Project Baby Magazine Feb 2022

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94% of parents would recommend Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment* Treatment Prevention

All products are suitable for vegans

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Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment is a medicine. Always read the label. *Home Tester Club survey September 2019 397 respondents. project-baby.co.uk

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Win a

COMPETITION

BLUEBELL 9-IN-1 BABY MONITOR Parents say it’s like having an extra pair of ears and eyes monitoring baby’s breathing, temperature, crying and rolling onto their tummy, with a simple clip-on sensor supplying real-time alerts to the Bluebell app and smart wristband that works inside the house and outside too. The new HD camera keeps your baby in sight 24/7 and it’s easy to track routines and monitor sleep patterns with the Bluebell app. Further practical features include a nightlight, lullabies and white noise to soothe your baby to sleep. Bluebell has been designed by doctors to monitor more things that matter, so you can worry less. Use Bluebell to gain insights and reminders to improve your baby’s routine, such as: planning nappy changes, feeds, pumping, medication, bath-time and sleep. Suitable from birth to 2 years. Works even when your wifi is down. www.bluebellbabymonitor.com

Open to UK residents only

To be in with a chance of winning simply email us at: natasha@project-baby.co.uk with your little ones D.O.B and name.

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Contents

WELCOME

FEB/MARCH 2022

38 8. PRODUCTS WE LOVE Everything you will need from pregnancy to parenthood.

18. FERTILITY RECIPES FOR MEN Let’s get cooking.

23. 6 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE PREGNANT Check out our symptom checker

28. 10 BABY SHOW FINDS Shop the best bits.

33. BLUEBELL Get yourself a 24/7 nanny without the cost.

34. MILK STRIKE Page

8

26

Know what to do when your baby goes on strike.

37. BABY MONITORS The reviews are in.

26 24 56. EASTER RECIPES Annabel Karmel tells us her top 3 Easter recipes.

42. GETTING READY FOR BATHTIME

62. MOTHER’S DAY

Bathing baby made easy.

Treat her to afternoon tea.

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WELCOME

roject

roject

From the EDITOR

Natasha Hewett Editor-in-chief

Henry Day

If your reading this then you may well be pregnant ... Or maybe your baby is already here... Either way, congratulations and welcome to parenthood!

Welcome to our first official edition of 2022 Can you believe we are already two months in to the year and Reggie is all ready for his first baby show at just 12 weeks old? The brilliant Baby Show is back at ExCel London next month and its due to host over 200 brands all under one roof, fulfilling all your shopping needs. See page 28 for our best baby show finds.

It’s all coming at once, with Mother’s Day lurking too. We have the perfect plethora of options to treat her in any way you see fit. See page 62.

Gifts for mums tend to be difficult generally, but the best gift for any new mum is a full nights sleep. Check out our review on the Snoo on page 40, the crib that soothes your baby back to sleep so you don’t have to. If it’s not a new crib you need, but a monitor; check out the baby monitors that watch over your baby alerting you of any changes. See page 37.

Another great gift for Mum is a nice new outfit to make you feel amazing and dressing that bump is never an easy task, we have picked this seasons best bits to help you glow in style. See page 24.

Now; the only thing left to do is sit back and relax, grab a cuppa. Don’t forget to check us out on Instagram @projectbabymagazine for daily updates tips and competitions.

Happy reading!!

Natasha

Natasha Hewett, Editor natasha@project-baby.co.uk

Page

4

WIN BLUEBELL 8-IN-1 BABY MONITOR Worth: £359.99 Bought to you by bluebell

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Copy Writer

Emma Smith Sales

Lesley Mcdiarmid Sales Consultant

Paul Palmer Webmaster

Gavin Bridle Art Direction

Advertising with us: Email: natasha@project-baby.co.uk Tel: 075957 294 061

General Enquiries: Email: Lesley@project-baby.co.uk

With many thanks to our contributors: The Baby Show, Snoo, Natasha Wiening Photography, CarShades, bluebell, Annabel Karmel, Dr Goldstein & all our advertisers.

No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, without the express permission of the editor. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The opinions expressed within Project Baby magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

Project Baby is printed by Print Express

www.project-baby.co.uk

ExCeL London 4 - 6 March 2022

the UK’s leading pregnancy, baby and parenting live event Get your tickets for £15pp*

A saving of £7.50pp Enter PBOFFAD at thebabyshow.co.uk

*T&Cs are correct at time of printing. Save 33% on-the-door ticket price of £22.50 when booking your tickets online before midnight project-baby.co.uk l FEB/MARCH 2022 l 7 Thursday 3rd March 2022. Ticket offer excludes £2.20 transaction fee.

INGLESINA QUID 2 The Inglesina Quid 2 is a lightweight compact stroller ideal for travelling all around the world with. By air as well.

10

www.trendybaby.co.uk

Things

WE LOVE

BABYBJORN LANDSCAPE inspired by Mother Nature. With Nordic nature as the main source of inspiration, BabyBjörn’s design team have created a print inspired by the landscape surrounding us. www.babybjorn.co.uk

MAXI-COSI KORI BABY ROCKER No matter where you are in the house, you can always have your baby rocking comfortably by your side. So you can both enjoy some laid-back time. Maxi-Cosi Kori. For babies who rock. www.mamasandpapas.com

MY EXPERT MIDWIFE This fragrant spritz is midwife developed with a combination of pure essential oils; Frankincense, Geranium and Orange, which can help you to feel calm, grounded and more focused. www.myexpertmidwife.com

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LIFESTYLE

PIPPETA COMPACT Being small and lightweight this pump can be worn in your nursing bra, with no tubes or wires - it’s truly hands free!

Designed with a curve to fit snug against your breast. www.pippeta.com

CUBO AI PLUS SMART BABY MONITOR Cubo Ai is a beautifully designed award-winning baby monitor with proactive A.I. alerts for little one’s sleep, safety, and memories. It’s appropriate for newborn babies up to toddlers. www.uk.getcubo.com

START-RITE SHOES Made with a super soft blue nubuck to keep feet comfortable as they start to explore, there’s a double rip-tape fastening for a snug fit and easy adjustment. www.startriteshoes.com

MINI MIO NAPPY SAVIOURS BUNDLE A must-have set for happy nappies, this paediatrician approved bundle contains the perfect pairing to help keep dry skin at bay and keep baby’s delicate skin silky smooth, soft and comforted when it’s ‘time for a change.’ www.mamamio.com

SNUZPOD4 Sleep well, feed easily and be closer to your baby with SnuzPod⁴ the UK’s Best-selling Bedside Crib! Now even more breathable thanks to its innovative NEW ComfortAir system.

SENGER GOOSE

www.snuz.co.uk

This classic goose toy is the perfect keepsake, the kind of soft toy that children will keep forever. www.notonthehighstreet.com

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ADVERTISMENT

Rest Assured

The Owlet Smart Sock Tracks your baby's heart rate and oxygen level while they sleep.

owletcare.com

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ADVERTISMENTS

BABY’S SKIN KNOWS BEST Winner of ‘Best Baby Balm’ in The Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards, our natural BABY SOFT BALM is made to soothe and protect your baby’s delicate skin.

With calming cocoa butter and organic chamomile, this balm acts as a gentle barrier to nourish and hydrate.

100% organic, vegan-certified, natural, cruelty-free and with no hidden nasties or unnecessary fillers, just one in our range of consciously crafted products. www.earthzest.co.uk

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LIFESTYLE

MAMA MIO PREGNANCY BOOB TUBE The Mama Mio Pregnancy Boob Tube is clinically proven* to increase skin elasticity and moisture helping to protect growing breasts against stretch.

Price: £25.00 www.mamamio.com

SECRET SAVIOURS The 3-step Stretch Mark Prevention Band Kit – containing the Prevention Band, Day Gel & Night Cream. The Band uses Dermal Support Technology™ to gently grip the skin, dispersing pressure as it stretches and blocking the path of stretch marks as they try to tear downwards.

Price: £90.00 www.secretsaviours.com

Products for

BUMP SECRET SAVIOUR BUMP BRIEFS

Designed and made by mamas for mamas, mama

by MORI was created to empower you on your motherhood journey.

Supporting you through every stage and helping you celebrate your bodies and embrace all the changes being a mother brings. The collection is innovatively designed with you in mind to be comfortable, soft, flattering and supportive.

Using high-quality, sustainable fabrics to ensure the pieces will last through this pregnancy and the next or passed onto friends when they start their journey.

Price: Various www.babymori.com

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BEYOND 9 JUMP SUITE This oil is perfect for preventing stretch marks and is certified organic. Designed for pregnant women, it is used from the 1st month of pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, and is compatible with breastfeeding.

Price: £39.95 www.Joone.com

LIFESTYLE

KATIE LOXTON SENTIMENT CANDLE - WONDERFUL MUM Pour a little relaxation into every day with our brand new and exclusive ‘Wonderful Mum’ Sentiment Candle. This limited edition home fragrance brings a heavenly combination of soft citrusy pomelo and fresh floral lychee flower to create a blossoming scent to soothe your senses.

We Love

Perfect For

MOTHER’S DAY

Price: £16.99 www.maudesjewellers.co.uk

ELVIE TRAINER With 1 in every 3 women experiencing pelvic floor problems during their lifetime, our award-winning Elvie Trainer is a fun and effective tool for building strength, so you get to the core of the problem. Elvie Trainer helps you visualize a hidden set of muscles that support everything from core stability to bladder control, postnatal recovery, and intimate wellbeing.

Price: £169.00 www.elvie.com

Products for

MUM

HATCH MAMA STRENGTH + SHINE FORTIFYING HAIR OIL Postpartum hair thinning can be confidence-knocking, but this fortifying hair oil is here to condition and encourage new growth. It’s nutrient-rich, and free from fragrance as well as common allergens.

Price: £38.00 www.Harveynichols.com

HARVEY NICHOLS BEAUTY AND THE BABY HAMPER This very chic black wicker basket includes a baby-pink collection of perfect postpartum presents, including Slip’s pure silk face mask for those midday naps, and Hatch’s post-birth belly oil to smooth stretch marks. www.Harveynichols.com

THIS WORKS DEEP SLEEP PILLOW SPRAY The lavender-steeped scent of this slumber-inducing pillow spray is nothing short of magic.

Any eternally shattered new mum will cherish it.

Price: £19.50 www.Lookfantastic.com project-baby.co.uk

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LIFESTYLE

LITTLE SISTER BABY BALM The cutest baby balm on the planet, this all-organic wonder contains organic shea butter, coconut and apricot oils to soothe bottoms and hydrate dry patches. It’s pretty and practical.

Price: £16.99

www.sisterandcompany.com

MAXI COSI PEBEL 360 The Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 is part of the next generation rotating car seat system, the 360 Family, which consists of a rotating FamilyFix 360 base, the Pebble 360 & Pearl 360 car seats. www.maxi-cosi.co.uk

BRUNO THE BEAR SLEEP SHUSHER NIGHTLIGHT GRAY

We Love

Zazu’s Bruno The Bear Baby Sleep Shusher is a soothing nightlight with lots of sound options packed into his furry little body. You can choose from light only or light + sound setting, with sounds including shushing, white noise, a heartbeat and 3 different lullabies.

Price: £35.00 www.kidly.co.uk

Products for

BABY

Keeping your Baby Close

AURELIA WOODLAND FRIENDS GIFT HAMPER The perfect set for babies and children, this enchanting case is a treasure trove of luxury skincare.

Price: £150.00 www.harrods.com

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LOOP 3-IN-1 BABY ROCKER, GYM AND BALANCE BOARD Loop is a multi-purpose product first it’s a rocking crib with a safety harness, soft sponge sides and a 100% cotton cover. Two eye-catching soft toys - one that crinkles, one with a bell - are suspended above, baby gym-style, to entertain your new arrival.

Price: £164.00 www.kidly.co.uk

LIFESTYLE

3 of the Best

JANOD SWEET COCOON ACTIVITY TABLE

FOR LITTLE TEETH

Keep curious young minds captivated at home with the impressive Sweet Cocoon Activity Table from Janod.

Price: £64.99 www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

ICKLE BUBBA GRAVITY MAX STROLLER The Gravity delivers a lightweight, compact pushchair with a magic auto-fold function, but opting for the Gravity Max delivers even more

PUNCH & JUDY TOOTHPASTE What better way to encourage children to brush their teeth than with this fun Punch and Judy Toothpaste.

Price: £3.49 www.amazon.co.uk

Price: £259.00 www.icklebubba.com

TODDLER SMARTMAX ROBOFLEX LARGE Who said robots aren’t flexible?

Get creative and make your own flexible, crazy robots! Choose your magnetic parts, bend, extend, assemble, and play!

Price: £24.99 www.smartmax.eu

BRITE BRUSH BriteBrush is launching a line of “smart” toothbrushes — electric toothbrushes that have sensors that can tell how your kids are brushing. They also have lights, sounds, and other bells and whistles that’ll entertain kids and keep them cleaning their teeth.

Price: £15.99 www.boots.co.uk

TINY LOVE XL BATH SQUIRTERS, BATHTIME TOYS XL bath squirters is a set of four bath squirter toys, suitable for 12 months and older. Tiny Love’s bathtub toy floats, fills up with water and squeezes to create a fun water fight. The bath squirt toys promote baby’s development as the squeezing stimulates babies’ motor skills and sparks your little one’s imaginative play.

Price: £15.99 www.amazon.co.uk

GUMMEE GLOVE PLUS TEETHING MITTEN TURQUOISE Undroppable, the Gummee glove is worn like a mitt by your baby and enables them to self soothe when ever they need relief for their sore gums.

Price: £15.99 www.gummee.life

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LIFESTYLE

WORK OR A FAMILY? OR BOTH? This is a question Beth Follini from Ticktock Coaching gets a lot. She’s a life coach who helps women decide whether or not they want children. “If work is your passion and you don’t have a strong desire to have a child, do you have to give up your life’s work for motherhood? My job is to show people their choices – it might be difficult but they can make it work.”

Follini asks clients to identify senior female role models in their industry and analyse how they manage career and children.

She also cautions against caring too much about what everyone else says or does. Since becoming a mother I know I’ve been guilty of urging friends wavering on the issue of parenthood to go for it – I love it, so they will, right? But doing it before you are ready could cause resentment towards your new lifestyle, partner and baby. “I would never tell people to just do it,” says Follini. “Women can feel overwhelmed by everyone else’s opinion. Listen to your own voice and feel confident in it.”

3 of the Best

FERTILITY AIDS

VITAL DHA The EFS’s in Vital DHA are provided in triglyceride form for maximum bio-availability. Supplementing with Vital DHA helps to safeguard against any dietary deficiency in both partners.

Price: £15.50 www.zitawest.com

EAT YOURSELF PREGNANT In this fabulous new full-colour cook-book Zita shows you 80 tasty and easy to prepare recipes that are packed full of all the most important nutrients your body needs to prepare for a successful pregnancy.

I had no inkling as to how much becoming a mother would change my life. Four years ago, I had a glamorous senior job on a fashion magazine in London, I travelled extensively, I went to parties with the A-list, I wore Louboutins. Now I have two small children, I work freelance three days a week, and you’re more likely to find me on a bouncy castle in my Converse. My life in 2012 is not better or worse than my life in 2008, it’s just different. You find a way to make motherhood work for you; you get on with it. I didn’t ever get the corner office in New York, but I still visit on work trips. I’m toying with Glastonbury sans enfants next summer, just like the good old days (but I’ll have to go to bed earlier).

My advice? Ditch the pre-baby bucket list.

Don’t do it unless you feel ready but don’t ever expect to feel completely ready. And if that thin blue line comes out of the blue? If you find out, unexpectedly, that you’re pregnant? Take a deep breath, take 100 deep breaths if you need to, and don’t panic. I promise that you’ll make it work, if you want to, like you always do. Your life will change, but you won’t.

Price: £14.99 www.zitawest.com

PREGNACARE HIS & HER Pregnacare® His & Her Conception provides an extra value dual pack containing both Pregnacare® Conception and Wellman® Conception nutritional tablets, which have been specifically designed to support both men and women who are trying for a baby, Price: £18.35 www.vitabiotics.com

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SUBSCRIBE to Project Baby for just £19.95 & receive a FREE Tommee Tippee Twist & Click nappy bin WORTH £29.99

Project Baby is a luxury parenting magazine packed with inspiration and tips for a new mum and expectant mothers, expert advice and product reviews. Never miss an issue with our subscription.

Great Reasons to subscribe 4 issues delivered to your home Get a free Twist & Click nappy bin from Tommee Tippee Includes free digital download

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PREGNANCY

Gazpacho

5 Fertility Recipes

FOR MEN

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS 1 red bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1 green bell pepper 1 small poblano pepper 2 lbs. heirloom tomatoes, roughly chopped 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped 1 bunch scallions, roughly chopped 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped

METHOD 1. Preheat your grill to direct, high heat or heat coals until white and hot. Slice the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds. Toss the peppers in salt and the 2 Tbsp oil and grill, turning every few minutes, until all sides are blackened and blistered, about 10 minutes total. Set aside and allow to cool.

2. In a small bowl filled with ½ cup water, soak the bread. Rough chop the peppers and add to a blender or food processor along with the

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2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 thick slice of country white bread, crust removed 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 Tbsp 2 Thsp sherry vinegar ½ bunch parsley or cilantro Several dashes Tabasco Salt, to taste

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tomatoes, onion, scallion, cucumber, olive oil, sherry vinegar, and herbs. Squeeze the water out of the bread and add to the food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt and Tabasco. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

3. Spoon into chilled bowls and garnish with toasted croutons from the leftover bread, chilled crab or lobster, or diced avocado.

FOOD & DRINK

Marinated Lamb Chops with Watermelon, Haloumi & Mint Salad

Sweetcorn Fritters with Smoked Salmon The corn in this dish is high in arginine, which boosts sperm count and motility, while the salmon helps boost male fertility.

Makes: 10-12 Sweetcorn Fritters Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

The lamb is packed with arginine and zinc, and the watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which is essential for proper sperm production and male fertility.

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbs red wine vinegar 2 stalks rosemary, sprigs removed, finely chopped 8 midloin lamb chops, trimmed 250g haloumi, cut into 1cm thick slices 1/4 cup mint leaves,

torn 1 tbs baby capers 1 kg seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into 3cm cubes 1 small red onion, finely chopped salt & pepper, to taste

2 cups (approx 2 corn cobs) fresh corn kernels 3 spring onions (or 1 small red onion), roughly chopped 2 eggs small handful coriander (or parsley) leaves 150g self-raising flour pinch salt and pepper 1 zucchini, finely grated and squeezed to remove excess moisture

light olive oil, for frying smoked salmon, to serve lemon wedges, to serve Avocado Salsa 1 avocado, stone removed, diced 1 tomato, finely diced 1 spring onion, finely chopped 2 tbs coriander leaves, chopped 1 tbs lemon juice pinch salt and pepper

METHOD

METHOD

1. Combine 1 tbs of the oil, vinegar, rosemary in a jug. Lay chops into a ceramic dish and pour over marinade. Turn chops to coat well. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.

1. Place half the corn kernels, spring onion, eggs, coriander, flour, salt and pepper in a food processor and process for about 10-15 seconds until combined. Place in a large bowl.

2. Brush haloumi slices with olive oil. Heat a chargrill pan over medium-high heat. Cook haloumi for 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Cool slightly and tear into pieces.

2. Using your hands, squeeze the zucchini to remove any excess moisture. Add to the corn mixture along with the remaining corn kernels. Stir to combine.

3. Combine remaining oil, mint, lemon juice and capers in a jug. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange watermelon, onion and haloumi in a large salad bowl. Drizzle over dressing. Cook chops on a preheated barbecue chargrill or frying pan for about 3 minutes on each side for medium rare or until cooked to your liking. Serve marinated lamb chops with watermelon, haloumi & mint salad.

3. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of the oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Drop large spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden on the underside.

Turn and cook the other side until golden and cooked through.

Repeat with remaining mixture, using more oil if needed.

4. Drain on paper towels and serve with the avocado salsa (lightly stir the ingredients together), smoked salmon and lemon.

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FOOD & DRINK

Chicken& Pumpkin Couscous

Pumpkin and Chickpea Curry

Packed with arginine, an amino acid proved to help blood circulation, and vitamin E, which is shown to reduce sperm defects, this dish may increase male fertility.

A perfect vegetarian dinner that will increase your partner’s fertility as it’s bursting with vitamin E, which is essential for reducing defects in sperm DNA and increasing male fertility..

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS 2 tbs olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 2 skinless chicken thigh fillets, trimmed and diced 150g pumpkin, peeled and diced

185 ml chicken or vegetable stock 100g instant couscous 2 tbs coriander, finely chopped or parsley leaves (optional)

1 tbs Homebrand Vegetable Oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 1 bunch coriander 1/4 cup korma curry paste 1.2 kg pumpkin, deseeded, peeled cut into 4cm pieces

400ml can coconut milk 1/2 cup water 400ml can Woolworths Select Chickpeas, drained, rinsed 1/2 cup cup salted cashew nuts, roughly chopped, to garnish steamed rice, to serve

METHOD METHOD 1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over low-medium heat.

Add the onion, chicken and pumpkin, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.

2. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender.

3. Remove from the heat, stir in the couscous, cover and set aside for 6 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and stir through the coriander or parsley, if desired.

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1. heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.

Add onion and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Finely chop coriander roots and add to onion. Cook for 1 minute. Stir curry pase into onion mixture and cook for 1 minute or until aromatic. Add pumpkin, coconut milk and water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat simmer for 20 minutes. Add chickpeas and cook for 10 minutes.

2. Roughly chop half the remaining coriander, reserving sprigs to serve, and stir through curry. Sprinkle cashews and coriander sprigs over the pumpkin and chickpea curry and serve with steamed rice.

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AWARDS

WE’RE BACK

Awards We were thrilled to see so many amazing brands enter the awards last year so this year will be even bigger. We are inviting 300 “real” Mums and Dads to our open review days to put your entries through their paces.

Read more about all our entries on our website.

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PREGNANCY

6

SIGNS

You might be Pregnant 1. SWOLLEN AND TENDER BREASTS Soreness or tingling in breasts is one of pregnancy’s most common symptoms. Early in pregnancy breasts will fill out and change shape as they prepare to produce milk. Breasts may become very tender and sensitive for a few months as a result. But, Teresa Pitman, doula and lactation expert, notes: “that not all women experience these changes, especially if they have been on birth control pills.”

2. DARKENING AREOLAS For many women, hormones can cause the areolas, the circles around nipples, to widen and darken during pregnancy.

This occurs as the body prepares itself for breastfeeding.

3. SPOTTING About five to 10 days after conception, some women notice light spotting when the embryo implants in the uterus. So if you’ve had a light period this month, you might still be carrying a little bundle of joy.

4. URINARY FREQUENCY OR CONSTIPATION When you’re pregnant, your uterus presses directly on the bladder leading to more frequent urination. The added pressure and intestinal changes may also cause constipation. Of course, the more a baby grows, the more the uterus presses against the bladder and other organs.

5. FATIGUE Many women feel very tired early in pregnancy (it takes lots of energy to

create a baby!). In fact, fatigue is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, chances are you’ll start to feel less tired around week 12, when the placenta is fully formed.

6. NAUSEA Nausea is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. It’s caused by an increase in hormone levels (about 80 percent of women experience “morning sickness” during the first 3 months of pregnancy). For many, this nausea is not necessarily confined just to the morning – some feel it all day long.

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STYLE

& Just Glow in style

STYLISH PREGNANT DENIM FRILL STRAP BLACK PINAFORE MINI DRESS Price: From £11.00 per week www.forthecreators.co

LOLA BLACK Price: £125.00 www.beyondnine.co.uk

BLUE MIDI WRAP MATERNITY DRESS Price: £65.00 www.seraphine.com

We Love

RAFFA CHAMBRAY MATERNITY SHIRT WITH TENCEL Price: £79.00 www.uk.isabellaoliver.com

GOLDEN GOOSE Price: £365.00 www.mythreasa.com

FAE PONTE MATERNITY PANT WITH LENZING Price: £65.00 www.uk.isabellaoliver.com

NOTTING HILL BACKPACK Price: £89.00 www.london-olivia.com

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LACE TRIM VINTAGE STRIPE MIDI MATERNITY TO NURSING DRESS Price: £69.00 www.seraphine.com

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PREGNANCY

SUPER WAYS TO

Enjoy Your Maternity Leave

7 L

Learning to enjoy maternity leave isn’t easy for everyone. We’ve narrowed down some tips and tricks from the pros about how to make your time off count. There’s more to maternity leave than changing nappies and watching Jeremy Kyle. Make it a special time for you and your baby.

Prearrange at Least Three Days of Help Line up your help, and play to each person’s strengths. For example, your mother might be great at grocery shopping and cooking, but virtually useless when it comes to waking up at night for a feeding. Your friend might be great at entertaining you with “Sex and the City” DVDs and keeping you company when you get lonely, but be hopeless at diaper changes. Getting help early makes it a lot more likely that you’ll feel energized and ready to have fun later on.

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ACCEPT THE FIRST WEEKS WILL BE HARD Those first few weeks with a newborn are a shock to everyone’s system. You’re getting used to being a sleep-deprived, milk-leaking mom; your baby is adjusting to living outside the warm comfort of your womb; and your husband is adjusting to being a dad.

This is not the time to pressure yourself into running around being social or productive. Simply walking around the block can feel like a major accomplishment. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t make plans; just make sure the fun is on your terms and works for you.

That cute little bistro where you and your best buddy used to brunch may be too cramped for a stroller.

PREGNANCY

TEST GEAR

Mums-to-be Bucket List 1. Eat the entire confectionery contents of a corner shop.

2. Go to the cinema, loads.

3. Get a completely useless, expensive beauty treatment.

4. Treat yourself to a beautiful, very small, impractical bag.

I lived in fear of the BabyBjorn. Never mind that it’s hands down the most convenient way to carry a newborn.

There are so many straps and buckles, I was afraid I was going to hang myself or that the baby would slip out through a leg hole onto the road.

The lesson: Try out the gear you fear before you have the baby so you’ll have the hang of using it by the time he’s arrived. Return any stuff you don’t like before you break it or baby spits up on it, whichever comes first.

ME TIME Allow yourself some ‘me’ time Try to give yourself some down time between leaving work and the baby’s arrival.

Ideally, you’ll have finished your baby shopping and can concentrate on the important things like sleeping, reading and watching Mad Men – those simple pleasures that are soon to become precious luxuries. Oh and triple checking you’ve packed your hospital bag.

Make the most of your baby nap gap.

Forget Facebook and Homes Under The Hammer – use your baby’s nap times to do something constructive. Whether it’s writing that novel, researching your amazing business idea or teaching yourself how to knit, maternity leave is the perfect time to let your creative juices flow.

Spend the day in your PJs Why? Because a) you can and b) you deserve it!

5. Take a day trip ALONE. MAKE MUMMY FRIENDS Brand-new parenthood can be lonely, especially after your help has departed and you’re facing time alone with a helpless baby. So if you see another pregnant woman at Starbucks every day, strike up a conversation.

WILL YOU GO TO WORK OR STAY HOME? Another vital issue when it comes to choosing new mommy friends is whether you’re planning to go back to work or stay home. Here’s the problem: If you’re going to stay at home, no matter how much you bond with the working types, you’re not going to see each other much once leave is over. So it’s best to find a mix of both mums you’ll see at the playground every day, and mums you can walk with on weekends. Working mums can really benefit from friendships with other working mums because they often have the same schedule and experience similar issues.

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DIDOFY ASTER 2

10

BABY SHOW Finds

The Aster is the ultimate innovative compact fold pushchair. De­signed by parents for parents to provide a reliable, safe, and highly practical ultra-compact stroller to make life easier for parents-on-the-go. www.babyplanet.co.uk

STOKKE® XPLORY X Stokke® Xplory® X is the perfect choice for conscious parents who want the best for their baby without compromising on safety, quality, or style.

Premium from top to bottom, Stokke® Xplory® X brings your baby closer for the connection they need to feel safe & loved. www.stokke.com

KERI KIT JONES JONES GOLD Tan Leather handbag |Designer leather Handbag for Changing, Work & Travel www.kerikit.com

MILTON STERILISING UNIT Used by health professionals on maternity wards, the Milton Cold Water method of sterilising is effective within 15 mins. www.milton.com

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BUYING GUIDE

MEDELA SOLO™ SINGLE ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP SoloTM, the next generation and enhanced version of the SwingTM breast pump family from Medela .

We Love

www. shop.medela.co.uk

NANIT

HAPPIEST BABY SNOO

Sleep Trends: Get your baby’s sleep stats each

Like a 24/7 babysitter, SNOO aids sleep with gentle

morning, plus a time lapse highlight reel so you

rocking and soothing…for all naps and nights.

can rewatch their entire night in seconds. Get

Its quick response often calms upsets in under a minute.

personalised, science-backed sleep guidance

And our ‘5-second swaddle’ keeps babies on the back.

from the world’s leading paediatric sleep experts,

www.happiestbaby.co.uk

right in your app. www.nanit.com

MUNCHKIN & BEAR Munchkin & Bear is creating children’s homewares for stylish families to enjoy in shared spaces around their homes. www.munchkinandbear.co.uk

OLLIE THE OWL

SNUZCLOUD BABY SLEEP AID Sleep… every new parent wants more of it! That’s why we created SnüzCloud, the new stylish and portable baby sleep aid from Snüz. With super soft plush fabric, 4 soothing sounds and two light options; help comfort and settle your baby when you need it most!

The perfect sleep companion!

Playing 4 comforting sounds (heartbeat, rainfall, static white noise or brahms lullaby) and with a gentle warm glowing tummy, Ollie the Owl creates a lovely soothing environment for your baby to drift off to sleep in. www.tommeetippee.com

www.snuz.co.uk project-baby.co.uk

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COMPETITION

PROJECT BABY BOX

Win a 3 month subscription to

Project Baby Box

Our beautiful boxes are hand-picked by age, stage of development & gender especially for you and your baby. Each box has a value of over £70. by.co.uk and tell us why To win just email natasha@project-ba you would LOVE a subscription

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ADVERTISMENT HEALTH

Colic At The Baby Show

Coping with

8 Point action plan to help cope with Colic Many babies are diagosed with colic, but in reality there is no medical definition for the term. Colic defined as excessive reasons for bouts of inconsolable crying, such as reflux, digestive intolerances or allergies. In most cases, a combination of diet, feeding, medicine, routine and sleep can help manage the symptoms.

1 UNDERSTAND COLIC

3. LET HIM SUCK

“Colic is poorly understood, it’s not an actual medical condition, but just a term for excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well fed. It can occur for no reason, but it often has an underlying cause, such as non specific abdominal pain, cow’s milk introlerance or reflux- where the valve at the top of the stomach is immature, leading to acid pain and vomiting,

“Babies with colic often get a lot of comfort from sucking, which is likely to be why they want to feed so often, to try to stretch the feeding time you could try to temporarily introduce a dummy. This will soothe and give him something to suck on while you’re trying to implement the new, more structured, feeding plan.

2. GET INTO A REGULAR FEEDING ROUTINE “The first thing to tackle with a colicky or reflux baby is their routine.

If your little one is eating too much and too often: breastfeeding on deman, and typically feeds every two hours during the day and almost contantly at night. This could be contribuiting to his symptoms. During the day, try to stretch him out to a three-hour feeding schedule, which means feeding him five times during the 12 daylight hours.”

4. CALM CONSISTANT BEDTIMES “Evenings are typically the hardest time for babies with colic, and and they’re especially difficult when you’re trying to get your older children into a bath and bed. A calming evening routine will help the baby to wind down and feel soothed at his most difficult time of day, so begin to implement a soothing bedtime regime that coincides with the needs of your two older children, who go to bed around 7pm”

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HEALTH

5. SHIFT POSITIONS Parents tend to cradle a colicky baby face-up, but that may not help.

Instead, hold her face down - with your hand under her belly and her head on your forearm. The pressure on her tummy can help relieve uncomfortable gas.

6. BABY MASSAGE The soothing power of your own touch can work wonders on a colicky baby. Many babies love skin-to-skin contact. And studies show infants who are massaged seem to cry less and sleep better. Just undress your baby and use slow, firm strokes over her legs, arms, back, chest, and face. It may calm you down as well.

For a gassy baby, rub his tummy in a clockwise motion, or bicycle his little legs to relieve some pressure.

7. GIVE HER A BURP A crying baby can gulp down a lot of air. That can make her gassy and bloated and make her crying worse. Burp her with gentle thumps on her back. The classic position with the baby’s head over your shoulder works, but can leave a trail of spit-up down your back.

Switch things around: Lay your baby face down across your lap, or sit her up. Support her chest and neck with one of your arms.

8. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF One of the most important pieces of advices we can give you, is to make time for yourself. Colic can be tough on mums as well as babies and it can be exhausting and stressful. Sleep when you can and accept all offers of help. Whatever you do - don’t blame yourself or feel you’re not doing an amazing job.

AND DON”T FORGET

Take a Breather Night after night with a colicky baby is hard on parents. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and not up to the job. If nothing seems to work, take a break. Hand the baby off to your partner, a family member, friend, or sitter. When that’s not an option, remember that it’s OK to let your baby cry in the crib for a little bit while you collect yourself.

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Whisbear Over 65% newborn children suffer from colic. In result, parents suffer too. To soothe the baby we turn to “home-made” solutions to stop the colic.

Eventually we all arrive to the same conclusion hairdryer’s shushing sound works the best!

Shushing is the natural acoustic environment for newborn children - they remember it from their mother’s womb. All they can hear there is shushing.

Running around your house with a hairdryer is uncomfortable and tiring and although recordings of shushing can be found on the Internet, it is not an ideal solution. And thus Whisbear - the humming bear - was born. Friendly shushing in hand’s reach is our parental mission!

Whisbear is a superhero - always near your child, it comes to the rescue! Whisbear guards the baby’s sleep.

Whisbear is something more than a shushing teddy bear.

They are a great plan to help suffering little ones and their parents in the colic-induced pain.

Project Baby Review:- Not only does he look ultra cute we also saw a huge difference in our little ones sleep pattern.

He is super clever and will help many parents through those tricky first few months.

At £39.90 its a little more expensive than your average Teddy Bear but Whisbear is different and you can’t put a price on a good night sleep. www.whisbear.co.uk

CASE STUDY

NAME: Elizabeth Lodge-Knowles AGE: 33 SON: Barney OCCUPATION: Respiratory Ward Sister with 10 years experience in NHS Respiratory

Bluebell

MONITOR

Elizabeth Lodge-Knowles, Respiratory Nurse: “It offered all the peace of mind I needed, providing breathing and temperature alerts as well as room temperature monitoring. It really was the best product I had found on the market” My respiratory background meant that I was probably more anxious than most new parents about their baby’s well being.

However, added complications when my son Barney arrived made my anxiety even worse.

As soon as Barney was born we were both hospitalised with sepsis, further adding to my parental worries, so to say the early days were difficult is an understatement.

Once we returned home, I was unable to relax, I worried constantly about Barney who at this stage was also underweight. Bedtimes were particularly difficult as I could not rest or sleep peacefully because I felt so anxious.

It was at this point that I heard about Bluebell. It offered all the peace of mind I needed, providing breathing and temperature alerts as well as room temperature monitoring. It really was the best product I had found on the market, offering all in one monitoring. The moment we set up the Bluebell I felt myself relax, I was able to get the rest I needed knowing I would be alerted if Barney had any problems.

After his first set of injections at 8 weeks, I received an alert in the night that his temperature was going up. After investigating we took Barney to A&E where he became unresponsive due to his high temperature. If it were not for the early notification of his temperature going up from our Bluebell, we would not have been able to react as quickly as we did.

Aside from the alert functionality, we found being able to record Barney’s routine and sleep tracking to share with the health visitor and sleep consultant extremely useful.

It is so flexible that we have switched off some of the features we no longer need and still use the monitor now that he is older.

Fabulous baby monitor! A must for any new parent. project-baby.co.uk

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DEVELOPMENT

MILK STRIKE!

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Stopped breastfeeding or formula, some toddlers refuse cow’s milk.

DEVELOPMENT

Parents of milk-striking kids can breathe easier knowing their children do not have a condition, just a fussy palate.

Taking a child off of breast milk or infant formula can be frustrating for moms, especially when their 1-year-old refuses to drink cow’s milk. “Realizing that it’s not as sweet as breast milk or formula, some children flat out reject cow’s milk,” says Eileen Tyrala, MD, a pediatrician and baby formula specialist at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

“The milk strike,” as some pediatricians call it, can even turn into a lifelong refusal to drink cow’s milk. The problem for a child who stops drinking either milk or formula is the potential for a vitamin D or calcium deficiency.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vitamin D plays a role in the prevention of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Both calcium and vitamin D are essential for building strong bones and muscles. Babies and younger children with inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake are at an increased risk for weaker bones and even rickets, says Dr. Tyrala.

WHAT YOU CAN DO There are two ways to solve this problem: coaxing the child into drinking cow’s milk or adding food or drinks to the child’s diet that contain vitamin D and calcium. To get your child to drink cow’s milk: • Mix whole milk with some formula or breast milk.

• Add small amounts of strawberry or chocolate flavoring to milk.

Dietitian Althea Zanecosky, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, cautions that it may take up to 10 attempts before a young child accepts a new food, including cow’s milk. She also warns not to give too large a serving. Four ounces is the appropriate milk serving for a 1-year-old.

If that does not work, try to substitute the following foods or drinks to gain calcium and vitamin D: • Try switching to almond, coconut, rice or soy milk, all of which have equivalent calcium and vitamin D to cow’s milk.

• Try flavored yogurt.

• Offer cheese products (cottage cheese, mozzarella string cheese), or add cheese to sandwiches.

• Switch to calcium-fortified orange juice, breads and breakfast cereals.

WHY THEY REJECT MILK Why do babies reject cow’s milk in the first place?

According to Dr. Tyrala, it comes down to each child’s taste preference. Both breast milk and formula are sweeter than cow’s milk.

In addition, neither formula nor breast milk taste anything like cow’s milk, so switching to it is a significant change. The problem has nothing to do with lactose intolerance, as lactose is a sugar that is present.

WHAT TO DO IF MY TODDLER WON’T DRINK MILK Make milk taste better Dairy products which are rich in calcium include yogurt, cheese and ice cream. Milk, low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt can be used to make tasty milkshakes or fruit

smoothies The traditional example is pouring milk over cereal, but children might enjoy putting food in milk or eating milk dishes such as macaroni and cheese, casseroles or soups.

Add milk to other foods During mealtimes or snacks, make milk the drink of choice by offering pure milk or chocolate (or strawberry) milk. Toddlers love to have independence, but you can still direct their decisions.

Begin small Begin with 6 ounces of milk for children between 1 to 3 years and 8 ounces of milk for older children. You can even begin with 1 or 2 ounces (or even a sip) at a time if your child is unwilling at first. Don’t give up. Keep offering your child little amounts of milk in hope that they will eventually start enjoying.

Offer other dairy products During mealtimes or snacks, make milk the drink of choice by offering pure milk or chocolate (or strawberry) milk. Children enjoy flavored milk more than white milk, but you can control the amount of flavoring and reducing it over time so that they are not getting increased sugar in their diet.

Make the serving appealing Milk can be served in a favorite cup, use a fun straw, or try a sports bottle with a pull-up spout. In this manner, the child will enjoy drinking milk as they will concentrate more on the container than the content.

Count the calcium from all foods Dairy products contain the well-known amount of calcium. Other foods such as tofu, sardines, some leafy green vegetables and calcium-fortified foods such as fortified orange juice, cereals and other breakfast foods contain this valuable nutrient, too.

Stay positive about milk Staying positive is a vital way of making milk a good option for your child. Be a role model by drinking milk yourself on a regular basis (also avoid any negative comments). in all three products, says Tyrala.

Parents of milk-striking kids can breathe easier knowing their children do not have a condition, just a fussy palate.

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ADVERTISMENT

20% off

Joyful organic-cotton muslin for babies and children.

10% of all muslin blanket purchases donated to Tommy's charity

20% off

pattieandco.com

code baby20

Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep What can you do to solve your sleep problems during pregnancy? Here are some tried-and-true suggestions: • Avoid caffeine (in all its forms, so put that chocolate bar down) after noon.

• Get your eight glasses of water (or other fluids), but taper off at night.

• Drink if you’re thirsty, but don’t down a 16-ounce water bottle right before bedtime.

• Exercise regularly - during the day or early evening. A daily workout will help you sleep better, but if it comes too close to bedtime, it could actually sabotage sleep (exercise) is energising) • Take a warm bath just before bed. The soothing and relaxing effects of the bath should help you summon the sandman sooner.

• Make love, if you’re in the mood. Or at least ask your man for a massage - both of which can relax you.

• Have a light snack before hitting the hay to stave off midnight hunger pangs. Include protein and a complex carb (think cheese and a whole-grain muffin), as well as some warm milk (it really works!) or decaffeinated tea. Besides the duh (avoid caffeine, again in all its

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forms - sorry, no chocolate with the warm milk), stay away from sugar, which will give you an energy boost when you least want one, and then leave your blood sugar levels wobbly during the night (yet another strike against chocolate).

• Crack a window - as long as the weather’s comfortable (which for a pregnant woman means anything from 65 degrees on down-way down). The fresh air can be soporific. If the weather’s not cooperative, keep the room comfortably (for you, not your spouse) chilled. Remember, your heat’s up, the thermostat’s should be down.

• Try some relaxation exercises - visualisation, deep breathing, meditation, or even yoga or chanting before hitting the sack. And actually, counting sheep can work the same way - the monotony of watching those little guys jump over the fence can be truly relaxing (unless you associate them with insomnia).

• Leave a night-light on in the bathroom - switching on the overhead is way too much of a wakeup call and will make it much harder to fall back asleep.

CASE STUDY

BLUEBELL

KODAK CHERISH C525P

The new HD camera keeps your baby in sight 24/7 and it’s easy to track routines and monitor sleep patterns with the Bluebell app. Further practical features include a nightlight, lullabies and white noise to soothe your baby to sleep.

Price: £349.00 www.bluebellbabymonitor.com

The KODAK CHERISH C525P Baby Monitor helps you stay connected to your little ones at home or on the road. With WiFi connectivity, the CHERISH C525P camera provides tilt, pan and zoom options so you can capture even more of the quiet moments. With a KODAK baby camera and the KODAK Smart Home App, you can cherish all the beautiful moments of your baby’s development without disturbing their sleep.

Price: £149.99 www.kodaksmarthome.co.uk

CUBO AI PLUS SMART BABY MONITOR Includes Cubo Ai Plus camera and wall mount (requires drilling). Provides a bird’s-eye view at a sturdier setup and keep camera out of baby’s hands. The best AI baby monitor to safeguard your baby’s safety from 0-5+ years. AI detection for covered face, danger zone, cry detection, auto photo capture, and lots more.

Price: FROM £159.00 www.uk.getcubo.com

OWLET MONITOR DUO PLUS BUNDLE V3

Best

BABY Monitor

We Love

Bluebell is the ultimate baby monitor, monitoring more so you worry less.

Parents say it’s like having an extra pair of ears and eyes monitoring baby’s breathing, temperature, crying and rolling onto their tummy, with a simple clip-on sensor supplying real-time alerts to the Bluebell app and smart wristband that works inside the house and outside too.

The Owlet Monitor Duo PLUS is the first baby monitor system to track your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels while streaming video and audio to your phone. Keep informed of your little ones needs with handy heart rate and oxygen level notifications. Parents can see live readings using Owlet’s app, but can also use the information to understand their baby’s overall wellness.

Price: £449.00 www.owletbabycare.co.uk

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HEALTH & FITNESS

BEST FITNESS EXERCISES

for

Postpartumn Congratulations on your new little one! We all know what it means for your sleep, but what does it mean for your postpartum fitness?

For some women, exercise is the last thing on their mind during the first month postpartum.

In fact, many obstetricians and midwives suggest waiting four to six weeks after you give birth before beginning to exercise.

1. START POSTPARTUM WORKOUTS SLOWLY Swimming is incredibly effective in working your heart and lungs without putting too much pressure on your joints.

For postnatal women, swimming or an aqua aerobics class are effective in adding muscle tone, while providing a gentle exercise that won’t strain your body too much after birth.

However, it is advisable to stay clear of

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the swimming pool until any postnatal bleeding has stopped and scarring has healed if you had a caesarean.

2. PRENATAL YOGA Many postnatal women find yoga beneficial, as it encourages relaxation in the post-birth whirlwind while helping to strengthen core muscles and prevent back pain.

Jill Simpson, founder of MINDBODY studio Ebb&Flow explains: “Postnatal yoga is a great way to get strong again in specific areas, such as your core muscles. It’s also a time to focus on you, connect with other mums whilst boosting your energy.”

There are even yoga classes you can bring your baby to.

3. POSTPARTUMN PILATES Pilates is one of the most effective pre- and postnatal exercises as it targets the muscles that generally weaken during pregnancy.

Erica Foulds, master trainer at MINDBODY studio Ten Health & Fitness explains: “As Pilates is non-impact, compared to other forms of exercise, the risk of injury is reduced, so not only is it physically beneficial and advisable, but knowing you’re exercising safely can also help to reduce anxiety and provide reassurance during classes.

“There are also mental and emotional benefits, as Pilates is a highly immersive and focused form of exercise; the focus and concentration required make a great ‘time-out’ from everyday pressures.”

HEALTH & FITNESS

DON’T FORGET!

3 of the Best

RUNNING PRAMS

Any mother will be very familiar with pelvic floor exercises.

These exercises are incredibly important, as they help to strengthen the muscles that come into great strain in pregnancy and childbirth. “Begin by sitting, standing or laying down in a comfortable position and squeeze and lift your pelvic floor muscles (these are the ones you use when you’re trying to hold in a pee). Hold this contraction for up to ten seconds, then relax.

Repeat ten times and aim to do three or four sets each day!

CYBEX ZENO The Cybex Zeno Frame gives you the revolutionary freedom to exercise in the way you’ve been waiting for - naturally and with no limits.

Price: £499.99 www.beautifulbambino.co.uk

THULE GLIDE 2 STROLLER A high-performance jogging stroller with a lightweight, aerodynamic design that lets you and your child get the most out of your run.

Price: £650.00 www.thule.com

THULE CHARIOT CROSS The all-round trailer, jogger, and stroller, offering comfort and flexibility for families with an active lifestyle.

Price: £854.00 www.hollandbikeshop.com

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Meet

Snoo

Happiest Baby is a brand dedicated to little ones across the world; its bestselling SNOO Smart Sleeper baby cot has become a favourite with parents for its scientific approach to sleep. Developed as a sanctuary for tired-eyed tots, this innovative design is responsive to their needs, offering gentle white noise and soothing rhythmic rocking that mimic the safety of the womb.

You start by swaddling your baby in one of three included SNOO Sacks (small, medium, or large) made of organic cotton and breathable mesh that the company says reduces overheating. The clip-in wings prevent risky rolling in the bassinet and keeps your newborn on his or her back all night— the best way to reduce the risk of SIDS, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Then, the magic happens: The bed rocks your baby and plays white noise to help with falling asleep and staying asleep — just like your body naturally did in the womb. If your baby starts crying, the bassinet knows to speed up the motion and increase the soothing sounds to help even the fussiest babies relax. If that’s not impressive enough, Happiest Baby says the SNOO can calm most babies in under a minute.

There’s also a built-in app that lets you customize your baby’s settings.

You can change the starting levels to be faster and louder, and the sensitivity to be more or less responsive to your baby’s cries. The app also tracks sleep so you can see the total amount your baby gets each day, the longest stretch per night, and weekly and monthly patterns like how much your baby sleeps during the day vs. night.

Needless to say, new parents are obsessed. Hundreds of reviews on the Happiest Baby website sing the bassinet’s praises and countless mommy bloggers have called it a “game-changer.” I felt alarmingly sleep-deprived with my firstborn, so I was dying to know if the machine was as magical as people said when I was expecting baby #2.

Six months after using the bassinet, I’ll confidently join hundreds of parents in saying it’s worth the investment. Here’s why:

TECH SPECS • • • 40 l FEB/MARCH 2022 l

SNOO Smart Sleeper 3 white SNOO Sacks (S, M, L) made with organic cotton 100% organic cotton fitted sheet project-baby.co.uk

• • •

Mattress and water resistant-cover Unlimited 24/7 access to sleep consultants 1-year limited warranty

REVIEW

YOU AND YOUR BABY WILL GET MORE SLEEP. The SNOO doesn’t change the fact that you’ll still wake up for midnight feedings. It does, however, prevent non-hungry wakings and it cuts down the time it takes to get your child back to sleep once feedings are done. Instead of having to get your little one back to sleep yourself, you can let the SNOO do the rocking for you. Not to mention, overtired parents sometimes fall asleep by accident, leaving their babies in dangerous situations. In fact, about 3,500 babies die each year from sleep-related incidents in the U.S. (yes, really!). Most of these occur in a parent’s bed where the baby can accidentally fall out or get smothered.

Happiest Baby’s goal is to get more newborns into the SNOO and out of unsafe sleeping conditions.

THERE’S BUILT-IN SLEEP TRAINING Most parents can agree that the ultimate goal is for children to learn to fall asleep on their own, but it can be a process to get to that point — one that can, at times, require letting your baby cry.

The SNOO’s technology helps soothe your baby when they wake up in the middle of the night so that they can learn to fall back asleep without your help.

Thanks to the bassinet, my second daughter started sleeping for long stretches on her own and easily made the switch to a crib when she turned six months old.

THE SNOO’S CUSTOMER SERVICE IS UNMATCHED. With the purchase of your SNOO, you get access to customer care reps seven days a week to help you make the bassinet successful in soothing your baby.

Case in point: My little “Houdini” was escaping her swaddle, and they were able to teach me a trick to keep her arms in place.

She also went through a phase where the only time she was calm was in her swing and would have a meltdown any time I placed her in the bassinet. They said it was because most babies don’t like being flat on their backs and suggested keeping her legs elevated in the SNOO. Both tips worked right away

THE REVIEWS ARE IN :Sarah from Brighton says: He’s been sleeping in it since day 5 and it’s been amazing. I mean having a newborn is tough with a snoo or not but we truly believe that it has helped him have regular good night sleeps. From week 5 he was only waking up twice a night thanks to it and then from week 6/7 only once a night. In the morning to get an extra 30min I just ask the snoo to soothe him and I get an extra sleep.

Amy from Sheffield says: I was unsure about this product, but genuinely it is superb. It definitely buys you an extra hour or so and that is worth every penny! but most importantly, our little girl seems to get on very well with it and soothes her much more than the standard crib.

David from London says: I love a gadget and this didnt disappoint, Game changer.

THE BOTTOM LINE I’ll be the first to admit that the SNOO can’t do a better job of soothing a baby than an actual parent or caregiver, plus you’ll likely find yourself feeling tired: After all, raising a baby isn’t easy. But for me, those 1-2 hours a night that I got back by not having to stay up holding my baby after overnight feeds were what made the difference.

If you’re on the fence about the price, look at this way: The SNOO comes out to just over £6 a day if you use it for six months and the 30-day guarantee means you can return your bassinet for any reason before the month is up and get a full refund.

Considering the peace of mind (and extra “set of hands”) the SNOO offered, I encourage new parents to give it a try.

Project Baby Rating: project-baby.co.uk

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DEVELOPMENT

Getting ReadyFor Bathtime

Bathing your new baby may be about much more than just cleanliness. Giving your baby a bath can be a lovely way to strengthen your bond with each other. Some babies enjoy being in warm water right from the start, while others need a little time to get used to these new sensations on their skin. Whatever’s right for you and your baby, we have plenty of tips for keeping them clean and contented.

WHEN CAN MY NEWBORN HAVE THEIR FIRST BATH? If they’re full-term and healthy, you can give your newborn their first bath as early as two hours after the birth. Keep the first bath short, no more than five minutes to 10 minutes.

You don’t need to wait for your baby’s umbilical cord stump to dry up and fall off, or for it to heal. A bath won’t make an infection in the stump more likely, and it won’t slow down the healing process.

Make sure you allow it to dry off properly afterwards, though.

It can be a bit scary the first few times you bath your newborn. Try to stay calm and keep a firm hold of your baby when moving them in and out of the bath. You may like to have someone with you the first few times to support you and fetch anything you’ve forgotten. Until you get into a routine, you’ll probably find this happens often!

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Handling a wriggling, wet and slippery baby takes practice and confidence, but rest assured you and your baby will get used to bathtime and enjoy it. Most babies are soothed by warm water and a bath may help a fussy baby to relax and calm down.

You don’t need to wait for your baby’s umbilical cord stump to dry up and fall off, . or for it to heal. A bath won’t make an infection in the stump more likely, and it won’t slow down the healing process. Make sure you allow it to dry off properly afterwards, though.

DEVELOPMENT

A bath twice a week or three times a week is enough to keep your newborn clean. Between baths, wash your baby’s face regularly, clean their genitals and bottom after each nappy change, and wipe any grime off their skin. If you enjoy giving them a bath every day, that’s fine, too.

If you live in a hard water area, bear in mind that too much tap water during the first month or so may dry out and damage your baby’s skin.

You could add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser or bath emollient to the water to protect your baby’s skin. Though be aware that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.

When your baby is a newborn, you’ll probably find it easier to bath them during the day. After a couple of months you could start to make a bath part of their bedtime routine.

WHERE SHOULD I BATH MY NEWBORN In the first few weeks, it may be easier to bath your baby in the kitchen sink or in a small, plastic baby bath.

Hold your baby so that their head is over the bath water and, using your hand or a flannel, massage their scalp with water.

If you don’t want shampoo getting in their bath water, use a sink or a bowl for this bit. Rinse their hair carefully and dry it. Washing their hair just once a week or twice a week is enough to keep them clean.

If your baby has cradle cap, you may want to wash their hair more frequently with a mild baby cradle cap shampoo.

Gradually slip your baby into the bath feet-first, using one hand to support their neck and head. The water should be covering their shoulders so they don’t get cold. Never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a few seconds.

Wash your baby with water, or use a gentle liquid baby cleanser to protect their skin.

If your baby’s skin is dry or tender, you could add a little baby bath emollient to the water. Bear in mind that the emollient will make them slippery to handle.

You could use your big bath, but it can be awkward as you’ll need to kneel or lean over the side. When you’ve just had a baby, you need to be careful you don’t hurt your back.

If you prefer to bath your baby in just water, it’s still best to use a mild liquid baby cleanser or sensitive, unperfumed baby wipes to wash their nappy area. Using water alone makes it harder to wash the fatty poo off your baby’s bottom.

If you do use your big bath, a bath support for your baby may help.

Remember that while bath supports are helpful, never leave your baby alone in one, not even for a second. Babies can drown silently in as little as 5cm (2in) of water.

Use your hand, a flannel or a sponge to clean your baby from top to bottom, front and back. Avoid scrubbing your baby’s skin. Leave any creamy vernix in their creases, as it helps their skin barrier to develop.

HOW DO I GIVE MY NEWBORN A BATH?

Rinse your baby thoroughly, and then lift them out of the bath and straight on to a dry hooded towel. Lift them with one hand supporting their neck and head, and your other hand under their bottom, with your thumb and forefinger around one thigh.

Choose a time of day when you’re not expecting any interruptions and have time to devote to your baby. It’s best if your baby is alert, contented, and between feeds, so they’re not tired, hungry or full.

GET EVERYTHING READY IN ADVANCE

DRY YOUR BABY OFF AND KEEP THEM WARM

You need to keep your newborn warm at bathtime as babies can lose heat from their bodies quickly. Make sure the room and water are warm, and close any doors and windows to avoid draughts.

Wrap your baby in the towel, pat them dry straight away,

Wash your hands, and then gather all the bath supplies that you’re going to need. These may include a top-and-tail bowl, cotton pads, a sponge or flannel, a mild baby cleanser, at least one clean towel, and at least one set of clean clothes and nappies. Newborns can wee and poo unexpectedly, so it’s best to be prepared.

If your baby’s skin tends to be dry, you could smooth on a mild, unperfumed moisturising lotion, or cream.

Put cold water in the bath first, and then add the hot water, so the bath water is comfortably warm and less likely to scald your baby.

If you’re going to use a sink or a bowl for hair-washing, have the water ready in these, too.

and then put their nappy on.

Now dress your baby in clean clothes. Newborns lose heat rapidly so, depending on how cold it is, you may want to wrap them in a dry, warm blanket, too.

Fill the bath with about 8cm to 10cm (3in to 4in) of water.

If you have a bath thermometer, use it to check that the water is about 37 degrees C to 38 degrees C. If you don’t have a thermometer, gauge the water temperature with your elbow rather than your hand. The water should feel neither hot nor cold.

Undress your baby down to their nappy, and then wrap them in a towel. Keep their head uncovered so you can wash their face and hair before you put them in the bath. This way, you can give them a quick dip in the bath if they aren’t enjoying it or a bit longer if they love it.

Wash your baby’s eyes, ears, face, and neck with cotton pads and warm water, as you would for topping and tailing.

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DEVELOPMENT

MUST HAVE FOR

Bathtime...

3 of the Best

BATHTIME PRODUCTS

At The Baby Show

ANGELCARE SOFT TOUCH £27.99

SAFETY TAP COVERS Tap covers fit over taps, protecting against bumped heads and preventing curious babies and toddlers from playing with the hot water tap. Many models are inflatable, which makes them easy to use. They also often have fun and colourful designs to brighten up your baby’s bathtime.

BATH MATS Bath mats prevent slips in the bath. You can now buy extra-long bath mats, which are ideal for bathing more than one child at once.

Being machine washable means this extra-long bath mat is a really practical option as you can throw it in the wash to avoid the buildup of mould often found with bath toys or accessories. It has suction cups to fix to the bottom of your bath and is available in a range of colours, including white, black and aqua blue.

TIDDLERS & NIPPERS £13.99

BATH TOY BAGS Bath toys can soon clutter up a bathroom. Bath toy bags attach to bathroom tiles and keep all your baby’s toys safely in one place.

BABY BATH TOWELS Baby bath towels often have hoods that are handy to keep your baby’s head warm when he comes out of the bath. They look very cute and are a nice gift for young babies, but to save money you could use adult towels instead.

BATH TOWEL APRONS These towel aprons allow you to cuddle your baby dry while keeping him warm and snug. They are especially handy if your baby is a wriggly one! If you want to keep yourself dry during all that splashing, this towel apron may be the accessory for you. You can lift your baby out of the bath and scoop them up into the apron while drying them too.

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CUDDLEDRY £39.99

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STYLE

Child’s

PLAY STRIPED KIDS SLEEPSUIT www.polarnopyret.co.uk

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STYLE

UNICORN DREAMS PRINT KIDS SLEEPSUIT Eco padded snow suit Price: £22.00 www.polarnopyret.co.uk

FRUGI WATERMELON/WOLF ADVENTURE APPLIQUE TOP

YELLOW DUCK WATERPROOF ALL-IN-ONE Price: £46.00 www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Price: £24.00 www.babipur.co.uk

BLADE & ROSE

We Love

PYJAMAS CHESTNUT PRINT Price: £35.00 www.lindex.com

WEATHER LEGGINGS Price: £10.00 www.bladeandrose.co.uk

WATERPROOF KIDS SHELL JACKET Price: £70.00 www.polarnopyret.co.uk

TIGER DENIM JACKET

BY MINI RODINI Price: £109.00 junioredition.co.uk

ANKLE WELLIES Price: £19.00 www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

BUNNY CARDIGAN Price: £34.99 www.kitandkin.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Health &

John Bell & Croydon www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk

Soak for bits Post partum bath soak to clean and soothe the perineum. This midwife developed bath soak is ideal for that first bath, and to use as a soak for the first few weeks after childbirth, to help aid recovery.

Price: £29.00 MY EXPERT MIDWIFE

Shamsin Eau De Parfum Luxurious and voluptuous, Atelier Flou’s Shamsin EDP evokes a gleaming desert with unseen breezes blowing across the blank canvas of land, golden specks of sand against the azure skies. Traditional Moorish architecture springs to mind, with mashrabiya screens fending off the sun’s fiery gaze, and the mysterious exotic scents of the East swirling through the streets.

Price: £220.00 100ml ATELIER FLOU

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BEAUTY

John Bell & Croyden is a pharmacy located on Wigmore Street, London. The company dates from 1798 and has been based on its current premises since 1912. We have teamed up with John Bell & Croydon to introduce you to the best luxury Mother & Baby pieces.

Visit us instore 50-54 Wigmore St, London W1U 2AU

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Little Butterfly London Face Cream Delivering exceptional dermal protection, our organiccertified face cream combines scientifically validated bio-actives, plant oils and extracts, to deeply nurture and calm.

Price: £27.00 LITTLE BUTTERFLY LONDON

No Harm Bum Balm

Babies & Toddler’s Blend Probiotics

Nappy Rash Cream For Babies. This nappy ointment is a must-have for all baby changing bags, and for packing in your hospital bag. Use it to prevent nappy rash or to soothe soreness on your baby’s delicate skin

The specific strains used in Babies & Toddler’s Blend have been specially chosen for their value to infant health and have been formulated to the viable count appropriate for infants. For Infants 0-5 years old.

Price: £12.50 MY EXPERT MIDWIFE

Price: £25.00 UDO’S CHOICE

Baby Pure Castile Liquid Soap With no added fragrance and double the olive oil, our Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is good for sensitive skin & babies too (though not tear-free!).

Dr. Bronner’s soap is concentrated, biodegradable, versatile and effective.

Price: £21.00 DR BRONNER’S

Scent Of Seas Toning Body Serum

This high-performance, organic-certified body serum assists in restoring elasticity and returns bounce to over-stretched or slack skin, whilst leaving a feeling of instant lightness.

Price: £35.00 LITTLE BUTTERFLY LONDON project-baby.co.uk

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INTERIORS

We Love

Creating Your Dream

NURSERY

MONTE DESIGN JACKIE ROCKER The Jackie Rocker is Jackson’s little sister and is perfect for smaller spaces that still require big impact. Classy and lovable, The Jackie is super comfortable and cozy and will complement any room in your home.

Price: £1495.00 www.huggle.co.uk

MONTE DESIGN ROCKWELL BASSINET The Rockwell bassinet is synonymous with ultimate modern luxury. Handcrafted and sustainably made in Canada to the highest quality, it is the perfect combination of beautiful materials and a soothing rock for your little one.

Price: £605.00 www.huggle.co.uk

SEBRA CROCHET PULL-ALONG TOY - DEER The hand-crocheted deer on wheels is a Sebra classic and a big hit with the little ones, especially when they start walking. Mounted on a natural varnished wooden board with large cute eyes, children will love taking this deer for a walk.

Price: £58.00 www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk

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INTERIORS

STEIFF LEO RIDING LION NOAHS ARK Everyone aboard. Play the story of Noahs Ark with this beautiful play set.

Steiff Leo Riding Lion is made from high quality woven fur in golden blond. Just look at his magnificent mane and a face full of character. Gentle hand airbrushing around his face together with big black eyes - whiskers - a long tail with a bob of hair at the end - all go to make this piece of Steiff very special indeed.

Price: £475.00 www.steiffteddybears.co.uk

Price: £34.00 www.smallkins.com

PERLS COT A true pearl, this Scandi-style cot bed is a design gem you’ll treasure for years to come, with its warm two-tone colours, smooth spindle detail and angled feet. Crafted from sustainable solid wood, the Perla is designed to withstand the bumps and knocks of family life. All Boori cot beds have the ability to transform into a toddler bed, lasting you from birth to around 5 years.

Price: £449.00 www.boori.com

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DEVELOPMENT

Baby’sFirst

FOODS When to start introducing solid foods

Introducing your baby to solid foods, often called weaning on to foods, should start when your baby is around six months old.

It is a really important step in your baby’s development and can be great fun to explore new flavours and textures together.

To begin with, how much your baby takes is less important than getting them used to the idea of eating.

They will still be getting most of their nutrition from breastmilk or infant formula. Babies don’t need three meals a day to start with, so you can start by offering foods at a time that suits you. Gradually you’ll be able to increase the amount and variety of food your baby eats until they can eventually eat the same as the rest of the family, in smaller portions.

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DEVELOPMENT

R

esearch shows that babies need nothing but breastmilk or infant formula for the first six months of life.

This gives a baby’s digestive system time to develop so that they cope fully with solid foods. This includes solid foods made into purees and cereals mixed with milk.

Why it pays to wait until they are ready If you are breastfeeding, feeding only your milk up to around six months will give them extra protection against infection, and it will continue to protect them for as long as you carry on.

Whether your baby has breast milk or infant formula, waiting until your baby is ready for food will save a lot of time too, as they will quickly be able to feed themselves and with less mess, as they will be able to swallow properly.

Three signs your baby is ready for their first food Every baby is an individual, but there are three clear signs which, together, show your baby is ready for solid foods alongside breastmilk or infant formula. It is very rare for these signs to appear together before your baby is six months old.

1. They can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady.

2. They can co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so that they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth, all by themselves.

3. They can swallow food.

Babies who are not ready will push their food back out, so they get more round their face than they do in their mouths.

Some signs that can be mistaken for a baby being ready for solid foods: • chewing fists • waking in the night when they have previously slept through • wanting extra milk feeds These are normal behaviours and not necessarily a sign of hunger, or a sign of being ready to start solid food. Starting solid foods won’t make them any more likely to sleep through the night. Extra feeds are usually enough until they’re ready for other food.

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months, you don’t need to introduce it after six months either.

GETTING STARTED • Always stay with your baby when they are eating in case they start to choke.

• Let your baby enjoy touching and holding the food.

• Allow your baby to feed them selves, using their fingers, as soon as they show an interest.

• Don’t force your baby, wait until the next time if they are not interested this time.

• If you are using a spoon, wait for your baby to open their mouth before you offer the food.

• Your baby may like to hold a spoon too.

• Start by offering just a few pieces or teaspoons of food, once a day.

• Cool hot food and test it before giving it to your baby.

• Don’t add salt, sugar or stock cubes to your baby’s food or cooking water.

TIPS ON WHAT FOODS TO GIVE YOUR BABY AS THEY GROW Feeding your baby from 0-6 months Breast milk or infant formula. ‘Follow-on’ formula is not suitable for babies under six

Introducing solid foods before six months: if after checking with your health visitor or doctor, you decide to introduce solid foods before six months, you should avoid giving your baby certain foods as they may cause food allergies or make your baby ill. These include foods that contain wheat, gluten, nuts, peanuts, peanut products, seeds, liver, eggs, fish, shellfish, cows’ milk and soft or unpasteurised cheese.

Baby food from 6 months First foods: your baby’s first foods can include mashed or soft cooked fruit and vegetables like parsnip, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear, all cooled before eating. Or soft fruit like peach, melon, soft ripe banana or avocado as finger foods or mashed. Or baby rice or baby cereal mixed with your baby’s usual milk. Keep feeding them breast milk or infant formula as well but don’t give them whole cows’ milk as a drink until they are a year old.

Next foods: soft cooked meat such as chicken, mashed fish (check very carefully for any bones), pasta, noodles, toast, pieces of chapatti, lentils, rice and mashed hard boiled eggs. Also full-fat dairy products such as yoghurt, fromage frais or custard (choose products with no added sugar or less sugar). Whole cows’ milk can be used in cooking or mixed with food from six months.

DEVELOPMENT

Cups: introduce a cup from around six months and offer sips of water with meals. Using an open cup or a free flow cup without a valve will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby’s teeth.

Read more about drinks and cups for babies and children.

Feeding your baby from 8-9 months Gradually, in this time your baby will move toward eating three meals a day. It will be a mixture of soft finger foods, mashed and chopped foods.

Your baby’s diet should consist of a variety of the following types of food: fruit and vegetables; bread, rice, pasta, potatoes and other starchy foods; meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non dairy sources of protein and milk and dairy products.

TIPS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO EXPLORE FOODS • Healthy eating. Babies like the food they get used to so give them as many different, healthier foods as you can – this way they are more likely to keep eating them as they grow up. It is a great habit to get into and one that will hopefully make your life a little easier as they get older. Also, do not give them foods or drinks with added sugar, or salty or fatty food, as this will make them more likely to want them as they get older.

• Solid foods and milk. As your baby eats more solid food, they may want less milk at each feed, or even drop a milk feed altogether. Babies should have breast milk (or infant formula) for at least the first year, and can carry on with breast milk for as long as you both want. From 12 months cows’ milk is fine as their main drink.

Infant formula, follow-on formula or growing-up milk is not needed once your baby is 12 months old.

• Take time. Allow plenty of time for eating, especially at first. Rushing or forcing your baby could lead to problems. Go at your baby’s pace and stop when your baby shows you they have had enough.

Read more about understanding food groups.

Your infant’s food from 12 months Your baby will now be eating three meals a day, chopped if required, plus breast milk or whole cows’ milk and healthier snacks like fruit, vegetable sticks, toast and rice cakes.

They can now drink whole cows’ milk. Choose full-fat dairy products because children under two need the extra fat and vitamins found in them. From two years old if they are a good eater and growing well they can have semiskimmed milk. From five years old 1% fat and skimmed milk is OK. You can give your baby: • Three to four servings a day of starchy food such as potatoes, bread and rice • Three to four servings a day of fruit and vegetables • Two servings a day of meat, fish, eggs, dhal or other pulses (beans and lentils)

WHAT MILK WHEN? For around the first six months you should feed your baby only breast milk or infant formula. Only use soya-based infant formula if your GP has advised you to. Follow-on milks are available for babies over six months but there is no need to change over to these.

Cows’ milk can be mixed with food from six months and whole cows’ milk can be given as a drink from one year.

Infant formula, follow-on formula or growingup milks are not needed once your baby is 12 months old. Goats’ and sheep’s milk are not suitable as a drink for babies under one year and rice drink is not suitable as a drink for children under the age of five.

• It’s messy. It can get messy but this is an important part of your baby’s development. You may want to cover the floor with newspaper or a protective mat to make clearing up easier.

• Show them and eat together. Babies copy their parents and other children so you can help them by showing them that you eat healthier foods. Babies enjoy watching you eat, and learn from being a part of family mealtimes. Help them join in by talking to them and giving them food when you or the rest of the family is eating. Having mealtimes around the same time every day can make it easier for your baby to know when to expect to eat.

• Finger foods. Let your baby feed themselves with their fingers. This way they can show you how much they want to eat, and it gets them familiar with different types of food. It also makes eating more enjoyable. As a guide, the best finger foods are foods that can be cut up into pieces that are big enough for your baby to hold in their fist, and stick out of the top of it. Pieces about the size of your own finger work well.

• How much? Most babies know when they are full up, so don’t make them finish a portion when they don’t want to. Smaller, more frequent meals and healthier snacks will suit them better when they are young. Don’t worry if your baby hasn’t eaten much in a meal or a day, what they eat over a week is more important.

• Homemade is best. Homemade food is made from simple ingredients with no added sugar or salt. Any unused food can be kept in the fridge or frozen.

Then all you have to do is reheat the amount you need. This also helps them get used to family foods and saves money.

• Jar or packet food. Baby food in jars or packets can be handy, but portion sizes are often too big and much of it has the same texture. This may make it harder for your baby to accept more varied textures and to move to family foods as they get older. Jars are useful when you don’t have much time or you are out with your baby.

• Sit up straight. Make sure your baby is sitting up straight so that they are able to explore foods better and are less likely to choke.

• Offer different foods. Babies like to choose for themselves and sometimes take their time getting used to different foods, so offer a small amount lots of times to let them gradually get used to new foods.

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FOOD & DRINK

Dippy Eggs with Crumpet Fingers

METHOD: 1.Put the British Lion eggs into a small saucepan.

2.Cover with cold water. Bring up to the boil and cook for 4 minutes.

3.Place in egg cups.

Preheat the grill to the high.

Spread a little cream cheese on the crumpets.

4.Top with the cheese and grill for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese has melted.

5.Slice into fingers.

6.Remove the top of the eggs.

Dip the crumpet fingers into the eggs!

10 5 2

Minutes Cooking Preperation Minutes Makes Portions

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INGREDIENTS: 2 large British Lion eggs 2 crumpets 1 tbsp cream cheese 40g Cheddar cheese, grated

FOOD & DRINK

Sole with Squash, Kale & Peas METHOD: 1.Put the squash and potatoes into a saucepan.

2.Add 300ml water. Cover with a lid, then simmer for 10 minutes until nearly tender.

3.Add the kale, peas and lemon sole. Cover again with the lid and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes until all of the vegetables and the fish are cooked.

4.Add the milk and cheese then blend until smooth or until you reach the desired consistency for your baby using a hand blender. Finally add the squeeze of lemon juice.

INGREDIENTS: 150g butternut squash

20 5

Minutes Cooking Preperation Minutes Suitable for Freezing

200g potatoes, peeled and diced 150g frozen peas 75g kale, chopped 325g lemon sole, skinned and diced 3 tbsp milk 30g Parmesan cheese, grated Squeeze of lemon juice

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FOOD & DRINK

Easter Bunny Cupcakes

METHOD:

INGREDIENTS

1.Preheat the oven to 160C Fan. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases.

3 large eggs

2.Measure all of the cake ingredients into a bowl. Whisk until combined. Divide between the cases.

3.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until risen and firm in the middle.

4.Cool on a wire rack.

5.Make the icing. Whisk the butter, orange extract, cream cheese and green colouring together.

6.Put the icing into a piping bag. Pipe on top of the cakes.

Decorate with mini candy eggs, broken flakes, chocolate bunnies and edible flowers.

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180g soft unsalted butter 180g caster sugar 150g self raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 30g cocoa powder 1 tsp orange extract Pinch of salt

ICING 200g soft unsalted butter 400g icing sugar 2 tbsp cream cheese

A few drops of orange extract Green food colouring

20 30 12

Minutes Cooking tes u in M n o ti a er ep r P Portions Makes

SHOPPING

Best

EASTER EGG ALTERNATIVES

3.

2.

1.

6.

4.

5.

9.

7.

8.

1. Janod Stackable Roly-Poly £15.00 2. Maileg Tooth Fairy Mouse £22.99 3. Little Dutch Balance Game Little Goose £15.00 4. Tender Leaf The Friend Ship £35.00 5. Tumbletuft Duck £15.00 6. KALOO Lapinoo Rabbit Doll £21.00 7. JellyCat-Pebblet Mushroom £10.00 8. SmartMax My First Farm £18.99 9. Baby Threads Taupe Bunny £35.00

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SHOPPING

Toddler Gifts guide Easter Gift Guide WOOLLY MAMMOTH PARENT & CALF SET This super-soft set of Parent and Baby mammoths is sure to delight!

Crafted with the finest materials and designed to look as realistic as possible, travel back in time to role-play with these incredible prehistoric soft toy Woolly Mammoths are now extinct, but lived during the last ice age which began around 2.5 million years ago!

They’re very similar to elephants, just with a lot more hair, which is why they’re called ‘Woolly’ Mammoths.

DINGLE DANGLE The Dingle Dangle is the award-winning parenting toolkit that makes parenting fun and interactive for parent and baby!

www.uk.livingnatureworld.com

Available at www.dingledanglebaby.com

GO GAGA PLAYTIME PAL® ACTIVITY BALLOON,

BY INFANTINO

We Love

Baby can have fun for hours on end with this activity balloon by Infantino!

Designed to awaken their senses, it features different-textured fabric (sateen, knit...) and ribbons and streamers in relief to stimulate babies’ curiosity. This activity balloon by Infantino stimulates their hearing thanks to the crinkly paper, rattles and little balls that make a noise when baby shakes it.

Available at www.vertbaudet.co.uk

CRY BABIES DAISY DOLL Meet the Cry Baby Daisy, she is an adorable cat! She is very cute but… she cries real tears when you take her dummy out! Put her dummy back in again or she won’t stop crying and she cry even louder!

You can also lay her down to calm her.

Contents: A Cry Babies Daisy DollEach Cry Baby comes with a cute onesie They cry when you take away their dummy.

They are the cutest baby if they have their dummy Cry Babies cry real water Available at www.amazon.co.uk

JANOD - DUCKY FISHING GAME Just like at the fair, the idea with the Ducky Fishing Game is to hook the 6 brightly coloured rubber duckies. Because there are 2 rods, you can turn it into a contest - or just give them some gentle guidance, while they’re getting the hang of it. It’s a great classic for bath time or the paddling pool, and a lovely gift choice for any child.

Available at www.kidly.co.uk

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SHOPPING

Mums

Gift guide Perfect for Mother’s Day NATAL ACTIVE LUXE MATERNITY LEGGINGS Looking for something to keep the bump warm that will also see you through the colder months of breastfeeding? Then this luxurious breastfeeding & maternity hoodie is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

OH MUMMA JUST FOR MUM BOX Say hello to ‘me-time’ moments every mum deserves with the Just for Mum Box, containing an edit of luxe beauty and lifestyle products picked to make little moments of self-care super easy.

Available at www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

THE MOTHER’S DAY TEA HAMPER

Available at www.natalactive.com

We PREGNANT Love BODY CANDLE

Bring all the charm and elegance of a Fortnum’s Afternoon Tea home this Mother’s Day. Brimming with delicious teas and treats galore, this charming wicker sure to deliver happiness to their doorstep.

Favourite child guaranteed.

Pregnant Body Shape Candle - These chunky candles are available in a variety of scents and colours to fit your home aesthetic. All of our wax melts and candles are Vegan and Eco Friendly Soy Wax & Recyclable Available at www.Etsy.co.uk

Available at www.fortnumandmason.com

LATCHED MATERNITY & NURSING SPORTS BRA Featuring a monochrome marble print and solid-black trims, this non-wired sports bra will support you to stay active and feel confident through pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. It can be even more difficult if you want to continue exercising – but you need a comfortable, bounce-minimising fit now more than ever.

Available at www.latched.uk project-baby.co.uk

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MOTHER’S DAY

Best

Places for afternoon tea THE FRANKLIN LONDON From delectable crab buns and miniature beetroot pitas stuffed with burrata to a chocolate brownie hat, The Franklin’s latest afternoon tea is a touch mad. Inspired by the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the nearby Victoria & Albert Museum, it includes a red velvet

sponge cake, fennel cheesecake and a fun take on a caramel cupcake. But no afternoon tea would be complete without fresh scones, clotted cream and jam, right?

One thing’s for sure, it’s always tea time at The Franklin.

Mothers Day BROWN’S Try to nab a table by the fire to enjoy your salt beef, horseradish mayonnaise and pickled cucumber sandwiches while enjoying one of their many types of teas on offer. As for sweet treats? Try their hazelnut, caramel and vanilla tart and mango and rum baba, among other tantalising morsels.

FARMACY Farmacy offers up a plant-based High Tea, which is “free from dairy, refined sugars, additives and chemicals”. But that’s not the only difference.

The vegan hot spot is the first London restaurant to serve CBD – infused in a welcome cocktail and home-made chocolates, and accompanied by a pot of hemp leaf tea.

THE RITZ When only a classic option will do then The Ritz – where afternoon tea has been served since it opened in 1906 – is the dream. Served in the hotel’s show-stopping Palm Court, the ornate surroundings complement the traditional menu (if it ain’t broke, as the saying goes), which attracts guests from far and wide.

THE LANGHAM There’s a good reason why The Langham has been serving afternoon tea since 1865: it’s a truly memorable experience. Surrounded by opulent furnishings in a tranquil setting, the famous hotel’s Palm Court Afternoon Tea has undergone a British-inspired change.

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box

BEAUTY

JEWELLERY

PERSONALISED BUTTON CUFFLINKS PERSONALISED INTERTWINED CHAIN BRACELET

A gorgeous pair of personalised silver button cufflinks threaded with coloured silky cord for a fab splash of colour.

Price: £76.00 www.chambersandbeau.com

Highly symbolic, these two intertwined circles represent the unbreakable bond between two sisters, BFFs, a mother and her daughter or two lovers.

Price: £69.00 www.mercimaman boutique.com

OLIVIA BURTON ROSE GOLD WATCH? The partnership between the rose gold face and mink leather strap looks so timeless and elegant, and the watch has so many other delicate touches (like a bird motif on the underside) that make it even more perfect.

Price: £65.00 www.teapartywithalice.com

PERSONALISED ZODIAC SIGN ROSE CLASP BRACELET A stylish and luxurious, soft leather double wrap bracelet personalised with the starsign of your choice and your special words.

Price: £39.00 www.hurleyburley.com

All Things Silver PERSONALISED MEDALLION NECKLACE

MONOGRAM CIRCLE NECKLACE

This supersize pendant has a gorgeous tactile feel to it. Add a personal mantra or empowering message and adorn with an overlayed tiny heart or star charm.

This beautiful statement monogram circle necklace is both unique and personal.

Price: £130.00 www.monicavinader.com

Price: £42.00 www.annalouoflondon.com

FAMILY TREE NECKLACE The perfect gift for any Mother or Grandmother, this family tree necklace features a list of names and a beautiful family tree pendant.

Price: £45.00 www.handonheartjewellery.co.uk

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Boutique CUDDLEDRY

The award winning Cuddledry Handsfree Baby Bath Towel takes the stress out of baby bathtime. Its innovative design gives you both hands free to safely bath, lift and wrap your baby, keeping baby warm and you dry. It has 2 large luxurious layers, and cosy hood to keep baby completely cocooned.

No more stressful juggling act with standard towels and slippery babies!

Cuddledry towelling is made of supersoft bamboo and cotton; absorbent and antibacterial. This towel’s simple, ingenious design makes life easier with a new baby, making it a must-have for new parents and ideal gift.

PATTIE & CO

Pattie & Co., selling super soft, organic muslin swaddles, comforters and blankets in distinctive rainbow designs, was founded by Londonbased mum Cat price in November 2018.

They donate £5 from the sale of every organic muslin swaddle to Tommy’s, the baby charity because motherhood can be hard enough without having to face indescribable heartache on your journey there. www.pattieandco.com

www.cuddledry.com

DEAR BUMP

THE BAMBOO BABY

PK BEAU

The Bamboo Baby Company design and manufacture organic, eco-friendly baby blankets of exceptional quality; all made from naturally chemical-free bamboo, they are luxuriously soft, breathable and kind on delicate skin. www.thebamboobaby.com

THE PREGNANCY CALENDAR

Dearbump is somewhere you can go to find a range of products specific to pregnancy which have been tested and selected for your stage of pregnancy. Pregnancy is both exciting and worrying time, you want to give your baby the best start in life and ensure you do everything right, but it can be hard finding products which are safe for pregnancy. Each box contains 7-9 products tailored to your due date.

Boxes are sent every month.

Premium stylish and practical baby changing backpacks are what we are all about. Contemporary unisex styles, with a wealth of functions to help make parenthood a ‘walk in the park’. Made from luxurious Vegan Leather, with wipe cleanable linings and chunky metal zips, our bags are cleverly designed multifunctional statements for the fashionconscious, modern parent.

This original gifting experience counts down the final 24 days of pregnancy.

Inside the calendar there is a gift for either mum or baby. There are pregnancy and birth essentials for mama and baby bits for when their newborn arrives. The products that can be found inside the calendar range from tea and candles to milestone cards and teething rings. All products are specially selected with pregnancy in mind.

www.dearbump.com

www.pkbeau.com

www.thepregnancycalendar.co.uk

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Boutique

To appear in our Boutique section contact us at: natasha@project-baby.co.uk

MABEL & FOX

THE GILDED BIRD

We’ve taken the traditional baby changing mat & combined it with some utterly gorgeous prints, based around interior trends so that they fit seamlessly into your home. Not only do they set the tone for a nursery space & inspire themes, they make incredible photo backdrops - our customers absolutely love taking pictures of their babies on our mats!

We have designed the collection to ensure we offer a variety of size & mat styles to not only cater for different changing requirements but also to help make our product attainable for the mass.

Stunning Designs and High Quality Changing Mats for Your Nursery.

Made in the UK. Subscribe To Emails. Unique Designs. Shop Online. High Quality Foam.

Products: Blue Mountains Flat Mat, Blue Balloon Festival Anti Roll Wedge Mat, Green Tree Flat Mat.

www.mabelandfox.com

www.thegildedbird.co.uk

LITTLE SQUIDGES

GLOW IN STYLE

Personal styling service for Maternity, Motherhood & Beyond You rest assure and take care of your baby while we curate personalised outfits just for you. You can select to receive a Glow Box or Glow Online Edit as you wish.

WELCOME TO LITTLE SQUIDGES. Specialising in Handmade, Embroided & Printed Clothing for all ages.

These make beautiful gifts, no more dull clothing. www.littlesquidges.com

ISLA AND FRASER

Beautiful Blankets , the blanket arrives charmingly presented in a satin ribbon with a gift tag that explains to the receiver all about the key features and details. A beautifully considered and thoughtful gift that will become a cherished family keepsake. www.islaandfraser.com

BABY UMA These luxurious buggy hooks attach easily to any buggy or stroller.

They provide handy extra storage for shopping bags, changing bags and more, offering practicality and the equivalent of a much needed extra pair of hands. We’ve tested these buggy hooks on all the major high street brands, and the top 10 stroller, pram and pushchair lists.

If your buggy has a handle, these clips will fit. Either on the foam handle or directly on the frame.

We are still here for you! Maybe you want to refresh your wardrobe or you want to get ready for summer vacation. You can now get one of our personalised style interventions via video chat. Write to us now to book a style meeting. www.glowinstyle.com

www.babyuma.com

project-baby.co.uk

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ADVERTISMENT

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Price: £45.00

www.hamleys.com

CozyGlo are the fun new, multifunctional nightlights for kids and babies.

www.cozyglo.co.uk DENTIST

PLUM SNOWDROP INTERACTIVE KITCHEN Price: £99.99 www.direct2mum.co.uk

project-baby.co.uk

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Since 1921

Top product baby skincare

2017

midwife tested

Because mums know best.

Nourishing organic calendula gives your child’s skin the loving protection it needs, making it naturally more resilient. It’s the perfect way to promote healthy-looking skin from the very first day.

Available from Boots, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Ocado, independent health stores and pharmacies.

Weleda – In harmony with nature and the human being.

68 l FEB/MARCH 2022 l project-baby.co.uk

Visit www.weleda.co.uk