Toddle About Northamptonshire Summer 2011 by Toddle About Magazine

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Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

Family picture courtesy of Mango Pictures

Hello!

And welcome to the Summer issue of Toddle About! As ever, we’re trying some new things for you in this edition of Toddle About that we hope you’ll like and we’re keen to hear what you think... First thing is a brand new feature called Reader Recommendations. Following feedback from our recent survey, you can now read about some child-friendly places to eat on p. 12-13 - as recommended by you! And there is a chance for you to get recommending yourself (and win some prizes in the process!) Secondly, you will see some odd-looking barcodes in this issue, like this one (right). They are called QR codes and we hope they will make your reading experience more useful, engaging and fun! QR codes can be scanned by most smart phones with the use of a free app, and they allow us to link you effortlessly from content in the magazine to further information, videos, offers and more on the web via your phone. You can download a free QR scanner app from your phone’s app store, or alternatively visit getreader.com to find an app that works on your phone. Done that? Now try your new scanner out on the QR code above! It will take you to our Facebook page where you can ‘like’ us to be the first to hear all the local baby and toddler news. Thank you for reading!

Tim & Ruth

PS. Don’t forget! You can subscribe to Toddle About completely for FREE at www.toddleabout.co.uk/subscribe and we’ll post a copy to your door every quarter. Contact us on 0845 643 2483, or info@toddleabout.co.uk Toddle About, PO Box 1010, Bugbrooke, NN7 3WD

This furry little fella is Charlie! He’s hiding all over the magazine - why not see if your little one can find him while you read? Charlie’s been busy collecting news of loads of things that are on for little ones this Summer - and there are some great things going on so you needn’t get bored! See pages 4 - 5. And he’s is still adding a S symbol to any advert that has a special offer voucher in our centre pages, so make sure you check out the fab offers when you see one! Courtesy of PixiFoto in Northampton, our cover picture this issue is of Ashton Dumont from Towcester. You could get your child on our cover too - see p. 19.

Contents

4-5 Preparing for School Summer Fun Activities! 6 Mums’ MOT All About... Baby Signing 10 Toddle Models Reader Recommends 12 Mums Making It Running Out of Milk 14 Controversy Corner What’s New?

8,000 copies of Toddle About are distributed every quarter around South, Central & West Northants.

15 Daily Activity Planner 16 Special Offers 18 The Directory 20 Out & About + Reviews 22

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in Toddle About is accurate and correct, we cannot guarantee that this is so and neither Toddle About nor Tim Freed can accept any liability for loss, damage or problems arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in content, nor from actions taken by readers based on information or opinions presented in advertisements or throughout the magazine. Images and information supplied by 3rd parties have been accepted in good faith and all liability for any legal transgression including breach of copyright remains with the supplying parties.

24 26 41 50

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What’s New?

Take a

New Boogie & Bounce Classes

Northamptonshire

Following massive success in nurseries and Sure Start centres, LoveBallet are making their Boogie & Bounce classes available to all! For children 18 mths upwards, the classes involve basic rhythm, music, dance and gymnastics. The classes are great fun and the perfect way to introduce your child to dance at a young age. Use the voucher in centre pages for a free trial! See p.39 Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:30pm, Boddington Village Hall Wednesdays 11am – 12pm The Grange Hall, Southam

LoveBallet Summer School

For 6 yrs+ to learn exciting fun dance styles and perform in a show for parents. 27th + 28th July at The Grange Hall in Southam. £35 both days. Contact Lorraine - see p.39

Natural Bootcamp: Fitness made Fun

West Haddon Dates to Remember Preschool

Emergency First Aid West Haddon PreClasses in September School are opening the doors to their new Essential parenting skills building from Septem- workshops in Northampton: learn how to ber this year. They are now offering extended look after your child in the event of illness or sessions from 9am – emergency. From Learn 3pm Monday – Friday Today. See p.30 with wraparound care available for 3-4 At The Royal & Derngate year-olds. www. Flathampton: 15th - 22nd July westhaddonprewww.royalandderngate.co.uk school.org.uk. See see p.50 p.43

If you enjoy the great outdoors and you’d like to improve your fitness, then you may want to try out Natural Bootcamp, brand new fitness classes held most days at Harlestone Firs. Run by advanced personal trainers and offering free complete nutrition plans as well as motivation and mind training, they guarantee results or your money back! Classes are £4.60. See p.24.

Brackley Baby Fayre: Sunday 18th Sept

Organised by local mums Helen Brawn & Gemma O’Hara, Bump, Baby & Beyond will be a fayre for all parents and parents-to-be. Held at Brackley Leisure Centre, the event will bring together everything you might need for you and your little ones. There will be a soft play area, a cafe for refreshments and plenty of buggy space! Among the exhibitors will be Divine Therapy giving massage taster sessions and the photographer David Dingvean will be offering photo shoots with prints that can be taken home on the day. Doors open from 11am – 4pm, entry £2 (children free). See p.34

Musical Monkeys Fun Day

The 3rd annual Musical Monkeys Fun Day will be held at New Rookery Farm, Silverstone NN12 8UP on Sunday 4th September. Last year it raised £400 for the Silverstone School in Kenya this year the nominated charity is the Meningitis Trust. Tickets are just £2.50, and this includes free bouncy castles and unlimited hot drinks & squash. There will also be a BBQ, loads of stalls and obviously a Musical Monkeys session! Contact Vanessa on 07917 683330. See p.45

Akeley Wood Expands Nursery

Akeley Wood School in Wicken will be expanding its nursery provision for the Ladybirds (12 mths - 2 yrs), from September 2011. The nursery was launched less than a year ago but already has a healthy waiting list, prompting this expansion. The school is in a beautiful setting and the standard of care is second none: small class sizes being the key. Busy parents will also appreciate the availability of wrap-around care. See back cover.

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

New Party Organiser: Memory Events

MemoryEvents is an exciting new company that makes organising family events such as baby showers, christenings and parties stress-free. From finding the perfect venue to arranging caterers and cakes, they do all the hard work for you. MemoryEvents has also developed the handy ‘Party in a Box’ concept. Tailored to your needs, they will create a party in a box which can include everything from decorations and tableware to games and activities and they deliver it right to your door. MemoryEvents also sell beautiful handmade gifts such as nappy cakes, wedding towel cakes and sock cupcakes (see offer voucher) See p.46

GymBugs Wacky Wednesdays

Though normal GymBugs classes won’t be running over the holidays, your child can still have fun on all of their exciting equipment on Wacky Wednesdays, at their gym in Northampton. Equipment will include climbing apparatus, balance beams, slides, tunnels and soft play, as well as full use of the larger apparatus spread across approx. 6000ft2 of space Running every Wednesday in the Summer Holidays, from 10am - 3pm, entry is £4 per child to stay as long as you want. See p.25

New Nursery for Little Houghton

The owners of Harpole Day Nursery are to open another rural nursery in the conservation village of Little Houghton, just five minutes from Brackmills and the hospital. Harpole Day Nursery – which was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in its last inspection – has waiting lists for many sessions. For children from 0-5, the new setting includes a Baby Sanctuary, a Sleep Room and a Technology Centre for older children. See p.43

The Ideal Cooking Experience... No Mess!

Classes Still Running This Summer! Summer is a wonderful time of year, but it’s also the time when a lot of groups and classes STOP. And you can be forgiven for thinking that everything stops - but it doesn’t! This August, you can still enjoy classes with: Tumble Tots (p.31): as normal Little Kickers (p.32 & 39): as normal Active Baby Company (p.25): swimming classes running for first 3 weeks of August on Mondays & Fridays at 9 - 12 at Cripps, Northampton, and on Wednesdays at 10 – 12 at Barcelo’s in Daventry.

Les Canetons French Singing Group

(p.31): only stops first week in August Kids Kitchen (p.32): as normal Music Bugs (p.29): Every Thursday, 9:30 11:15am in Hardingstone - mixed age classes inc. refreshment. Other classes may run - ask. Musical Minis (p.35): 1 class per week in Stony Stratford. (Please call b4 attending) GymBugs (p.25): Wacky Wednesday drop in sessions (see left) Aqualight Babies (inside cover): Summer School and weekly sessions July - August.

BabyWays Breastfeeding Groups

(p.33): as normal

BackatEase Pilates Sessions (p.45): Special 4-week course on Thursdays (4th 25th Aug): 11am: Towcester; 18:15: Northampton Natural Bootcamp Fitness Sessions

(p.24): as normal We recommend calling before attending any group in Summer.

You want to cook with your toddler, and you know it would be good for them but, well, it makes so much mess. Sound familiar? Then good news - help is at hand! Local mum Catherine MacFarland has started up cooking classes for parents and their little ones - she provides all the ingredients and tools, and she even cleans up after! Classes start in July and run through the Summer and beyond. See p.32.

Teddy Bear Picnics

Musical Minis are really getting into the Summer swing this August by running some not-to-bemissed Teddy Bear Picnics, with special guest appearances from Peppa Pig and Iggle Piggle! Especially for 0 - 5s, your little ones will get to enjoy a Musical Minis session as well as all the fun of the picnic and ice cream from the vintage ice cream van Vintage Scoops. Tea and cake are available for mum and dad. Bring a rug & packed lunch - and your teddy! Tickets £6 per child. See p.35

10:30 - 12:30, Fri 5th Aug: Cold Higham Village Hall 15:00 - 17:00, Sat 6th Aug, Portfield’s Community Centre, Newport Pagnell

10:30 -12:30, Mon 22nd Aug: Little Horwood Vill. Hall 10:30 - 12:30: Wed 24th Aug: Wicken Village Hall

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By Nicola Simkins

Summer Fun Activities!

ooray, at last Summer is here! We can dig out our Summer clothes and our buckets and spades, put on some sun cream and start to make the most of the glorious sunshine and the great outdoors. At Akeley Wood School, that’s precisely what the nursery staff have been doing with the under 2s, with learning through play at the heart of all of their activities. We asked Nicola Simkins, the Deputy Nursery Manager at Akeley Wood to tell us about a couple of their favourite activities so you can enjoy them at home. Have fun!

Planting sunflower seeds - for 1 year olds+ Sunflowers grow really quickly - sometimes as much as 6 feet in just 3 weeks, so they are a great first plant for children to grow - and of course they look spectacular. First, show your child how to put the soil into their cardboard tubes, then let them do this themselves, helping if needed. This can get a little messy, but your children will love playing with soil in a sand tray (or similar), digging with their spades and using their hands to explore the texture of the soil. This activity helps to promote sensory awareness and hand and eye co-ordination. Then let your child plant a sunflower seed in their filled tube and water it. We showed our children photographs of what their sunflowers would look like at the various stages of development. A craft activity like the one shown here (right) is a natural follow-on from seeing these photographs and further cements their understanding of what the seed is going to become.

Equipment Needed Tray Spade Soil or Compost Sunflower seeds Sunflower photos Cardboard tubes/plant pots Watering can

Learning Intentions Covered

KUW- Knowledge and understanding of the world PD- Physical Development PSED - Personal, Social and Emotional Development CLL- Communication, Language and Literacy

A Seaside Role Play Equipment Needed Sand pit & Water Tray Buckets and spades Plastic fish Shells Seaside music Wind break or sun umbrella

Learning Intentions Covered PSED – Personal, Social and Emotional Development CLL – Communication, Language and Literacy CD – Creative Development PD – Physical Development

Role play is a natural way in which children make sense of their world, so setting up an exciting area for them to explore will help them learn and have fun at the same time. And Summer is a great time for children to learn about the seaside. In our seaside role play area, we had buckets and spades in the sand pit, with plastic fish and real shells in the water tray next to it. The children could then choose to play in the sand or water. We put up a wind break around the role play area to make it feel different to our normal sand pit. We also played seaside music in the garden including “Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside” and noises of the waves and sea. We all really enjoyed playing at the seaside in the nursery garden! We talked about the fish and shells and other things you can find in and out of the sea - the adults even got in the sand pit with the children to build sand castles and splash in the water. It’s almost as good as the real thing!

Nicola Simkins is the Dep. Nursery Manager at Akeley Wood Junior School & Nursery in Wicken, near Deanshanger. For more info on their nursery, please call 01908 571 231 or nikki.gowton@akeleywoodschool.co.uk. (See back cover)

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

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Baby & Toddler Must-Haves Swimming Songs CD The Gro Clock This is a MUST buy for Summer - a complete life saver. This ingenious clock helps you get more sleep by telling your child when they can come and wake you, before they are able tell the time. During the night, the star is out (and can double up as a night light). At a time you choose, the sun rises so your child knows it’s time to get up - perfect for a child who has decided that 5am is wakey wakey time. Comes with a handy book telling a lovely rhyming story about the clock to get your child keen to try it out. Buy from The Gro Company for £29.99. www.gro.co.uk

Emie Kitson from Aqualight Babies has recently released a CD of 29 swimming songs for babies. Only £7. Call Emie on 01604 830405 or email info@aqualightbabies.co.uk to order.

Fantastic Murals for Your Child’s Room Even in today’s world of TV and computer games we see how easily young children are drawn into the world of picture books. Imagine then the effects of your child’s bedroom or playroom being a giant picture book of colourful and magical imagery. And because murals are bespoke, you can tailor them to exactly what your child is passionate about, from cartoon characters such as Winnie the Pooh (below) or Peppa Pig to a prehistoric landscape full of dinosaurs or an underwater scene with exotic fish, dolphins and mermaids. Local artist Ken Hudson specialises in children’s murals and offers free quotes and advice to interested parties. Contact him on 07957 267778 or kenhudson@btconnect.com for more information. And he is offering 10% off his already very reasonable rates to Toddle About readers see his voucher in our centre pages.

EverEarth Bamboo Balance Bike Only recently launched, but already becoming a best-seller, this balance bike is the latest release from our favourite eco-friendly toy manufacturer. The safety-orientated design of this EverEarth bike will help children develop the balance and coordination necessary to ride a big bicycle at an early age. It is made from bamboo which is eco-friendly, tough and long lasting. The large wheels are comfortable for riding and ensure safety - a great way to enjoy being outdoors this Summer! Buy from Shirelings Toyshop at the Heart of the Shires Shopping Village near Weedon and don’t forget your 10% discount voucher in the centre pages. www.shirelingstoys. co.uk. RRP £79.99.

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

All prices shown are accurate at time of going to print, but are subject to change.

Ruby and GINGER - The ‘Just Nipping Out’ Set When you are ready to reclaim your gorgeous handbags yet still need nappy changing essentials the ‘Grab and Go’ set has all you require. It includes The Original Nappy Purse, matching Travel Change Mat and a Ruby and GINGER travel wipes case. The stylish Nappy Purse can be used on its own or is neat enough to be stashed in an existing handbag – keeping all your baby’s nappy changing requirements safe and easy to find in one, hygienic place. With enough room for three large nappies, baby wipes and nappy bags. Each nappy purse includes a discreet storage pocket for keeping your stuff safe too. Give it a try…you’ll wonder how you managed without one! Available from www.butterfliesanddinosaurs.co.uk for just £15 (free P&P). Get 15% off with offer code in Toddle About centre pages.

Phoenix Colouring In Posters and Hats The people at Phoenix cards are always coming up with fun new products, and these colouring in posters and hats are a great example. Perfect for those slow Summer days, you could do worse than having a few of these up your sleeve in case the children start behaving like caged animals... though I’m sure they never do... The posters (4 for £6) are a massive 50cm x 70cm and made from good, thick paper (170 gsm). The hats are fun for role playing as well as a craft activity- they may not last forever, but at £2.70 for three, who’s counting? Available in boys or girls sets, buy from www.phoenix-trading.eu/web/charlotte Plus, use your special offer voucher in our centre pages to claim free delivery and a free card with every order.

Earth Mama Bottom Balm Can we talk bottoms? New mums and mums-to-be often have bottom problems! Prenatal and postpartum haemorrhoids, postpartum vaginal swelling and bruising, episiotomies... Good thing you have a baby coming to make it all worthwhile. Earth Mama® Bottom Balm® soothes and cools with an organic olive oil base infused with healing organic herbs - St. Johns wort, yarrow, witch hazel, calendula, shea butter, and more. Store it in the refrigerator and apply often! You will be sitting pretty in no time. 60ml available from www.butterfliesanddinosaurs. co.uk for just £12.95 (free P&P). Get 15% off with offer code in the Toddle About centre pages.

New ‘On Location’ Photo Package from Fisher Creative Photography Ever thought about how nice it would be to have photographs of your family enjoying themselves outdoors? Look no further! Fisher Creative Photography now offer location photo shoots for families, couples, pets... whatever you want. Fisher Creative can suggest locations that they know work well, or you can choose somewhere that is special to you and your family. With everyone having fun in a relaxed, natural environment, you can guarantee you will get some fabulous images captured of your loved ones to be treasured forever. The location package from Fisher Creative Photography includes the shoot for up to an hour and three 5”x7” prints and costs just £145. With Summer finally here, it’s a great time to take advantage of this fabulous offer. For more information, or to book, please call Hannah or Georgina on 01327 353058 or visit www.fc-photography.co.uk.

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All About... Baby Signing

espite a surge in popularity in recent years, Baby Signing is still seen by some as the realm of the hippymother or the pushy parent. And, when you think about it, teaching sign language to a child without hearing problems does seem, well, a bit odd. But odd it is not! At least we don’t think so... and we’d like to tell you why.

What is Baby Signing?

ResearchA has concluded that signing babies become children with larger vocabularies, who are better problem-solvers, are more self-confident, and tend to take leadership roles amongst their peers. It has even been linked to increased IQ levels. Baby signing also helps to develop a strong parent-child bond and the earlier ability to communicate can simply make life a little easier – not in the least by decreasing tantrums! Being able to communicate their needs in a way that is understood means that signing babies don’t get as frustrated and they resort less to extreme methods of communication.

Sound too good to be true?

Parents who are new to baby signing are sometimes concerned that it might lead to their child being late to talk, the general feeling being that learning signs might distract a child from learning the spoken word and so delay language acquisition. But this is not the case – at least as long as you don’t give up on talking to your child! The thing is, talking to your child is a central part of baby signing: the carer always says the word when demonstrating

the sign, and this focus and repetition actually gives language development a boost. In fact, it turns out that many signing babies learn to speak earlier than their non-signing peers. The biggest criticism thrown at baby signing however, is that it’s just not necessary as babies learn to talk soon enough anyway. In response to this, signers argue that it definitely helps to have a baby who can sign “hot”, “drink” or “pain”, rather than crying until you work it out.

The Verdict

Well, I say if you fancy it, you should definitely give baby signing a go. Our children have absolutely loved the classes, from William at 9 months to Alice who is nearing four, and we have fun at home practising the signs with the older children for William’s benefit. Even if you don’t have the discipline to practice the signs at home, the classes are super music sessions and the benefits of music with babies are well-documented. After all, what have you got to lose? At worst, your child won’t pick up signing but you’ll have had some fun singing songs and meeting some new people. At best, your toddler will never have a tantrum, will love you dearly and will be the next Einstein. It sounds like a good gamble to me!

For details of Baby Signing classes with Sing & Sign and Little Signers Club, see their adverts on pages 36 and 44. For information on loads of other classes for your little ones see the Daily Activity Planner from p. 24, or the index on p.44

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

Research most notably conducted by Joseph Garcia (1980’s) and Drs Linda Acredelo and Susan Goodwin (2001)

The Research

In a nutshell, baby signing is simply sign language for babies, giving them a method of communication before their bodies develop sufficiently to allow them to speak. Babies can start learning signs from 6 months, and those starting at this age will often begin signing from 8 months onwards. There are a few different providers out there now who offer baby signing classes - we have attended Sing & Sign classes with our children. The classes are full of music and incredibly catchy songs from start to finish, and ingeniously combine action songs and nursery rhymes with gestures derived from sign language. The lessons are fun for the babies, who are entertained by props such as puppets and instruments, and teach the parents the signs so they can use them at home. It is through a combination of the classes and frequent use of the signs at home, that the babies learn how to sign.

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Reader Recommendations:

ne of the suggestions that a number of you gave us in our recent survey was to include more recommendations from our readers of places to go with little ones in Northamptonshire. So here is your first instalment! Your recommendations of child-friendly places to eat - thank you to everyone who got in touch to let us know where you have been that is good for families with little ones. We hope you find it useful! You can see more recommendations in our online directory at www.toddleabout.co.uk/ directory. Simply enter your postcode and select the ‘Child-Friendly Pubs/Restaurants’ category and you will be presented with a list of recommended eateries in order of distance from your home. Alexis recommends... The Wharf Pub in Bugbrooke. The staff at The Wharf are very baby/child friendly. This pub has high chairs, baby changing, plenty of space for pushchairs and ducks to entertain on the canal (which is safely protected by a wooden fence). There are loads of picnic tables on the grass by the canal for a sunny day and space for the children to run around. Cornhill Lane, Bugbrooke, NN7 3QB www.the-wharf.co.uk

Lisa Recommends... The George Inn at Brixworth. This is a roomy gastro pub with lots of little areas so your children can be themselves without disturbing other diners. Excellent staff who are friendly and attentive. All meals can be served as a child’s portion Northampton Road, Brixworth, Northampton, NN6 9BU www.thegeorgeatbrixworth.co.uk

Our Survey Says...

You may remember that in the Spring edition of Toddle About, we invited you to complete an online survey to help us determine what you like and don’t like about Toddle About. Well, we’re pleased to say that over 80 of you kindly logged on to complete the survey and we’re so glad you did! Admittedly, that’s largely because most of the things you were saying made us feel very good, but equally the suggestions you gave us for improvements were extremely useful and will definitely lead to changes in Toddle About. For example, the Reader Recommendations feature on this page is here precisely because quite a few of you asked for them , and - with your support - this feature will continue for as long as you want it! We thought you might be interested to see some of the findings from our survey: • 67% of readers will read Toddle About cover to cover. • 71% of readers would change nothing about Toddle About. A massive compliment! • 87% believe Toddle About is better than other free magazines on offer (31% of all readers believe it is the best by far) • 98% of readers have taken action because of an advert in Toddle About – the average reader has taken action 3 or 4 times.

• On average, 2.1 people read each copy of Toddle About, giving us a readership of 16,800 per region per quarter - or 33,600 readers across both our regions. • Only 7% of readers throw away Toddle About immediately after reading it. 73% keep it till the next edition comes out and 17% never throw them away at all! • 100% of the readers surveyed recommend Toddle About and on average, give it an overall score of 8.5 out of 10.

Even though the survey is over for now, our ears are always open to hear your feedback - be it good, bad or indifferent. So if you have something to say, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at info@toddleabout.co.uk.

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

Child-Friendly Places To Eat

Gemma recommends... The ‘Are You Being Served?’ Cafe in Northampton. We visited this cafe with our 7 month old. The 2 ladies that run this cafe adore babies and are really welcoming! They are very relaxed about breastfeeding in the cafe or in a room downstairs and they also have a changing facility with mats. ...as does Alexis... The staff are very friendly. Although it’s a small venue, they have baby changing and high chairs. 62 St. Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1JW

Anita from Northampton recommends... Castle Ashby Tea Rooms are good in the summer. There is an outdoor play area for bigger kids to play on, and a big grass area where babies can sit and move around. Much better than being confined to a high chair, and also it means there is a lot of room for prams. Castle Ashby, NN7 1LQ www.castleashbygardens.co.uk

Anita also recommends.... House of Fraser Cafe in the Grosvenor Centre (Northampton). I have found this to be one of the best cafes in town for parents with small babies. There is plenty of room to meet up with friends who also have prams, and the staff are always very friendly and will often offer to bring your food and drink over to your table. 37 Newland Walk, Grosvenor Centre

Alison from Rugby recommends... The Olde Coach House in Ashby St. Ledgers (North of Daventry). There are lovely gardens and an enclosed park next to the restaurant to explore and keep the children entertained while the food is being prepared - and the food is delicious. I cannot stress enough that I love this place for their children’s menu. Yes, they serve fish and chips but the restaurant doesn’t assume that all children want chips all of the time, and there is a really good selection of other food. The staff are very accommodating too. All in all it has good service, excellent food and is a place that makes the grown-ups feel they are out for a lovely meal whilst feeling very welcome with little children. Perfect! Main Street, Ashby St. Ledgers, CV23 8UN www.oldecoachhouse.co.uk

Recommend and Win!

For the Reader Recommendations feature in the next edition of Toddle About, we would like to publish your recommendations of free or cheap places to go with your little ones - because we think that would be the kind of thing most of us parents would like to hear about! They can be anything you want - the only thing we ask is that it’s the kind of place that you would recommend to your friends. Of course we hope you will want to recommend places simply because it’s the neighbourly thing to do, but in case you need a little incentive, we do have one. - we have two sets of Priddy Books’ brand new Fold Out Floor Books to give away (RRP £9.98). These books are lovely and just perfect for little ones. You can read our review at www.toddleabout.co.uk. Please email your recommendations to rec@toddleabout.co.uk by midnight on 31st August with your name and the town you’re from (a picture of you or the place recommended would be great if you have one too). We will publish your recommendations in the Autumn edition of Toddle About and our two favourite submissions will win a set of Fold Out Floor Books. We look forward to reading them!

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Running Out of Milk A Breastfeeding Myth by Emma Kingsmill

s a community midwife for several years, one of the most common misconceptions I come across within the first week after baby is born is ‘not having enough breast milk’. This conclusion is made by mums often because their breasts are not any fuller or firmer, or perhaps because they are not leaking milk within the first three days. And, when one squeezes the nipples, nothing or very little comes out. But this does not mean there is anything wrong with your milk supply. The milk you produce in the first three days (colostrum) appears quite watery - it does not look like cows’ milk. Your breasts are making colostrum throughout pregnancy, and so when your baby is born, you already have this milk supply. Colostrum is stored at the back of your breast, so if mums squeeze near their nipples to see the milk for reassurance, this often leads to added anxiety as the milk is rarely seen by squeezing this way in the first couple of days. Your baby’s tummy is the size of a small marble or walnut at birth. It can only hold about 5mls of milk when full. You actually produce around 8mls of colostrum in each breast so, even though your breasts are soft, they will have an adequate supply of milk for your baby. Your baby is likely to be unsettled

Susie’s Health Tip Pilates teacher, Osteopath and mum Susie Burgess from BACK at EASE shares some tips on how to love your post baby tummy. Having a baby can put a strain on your body, and one of the areas mums report feeling it the most is their stomach muscles, or lack there-of! Most of us would like a flatter tummy, but it’s not just for body conscious reasons you may need to start working those abdominals again. Your deep abdominals perform a vital postural role and weaknesses can exacerbate back problems. During pregnancy, your stomach muscles have to stretch to accommodate the growing baby but there are a few simple things you can do to help get your shape back and avoid back pain at the same time.

Imagine your trousers and belt are a little too tight, then draw your belly button gently in towards your spine and try to breathe normally for 5 breaths before letting it release. It really doesn’t have to be a lot, about 20% of the maximum contraction you can do is fine. Repeat as often as you remember. Short, frequent bursts work best. Try tucking your bottom under and gently releasing it 3-4 times. This helps to activate similar muscles and reduce strain on your lower back.

Stop if you are any pain and if you are unsure, seek professional advice sooner rather than later. Susie Burgess runs BackatEase osteopathy and pilates sessions. For more info, contact her on 07880 750258. See advert on p. 45. for the first few days, demanding frequent breastfeeds as 5mls can be digested quickly. Nature has designed it this way to encourage bonding through frequent contact, to be gentle on your baby’s digestive system, and to increase your milk supply. The simple truth is, ‘The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce’. This is why I recommend mums avoid giving artificial milk in the fear they’re not making enough milk. Your body will make as much milk as it thinks your baby needs and by introducing a bottle, the breasts are stimulated less to produce milk, so your milk produc-

tion is likely to go down. Which will probably make you believe you were right in the first place! Sadly this is not so. Introducing a bottle also endangers breastfeeding because babies are clever! They will go along with whatever is easiest and getting milk from a bottle is effortless. The way a baby sucks from a bottle is also very different from breastfeeding and this can cause confusion for your baby, leading to a high chance that baby may prefer the bottle over your breast. But this is simply because it’s easier - it is not because the taste of the artificial milk is preferred over your breast milk.

Emma Kingsmill is a registered midwife who runs private antenatal classes and offers one to one breastfeeding support & advice in your own home as Northant Breastfeeding Support. Call her on 07528 553594 or visit www.northantsbreastfeeding.com for more information. See advert on p. 28

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

Preparing for School

Oxford University Press has found that more than 3 in 4 mums (78%) of pre-school children are ‘anxious’ about their child starting school and nearly 9 in 10 (88%) mums questioned said their child’s emotional happiness – confidence, ability to make friends easily and enjoyment of school – is their greatest concern. Ruth Coppard, leading child and educational psychologist, comments: “What’s clear from the findings is that mums equate their child’s confidence to an ability to settle in. You can’t teach your child confidence, but there are many simple steps parents can take to build familiarity in order to prepare their children

2. Rock-a-Bye

for school life.” To help you feel more excited about this next milestone, the publisher has got together with Ruth Coppard to suggest some early stage literacy activities that you can try out over the Summer months, to help calm your own nerves, improve your little one’s confidence and prepare them for their next big step in September.

The survey and tips were commissioned to re-launch Read with Biff, Chip and Kipper, a series available on the high-street that features characters children will encounter when learning to read at school. We think they’re great! Read our review at toddleabout.co.uk/articles/reviews

Breastfeeding Tips For The First Few Days • Try to breastfeed within an hour of birth; • Aim to breastfeed for a minimum of 15 minutes on each breast each feed (for the first few days);

1. Left to right

When you read together use your finger to trace under the words from left to right and encourage any writing to go from left to right as well.

• Eat and drink often! Add an extra 500 calories a day to your diet and drink water at each feed; • Take plenty of power naps. When your baby sleeps, you sleep.

• Keep your baby awake during a breastfeed by removing the clothes first (your body heat will keep baby warm)blow on baby’s face and chest if baby starts nodding off, tickle the feet! if all else fails put baby into the cot naked for a few minutes, and touch the cheek. If baby is still hungry, he/ she will wake and feed again. If baby stays asleep, baby is full;

• Take a vitamin D supplement. This is free on prescription or you can take a multi vitamin aimed for breastfeeding women.

• Expect baby to be sleepy for a couple of days - you have both had an exhausting birth;

• Have faith in your body. If you can make a beautiful baby, it can make milk!

• If you were anaemic (low in iron) just prior to the birth, take a gentle iron supplement such as Spatone every day for a couple of weeks. If you feel dizzy, short of breath or faint, tell your midwife;

Re-visit popular nursery rhymes. Rhyming skills are thought to underpin reading, so encouraging your child to remember the ‘missing’ word from the end of a line will help to develop this.

3. Finger fun!

If your child wants to write letters, make sure the letters are formed correctly - left to right, top to bottom. Writing with a finger in sand or on the carpet - something with texture - is a good way to help your child to learn the shapes.

4. Number knowledge

Encourage counting when the opportunity arises. For example, when baking count 3 eggs, 4 spoons of sugar etc; see how many strawberries can fit in a bowl; count steps, numbers on houses, red cars, even grannies on the bus! The important thing is counting 1 to 10.

5. Story time

Get into a daily habit of reading to your child. Sit together and enjoy a book. The emphasis is on enjoying books and being comfortable with them. A great set of books for this are the newly re-launched Read with Biff, Chip and Kipper series - all characters children will probably encounter at school. Not only are they specifically written to help children prepare for school, but knowing these characters will help to provide a feeling of security for the child as they go on this next Big Adventure.

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by Camilla Cobb

Mums’ MOT

a mother with young children myself. My Mums MOT is aimed at addressing many physical imbalances such as back, shoulder and neck tension, which are often reported in early motherhood from over-exertion /repetitive strain and joint softening from pregnancy hormones and adrenal/ endocrine exhaustion from night waking. Taking care of yourself and correcting these imbalances also works on the emotions tied up with stress and the huge life changes that bringing children into the world evokes.

I have developed a unique signature treatment for mums with tots over my eight years working as an holistic therapist and as

The treatment is deeply relaxing and works on many levels. It is individually tailored after a consultation has taken place. The Mums MOT is predominantly aromatherapy massage, utilising a specifically selected blend of fresh essential and base oils. It also includes some deep tissue massage and lymphatic drainage techniques to problem prone areas, along with reflexology (an acupressure massage to the feet that triggers the organs and glands) and acupressure to the head, face and specific points

along the body - stimulating internal systems and energy points, and helping to recharge and bolster energy levels. The treatment can identify and affect not only subtle health imbalances, but also muscular skeletal mal-alignment, for which a short course of Holistic Therapy is recommended or a referral is made to an Osteopath or other appropriate disciplines within our close knit team at the Maple Tree Clinic, who are all dedicated to our clients well-being. In many cases mums recognise the value of Holistic Therapies and often send their Hubbies or other loved ones in for treatment too. I offer Indian Head Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Swedish Massage and Reiki all as combination or individual treatments. Mums MOT is available exclusively at The Maple Tree Clinic and is £55 for a 90 minute treatment including a consultation. For bookings, vouchers and brochures please contact reception or email info@themapletreeclinic.com. See voucher in Toddle About centre pages for 10% discount.

Brief explanations of the therapies mentioned in this article:

Reiki

Reflexology

Acupressure

Osteopathy

Camilla Cobb is an Holistic Therapist who practises at The Maple Tree Clinic in Hunsbury. One of my clients who juggles self- employment and family life with two young children once said to me after a treatment, “We MOT the car and service the boiler and washing machine in order to keep our lifestyles functioning and yet we do not think to MOT ourselves regularly”. As mothers we understand the advice to take time out and look after ourselves but the reality is that once we have washed the butternut mash out of our hair and put away the toys, we only then manage a couple of pages of a novel before falling asleep still on alert to our dependants.

A special treatment for mums with tots

Aromatherapy Massage

Uses concentrated essential oils from various plants to enhance a normal massage. The oils can improve mood, cognitive function and health. Aromatherapy oils can also be administered through inhalation, compresses and baths.

How it is done

Reiki is a Japanese therapy that focuses on improving the flow of life energy in a person to promote healing.

Often called Acupuncture without the needles, this treats symptoms by applying pressure with the fingers to specific pressure points on the body

Reflexology is a specialised form of Acupressure that focuses on the feet and hands to treat ailments of the whole body Osteopathy is a hands on treatment that uses manual techniques to treat and strengthen joints, muscles and the spine and balance all the body’s systems.

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

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Make us smile!

Congratulations to this issue’s winners all 13 of you! And a massive thank you to our lovely sponsors (see the left hand side of this page) for making the competition so exciting! We had a record number of votes come in this time (over 300) with nearly 1,000 of you going online to check out the gorgeous entries. We can’t begin to tell you how much we love receiving your entries to the Toddle Models competition - they genuinely put big smiles on our faces whenever one lands in our inbox, and the addition of captions this time around turned a lot of the smiles into chuckles! As ever, we hope you enjoy them as much as we have. If you like these pictures, use your smart phone to scan this QR barcode for a real treat: a seriously cute video of our baby boy William getting a hilarious case of the giggles:

Sponsored by:

1 p h o t ography

Alexander, 2 years “Shhhh... I’m hiding!”

Mummies Birth Buddy

Brann, 6m Poppy Prescott ake cry!” m t n’ do it n “I mea Named and Framed

5 rs ley, 2 y in a Rans Indian et look big y fe “Do m ” these?

Archie McDonald, 4 yrs “The streets are safe now ” , 9 mths

4 years Pryer, James

Find

Joseph Moore

Leo, 14 months “The Spaghetti Incident”

Jessica Fraser, 7m “Boo!”

Laura Tokarska, 1 yr

Ethan Co bu “When I rn, 10 mths grow up ...” groups and classes

Scarlett, 2 months “Watcha looking at?”

Finley W hit “Simply e, 4 weeks adorable ”

in the Daily Activity Planner

Sam Bodily “Time for el , 3 yrs evenses!”

s , 11 mth ” Neuville at! Sydney be - let me e e from “page Leave m 24

Arkadiusz

, 2 years

Charlie Bodily, 9 mths “I come up great after a wool wash!”

Riley Young, 8 mths “I just love to laugh”

nths

mo Ewan Crofts, 5

Lewis R “Mess? oe, 1 year What m ess?”

Maisie, 12 weeks “Who? Me? Couldn’t be.”

Matthew Weedon, 8m “Talk to the hand!”

yrs David Crofts, 2 “Say Cheese!”

Madison, 10 months “Food fight!”

Lily, 2 years. “Butter wouldn’t melt, but chocolate does!

Elise Brettingham, 1 yr “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it!” Demi Grace, 10 weeks “Cute & adorable”

ths eill, 10 m Ava Carboo, 11 weeks Seren O’N starter!” re Fi a “I’m “Cute pose and... snap!”

“Big smile!”

Dora Austin , 4 mon “Surprise!” ths

Phoebe (1) & Alice (4 wks). “Someone smells and it isn’t me!”

ths kie, 10 m Emily Dic g cheese!” n yi sa ve “I lo

Grace Austin, 3 yrs “Is there a doctor in the house?”

Harley Simps “Infectious. on, 7 m Beautiful”

d Joshua Redmon

Kristopher McFredries, 3 years

Millie Tomkins, 22 m “Case is all packed, all ready for my hols!”

Oliver Davis, 7 wks “Pucker Up!”

onths oco, 6 m Indya-C or What?!” “Cute

Raife O’Neill, 3 years “Uh-oh! Mum’s driving!”

Enter the next Toddle Models Competition and win

Your Child on our Front Cover! The winner of the next Toddle Models competition will get to enjoy a free professional photo shoot on location with local photographer Fisher Creative Photography (read about their location shoots on p.9) and be the front cover model for Toddle About! To enter the next Toddle Models competition, please email your favourite pic of your little one (along with their name and age) to toddlemodels@toddleabout.co.uk by midnight on Friday 12th August. The winner will be decided by a panel of judges and as ever, we will print as many entries as possible in our next issue for your viewing pleasure!

Send us your videos too!

Email us at info@toddleabout. co.uk with a funny video of your little one (or a link to it on YouTube) and you may see it featured in our next edition as a QR code like the one opposite!

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Mums

Making Lemonade...

Making it

Spotlight on Catherine MacFarland

My name is Catherine and I’m 30 – yes that’s right, I have passed the invisible marker in the sand which moves you in with the “grown-ups”. I have two beautiful boys, Jack and Toby, and all in all I’m a pretty optimistic person. But when I heard I was being made redundant just before I gave birth to Toby, my world shook. I thought, ‘How can I make enough money to keep us ticking over, and do that around the children and enjoy what I’m doing?’ It seemed like a tall order and I started to become pessimistic about my future employment options. But I was determined to turn these lemons into lemonade, so I decided to work for myself. EEK! That’s right, I’m starting my own business, and that’s not something I ever thought I’d be doing. I chose my favourite activity, cooking - or more importantly, cooking with Jack – and looked around for competitors. I knew I could offer something different to what was in the market place. I immediately decided that what The Kids Kitchen would offer, was an environment full of enthusiasm, fun and encouragement, where mums could enjoy their

children and not worry about cleaning up afterwards. So I had the idea, but where do you begin to start your own business ? I believe the best way to find out how to do something new is to ask someone who has already done it. So I decided to contact a newly established business for pre-schoolers that I had heard about, to and ask for some advice. I also looked online for a company who did cooking sessions with children in another county, and dropped them an email. Both the women I spoke to were really kind, informative and provided invaluable advice. I kept looking, and I found a website called Business Link - it turns out the government are offering loads of help to become self-employed. The Business Link website is free and provides free online business tools and real life workshops, which again were free! I booked onto a workshop with them which was local to me, and met people in the same position as me which was reassuring. These courses are available to anyone and I’d definitely say they are worth attending. Then I discovered that Google were offering free webspace and

Catherine shows us how it’s done domain names via a governmentfunded initiative called ‘Getting British Business Online’ (www. gbbo.co.uk). There was also a help line which I made good use of when I managed to make a real mess of my website. Next I contacted the Tax Office (www.HMRC.gov.uk) and I attended one of their free workshops in my area, though I found this less helpful. As I write this I am at the point where I know the theory, I have spoken to other self-employed people, and I know my competition. I have set up the equipment Continues on next page.....

Success Quotes “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”

Dale Carnegie “Women will never be as successful as men because they have no wives to advise them.”

Dick Van Dyke

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

Winston Churchill “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Thomas Edison

Find groups and classes in the Daily Activity Planner from page 24

and my classes are about to begin! Who’d have thought that there was more left in this brain than nappies, feeding schedules and play dates? So The Kids Kitchen is now live! I must admit I had a nail-biting week just before we started leafleting to promote the classes and I kept wondering if I’d done the right thing….What if no one came? Luckily, my fears have proven unfounded and there has

been steady interest. I’m really excited about the first class, and looking forward to the summer holidays as classes are running throughout. Being self-employed is still a scary concept - even more so when I say it out loud! I’m only at the beginning of my journey of building my own business and there are moments when I’m elated by the experience, and others when I am overwhelmed

by what I’m taking on. But I have been astounded at how much free advice, guidance and resources the government has actually provided for establishing a new business. I have also been touched by how generous other women are with their time, experience and encouragement. So here I go, I’m turning lemons into lemonade!

The Kids Kitchen is now operating classes in Northampton where you can spend an hour of fun-filled cookery with your little one, filling them with confidence and enthusiasm for food, and we take care of the mess! See full advert on page 32

Local Business Mum Wins! Huge congratulations to Amanda Perkins, 28, who quit the rat race to set up her own business franchise with Musical Minis, and has recently won the national award for Young Woman Franchisee of the Year! Amanda won the award in recognition of her success in running the South Northants and Buckinghamshire franchise of Musical Minis, which provides music groups for babies and pre-school children. The judges of the awards, commended the mumof-one for her remarkable business abilities running the franchise. Since taking over the franchise in April 2010 Amanda has turned the business around. She’s attained record-breaking performance figures and increased the number of classes from two to thirteen across her region.

She now runs four classes in Northamptonshire, in the Grange Park area of Northampton, Brackley, Weedon Bec and Towcester, along with classes in Milton Keynes, Buckingham, Winslow and Newport Pagnell Amanda said, “I left my office job as I found it stressful and I didn’t want that with a baby to think about. Running a franchise for Musical Minis has been a great change for me, giving me a great work-life balance, I can even bring my daughter along to the classes - I can’t really imagine doing anything else ever.”

See Musical Minis advert on p.35 for more details of classes

What’s The Big Idea? People often say how they would love to set up their own business - if they could only come up with a good idea. Some experts would say that to get that idea, you need to find what the world needs and will pay for - and go and provide that. And whilst that certainly seems to be the logical thing to do, there are many who would take the opposite approach and say that you should look inside yourself for your inspiration, rather than looking out at the world - that your big idea should be doing what you love to do. So which is right? I have come to the conclusion that the two approaches needn’t be seen as opposites. For when a person does what they love, they become enthusiastic and passionate - they become the kind of person that everyone wants to be around... and do business with. This reaction shows that people in this state are a rarity - and what it suggests to me is that what the world really needs is more people who are enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. So I say start with what you love. You’re more likely to get through the tough times if you enjoy what you do... and I suppose if it all goes wrong, at least you can say you had a great time trying!

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The Weaning Debate When to Wean? When to start baby on solid foods can be a difficult decision since professional opinions differ. The current official guidelines are to start at 6 months, though in reality many people choose to start before then. The subject of weaning recently hit the news headlines when a scientific paper published in the British Medical Journal suggested that later weaning might increase the chance of developing food allergies and iron deficiency, and that weaning could occur as early as 4 months without any negative effects. However, the Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months as breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs until then. Many experts believe that babies aren’t ready for solid food before around 6 months, as their intestines aren’t fully developed, and they still have the tongue thrust reflex which pushes any food back out of their mouth. It has also been suggested that early weaning can increase the risk of food allergies. All very confusing! One advantage of waiting until 6 months before weaning your baby is that by then they are developmentally able to feed themselves real food, and you don’t actually have to bother with purées! This is called Baby Led Weaning and whether or not this is a good idea is, of course, a matter of some debate...

For Baby-Led Weaning... No baby purées to make Making baby purées is time consuming. With baby led weaning you just give your baby real food from the start, saving you a lot of bother. No need to spoon feed your baby Many of us have sat feeding our baby their food whilst our own dinner goes cold. When your baby feeds herself, you can both enjoy your meal at the same time. Less stressful Many babies don’t enjoy being spoon fed and resist it, forcing parents to resort to games or tricks to persuade their baby to eat the food they have. ..

What is Baby Led Weaning? Baby Led Weaning (BLW) allows your baby to take the lead in the weaning process. Instead of spoon feeding your baby puréed food, you give them only finger foods and let them feed themselves from the start. Your baby can choose what they want to eat, and eat as much or little as they wish. It is suggested that you start to give your baby a few finger foods to try at around the age of 6 months. Ideally your baby would sit at the table during your family meal and just have a bit of whatever you’re having (as long as it has no added salt and isn’t too sweet). Ideal first foods to start your baby on are anything that can be cut into a stick shape, long enough for your baby to hold in his fist, with some sticking out the top that he can get into his mouth. Food should also be soft enough for them to be able to bite bits off with their gums, but not too soft or it will just turn to mush when they squeeze it. Steamed vegetables and soft fruits are good first foods to try. In baby led weaning, food is seen as something to play and explore with at the beginning, so it is recommended that your baby has already had their milk feed before they sit down at the table. This way they can enjoy learning about the food without being frustrated by feeling hungry.

... and Against

A lot of food waste In the early stages of baby led weaning, much of the food given to your baby will be squeezed, half chewed or dropped on the floor, meaning a lot more is wasted than when the food is spooned straight into baby’s mouth. It’s messy Food does get everywhere, especially if you let your baby explore and play with spaghetti bolognaise, porridge or rice with their hands! To start with, more seems to end up on the floor than in baby’s mouth. However, it could be argued that all babies need to learn to feed themselves eventually, so the mess is inevitable at some point. Can take some planning You need to ensure that your family meals consist of things that your baby can pick up and feed themselves, as well as ensuring they are given foods from all the different food groups to try.

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Against

... prepared. BLW babies are free to choose what and how much they want to eat, eliminating battles and making mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone. Babies enjoy it BLW babies enjoy mealtimes and feeding themselves, which is likely to give them a healthy attitude towards food in the future. They can choose what to eat, how much and how fast they eat it. Baby led weaning allows babies to really enjoy the variety of different tastes and textures which they don’t experience when all their food is blended together. Less likely to become a picky eater Because your baby tries a wide variety of foods from the start, they are likely to become an adventurous eater, and be more willing to try new things. No transition to lumpy food There is no need to worry about how and when to move your baby on from purées to lumps, and then to real food, because there is nothing to move on from with BLW. Easy to go out When you’re out and about, you don’t have to take special food for your baby or worry about where to heat it up as they can have whatever you’re having. When eating out, most restaurants will have something on the menu that your baby can have. They learn through family meals Because your baby is eating the same as the rest of the family and sitting at the table with them, they see the rest of the family using cutlery, taking turns, and making conversation. Not only is this fun for the baby, but sharing mealtimes is known to have a positive impact on family relationships and healthy eating. Aids physical development By learning how to hold and manipulate food and get it into their mouth, they are developing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are important for drawing and writing later on. Also, the muscles used in chewing food (rather than just swallowing purées) are needed when learning to talk. It’s natural Babies learn about the world around them by exploring things with their hands and mouths. It makes sense for them to learn about food in the same way. It seems logical that babies, like any other baby animal, are ready for solid food when they become able to feed themselves. Further reading:

sy er ov r tr ne on or C

For

You might miss some of your favourite foods Much of the food you eat as an adult might not be suitable for a baby (e.g. ready meals, curries, or anything processed that might contain too much salt or additives), and you might not want to cut those things out of your diet. If you want to do baby led weaning, all your meals should ideally be made from fresh natural ingredients and contain no added salt or sugar. Baby eats less solid food BLW babies often don’t manage to eat much solid food until about 9 months of age, so they might still wake up for milk feeds at night time for longer than their puree-fed counterparts. Opinions differ on whether or not milk alone is enough for a baby after the age of 6 months. Need to eat meals at certain times With BLW, family meals should be at a time when your baby can join in, so you can give your baby a bit of whatever you’re having. This can be difficult if you typically have your family meals after baby’s bed time, especially if a parent works late as this can be hard or impossible to change. Can require a lot of preparation If you’re not eating at the same time as your baby, it can be a lot of effort to steam vegetables or chop up finger foods specifically for their meal. It is much easier to simply take out a portion of pre-prepared puréed baby food from the freezer and heat it up! It is not an insurmountable problem however as you could save some of your dinner for your baby’s meal the following day. Other people’s opinions Our parents’ generation weaned us with purées, and probably won’t have heard of baby led weaning. Family and friends probably won’t understand it so you’ll have to constantly explain how baby led weaning works!

Baby-Led Weaning, Gill Rapley & Tracey Murkett

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Daily Activity Planner

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Northampton Borough

MONDAYS

Abington Abington/Kingsthorpe NCT Meet Up

10:00 -12:00; Members’ houses; 50p donation Rachel: 01604 403766 or 07867 521411 For bump - 4. Everyone welcome!

Breastfeeding Support Group

13:30 - 14:30 (1st & 3rd weeks) Abington Avenue United Reform Church, NN1 4QA 07964 971200; Free Breastfeeding Support Drop In Group

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming Cripps Recreation Centre, NN1 5BD 9:00 - 10:00 ; prebook 6-wk term Denise - 01604 826066 Swimming classes for 18 mths - 4yrs.

Chapel, nr Turnpike Pub NN7 4DD. Rosemary: 01604 588116; £1 per family Everyone welcome, esp. Duston new build.

Duston Library Children’s Centre 10.30 - 11.00: Duston Rhymetime 14:00 - 15:00: Baby Weigh Pendle Road, NN5 6DT; 01604 752891

Far Cotton GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3yrs; 11:00: <2s; 13:00 & 14:00: 3-4yrs. Tracey: 01604 859412 Enjoy ladders, beams & climbing apparatus.

St Marys Tiddlywinks Group

St Mary’s Church, Abbey Road, NN4 8EY 9:15 - 11:00. For 0 - 5s. Termtime only

Breastfeeding Support Group

Duston Duston & Villages NCT Group

The Rec Centre, Far Cotton 14:00 - 15:00 (2nd & 4th weeks) 01604 762251; Free Breastfeeding Support Drop In Group

Duston Mums & Tots

Grange Park Musical Minis

Various members’ houses for bump - toddler 10:00 - 11:30; 50p; Lucy - 07940 368828 Duston Village Hall, Sycamore Rd 9:30 - 11:30; Termtime only

Kidz ‘n’ Co Mums and Tots Group

13:30 - 15:00; Term time only. Harpole Baptist

The Pavilion, Foxfield Way, NN4 5BE 10:00 - 10:45; £4 (book termly) Amanda Perkins: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Grange Park Tots Group

Grange Park Community Centre, School Lane 9:30- 11:30; £2.00. Angie - 07816 484851. Free 1st session. Runs all yr.

Hardingstone Cheeky Monkeys

Hardingstone Village Hall, High St, NN4 6DA 9:30 - 11:30; £2; Gwen - 01604 762954 For 0 - 4 years

Harlestone Natural Bootcamp

19:00 at Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Rd Scott: 07812 973562; £4.60 Natural fitness sessions - guaranteed results!

Headlands Headlands Children’s Centre

Parents & Babies Group: 10:30 - 12:00 Family Support: 13:00 - 15:00 (confidential) Breastfeeding Group: 13:00 - 15:00 Bushland Road, NN3 2NS 01604 411440; Free Sessions P&B: Drop in for 1st time parents, 0 - 12 mths.

Hunsbury Pregnancy & Postnatal Pilates Classes

13:30 - 14:30; The Maple Tree Clinic, 1 Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ Susie Burgess, Back at Ease: 07880 750258 Led by qualified Osteopath & exp. instructor.

24 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

10:00 - 12:00; Free; Robyn - 01604 630457

Soft Play & Bouncy Castle: 9:15 & 10:00

9:30 - 11:30; Spring Lane Children’s Centre, Spring Lane, NN1 2JW; 01604 620484

Tots go free; Maximum of two children under 8 £3.00 (£2.50 with leisure card); 6 mths to 4 yrs

Pre School Gymnastics: 11:00 - 11:45

£5.50 (£4.95 with leisure card); For 3 - 5s Danes Camp Leisure Ctr, Clannell Rd, NN4 0RX 01604 837200; Term time

Northampton Multiples

14:00 - 16:00; Camp Hill Comm Centre, Dayrell Rd, Camp Hill, NN4 9RR Claire: 07587 154104; £5 p/m + £1 per session

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

Camrose CC, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 9:30-11:30 & 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 757694

Kingsthorpe Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre 9:15-11:00: Messy Play 12:30-14:30: H’lth Visitor Drop In

St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 10:00 - 18:00 (10 wks to school age) Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term 30-min swimming classes. Booking essential.

Northampton Centre Northampton Baby Cafe

10:00 - 12:00; Friends Meeting House, Wellington St, NN1 3AS Free; 07780 672939 Breastfeeding support + drink & biscuit!

Mini Springers Parent & Toddler

Springs Family Ctr, Spring Boroughs, NN1 2SN

Thorplands Thorplands Children’s Centre

Stay & Play Drop In

9:30 - 11:30: Midwife Drop-in 13:00 - 14:30: Cygnets Tots Group (0 - walking) 19:00-20:30: Dads Football on School Field Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ; 01604 741131

Chatterbox

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 147-155 Kettering Road, NN1 4BS 9:30 - 11:15; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only.

Whitehills St. Mark’s Parent & Tots Group

Toy Library

United Ref. Church, Abington Ave, NN1 4QA 13:30 - 15:00. Toys available for 6 m-5 years.

Mini Music 9:30 & 10:30 (babies): £1 Little Movers: 15:30 - 16:30 Me & My Dad: 18:00 - 19:00

Vernon Terrace Children’s Ctre, NN1 5HE. Free; 01604 633894. Drop in sessions

Semilong Bangladeshi Mums and Tots

Gateway Centre, Mill Rd, NN2 6AX 13:00 - 15:00 ; Free; Kulsuma - 01604 624930

Spencer Camrose Breastfeeding Drop In Group Camrose Sure Start, Streatfield Rd, NN5 7DF 9:00 - 12:00 ; Free; 01604 585219

St James St James Parent and Toddler

St. James Com. Centre, St.James Rd, NN5 5LQ 10:00 -12:00 ; £1; Sarah - 01604 456231 Sometimes open during holidays.

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

The Mounts Baths, Upper Mounts 14:00 - 15:30 ; Tots are free; 01604 837400. Max of two children under 8.

10:00 - 11:15, St Marks Church Hall, St, Mark’s Crescent, NN2 8EG £1.50 + 20p p/c. For pre-school age Sue - 01604 715342. Term time only.

TUESDAYS

Abington The Kids Kitchen Classes

10:00 at 44 Beech Avenue, NN3 2HE Catherine: 01604 710102 Book in 3 week blocks. Running through Summer holidays.

Abington Tots Group

St Gregory’s Church, 22 Park Ave N, NN3 2HS 9:00 - 11:00; £1.00; Sarah - 01604 712347 Crafts, toys, books and puzzles for 0-5s.

Chapel Brampton The Bramptons Parent & Tots Group

10:00 - 11:30 (term time); The Bramptons Primary School, Harlestone Road, NN6 8AW Amy: 07540 373357; £1.00 Toys, crafts & themes with sing-song at end.

East Hunsbury Aqualight Baby Yoga

The Maple Tree Clinic, Overslade Cl, NN4 0RZ 9.00 - 12:00. Emie - 01604 83 04 05 45 min yoga sessions for parent and baby

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough Water Play Session: 8:45 - 10:30

www. .co.uk Special Offers

** SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS **

Search and check for up to date special offers at any time at www.toddleabout.co.uk/offers

** SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS **

Daily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough Hunsbury Rhymetime

Hunsbury Library, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ 10:30 - 11:00 & 14:00 - 14:30; Free 01604 702830

Far Cotton Gloucester Parent and Tots Group

Gloucester Nursery, Camborne Cl, NN4 8PH 9:00 - 11:00; Rachael - 01604 762251

GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3yrs; 11:00, 13:00 & 14:00: 3-4yrs Tracey: 01604 859412 Enjoy ladders, beams, & climbing apparatus

Goldings Rainbows Childminding Group

9:00 - 11:00; Old Barns, The Obelisk Centre

Grange Park Stepping Stones

9:15 - 11:00, every 2nd & 4th wk, Grange Park Comm Centre, School Ln, NN4 5FZ Charlotte:01604 875188. For 0 - 4s Includes breakfast!

Child Health Clinic

9:00 - 11:00, 1st Tues every month; Grange Park Community Centre, School Ln, NN4 5FZ Health Visitors - 01604 742420

Hardingstone Music Bugs

Natural fitness sessions - guaranteed results!

Headlands Come & Play! With Health Visitor

10:00 - 11:00; Eastfield Primary School, St Alban’s Cl, NN3 2RJ; Free; 01604 411440 Play session for pre-schoolers. H/V there until 11:30, term time only.

Getting Off to a Good Start

Cedar Road Primary School 13:30 - 14:30: 01604 411440; For parents & their children starting school.

Kingsley Mums & Tots

13:30 - 15:00; Kingsley Park Meth. Church, Milton St, NN2 7JF

Kingsthorpe Aqualight Swimming

Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, NN2 6JN 15:30 - 17:30; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim sessions for 0-5s. Prebook!

Tuesday Tots - Mums and Tots Group

All Saints School, Boughton Green Rd 10:00 - 11:30; £1 + 50p p/c (<9mths free). Stacey: 07917 205544. Term time only.

Health Visitor Drop In

Wallace Road Nursery School, NN2 7EE 9:30-10:30; 1st Tues of mth. 01604 713422

Hardingstone Village Hall, High St, NN4 6DA 9:45 - 10:25 & 10:45 - 11:25 Fiona - 0844 5781017 to book Fun music sessions: Book a taster session!

Harlestone Natural Bootcamp

19:00 at Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Rd Scott: 07812 973562; £4.60

Kingsthorpe Children’s Ctre Drop Ins

9:00 - 11:00: Voice 4 Autism Group (referral) 16:00 - 17:30: Twice as Nice Twins Group 15:00 - 16:30: Story Play St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA

11:00 - 14:00 (10 wks to school age) Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term 30-min swimming classes, Booking essential.

Moulton Moulton Rhymetime

Moulton Library, Doves Lane, NN3 14:30-15:15; Free; 01604 646796

Northampton Centre Early Learning Centre Playtime

ELC, 14 Peacock Place, Abington St, NN1 2DP 9:30 - 11:30; Free; Sharon - 01604 626256 Drop in to play with ELC toys!

St Giles Toddle In

10:00-12:00; St Giles Church Centre, NN1 2BN; 50p/family; Sue - 01604 230360 Termtime only - crafts, play and singing

Northampton Central Rhymetime

10:15 - 10:45; Central Library, Abington Street, NN1 2BA. Free; 01604 4620403

Young Parents Lunch Club

11:30-14:00, Alliston Gardens Youth and Community Centre, Semilong. 01604 633894 For under 19s, free lunch included

Stay & Play Drop In

13:00 - 15:00; Spring Lane Children’s Centre, Spring Lane, NN1 2JW; 01604 620484

Breastfeeding Support Group

St Michael’s Church, Perry St, NN1 4HL 10:00 - 11:45: 07837 829113; Free

Spencer Drop in Family Health: 13:00-15:00 Stay & Play: 9:30 - 11:30

Camrose CC, Tenby Rd, NN5 7DF 01604 585219; Advice and baby weighing

St James St. James Rhymetime

Northants Breastfeeding Support

THE PROFESSIONAL BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT SERVICE

We offer a one off breastfeeding preparation session during your pregnancy plus follow-up consultations in the comfort of your own home after your baby is born... Coaching and support is available to help you: • • • • • • • • •

Help your baby to gain weight Have a contented baby in between feeds Diagnose tongue tie Treat and prevent sore and cracked nipples Treat and prevent mastitis and thrush Increase your milk supply Breastfeed twins and premature or under weight babies Integrate babies into breastfeeding after bottle feeding in hospital Offer reassurance to breastfeed a baby with jaundice

For more information and prices, visit the website

w w w. n o r t h a n t s b r e a s t f e e d i n g . c o m or telephone Emma on 07528 553594 28 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

Northampton Borough Thorplands Thorplands Breastfeeding Group

Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ 12:30 - 13:30; Free; 01604 741131

Health Visitor Drop In: 14:00 - 15:30; Male “Whole You”: 11:15 - 12:15: Free

Thorplands Children’s Centre, NN3 8AQ 01604 741131; Advice & baby weighing

Wootton Little Acorns Toddler Group

Wootton Trinity Church, High Street, Wootton 9:30 - 11:30; £2; For 0-5s, term time only Mandy: 01604 764605

Little Stars Group

St George the Martyr Church, Church Hill 14:00 - 15:00; Free; Toddler praise service.

WEDNESDAYS

Far Cotton Far Cotton Rhymetime

Far Cotton Library, Towcester Rd, NN4 8LG 10:30 - 11:00; Free; 01604 762192

GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3 yrs; 11:00: 3-4 yrs Tracey: 01604 859412; Enjoy ladders, beams, & climbing apparatus. Drop in 10am - 3pm in August for play session on equipment. Only £4 per child!

Grange Park Tumble Tots

Community Centre, School Lane, NN4 5FZ Gymbabes: 9:30: Toddlers; 10:30;

2-3yrs; 11:30; 3yrs+: 13:00 Naomi - 07779 785166 Structured Play for 6m to 5 yrs all year. Book!

Music Bugs

Kairos Centre 10 - 10:40; Fiona Bayliss: 0844 5781017 Music session for 0-5s. Book a taster session!

Tiny Time

15:00 - 16:30: Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre, St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537 Free drop in play session for babies

14:00 - 15:00 (term time); at Kairos Centre Angie: 07816 484851; Free Stories, songs, craft

Stay & Play

9:15 - 10:30: Green Oaks Primary School, Whiston Rd, NN2 7RR; 01604 791537

Harlestone Natural Bootcamp

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

19:00 at Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Rd Scott: 07812 973562; £4.60 Natural fitness sessions - guaranteed results!

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 10:00 - 13:00 (10 weeks - school age) Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term 30-min swimming classes. Booking essential.

Headlands Childminders Support Group

9:30 - 11:00 (1st Wed of mth); Headlands Children’s Centre, Bushland Road, NN3 2NS 01604 411440 A play session with advice, support and training.

Hunsbury The Abbey Centre Toddler Group

The Abbey Centre, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ. 9:30 - 11:30; £2 (1 or 2 children), 50p p/sib Alicia: 07917 752533. Activities & toys!

Water Play Session: 13:15 - 14:45;

Tots are free. Max two children under 8.

Lodge Farm

Play Sessions for 0-5s

The Barn, Community Ctr, Crestwood Rd 9:30 - 11:30; Free; 01604 785969

Northampton Centre Spring Lane Baby Cafe: 9:30 - 11:30 Dads’ Group: 13:00 - 15:00 (venue changes)

Spring Lane Sure Start, Spring Lane, NN1 2JW. 01604 620484 or 07795 110109 Free Breastfeeding support drop In group

Chatterbox

£5.50 (£4.95 with leisure card); For 3 - 5s Soft Play & Bouncy Castle: 9:15 & 10:00 £3.00 (£2.50 with leisure card); 6 m to 4 yrs Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Rd, NN4 01604 837 200; Term time only.

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

Kingsthorpe Holy Trinity Church Mums & Tots

10:00 - 11:45; Church Hall, Edinburgh Road

Seedlings

Pre School Gymnastics: 11:00 - 11:45

Camrose Sure Start, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 757694

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Kettering Rd. 9:30 - 11:15; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only.

Aqualight Swimming

Park Inn, Northampton 9:30 - 11:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim sessions for 0-5s. Prebook

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

St James Library, 138 St James Road, NN5 5LQ 10:00 - 11:00; Free - drop in; 01604 762192

Daily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough Messy Play: 15:30 - 16:30; £1 Baby Grow Drop In Group: 14:00 - 16:00 Breastfeeding Support: 14:00 - 16:00

Vernon Terrace Children’s Ctre, NN1 5HE 01604 633894

Toy Library

United Reformed Church, Abington Ave, Northampton, NN1 4QA; 10:00 - 11:30 A range of toys are available for 6 mths-5 years

Spencer Breastfeeding Group: 9:00-12:00 Stay & Play: 9:30 - 11:30

Abington United Reformed Church. 01604 521175; free

Museum Toddler Craft Session

Abington/Northampton Museum (alternates) 13:00 - 15:00, twice monthly; Free Liz or Lucy - 01604 838111

Boothville Mummies Birth Buddy Baby Massage: 9:30 - 11:00 Pregnancy Yoga: 11:15, 16:30 & 19:15 Postnatal Yoga: 13:30-15:00

Boothville, NN3 6PA

Mums ‘n’ Tots

Harlestone Natural Bootcamp

The Mounts Baths, Upper Mounts, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 15:30; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8.

10:30 at Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Rd Scott: 07812 973562; £4.60 Natural fitness sessions guaranteed results!

Thorplands Stay & Play

Headlands Come and Play!

Thorplands Children’s Ctre, Farm Field Ct, NN3 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 741131 Informal group for children under 5 years old. Finshes end of July 2011.

Headlands Children’s Centre, Bushland Rd, NN3 2NS 11:00 - 12:00 (term time); 01604 411440 Play Session for preschool children + parents.

Upton Talking Point

Hunsbury Pregnancy & Postnatal Pilates Classes

16 Mill Pond Drive, Upton, NN5 4EW 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Marilyn: 01604 454243 Bump - 8 mths. Meet other new mums!

18:00 (beginners) & 19:15 (improvers) The Maple Tree Clinic, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ. Susie, BackatEase: 07880 750258 Led by qualified Osteopath & exp. instuctor. 1 session at 18:15 in August.

Weston Favell Emmanuel Family Tots

THURSDAYS

Abington Active Play

13:30 - 14:45; Abington Children’s Centre,

9:30 - 11:00; East Hunsbury Primary School £2 per family; For 0 - 4s. Term time only

Hardingstone Village Hall, High St, NN4 6DA Sessions at 9:15 (2 yrs+), 10:15 (0 - 2.5 yrs) Fiona - 0844 5781017 Music for 0 - 5s. Book a taster session!

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

Weston Favell Rhymetime

East Hunsbury East Hunsbury Toddlers

Hardingstone Music Bugs

Gospel Hall, Spencer Bridge Road, NN5 7DP 9:30 - 11:00: donations; Gill: 07749 520588 Wide range of toys & singing session at end

Weston Favell Library, Shop Centre, NN3 8JZ 10:30 - 11:15 fortnightly; Free; 01604 403100

Sunbeams Stay & Play

United Reform Church, Main Road 9:30 - 11:30, fortnightly; 01604 752891

10:00 - 12:00; 10 Foxglove Close, Grange Park Charlotte-01604 875 188 or H/V01604 742420 Bump - 8 mths. Free. Meet other new mums!

St James Health Clinic 13:30 - 15:30; Free drop in; Spring Lane-01604 620484

Tots Group

St Luke’s CEVA School, St. Crispins Dr, NN5 4BL 14:00 - 15:15 ; 01604 592008

Grange Park Talking Point

St James Stay & Play & Mini Music Makers

The Salvation Army, Penistone Road 10:00 - 11:30; Mrs Pitt - 01604 404891

Duston St Luke’s Mums & Tots

Camrose Sure Start, Streatfield Rd, NN5 7DF Free; 01604 585219; Breastfeeding support

Emmanuel Church, Weston Favell Centre. 10:00 - 11:30; £1; Maureen 01604 402150 Relaxed atmosphere & safe playtime

30 min swim sessions for 10 wks - 5 years.

Claire: 07966 288236. Booking essential Baby Massage - deepen your bond with baby Pregnancy yoga - from 14 weeks onwards Postnatal yoga - immeadiately after birth

Brackmills Birthing Lightly with Yoga

Image Gym, Brackmills, Northampton, NN4 7EE 19:30 - 21:00. With Mummies Birth Buddy Claire Morrow-Goodman: 07966 288236

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming

Cripps Recreation Centre, Hospital, NN1 5BD 9:00 - 10:00; Book as 6-week term Denise - 01604 826066. Booking essential.

Under 8s Water Play Session

Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Rd 8:45 - 10:30; Tots are free; 01604 837200 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

9:30-11:30; Camrose (Kings Heath), 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ; 01604 757694

Kingsthorpe Northampton Homebirth Group

Whitehills Nursery School, Acre Ln, NN2 8DF 19:30 - 21:30, 1st Thur of mth; Free Kelly - 07716 017366 Discuss home birth options with midwives.

Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre

30 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

Northampton Borough Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre, St David’s Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Baby Massage: 13:30 - 14:30 Stay and Play: 9:45 – 10:45

Vernon Terrace Children’s Centre, NN1 5HE. 01604 633894.

Cupcakes & Cuddles Cafe for Babies

St Crispins Little Signers Club

10:00 - 11:00, St Crispins (venue TBC) Angie: 07816 484851; £45 for 6 weeks Baby signing fun for you and your little one

St James Stay & Play Drop in

Time 2 Play Messy Play Baby Group

Roobarb & Custard, 12 Wellington St, NN1 1:00 - 15:00; Free; Term time only Stacy: 07880 558440. For babies under 12 m.

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

Song Time

St James Health Clinic, St James 10:00 - 11:00 (baby massage) & 13:30 - 15:30 Free Drop in; 0-5s; 01604 620484

Young Parents Stay & Play

Lyncrest Primary School, Lyncrest Ave, NN5 5PE 9:30 - 11:30; £1 per family; 01604 751336 0- 5s, inc. snack & drink. Termtime only.

Wallace Road Nursery, Wallace Rd, NN2 7EE 9:15 - 11:00; £1.00; 01604 713422

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 11:00 - 18:00 (10 weeks - school age) Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term 30-min swimming classes. Booking essential.

Moulton Toddle Inn

10:00 - 11:00; Castle Primary School, St Georges St, NN1 2TR Spring Lane Children’s Centre: 01604 620484 11:30 - 14:00; Venues change - call for details Spring Lane Children’s Centre: 01604 620484; Group for young parents

Carey Baptist Church, 34 West St, NN3 7SB 10:30 - 12:00 and 13:30 - 15:00. For 0 - 4s.

Bumps & Babies with H/V: 13:00 - 14:30

Boothville & Moulton NCT Group

Mums & Tots Drop In: 13:00 - 15:00

Moulton Park Pregnancy Yoga Class

Rectory Farm Rectory Farm Toddler Group

Various parents’ houses - call for location! 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Carolyn - 01604 790496

19:15 - 21:00 (July & August); Moulton Park Mummies Birth Buddy: 07966 288236; Might run into Sept. Booking essential.

Northampton Centre Rendez Vous

10:00 - 11:00; The Rendez Vous Cafe, 15 Peacock Place, NN1 2DP (run by Vernon Terrace Children’s Centre). 01604 633894

Aqualight Aqua-Natal Courses

Barry Road Pool, Covington Street, NN1 5JU 19:00 - 19:45. Emie Kitson: 01604 83 04 05; Fitness classes for pregnant & postbirth mums

(2nd & 4th of mth)

Spring Lane Children’s Centre, NN1 2JW 01604 620484; Drop in sessions

The Mounts Aquanatal Fitness Class

19:15 - 20:15; The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 01604 837400; £4 non-members; Plse prebook

Thorplands Les Canetons French Singing Group

Lodge Farm Barn, Crestwood Rd, NN3 8JJ 10:00 - 11:00; £3.70 + 70p per sibling 07985 712339; www.speaktheirlanguage.co.uk French Singing Group for Little People. All year.

9:30: Rectory Farm School, Olden Rd, NN3 5DD

Spencer Camrose Stay and Play

Children’s Centre, Tenby Rd, NN5 7DF 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 585219. Drop in session.

Spinney Hill Parklands Mums & Tots Group

Lyncrest Primary Parent & Toddler

Community Centre, Devon Way, NN3 6DX 13:15 - 14:45; £2 entry Emma: emma.kippen@googlemail.com. Snacks, different activity each week & a raffle!

Teens & Tinies (Mums <19 yrs) 11:30-13:00. Free; 01604 741131 Thorplands Children’s Centre, Farm Field Court Drop-in Sessions

Child & Parent Ctr (NSPCC), 48 Waterpump Ct 10:00 - 12:00; Free; 01604 493336 For 0 - 4s. Toys, arts & crafts, music, etc.

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

13:00 - 14:45: Stay & Play Drop-in 15:30 - 17:30: Breastfeeding Drop In 19:00 - 20:30: Dads’ Football

Daily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough Weston Favell Tumble Tots

Grange Park Little Signers Club

St. Peters, Church Hall, High Street, NN3 3JX Babes: 9:30; Toddlers: 10:30; 2-3 yrs: 11:30 Naomi - 07779 785 166 Structured Play for 6m-5yrs all year. Book!

Kairos Centre, Saxon Ave, NN4 5FB 10:00: Drop in!, 11:00: Beginners (Prebook) Angie: 07816 484851 Baby signing fun for you and little one

Wootton Fields Wootton Fields Rhymetime

Hardingstone N H S Toddlers Group

Wootton Fields Library, Wooldale Rd, NN4 6TP 10:15 - 10:45; Free; 01604 669213; Term time

FRIDAYS

13:30 - 15:00: Northampton High School, Newport Pagnell Rd £1.50 per session; 01604 667979

Abington Library Rhymetime

Kingsthorpe Rhymetime

Northampton Centre Northampton Baby Cafe

The Kids Kitchen Classes

10:00 at 44 Beech Avenue, NN3 2HE Catherine: 01604 710102 Book in 3 week blocks. Running through Summer holidays.

10:30 - 12:30; Friends Meeting House, Wellington St, NN1 3AS Free; 07780 672939 Breastfeeding support + drink & biscuit!

Baby Massage

Spring Lane Children’s Centre, NN1 2JW 10:00 - 11:00 (term time): 01604 620484

Chatterbox

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 147-155 Kettering Road, NN1 4BS 9:30 - 11:15am; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only

Rhyme Time: 10:00 - 10:45

Abington Children’s Centre, Abington United Reformed Church. 01604 521175; free

Mini Music & Baby Music

Boothville Mummies Birth Buddy Pregnancy Yoga: 9:15, 11:15 & 18:00 Baby Massage: 9:30 - 11:00 Postnatal Yoga: 13:30-15:00

Boothville, NN3 6PA. Booking essential. Claire: 07966 288236; £36 for 6 weeks Pregnancy yoga from 14 weeks onwards Postnatal yoga for immediately after birth

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming

9:00 - 12:00, Cripps Recreation Centre, Northampton Hospital, NN1 5BD Denise - 01604 826066; Book per 6-week term 30min swim classes for 10wks-4yrs. Pre-book

Collingtree Active Baby Company

13:30 - 15:30; Hilton Hotel, Collingtree Denise Wesson: 01604 826066 30-min swim classes. Book per 6-week term.

Earls Barton Earls Barton Rhymetime

Earls Barton Library, Broad Street, NN6 0ND 14:30 – 15:00; Free; 01604 810726; Term time

Far Cotton Far Cotton Rhymetime

Kingsthorpe Children’s Ctre, St David Rd, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, NN2 6JN 12:00 -14:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 3s. Prebook!

14:15 - 14:45; Lindsay Ave, NN3 2SJ Free; 01604 401402; Termtime only

Music Bugs

Kingsthorpe Fun and Fitness Soft Play: 9:30 - 10:30 Young Parents: 13:00 - 15:00. Under 25s

Aqualight Swimming

9:30 - 11:30 (term time); 50p Come & Play - Activities every week!

Abington Parish Rooms, Ashburnham Road 9:10 - 9:50, 10:00 - 10:40 Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 to book Music sessions for 0-5s. Book a Trial!

Camrose (Kings Heath), 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 01604 757694

Kingsthorpe Library, Welford Road, NN2 6AG 10:15 - 10:45; Free; 01604 714021; 0-5s

Abington St Gregory’s Toddler Group St Gregory’s Church, Birchfield Rd East

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in: 9:30 - 11:30

Far Cotton Library, Towcester Rd, NN4 8LG 10:30 - 11:00; Free; 01604 762192

Vernon Terrace Children’s Centre, NN1 5HE 9:30 - 10:30, 10:45 - 11:45 (babies) £1; 01604 633894; Music, movement & songs

For 2 - 3 yrs. Termtime only

Headlands Aqualight Swimming

Headlands pool, Northampton 9:30 - 11:30; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0-4yrs. Prebook!

Headlands Parent and Tots Group

Headlands School, Bushland Rd, NN3 2NS 9:00 - 11:00; £1; Julie - 01604 413462 Activities for 0 - 4s. Term-time only.

Hunsbury Little Kickers

The Abbey Centre, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ 10:00 - 10:45: Little Kicks Lynne: 01327 310373; Football classes for 18 months to 2 yrs 3mths

Pre School Gymnastics Sessions

15:45 - 16:30; Danes Camp Leisure Centre 01604 837 200; £5.50 (£4.95 members) For 3 years to School age. Term time only.

Abbey Centre Baby & Toddler Group

Abbey Centre, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury 12:30 - 14:30; Karen: 01604 760194; £1.50

Spencer Breastfeeding Drop In Group

Camrose Sure Start, Tenby Road, NN5 7DF 9:00 - 12:00; Free; 01604 585219

St James Stay & Play Drop-In

St James Health Clinic, St James 9:30 - 11:30; Free; 01604 620484

Elim Mums and Tots Group

Elim Christian Centre, Gladstone Rd, NN5 7EG 10:00 - 11:30; £1 per family + 50p per sibling Michelle: 07799 314241. Term time only. Crafts, food and fun in happy, safe environment

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 15:30; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Thorplands Thorplands Children’s Centre

9:00 - 10:30: Health Visitor Clinic 9:30 -11:30: Midwife Drop In 13:00 - 14:30: Toddle Tots Group (fortnightly) 13:00 - 14:30: Little Stars (fortnightly) Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ. 01604 741131 TT is for walking to 3yrs. Little Stars for preschool children with additional needs.

32 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

Northampton Borough Natural fitness sessions - guaranteed results!

St Peter’s Church Hall, High St, NN3 3JX 9:30: Gymbabes; 10:30: Toddlers; 11:30: 2-3yrs; 13:00: 3yrs+ Naomi - 07779 785166 Structured Play from 6m to 5 yrs. Book!

Wootton Wootton Trinity Toddler Group

9.30 - 11.30; Wootton Trinity Church, High St. £2/family; Mandy: 01604 764605; 0-5s. Term.

Preston Hedgehogs

Wootton Community Centre, Curtlee Hill 9:30 - 11:30; £2.50/family; Nicky-07854 441062 Play time & songs. Term time only.

SATURDAYS

Abington The Kids Kitchen Classes

10:00 at 44 Beech Avenue, NN3 2HE Catherine: 01604 710102 Book in 3 week blocks. Running through Summer holidays.

Grange Park Little Signers Club

Harlestone Natural Bootcamp

10:00 at Harlestone Firs, Harlestone Rd Scott: 07812 973562; £4.60

In the Water

SUNDAYS

Children’s Centre, St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS 10:00 - 12:00; 01604 791537

Northampton Centre Move, Make & Do

Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Rd, NN1 1DP 14:00 - 15:00. 01604 624811; £5 per child Drop in for stories, drama, dancing and music

Aqualight Swimming

Barry Road School Baths. Barry Road, NN1 5JS 14:00 -18:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 7yrs. Prebook.

Birth Preparation Courses with Partner

Venue TBC in Northampton 9:45 - 16:30, monthly - prebook only Claire: 07966 288236; £60 per couple Learn breathing, positioning & partners roles.

The Mounts, Northampton Mounts Baths family swimming

Wootton Community Centre, Curtlee Hill. Gymbabes: 9:30; Toddlers: 10:30; 2 - 3 yrs: 11:30; 3yrs - school: 12:45

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

The Duston School, Berrywood Rd, NN5 6XA 9.30 - 10:15: 2 - 3½ yrs & 3½ - 5th b’day 10.30 - 11:15: 2 - 3½ yrs & 1½ - 2yrs 3mth 11.30 - 12:15: 2-3½yrs & 5-6 yrs Lynne: 01327 310373 Football classes for 18 months to 6 years

Hunsbury Under 8s Tots Water Playgroup

Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Road 8:00 - 9:00; Tots are free; 01604 837200 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Northampton Centre Aqualight Swimming

The Mounts Mounts Baths Family Swimming

11:00 - 13:00; Duke Street Evangelical Church, 4-8 Duke Street, The Mounts, NN1 3BA Moyra: 01604 635535; Free Next dates: 17th Sept & 3rd Dec 2011

Wootton Tumble Tots

Duston Little Kickers

Barry Road School Baths. Barry Road, NN1 5JS 15:00 -17:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 4s. Prebook.

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 17:00; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Messy Church

Kairos Centre, Saxon Ave, NN4 5FB 10:00 - 11:00 - beginner’s class (Prebook) Angie: 07816 484851 Baby signing fun for you and little one

Naomi - 07779 785 166 Structured play for 6m-5yrs. Book a trial.

Kingsthorpe Dads’ Group - 3rd Sat of month

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 8:00 - 15:45; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Weston Favell Lings Forum Family Swimming

Lings Forum Leisure Centre, Billing Brook Rd. 10:00 - 11:00; Tots are free; 01604 837 300 Maximum of two children under 8 years

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

Weston Favell Tumble Tots

Daily Activity Planner

South Northants District MONDAYS

Bicester Sing & Sign

Salvation Army building, Hart Place, Bicester 9:45-10:45 (advanced), 11:00-12:00 (beginners) £66.00 per 11 wk term. Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Brackley Preschool Gymnastics Club

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 13:45 - 14:45; Booking essential: 01280 701789 For 3 - 5 years. Termly, termtime only.

Silverstone Baby Stay & Play

St Michael’s Church, Silverstone 10:30 - 12:00: 01327 811426; A quieter session for babies 0 - 18 months.

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 9:30 - 11:30; £3.20 per child 01280 701787

Little Fishes

Towcester Little Turtle Swim Company

Baptist Church, Waynflete Close, NN13 6AE 9:15 - 10:30 or 10:45 - 12:00; For 0 - 5s

Breastfeeding Group

Brackley Children’s Centre 10:00-10:30: Baby Rhymetime (0-12 m) 10:45-11:30: BABS Breastfeeding Grp 13:30 - 15:00: Chill & Chat Session

9:30 – 12:00; Gateway School, Tiffield Zara - 01908 543384; £54 for 6 weeks 30-min swim sessions for 2mths–5 yrs. Brook Health Ctre, Swinneyford Rd 11:00 - 12:30; Free; 01327 323900 Very informal and open to all mums

Brackley Library, Manor Road; 01280 841674 Free Drop In Groups. Chill and chat for young parents under 23 years old.

Crafty Play

13:30 - 14:45; Run by Children’s Centre at Brackley Baptist Church. For 2-5yrs, please book your place

Noah’s Ark

Methodist Church, High St, NN13 9:30 - 11:30 Parent & Toddler group for 0 -5s

Bugbrooke Bugbrooke Stay & Play

Tiddlers Stay & Play: 10:00 -

Bugbrooke Comm Centre, Camp Cl., NN7 3RW 10:00 - 11:30; Free. 01327 811426 Drop in play session inc crafts & singing.

11:30 (1-2 yrs)

More than One!: 13:00-15:00

(mthly, for multiple birth families) Book Club: 19:00-20:00 (prebook) Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road Free Drop ins groups; 01280 841674

Tiny Tots Service

14.30pm - 15:15; Bugbrooke Church Singing & story service then toy-time

Deanshanger Deanshanger Stay & Play

Childminder Support Group

Deanshanger Community Centre 10:00 - 11:30; 01327 811426 Drop in play session inc crafts & singing

Run by Brackley Children’s Centre, at Women’s Institute Hall, Manor Rd, Brackley 9:30 - 11:30, monthly. 01280 841674 Free Drop in session for childminders

Tiny Treasures Baby Group

Deanshanger Holy Trinity Church 10:30 - 11:45; 01327 811426; Free For 0-6 months, 4th Jan to 22nd Feb

Buckingham Musical Minis

Denton Village Tots

Well St. Centre, Well St, MK18 1EN 10:00 - 10:45 & 11:00 - 11:45; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in offers

Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Denton, NN7 1DL 14:00 - 16:00; Lucy: 07919 185149 £1.50; 2nd Tues of mth =baby weighing.

Middleton Cheney Stay & Play

Litchborough Litchborough Play Time

Middleton Cheney Children’s Centre, Library. 10:00 - 11:30; 01327 811426; Free. Drop in; Crafts, games & toys.

Milton Malsor Musical Minis

Milton Malsor Village Hall, NN7 10:00 - 10:45; Amanda: 01908 259914 Fun session for 0 to pre-schoolers.

Newport Pagnell Musical Minis

13:45 - 14:30; Portfields Community Centre, Wordsworth Ave. Amanda: 01908 259914 £4 p/c. Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Roade Baby Stay & Play

10:30 - 12:00: Roade Village Hall 01327 811426; Plse call for details A quieter session for babies 0 - 18 months.

Village Hall, Northampton Rd, NN12 8JA; 13:45 - 15:30; £1.50 per family Vanessa - 01327 830823; For 0 - 5s Crafts & singing, term time and hols too

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

Towcester Centre for Leisure 14:00 – 15:00; £3.20 per child; 01327 322480

TUESDAYS

Banbury Rugrats Twins and Multiples Group

Rugrats and Halfpints, Beaumont Rd, OX16 1QY 10:30-13:00; £4/family; Simone: 07921 460086 Fortnightly meeting - in hols too.

Brackley Musical Minis

Leisure Centre, Springfield Way, NN13 6JJ 10:30-11:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Middleton Cheney Baby Stay & Play

Middleton Cheney Children’s Centre, Library 10:30 - 12:00: 01327 811426 A quieter session for babies 0 - 18 months.

Potterspury Potterspury Under Fives

Village Hall, Church End, NN12 7PX 13:00 - 15:00 (Term time only) Cathryn: 07961 587236; £1.50 per family Family stay and play for 0-5

Towcester Sing & Sign Baby Signing

Brook Health Centre, Swinneyford Road 10:30-12:00: Beginners + Improvers Booking essential. Corma: 01280 704705 Fun baby Signing classes with music & props

34 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

South Northants District Deanshanger Deanshanger Toddler Group

Roade Roade Storytime

Holy Trinity Church, Deanshanger 13:30 – 15:00; Free; Jennie - 01908 564725

Roade Library, High Street, NN7 16:00 - 16:30; Free; For 4 - 8s. Free

Baby Stay & Play

Childminder Support Group

Stony Stratford Tatty Bumpkin

Towcester Children’s Centre, Islington Road 10:30 - 12:00: 01327 811426; Free A quieter session for babies 0 - 18 months.

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

9:30 - 11:30; Towcester Centre for Leisure, Springfields, £3.20 per child; 01327 322480

WEDNESDAYS

Brackley Preschool Football Sessions

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 16:00 – 17:00; Booking #: 01280 701790 Termly football course for 4 yr-olds.

Brackley Story Time

10:30-11:00, Brackley Library, NN13 6AJ Free Storytime sessions open to all

Brackley Children’s Centre Drop Ins Toy Library Ordering: 9:00 - 12:00 monthly Outside Fun: 10:00 - 11:30 (2nd & 4th Wed) Job Centre Plus: 14:30 - 16:00 (2nd Wed) Grandparents Group: 13:30 - 15:00 (1st & 3rd wks of mth) Brackley Library, Manor Road; 01280 841674

Cogenhoe Stay and Play

Deanshanger Community Centre 9:30 - 11:30; £2 per childminder Rachel: 01908 261864

Whitespace Yoga, High St, MK11 1LJ 16:00 (2 - 5 yrs) & 16:45 (4 - 9 yrs) Reanne: 0845 6804981 Yoga-inspired sessions for kids. Please book.

Greens Norton Tots Own Toddler Group

14:15 - 15:15; St Bartholemew’s Church 30p; Harriet - 07738 003418; Term time only

Hackleton Cupcakes & Cuddles Cafe for Babies

Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NN7 2AH 13:30 - 16:30; Stacy: 07880 558440; free; All yr For those with babies in their first year.

Middleton Cheney Love Ballet Dance Company

Scout Hut, Midway, OX17 2QW 15.50 (4-6yrs); 16:20 (7-10yrs); 16:50 (11yrs+) Miss Lorraine: 07711 010404 Street Dance classes for children 4 years+

Middleton Cheney Rhymetime

Middleton Cheney Library, Main Road, OX17 10:00 - 10:30, 1st Wed of the mth; Free

Pattishall Pattishall Mums & Tots

Towcester Wednesday Tots Group

St John’s Ambulance Hall, Islington Rd, NN12 9.30 – 11:00; £1.40; Jane - 01327 352321 For 0 – 5s Inc. sing-song. Termtime only

Baby & Me Group

Upstairs Brook Health Centre, Swinneyford Rd 14:00 - 15:30; Donation for tea; 01327 350182 For new babies up to 6 months

Weston Weston Tiny Tots

Weston Baptist Chapel, High Street, NN12 8PU 10:00 - 11:30; £2; Rosemary: 01295 760720 Term time only

Winslow Musical Minis

Winslow Public Hall, Elmsfield Gate, Bucks 9:45 - 10:30; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Pattishall Parish Hall, School Lane 13:30 – 15:00; £1.50; Term time only.

14:00 - 15:15; Cogenhoe Village Hall Free; Children’s Centre: 01327 811426

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

Parent & Baby Swimming

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, 9:00 - 11:00; £25.20 for 6-week course 01327 322480; Swim lessons for 6 mth+

Daily Activity Planner

South Northants District

THURSDAYS

Ashton Ashton Parent & Toddler Group

Ashton CE Primary School, Roade Hill, NN7 2JH 13:30 - 15:00; £1; Laura - 07825 371624

Banbury Sing & Sign

Rugrats and Halfpints, Beaumont Road. 13:30 - 14:30 (beginners + improvers) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma : 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Kislingbury Kizzle Tots

Kislingbury Baptist Church, Mill Rd, NN7 4BB 9:30 - 11:30; £1 per family; For 0 – 4s. Heather - 07962 157669; Term time only.

Roade Roade Stay & Play

Roade Community Centre 10:00 - 11:30; 01327 811426; Free drop in Activities include crafts, games & toys.

The Chantry House, Watling Street. 13:30 - 15:00; Free; 0844 2436299 Relaxed with baby toys and soft mats.

Towcester Toy Library

Towcester Community Centre, Islington Road 9:30 - 11:30; £1.50 per family. 01327 860437 Toy hire from 50p. Re-opening February ‘11

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 9:30 - 11:30; £3.20 per child. 01280 701787

FRIDAYS

First Steps

Sparrows Toddler Group

Pregnancy & Postnatal Pilates Classes

Brook health Centre, Towcester 11am - 12pm; Susie: 07880 750 258 Led by qualified Osteopath & experienced instructor. Running through August.

Bumps & Babies Group

Brackley Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Rd, NN13 7BZ 9:15 - 11:30 (10:00 -12:00 in holidays) Val: 01280 701864; £1.50 per family Breakfast, chat, songs, bible stories, crafts.

Towcester Little Signers Club

13:30 - 14:30; Venue TBC Angie: 07816 484851; £45 for 6 weeks Baby signing fun for you and your little one

Banbury Sing & Sign

Grimsbury Comm. Hall, Burchester Pl. OX16 3JT 9:45-10:45 (advanced); 11:00-12:00 (beginners) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma : 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

9:30am - 11:30; St Peters Church, Church Rd

Blakesley Blakesley Mums & Tots

Brackley Rhymetime

Brackley Library, Manor Road, NN13 6AJ 14:15 - 14:45; Free; Cathy - 01280 703455 Free singing sessions open to all

Blakesley Village Hall, Blakesley 10:00 - 11:30; £1.50 per family For 0 – 5s. Includes drinks and biscuit

Brackley Children’s Centre

Brackley Tadpoles Toddler Group

New Baby & You: 10:00 - 11:30 (6-12m) Parent Craft: 18:00 - 20:00 Brackley Library, Manor Road. 01280 841674 New Baby & You runs weekly. Free drop-in.Parent Craft is a 3-week course, runs bi-monthly

Action Kids (with Children’s Centre)

Women’s Institute Hall, Manor Road 10:15 - 11:00 Free; 01280 841674 For children from toddlers to 5 yrs

Buckingham Sing & Sign

Tumblers Play Centre, Bridge Street, MK18 1EL 10:00 (advanced) & 11:00 (beginners) Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Bugbrooke Bugbrooke Parent & Tots

9:00 - 11:00; Sunday School, Church Lane Free; 0 – 4s; Toys , painting & crafts activities.

Evenley Sing & Sign

Evenley Village Hall, Broad Ln, NN13 5SD 9:45 - 10:45 (adv), 11:00 - 12:00 (beginners) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

10:00-11:30, St Peters Church, Church Rd

New Baby & You

Silverstone Musical Monkeys

Silverstone Pavillion, Church St, NN12 8XA 10:30 - 11:30; £3.50 (£4 for family). Vanessa - 07917 683330 Drop in for music, parachute and cake!

Silverstone Tiny Tots

9:15am; St Michael’s Church; Open to all.

Silverstone Tiggers

Methodist Church Rooms 13:30 – 15:00: £1.50; Catherine: 07854 309241 Puzzles, books, toys & trampoline.

Stony Stratford Musical Minis

York House, London Road, Stony Stratford. 9:30 - 10:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Stony Stratford Storytime

Stony Stratford Library, 5-7 Church Street 14:00 - 14:30; Free; 01908 562562 Story sessions for under 5s

Brackley Children’s Centre, Brackley Library, Manor Road, NN13 6AJ 10:00 - 11:30; Free; 01280 841674 Advice and support for babies 0 - 6 mths

Croughton Croughton Mother & Tots Group

Croughton Village Hall 10:00 – 12:00; £2; Beckie – 01869 819734 From birth - school. Term-time only.

Deanshanger Deanie Tots

9:30 - 11:30; Community Centre, Deanshanger Rachel: 07710845865; £2 per family. Toys and crafts/activities

Deanshanger Rhymetime

Deanshanger Library, Little London, MK19 14:00 - 14:30, 4th Friday of mth Free singing sessions open to all

Nether Heyford Nether Heyford Little Fishes Group

Church rooms, The Green, NN7 3LE 11:00 - 13:00; £1 (free first session) Lia: 07709 020378; Bring sandwiches for lunch.

36 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

South Northants District Roade Roade Rhymetime

Roade Library, High Street, NN7 Free singing sessions open to all Call for details

Towcester Towcester Twins Group

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 9:00 - 10:15; £3.20 per child; 01327 322480 Soft play drop in sessions for 0 – 5s

Brook Health Centre, Swinneyford Rd 14:00 - 15.30 fortnightly; Free Melanie - 01327 351097; Ring for dates

Parent & Baby Swimming Lessons

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 9:00 - 11:00; £25.20 for 6-week course 01327 322480; 30-min swim classes for 6 mths+

Towcester Rhymetime

Towcester Library, Richmond Road, 10:00 , 10:45 & 11:30, 2nd & 4th wks of mth Free 30-min singing sessions for 0-5s

Towcester Stay & Play

Children’s Centre, Islington Road. 10:00 - 11:30; Free; 01327 811426 Activities include crafts, games & toys.

Wicken Akeley Wood Baby & Toddler

Akeley Wood Nursery, MK19 6DA 10:00 - 11:30; Free; Nicola - 01908 571231 For 0 - 3s. Free play with lots of activities.

Towcester Mighty Atoms

SATURDAYS

Brackley Kids & Co. for Dads: 10:00-12:00

Runs monthly - free for male carers & kids. First Aid: Mornings, Every 3rd month First Aid training run by Red Cross. Please book Baby Led Weaning: Morning, Every 3rd mth Weaning classes run by BabyWays. Please book Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road Please call for info & to book: 01280 841674

Mighty Atoms

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way, 10:30 – 12:30; £3.20 per child; 01280 701787 Drop in soft play sessions for 0-5s

Swimming Lessons

Brackley Pool, Manor Rd, NN13 6EE 9:00; £4.20 per 30 minute lesson Booking essential: 01280 704906 Termly swim lessons for 6 mths - 3 yrs

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Little Turtle Swim Company

Gateway School, St. Johns Rd, Tiffield 10:45–16:15; Zara: 01908 543384; £54 for 6wks 30-minute swim sessions for 2 mths - 8 yrs

Parent & Baby Swimming Lessons

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 8:30-10:00; £25.20 for 6-wks; 01327 322480 30-min swim classes for 6 mths+

SUNDAYS

Towcester Active Baby Company Swimming

Gateway School, St. Johns Rd, Tiffield, NN12 8:30 – 13:00; Book as 5-week term Denise - 01604 826066 30-min swim classes for 10wks–7y. Book.

Search online!

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

Stony Stratford Musical Monkeys

York House Centre, London Rd, MK11 1JQ 10:00 - 11:00; £3.50 (£4 for family). Vanessa - 07917 683330 Drop in for music, parachute and cake!

Daily Activity Planner

MONDAYS

Daventry District

Braunston Little Fishes Toddler Group

All Saints Church, High Street. 14:00 – 15:00; 07762 620707 (Marian), 01327 702466 (Liz) For 0 – 5s. Termtime only. Free!

Byfield Baby Clinic

14:00 - 15:30; Byfield Surgery, Church St. Free; Philippa - 01327 260804 Health clinic inc weighing. Appointment only.

Catthorpe, Leicestershire Music Bugs

Manor Farm Cafe, Catthorpe, LE17 6DB 9:10 and 10:00; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Fun music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book a Taster!

Crick Crick Tots

10:30 - 12:00; Crick Village Hall £2/family; Cath: 01788 824344 Includes fun activities, snack and drink

Daventry Love Ballet Dance Company

Nene Hall, Tamar Square, NN11 4RB Mon: 16:00 & 16:30: 3-5yrs; 17:00: 5-6yrs Lorraine: 07711 010404 Ballet classes for children 3 years+. Older children and adult classes run at later times.

Acorn Parent & Toddler Group

United Ref. Church, Foundry Place 9.30 – 11:00; £1; Rosemary - 01327 872650 0-5s. Story time 10.30 & singing 10.45.

DABS Breastfeeding Group

Daventry Sure Start Centre, 14 Benbow Close 13:00 - 15:00; 01327 313861: Free Breastfeeding support drop in group

Country Park Fun

10:00 - 12:00 at Daventry Country Park Children’s Centre: 01327 313861

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:30 – 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144 Indoor soft play area For up to 8 yrs;

Harlestone Harlestone Tiny Tots

10:00 - 11:30; Harlestone Village Hall £1.50 + 50p p/c 1yr+; Janet - 01604 843991. For 0 – 4s. Term & holidays. Call b4 coming!

Kilsby Kilsby Playtime

9:45 - 11:45; Kilsby Village Hall, Rugby Road £1.50 + 50p p/c; Term time; All welcome Susan: 07845 751449 or 01788 823079

Long Buckby Yoga for Pregnancy

Long Buckby Community Centre, NN6 7WB 18:15 - 19:45; £42 for 6-week course Lizzy Giles: 07950 573719 Physical & emotional pregnancy support

Long Buckby Mums & Tots

Community Centre, 41 Station Rd, NN6 7QB 9.30 – 11:30

Stay and Play

Long Buckby Community Centre 14:00 - 15:30. 01327 701604; Free Drop in

Rugby Music Bugs

Hilmorton Church, Dunsmore Rd, CV22 5HD 14:00 – 14:40; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book Taster!

Scaldwell Scaldwell Mums & Tots

Scaldwell Village Hall, School Lane, NN6 9LD 10:00 - 12:00; £1.50 per family Kathryn - 01604 882786 Friendly group. Termtime only.

Upper Boddington Love Ballet Dance Company

Upper Boddington Village Hall, Warwick Road 9:30 (Nursery Ballet) & 10:20 (Adult Ballet) Lorraine: 07711 010404; Ballet for 2 - 5yrs & adults (no exp. necessary)

Woodford Halse Stay ‘n’ Play: 13:30 - 15:00 Midwife Drop in: 14:00 -16:00 (monthly)

Children’s Centre, Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU Free; 01327 264809; Drop in session.

TUESDAYS

10.30 – 12:00; Free; Jane - 01327 843453 For 0 - 4 years. In school holidays too!

Sparkles

Long Buckby 9:30 - 11:00, venue TBC. Referal only - please call 01327 701604 Group for children with additional needs

Naseby Brixworth & Villages NCT Group

10:00 - 12:00; Naseby Methodist Church £1.50 per family; Jo - 01604 881344 Non-members welcome

Rugby Little Kickers

Dunchurch Village Hall, Rugby Rd, CV22 6PN 14:00 - 14:45: “Junior Kickers” Lynne: 01327 310373 45-minute football sessions for 2 - 3.5 years

Music Bugs

Bilton Church, Main St, Bilton, CV22 7NB 9:30 - 10:10 & 10:30 - 11:10; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book trial!

Weedon Little Goslings Baby & Toddler

Boddington Boddington Toddler Group

Weedon Bec Village Hall, West St, NN7 4QU 13:30 – 15:00; £1.50 per family Sonia - 01327 349951 Toys, crafts, song time + outside play.

Braunston Braunston Toddler Group

Woodford Halse Woodford Halse Children’s Centre 10:30 - 12:30: New Babes Group 14:00 – 16:00: Toddles Group Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809; Free

9:30 - 11:30; Boddington Village Hall, CV47

13:30 - 15:00; Braunston Village Hall, NN11

Daventry Tumble Tots

The Saxon Suite, Leisure Centre, Lodge Rd. 9:30: Gymbabes; 10:30: Toddlers; 11:30: 2-3yrs; 12:45: 3yrs - school Call Naomi to book - 07779 785166 Structured Play for 6m to 5 yrs. Runs all year.

Love Ballet Dance Company

Nene Hall, Tamar Sqre, The Grange. Acting, Performance & Singing: 16:00 (3-5 yrs), 16:45 (6-8yrs) & 17:45 (9-12yrs) Tap Dance: 17:15 (3-5yrs) & 17:45 (5-8yrs) Adults: 18:15-Tap; 19:15-Street; 8pm:ZUMBA Miss Lorraine: 07711 010404

Middlemore Mums & Tots (NCT)

9:45 - 11:15; Middlemore Farm Pub, Hidcote Way, NN11 5JZ £1 donation; Kiran: 07714 767867 For bump - 3 yrs. Hot drink, biscuit & crafts.

Toddlers Group

Holy Cross Church, Church Walk 13:30-14:45, 2nd Tues of mth; Free Paula: 01327 877979 Termtime only. Fun find teddy game!

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:30 - 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144 Soft play area for up to 8 yrs

New babes 0 - 12 mths & Toddles 12 mths+

WEDNESDAYS

Badby Badby Mums & Tots

9:30 - 11:30 Badby Village Hall, The Green

Barby Chatterbox Baby & Toddler Group Barby Village Hall, Barby, Rugby, 9:30 - 11:30; £1.50; Inc drink & biscuit

Brixworth

Nature Tots @ Brixworth Country Park Northampton Road, NN6 9DG 10:00 - 11:30 (3rd Wednesday of month) 01604 883920; £3.00 - booking essential A parents and tots group with a difference! Byfield Rhyme Time

Byfield School Hall, Bell Lane, NN11 6US 10:15 - 11:00; Free; 01327 264809 For 0 - 5s. Please pre-book

Daventry Little Signers Club

Stay n Play (inc Messy Play): 12.30 - 14.30 Weaning Party: 10:00 - 11:00 (2nd week) Daventry Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close, Free; Jenny - 01327 313861

10:00 - 11:00; Daventry: venue TBC Angie: 07816 484851; £45 for 6 weeks Baby signing for you and your little one

Daventry Rhymetime

10:15 - 10:35 (fortnightly); Daventry Library, North Street; 01327 703130 Free story session open to all

Long Buckby Long Buckby Mums and Babies

Abbey Centre, Market Square, NN11 4BH 13:30 - 15:00; Free; 01327 313861

10:00 & 10:30, fortnightly; Daventry Library, North Street; 01327 703130 Free singing & music sessions open to all

Daventry Story Time

Young Parents Group

Baptist Church, on Market Place

38 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

Methodist Church Hall, Golding Close 10:00 – 12:00

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:30 - 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144

Itsy Bitsy (Baby clinic): 13:00 - 14:30 Baby Signing: 10:00 - 11:00

Daventry Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close Free; 01327 313861 Itsy Bitsy: H/V baby-weighing + advice.

Active Baby Company Swimming

Barcélo Hotel, Sedgemoor Way, NN11 0SG 9:45 - 12:15; Book as 6-week term Denise - 01604 826066. Booking essential. 30 min swim class for 10wks-3.5yrs.

Picnic Time

12:00; 2 different locations each month. 1st Wed of mth: On the Vale at Middlemore 3rd Wed of mth: Play in the Country Park Kiran: 07714 767867; Free but bring lunch! Weather permitting so check if running

Pudding Night

Run by Daventry NCT - call for location 8pm (last wednesday of month) Kiran: 07714 767867; An excuse for an evening out & extra calories

Guilsborough Breastfeeding Drop In

Guilsborough Surgery, High Street, NN6 8QE 11:00 - 13:00; 01604 740210

Hellidon Hellidon Baby & Toddler Group

Afternoon, various houses. Call for location! Angela - 07973 659092.

Active Baby Company Swimming

Hellidon Lakes Hotel, Priors Marston Rd, NN11 6GG; 14:00 - 15:00; Book as 6-wk term Denise - 01604 826066. Booking essential. 30-min swim classes for 8m-5yrs.

Long Buckby Love Ballet Dance Company

Long Buckby Baptist Church, Market Pl., NN6 Gymnastics: 17:00 (3-6yrs) & 17:45: 7-10yrs Cheerleading: 18:30 (10yrs+) Lorraine: 07711 010404

West Haddon Caterpillar Club

9:15 - 11:15: West Haddon Village Hall, The Green, NN6 7AN; £1.50 per child Sarah: 01788 510760 Termtime only. Craft corner and singing

THURSDAYS

Brixworth Brixworth Buggy Walks

Pitsford Pitsford Toddler Group

13:30 (1st Thurs of mth) from Brixworth Library; 01327 701604; Free

Priors Marston Priors Marston Toddlers

10:00 - 11:30, Brixworth Library, Spratton Rd £1 per family; 0-3 yrs; Term only Margaret & John - 01604 646300

Southam Boogie & Bounce Classes

10:00 - 11:30; Byfield Village Hall, Byfield

Pitsford Village Hall. 9:30 - 11:30, term time £2 per family. Great selection of toys!

9:30 - 11:30; The Priors Hall, CV47

Olive Shoots Tots Group

Byfield Byfield Toddler Group

The Grange Hall, Coventry Road, CV47 1QA 11:00 - 12:00; Lorraine: 07711 010404 Introduce your child to dance (from 18mths)

Upper Boddington Boogie & Bounce Classes

Village Hall, Warwick Road, NN11 6DH 13:30 - 14:30; Lorraine: 07711 010404 Introduce your child to dance (from 18mths)

Daventry Hot Tots Soft Play: 9:30 - 13:00 Adventure World Soft Play: 13:00-17:30

Daventry Leisure Ctre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP. 01327 871144 AW: £1.65 under 5s; MM: 6-18 mths: £1.45, 18 mths+: £2.90 Soft play fun! Inflatables and frame equip.

Stay n Play

Weedon Musical Minis

9:30 - 11:00: Daventry Family Centre 01327 701604; Free drop in

Fun with Music Drop In

10:30 - 12:30; Daventry East Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close, NN11 4JP 01327 313861; Free

Weedon Village Hall, West Street, NN7 4PQ 9:30 - 10:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages Weedon Bec School, West Street, NN7 4QU 10:30 - 11:30; Free; 01327 264809

Step into School Transitions Class

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

Daily Activity Planner

Daventry District Toddler Time

Daily Activity Planner

Daventry District East Haddon East Haddon Toddler Group

The Pavilion, East Haddon Playing Fields, (turning opp. Red Lion Pub) 10:00 - 11.30; £1.50 per family Melissa - 01604 770024

Great Brington Brington Mums & tots

The Reading Rooms, Great Brington, NN7 4JB 9:30 – 12:00; £2; Lucy – 07779 646074 For 0 – 4s. In holidays too!

Kelmarsh Parent & Tots Group

Nagarjuna Centre Cafe, Kelmarsh, NN6 9LZ 12:00 - 14:00; Sarah - 01604 686778 Free drink with every panini order!

Long Buckby Long Buckby Buggy Walks

01327 701604; Drop in

Babies, Bumps and Breastfeeding: 12:00 - 13:30 Brixworth (venues TBC). 01327 701604

Daventry Love Ballet Dance Company

Nene Hall, Tamar Square, NN11 4RB Funky Dance: 16:15 & 16:45 (4-7yrs) Gymnastics: 17:15 (3-6yrs) & 17:45 (7yrs+) Street Dance: 18:15 (8yrs+); ZUMBA: 19:00 Miss Lorraine: 07711 010404 Dance and Gymnastics classes for 3yrs+

Traffic Club (road safety): 10:00 - 11:30 Sexual Health Clinic (condoms & testing):

13:00 - 15:00 Daventry East Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close, NN11 4JP; 01327 313861

11:15 (1st Thurs of mth) from Long Buckby Library; Free; 01327 701604

Story & Rhyme Time

Pitsford, near Moulton, Northampton 20:00 - 20:45; free Gill Blayney - 01604 643356 Free introductory Hypno-Birthing class.

Overstone Aqualight Swimming

Overstone Park, Northampton 9:45 - 11:15; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 6m-3yrs. Book!

Staverton Staverton Mums & Tots

Timken Tots (NCT)

10:00 - 12:00; Mayfield Park Sports Club, Royal Star Drive, NN11 5FZ. Pippa: 07715 558185; £1 per family donation Inc. drink, biscuits and arts and crafts

Breastfeeding Support Group

United Reformed Church, Foundry Place, (next door to Dorothy Perkins) 12:00 - 14:00; 01327 313861 Breastfeeding drop in with Hlth Visitors

Hunny Bees

The Family Centre, Staverton Rd 10:00 - 12:00; Free Sally (H/V) - 01327 708819 Group for under 5s with special needs

Hot Tots Soft Play: 9:30 - 13:00 Adventure World Soft Play: 13:00 -

Weedon Breastfeeding Baby Cafe

17:30 Daventry Leisure Ctre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP. 01327 871144 AW: £1.65 under 5s; MM: 6-18 mths: £1.45, 18 mths+: £2.90 Soft play fun! Inflatables and frame equipment

Welton Welton Parent & Toddler Group

9:45 - 11:15, Welton Village Hall Lee: 07977 191054. £1.50 With road safety themed ride on area!

Woodford Halse Special Needs Group: 10:00-12:00 (mthly) Adoption Support: 15:30-17:00 (mthly) Woodford Halse Children’s Centre Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809 Free drop in session

FRIDAYS

Brixworth Brixworth Rhymetime

Brixworth Library, Spratton Road 9.45 - 10.20; Free; Jill - 01604 882153 Free singing session. Termtime only

Stay and Play

10:30 - 12:00, Brixworth Community Centre

Woodford Halse

Woodford Halse Children’s Centre

Family Morning with H/V: 9:00 11:30

Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809 Free drop in group

SATURDAYS

Dads, Kids and Tots

Staverton Village Hall, Croft Lane , NN11 6JE 10:30 - 12:00

The Village Hall, West Street, NN7 4PQ 9:30 - 12:00; 01327 264809; Free Breastfeeding Support Drop In Group

Welford Community Centre, West St, NN6 9:30 - 11:00; 07981 197855; £2 + 50p p/ sibling Open all year. Warm welcome. 1st Session Free

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Rd, NN11 4FP 9:15: 2-3½ yrs; 10:15: 3½-4yrs; 11:10: 5-6yrs Lynne: 01327 310373 Football classes for 18 months to 6 years

Moulton Yoga for Pregnancy

Hypno-Birthing Introduction Class

Welford Welford Babes & Tots Group

Daventry Little Kickers

10:30 - 11:15, Long Buckby Library 01327 701604; Free drop in. Not on 11th & 25th August

The Old Cart Barn, NN6 9BB 18:30 - 20:00; £48 for 6-week course Lizzy Giles: 07950 573719 Physical & emotional pregnancy support

Buggy Walk

Starting from Weedon Village Hall 9:30 - 11:00; Free; 01327 264809 Gentle exercise out in the fresh air. Drop in.

Two or More Group (Twins+)

The Grange School, Staverton Rd, NN11 4HW 9:30 - 11:30, once a month; Free Liz: 07881911464, Jo: 01327700459 Bump-3yr. Once a month - call for details plse.

Long Buckby Long Buckby Rhymetime

Long Buckby Library, Station Road, NN6 7QB 14:45-15:15, 2nd & 4th Fri of mth; Free singing sessions. Termtime only.

Rugby Rugby Breastfeeding Cafe

Claremont Children’s Centre, Claremont Road, Rugby, CV21 3LU 12:00 – 14:00; Rosie - 07772 280302

On July 9th & Sept 3rd at Daventry Library In August at Daventry West Children’s Centre, The Abbey, Market Sq. - call for date/time 10:30 - 11:30; 01327 313861

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:00 - 17:30; £1.65 <5s. 01327 871144 Please call to check open on weekends

Long Buckby Story & Rhyme Time

11:15 - 11:45, Long Buckby Library 01327 701604; Free drop in. 1st week of mth.

Upper Boddington Love Ballet Dance Company

Upper Boddington Village Hall, Warwick Road Ballet: 9:00 (3-5yrs), 10:15 (5-7yrs), 11:30 (7-9yrs), 13:15 (9-11yrs), 14:00 (11yrs+), 15:00 (12yrs+) Gymnastics: 9:45 (4-6yrs); 11.00 (6-8 yrs), 12.45 (8 yrs+) Street Dance: 12:15 (6-8yrs), 14:30 (9yrs+) Lorraine: 07711 010404

Woodford Halse Dads/Grandads/Uncles Morning

Woodford Halse Children’s Centre, Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Plse Book: 01327 264809 One Saturday p/month - please call for details

SUNDAYS

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:00 - 17:30; £1.65 <5s. 01327 871144 Please call to check open on weekends

Music Bugs

Townsend Memorial Hall, Church St, Clifton Upon Dunsmore 9:30 - 10:10 & 10:30 - 11:10; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0-5s. Book a taster!

40 Many groups don’t run in August - we advise calling before attending!

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Directory 46 Play Centres 46 Photographers 46-48 Play Centres 47 Toys 48 Unique Products & Gifts 49 Parties & Entertainers

Groups & Classes Health & Wellness - Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond 45-46

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Baby Equipment

Baby Equipment Cushi Tush - “The perfect babysitter”

Pink & Blue Baby World

Website: www.cushitush.co.uk See full advert on inside back cover

Website: www.pinkandbluebabyworld.com See full advert on page 11

Beauty

Business Opportunities

hairdressing with style

• Free car parking • Child friendly • Senior & Junior hairdressers • Colouring specialists • Loyalty discount card available • Stocking the latest products Monday 9-6pm Tuesday Closed Wednesday 9-8pm Thursday 9-8pm Friday 9-8pm Saturday 9-4pm The Basement, Barratt House, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton, NN2 6HT

Tel: 01604 722224

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The Directory

Business Opportunities

Children’s Centres

Brackley Library Children’s Centre

Manor Rd, Brackley, NN13 6AJ | Tel: 01280 841674 See full advert on Page 35

Childcare Akeley Wood Nursery & School

Address: Wicken Park, Milton Keynes, MK19 6DA t: 01280 812000 | w: www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk See full advert on back cover

Ecton Acorns Pre-School (from 2-4 years) Open: Mon - Friday, 9:15 - 12:15 at Ecton Village Primary School, West Street, Ecton, NN6 0QF 01604 409213 | www.ecton-pri.northants.sch.uk Proviiding a high level of care and education.

Childcare

Hackleton Pre-School Playgroup

Open: Mon - Friday; Morning, Lunch and Afternoon Add: Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NN7 2AH 07561509635 | www.hackletonpreschoolplaygroup.co.uk Welcoming pre-school children from 2½ years

Towcester Scout Hall Preschool

Open: Mon - Friday, Mornings and Lunch clubs too Add: Baden Powell Crescent, Towcester, NN12 6DS 07890 525116 | contact@towcesterscouthallpreschool.co.uk Established, friendly preschool in the heart of Towcester

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Childcare

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Childcare

Baby Massage

Groups & Classes

Mambo Palms

Mobile Baby Massage Classes - we come to you! See full advert on page 29

Dance & Drama

Kingsthorpe, Grange Park, Hardingstone & Weedon Tel: 07816 484851 e: angie@littlesignersclub.co.uk Website: www.littlesignersclub.co.uk Tots love our interactive classes, bringing signs to life! S

Fitness for Mum

Natural Bootcamp

Get in shap with our non-military fitness classes. See full advert on page 24

Baby Signing classes across South Northants See full advert on page 36

BabyWays Breastfeeding Support

Football

Regular cafes and groups across Northants See full advert on page 33

Northants Breastfeeding Support

Midwife-run, mobile 1-to-1 breastfeeding support. See full advert on page 28

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LoveBallet (for 2 years - adult)

Dance, Gymnastics & Drama classes, many locations See full advert on pages 39

Sing & Sign

Breastfeeding Support

Cooking

Fun-filled cooking sessions - we clean up the mess! See full advert on page 32

Baby Signing

Little Signers Club

Kids Kitchen

Little Kickers (for 18 mths - 6yrs) Classes in Northampton, Daventry & Rugby See full adverts on pages 32 & 39 GymBugs

Gymnastics

Gymnastics classes for kids running in Northampton See full advert on page 25

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Swimming

Emergency First Aid Classes

Active Baby Company: Swimming & Massage

Learn how to look after your child in an emergency. See full advert on page 30

Music

Music Bugs

Classes across Daventry, Towcester & Northampton See full advert on page 25

Classes in Grange Park, Hardingstone & Abington See full advert on page 29

Little Turtle Swim Company

In Grange Park, Brackley, Weedon & Stony Stratford See full advert on page 35

Silverstone Pavilion, Church St., Silverstone, NN12 8XA 10:30-11:30am every Thursday. Contact Vanessa Smith Tel: 07917 683330 e: nessie_king@yahoo.co.uk Music, parachute, bubbles, stickers, drinks & cakes!

Physical Play

Tumble Tots

Physical Play Sessions in Northampton, Daventry & Rugby. See full advert on page 31

Health & Natural Bootcamp

Classes run all week across Northampton See full advert on page Inside Front Cover

Swimming Classes: in Towcester & Milton Keynes See full advert on page 37

Musical Minis

Musical Monkeys - Entertainment & refreshments

Aqualight Babies: Swimming & Baby Yoga

Tatty Bumpkin

Yoga

Yoga classes for kids in Stony Stratford & Towcester. See full advert on page 36

Yoga For Pregnancy

Authentic yoga classes for pregnancy & postnatal See full advert on page 39

Birthing Lightly with Yoga

Doula-led yoga classes for pregnancy & postnatal See full advert on page 30

Aqualight Babies - see inside front cover Wellness - Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond (more overleaf)

Getting you back in shape at Harlestone Firs, Northampton. See full advert on page 24

The Maple Tree Clinic

Multidisciplinary clinic in East Hunsbury, NN4 0RZ See full advert on page 17

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Health & Safety

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Play Centres

Health & Wellness Mummies Birth Buddy

Pregnancy & Postnatal Yoga & Massage, Doula & Belly casting. See full advert on page 30

Yoga for Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Postnatal Yoga | 07950 573719 See full advert on page 39

Parties & Entertainers S

Photographers (more overleaf)

Parties & Entertainers Miss Tickle Magic Children’s Entertainer

Alison Williams, 43 Oaklands, Bugbrooke, NN7 3QU Tel: 01604 831483 / 07915 699322 Website: www.missticklemagic.co.uk Children’s Parties Silly Magic, Balloons and lots of fun!

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Toys

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www. .co.uk

Flathampton Returns!

ollowing its sell-out success last year, Royal & Derngate is once again transforming the whole of the Derngate auditorium into a giant children’s play mat for a fantastic interactive show for children under 6 and their families to enjoy together. Flathampton – which runs for a fortnight from Friday 15 to Saturday 30 July, spanning

15th - 30th July

term time and school holidays – was created for Northampton audiences by the same team who produced the popular shows Wish Wash, Minibreak and Knitwits. The people of Flathampton get on with life as best they can but everything in town is as flat as a pancake – from the sandwiches in Paolo’s Café to the stethoscope on Doctor Zee’s desk. But when Kate comes back from the big city she brings a truckload of weird and wonderful solid objects for her old friends and introduces a new dimension to life in Flathampton. Flathampton will take you on

Reviews

Holistic Massage

With three young children I do a lot of lifting, bending and carrying - and I definitely feel it in my lower back and shoulders. So I had high hopes when I went to see Annukka Barrett for a massage. I had the chance to visit Annukka in her new clinic in Towcester, which she has made into a peaceful sanctuary with calming decor, scented candles and serene music. I was a little nervous about the whole experience, but Annukka is an extremely warm person and I felt at ease very quickly. The massage itself was wonderful - it felt like her hands never left my back. All her movements were smooth and strong and it was extremely relaxing. Massage oils helped to make the whole massage very smooth and the deep tissue massage was very effective at working away at the knots and tight muscles. I also tried the hot stones treatment which felt really soothing– their heat seeped into my body – I didn’t want it to end! This is a wonderful way to make the most of your ‘me time’. Heartily recommended! Annukka offers a whole range of massages including pregnancy and postnatal massage, for mums. See advert on page 45 and voucher in centre pages.

an amazing interactive journey round the biggest play mat you will ever see, as you help Kate and the Flathamptonites to build up their town. You’ll collect your Flathampton money, spend it at the Flathampton shops, ice some Flathampton cakes at the café and you can even try your hand at taking photos for Flathampton News, or take part in a fashion show at the makeover salon. Tickets range from £6 to £7 each. To check times and prices or to book, call the Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www. royalandderngate.co.uk. Read full reviews and many others at www.toddleabout.co.uk/articles/reviews

Cushi Tush Baby Seat Put simply, the Cushi Tush is a fantastic baby seat, and we’re somewhat upset that we’ve only just discovered how wonderful it is with our third (and probably last) baby. So why didn’t we try it sooner? Well, for starters we already had a Bumbo which our chubby children struggled to fit in and were constantly arching their back to get out of - and we were reluctant to buy a new seat for fear of having the same issues. But, to be completely honest, we were also a little concerned about the quality of the Cushi Tush because, well, it looks like it’s made from polystyrene. But it turns out it isn’t - it is actually made from a strong and highly durable material called ARPRO® which is a Polyolefin – a high quality, lightweight material used widely as the safety material of choice in many bicycle helmets, car seats and in 5* NCAP rated cars. Far from being a downside, the material is actually a huge selling point for the Cushi Tush - not only does it make it really light, but it’s also dishwasher proof (we have tested this!). It is also super comfy for our children, it has transformed our mealtimes and it is suitable from 3 months, so we definitely recommend the Cushi Tush! See advert on inside back cover & voucher

50 Read the full reviews and many more at www.toddleabout.co.uk