctance of new parents to take up free parenting classes suggest families minister Lucy Powell revealed that just 4% of parents took part they may not be best prepared for becoming new parents. in the scheme which cost £2m.

Evidence shows that becoming parents is one of the most challenging OnePlusOne researcher Dr Hannah Green said: “Becoming parents for transitions for a couple. the first time is a huge transition for most couples. As new parents juggle the demands of a new baby they may find that they have less time Many parents report a decline in relationship satisfaction with their together, argue more and are less positive towards each other. partner during this time and parenting classes are proven to help.

“Support during this time is essential in making this transition easier.

Well-developed programmes such as parenting classes for new parents, We know that good parenting classes can make a difference to couples can help couples successfully adapt to the challenges associated with who are becoming new parents and in addition they are a great space for making new friends that are going through the same thing. becoming new parents, research shows.

The government set up the CANParent scheme to offer classes for every “The lack of take-up for this scheme suggests that parents may not be parent and carer of children up to the age of five in three local best prepared for, or recognise the challenges of becoming new authorities - Middlesbrough, Yorkshire; Camden, London; and High parents.”

Peak, Derbyshire between June 2012 and March 2014.

More than 50,000 parents in the CANParent areas were eligible to claim vouchers worth £100 to spend on classes through health visitors, midwives, doctor's surgeries and children's centres.

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The Foundation for Infant Loss Prevention is offering study days in keeping babies safe, namely preventative measures to avoid a cot death. We train childminders, nursery staff and foster carers in this area and we offer Certification which installs confidence in childcare professionals and offers reassurance to parents.

In Autumn 2014, we will publish a directory of all childcare providers who have been certified by us, classified according to geographical region, so parents can be reassured when choosing a childcare provider.

We have over 30 UK venues booked in for 2014 so please contact the office to book your place: info@chantallockey.co.uk We are not-for-profit and only ask for a £30 contribution per head to cover trainers and venue costs.

VIVOBAREFOOT: ONE STEP AHEAD VIVOBAREFOOT Launch Global Children’s Initiative British born footwear pioneers VIVOBAREFOOT, founded by Galahad Clark are set to bring about a fundamental change in the children’s footwear market, with a compelling footwear initiative that teams education, revolutionary product and the country’s most influential mothers.

The international campaign will be spearheaded by the industry’s leading paediatricians and podiatrists and aims to highlight the importance of footwear in human’s growth, health and development.

Clark continues, ‘The barefoot philosophy has never been exclusive to running. The launch of our children’s campaign is set to change this perception by educating consumers on the health and wellbeing benefits of leading a barefoot lifestyle every day.’

The campaign aims to demystify the purchase of children’s footwear, working with parenting groups to showcase ground breaking research to bring about a change the universal perception of the footwear industry. As part of their investment in the children’s market Vivobarefoot will also develop a new children’s line of barefoot shoes for both school and play, alongside the provision of training and educational material to engage both parents and children.

Speaking on the launch of their Children’s initiative, Galahad Clark said, ‘The juxtaposition between the dexterity of a child’s foot and the fluidity of their movement compared to most adults helps to illustrate the damage that modern footwear can do to the human body. With so much conflicting information in the Children’s footwear market we knew it was time to invest our unparalleled resources in The campaign will initially launch in the UK, followed by an barefoot education and focus on prevention rather than the cure, international roll out. looking at protecting our children’s perfectly formed feet from becoming distorted by modern footwear.”

For further information visit: vivobarefoot.co.uk Until now awareness around barefoot has leaned towards running and rehabilitation; Vivobarefoot want to utilise their extensive research and respected industry experts to spearhead a change in global awareness.

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How much damage? By Elizabeth Hobson Radiation is a scary word that actually describes a massive spectrum of wavelengths that we can potentially experience. Classically scientists have been very clear where in the electromagnetic spectrum danger lies - with Ionizing radiation including Sunlight and UV, X-rays and Gamma rays (found in nuclear weapons) posing a threat to health from which we must protect ourselves and Non-Ionizing radiation going from visible light down through infared, microwaves to low level radiation as emitted by mobile phones and wifi base stations (masts), electricity and the Earth itself having the potential to cause only harmless biological effects. Even in the absence of any external source of electromagnetic radiation, chemical reactions within our bodies produce their own electrical charges. The amount of low level radiation in the world has increased exponentially over the last century. We are flooded with low level radiation every day - and to a hitherto unknown extent, that's a fact, and we do have biological responses to it [one interesting anecdote I discovered through a friend was that "soldiers at WW2 radar stations liked to stand in front of antennas on cold nights because of the warming effect. This led to development of the microwave."] but could electromagnetic radiation (EMR) be inherently dangerous? Those that believe so are worried that long term exposure could be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and also associated with brain tumours and you'd have to have been living on another planet to have missed the sensationalist headlines that have adorned newspapers sporadically since we first welcomed mobile phones into our lives.

Before launching into my research for this article I thought i knew about EMR and was intending to echo the precautionary concern of the Council of Europe Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs (CECEALRA) because "waiting for high levels of scientific and clinical proof can lead to very high health and economic costs, as was the case in the past with asbestos, leaded petrol and tobacco". Bearing in mind of course that "electromagnetic fields are reported to be the most common and fastest growing environmental influence on the population", with 1.4 million base stations worldwide and a rush to increase this to accommodate ever higher speed wireless Internet access and greater uptake of technologies... CECEALRA are lobbying for the world to adopt as 'low as reasonably achievable' positions on the levels and cumulative amount of electromagnetic radiation we are exposed to. Furthermore, the period of time we have to study is small right now and no one can say for sure what's waiting down the line for our children who will have been exposed to our mire of low level EMR for their entire lives- but we need to do our best to understand the likely implications for their well being.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection ( ICNIRP) are the global authority on the issue. They advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) when establishing safe limits of any kind of radiation for their populations.

Their Guidelines could not have blown my mind anymore than they did. In a 31 page booklet they say: "Induction of cancer from long-term EMF exposure was not considered to be established, and so these guidelines are based on short term immediate effects such as stimulation of peripheral nerves and muscles, shocks and burns caused by touching conducting objects and elevated tissue temperatures resulting from absorption of energy during exposure to EMF".

They labelled evidence supporting cancer concerns 'unconvincing' and failed to even acknowledge the evidence regarding brain tumours. We're mounting base stations on schools and places of worship, the majority of workplaces are using wifi, baby monitors and TV are responsible for emitting the same frequencies...

The WHO website goes into more detail, explaining that results of studies have been inconsistent but that there is no evidence to suggest significant increases in cancer risk in children or adults. Furthermore, they claim, a cause and effect relationship has not been supported by laboratory animal testing (which is far more reliable).

A separate agency within the WHO, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has this year warned of an impending global epidemic of cancer, emphasising that prevention and early detection are imperatives but not identifying EMR as a risk factor, and when presenting the report to assembled press in London one of their scientists stated that he would have 'no problem at all' with people of all ages being exposed to EMR 24/7. In 2011 the IARC conducted specific research into the EMR which resulted in them grading it at '2B' meaning that it's a 'possible human carcinogen' and one of the team responsible, Dr Lennart Hardell, is now a campaigner for it to be upgraded to '1, human carcinogen' in light of further research into brain tumours and mobile phone use but this is not something the organisation is at present considering.

In his work, Dr Hardell found no link between cancer and exposure, in fact he found that some cancers occurred less often in users of mobile rather than traditional phones - an example of the weakness in data derived from studies, illustrating why we must apply skepticism when looking at results. The IARC has suggested some ways to limit our exposure: through use of mobile phones is with a low SAR (specific absorption rate) handset for short calls with hands free

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kits or headsets. In response to the 2014 IARC guidelines Hardell has posed the question "Is there a conflict of interests at the IARC?" and this is a crucial question underpinning most of the criticism of official conclusions on EMR's safety with many convinced that industry is holding scientists to ransom to find evidence in their favour that it is safe. In 1990 extra-budgetary donations exceeded budgetary donations for the first time and have increased the gap ever since leading some to question who is the WHO working for now? At present the biggest extra-budgetary donations are coming from (in descending order): the World Bank, the CEC (Commission for the European Communities) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ICNIRP's research is conducted by a small group of experts, working voluntarily, with finance from governments and industry.

They publish their 'interests' which I have had a look at and, unless they're being coy, they include nothing more suspicious than expenses paid by phone companies for road trips. The Council of Europe Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs (who report to the European Parliamentary Assembly responsible for legislation) however believes that "there is sufficient signs or levels of scientific evidence of harmful biological effects to invoke the application of the precautionary principle and of effective, urgent preventative measures" and is seeking to convince the EU to reconsider the exposure standards set by ICNIRP in favour of pursuing the lowest possible levels.

They have a report currently at draft resolution stage which will go on to be debated by the European Parliament who can amend it, adopt it's recommendations or reject it.

From my perspective I'm more trusting of the expertise at ICNIRP than I am of politicos or judiciary who I hope are acting in the public interest but actually don't understand the science. Whilst the idea of corruption within ICNIRP and the WHO aren't entirely implausible I find the extent that's being suggested by parties concerned about EMR unlikely... Population studies in particular (which is where most of the evidence damning EMR is coming from) are notoriously unreliable.

So, I continue to excitedly anticipate the ways in which connection to the Internet will become (in the words of physicist Michio Kaku) 'as invisible as electricity' in our lives to be taken for granted and depended upon, accessible through such devices as contact lenses and wallpaper, allowing us control and analysis of our environments as well as connection to the world. The astounding men and women responsible for these technologies that we are on the cusp of integrating into our lives must be very erudite and none of them advocate caution with the EMR that is the foundation from which the new world they're creating will work.

Still, I do find that if something is worth doing, offline, it's worth doing offline.

When I write or play with my children or socialise (eg)... Connection to the Internet is usually unnecessary at best, a distraction at worst. You can keep your phone or tablet on for photography or playing Angry Birds (eg) by turning it onto 'Airplane' in the settings menu which will stop you being bothered by calls or e-mails and EMR (whether or not it's dangerous).As parents, we have to make personal decisions about this based on a conflicting assertions and evidence.

From my perspective I'm more trusting of the expertise at ICNIRP to reassure me than I am of politicos or judiciary who I hope are acting in the public interest but actually don't understand the science. Whilst the idea of corruption within ICNIRP and the WHO aren't entirely implausible I find the extent that's being suggested by parties concerned about EMR unlikely... I'm also aware that in scientific studies the phrase 'no smoke without fire' just isn't applicable- with the single most suspicious feature of evidence being consistency, as Dr Hardell's work showed some studies found a link between old fashioned phones and cancer which we know to be nonsensical. Population studies in particular (which is where most of the evidence damning EMR is coming from) are notoriously unreliable... Plus, if you have a look at the electromagnetic spectrum you'll find mobile phones and wifi somewhere between visible light and AM/FM radio...

So, I continue to excitedly anticipate the ways in which connection to the Internet will become (in the words of physicist Michio Kaku) 'as invisible as electricity' in our lives to be taken for granted and depended upon, accessible through such devices as contact lenses and wallpaper, allowing us control and analysis of our environments as well as connection to the world. The astounding men and women responsible for these technologies that we are on the cusp of integrating into our lives must be very erudite and none of them advocate caution with the EMR that is the foundation from which the new world they're creating will work.

Still, I do find that if something is worth doing, offline, it's worth doing offline.

When I write or play with my children or socialise (eg)... Connection to the Internet is usually unnecessary at best, a distraction at worst. You can keep your phone or tablet on for photography or playing Angry Birds (eg) by turning it onto 'Airplane' in the settings menu which will stop you being bothered by calls or e-mails and EMR (whether or not it's dangerous).

By Elizabeth Katherine Hobson Twitter: ElizabethHobso6 Blog: http://elizabethkhobson.wordpress.com

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By George! UK Toddlers Are Taking Off! As Prince George embarks on his very first Royal Tour, escorted by his Mum and Dad the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Great British flight comparison website compareandfly.com has unearthed the travelling habits of Prince George’s infant peers in the UK. Based on over 118,800 flight searches made on the flight comparison website, compareandfly.com has uncovered a number remarkable trends when it comes to the UKs jet-setting under twos.

32.87% baby laden flight searches departing from this airport in particular. Keen to dodge the dummies and diapers… then head to London City Airport where only 0.4% of parents are considering flying out of.

Spare Pair of Hands Much like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, not many UK parents are brave enough to embark upon a flight with just their baby as company. With pushchairs, carry cots, nappies and formula to carry on board; it’s unsurprising that Cool Kids Like To Do It on a Saturday In terms of flights involving an infant passenger (two years or 72.31% percent of travellers are looking to board with at least younger) over 20% of searches saw parents wanting to jet one other adult in tow. off on a Saturday. Those keen to dodge sharing their arm rest with a high-flying little one should consider travelling on Two or More… Stay On the Floor a Tuesday, the least popular flight day for families with babies When it comes to more than one infant travelling in the same party... Parents seem to admit defeat and opt for alternative and toddlers. modes of transport or holiday options… a whopping 93.77% of flight searches that included infants only consisted of one Vienna Baby When looking at where these toddlers are soaring off to, child. However, there were a very brave 0.49% of searchers there was a surprising front runner… Vienna! With over 5% of considering flying with three or more infants! Just think of the all international flight searches from the UK heading to this air miles!

Austrian Capital City, it appears that Vienna is the toddler’s Compareandfly.com was launched in December 2013 trip of choice! providing travellers with a safer, quicker, more reliable and Southern Babes Have Been Well and Truly Bitten By the Travel more rewarding way to book flights, accommodation and car hire in the UK and abroad. An app to complement the Bug With more flight paths and terminals located in London than website will launch in the coming months. any other UK city… it’s no surprise that there are more parents looking to fly out of London with their mini vacationers than any other town or city. However, the fact remains that over 60% of families looking to fly out of the UK with an infant will depart from London. Heathrow is the number one choice for juniors on a jumbo jet with a huge

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Our Top 5 Reasons For Dad's to carry their babies 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Happy & Secure - baby is happy, secure, calm and content and that makes for happier parents. You will both be seeing the world around you from the same eye view and will naturally talk to your baby about what you're both seeing. If your baby is startled by something, they will be comforted by their closeness to you and more ready to accept new faces and places.

Useful & Effective - baby wearing makes daily life much easier. You can get on with all the things you need to do - play with other older children, pop to the shops, run errands and still keep your baby close to you. You will feel more confident and less tied down, while your baby feels comfortable, secure and warm.

Eases Discomfort - if your baby suffers from reflux, colic or wind after feeding, holding them in an upright position eases discomfort and makes it easier for any gas to pass through their bodies, and reduces possetting.

Convenient - More convenient and much easier to get in and out of the car and manoeuvre around then a pram or stroller. A baby wrap or carrier folds up easily to fit in a nappy bag and it can be thrown in the washing machine when dirty.

You are also much more mobile and can carry even heavy toddlers in comfort and style.

Brownie Points - A bit of one on one quality time between dad and baby is a fantastic way of dads bonding with their little one, and gives mum that much needed break, not to mention earning serious brownie points!

What our Dad’s say: Jason Ede “There is something magical about carrying your child. When they cuddle in, and when they go to sleep, it’s so good to feel them breathing all safe, snug and happy.

When they’re older and start to point things out, then it is so much easier to see, understand and interact with them when they’re at your level.”

“My other half loves being close to our daughter, chatting and being able to take her places without being left with an empty buggy when she decides to walk. When she was tiny it made him feel more able to protect her from the world around and look after her. In a pram he constantly panicked she wasn’t breathing or had taken her tubes out and it was also a lot easier to manage with an oxygen backpack than a buggy. It’s been his extension of their special ‘kangaroo cuddle time’ and they both love it!” Jennie Wood

Ben Longden "It's much better than pushing a pram around and they can see so much more from that height. Going into shops is no hassle at all. Plus it's like one big long cuddle! I don't really know why prams are the norm when slings exist."

One mum comments, “My husband says he likes how close he is to our daughter when she’s in her carrier and loves how convenient and easy it feels compared to the pram, especially in certain places - we couldn’t have visited Robin Hoods Cave with a pram that’s for sure! He also loves using a carrier because he can have proper little chats with her and show her all the things she’d miss if she wasn’t at our height.”

Sharon Pearson - the other day my hubby said, “Having this (he was talking about his buckle carrier) is much better than pushing an empty buggy around (noting the other dads with empty buggy’s chasing toddlers), and I don’t understand why everyone hasn’t got one!”

COMPETITION TIME We have an amazing Beco Soleil Buckle Carrier to give away to one lucky reader!

carrier: safety, comfort, versatility and customisation, combined with amazing features.

The NEW Beco Soleil, Version 2 includes a snap-on bag with every purchase to carry little essentials (nappy, purse, wipes or treats) in addition to the integrated waistband pocket, key and toy tabs.

Simply answer the following question: What is the listed retail price for the Beco Soleil, Version 2 (non-organic) Carrier?

(Answers at: http://slumber-roo.co.uk/)

Designed to carry babies from birth** to preschool (7-45lbs) in three comfortable carrying positions - front, back and hip (** from birth when used in conjunction with the Soleil Insert, from 4-5 months without the insert), the Beco Soleil is the original bold and colourful baby carrier created by award winning baby carrier manufacturer Beco Inc.

For more information, please visit:

With its amazing easy-to-use features, elegant design and mix-and-match accessories, the Beco Soleil is everything modern parents want in a baby

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Capre helps turn the tide of physical inactivity in children Capre ensures that those working in delivering physical activity for children in games, sports, and physical activity are qualified to deliver high quality instruction and create positive sport experiences for children. These requirements dovetail with the recommendation of the report, namely that there is an important role for professionals delivering physical activity in creating a foundation for a life of regular exercise by giving them the foundations and skills for an active life.

Members of Capre also have an important role to play in terms of community engagement and campaigning to motivate key audiences, including children, young people and their parents. If properly qualified, professionals engaged in delivering physical activity for children can inspire children to engage in sport and activity and equip them to stay active into adulthood.

The Children’s Activity Professionals Register (Capre) today welcomed the main conclusions of the All-Party Commission on Physical Activity report: ‘Tackling Physical Inactivity’, and the need to engage effectively with children and young people to ensure that physical activity becomes a lifelong habit. As the report highlights, for the first time in history, the current generation of young people is expected to die five years younger than their parents, so it has never been more important to engage today’s young people in physical activity.

Greg Small, the Head of Membership for Capre said: “With just 51% of children reaching the daily exercise target for young people there has never been a greater need to arm children with the basic skills to take part in sport. Capre’s qualifications and continuing professional development requirements ensures that its members are equipped to arm children and young people with the physical literacy required to ensure an active lifestyle is continued into adulthood.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.capregister.org/

And the ‘awards’ go to..

Winner of two prestigious awards: Leader in Customer Service & Student Shoe Fitter of the Year Belle Enfants’ lovely Ringwood store Manager, Emma Butler, also scooped a second award on the night at the National Motorcycle Museum, being awarded the best 2014 Graduate Shoe-fitter by the Society of Shoe-Fitters.

Amanda said ‘We are honoured to have received this award which acknowledges all the hard work that our whole team has put into making Belle Enfants the success that it is today. Every member of staff, right down to Saturday girls, has been fully trained by the Society of Shoe-fitters to measure and fit children’s shoes correctly. We believe in great service and great products, and this is the ethos that we have based our business upon. Belle Enfants now offers a boutique shopping experience without prohibitive prices for design led clothing, shoes, toys, gifts and accessories for children from Birth to 10 years old!’

Belle Enfants is also promoting ‘Keep Feet Fit’ week to encourage parents to ensure their children’s feet are correctly fitted and as such continue to offer free no obligation measuring and checking of existing footwear, along with a great loyalty discount scheme that works across the whole store.

Award winner Emma said ‘I am honoured that I’ve been recognised for simply doing my job. I’m passionate about making sure every little pair of feet that walk through the door leave happy and in the correct footwear. Without the knowledge that I gained from completing my Local chain of independent, family-run, children’s boutiques, Belle course with the Society of Shoe Fitters, I can honestly say I would not Enfants, were given the great accolade of being voted 2014 National enjoy my job as much as I do, or be the proud winner of 2 national winners at the Footwear Industry Awards for offering the highest levels awards within my short career of 1 1/2 years as a shoe fitter.’ of Customer Service – this follows being voted the Best Independent Retailer at both the Nursery and Footwear awards in 2013!

Belle Enfants have stores in Lymington & Ringwood and can be found online at www.belleenfants.co.uk Belle Enfants at the Footwear Industry Awards Owners Amanda & Hannah Arkell (left to right) with Award Winner Emma Butler (Centre) Ringwood Store Manager

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Search launches for Britain’s top young driver – aged under 17..

TV star Reece Buttery is first official entrant in new 2014 Young Driver Challenge!

The search is on for Britain’s most talented young driver...who isn’t legally old enough to drive on the roads “We have given 125,000 lessons to under-17s since our yet. launch in 2009, and we have seen so many outstanding young drivers in that time. Most of the youngsters who take The 2014 Young Driver Challenge is open to those aged part in our lessons give 100% to perfecting the skills they are between 11 and 16 years and is being run by Young Driver, shown and treat the cars with the utmost respect. We the UK’s largest provider of under-17 driving tuition. wanted to recognise the hard work our young drivers put in, and show the world how responsible young people can be The first official entrant of the challenge was Reece Buttery, when given the appropriate training. the 12-year old TV star of the Christmas hit Gangsta Granny and CBBC’s The Dumping Ground, who set the standard “For the 2014 Young Driver Challenge, we have teamed up high for the 11-13 age group. The challenge, which is open with our sponsors to create a programme that incorporates for entries until the end of July, judges the ability of entrants both practical experience through Young Driver and based on a series of driving skills and manoeuvres, including education on the Highway Code through the Goodyear parallel parking, figures of eight, a turn in the road, steering, Driving Academy. The prize package reflects this with a judgement and positioning. Entrants will also have to fantastic package of pre and post-17 lessons, as well as complete the Goodyear Driving Academy, an interactive offering youngsters and their family a sizeable discount on online driving simulator which puts youngsters’ knowledge their Admiral car insurance.” of the Highway Code to the test.

Reece Buttery, 12-year old star of TV’s Gangsta Granny and Forty top-scoring finalists from across the country, spanning The Dumping Ground and the first official entrant to the two age categories (11-13 years and 14-16 years), will then 2014 Young Driver Challenge, said: “I have had a few compete at a final to be held at the Prodrive circuit in the Young Driver lessons now, and they’re great fun, but I’m Midlands in September. The winners will receive a selection also very aware that I’m learning some hugely important of prizes including 40 pre- and post-17 driving lessons skills. I’d urge anyone aged 11-16 to give it a go, it’s a provided by Goodyear, a Young Driver at School session for brilliant experience. You get to do everything you would in them and their classmates and £500 off a car insurance a driving lesson at 17, in a dual controlled car, but you’re on premium courtesy of Young Driver sponsor Admiral. a specially constructed road course on private property Kim Stanton from Young Driver said: “Young Driver was set rather than the real roads. I’m definitely keeping my fingers up with the intention of reducing the shockingly high crossed that my challenge entry might make it into the top number of accidents which occur shortly after youngsters 20 for my age category!” pass their driving test. We believe it is important that youngsters learn to drive over a longer period of time and For more information about the challenge, or to book a at a younger age, when they’re more receptive to safety Young Driver lesson, please log on messages. to www.youngdriver.eu or call 0844 371 9010.

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TOTS AMAZE!

New Children's Furniture from Mathy by Bols

New to the UK, the imaginative designers at Mathy by Bols have created an extraordinary range of bedroom furniture for children. The collection includes treehouse bookcases, campervan-shaped beds and quirky bedroom furniture, all of which are now available at cuckooland.com. Turn bedtime into an adventure with the unusual designs by Mathy by Bols. Some of the beds are designed to look like treehouses, while others resemble tents and campervans! These fun sleeping solutions provide kids with more than just a place to rest their heads as they also double up as play areas.

Take bedtime to new heights with the incredible Treehouse Bunk Bed! A dream come true for children everywhere, the Treehouse Bed is guaranteed to transform any room into the ultimate hideaway. Inside there is room to store all your favourite books and toys, while the interior light turns it into a playhouse. Who said that treehouses were only meant for the outdoors...bring the outside in with this fabulous new bed!

Every young campers dream, children can camp indoors whenever they like with this Cabin Tent Bed. The A-Frame bed will provide young adventurers with hours of fun, without the bugs or bears! Just like the camper bed, it has a pull out section underneath that could be used for storage or as a second bed for sleepovers!

Shaped like a classic teardrop trailer, kids can camp all year round with the Mathy by Bols Camper Bed! Whether it is used as a sleeping space, play space, or just a cool place to hang out with friends, this Camper Bed is where the best childhood memories will be made! Features include a moving door, cut-out windows and a retractable roof, inside there is storage for all your favourite toys and underneath there is a pull out drawer for additional storage.

This incredible collection will make adults yearn for their childhood. Bedtime has never been so much fun! Available in a range of colours, prices start from £995. For more information, please visit cuckooland.com About Mathy by Bols In partnership with independent designers, Mathy by Bols manufacture exclusive pieces of furniture from their workshops in Belgium. Founded in 1987, Mathy by Bols use only the very best materials to produce furniture that is of the highest specification and quality.

To celebrate the launch of the incredible new range of children’s furniture available at cuckooland.com, the luxury lifestyle emporium are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a fabulous Cabin Tent Bed worth £995, simply enter by visiting: http://www.littledarlingsmagazine.com/wina-luxury-cabin-bed/

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The most and least useful baby products, as voted by parents!

Which? has calculated that expectant parents could save around £275 Top 10 least useful: 1. Door baby bouncer by not buying the 10 baby products that parents told us are least 2. Baby washing bowls useful.

3. Manual breast pump 4. Baby hammock Preparing for the birth of a child is undoubtedly a stressful time, and 5. Fabric sling with such a huge range of baby products available, it can be confusing 6. Nappy stacker knowing which ones to buy. To help people decide which products 7. Bumbo seat they’re most likely to need, and which ones aren’t necessarily good 8. Cot mobile value for money, we asked parents to vote for the baby products they 9. Swaddling blanket found to be most and least useful in their experience.

10. Nappy disposal bin Top 10 most useful: Richard Headland, editor of Which?, said: 1. Stair gate “Deciding which baby products to buy, especially if you’re expecting 2. Baby change bag your first child, can be overwhelming. Our survey of parents showed 3. Audio baby monitor some clear winners that will make life with a newborn much easier, and 4. Electric steam steriliser kit those you can probably do without.”

5. Microwave steam steriliser kit 6. Video baby monitor As well as testing and reviewing baby products, Which? also has a 7. Baby sleeping bag 8. Digital ear thermometer wealth of advice for expectant parents on where to give birth. Which?

9. Baby bouncer or rocker chair Birth Choice is a free website, supported by the Royal College of 10. Travel cot Midwives, that brings together all the facts about local maternity services and provides women with personalised results based on their www.which.co.uk/birth-choice preferences, so they can plan the birth they want.

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Beautiful natural duvets & pillows by . Our ranges of for cot and cotbed are totally breathable and naturally healthy.

Affordable luxury by . …the ultimate To view our beautiful cot and cotbed linen, in luxury for cot or cotbed. Hand finished and to learn more about our company and and filled with 100% Siberian Goose Down our products please visit our website creating the softest and lightest of duvets.

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Containing only the finest quality certified Down, our duvets and pillows are crafted to our exacting specification in Germany.

… our perfect first pillow for baby. Goose Down contained within a 100% Cotton casing provides gentle support.

… an indulgent yet affordable range of Duck Down duvets and pillows, covered in 100% Cotton Cambric. 5 year guarantee.

**Please note that babies must be 12 months or older before sleeping with a duvet or pillow.

… our luxurious Canadian Goose Down duvet and pillow range. Soft and indulgent with a 100% Cotton Batiste Levissima cover. 5 year guarantee.

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