Absolutely Mama May/June 2017

M AY / J U N E 2 01 7 I S S U E EI G H T • £ 3 .9 5

Mama

EMMA BUNTON

Life Skills

HOW A MINDFUL APPROACH CAN HELP CHILDREN

BACK TO NAPPIES FOR BABY SPICE The Magazine For Stylish Mums

PROVENCE The perfect family retreat

Wedding

ISSUE EIGHT • MAY / JUNE 2017

STYLE For littles, from boho to classically beautiful

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T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R ST Y L I S H M U M S

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BUGABOO

BY NIARK1 limited edition 2017 learn more at www.bugaboo.com © Copyright 2017 Bugaboo® International BV

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mama WELCOME

contents M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 7

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10

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52 AGENDA 10 Mama loves

Pretty colours for early summer, and a bespoke birthstone bracelete

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30 Get mindful

New books

FASHION 36 Mama fashion

Fab new books for littles

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ESSENTIALS On the move

A super cool lightweight buggy

Envie de Fraise Bella Dress £77.99 enviedefraise.co.uk

How mindfulness is helping littles

Summer occasionwear

47 Boutique we love Olive Loves Alfie

20 Baby Love

48 Kids fashion

22 Summer edit

WELLNESS 63 Food & Drink

Beautiful, useful things for babies and babymamas

ON THE COVER:

Baby Spice talks nappies and family life

What’s on

Cultural days out

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MAMAHOOD 26 Emma Bunton

New season treats for toddlers: prints, sandals and more

Oufits for all styles of wedding

Top kids' dinner deliveries and healthy snacks

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64 Thomasina Miers Talking family food

66 Parenting

On the importance of play

HOME & INTERIORS 70 Nursery notes

Beautiful things for kids rooms

72 Play rooms

Stylish spaces for tots

74 Property focus

Richmond and Muswell Hill

TRAVEL 80 France

A Provençal getaway

84 The New Forest Two five star hotels

May / June 2017

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info@hauckuk.com info@hauckuk.com info@hauckuk.com info@hauckuk.com info@hauckuk.com info@hauckuk.com +44 +44 (0)1978 (0)1978 664362 664362 +44(0)1978 (0)1978664362 664362 +44 +44 +44(0)1978 (0)1978664362 664362 LIFE LIFE IS IS FOR FOR LIVING LIVING LIFEISISFOR FORLIVING LIVING LIFE LIFE LIFEISISFOR FORLIVING LIVING HAUCK.indd 1

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1

mama WELCOME HOLLY AND FREYA

Editor’s

LETTER

W 2

elcome to the latest issue of Absolutely Mama. We're feeling frisky with the sun shining at last, and lots to look forward to this summer.

Firstly, the art of dressing up. We love a wedding at any time of year, but summer weddings are a great chance to explore some of the most lust-worthy collections out there for littles - see our fashion pages for some brilliant ideas. And for mamas, Natasha at Beulah London shares her top tips for summer occasionwear.

Mindfulness may be a relatively new term for a mental approach as old as the hills, but many people now think its techniques can help little ones in their daily lives. It’s tough being a toddler after all, and giving our children the right tools to deal with an increasingly complex world is as important as looking after our own mental health. Read our easy guide to getting started.

Finally, it was a joy to talk to Emma Bunton about her new brand Kit and Kin. We wish her great luck with this venture, which feels a lot more genuine than a lot of celeb-endorsed products launched purely with a view to the bottom line. Do try it out.

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HOLLY KIRKWO OD E DITOR

@h.kirkwood holly@zest-media.com

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7 Things we like this month

1Musical toys to help wee ones to sleep - this owl is our fave p.70 2Mama's pick of the best new books for all ages p.16 3We can't get enough of boho looks for weddings 51 4 Anya Hindmarsh's cheerful little pouch made our day p.37 5The perfect child's room is created around their interests p.72 6Cool cashmere makes the perfect extra layer p.35 7La Coqueta x Muzungu Sisters has given us a welcome injection of colour this summer p.22

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Contributors Read about some of the mamas who helped to create this issue - we are inspired by them all

NATASHA FINCH

As well as running her fashion business and being a mum Natasha often travels for her work: a recent trip to India furthered Beulah's committment to helping victims of trafficking beulahlondon.com

The Magazine For Stylish Mums

Editor: HOLLY KIRKWOOD Contributing Editor: APPHIA MICHAEL Commercial Managers: LEAH DAY & ROCHELLE STREATER Marketing Manager: NEFELI KRITIKOU Art Director: PHIL COUZENS Senior Designer: PAWEL KUBA Mid-weight Designer: EKREM YILMAZ Designer: REBECCA NOONAN Production Manager: CHRIS COUCHMAN Finance Director: JERRIE KOLECI PA to the Directors: KERRY HOLLINGSWORTH Directors: GREG HUGHES & ALEXANDRA HUNTER Managing Director: SHERIF SHALTOUT For editorial enquiries please email: holly@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: leah@zest-media.com For media partnership enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: nefeli@zest-media.com Part of the

LARA JOANNA JARVIS

Between her popular blog and her YouTube channel Lara has a dedicated online folllowing; check out her beauty tips for the summer adventuresofamum.com

197-199 City Road, London EC1V 1JN, UK FACT M.E FZ-LLC, Office 907E, TwoFour54, Park Rotana Complex, P.O Box 769328, Abu Dhabi UAE

LON DON OFFICE : ABU DHABI OFFICE:

zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

FOLLOW US ON

@ A B S O L U T E LY M A M A

absolutely-mama.co.uk

ASHLYN GIBSON

Pictured here with business partner Emma and Nat from Style Me Sunday, Ashlyn (centre) is a mum, stylist and author as well as founder of Olive Loves Alfie

Absolutely Mama supports

Download the Absolutely Mama app to discover, learn and share the latest MAMA trends and news.

ashlyngibson.co.uk

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LOVE 1 0 T H I N G S W E A B S O L U T E LY

Pretty colours for early summer, and a bespoke birthstone bracelet

Global nomad

Outside the Lines Inspired by the global traveller trend, Outside the Lines has developed embroidery, tassels, and ethnic handicraft touches for a fresh summer look outside-the-lines.co.uk

SO SWEET Caramel

Prints, stripes and checks layered over each other are the name of the game at Caramel for this season. With loose-fit shorts, ruffle-front skirts and v-neck dresses, there is so much fun to be had with shape and colour caramel-shop.co.uk

Stack happy

3 Sprouts Made of cotton canvas, these fun storage bins are tough enough to hold whatever you throw in them but also look great. Perfect for books, toys or laundry, they last for years and come in a range of designs from their cute animal collection £19.76 fill-your-pants.com

Birth right

The Matilda Necklace Combine the birthstones of your loved ones to make a Matilda Necklace or bracelet. With up to four different stones, it’s an easy-to wear bespoke piece you can keep forever. From £34 jacquelineashworth.co.uk

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ma m a LOVES

Change it up

LET’S DO LUNCH

Tiba and Marl The Tiba and Marl magic changing clutch has an inner removable super soft fleece mat – and keeps all your baby change bits in one gorgeous place. The wrist strap makes it super handy for carrying around, and we are in love with this pink shade for spring. £35. tibaandmarl.com

Fabelab Lunchboxes are so last season. It’s all about the lunchbag now, and Copenhagen-based Fabelab makes a beautiful selection to choose from in colours including peach, rosewood, mauve vanilla grey and sage. £14 libertylondon.com

Best foot forward Havaianas Nothing says summertime better than a cool new pair of flip flops, and the latest designs from Havaianas are colourful enough to lift the spirits even if the weather lets you down. havaianas-store.com/en

Time Out

Owl and the Apothecary The Wild Rabbit box is designed to help you find an inner balance between caring for yourself and looking after your new baby.

Including a gorgeous day cream and the ultimate hand and foot balm, plus a candle for balance the whole package encourages you to take some time for yourself. £85 owlapothecary.com

East ender

What Mother Made This super cool studio in Dalston makes everything by hand, using traditional shapes with locally sourced fabrics and contrast prints. The whole collection is vintage inspired but has a brilliant contemporary edge. whatmothermade.co.uk

r’s editock pi

Father’s Day

Sgt. Smith With father’s day on the horizon, and the mini-me trend showing no sign of abating, take a look at these fun designs for dads and littles. The Pac Man will appeal to dad, for sure but there are others to choose from. £35 for the set. sgtsmith.com

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360° of spin. 360° of snuggles. meet spin 360™

easy in, buckle and spin

easy out and about

I’m a 360˚ turning traveller that spins front, back, and in between because everything should make trips and transitions easier. I snuggle up to 18kg facing rearward or forward because everything should make life safer.

simply brilliant.

LY

PRIMA BABY

A

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FO RM

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Available from Argos, Babies R Us, Halfords, Kiddicare, Mothercare, Smyths, Very.co.uk and all good independent nursery retailers.

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agenda W H AT ' S O N FO R H A LF T E R M : p . 14 • B E ST N E W B O O K S FO R LI T T LE S p . 16

Future Proof May until September 3 Science Museum

Will robots enslave the human race? Who knows, but if they do you'll be glad you caught this exhibition: forewarned is forearmed. Prepare to meet a sixteenthcentury mechanical monk, a giant robot from 1950s Italy and Inkha, a ‘mischievous robot receptionist’. sciencemuseum.org.uk

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W H AT ’ S ON It's half term again, and there's loads on in May and June for culture vultures

3 HALF TE R M AC TIVITI E S Half term is upon us again already so make your plans in time

Get growing 29th May – 2nd June Squires Garden Centres

Plant up a fruit and veg box this May. Children can choose from three tasty options: pepper, lettuce, tomato or strawberry. squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Dressing up time 31 May Polka Theatre half term workshops

Choose from costume making, acting, or movement and dance for the really little ones – these workshops are held every school holiday, but they do sell out. polkatheatre.com

diary date

The Wind In The Willows 17 June - 9 September  The London Palladium

Julian Fellowes brings his Midas touch to Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved novel, which comes to The Palladium this summer as a fun musical. Composer duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe wrote the soundtrack, while actor and comedian Rufus Hound will star as the amazing Mr Toad, with EastEnders and Shrek star Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel. windinthewillowsthemusical.com 14

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Fire Engine Fans 31 May

The London Fire Brigade Pop-up Museum Come and make your own mini animation video, or a fi re engine greeting card, as well as meeting some real-life fi re engines.

1 Whitgift Street, London SE11 london-fire.gov.uk

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agenda

WHAT'S ON

GoWild 6 May Spitalf ields City Farm

The Farm has activities for littles all the time, including their brilliant Wild Club nature-themed days for 4-12 yearolds, but their next big event will be a day fi lled with opportunities to meet their friendly donkeys.

From grooming demos to donkey rides for little ones and farrier demonstrations, the whole family can lean more about these friendly, super sweet animals. spitalfieldscityfarm.org One for bookworms

BARNES CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL

ANIMAL ROBOTS COME TO LIFE 1st May to 29 October Horniman Museum

eet a robotic rhino, a squid with 18-foot tentacles and an enormous house fl y with a vacuum-cleaner mouth at the Horniman Museum’s Zoo for larger-than-life robot animals. Based on the book titled The Robot Zoo, the actions of real animals are demonstrated using pistons for muscles, pipes instead of intestines, and computerised brains. Th rough interactive games and challenges the robot creations reveal the secrets behind animal anatomy. horniman.ac.uk

M

13 & 14 May Barnes Pond

he Barnes Children’s Literature Festival is in its third year now,and the 2017 programme is packed with big names from Michael Rosen and Anthony Browne to Nick Sharratt, Francesca Simon, Steve Cole and Lauren St John. Adrian Edmondson also makes his fi rst appearance at Barnes with his debut novel. With author talks, workshops, story time and craft sessions, there will be over 50 events over the weekend. barneskidslitfest.org

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3 events for pop culture vultures

LARGER THAN LIFE: LEGO SCULPTURES AT THE SOUTH BANK CENTRE

U S E TH E FO RC E

WE COULD B E HEROES

G ET C R E ATIVE

1st May to September 4 2017 The O2 , Greenwich Peninsula

1-May- 3 September South Bank Centre

31 May-June 4 Cartoon Museum

Explore a collection of 200 props, models, costumes and artworks from Star Wars, or even develop your own original character while you visit STAR WARS Identities starwarsidentities.com

Nathan Sawaya used almost 2 million bricks to recreate comic book heroes and villains in these larger-than-life lego sculptures.

The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes southbankcentre.co.uk

The Cartoon museum runs animation workshops in the holidays for creative littles. Invent your own characters and bring them to life at their Cartoon Workshops cartoonmuseum.org

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Best new

BOOKS

Titles to get littles thinking this month, plus one for Father's Day in June W o r d s H O L LY K I R K W O O D

al Anim c g ma i

A R E YO U A MONKEY?

by Marine Rivoal

BEFORE AND AFTER

by Jean Julien

An imaginative board book created

by Jean Julien, Before and After uses graphics to explore the ideas of what happens ‘before’ and ‘after’ as a way of exploring consequences.

It’s a pretty book with charming illustrations which also happens to be very sturdy - and will survive repeated attacks by pre-schoolers. £8.95  uk.phaidon.com

Rivoal is an illustrator and printmaker from France and her second book is a joy. Based around an animal game of charades, readers can join in with the gamel. Painted in a stylish colour palette of Pantones, this unusual book is stylish and engaging. £10.95 uk.phaidon.com

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agen d a

BOOKS

Pyjamarama: Fever

by Michael Leblond, Frederique Bertrand

When a little boy goes to bed, he falls into a dazzling dreamworld of swirling stripes, shimmering spots and other strange sights. When littles move the stripey screen over the pages a form of optical illusion brings to life an intriguing alternate universe. £9.95  thamesandhudson.com

H A P PY SA D F E E LI N G G L A D

by Yasmeen Ismail

Birds & Other Animals

Happy, Sad, Feeling Glad encourages young readers to explore their feelings and express themselves with drawings, doodles and decorations. What has made Dog happy? Do you know what Cat is scared of? And why is Donkey so excited? Th is engaging and educational activity series is a must for littles aged 4-7. £9.99  laurenceking.com

with Pablo Picasso

Th is groundbreaking book was produced in collaboration with the Picasso Estate and features animals as captured in rarely seen sketches the artist.

The single line drawings bring birds, bugs, rabbits, turtles and camels to life in just a few quick strokes, and it’s thick sturdy board pages are perfect for little hands to get a grip on. £6.95  uk.phaidon.com

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

What Happens Next? follows a child’s hilarious, wildly inventive train of thought following the death of his grandfather and the discovery of his journal, in which he had grandfather had jotted his thoughts about life after death and the ideal heaven. The illustrations are wonderful, and the book has a brilliantly creative approach to its subject. £7.95  thamesandhudson.com

or one fd da

M A N VS BA BY Matt Coyne

Dads will enjoy this new book all about the comedy and chaos of real-life parenting in Matt Coyne’s hilarious book Man vs Baby, named after the blog which gained him such a loyal following. Packed with advice, practical and impractical, which you won’t fi nd anywhere else, it’s a refreshing departure from perfect parenting manuals of the past. £14.99  hachette.co.uk May / June 2017

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NEW ORGANIC BABY BEDDING AND SLEEPWEAR RANGE

Love grows here

Supporting the

thelittlegreensheep.co.uk

The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No.294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885)

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On the move MUTSY

If you're looking for a multi-functional buggy which can be used from birth, and folds quickly and easily into a pleasingly compact size, the Igo from Mutsy is a fantastic option. The super-light carry cot is another bonus, as is the cool range of 11 smart colours to choose from. mutsy.com

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Baby love The best new bits and pieces for tinies

Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

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1. New direction

2. Happy families

3. Bounce around

4. Sleep safe

5. Story time

Fisher Price New creative director Jonathan Adler has channelled favourite colours, patterns and design elements into this toy collection. His use of bold geometric prints and patterns feels fresh as well as being fun. £12.99 • fisher-price.com

Papa Bear Papa Bear is a perfect example of Danish design company Lucy Kaas's project to produce timeless design objects which last.

We love the deep brown of the American walnut; there are other family members to collect. Just saying. £135.00 • littlebabycompany.com

BabyBjorn As well as providing proper levels of support to the back, neck and head, this chair's movement is driven purely by baby, which means he soothes himself, rather than getting used to being rocked to sleep artificially - a tough habit to break. £144.99 • babybjorn.co.uk

Mokee The WoolNest already feels like a design classic. Made of super soft felt, it can be zipped together to form a sturdy but soft bassinette which keeps out chills and noise. An intelligent reinvention of the classic moses basket. £99 • en.mokee.eu

Moulin Roty This sweet Red Riding Hood Doll is from Moulin Roty’s Once Upon a Time collection. We love the details, from the pink tulle hem on the dress, which is fully removable, to the stripy tights and the bows on her shoes. £35 • olivelovesalfie.co.uk

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6. Sleepyhead

7. Growing pains

8. Stay soft

9. Teething relief

10. Be prepared

ErgoPouch The award-winning ErgoPouch collection includes this SleepSuit which comes with no-slip grips on the feet, converts into a sleeping bag and can be used with a pram, stroller and car seat, making it super versatile. £55.99 • johnlewis.co.uk

Wee Gallery Ethically and sustainably made in India, these growth charts are a fun way to watch your littles get larger.

Each one comes in a special keepsake bag with a place for your child's name and birth date, just for posterity.

From £21.

• shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk

aden + anais The brand new layette from aden + anais includes more of the pretty metallics everyone loves, plus cheerful hearts, boats and bikes. The soft muslin pieces are also perfectly breathable as the weather gets warmer, and make lovely gifts.

• adenandanais.co.uk

Nibbling The latest teethers from Nibbling are top notch for babies having a tough time as their fi rst teeth appear.

Colourful designs include dinosaurs, trains and ice cream cones. They look good, and last for years.

From £11.

• nibbling.co.uk

Silve Cross Wave Nothing short of amazing, this single footprint travel system is perfect for one baby, and also easily handles two – or twins – with ease. When the second one comes along, simply add a carry cot, pushchair or car seat. £995 • silvercrossbaby.com

May / June 2017

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Sorted For

Summer

Cool footwear for hot weather and perfect personlised prints Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

Get ethnic

LA COQUETA X MUZUNGU SISTERS The iconic Spanish childrenswear brand has teamed up with Muzungu Sisters, and we love the look and feel of the collection, which features bold colours, hand-stitching, colourful pompons, button embroidery and some extremely inventive headgear. lacoquetakids.com

Brill bags

PYJAMA PARTY

HONEY & TOAST

This range of hand-crafted leather bags for children is designed at founder Emma White's home in Peckham, and each piece is handmade in Somerset. Their aesthetic combines a nostalgia for the original leather school satchels of the 70s with bold modern colours and prints The bespoke pieces make amazing gifts children can treasure for years. honeyandtoast.co.uk

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CAMP BESTIVAL: THE GRANDADDY

ATTICUS & GILDA After years of helping create many hit musical theatre productions Lucy and Conchita decided to create their very own production. Atticus and Gilda make lovely childrens nightwear and accessories. These boys pyjamas are 100% cotton and beautifully soft. From ÂŁ35 atticusandgilda.co.uk

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editor's pick

essentia ls TODDLER

Pretty pictures KAREN ÅAKERSON Swedish born designer Karin Åkesson and her husband David make beautiful homeware and stationary products from their studio in Walthamstow.

Relatively new to the business, these personalised prints are now one of their bestsellers. Prints from £25 karinakesson.com

LIFE IS ROSY SALT WATER SANDALS The appeal of these sandals only continues to grow as they become more widely available.

We adore the rose gold in little and large: perfect for summer time whether you're overseas or paddling in the rockpools closer to home £38.50.

Olivelovesalfie.co.uk

LEGS 11

BLADE AND ROSE The leggings from Blade & Rose never fail to raise a smile, whether they’re on a newborn gurgling in his basket or on a mischevious toddler looking for trouble. The bold colours are great for lazy summer days.

Leggings from £10 bladeandrose.co.uk

Get colouring OUTSIDE THE LINES These screen prints for kids to colour, draw, doodle, scribble and paint on are an ideal way to get creative with your littles.

Every print gets transformed into a totally unique addition to any bedroom wall. £9.99 gooutsidethelines.co.uk

Mouse house MAILEG What little girl doesn’t love tucking her toys into bed? The story of the princess and the pea is still a classic, and this perfect little mouse comes complete with her perfect little house from Maileg, complete with pea, is a charming gift to fi re a little person’s imagination. £39.50 libertylondon.com May / June 2017

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W W W. N I N E I N TH E M I RRO R. CO M 3 .1 P HILLIP L I M • AL E X AN D E R WAN G • L AN V I N • M I SSO N I • VAL E N TI N O • AN D M ANY MOR E

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mamahood I N T E RV I E W: E M M A B U N TO N TA LK S N A P P I E S p . 2 6 M A M A E X P LO R E S M I N D F U LN E S S FO R C H I LD R E N p . 3 0

Fl e x Ap p e a l MOTHER PUKK A

Anna Whitehouse continues her mission to convert the world to flexible working with flashmobs around the country for #Flexappeal, and we salute her for it. Go and dance your socks off at the next date @mother_pukka

May / June 2017

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mam ahood

PROFILE

Baby spice

TALKS NAPPIES Emma Bunton's new brand Kit and Kin makes eco-friendly nappies and skincare products for baby and mama Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

H

appily, Emma Bunton is exactly as you’d imagine her to be.

Just like a sister, or a bubbly, totally down-to-earth pal, she’s someone you feel you could put the world to rights with over a long lazy lunch. In fact it seems that’s pretty much exactly what she and her friends do; her Instagram feed is peppered with selfies of her with her blonde crew having amazing girl times over lunch, dinner, or drinks. Except that for most of us, our friends aren’t Nicole Appleton, Kate Thornton and Holly Willoughby, but there you go. We can’t all be members of we-survived-fame-in-the-90s-and-nowwe’re-living our-best-lives girl groups, more’s the pity.

After finding fame relatively young as Baby Spice in The Spice Girls, Emma’s life was obviously a crazy whirl for much of the 1990s – she attributes holding on to her sanity to her mum, who went everywhere with her at the peak of her fame – but she always knew she wanted a family. Emma found her perfect man in singer Jade Jones, who had also found 90s fame with boy band Damage. This gave her some semblance of normality and when her two boys Beau, 9, and Tate, 5,

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came along, Emma got the family she’d always wanted: "Coming from a big, close family it’s something I’d always thought about," she says. "It’s busy, and it’s hectic and I’m always juggling things as a working mum, but I love it," she enthuses. It’s obvious she wouldn’t have it any other way.

But what does she love most about being a mum?

"Probably all the love I get from my boys – they’re really cuddly, loving people and whatever else is going on it’s just amazing to see them every day and get that affection from them," she says. "I mean don’t get me wrong: it’s a struggle, and there are things we find difficult because there is so much to balance," (Emma and Jade don’t have a nanny). "It’s also hard work and a lot of responsibility being a mum, but my boys are just the best thing ever!"

They live in Hertfordshire, but the family spends a huge amount of time in London, and Emma’s morning gig at Heart Radio is obviously in the capital. ‘The boys are mad on the Science Museum at the moment, we’ve been there three times recently – they just love it so much.’ Tate, their youngest, adores music and dance, so they also love going to musicals when they can, as well as wandering around the city… "there is so much to see and do, I’ll always be a London girl really, and the boys just have the best time here," she says.

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“I' M A LWAYS JU GGL ING T H I N G S AS A WOR K I N G MU M BU T I LOV E I T ”

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THE NAPPIES FEATURE CUTE ANIMAL DESIGNS

May / June 2017

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“ TH E WHOLE THI NG STARTE D B ECAUSE BEAU HAD ECZE MA A N D I COULDN' T FI ND A N Y THI NG WHI CH WOR KE D FOR HI M”

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THE WHOLE LINE IS ECO-FRIENDLY

Her own mum lives close by to help out, and she says Jade is a brilliant dad, and as hands on as she is: while she does her breakfast show in the mornings Jade drops the boys at school – she does the pick-up at the end of the day, in a rhythm familiar to many working parents. "Jade is also a total foodie which is great – we all try to eat healthily at home and he’s always in the kitchen trying out new things and cooking up a storm, It’s brilliant!"

Being a parent may have been something the former Spice Girl – and current member of GEM – always wanted to do, but it hasn’t slowed her career: at the time of our interview she’s most recently been out and about filming for Comic Relief alongside her other commitments. And there is more to come: being a parent also gave Emma a business idea.

"Basically the whole thing started because Beau had eczema, and I looked and looked, but I couldn’t find any creams which worked well. Everything we tried was so full of chemicals, and had strong perfumes which put us off. I don’t want to put loads of chemicals on my baby’s skin – it’s so soft and lovely – I just don’t want to ruin it,’" she giggles. At the same time, Emma was shocked to find out how harmful disposable nappies are to the environment: "In the UK alone we throw away 8 million nappies every day" she points out. "The majority of Kit & Kin nappies, including packaging, will biodegrade within 3 to 6 28

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EMMA AND CHRIS BONDED OVER SHARED CONCERNS

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mamah o od PROFILE

years. Compare this to NAPPIES COME IN FOUR conventional nappies FUN ANIMAL DESIGNS that can take up to 500 years to biodegrade and the difference is clear."

Like many of us mums, Emma chatted to her friends to find out what other people were doing, but the reality was that if you can’t go down the reusable cloth route (and few working mums feel they are able to) there seemed to be a gap in the market for natural products and more environmentallyfriendly nappies.

These issues were still on her mind two years ago when she met Christopher Money through a mutual friend.

With 15 years’ experience of developing mother and baby products for some of the world’s leading brands, and his experience in the industry, (Chris also has two boys) he had tons of ideas, and it didn't take long for the two of them to hatch a plan: the result is Kit and Kin (kitandkin.com).

The name is inspired by friendship, and family, and the products are a simple range of must-haves to make mum’s life easier, and baby’s life happier. We’ve tried them all out, and can confirm that the skin products are lovely. Made with natural ingredients and totally sustainable materials, they have been clinically and dermatologically tested, and also look fantastic. The magic cream is officially a nappy salve, but actually doubles and triples up as a multi-tasking wonder product for anything from chapped lips to eyebrow

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“CO NVENTIO N A L NAP P IES CAN TA K E U P TO 5 00 YEA RS TO BIO DEGRADE - I T 'S S HO C KING REA LLY ”

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THESE NAPPIES ARE KIND TO THE ENVIRONMENT

THERE ARE PRODUCTS FOR MAMA TOO

control. All the products smell wonderful, from the baby bubble bath to the stretch mark oil, while their nappies do just as good a job as Pampers, and come in four very cute designs (choose from bear, fox, panda or tiger). Emma and Chris have also paired up with charity The World Land Trust, and promise that, for every 10 Kit & Kin nappy subscriptions, they will purchase and protect an acre of rainforest.

There are plans for more products to come – Emma says she would love to make some all-natural baby clothes - but for now the attractive range is all available to order online. Of course there is humour in the fact that Baby Spice has turned her talents to nappies and a baby skincare range, but this feels more honest than a celebrity putting their name to a fashion line or a range of ghostwritten children's books.

There is a real sense that she's committed to making products which are kind to little people, as well as to the environment. When she's not being a busy mumof-two, loving partner, pop star, Radio DJ or perfect brunch companion, that is. kit nand kin .com May / June 2017

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MAKE headspace

How pre-bed meditations can reduce anxiety in littles, as well as contributing to a better sense of overall wellbeing, and better relationships Wo r d s L I Z L OW E

F

ive-year-old Isabel’s* evening routine is like that of many kids her age. After dinner, she plays, watches a few minutes of TV, takes a bath and reads bedtime stories with a parent. And then she practises mindfulness meditation.

“Isabel can be quite anxious; a deep thinker,” explains her mother, Melissa*. The nightly bedtime separation from her parents was becoming increasingly difficult. “We wanted to look at ways for her to deal with her anxiety herself,” Melissa adds.

Both parents subscribe to the Headspace meditation app, which includes a selection of themed children’s meditations, visualisations and breathing exercises. They began incorporating a few minutes of these into Isabel’s bedtime routine.

“For the first couple of days she thought it was a little weird,” says Melissa, “but by day three she

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was enjoying it. On day six Isabel talked through an entire three-minute meditation by herself; she remembered all of it. She requests it now.”

Simply put, mindfulness involves focusing on what’s going on both physically and mentally: it’s about experiencing the present moment, non-judgmentally and with compassion. Its popularity has risen dramatically in recent years, primarily with adults, but the benefits for children are also becoming clear.

Christiane Kerr is an experienced Montessori teacher, a yoga and mindfulness teacher and founder of Calm for Kids. Through downloads and an app, Calm for Kids offers short meditations specifically aimed at children. They also train professionals and parents wanting to introduce mindfulness or yoga practices to the children in their care.

Simple mindfulness-based exercises can have a positive effect on kids from a very young age, Christiane believes, citing “improved focus and emotional regulation” as key benefits.

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MINDFULNESS

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L E TH E “BU“S ILIMP DING MINDFU L NES BRAND HAS BESE- N BAS EX ERC IS ERSK S U CED H HARD WO CAN HAVE A AND CO NTINU E S PTO OSBE ITIVE BU TEFFECT IT ’S SO FRO M A VERY REWARDING” YO U NG AGE ”

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mam ahood

MINDFULNESS

Schools across the country are signing up for mindfulness courses and integrating the practice into their timetable: the traditional school assembly provides the perfect opportunity.

Young people have different stresses and worries to adults, but they can be equally consuming. Arabella Tring leads mindfulness courses for children, teens and adults, and has worked with many schools. She speaks of the ways in which mindfulness can support children: “It can help them sleep, manage their emotions better, see things more clearly and help lower anxiety levels. I had one child who suffered from panic attacks and after just a few sessions they stopped.”

Headspace’s Principle Scientist, Brad Sanderson, confirms they are conducting “ongoing research” into the effects of meditation on children, noting that Headspace’s childfocussed practices have proven “really popular: they’re spoken about in our community really positively”.

So, how can parents begin introducing mindfulness to their children?

Christiane suggests parents of younger children begin

Mindfulness exercises for kids Suggested by CHRISTIANE KERR of CALM FOR KIDS

0-4 years For little ones, the best way to introduce mindfulness is with simple breathing exercises.

B R E AT H E T O G E T H E R

Let your child lie on your belly and just bring attention to your breathing.

B R E AT H I N G B U D D I E S

With your child lying on their back, place a soft toy on their belly. Encourage them focus on their breath as it moves teddy up and down, adding a count (in for 3, out for 3) if you wish.

F E AT H E R B R E AT H I N G

~

with simple breathing exercises using props such as soft toys, feathers or a Hoberman sphere. “Breath is a bit abstract,” she explains, “so how can you make the breath real? You can see it on the feather, you can feel it on the tummy.”

Mindfulness needn’t mean sitting still and being quiet. Taking a mindful walk is something most young children enjoy.

Listening practices work well with slightly older children, and can also offer an opportunity to connect. Christiane recommends exercises such as ‘Rose Bud Thorn’, helpful for kids learning to face challenges independently, or ‘Listen and Repeat’, which allows children to feel heard.

“The most important thing when introducing mindfulness to families is that parents are practising it,” says Christiane: “Children do what you do, not what you say.”

Two months after beginning their evening meditations, Melissa reports that Isabel now “sleeps well and goes to bed easily and without worry”. And beyond the bedtime routine?

“She’s happier and more light-hearted; she seems more at peace with herself.” * Names have been changed

“ YOUNG PEO P L E HAVE DI FFE RENT STRE SSE S AND WORRI E S TO ADULTS”

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Place a feather between their palms. As they inhale through their nose they can raise their palms to their chin, then breathe out through their mouth to blow the feather away.

H O B E R M A N S P H E R E ( B R E AT H I N G B A L L )

These eye-catching spheres expand and contract, and are a useful tool to demonstrate the breathing process.

CALMING MUSIC OR BIRDSONG

Simply slowing down and focusing on one sound, for example some classical music, can be relaxing for children (and parents).

APPS

Sleep Meditations for Kids is Christiane Kerr’s free app with story meditations for children. Headspace also offers meditations for children.

4-7 years Breathing exercises (see above) still work well with this age group, but now is a good time to add some listening exercises and movement too.

WA L K L I K E F E E L I N G S

Encourage kids to walk as if they’re happy (lightfooted, loose), grumpy (tight muscles, shoulders up high) or sad (slow, droopy shoulders). This helps to connect the mind and body.

WA L K L I K E T H E W E AT H E R

Practise walking like a gentle breeze, or a blustery gale. This is another way to explore movement in the body.

L I S T E N A N D R E P E AT

( This works best with 6-7 year olds). Spend 30 seconds listening to your child talk about an agreed topic (a favourite place or activity, perhaps). Listen and then repeat back to them what you heard.

M I N D F U L WA L K S

Head off on a ‘wonder walk’, with no need to rush anywhere, and stop to look at whatever grabs their interest: bugs, leaves, or berries ROSE BUD THORN

Ask children to think about the rose of their day (the best thing that happened to them), the bud (the thing they thought had potential) and the thorn (something they found challenging).

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M U T S Y E V O FA R M E R

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Layer up ď‚ž LES 100 CIELSď‚ž

These pretty coats are ideal transitional pieces, and come into their own when the early summer weather lets you down, or you need an extra layer for evenings or summer holidays. Perfectly soft cashmere in fresh modern shapes and colours: what's not to love?

Les100ciels.com

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5 of the best DUNGAREES

LA REDOUTE

A cotton and linen blend ensures comfort, £69 laredoute.co.uk

mama

ST Y LE NOTES

Standout accessories and the best dungarees for SS17

KATE SHERIDAN

This high waist is flattering, £69 olivelovesalfie.co.uk

Ready to wear • To a s t • Along with the wrap dress. this is the year of the shirt dress. Toast has these, as well as neat tunic dresses, and smart straight-cut aprons. Beautifully cut and fussfree, we love these styles toa.st/uk

CLARY & PEG These pink numbers are bestsellers, £130 claryandpeg.co.uk

MAJE

The cropped style feels modern, £209 uk.maje.com

WHISTLES

Black cord numbers, £95 whistles.com

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MAMA

LOOK SHARP •COS•

The latest collection has simple pieces, with a neutral colour palette, but the shapes, as always, are wonderful. From the kimono jacket to the wideleg draped pant it's all been beautifully designed. cosstores.com/gb

d Branus Foc

AT TICO The brand bringing boudoirinspired styles to the street

STAND OUT •Schott•

The no nonsense colour of this gorgeous bomber jacket feels current as part of the utility trend. Super easy to wear, but still makes a statement.

Schott women's jacket libertylondon.com

we love

BRIGHT EYES •Anya Hindmarsh•

This bright little pouch is perfect for keeping essentials together – and there’s no danger of leaving it behind when you suddenly realise you’re late for the school run/babysitter £195 libertylondon.com

Throw SHADE Albertus Swanepoel•

e adore the midnight navy of this sun hat – fashioned in raffia the patterned rim adds personality while the shape will keep you cool £340, albertusswanepoel.com

W

W HO You may recognise them from the street style stage: a dynamic duo whose effortless fashion sense and raven-haired beauty can’t help but draw the camera’s lens.

Conceived in the back of a cab at New York Fashion Week in 2015, Ambrosio and Tordini have risen to fame with their cohort of ‘it’ girls, many of whom appear on Attico's Instagram feed draped in the brand's signature looks. With a dedicated following and burgeoning reputation as taste makers, Attico has gone from strength-tostrength, most recently releasing an exclusive line with Net-a-Porter.

W H AT Inspired by the classic peignoir, Attico’s signature robes look to the opulence of traditional smoking jackets. Rendered in rich fabrics, these statement pieces reject the low-key nonchalance of athelsiure trends. Instead, they usher in a new love for decadence, drawing on the sumptuous hues, fabrics and embroidery of vintage interiors and furniture. For SS17 they have a collection of wearable yet design-led looks. Interchangeable separates are worn alongside the brand's iconic gowns, which are rendered in luxe silks and embellished with Schiaparelli-inspired animal motifs.

Lobsters included. theattico.com

May / June 2017

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is here to help!

We all know how unpredictable babies can be!

Even if you follow a regular routine, no two days are the same, and there are certain trigger times1 when your baby may be more prone to nappy rash 1.Morris H, The bottom line on nappy rash, British Journal of Midwifery, September 2012, Vol 20, No 9, pages 540-543

1

we an ing

2

com mon cold

Treatment

for Nappy Rash For occasions when it does strike, Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment can be used to treat nappy rash, relieving the irritation and redness.

Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment is a medicine. Always read the label.

www.metanium.co.uk

3 teething

4

antibiotic s

5

fi rst sle ep throug h the nig ht

6

change in di et

7

diar rhoe a

Protection

from Nappy Rash For daily protection, use Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment or Easy Spray Barrier Lotion at every nappy change to help protect against the irritants that can cause nappy rash.

we

babies’ bums

8749 Absolutely Mama

METANIUM.indd 1here to help_260x210_Absolutely Mama_Jan.indd 1 8749•Metanium_Is

13/12/2016 12:01 13:49 07/12/2016

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WEDDING S

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“ M A N Y CU STOMERS A R E LO O K I N G F OR LO N G E R STYLES, ESP ECI A L LY IF IT'S F O R A N EVEN IN G F U N CT ION ”

THIS JUMPSUIT IS PERFECT FOR SUMMER DAYTIME,£365

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THIS LONG V NECK GABRIELLA DRESS IS ALSO A FAVOURITE, £595

THE SABITRI IS A POPULAR DESIGN FOR WEDDING DRESSES

Style

CLINIC We asked co- founder of Beulah, Natasha Finch, for her summer wedding style inspiration Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

ABSOLUTELY MAMA: Do you get a lot of clients looking for dresses to wear at weddings?

NATASHA FINCH: Yes, we have a lot of clients looking for wedding outfits throughout the year and we have a bespoke service where we make bridal and bridesmaids dresses, and we also make many outfits for mothers of the brides.

The Sabitri in silk chiffon is one of our most popular styles as it’s elegant and romantic.

Also, we have found that lots of our customers lately are opting for long dresses, especially if it’s an evening function.

The Gabriella dress (above) is one of our best sellers, it’s so beautifully cut and flattering for a variety of shapes and sizes.

AM: Apart from Beulah’s collection, what other stores makes styles you think are great for summer wedding outfits?

NF: Vilshenko have beautiful styles and fabrics, and Self Portrait have a great selection of more affordable dresses.

AM: Which labels do you dress Georgia in?

NF: I’m a busy working mum, so I love to shop at Little Circle,which has beautiful unique clothes like Morley and Louise Misha.

AM: Which kids labels do you think make great clothes for weddings?

NF: Marie Chantal is my favourite children’s brand: they have such beautiful silk and smocked outfits AM: Do you make actual wedding dresses for clients, and if so what sort of styles are popular?

NF: Yes, we have made many wedding dresses! Our most popular style is the sabitri in a white, or powder blue.

AM: Have you made many wedding dresses for pregnant women?

NF: Not so far, but we defi nitely can make a maternity dress in our bespoke service. The bride can chose a specific colour/ fabric, we offer a tailored service where there are three individual appointments for the bride.

AM: Do you dress a lot of wedding guests with bumps?

NF: Yes, quite a few of our dresses work well for maternity, in particular our Iris dress which is such a comfortable style: it fits me whether I’m pregnant or not!

What is the theme/aim for your latest collection?

NF: Our SS17 collection has romantic deta iling and a mix of IRIS ZIG ZAG OFF THE prints with florals inspired by SHOULDER DRESS, £295 the bloomsbury dress. For this current season our most popular dresses have been our florals such as the Henri shirt dress and our block prints.

Th is Iris off the shoulder dress [left] is the perfect summer dress and is VILSHENKO HAVE so versatile; you can wear from the BEAUTIFUL STYLES AND beach to a wedding.

FABRICS b eulahlondon .com May / June 2017

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Stay Cool Key pieces from NINE IN THE MIRROR look forward to summer with a range of styles to suit every stage of pregnancy n i n e i n t h e m i r r o r. c o m

Dress: Valentino – Embroidered Tunic Dress £2,923 Jeans: J Brand – Mama J Cropped Serena Maternity Jeans £220 Shoes: Chloe – Tasseled texturedleather and suede sandals £955

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Facing page: Eden Garden Dress €520

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Facing page:

Dungarees: 7 for all mankind – Distressed Overall £290 Shirt: Paul & Joe – Cuchote Ruffled Sleeve Shirt £360 This page:

Dress: Kalita – Brigitte Silk-Habotai Maxi Dress £500 Sandals: Valentino – Rockstud embellished leather sandals £810

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Facing page: Eden Garden Dress €520

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Facing page:

Shirt: Valentino – Tropical Print Silk Pyjama Shirt £878 Trousers: Valentino – Tropical Print Silk Trouser £878 Slides: Gianvito Rossi – Frayed Satin Slides £440 This page:

Top: Missoni – Off-theShoulder Knit Top £310 Skirt: Missoni – Pleated Elasticated Skirt £790 Shoes: Proenza Schouler – Fringed Woven Canvas Mules £425

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Premium quality eco-friendly nappies & wipes.

www.bambonature.co.uk BAMBOONATURE.indd mama magazine.indd 1 1

/BamboNatureUK

@BamboNatureUK 10/02/2017 14/02/2017 09:19:09 18:09

boutique we love

fas h i on

KIDS

Original

KIMONOS ARE HAND MADE IN LONDON

AND BEST Over a decade ago, Olive Loves Alfie introduced London parents to a new aesthetic, and the store is still leading the way THE EAST VILLAGE SHOP

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“ I T SEEMED TO ME THAT D ES IG NERS WO R KING ABR OAD W ER E MAK ING MU CH M OR E COVETABLE THING SF OR KIDS”

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W

hen Olive Loves Alfie opened in Stoke Newington in 2004 few locals walking past would have guessed it was at the vanguard of what was to be a transormative movement for children's fashion. Prior to then, UK shops selling children's clothes were full of pink and blue, and bows: at the time, buying yellow felt like a brave departure.

But OLA founder Ashlyn Gibson had other ideas: "Having worked in the fashion industry from jewellery to footwear, and travelled extensively for work, it seemed to me that designers working abroad were making much more covetable things for kids than we were getting in the UK. I think I was one of the fi rst buyers from Britain to go to Copenhagen Fashion week, and we were certainly the fi rst store to explore the genderneutral trend."

When OLA opened with just a small number of lines, Ashlyn quickly found she’d hit on something big. Not least, there was a huge appetite for the pared back aesthetic of Scandinavian designers , many of which, like Mini Rodini, have become household names in the past few years.

It was an enormously difficult journey: starting the shop as a single mum gave Ashlyn control over her working life, after being at the beck and call of the fashion world, but the risks were also great. "What I really needed was to be closer to home, for [daughter] Olive, and to be able to call the shots when it came to my time," Ashlyn remembers but there was also pressure.

She worked long hours, but the shop quickly became a focal point for a community of parents who subscribed to

THEXXX PIECES REPRESENT XXXXXX XX XX XXX 'TRADITIONAL TIMELESS XXXXX XXXX XXX FASHION' OLIVE LOVES ALFIE STOCKS FASHION AND INTERIORS BRANDS AS WELL AS ITS OWN LINES

the styles OLA had championed, and its reputation grew .

The fashion for all things Scandinavian flourished as Ashlyn continued to showcase fresh, modern styles in fashion and interiors.

OLA also carries its own lines now, which include kimonos made in London by a Bangladeshi women’s collective.

Despite working in fashion Ashlyn isn't dictated to by trends: "We take inspiration from different cultures and places, rather than passing trends." The OLA label is making boiler suits this year which we suspect are bound to be a sell out.

OLA also stocks interiors products, from wall decoration to storage and wallpapers: "The idea is that you can mix and match with high street shops, and make your space your own.” The East Village store in Stratford opened in 2015 and their evening events are enormously popular. Ashlyn has also developed the online shop, working together with Emma Paton of Finlayfox.com.

It’s tough to overestimate the influence this store has had in terms of the evolution of style and design for children and mamas, and Olive Loves Alfie continues to be a focus point for a growing community of parents keen to support each other’s endeavours both on social platforms and in real life. olivelove salf ie .co .uk May / June 2017

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CAROLA PARTY DRESS

Head over H e e l s

Caramel £321 caramel-shop.co.uk

From boho to classic, we have every wedding look for littles covered W o r d s H O L LY K I R K W O O D

LINEN GAUZE DRESS Bonpoint £255 bonpoint.com

MINUZA TROUSER Caramel, £86 caramel-shop.co.uk

Casual affair

fun s t prin

For an informal day choose bright colours, gorgeous patterns and pieces they can wear all summer long

COTTON TWILL SHORTS Hundred Pieces in Red, £48 scandimini.co.uk

ELSA DRESS BLUE Bonpoint £168 bonpoint.com

NAPPA DESERT BOOTS La Coqueta Kids, £46 lacoquetakids.com

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FLOUNCE TRIM DRESS Jacadi , £71 jacadi.co.uk

GARLAND IVORY FLORAL HAIR GARLAND La Coqueta £18 libertylondon.com

DOROTHY DRESS Morley £94 littlecircle.co.uk

GIRLS SET AND BOYS SUIT Both Bonpoint bonpoint.com

BOW TIE French King £18 littlecircle.co.uk

Old School STRIPED DAMASK PARTY DRESS Rachel Riley, £89 rachelriley.co.uk

Formal church weddings call for a more structured look while bridesmaids and page boys look super in navy and ivory

w yellops po

HERMINIA DRESS La Coqueta £64 lacoquetakids.com

BUTTON STRAP SLIPPERS Rachel Riley £55 rachelriley.co.uk

BOATER HATS Bonpoint £62; bonpoint.com

DURCAL BOY LOOK CARDIGAN & SHIRT La Coqueta , £78 lacoquetakids.com May / June 2017

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Beautiful organic cotton clothes for babies, toddlers, children and mums too.

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SHIRT, CUMMBERBUND, SHORTS Wild & Gorgeous £59; £35; £75 wildandgorgeous.co.uk

EPONA DRESS Simple Kids, £86 littlecircle.co.uk

MARIE ANTOINETTE DRESS Wild & Gorgeous, £138 wildandgorgeous.co.uk

RELAXED JACKET GREY Wild & Gorgeous, £110 wildandgorgeous.co.uk

WEDDING S

PRINCESS GARLAND Woodstock , £36 littlecircle.co.uk

ern modssics cla LINEN PAGE BOY SHORTS Wild & Gorgeous, £65 wildandgorgeous.co.uk

Go boho For a boho wedding in the country we love vintageinspired pieces with pretty pastel colours and armfuls of flowers

FORGET ME NOT DRESSES Wild & Gorgeous, £138 wildandgorgeous.co.uk

BOUR DERBY SHOES GOLD Bonpoint, £164 bonpoint.com

GAZELLE TROUSERS Louis Louise, £47 littlecircle.co.uk

DAYLILY BLOUSE Caramel, £84 caramel-shop.co.uk

May / June 2017

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Boy:

Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Blazer in Bronze £165, Little Wardrobe London Slim Cut Herringbone Trouser in Bronze £99 Little Wardrobe London White Small Point Collar Shirt £74 Lord brogues by Step2wo from £56 Girl:

Little Wardrobe London Chiffon Blouse with Lace Decolletage £69 Little Wardrobe London Wide Leg Herringbone Shorts £95 Frederick boots by Step2wo from £65 Hair accessory by Lisa Jayne Millinery

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Modern

Romance

Little Wardrobe London's latest collections are brilliantly British celebration of style. With a laid back elegance and simple silhouettes they're also perfect for summer weddings. littlewardrobelondon .co.uk

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Boy: Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Blazer in Ivory £165 • Little Wardrobe London Slim Cut Herringbone Trouser in Ivory £99

Little Wardrobe London Penny Collar Candy Stripe Shirt in Pink £79 • Crocco shoes by Step2wo from £102

Girl: Little Wardrobe London Ivory Chiffon Taupe Pussy Bow Blouse £78 • Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Double Breasted

Waistcoat in Bronze £89 • Little Wardrobe London Wide Leg Herringbone Trouser in Bronze £125

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Girl: Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Blazer in Bronze £165 • Little Wardrobe London Jodhpur Trouser £75 • Little Wardrobe London Satin Pussy Bow Blouse in Ivory £44 • Windsor metallic brogues by Step2wo from £96 • Sunglasses from a selection by Zoobug London

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Boy (left): Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Double Breasted

Waistcoat in Ivory £89 • Little Wardrobe London Slim Cut Herringbone Trouser in Ivory £99 • Little Wardrobe London Penny Collar Candy Stripe Shirt in Pink £79 • Frederick boots by Step2wo from £65 • Sunglasses from a selection by Zoobug London Boy (right): Little Wardrobe London Herringbone Blazer in Bronze £165 • Little Wardrobe London Cotton Short in Sand £49 • Little Wardrobe London Penny Collar Candy Stripe Shirt in Butterscotch £79 • Brady loafers by Step2wo from £59.50 • Sunglasses from a selection by Zoobug London

Photographer: Dani Geddes Stylist + Flowers: Cassandra King + Kate Lavender Hair / make up: Jess Cheetham + Melissa Davies +

Rajni Chandegra + Georgia Gray

Location: Premier Park Studios, London Stockists: Step2wo: step2wo.com Little Wardrobe London: littlewardrobelondon.co.uk Zoobug London: zoobug.com Lisa Jayne Millinery: lisajaynemillinery.com

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Wholesome meals for every season of motherhood delivered straight to your door Order now feedme2.co.uk

Get £10 off your first order!

Use the code: ABSOLUTELYMAMA Facebook “f ” Logo

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#foodthatputsyoubothfirst

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wellness B E AU T Y N E WS p .6 0 • B E ST FO O D D E LI V E R I E S p .6 3 T H O M A S I N A M I E R S p .6 4 • PA R E N T I N G : T H E VA LU E O F P L AY p .6 6

B e a ch B a b e  GHD

Beauty buffs take note: cult hair styling brand ghd has released a new limited edition collection inspired by summer escapism and exploration. The wanderlust line is made up of five styling tools (AKA hair-smoothing saviours) in a range of lust-worthy shades. Th is year's beach holiday must-haves. ghdhair.com

May / June 2017

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3 salons with CHILDCARE

Myla and Davis

mama’s

BEAUT Y NOTES Summer recommendations from Lara Jarvis @mumadventures

Each of their three excellent south London salons has a ‘baby day’ every week where little ones will be looked after by staff with special toys and activities mylaanddavis.co.uk

Charlotte Cave This glamorous Balham establishment has a nanny on call every single morning, and even screens films for kids on Thursday afternoons. charlottecave.com

Freshen up •Emma Hardie•

This energising, hydrating and radiance boosting fine facial mist spray is perfect for on-thego use, providing rejuvenated refreshed skin. Ideal for hot sunny days out with the children £35. emmahardie.com

Heads & Tails Every Wednesday until 6pm parents and children are welcome for haircuts. With an extra assistant on hand and a boxes of toys, you won't be in a rush to leave headsandtails.co

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welln es s BE AUT Y

SUPER SERUM •Vintners•

Finally: a toxin-free active face oil packed with botanicals and suitable for pregnancy. Th is stunning serum restores the glow you last saw pre-children!

It's no wonder it is hailed ‘the face oil to end all face oils’.

From £150; cultbeauty.co.uk

MICROBLADING EYEBROW we love

RISE AND SHINE •Lipstick Queen•

Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world, or at least soft play!! I absolutely love this new Mornin’ Sunshine lipstick which transforms on the lips into a delicious peachy coral which looks different on everyone £22 spacenk.com

BRIGHT EYES •The White Company•

I am SO excited that The White Company has collaborated with the global skincare experts, Deciem. This brightening eye cream instantly reduces puffi ness and dark circles - and who doesn't need all the help they can get with little sleep thieves to look after? £20 thewhitecompany.com

Lovely lashes Dior

he fi rst mascara of its kind, Pump 'n' Volume has a flexi casing, enabling you to squeeze, soften and warm the mascara before you apply it to achieve a voluminous effect.

Meaning that no matter how little sleep you got last night, your eyes tell a different story £25.50 houseoff raser.co.uk

T

Sian Dellar Words: L ara Joanna Ja rv is

W

ithout doubt the most time consuming and frustrating part of my beauty regime whilst hurriedly rushing to get ready each morning would have to be my eyebrows.

Having a fair colouring I used to have to painstakingly paint them on every morning; attempting an even pair with a child attached to my hip, grabbing at everything within reach, is about as easy as it sounds! Then I discovered Microblading.

Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow treatment which is carried out using a specialised manual hand tool which holds disposable microblades, and implants colour onto the skin. No machines and no needles! Based in Harley Street, Sian personalises each treatment and expertly designs each shape according to individual preferences, colouring and face shape. Delicately adding hypo-allergenic pigments to the outermost layers of your brows for the most flawless and natural result every time.

I can’t tell you what a huge difference it makes to be able to get up and feel confident that the most important feature of my face is perfect and ready to take on what the day throws at me!

The treatment lasts a year and it truly is worth every penny. permanentmakeup-specialist.com

May / June 2017

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1 2 3 4

Organic New recipes Steam cooked Best for texture and lumps 5 Great value

Try our new no added sugar breakfast and 100% fruit jars with an extra wide opening – perfect for feeding with a spoon. Our organic range of 60 tasty, nutritious jars are sure to meet the needs of your little one’s taste buds.

The m ment they’re ready for weaning 1735_HiPP_JARS_2017_Campaign_Ad_220x285_5_IN_1.indd 1

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wellness

FOOD & DRINK

mama’s

FOO D N OTES

Bespoke food deliveries

order online

London-wide Piccolo Plates

Order simple home-cooked dishes like fish and cottage pies and delicious risottos for delivery all over London.

Each dish is made from fresh, organic and seasonal ingredients, and serves two toddlers. Delivery is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays and each dish costs £5. piccoloplates.com

DINNERS FOR MAMAS FeedMe2

Make sure you're not missed out: FeedMe2 creates balanced meals for every state of being a mama, from fertility to pregnancy, and beyond. Just order the meals you crave most, and it's all delivered to you at home.

Feedme2.co.uk

WEST LONDON Ratatouie

Ratatouie offers freshlycooked organic children’s meals delivered straight to doors in south-west London. The dishes are everything you wish you had time to make yourself from scratch every day: Prices start at £3.89 for a toddler meal.

Ratatouie.co.uk

SNACK HEALTHY AT HOME

H

ome deliveries don’t stop at supper – you can also now get healthy snacks delivered to your house.

Taking a stand against the junk food juggernauts, Chewymoon want to get children enjoying healthy snacking as a way of life, rather than looking forward to their sugary treat times. Snack boxes come with fun illustrated comics, collectible cards and toys which depict the

fight between good and evil.

Mums and dads can choose from a twice-weekly, weekly, fortnightly or monthly box. From just £4.75 subscribers can receive five fun but all-natural snacks.

Opt for a random selection or customise your boxes from over 40 different options which include fruitsmoothie chips, and smoky coconut, to name just two examples. chewymoon.com May / June 2017

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S oPf Il iCf e E Absolutely Mama meets Thomasina Miers to talk about her new book, which aims to take the stress out of feeding the family Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

T

homasina Miers – Masterchef winner, founder of Wahaca, food columnist and mother of three – is not too busy to have written a new book. Well, actually she is – in fact she turned the project down four times – but being pregnant with her third and unable to sleep created a new window of nocturnal opportunity, which she saw as a chance to write. The resulting book, Home Cook, is focused on family life and the domestic kitchen, so it’s fitting that I have come to her actual home to discuss it.

There’s an appealingly chaotic feel to Tommi Miers’ Kensal Rise house – toys strewn, children chattering, walls crowded with pictures and a lively, busy kitchen. Not for her the ubiquitous minimalist white surfaces; hers is a kitchen where things happen. The new book is about sharing the wisdom that she’s gathered: how to make a kitchen work even when you’re pressed for time, how to make healthy dishes for

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whoever’s around without feeling stressed, and how to shop properly to enable all this.

‘It’s old-fashioned really. It definitely goes back to Mrs Beeton but I felt there was a gap in the market for a common sense approach,’ she tells me. ‘I feel that people really get their knickers in a twist about food a lot. I used to too – about eating and what to eat. But all the faddism is crazy; it’s a lot easier to feed people than you’d think. It’s just not that difficult to cook affordable, fun, healthy food, and it doesn’t take forever.’

She doesn’t look quite as relaxed as she says she is, however – and no wonder, because who can run a large business, write a column, cope with three tiny children and publicise a new book, all while being primed to throw dinner on the table for 12 unexpected guests without so much as a tiny trip to Tesco? Not to mention the huge and ongoing project she has launched with her local primary school, devising and fundraising for a vegetable garden and an outdoor classroom.

She concedes that her husband thinks she does too much. But she is clearly on a

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wellnes s

PROFILE

~

“FO R ME FO O D IS TH E G E L THAT BINDS U S AL L TO G E T H E R , IT ’S A CO MMO N LOV E T H AT P EO P L E BO ND OV E R”

~

Ballymaloe (the Irish cookery school whose alumni includes Stevie Parle) and at 29 she won Masterchef, and after that she was slightly surprised to fi nd herself actually in a career as a chef. "For a few years I felt like I should have spent years in the kitchen as an apprentice, so my food got more cheff y as I tried to prove myself." It’s not cheff y now, she insists – it’s simple, practical and healthy.

"I spend money on ingredients – the kitchen is about management. I’ve always got livers for chicken liver pate and cods roe for taramasalata, and those things are cheap as chips. If I come home shattered there’s always something I can make. I’ve always got the basics."

What would she suggest for an easy dinner party? "Roast chicken defi nitely," she says.

"With lots of tarragon, butter, garlic and lemon. It’s just delicious. With boiled new potatoes – and if you have time, smash them, cover them in thyme, garlic and olive oil and roast them..."There’s so much anxiety about whether it’s pretty enough, exotic enough and whether there’s too much fat, but for me food is the gel that binds us all together, it’s a common love that people bond over. The way I see my friends is around this kitchen table. I am very social and I love people."

And with that, it’s time for the school pick up, and she's got to go.

mission, or a variety of missions. "We worry about obesity – yet we feed our children chicken nuggets and chips! And just look at the children’s yogurts in the supermarket!

We have none of that. But then if we’re baking we do use sugar and butter because it should be about pleasure. If you’re mainly eating fibre and wholegrains and vegetables, then it’s fi ne" Miers complains that there’s too much neurosis around, and yet she will only buy farmers’ market milk, which she agrees sounds a bit inconsistent. "As a mother you do think about nutrition and our soil nutrition has plummeted. But I’m very suspicious of fads."

As well as representing her cooking present, the book harks back to Miers’ cooking past, which is home-taught and family-oriented. "I grew up cooking by my mother’s side and I’ve returned to the kind of cooking we did at home."Her mother would buy cheap ingredients – ‘like marrow’ – because money was tight, and Tommi, who wasn’t interested in toys, or in playing with her siblings, would hang around the kitchen, developing an interest in cooking. "I started asking, can I cook? Because I wanted to do something more interesting with what we had, and I found it so boring eating the same things over and over again." At 26 she went to

Home Cook by Thomasina Miers is published by Faber, £25 h/b May / June 2017

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play

The true value of

In The Gardener and The Carpenter, Alison Gopnik argues that we put children under too much pressure to learn.

Wo r d s A L I S O N G O P N I K

T

he tension between play and work, tradition and innovation, isn’t limited to our thinking about children.

Thinking about children can inform our thinking about aging in one way, but it can inform our thinking about art and science in an entirely different way. We saw that the evolutionary purpose of childhood is to provide a protected period in which variation and innovation can thrive. Play is the most striking manifestation of that strategy.

Play is, precisely, an activity with no apparent goal or purpose or outcome. Instead, play lets us explore alternatives, whether they are alternative ways of moving or acting, thinking or imagining.

Play is the essence of an exploration strategy rather than an exploitation one. It’s no coincidence that it’s also a characteristic of childhood. Human beings not only have an exceptionally long childhood, but even as adults we maintain many strikingly childlike characteristics, both physical and psychological.

Biologists call it neoteny.

Even as adults, humans have the potential for the kind of open- ended curiosity, exploration, and play that is so characteristic of children. What’s more, we have a range of adult institutions— sports, art, drama, science— that formalize play. These institutions mirror the wide- ranging exploration of movement, and the physical and the psychological world, that we see in children’s play, but they combine it with

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the focus, drive, and purpose of adulthood. Work is central to industrial and post-industrial society, but it lives in tension with both care and play. Work shapes the availability of resources for care, whether of the old or the young, and it also shapes the availability of resources for play. The same tensions that influence the way we treat care also influence the way we treat play.

Sometimes, we treat adult play— sport or art or science—as simply a personal indulgence, another consumer good to be bought with the proceeds of work, or the indulgence of a rich patron. At other times we treat it as a disguised form of work itself, something that has value only because it eventually leads to some practical end— physical health or moral uplift, improved machines or better medical treatments. Every scientific grant proposal has to have a section justifying it in terms of ultimate outcomes. The irony is that over the long term, play does lead to practical benefits for both children and adults— that is certainly true of scientific exploration.

But it does this precisely because the people who play, whether they are children or adults, aren’t aiming at those practical benefits. The fundamental paradox of the explore/exploit trade- off is that in order to be able to reach a variety of goals in the long run, you have to actively turn away from goalseeking in the short run.

Just as we should give children the resources and space to play, and do so without insisting that play will have immediate payoffs, we should do the same for scientists and artists and all the others who explore human possibilities.

You can see the value of this attitude to play in both post-industrial and pre-industrial societies. Successful

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welln es s

~

“AS A DULTS W E H AV E T HE POT ENT I A L FOR T H E KIND OF OPEN -ENDED CURIOS I T Y, EX PLORAT I ON AND PL AY T H AT I S SO CHA RAC T ER I ST I C OF C H I L DR EN "

~

high- tech fi rms such as Google and Pixar, companies that require innovation and creativity, intentionally set aside time and space for play. For many years Google has had a policy in which employees have some time allotted every week to simply pursue ideas they think are interesting. The Pixar building includes secret passages and playhouses.

One of the most striking examples of the value of play, for adults and for children, that I have ever seen comes in the great 1920s silent fi lm Nanook of the North. The fi lm traces the life of an Inuit hunter, Nanook, and his family as they struggle to survive in one of the harshest climates on earth, with only their own skill at hunting and gathering to sustain them. At one point in the movie Nanook makes a little toy sled for his adorable toddler son.

Father and child have a grand romp in the snow, familiar to any Canadian parent like me. Th is may seem unremarkable, but think about it for a minute.

Consider just how much of the gross domestic product of that barely subsisting family, in time and materials, went into building and playing with that sled. What Nanook knew, though, was that there was no better investment in a future life than the playful exploration of snow and ice. In the richest country on earth we still haven’t learned that lesson.

HE ALTH

The Gardener and The Carpenter is published by Penguin Random house £18.99 penguinrandomhouse.com

May / June 2017

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eco-white

A SnuzPod " to match your style

SnüzPod colour palette

3 in 1 Bedside Crib

Bringing you closer

Find your SnüzPod colour match at snuz.co.uk SNUZPOD.indd 1

#snuzpod 15/03/2017 15:46

home &

P L AY R O O M D E S I G N S FO R LI T T LE O N E S p .72 TO P P L AC E S TO LI V E : M U SW E LL H I LL A N D R I C H M O N D p .74

Sleep Sound ď‚ž LOAFď‚ž

The latest collection for Little Loafers is a wonderfully inventive set of beds, sure to fire little imaginations.

This Mazeballs bed, which features storage baskets woven from recycled magazines, sold out this spring, but thankfully Loaf are taking deliveries of more - just get your order in soon. loaf.com

May / June 2017

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5 of the best LULLABY SLEEP AIDES

r’s k

1 2

3

mama’s

N UR SERY NOTES Blackout blinds you can rely on, and beautiful handwoven pieces

Hit the floor • Av e r y R o w R u g s •

4

The carefully curated collection of rugs which launched earlier this year is from Dash & Albert and includes two patterns, Herringbone and Spot, and is in available in a range of colourways; From £17.50. avery-row.com

5

1. Ewan the Dream Sheep £30 Mamasandpapas.com 2. Zazu Musical Sleep Toy £25 Jojomamanbebe.co.uk 3 Tiny Love Magical Night Mobile £58.99 Johnlewis.com 4. Manhattan Lullaby Owl Pull Musical Toy £16.05 Albeebaby.com 5. Kimbo and Indy Musical Mobile £55 Thewhitecompany.com

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h o me & interio rs NURSERY

we love

NOTES

ART ATTACK •Mimi and Mae wallpaper•

These hand-drawn wallpapers are made in England. Expertly printed using water-based inks that create a real depth of colour there are two designs to choose from, and three colours: dusky pink, grey, or teal. £70 per roll; Nubie.co.uk

MADE IN BURMA Kalinko

Words: Holly Kirk wo o d

BLOC PARTY

N

Bloc Blinds

As the days get longer a great blackout blind is essential, and the flexibility you get with Bloc Blinds means you can easily switch new patterns for old. They're also super safe. £202. blocblinds.co.uk

MOOD LIGHTING •Sebra•

Sebra’s latest lighting collection consists of table, wall and ceiling lamps in their signature colours of grey and pink. They look charming in gender neutral nurseries, and also elsewhere in the home. £24; cowshedonline.com

Scandi mini C i s s y We a r s

erm Living's reinterpretation of a classic Funkis House has been beautifully crafted, and allows plenty of space for little imaginations to expand. Perfect for littles who love acting out domestic bliss. £165; cissywears.com

F

ew homeware brand Kalinko imports beautiful handmade Burmese furniture and storage pieces made using traditional methods which produce pleasingly modern results.

Founder Sophie Garnier has lived in Burma for two years, and helps independent producers from all over the country to develop long-term, sustainable livelihoods by creating products which sell to an international market.

Every item is handmade, and can take days to complete – and the brand prides itself on its good relationships with its craftspeople. Sophie travels between London and Yangon frequently to source new product ideas and meet local artisans.

Kalinko currently offer a few key nursery pieces; they also make pretty storage boxes which work throughout the home, as well as laundry baskets, plant pots and pretty magazine and newspaper holders.

Their throws are handwoven on wooden looms in remote Burmese villages, often outdoors under the stilts of the weaver's homes: these gorgeous rugs make attractive covers for sofas and beds, or could even come in handy as an extra cot blanket when required. kalinko.com

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T H E H O M E O F B R I T T, JURGEN AND MASCHA Photography Rachel Whiting

The room’s layout should take into account the child’s activity preferences, just in the way that you’d plan an adult’s space based on their usage of it. Here the dressing table and a deep cushioned bench are positioned right by the window, to ensure as much natural light as possible for getting ready and dressing up and for reading.

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h o me & interio rs KIDS'

ROOMS

Space Works by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Joanna Simmons, Rebecca Tanqueray and Rebecca Winward, Ryland Peters & Small (£30.00). All photographs © Ryland Peters & Small

T H E FA M I LY H O M E O F A R C H I T EC T A R A S H N O U R I N E JA D A N D A RT I ST K R I ST I N A LY K K E TØ N N E S E N I N CO P E N H AG E N Photography Rachel Whiting

Play

A favourite theme will always delight a child – but it’s best to make sure that you choose to express it in an impermanent fashion, so it can be updated easily and inexpensively as the child grows up. Wall stickers are a cheap, quick way of adding mural-style decoration, without the permanence.

ROOMS

When designing your child's room it's important to incorporate their interests without losing your sense of style. Here's how

W

hen designing and decorating a child’s room, flexibility is key.

Children’s rooms need to change and evolve as fast as the child does.

From a calming nursery to a high-tech teenage hangout, the room must be adaptable, well-planned and creative.

A child’s room should reflect his or her personality and preferences, while also remaining similar in style to the rest of your home, so it fits in. Involve your child in decisionmaking; young children can feel very upset when their room is transformed and familiar pieces in it changed, so let them make some choices to reduce the risk of their feeling unsettled.

That said, your input is essential. Do not trust a four- year old to pick a scheme that he or she will still love in six months’ time, so avoid Spiderman wallpaper on every wall, as your son may prefer Batman in a few weeks, but do leave a wall free where he can hang posters or pictures, which can be swapped easily.

Pick furniture that can be adapted, to accommodate a child’s ever-changing interests without compromising your own sense of style too greatly; wooden furniture that can be painted, a dressing-up box that can double as seating, a shelving unit that can be wall-mounted once the child is taller. Then have fun with inexpensive accessories like lights, wall stickers, rugs and bedding, to create a space that is both stylish and child-friendly.

THE HOME OF MAAIKE G O L D BAC H IN THE NETHERLANDS Photography Katya de Grunwald

Here jade green, orange and coral pop out against a white-on-white backdrop, but some more natural shades have also been included to add some contrast and texture. The wicker chair, natural wood boxes and retro lamp all help to ground the scheme.

May / June 2017

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On top of

The World

Growing families flock to Richmond, while Muswell Hill just became an even hotter property for 2017 Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

T

hose who live in Muswell Hill wont' be surprised the area made it into the hallowed Sunday Times ''Best places to live in London' list this year. A charming area situated to the north of Hampstead Heath and just south of Alexandra Palace, it's been popular with families for generations.

All that height means great views, fresh air, and a sense of being out of the city, while The Broadway is the high street middle-class dreams are made of: with an Everyman Cinema, a Sweaty Betty, a great cheese shop and Nicolas off-licence, as well as innumerable coffee shops, cafes and decent restaurants, locals have everything they on their doorsteps.

For green spaces, choose between 196 acres of Alexandra Park with its boating lake, pitch and putt course, rose garden and deer enclosure, Highate Woods or Queen’s Woods.

The building boom really took place at the end of the 19th century here, and the majority of construction was carried out by James Edmondson and William J Collins, which means the architecture of the area feels more cohesive than most areas in London – much of Muswell Hill is now a conservation area. The good supply of well-built red brick Edwardian homes

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CONISTON ROAD A five bedroom house with a self-contained studio flat, this Edwardian home has contemporary interiors, and is located near the Broadway. £1.75m, 0208 444 3388 martyngerrard.co.uk

COLLINGWOOD AVENUE This charming four-bedroom Collins-built family home benefits from its close proximity to Tetherdown and Fortismere schools  £1.6m, 020 3792 6541 kfh.co.uk

now attracts families looking for a little more space to spread out both inside and outside: many of these houses come with great gardens (and views).

"The properties tend to have good period features as well," according to Liam Bray from Kinleigh Folk and Hayward. "With high ceilings, cornicing and plenty of character they do make ideal family homes."

Properties like these also don’t tend to change hands very often, which means houses which do come onto

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h o me & interio r s PROPERT Y

TUDOR HOUSE A stunning period house built in 1698 overlooking both the grounds of Hampton Court Palace’s Home Park and Bushy Park, there are also good schools within walking distance. £1.25m, 01372 888 582 knightfrank.co.uk

the market sometimes need a little bit of modernisation.

Those who require the tube for their commute jump on a bus to Highgate or East Finchley stations - both on the Northern Line - while many local residents also choose to cycle (that hill on the way home is certainly good for those doing cardio).

As well as the attractive period houses and great quality of life, many families come to the area for the legendary standard of schooling and the state schools in particular – to the point that the prices in certain mico-pockets are entirely dictated by the ever-shrinking catchment areas around the most outstanding schools, Mr Bray points out. The top primary schools include Alexandra Park, Muswell Hill Primary, Rhodes Avenue, and Coldfall Primary (all outstanding). Tetherdown Primary (good) is also coveted. This has created a sort of hothouse atmosphere within the area, and you'll pay over £1m for a detached four-bedroom house with a garden on a nice, wellpreserved street.

KEW ROAD With accommodation over four floors, this family house sits directly opposite Kew Gardens.  £2m 020 3369 4388 hamptons.co.uk

G

ood enough for royalty since the time of Edward Longshanks, Richmond has been one of the loveliest places to live in London for centuries - and much of the area's charm is now based on how little it's changed .

Bordered by The Thames to the west, it’s easily one of the greenest areas in the capita: open spaces include the 2,500 acre Richmond Park, Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens Between Friars Stile Road and Richmond Hill you’ll find a huge number of fine independent shops and boutiques, while the transport links are excellent.

"Each area within Richmond has its own feel and tribe: some buyers want to be close to the station, others need to be within specific catchment areas, and a number request locations near the Park," explains Partner at Knight Frank Luke Ellwood.

Schools are also an enormous driver: The Harrodian and St Pauls in Barnes are within easy reach, as is The Godolphin and Latymer School at Hammersmith. The state schools are also excellent.

Much of the borough is now protected land and properties are often listed, which makes it difficult for developers to muscle in. Supply can also be an issue: ‘The best properties don’t change hands very often; owners tend to hang on to them,’ explains Mr Ellwood.

Prices are in keeping with what you’d expect for such a rarified atmosphere. You can easily pay £5m for a townhouse on Richmond Hill, widely considered to be one of the best addresses, but these houses are actually tall and skinny, which doesn't always suit families. Instead, head to the pretty area between Church Road and Manor Road for more affordable four-bedroom family houses which usually cost between £1-2m.

Further out ,you find more laterally-built houses wth larger gardens which are great for growing broods. Mr Ellwood recommends the areas around Sheen, Teddington, and Strawberry Hill which enjoy a lot of the benefits of the area without the eye-watering prices.

May / June 2017

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T R AV E L I N S P I R AT I O N p .79 • T E R R E B L A N C H E , P R OV E N C E p . 8 0 N E W FO R E ST S P EC I A L p . 8 4

With a smile  K ANUHURA

A spectacular private island resort with amazing diving, a top-class spa, incredible food, and a fantastic kids club there is plenty to love here.

But it's the top-class service. which really sets it apart, and has guests rebooking as soon as they get home. kanuhura.com

May / June 2017

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INSPIRATIONS

Swim with dolphins •Mauritius•

At Lux Bell Mar there is so much to do, from swimming with dolphins to the outdoor cookery school, tennis coaching, beach games and dance lessons for adults and littles.

Or just relax by the largest swimming pool on the island, and do absolutely nothing at all luxresorts.com

mama’s

TR AVEL N OTES Global holiday inspiration

GO GREEK

FLY SMART

•Amanzoe•

•Jetsmarter•

Set on the gorgeous eastern Peloponnesian peninsula, Amanzoe is blessed with incredible views, while their beautiful new two-bedroom villas are perfect for families. aman.com/amanzoe

Travelling with kids can be a stressful experience but with JetSmarter you lose the fuss of a commercial fl ight. Simply turn up 15 minutes before you fly and walk pretty much straight on the plane jetsmarter.com

BOOKING AHEAD? 3 RESORTS WITH LONG SEASONS

Green Garden

Tenerife The two bedroom villas at this pretty island property have been refurbished for 2017, while the resort offers lots of great' activities from a treehouse to indoor play. We recommend booking a daybed ahead and taking some time for yourself Totstotravel.co.uk

Elysium Paphos Cyprus Paphos is the European Capital of Culture for 2017 and the Elysium is a great base for exploring its charms.

Excursions include the zoo and the water park, but even within the hotel the kids club has tons to do on site while you relax.

Elysium-hotel.com/en

Regnum Carya

Turkey Regnum Carya Golf and Spasits along the amazing Antalya coast.

Tiny travellers can paddle in one of four pools, play on the private beach or visit the kids club, which offers a water park, an adventure park with a treetop adventure. regnumhotels.com

May / June 2017

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La France Profonde Terre Blanche offers a heavenly rural escape less than an hour’s drive from Nice Airport W o r d s H O L LY K I R K W O O D

L

ocated in the heart of the Pays de Fayence, Terre Blanche is a Provençal retreat offering a tonic from the highoctane atmosphere of the summertime Riviera - which is probably why so many families from Nice, Cannes and Monaco head back into the hills to holiday here . Spread over a 750-acre estate, which was previously owned by Sean Connery, the resort was a run by the Four Seasons in a previous incarnation. Roughly the size of Monte Carlo, and considerably prettier, it also happens to be a lot more pleasant to spend time in. The winding hills are peppered with villas and suites, while two top-notch 18-hole golf courses attract some of the best players in the world – this is an established stop on the European Tour. However, we weren’t here for the golf, we were here for some R&R and with the heavenly surroundings and over 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s an ideal destination, even for those who wouldn’t know a 5-wood from a 3-iron.

Accommodation features 115 well-appointed suites and villas with private terraces and far-reaching views – the villas either have a private pool or Jacuzzi, and all the rooms are beautifully turned out with large showers, opulent baths and plenty of living space. Although the estate is extensive, your car remains in the car park while you’re on site: guests zoom around on golf buggies –just call reception to be dropped where you’d like to go, if you don’t fancy the walk.

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THE MAIN HOTEL BUILDING

~

“MANY FAMILIE S FROM NICE , CANNE S AND MONACO HEAD INTO THE HILLS TO HOLIDAY HERE”

~

EASTERN PROVENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST ROMANTIC PARTS OF FRANCE

The main hotel building houses the reception, concierge and three of the restaurants, as well as the centerpiece of the resort – the vast (and heated) infinity pool which has views to die for. There are also two tennis courts on the property, as well pétanque – which for us is the ideal way to while away time before dinner. The concierge can arrange anything from a babysitter to a day trip, and everything in between.

Of course when you’re in France the food is always an attraction, and the selection of restaurants here is well judged, allowing for the formal and the informal. From the Michelin-starred Le Faventiato the Tousco Grill by the pool.

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e s c apes PROVENCE

Set up on a hill above most of the properties, the 35,000sq ft spa is a Mecca for all things relaxing. The detox facial was as relaxing as it was theraputic: all the skincare is currently all by Clinica Ivo Pitanguy from Rio. The gardens are green and fragrant, and offers lots of private corners to escape to, while the vast indoor pool is great for proper laps.Yoga and pilates classes are held in the gardens in summer.

It seems many guests here for a few days rarely have cause to leave, but plenty of French families stay for two or three weeks, which gives them a real chance to explore the charming surroundings. Local villages include Seillans, Fayence, Tourrettes, Callian, Mons and Feyance: foodies won’t want to miss the Provençal markets on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. This is one of the gastronomic centres of France, after all. It’s also famous for its wine: the tradition of viticulture here stretches back 2000 years. Of course the the Var is best-known for their rosè– which makes up nearly 90% of the local production. There are countless local vineyards to visit, although the landscape isn’t all the endless vineyards you find in the Hérault: the dense green woods and lavender fields of the tourist brochures are also within easy reach.

Alternatively, head for Grasse, the world capital of perfume, or to Mougins,easily one of the most romantic towns in France.

If you want to ditch the car, visit the local villages on electric bike or the local riding centre can show you more of the landscape on horseback. There is some fantastic hiking nearby: explore the and creeks of the Corniche d’Or, or walk around the St Cassien lake,

BEDROOMS ARE ALL WELL-APPOINTED

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THE VIEW FROM THE INFINITY POOL

~

"VISIT THE LOCAL VILLAGE S ON ELECTRIC BIKE , OR TAKE A TOUR OF THE VINEYARDS"

~

a paradise for swimmers and fishermen.

Terre Blanche's last great plus is that although children are wecome everywhere – this is France, after all - the resort runs a fivestar kids’ club so that parents can have time to themselves.

The Kids Club itself has differTHE ESTATE DONKEYS ARE POPULAR WITH LITTLES ent rooms for each age group, and the activity programme changes daily offering everything from clay modelling to jewellery making. It also has its own pool.

In summer the kids roam all over the estate visiting the donkeys, painting outdoors running their own Olympic Games, or visiting the tennis academy.

The ultimate family holiday is one where everyone gets to spend quality time together, and parents still come away feeling rested and recharged.

What Terre Blanche offers is a top quality escape in a stunning part of France which caters for both parents and little ones. You never know: you might even make it to the beach.

THE KIDS CLUB HAS EXTENSIVE FACILITIES INCLUDING A POOL

 Nightly rates in a suite for a family of four start at around 550 euros. en.terre-blanche.com

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18/04/2017 12:59

New Forest getaways Mama checks in to two of Hampshire’s best hotels for a blissful weekend of relaxation

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Chewton Glen HAMPSHIRE

Wo r d s : A PPH I A M I C H A E L

THE HOTEL

A lavish 18th-century countryside house oozing period charm, with all the modern amenities you could want from a five-star hotel. Add impeccable service to the fold and you can see why guests return year after year.

While an air of polish and smart interiors offer one a sense of occasion, the hotel manages to keep things very tot-friendly, with an outdoor play area, bug hotel, babysitting services and dedicated weekend and school holiday programmes - such as a Children’s Club and buffet supper for youngsters.

THE ROOMS

70 individually designed bedrooms and suites, including 12 stunning treehouse suites. We recommend the Hotel Suites as these come with a large bedroom, separate sitting area and annexed bunk space for the kids.

WHAT TO DO

What can’t you do. You would be hard pressed to leave the hotel’s beautifully manicured 130-acre grounds, with a nine-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis centre, gym and croquet lawn all on site. Lovers of the great outdoors can partake in a spot of mountain biking, shooting, archery and even duck herding, while the hotel’s location nestled on the edge of the historic New Forest National

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“GUE STS CAN PA RTICIPATE IN MOUNTAIN BIKING, SHOOTING, ARCHERY OR DUCK HERDING”

~

GETAWAYS

Park lends itself nicely to the exploring of woodland walking and jogging trails. Be sure to book a treatment at the award-winning spa - start with the Natura Bissé Diamond Energy facial or an exquisite personalised full body massage and finish with a visit to the spa’s sumptuous hydrotherapy pool (England’s largest) for ultimate relaxation.

THE FOOD

Foodies are well catered for at the Dining Room, which serves up a smart menu comprising a mix of British and cosmopolitan cuisine, with much of the ingredients sourced from Chewton Glen’s own kitchen garden. And budding cooks both young and old can delight in the new purpose-built cookery school and informal tasting floor restaurant, overseen by chef and TV presenter James Martin. There are Junior Chef classes for children to enjoy, while adults of all capabilities can choose from themes such as ‘Food for the Family’ and ‘Found and Foraged’.

THE AREA

A two hour drive from central London, the delights of the New Forest, with its wetlands, ancient woodlands and grassy plains, are literally on your doorstep. And thanks to its close proximity to the Solent - the stretch of water separating mainland England from the Isle of Wight - the hotel is also a mere ten minute stroll from a beach.

Further afield, Paultons Park (home to Peppa Pig World), Winchester Cathedral, Highcliffe Castle and Stonehenge are yours to explore.

Rooms from £325 che wton glen .com May / June 2017

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Take your little one on a taste adventure with

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travel U K

to enjoy their visit without feeling crammed in together. The winter garden makes an airy space for a drink or afternoon tea; after dark the bar becomes a grown-up area in which to enjoy something stronger.

In winter roaring fires are lit in every room, while the nooks in the garden come into their own in summer.

Further bedrooms and suites are out in the coach house and the crescent – located in new buildings they benefit from mod cons like underfloor heating.

GETAWAYS

~

“ TRY TO HAVE A SWIM BEFORE BREAKFAST ”

~

THE SPA

Lime Wood HAMPSHIRE

Wo r d s : H E L E N BA RO N & H O L LY K I R K W O O D

THE SETTING

The New Forest is one of the most beautiful places to spend time in still within easy reach of the capital: a fact fully understood by hotelier Robin Hutson, who used to run Chewton Glen, and set up The wonderful Pig hotels. But he really fell in love with the area running Lime Wood. A classical Georgian country house, the main hotel is as handsome as it is welcoming. The lovely large bedrooms are furnished with just the right combination of class and comfort, with the high ceilings and other lovely period features which define the era.

Downstairs, the public spaces very much reflect how a private house would function: from the library to the drawing room, there are enough individual spaces to allow guests

The jewel in Lime Wood’s very impressive crown is the Herb House Spa. It’s anything but ordinary. Not only does it offer the very best in treatments; it incorporates a Mud House, a raw food cafe and a large, heated outdoor pool set amid a beautifully landscaped garden.

Arranged over three storeys, it also offers a spacious sauna and hydropool overlooking the surrounding forest – the serenest of views.

I was there to experience the Pai massage, developed specifically for mamas-to-be – and was afforded the unprecedented comfort of lying down tummy-first, a cut-out ring making way for my bump. It sounds simple, but at seven months pregnant, being able to enjoy an expert massage without any of the positional compromises usually dictated by pregnancy was a rare and muchneeded pleasure.

THE RESTAURANT

With Angela Hartnett at the helm, Hartnett, Holder & Co is a destination in its own right. Lunch and supper are excellent – all their ingredients are scrupulously locally-sourced, many from the kitchen garden.

Breakfast in all the hotels Mr Hutson runs, including the stable of Pigs, is always one of the greatest pleasures of all. Try to have a swim or at least a little walk beforehand, in order to really to do justice to what's on offer. Almost anything you could dream of for a morning feast is here in spades, and if it's not they'll make it for you. Where else can you choose from quail, hen or duck eggs to have with your soldiers?

The other great joy of Lime Wood is the service - throughout our stay every single member of staff is as accommodating as they can be without being obsequious; nothing is too much trouble, from extra-small wellies to forgotten laptop chargers.

Mr Hutson's original is certainly his best.

Rooms from £330 limewoodhotel.co.uk May / June 2017

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Safe

Practical

Stylish

The first of its kind in the UK, Nibbling is the ultimate mummy must have. High quality, paediatrician approved, 100% non toxic silicone teething jewellery and baby products. The range includes necklaces, bracelets, teethers, rattles and dummy clips.

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Nursery to playroom, we can help create the perfect space for your little ones Furniture – Monogramming Service – Bedding – Gifts – Fashion Complimentary Interior Design Service Visit us at our store or online 63 Abbeville Road, London, SW11 2AH

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A S K T H E E X P E R T S : F R O M F U S SY E AT I N G TO N A P PY R A S H p . 9 0 G E T I N TO T H E R I G H T S C H O O L p . 9 4 • TA LK I N G H E A D : A N D R E W J O H N S O N p . 9 8

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Hoop is a free app that helps parents discover local activities for familes to do together, based on their interests. With over 20,000 listings covering hundreds of categories, from parkour to coding classes, you can say goodbye to aimless weekends in the park. hoop.co.uk

May / June 2017

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Corinne MORLEY Corinne Morley is beauty expert for natural skincare brand Trilogy trilogyproducts.com Q Tell us a bit about Trilogy and Trilogy’s new Pure Plant Body Oil? T rilogy is a certified natural skincare brand from New Zealand.

Trilogy started the pure plant revolution by discovering the power of rosehip oil 15 years ago.

Our skin-loving, certified organic, cold-pressed rosehip oil is the hero of our ranges selling a bottle every 22 seconds around the world.

“PURE PLANT BODY OIL IS IDEAL FOR SENSITIVE SKIN OR USE THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY ”

Ask the

EXPERTS Q

&

A

Parenting professionals and leading mumpreneurs answer some of your most pressing questions

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Our latest innovation, NEW Pure Plant Body Oil harnesses the power of rosehip oil in a fragrance free, certified natural blend for all-over hydration and nourishment. With sweet almond to stabilise the skin’s natural pH, and apricot to soothe inflammation, this pure plant oil blend also helps to improve stretch marks and scarring, and hydrate and repair skin from top-to-toe.

Pure Plant Body Oil is a safer option than other petrochemical alternatives, and is ideal for sensitive skin or use throughout pregnancy – it’s suitable for the whole family. Pure plant oils are excellent for dry or sensitised skin during changing seasons, delivering much needed hydration and nourishment. Using oils on your skin the bath or shower is a great way of trapping hydration.

Independent clinical studies* show:

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reso urces ASK

• 81% of people saw an overall improvement in appearance of scars and stretchmarks.

• 97% of people agree it absorbed easily into the skin • 90% of people enjoyed the fragrance-free formula *Double blind, independent trial tested 31 subjects over 6 weeks, conducted

by Ozderm.

Lauren DANGOUR Lauren studied at a nutritional culinary school and then decided decided to set up Feed Me 2 a nutritious meal delivery service for all seasons of motherhood

kiwis and berries. Trying to be mindful of what you are putting in your by ensuring your diet is rich in nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin D, Omega 3, Calcium, Folic Acid and other vitamins and minerals so your body can provide enough for both you and the baby.

As mentioned above, it is only during the last trimester where it is suggested that on average a woman should add an extra 200-300 calories to her diet.

This can be achieved by adding a small snack to your diet, such as a carrot sticks with hummus or crackers. It is actually during breastfeeding where you’re recommended to add an extra 500 calories to your diet.

Therefore when it comes to eating during your pregnancy, it is quality not quantity. The amount of calories recommended will vary from person to person depending on a number of factors such as weight, height and physical activity.

T HE EXPERTS

Nicole HASTIE Nicole Hastie is a Carrying Consultant and Director of Kangaroo Care UK. She is passionate about helping parents understand the incredible benefits of skin to skin contact with their babies.. vija-design.co.uk Q Should I put skin to skin contact in my birth plan?

A Where possible mother and baby should spend time skin to skin for an uninterrupted hour immediately after birth. Once essential checks have been made, ask for the noise levels and

feedme2 .co.uk Q I am pregnant. Should I be eating for two?

A The saying “eating for two” is often said by women when pregnant. There’s almost a relief of knowing that you don’t need to worry about what you eat and surely eating for two is good for the baby if you eat plenty? Well evidence has shown this may not be true! Research shows that most women don’t actually need to increase their calorie intake at all until the third trimester. It is widely considered that during the fi rst 6 months your baby is able to take everything it needs from your body without any extra calories.

Therefore what becomes more important is not how much you eat, but what you are eating.

For example, next time you are craving something sweet try stocking up on some flavorsome fruit, such as

“WHEN IT COMES TO EATING DURING PREGNANCY, IT IS QUALITY NOT QUANTITY ” May / June 2017

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lights to be kept low, giving you and your baby time to rest and get to know each other. Ensure you are both warm enough and comfortable by wearing something that supports baby on your chest and covers your body to maintain your own temperature. Baby’s heart rate, body temperature and respiration will usually stabilise during skin to skin contact, easing their transition from the womb to the world. Being held against mum’s skin can help baby’s immune system reducing the risk of infection.

Requesting skin to skin contact as part of your birth plan, and packing a comfortable and supportive kangaroo care top or wrap will help you enjoy this simple but powerful way of welcoming your baby into the world.

Births don’t always go to plan but skin to skin contact has many benefits even when it cannot happen straightaway.

Choosing what to wear for skin to skin contact doesn’t have to be expensive. With comfortable options starting from just £17.99 like the Bump to Baby Bandeau from Vija Design.

Dr Ben KO Dr Ben Ko, Consultant in Child Developmental and Neurodisability, at The Portland Hospital for Women & Children, part of HCA Healthcare UK theportlandhospital.com Q How can I tell if my child has autism, and what’s the best way to confi rm a diagnosis?

A As a Developmental Paediatrician, I am often referred children and young persons whose parents, teachers, or health professionals working with them are worried about the possibility of autism. When I see children and young people with concerns regarding the

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“BEING HELD AGAINST MUM'S SKIN CAN HELP BABY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM ” possibility of autism, I will start with a general developmental assessment. As there are a few conditions that may look like autism, it is important to perform a general, holistic assessment, with an open mind. Once I have performed a general developmental assessment, and the fi ndings suggest autism, I will recommend for the children to have a specific autism diagnostic assessment.

There are national guidelines laid down by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on how diagnostic assessments are to be carried out. For children and families who are able to access the National Health Service, autism diagnostic assessment is provided by their local child development service or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Referral can be made by General Practitioners, Health Visitors and Therapists.

In some areas, there is a long waiting time for autism diagnostic assessment.

If parents are keen to have a diagnostic assessment sooner, there are a number of providers in the private sector, The Portland Hospital being one of them.

Appointments for assessment can be arranged within 1-2 weeks of referral.

Autism is a life-long developmental condition. Children and young people with this condition will continue to have some difficulties in their social and communication skills as compared to their peers. While there is no cure for autism, there is much that can be done to help and to facilitate progress and learning.. Research and evidence does show though that treatment by speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, psychotherapy and by educational means, can lead to noticeable and sustained improvements for children with autism. In my own personal experience, I have seen these treatments produce great results!

Mark SALTER Mark is the founder of for aisha baby food – a major UK infant food brand, pioneering exotic tastes for little ones foraisha.com Q Tell us a little about the inspiration for your healthy recipes for little ones?

A In last month’s ‘ask the experts’ column I answered the question about how to ensure that your little one won’t be a fussy eater during their important years of growth and development; my top tips are to make meals fun by providing variety, interesting smells, tastes and textures

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T HE EXPERTS

Heather MORRIS Heather Morris is a Registered General Nurse and State Certified Midwife. She is mum to Freddy, Harry and Jack. metanium.co.uk

What causes nappy rash?

Most babies get nappy rash at some time no matter how careful you are about skin care. At any one time up to a third of babies and toddlers in nappies have nappy rash, so it’s a very common condition. It doesn’t usually develop in newborns, but all babies can get nappy rash.

It’s usually a mild condition which can be easily treated, but can be worrying. Nappy rash can be caused by: your baby’s skin being in contact with wee or stools for a long time, the Q A

by introducing exotic ingredients such as herbs, spices and pulses to your little one’s diets.

Also to crucially avoid sugar (even fruit based fructose) – which is known to be one of the key reasons why many little ones have a limited palate.

Now having the pleasure of working with Absolutely Mama for the rest of this year, for each edition we will be going on a taste adventure to new destinations –some may not be so well known as having such beautiful and healthy cuisine as they do.

Take Cambodia for example. The region is famed for its temples but one of my lasting memories of this country was it’s amazing Fish Amok Curry.

With some careful fi lleting of bones, I knew right away that the combination of healthy white fish with it’s omega3 and VitaminD, it’s tummy settling ginger & lime and it’s calcium-enriched-lactose-freelovely-coconut milk, this would be

“AT ANY ONE TIMEUP TO A THIRD OF BABIES AND TODDLERS IN NAPPIES HAVE NAPPY RASH”

a hit with little ones and with their grown ups. As soon as we arrived home, we started working on this recipe and it’s defi nitely one of our new favourites.

Over the next year I’ll be sharing this and many other exciting recipes that we’ve developed here at ‘for aisha’.

We’ll be exploring far-flung regions of the globe - travelling there together to discover healthy ingredients and authentic recipes that can be crafted at home especially for your little taste adventurer.

nappy rubbing against your baby’s skin, not cleaning the nappy area or changing the nappy often enough, soap, detergent or bubble bath, alcohol-based baby wipes or your baby recently needing antibiotics There may be red patches on your baby’s bottom, or the whole area may be red. Their skin may look sore and feel hot to touch, and there may be spots, pimples or blisters.

Most mild cases of nappy rash can be easily treated with an ointment from your pharmacy and a good skincare routine, but if you are worried always seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

May / June 2017

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How to choose a

SCHOOL Finding the right schools for your children, from nursery upwards, can be a stressful experience..

Wo r d s H O L LY K I R K WO O D

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inding the right school for your children in their early years can be a daunting experience, particularly in London. There is lots of variety, and competition for places at nurseries and pre-preps throughout the capital can be fierce so it bears thinking about quite early on. To find the right place for your child there are a whole host of factors to take into consideration, from friends and family’s input to extensive internet research which can take hours out of your life.

There is so much to think about that we decided to speak to an expert, to get some advice.

Lucy Fletcher (left) is a Placement Director at Bonas MacFarlane (bonasmacfarlane.co.uk) and has vast experience advising parents searching for the right school places. As it turns out, she has plenty of advice when it comes to choosing the right early years education for your little ones.

The first thing Lucy very much recommends is going to visit the nurseries and pre-preps, to get a feel for them and the teams who work there: “In the majority of cases, this is the first time that parents will be leaving their children in the hands of someone outside the family home, so you have to think carefully when it comes to how you feel about the people and the establishment,” she says. "Most nurseries are happy to take children from two, and some even younger, but no matter how great it is, you’re going to have to deal with those inevitable

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" THE RE LATI ONSHI PS BETW EEN LOCAL NURSE RI E S AND THE BEST PR E-PRE P SCHOOLS ARE O F TEN WE LL E STAB L IS HED"

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moments, when your child is upset and you have to leave them. It’s about how confident you will feel after you've had to walk out of the door."

It’s also very easy to start doing your research and then get caught up with fashionable schools, but this, on the whole, is to be avoided. "Don’t fixate on one place: there won’t be just one school which your children absolutely have to attend – and remember in London there is ample choice."

Proximity is a factor, for sure: neither you nor your child want to be trekking across London twice a day in the week; it’s also important socially that your little one makes friends who who are easy to arrange playdates with. Again, says Lucy, the last thing you want to do with your weekends is hours in the car.

The Good Schools Guide is an invaluable resource, of course, and there are a number of websites where you can enter your postcode and search for recommended schools locally. Make sure you choose a selection, Lucy recommends, and put your childrens' names down early – not quite at conception - but the best nurseries and pre-preps do have limited spaces, with preference given to siblings, and sometimes it's first come, first served.

The relationships between local nurseries and the best local pre-pre and prep schools are often very well established, adds Lucy, which can make the transition easier for parents and pupils alike. “Often headmasters will have visited their counterparts, to glean an understanding of how they work.” Pre-preps which have good relationships with top local nurseries will have an idea of what they can expect from children who’ve attended these places, which can make getting accepted there more straightforward.

Similarly, prep schools who run the 4+ test often have an idea of what to expect from children who have attended local pre-preps they're familiar with, and this can be an advantage.

If your child is sitting for the 4+ don’t worry too much, advises Lucy. On the day just make sure that your little one is relaxed: that is when they May / June 2017

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Teaching children to fly The House Schools Group is made up of three non-selective, co-educational preparatory schools for 3 – 11 year olds.

The group collaborate closely, sparking off new ideas for ever more successful teaching practices.

Whilst each school has a unique character, they share a common ethos: that every child is different, but deserves to learn to fly regardless of early learning abilities.

High-flyers are encouraged to soar, whilst children who need extra support are given wings for their journey.

The powerful combination of highly trained staff and tailor-made teaching opens up young minds to endless possibilities, encouraging them to think for themselves.

Our pupils mostly call it having fun. We call it being the best they can be.

The enthusiasm of our pupils has to be seen to be believed.

We invite you to come along and judge for yourself at one of our weekly tours.

Open days: Bassett House Sat 20th May am.

Prospect House Thurs 25th May pm. Orchard House Sat 7th Oct am.

Tours on application throughout term time.

Chiswick 020 8742 8544 orchardhs.org.uk

Notting Hill 020 8969 0313 bassetths.org.uk

Putney 020 8246 4897 prospecths.org.uk House Schools Group

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"THI NK AB OUT WHAT YOU' RE AI MI NG FOR L ATE R ON: I S I T DAY SCHOOL OR B OARDI NG?"

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are able to do their best. "Remember, it’s not a formal assessment, or shouldn’t feel like one,".

Parents must also remember that not all the best pre-preps assess at four – it's more useful to take a look at which prep schools pupils head for after their exit results.

L O OK I NG A H E A D Aside from all these factors, the most important thing for parents to think about in these early years, says Lucy, is what they are aiming for a little later on.

Not necessarily the Oxbridge question, but would they like their children at day schools or boarding schools; are they aiming for co-ed or single sex, or a mixture, and finally what sort of focus they think their children would enjoy.

Although there are a wealth of outstanding state schools to choose from in London, by large the advantages of independent schools include better facilities and opportunities: often children are offered the chance to experience different things outside the

standard curriculum, and to travel, and try different things, from sport to ideas, and it’s then you get to see where children’s strengths can really lie.

There also happen to be a higher number of senior schools for girls in London – a trend which is changing, but dates back to the days when most boys were sent to board at eight.

So it's less about selecting the university you're aiming for, and working backwards, but more about opening up choices for your children, so you can see what they really enjoy. When you do look at senior schools, take into account not just Oxbridge, but how many pupils went on to read Medicine, or Law for instance, which demand very specific high-level results, Lucy suggests.

Whether you go for co-ed or single sex really depends on your own feelings, Lucy advises. It seems there is no right answer.

She’s heard great arguments on both sides, and it does seem that boys and girls learn differently, but then socialisation is always easier if children have been in co-ed from an early age.

The most important thing is that great headmasters and headmistresses should always be happy to chat about any of your questions or concerns, whatever level your child is approaching.

Many young families moving within London take local schools into account when they buy a house, but then most popular family locations have schools which will meet most parents' requirements. It just takes a little bit of time and effort to make sure you are happy with your choices, and you keep up with all the deadlines for applications at each stage.

Finally, don’t forget to make sure your children are happy – it’s well known that parents can project their own issues onto their little ones. "Just remember your kids might turn out to want something very different than what you had imagined when they were three or four," Lucy warns.

It seems that best thing we can do as parents is keep an open mind, and provide opportunities for them to explore their own strengths and weaknesses, so it's easier to tell what will suit them later on.

May / June 2017

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r es ou rc es

EXPERT OPINION

school years

Talking Head Andrew Johnson, Headmaster of St Benedict’s School, considers the advantages of staying at one school, from early years to sixth form.

M

y children have recently left home for university.

Apart from missing their company and presence around the house, their departure has given me quite a powerful sense of perspective on bringing up children. I look back at their fi rst days at nursery, followed by the fi rst day at school; then the more structured school day in Year 1, the transition to senior school with subject choices, A level choices, university choices – each stage is all-consuming and feels like an end in itself.

Childhood and school days are over in a trice. They are formative, precious years and everything flows from a child’s happiness and sense of security. If children are happy, they are far better equipped to strive to be their best selves, attaining the highest academic standards of which they are capable, as well as fi nding and developing a host of other talents. Personal development goes hand in hand with academic progress.

There is, I know, a great deal of anxiety surrounding school places in London, with

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is made as smooth as it can be, so that children in Year 6 can look forward to the next stage, rather than feel apprehensive and worried, while the Sixth Form Centre encourages independent learning and personal organisation: both are key as students prepare for university.

It’s fitting that our motto is ‘a minimis incipe’ which means ‘from the smallest beginnings’. One of the things which makes St Benedict’s unique is that tiny children are taking their very fi rst steps in learning, aged 3, on the same site as sixth formers are completing their university applications, and studying for their A levels.

Many of these older children have progressed through the school from those early years and there is a huge advantage to such a seamless education. an attendant sense of competition and pressure. Children are frequently tutored for entrance exams, which they sit for at numerous schools.

St Benedict’s is a school which can take your son or daughter at the age of 3 upwards and educate them to the end of the sixth form. The nursery helps children to learn through play, and to make friends. The reception class, in the same, brand new, purpose-built Early Years building, which is opening in September, eases them into school before the transition to Year 1.

From there, they move to classrooms in St Benedict’s original junior school building next door, at the age of 7.

The transition to the senior school, which is on the same site as the junior school,

Andrew Johnson is the Headmaster of St Benedict’s, in Ealing, west London, an independent Catholic school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. stb ene dict s .org.uk

18/04/2017 17:52

ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL EALING a

m i n i m i s

i n c i p e

Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18

Additional Year 6 class now available

Open Mornings Senior School Thursday 04 May Nursery & Junior School Thursday 18 May Thursday 15 June

New Nursery & Pre-Prep building opening September 2017

View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk STBENEDICTS.indd absolutely_mama_09022017.indd 1 1

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With over 30 configurations and an integrated ride-on-board, the new British designed and engineered iCandy Orange is packed with innovation. Featuring our trademark elevator adaptors, unique 'cinema' double seating mode and a 64 litre basket, the Orange leads the field whilst still being compact enough to fit through a standard door. Brilliantly flexible, beautifully crafted and absolutely futureproof.

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