Absolutely Mama - July 2019

Mama J U LY 2 0 1 9 • I S S U E 3 0

Festival

The Magazine for Stylish Mums

GUT FEELING

FEVER Summer’s familyfriendly line-up

KEEPING LITTLE TUMMIES HAPPY

HIT RESET

Relaxing babymoon getaways

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hello SUMMER Holiday-ready style for mama and mini

THE MAGAZINE FOR ST YLISH MUMS 04/06/2019 14:38

bugaboo classic collection a true classic never goes out of style

The Bugaboo Bee5 Classic is available from June 2018 from Bugaboo.com The Bugaboo Bee5 Classic in Dark Navy is available from June 2018 exclusively at John Lewis & Bugaboo.com The Bugaboo Fox and Bugaboo Donkey2 Classics will be available from September 2018 from Bugaboo.com Š copyright Bugaboo International BV

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mama WELCOME

contents 16 J U LY 2 0 1 9

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74

56

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72 AGENDA What’s On

30 Birth Story

62 Gut Feeling

FASHION 38 Summer Garden

HOME & INTERIORS 72 Nursery Notes

ESSENTIALS 22 Tot Gear

44 Kids Fashion Notes

74 Span Style

MAMAHOOD 27 Insta-Mama

46 Balmy Days

RESOURCES 89 Art Play

12

Arts and entertainment for the month ahead

14

New Books

July’s best new releases

Key kit to make parenting easier

Cassie Chung on launching an interiors brand

ON THE COVER: Dôen shopdoen.com

28 Woman in Work

Shoshana Kazab on her new sustainable childrenswear business

Lucy Estherby shares the true-life story of the birth of her son

Mama and mini twinning from Los Angeles based brand Dôen

Th e best looks and launches for little ones

Graphic lines and play-ready shapes from Bacabuche

WELLNESS 56 Green Kitchen Stories

Veggie recipes from David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl’s new cookbook

Supporting your baby’s gut health this summer

Beautiful decor and furniture for your little one’s space

Inside Nicola Eyre’s beautiful 1960s Span House

Educational subscription boxes for the next generation of artists

92 Classroom Ready

Six great activities to prepare your child for school.

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mama WELCOME DR ROEBUCK’S P. 68

Editor’s

LETTER GARBAGE DOG P. 14

PORT ELIOT FESTIVAL P. 16

T

he day I got my GSCE results, I went straight off to a muddy field to watch Blur with thousands of other (pretty sweaty) teenagers. This started a love affair with festival season that lasted well over a decade, but somewhere along the line I lost patience with the crowds, the terrible toilets and the bad food.

If these things are putting you off taking your brood, I can testify to the fact that quite a bit has changed since 1999. This summer, there’s a whole host of brilliant events designed with families in mind. We’ve rounded up the best ones for foodies, nature-lovers and those who just want to dress up and dance around.

And if festivals are still not your thing, there’s plenty more to enjoy in this issue too. We take a trip to Mykonos, where we discover the tranquil side of island life. Nicola Eyre of Cissy Wears gives us a tour of her stylish 1960s Span house. And Dr Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani, paediatrician and co-founder of Little Tummy gives her tips on how to support your little one’s gut health. Here’s to the start of summer!

C a rly Gl e n di n n i n g E DITOR

BANWOOD P. 8

@carlyjglendinning carly@zest-media.com

Part of the

Mid-weight Designer: REBECCA NOONAN Finance Director: JERRIE KOLECI

T h e M a g a z i n e Fo r S t y l i s h M u m s @ A B S O L U T E LY M A M A

absolutely-mama .co.uk Editor UK: CARLY GLENDINNING Features Editor: HELEN BARON

Director: LEAH DAY Managing Director: SHERIF SHALTOUT

Marketing Manager: LUCIE PEARCE Art Director: PAWEL KUBA

ABU DHABI OFFICE: FACT M.E FZ-LLC, Office 907E, TwoFour54, Park Rotana Complex, P.O Box 769328, Abu Dhabi UAE zest.london To read the latest issue of Absolutely Mama subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelymama

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10 things we Absolutely

LOV E The products and brands getting our attention this month

TO T H E B E AC H

Going Dotty

Cloe Cassandro London-based designer Cloe Cassandro makes the most beautiful silk-chiffon beachwear, dyed and printed entirely by hand. Her collections are created ethically in Bali by craftsmen who all work from their own homes so they can look after and care for their families. cloecassandro.com

Oe uf NYC The knitted co-ords from Oeuf NYC are made for all those carefree summer days ahead. This one comes in baby and kids sizes. oeufnyc.com

or’s Editick P

Summer Soothers

Ne u O il Neu Oil’s aromatherapy oils for babies (and parents) are certified gentle enough to use directly on the skin. The brand’s products are entirely plant-based, ethically sourced and always cruelty-free. neuoil.com

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FLOWER POWER A r ket

Made from organic cotton, this pretty floral dress from Scandi high street brand Arket is perfect for summer events.

Pick it up on your way to the women’s department. arket.com

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ma m a LOVES

BLUE MOOD S o p h i e Al d a

Jump In

This beautiful vase by Hackneybased designer, artist and ceramicist Sophie Alda has been hand-thrown, built and glazed. An easy interior update for summer. just.maison

Le Petit Germ a in In a palette of delicious shades from ‘coconut’ to ‘leather’ and ‘indigo’ blue, French brand Le Petit Germain make the best easy-to-wear basics. Perfect for mama and mini matching. smallable.com

EYE EYE Ma i s o n De ux

A playful addition to a playroom, nursery or even your living room, we love these googly eye rugs from Maison Deux. Move them around and voila, the expression has changed. insidestoreldn.com

Chasing Rainbows

L iewood It might be rainbow weather outside... but come rain or shine, this mobile from Liewood will look super-sweet in their nursery. We love that it’s made from organic cotton. liewood.com

All Frills

Little Creative Fa c tor y We’re not sure that this ruffled swimsuit from Little Creative Factory could be more adorable.

Perfect for splish-splashing this summer – whether they’re by the pool, at the beach or just running around the garden. smallable.com

FREE WHEELING

Banwood Family-owned lifestyle brand Banwood has launched a new colourway of their popular First Go! toddler push bike. The perfect shade of sky blue, the design has a child friendly frame, height adjustable soft saddle and handlebar. banwood.com

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agenda J U LY ’ S AC T I V I T I E S & E V E N T S p . 1 2 • O U R M O N T H LY R E A D I N G R O U N D - U P p . 14 T H E B E ST FA M I LY F R I E N D LY F E ST I VA L S T H I S S U M M E R p . 16

West End Witch • WORST WITCH •

Accident-prone Mildred Hubble comes to the West End for an action-packed state adaption of Jill Murphy’s beloved book. The show includes original songs, music and magic. For children age seven and up, from 24 July until 8 September. nimaxtheatres.com

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W H AT ’S O N Best of English Heritage, fitness for kids and a festival offering that much more...

Hands Up 5-7 July The Cotswolds

Located on the beautiful Great Tew Park Estate in the heart of the Cotswolds, this year’s Cornbury Festival has a circus theme. There’ll be stilt walkers, giant tipi building and magic shows to keep little ones entertained whilst you dance under the stars to The Specials and Keane. cornburyfestival.com

we love

MoreTHAN Until 22 September • Warwickshire

Also Festival is a three-day nature fix. It’s more than just-for-fun; it brings together revolutionary minds for a weekend of forward-thinking discussions.

Highlights for children include raft building, lightsabre combat classes, acting workshops, songwriting and circus skills. All this set beside a beautiful lake in 50 acres of parkland. also-festival.com

By The Skin of the Teeth Until May 2020 Horniman Museum and Gardens

A series of thought-provoking new works by Clare Morgan is on display at the Horniman. The art draws on the theme of waste and many of the pieces, like the one pictured here, will appeal to children. horniman.ac.uk

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COLOUR PALACE Until 22 September Dulwich Picture Gallery

Free and open to the public, The Colour Palace at Dulwich Picture Gallery is a fusion of West African and European influences, primarily inspired by the buzz of Nigerian fabric markets. The impressive, 10-metre high cuboid structure incorporates symmetry, curves and bold, beautiful pattern which will appeal to all ages. dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

EVENTS

English HER ITAGE WIth over 400 historic sites, there’s something for everyone this summer english-heritage.org.uk

LEG E N DARY J O U ST June-August Multiple sites

See lances shatter, feel the thunder of hooves and hear the roar of the crowd as reputations are won and lost in the Grand Medievel Joust. Taking place across the country, little knights can test their bravery in hobby-horse jousts, prove their prowess at have-a-go archery and try on medieval armour.

CLASH OF TH E RO M AN S 6-7 July and 3- 4 August Multiple sites

Watch as the Roman Empire’s finest soldiers compete in an intense show of strength and skill. Pick a side and cheer them on! Explore living history camps and meet the Romans to find out more about life in the Empire. Little ones get the chance to join in with battle drills.

Monstrous Fun

3 July - 8 September The Lyric

elebrating the 20th birthday of the much loved picture book, Tall Stories’ musical adaptation of The Gruffalo returns to the West End for a ten-week stint. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood.

Expect songs, laughs and monstrous good fun for children aged three and up.

C

gruff alolive.com

MR MOODY 25 July - 31st August National Theatre

r Gum is pretty glum, he hates children, animals and any kind of fun.

When a big bear called Padlock strolls into town, trouble is on the horizon. Based on the anarchic, award-winning children’s books

by Andy Santon, this hilarious musical promises to be a spectacular, sing-a-long extravaganza for the whole family.

m

FALCO N RY

23-24 July Chesters Roman Fort

In a world ruled by gods and godesses, birds were crucial for the Romans.

Falconry enabled them to hunt, trade and intimidate enemies. Through incredible displays, learn more about how birds hunt in the air and on the ground. Watch closely as the birds swoop and dive before your very eyes.

nationaltheatre.org.uk

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We love

BOOKS Travel up through the stratosphere and down to the deepest depths of the ocean in this month’s releases

Wo r d s F L O R A T H O M A S

U P, U P AN D AWAY BALLOO N TO TH E M OO N

By Gill Arbuthnot Illustrated by Chris Nielson

To commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the fi rst moon landing, blast off into a beautifully illustrated journey. Designed with a vintage, 1960s aesthetic, this educational book teaches us about the great innovations of the past.

One for older children with a fascination in all things that fly. ÂŁ16.99 templarco.co.uk

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BOOKS

GREEN FINGERS EASY PEASY GARDEN I NG FOR KI DS

By Kristen Bradley • Illustrated by Aitch

No matter where you live, no matter the time of year, Easy Peasy invites little ones to throw themselves into the natural world. A gorgeous book, packed full of inspiring and simple activities for curious young gardeners.

Experience the wonders of planting a seed and watching it grow into a flower, picking berries in the summer or making a bird feeder in the spring. This is one for keeps. £12.95  gestalten.com

TR A S H TA LK G A R B AG E D O G

By Robbie Wilkinson

AN ODE TO WO N D E R WYLDER: A SILENT BOOK

By Maia Walczak

Wylder’s world is full of wonder. Each day is a chance to meet a new forest friend, and each night a chance to wish upon a star. This is an emotive, wordless book which looks at the bond between a boy and his father. It tells a story of love and loss, while celebrating gentleness, sensitivity and compassion. It allows for truly creative discussions. £6.99  maiawalczak.com

Oceana

A W O R L D B E N E AT H WAV E S : S E A

By Patricia Hegarty

Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

This delightful peep-through picture book, bursting with beautiful colour, invites you to discover the world beneath the waves. Each page is teeming with life, from tiny graceful seahorses to darting tropical fish, electric eels and enormous humpback whales. £11.99  littletiger.co.uk

A heartwarming tale about a dog’s journey from the streets to a new home, discovering family and friendship along the way. It’s no picnic having to fight for scraps, but even in the darkest of times, Garbage Dog keeps his sprits up.

Written in humorous rhyme, this is a sweet tale of kindness. £12.95  gestalten.com

D OW N TH E R A B B IT H O LE ALICE I N WO N D E R L AN D : A P U Z Z L E A DV E N T U R E

By Aleksandra Artymowska

A particularly stylish puzzle book inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic.

Riddle your way from one page to another, through a mad hatter’s tea party and lines of marching cards.

Full of nostalgic charm, it appeals to readers young and old. £16.99  templarco.co.uk July 2019

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PORT ELIOT

Festival

FEVER

Make the most of the summer with a trip to one of the top family-friendly festivals around the UK

W o r d s H E L E N B A R O N a n d C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

THE BIG FEASTIVAL 23-25 August

N

FOODIE MECCA

“Its musical focus is on easygoing, mainstream acts with a soulful vibe”

VERVE

7-8 September (book ahead)

A

WELLNESS FEST

welcome addition to the summer festival scene, Verve emphasises physical and emotional wellbeing, with a range of family-friendly activities including farm runs, yoga and Pilates classes, stargazing and forest bathing.

Located in rural Wiltshire, the festival will also offer a ‘wild and off-grid’ spa, kids’ art and bushcraft classes, seasonal produce from local suppliers and talks on everything from how to engage kids with nature to how kindness can improve your sense of self. And if you like your growth with a side serving of hedonism? Don’t fear: Verve has you covered. Saturday night will see DJ Emma spinning disco, house and funk anthems while the spiritually refreshed masses sip creative cocktails under the stars. feeltheverve.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: LOUISE ROBERTS

ON BLACKHEATH

ow in its ninth year, this Cotswoldian jamboree is a favourite with families, serving up a blend of BBC Radio 2-friendly pop and high-end nosh from some of the nation’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants.

Taking place on Blur bassist Alex James’ cheese farm in idyllic Kingham, the vibe is very much ‘Home Counties Go Wild’, with the Cotswolds’ UFL (up from London) contingent ensuring that the organic English wine keeps flowing and the party lasts well into the night. This year’s musical line-up sees headline sets by Jess Glynne and Elbow, while the foodie fun is brought by tastemakers from Raymond Blanc and Mark Hix to sometime supermodel Jodie Kidd. There’s a ton for kids, too, from a souped-up playground and crafts tents to a giant collective campfire (for toasting marshmallows). thebigfeastival.com

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VERVE

ON BLACKHEATH 13-14 July

T

SOUL VIBES

his southeast London festival takes place in the well-todo environs of Blackheath, a short stroll from leafy Greenwich Park. Its musical focus is on easygoing, mainstream-friendly acts with a soulful vibe – though this year’s lineup (which includes Soul II Soul, Brand New Heavies, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and Jamiroquai) ups the ante with a Sunday night headline set from the legendary Grace Jones.

Elsewhere, there’s more than enough to keep kids entertained, from the Science Museum’s slime workshops and local baby music specialists Boppin’ Bunnies to BBC kids presenter Andy Day’s band, The Odd Socks, and a hands-on mini zoo. The festival’s food offerings look great, too, with suppliers sourced from Lewisham’s much-loved Street Feast – so there’s no doubting their deliciousness. onblackheath.com

PORT ELIOT 25-29 July

THE BIG FEASTIVAL

CAMP BESTIVAL 25-28 July

C

DRESS-UP FUN

CAMP BESTIVAL

amp Bestival consistently wins family festival awards year-on-year. Set in the sprawling grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s epic Jurassic coastline, the organisers like to describe it as a ‘festi-holiday’, a family festival experience, combined with an action-packed camping trip. The festival is famous for its fancy dress, and this year the theme is Heroes VS Superheroes.

Don your capes and get ready dance all night to the likes of Ash, Morcheba and East 17. Or get lost in the enormous Kids’ Garden, where there will be activities from soft play and circus skills to go-carts and glitter. Little ones can enjoy performances from children’s TV royalty such as Sam & Mark and Mr Tumble too. campbestival.net

O

CULTURAL OASIS

ne of the few remaining truly independent festivals in the UK, Port Eliot is set in the historical village of St Germans on the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall. The festival prides itself on its inclusive nature – there are no off-limits ‘luxury’ areas and no in-your-face sponsors. It’s the place to go for foodies, fashion and artlovers, wellbeing junkies and anyone wanting to enjoy a weekend filled with music and comedy, set amongst the wildlife.

This year’s line-up features lots of big names including Lily Allen, Charlotte Church and Dame Zandra Rhodes, to name just a few.

And there’s plenty for kids to enjoy too. Veering off the beaten path into Wildlings Wood, little ones can join the Fire and Steel Forest School, learning den building and campfire cookery; or walk into a weekend outpost of Aardman Studios – creators of Wallace & Gromit – and make their favourite characters with the absolute greats of animation. porteliotfestival.com

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Play Time TODDLEKIND

Whether you want to transform your living room into a huge playspace, or create a cosy play corner, the clever puzzle playmats from German brand Toddlekind give you the option of bespoke sizing to fit any space. toddlekind.com

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Festival

Checklist

Claire Turner, founder of family travel and adventure lifestyle store Beyond the Stork rounds up her festival packing essentials

Sleep Tight BUNDLE BEDS

A must for festival trips. Each bed contains a self inflating mattress, ultra-cosy 15-tog duvet, pillow and super soft jersey bedding which rolls into a bundle that is easy to carry. Simply unclip and unroll to reveal a single sized bed suitable for adults and kids alike. £199; beyondthestork.co.uk

Editor’s Pick

Drink Up LIEWOOD

These beautiful drinks bottles are made from stainless steel which is easy to clean and they come with handy sports lids. We love that they keep 375ml of liquid hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours. £23; beyondthestork.co.uk

SPLISH SPLASH

GRASS & AIR

Wellies are top of our packing list! Grass & Air make fantastic quality, comfortable styles for little festival goers. £23; beyondthestork.co.uk

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essentia ls FESTIVAL

Dry Off FABELAB

Super soft, organic cotton muslin that is great for covering up and drying off at the campsite. A great space saver, the ponchos dry off quickly. £22; beyondthestork.co.uk

CARRY ALL MICRALITE

The perfect changing bag for festival going parents. It has lots of handy pockets and is constructed from all-weather fabrics, so you don’t have to worry about your baby’s things getting wet - even in heavy rain. £65; beyondthestork.co.uk

Rain Ready STUTTERHEIM

Each raincoat is hand made in rubberized cotton and has double welded seams to keep the harshest of weather out. Perfect for festival goers in the UK! £84.50; beyondthestork.co.uk

STAR GAZING SOULPAD

Stylish and the easiest tent to pitch.

Simply put up the centre pole and peg out the guy ropes. There is loads of space and head height so no crawling in and out of small tents with toddlers!

From £290; soulpad.co.uk

Stay Cool

FJÄLLRÄVEN

Fjällräven products are stylish, functional, and user-friendly. We love this mini cooler bag for keeping baby food and toddler snacks cool on a warm festival day. £55; fjallraven.co.uk July 2019

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e s s ent i al s

TOT GE AR

ent d r a p rove app

C H E W AWAY M AT C H S T I C K M O N K E Y

Including mint green, dusty pink, airforce blue and claret, Matchstick Monkey has launched a new collection of nordicinspired colours. The awardwinning soft teether features a range of different textures to help massage sore gums and ease teething pains. matchstickmonkey.com

PARENTS TO BE M A M A S & PA PA S

TOT GEAR

Inspired kit to make parenting easier

Mamas & Papas’ ‘Parents to Be’ events (30th June / 14th or 28th July) are full of expert advice, offers and goodies.

Topics covered include first aid, car seat safety, birthing and nutrition as well as pushchair demonstrations. mamasandpapas.com/ parents-to-be

S TAY C O S Y M A M A S & PA PA S

Mamas & Papas liners are designed to protect your pushchair and make for a more comfortable trip out and about. Made with 100% cotton to create a cosy and naturally soft space, the high density memory foam cleverly moulds to your baby. mamasandpapas.com 22

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N EW BOR N H AU L Reviewed by Jenni Birrell of the Mamas & Papas Parent Approved Panel

I

n preparation for the arrival of my little girl, Mamas & Papas very kindly sent me some of the newborn essentials that I was lacking, so if you have a little one on the way and you’re looking for some inspiration, read on!

When it comes to dressing a newborn, I’m very much into keeping things simple. I find bodysuits are perfect for pretty much every occasion when they are so small (and sleeping most of the time anyway!). This is why I chose the floral all-in-one set of 3 and matching set of 5 floral bodysuits, I just love the subtle colours.

You don’t need a huge amount of toys for the newborn stage but I would definitely recommend the Welcome To The World Starlight Swing. I love the little LED lights that flash overhead on the hood and it has five swinging motions and a selection of melodies to help soothe your baby (if you’re lucky, it might even send them to sleep).

The last thing I highly recommend getting is the Grey Contour Changing Mattress. I had a similar one for Buddy and I just loved that he felt a little more secure in there when being used on top of a changing station. My issue with the one I previously had was that the cover wasn’t particularly nice, whereas this Mamas & Papas one completely fits in with the aesthetic of my nursery. mamasandpapas.com @myweebuddy

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Handcrafted nursery furniture that becomes part of the family Handcrafted nursery furniture that becomes part of the family

To mark the launch of TeddyOne, 200 sets of limited edition pieces come with a 10 per cent discount, complete with free White Glove delivery service.

Five of these come with a unique golden TeddyOne Bear – find one in To mark the launch of TeddyOne, 200 sets of limited edition pieces come your cot bed and you’ll receive your money back. with a 10 per cent discount, complete with free White Glove delivery service.

Five of these come with a unique golden TeddyOne Bear – find one in WWW.TEDDYONE.UK your cot bed and you’ll receive your money back.

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WWW.TEDDYONE.UK

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mamahood C A S S I E C H U N G O N L AU N C H I N G H E R ST Y LI S H I N T E R I O R S STO R E p . 2 7 LU CY E ST H E R BY S H A R E S T H E B I R T H STO RY O F H E R S O N p . 3 0

Strong Women IN THIS SECTION

This month it’s all about amazing women with a side hustle. We hear from an influencer who also runs an interiors store, the founder of a PR agency who has turned her hand to sustainable kidswear and from the owner of a family lifestyle store who has also launched a business bootcamp. Enjoy!

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pactâ„¢ flex signature Welcome to a luxurious world of warmly woven quilted fabrics; aged cognac leatherette touches; and an elite, high brilliance carriage chassis; all exquisitely crafted to make memories of each moment with baby last forever.

A SIMPLY TIMELESS PINT-SIZED PUSHCHAIR WITH AN EXCLUSIVELY FLAT AND FAST FOLDING SYSTEM.

joiebaby.com/signature in-seat suspension for a 50% smoother stroll

JOIE.indd 1

Available from Argos, Boots, Halfords, Mothercare, Very and all good independent nursery retailers.

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mamah o o d

INTERVIEW

“It’s important to me to support small buinesses and artists”

INSTA MAMA Mama of three and founder of interiors and lifestyle store Cassie Chung Q We love your new interiors store, Just Maison. What made you want to launch it?

A Since we’ve recently renovated our house I’ve been getting a lot of questions about where I get certain things from. I absolutely love to shop, homewares and interiors is something that I really enjoy so it made sense to me to try out a store for the home and shop for everyone else!

Q What’s the concept behind it?

A I love looking for new brands and products and it’s important to me to support small businesses and artists.

Just Maison is a mixture of the bigger brands and also the smaller more independent brands. I love dressing a room, whether it be a shelf or a table, all of those in-between household items are just as important as the big ones. I’d like to think that there’s a nice little mix and something for everyone.

Q You have a loyal Instagram following. How instrumental is your personal feed to your business?

A I have some really lovely followers and everyone has been so encouraging about the new launch. I suppose my business feed is a reflection of my personal feed, I wouldn’t stock anything that I didn’t love and put in my own house. So I’d like to think that my personal feed with my house posts can give a little inspiration to those that are decorating or renovating.

Q We love how you’re showing the pieces from the store in your home. Is there a temptation to keep everything for yourself?

A So much temptation! A lot of the items are already taking pride of place in my home, but there are a lot of items that I’m stocking due to so many people asking about them. Our bedroom mirror has always been popular, so it made sense to me to stock some of those too!

Q How are you juggling the business around your busy family life?

A So far so good, working for myself allows me to spend time with them and do the school run and then work again in the evening if I need to. Mio has always been by my side, so I needed something where I can nip him to the park on a sunny day or in the school holidays I can pick and choose my hours to suit their activities.

Q Best and worst bits about motherhood?

A The best I would say is watching them grow into pretty special little people, we spend so much time together and I still can’t quite believe that we have three little humans! The worst is when any of them are sad, a bad day at school, if they’re hurt, or if everyone’s a bit ratty on a Monday morning school run, we’ve all been there right?! just.maison @just.maison / @casschung

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“I knew there had to be a way to give these beautiful items another lease of life”

woman in

WORK Shoshana Kazab on launching her pre-loved and past season childrenswear business Kidswear Collective

I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

Q Tell us about the concept behind Kidswear Collective…

A Kidswear Collective is an online store selling pre-loved and past season designer fashion, where items are sold at up to 80% off their original retail price. We stock over 100 brands including Gucci, Burberry, Dior, Moncler as well as up-and-coming labels which customers may not be familiar with yet.

I wanted to find a way to create something very special which could address our urgent need to reduce waste in the fashion industry, but also make available designer pieces at affordable prices.

Creating a first-hand experience for buyers was a key consideration for us. Every garment is cleaned, photographed and carefully stored until it is sold, before it is sent out in Kidswear Collective’s luxe signature packaging. We

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Q&A

It’s a real coming together of the industry, which is why we called it a ‘collective’ as it’s a great way for us to all support each other.

want shopping on Kidswear Collective to feel like a luxury shopping experience, similar to what you’d get when shopping on sites like the The Outnet and Farfetch. By professionally photographing each garment, for example, customers have a clear idea and confidence in the quality of each item.

This is reflected in our lower than average returns rate at less than 5% compared to the industry average of around 40%. When it arrives all beautifully packaged, it generates the same level of excitement as it would when shopping on any other luxury website.

Q You run a successful PR agency, what made you want to launch a childrenswear business?

A As the founder of Fuse Communications, a PR agency specialising in the luxury childrenswear market, I’m very fortunate to have worked with the top influencers and some of the best brands.

The idea came to me one day when I was chatting to one of our influencers about what she did with her children’s clothes when they had grown out of them and she explained how difficult, and what a hassle it was, to sell on marketplace sites like eBay. I knew there had to be a way to give these beautiful items another lease of life – and that’s how the concept was born!

Q We love how the pieces are pre-loved and past season. Was an eco-focus important to you and how does it extend to other areas of the business?

A Absolutely. We are passionate about extending the lifecycle of luxury clothes.

Sustainability has never played more on our minds as it has now. Of the 80 billion pieces of clothing produced worldwide, it is estimated 75% of these will end up in landfill each year.

And in Britain alone, we are expected to throw away 235 million items of clothing this year. A popular hashtag currently trending is called #30wears which is encouraging us to wear our garments at least 30 times.

With a designer kids piece, we estimate that it is worn, on average, only six times before

a child grows out of it. This means that there are four more potential owners for this one garment. There has never been a better – or more important time – to change the way we shop, but without having to compromise on quality. Any unsold items are donated to the family charity, Little Village and we donate up to 5% of every item sold to the NSPCC.

“There has never been a better – or more important time to change the way we shop”

Q We love that you feature pieces from influencers. Who has been your biggest supporters so far?

A Influencers on the site include The Fashion Bug Blog, Masha The One, Sofia Gouveia and Deborah Brett.

When The Fashion Bug Blog’s preloved page went live, 8 out of her 11 items sold within the first hour.

One of our best-selling influencers is Emma & Alf (whenever we receive new stock from her it sells out), but she loves the more artisan and independent brands, some of which we hadn’t previously heard of which is really exciting for us. kidswearcollective.com @kidswearcollective July 2019

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNA HARDY

“I knew I needed to give birth in my own environment, my own surroundings”

A B I R T H S T O R Y

The owner of lifestyle brand Acorn + Pip and founder of Business Bootcamp, Lucy Estherby, shares the true-life story of the birth of her son

M

y birth story comes packed with comparisons. I think that’s the beauty of having already done something once, you get to make more informed choices and do things differently if you wish; and I really did. Eden, my first, was an assisted delivery and it left me in a state of shock. The birth had been going well until we had a midwife change over, I lost my flow, baby was just NOT coming out, I ran out of steam and I was moved to theatre. The forceps were quite tough on us both. This was all pretty rough but nowhere near as terrifying as some births come, I knew that. But it was the after birth environment that was the hardest part. The morning after the night before, me and three

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other women were rushed out of our ward as the woman in the bed opposite me decided to have a cigarette. YES. A CIGARETTE, behind her curtain. Now, I’m not one to judge and I’d never publicly shame anyone. Except this woman, because to smoke on a maternity ward with newborn babies, you’ve got to be some kind of div. All I wanted was to be at home, with my husband but I had to wait until 10am for him to arrive.

I digress, but it’s for a reason. This time round I knew I wanted a homebirth. I knew I needed to give birth in my own environment, my own surroundings.

I was finding getting my head around birth number two quite tricky as we’d just moved house (a relocation and renovation job), I had a toddler and also a business to run. So finding any sort of headspace was impossible! Plus, I have the propensity to just wing things. Not in the sloganesque sort of way of ‘just winging it’; I sometimes have a genuine inability to plan things properly. I tend to hope for the best! (My nickname at school was ‘Hasty Haslam’). This sometimes goes in my favour but sometimes it all falls apart and then I slap myself on the wrist and tell myself to do better next time!

Birth number two was imminent and at my 36 week appointment, my midwife ran through what a homebirth was like and, apart from being anxious, I was ready to commit.

‘YEP, I’ll do it all from home. Sign me up’.

My midwife was extremely supportive and gave me the encouragement to essentially design my own birth. However, all the time I was under no illusion and I knew that it might not happen and I’d have to go to hospital and that was fine, as long as I’d given it a go. Come on kid – we can do it!

As 40 weeks approached, every day came and went and I was thinking that today had to

“I was actually filming some IG stories when I felt my first twinges”

be the day. But at 40+5 I was feeling unusually energetic (I cleared out the loft, made a stew and wrote a blog piece) and I was actually filming some IG stories when I felt my first twinges. Isn’t it weird how your body knows that it needs some serious strength for labour so does what it needs to do to prepare? As the hour passed, things really picked up and I was frantically Googling ‘Am I in labour?’ Yeah – great one.

Going in to labour second time round felt oddly familiar but each sensation was still so unfamiliar. The contractions came and went.

The only affirmation from my hypnobirthing course, that I’d done some three years previous, that I could remember was ‘with each contraction you are one step closer to meeting your baby’. Phew, another one done, another one done. I could do this.

As a typical introvert, I top up my energy levels by being on my own. I love being around people but I refill when I’m on my own. Giving birth in a dark, quiet room was exactly how I needed to do it. Oh and a pool would be nice too. We had the pool set up and that was part of my ‘plan’. That was my husband’s job, to fill the pool with warm water. As I was in the

LIFE

throes of some serious contractions, I could hear him on the phone to my parents asking them how to connect a hose to a tap which would then fill up a pool. All the emojis! I think baby brain had hit him too. I knew he just wanted to say to me “Luce, you just don’t understand how hard this is!”. No words.

I finally got into the pool (he used pots and pans I think, or did the hose start working?

No idea). The pool was so heavenly on my body, I hadn’t realised how much pain I was in until a slice of it was taken away by the water.

My contractions slowed as I was in the water but they were so intense at this point. I could feel baby coming and I was also aware that at this point in labour, transition, that you reach a very intense mental state. I was there!

I’d not naturally experienced this part of labour before and my god, it was like nothing I could ever have imagined. Maybe that’s why you lose your head a bit during this part, Mother Nature’s way of protecting its gals.

Thankfully, it happens quickly.

Dear human body, I’m in awe.

Baby arrived at 11.39pm, 10 hours after it all began. At home, in a pool, and it was a boy.

9lb 8oz. Gosh he was big and he was all mine.

I felt like a flipping hero (a hero who couldn’t feel her legs, arms and I was incredibly thirsty).

Well done kid – we did it.

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Passionate about Play We believe childhood should be enjoyed to the full.

That’s why we’ve been making imaginative wooden toys, designed in Great Britain with a touch of French je ne sais quoi, since 1995. letoyvan.com

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“Tinder didn’t exist last time I was dating, and my days of going out on a Friday night are long gone”

real mum talk...

Telling it Like it is Alexandra Hunter on dating as a single mum

L

et’s talk about dating.

I never imagined I would be writing about my experiences of dating as a single mum.

Three years ago, my life was very different.

I thought I had found my person; I had a big diamond on my left hand, a newly renovated house, I was happily walking around like a beached whale waiting for my baby to arrive and then, a year later, everything went horribly wrong.

For the first year after I left I didn’t believe I would ever even consider dating again. Friends told me I would and I laughed. I didn’t think I would be capable of trusting again, I didn’t think anyone would be remotely interested in my post

baby life and my far from perfect body. I didn’t have the time, energy or inclination and I wasn’t prepared to even contemplate being vulnerable. I had lost all of my confidence, not only in myself but in men also. Then the shock began to wear off and I started to consider the possibilities. Not a serious relationship, not something that involved my child but something for me, part time, when Seb wasn’t with me might be nice.

Tinder didn’t exist last time I was dating, and my days of going out on a Friday night are long gone. I reluctantly signed up after one too many glasses of wine with a girlfriend last summer and found that Tinder is both wonderful and ghastly. It boosts your confidence but is horrendously superficial, there’s so much choice

it’s overwhelming, and often very little is invested, it was exactly what I needed. When Seb wasn’t with me I went on dates, some hilarious, some awful, some lovely but none that made me think seriously about allowing someone in to my life. I went on a date with a guy who had failed to update his profile from psychologist to trainee priest and was surprised I wasn’t ok with it, someone who was much older than his profile stated, someone who wanted to introduce me to the girlfriend he hadn’t told me existed as he thought I’d be her type too, all sorts. At this stage of life situations are complex, there’s normally enough baggage to sink a small ship, kids of course always come first. After a few months I deleted it, I was busy and I knew there were people out there who would be interested, when I was ready.

In February I was buying Seb trainers and saw a man with his daughter in the shoe shop. I scanned for a wedding ring and he wasn’t wearing one. I wanted to give him my number but I was covered in Seb’s snot, looked awful and didn’t think it appropriate with our children there.

Seeing someone who I actually liked made me go back to Tinder, I felt ready. Amazingly his picture popped up in my feed and we liked each other, a couple of months down the line and we’re still liking each other, but no longer on Tinder. The first step back in to the dating world as a single parent after the trauma of a relationship breakdown is daunting. My advice would be to pour a glass of wine, curl up on the sofa and have a look who’s out there, you never know.

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Baby care the natural way

Reclaim motherhood as a positive, stress-free experience

Through our online training with local consultants,Babyopathy can help nurture more babies from conception, through pregnancy, birth and throughout baby’s first years. for more information visit

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Sunshine Crew HUNDRED PIECES

With pieces for mama and for mini, the current collection from French brand Hundred Pieces is full of happy sunshine hues. Perfect for a summer of adventures ahead. smallable.com

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mama

ST Y L E NOTES

The month’s best styles, collaborations and collections

we love

ART WO R L D PA LO M A WO O L

Beginning life as an investigation into the act of getting dressed, Paloma Wool has quickly become a cult label. We love the Barcelona-based brand’s capsule collections featuring sketchy illustrations. palomawool.com

SWIM STYLE SOLID & STRIPED

Understated and timeless, Solid & Striped swimsuits are made from European and Japanese technical fabrics.

The designs have a carefree East Coast vibe, with vintageinspired details. smallable.com

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Carefree Summer OLLI ELLA

Known for their beautiful homewares and toys for kids, Australian brand Olli Ella has launched its first womenswear collection. The range of dresses in perfect dusky hues is ethically made from organic cotton. olliella.com

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Buckle Up NELSON MADE

Beautifully crafted by hand, Nelson Made’s sandals are made to order to avoid waste. The Australian brand also has a clever ‘design your own’ service, where you can pick all of the elements – from heel colour to the mental finish of the buckles. nelsonmade.com.au

HEIST

A revolutionary range of shapewear to see you through wedding season

A

GOLDEN HOUR ALIGHIERI

Infinitely stackable, the jewellery collection from Alighieri has an impossibily romantic inspiration. Each piece corresponds to one of Dante Alighieri’s 100 beautiful poems. alighieri.co.uk

5 o f t he b e st E S PA DRI L L E S IRIS & INK Scalloped Espadrilles, £65; theoutnet.com

& OTHER STORIES Lace Up Espadrille Wedges, £59; andotherstories.com

ARKET Suede Espadrilles, £79; arket.com

LOEFFLER RANDALL Daisy Two Bow Espadrilles, £165; loefflerrandall.com

n alarming number of invites dropping onto your doormat can only mean one thing: the arrival of wedding season. For those of us worrying about the dreaded ‘mum tum’, there’s a brilliant new collection of shapewear, that actually works and isn’t one bit uncomfortable.

Made using innovation from sports and space, Heist’s revolutionary HeroPanels work to shape, smooth and slim by mimicking the fascia; your body’s natural support system. The clever design targets your waist and can take up to 5cm off (!) without causing any discomfort at all.

The collection is also breathable (so you won’t get hot and bothered during the ceremony), seam-free (no VPLs), and completely secure (none of the rolling down that you get with some shapewear).

Available in black and two nude shades, you can choose from highwaisted pants, a body, and there’s also a great range of support tights.

Now all we have to worry about is finding the perfect wedding guest outfit. heist-studios.com

WAREHOUSE X SHRIMPS Woven Espadrilles, £35; endource.com

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G A R D E N Mama and mini twinning made for a summer spent outdoors s h o p d o e n .c o m

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kid s

FA S H I O N NOTES Carly Glendinning rounds up the month’s best styles, looks and launches

SUMMER FUN A L E X A N DA L E X A

From sun-safe UV beachwear – to outfits ready for exploring the sights, AlexandAlexa’s holiday shop has got it all.

Make sure you visit before jetting off this summer. alexandalexa.com

we love THOUGHTFUL THREADS MINI STITCHES

A project from Tower Hamletsbased charity Stitches in Time, Mini Stitches supports unemployed women in the community into work. We’re big fans of the pioneering fashion brand’s playful, seasonless and often gender-neutral designs. . ministitches.org

In the shade IZIPIZI

French eyewear brand Izipizi has added three new colourways to their range of sunglasses for little ones this summer: denim blue, milk and chocolate. The super-cool shades offer optimum protection from harsh rays with 100% UV3 polarized lenses. izipizi.com

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Sunshine Steps A N C I E N T G R E E K SA N DA L S

KIDS

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Perfect for mama and mini twinning, we love the range for little ones from Ancient Greek Sandals. Each style is handmade from natural, chemical-free tanned leather by highly-skilled craftsmen using traditional, centuries-old techniques. ancient-greek-sandals.com

OWA YURIKA

An Anglo-Japanese brand for girls designed by a mother daughter duo

COOL KIDS

F

ANDO

Our new favourite place to discover interesting childrenswear brands, designers and makers. A super-cool curation, Ando sources pieces locally in the UK and from as far across the world as Japan. andostores.com

5 of t he b e st SW I M W E A R KONGES SLØJD Cherry Bikini, £34.70; kongessloejd.dk SOFT GALLERY Ladybird Swim Shirt, £32; alexandalexa.com

BOBO CHOSES Dog Print Swim Shorts, £35; smallable.com

MINNOW Pink Swimsuit, £51.39; minnowswim.com

ew childrenswear brands have as interesting a backstory as Owa Yurika.

The collection for girls aged 3-14 is the brainchild of talented mother and daughter duo Yurika and Yuri Oshima. Yuri grew up in Tokyo admiring her mother’s distinct sense of style. (Yuri recalls how she was always the mum who stood out at the school gates).

It seems her mother’s love of fashion rubbed off, as Yuri went on to become a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Both with busy careers (Yuriko was a best-selling author on colour theory) it wasn’t until Yuri’s daughter was born that they saw an opportunity to work together.

As it turned out, their skills were the perfect match. Combining cutting-edge London design with time-honoured Japanese manufacturing, the pair have created a collection which is both fresh and luxurious. Yurika’s colour expertise plays out beautifully in this season’s pastel palette with dashes of bold colour and Yuri’s fashion know-how can be seen in the clean lines and playful prints. owayurika.com

LIEWOOD, Swim Shorts, £24; kidly.com

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BALMY DAY S Graphic lines and airy, play-ready shapes for summer bacabuche.com

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Make A Splash SWEAT Y BETT Y

Whether you’re getting some lengths in on holiday, or heading to one of London’s lidos, we love the new swimwear collection from Sweaty Betty. The ‘Retro’ set has a new even more flattering fit and is made from chlorine-resistant fabric with UV protection of 50+. sweatybetty.com

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EXCUSE ME? Did you know recent studies show that indoor lights can degrade the freshness, taste and nutrients we love in milk? It’s time to ask for milk bottles and cartons to be light-protected for our families.

THE ANSWER IS THE BOTTLE Learn more about light-protection certification at lightdamageisreal.com ©2019 Noluma International, LLC. Noluma™ and the Noluma Logo are trademarks of Noluma International, LLC.

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HE ALTH

DIP IN KIDCHUP

With a summer of endless BBQs ahead, we’re so pleased to find this healthy ketchup for dipping and squirting. Made with absolutely no refined sugar, artificial sweeteners or syrups (just apples), it really does taste delicious – so hopefully there won’t be any complaints. millycundull.com

mama’s

WELLNESS NOTES Mind fuel snacking and a new ‘feel good’ yoga series for mums

E AT C A L M

HAPPY TUMMY

NOORO

SY M P R OV E

It’s so easy to disrupt the balance of your gut – with an incomplete diet, a course of antibiotics, or even just with the stresses of daily life.

Symprove contains four strains of live and activated bacteria, delivered straight to the gut to support the microbiome. symprove.com

Dubbed as mind fuel for generation burnout (not to mention new parents), nooro is the UK’s first CBD snack bar. A non-intoxicating compound found in the hemp plant, CBD is a naturally occurring substance that’s said to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. eatnooro.com

Mama Moves M OV E M E N T F O R MODERN LIFE

Movement for Modern Life has launched a ‘Feel Good Yoga’ series for new mums. There are 14 videos to choose from (with a mixture of styles). movementformodernlife.com

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Baked Coconut Tempura Veggies Makes 4–6 portions Active preparation: 50 minutes Start to finish: 1 hour

D

ipping vegetables in a batter and baking until golden and crispy is a simple trick to make them more fun and accessible for kids. Our method is easier and healthier than any deep-fried version and the almond flour and desiccated (dried shredded) coconut add a pleasant sweetness and crunch. We serve these on a large platter with our sticky rice balls, dipping sauce and various other raw veggies and fruit. Aquafaba is simply the liquid from a tin of chickpeas (garbanzos).

INGREDIENTS

GREEN KITCHEN STORIES Food bloggers David Frenkiel & Luise Vindahl share three simple vegetarian family recipes from their new cookbook Little Green Kitchen

Sticky rice balls: • 200g (7oz/1 cup) Thai black rice, preferably soaked overnight, rinsed and drained • 625ml (21fl oz/2 ½ cups) water • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil • 2 tsp rice vinegar • 2 tsp soy sauce or tamari.

Tempura veggies: 250g (9oz) butternut squash, rind and seeds removed • ½ cauliflower head (250g/9oz) • 200g (7oz) mushrooms of choice, cleaned • 1 avocado (150g/5oz), stone removed and flesh scooped out • 100g (3oz) tofu, patted dry. Coconut tempura batter: • 2 eggs, or 125ml (4fl oz/ ½ cup) aquafaba • 125g (4oz/1 cup) almond flour • 100g (3 ½ oz/1 cup) desiccated (dried shredded) coconut • ½ tsp sea salt • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper. Dipping sauce: • 60ml (2fl oz/ ¼ cup) soy sauce or tamari • 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • ½ tsp white sesame seeds, preferably toasted. To serve: • Red cabbage leaves • Avocado wedges • Sugar snap peas • Pea tendrils • Pineapple triangles • Lime wedges

DIRECTIONS 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/ gas 4) and grease a baking tray (pan) or line it with baking parchment. 2 To make the sticky rice balls, bring the rice and water to the boil in a medium-sized, lidded saucepan, then reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on for 30 minutes, or until cooked and most of the water has been absorbed. 3 While the rice is cooking, prepare the veg: cut the squash into slices 1cm (.in) thick, the cauliflower

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into florets, the mushrooms into halves or quarters, the avocado into wedges, the tofu into bite-size triangles, and set aside.

4 To make the coconut tempura batter, crack the eggs into a medium sized bowl and whisk together. Put the rest of the ingredients in a separate medium-sized bowl and stir together. Dip the vegetables in the egg mixture, before tossing in the coconut mixture and transferring to the prepared tray. 5 Bake for 15–25 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked, golden and slightly crispy. Remember to turn the vegetables over halfway through the cooking time. 6 While the vegetables are cooking, make the dipping sauce. Put all of the ingredients, except the sesame seeds, in a small serving bowl and stir together. Scatter with the sesame seeds and transfer to a serving platter. 7 When the rice is cooked, remove from the heat and set aside for 10 minutes with the lid on, before stirring through the oil, vinegar and soy sauce. Mash the rice with a fork until it is sticky. Working with one heaped tablespoon of rice at a time, roll into balls and transfer to a serving platter. 8 When the vegetables are cooked, remove from the oven, transfer to the platter and serve hot alongside the sticky rice balls, some cabbage, avocado, sugar snap peas, pea tendrils, pineapple and lime wedges, and with the dipping sauce on the side.

Adult upgrade: Serve with Sriracha sauce.

A helping hand: Set up workstations and let your child/children dunk the veggies in the egg mixture and the coconut.

Potato, Courgette and Feta Pizza on a Caulif lower Base Makes 1 large pizza Active preparation: 40 minutes Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes

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e often talk about pizza as a vessel that we can pile with lots of vegetables and get our kids to eat happily. But if we are to be entirely honest, they usually scooch most of the toppings off, only to be left with little margherita pieces (plain tomato sauce

and cheese). Potato pizza is always a hit with our kids, though. Crunchy, carby and without too many weird textures on top. Our favourite thing about it is that it’s so simple. We make it pizza biancastyle, so no sauce needed. We are serving it on a cauliflower base here, which is another smart little veg-boosting trick (the almond flour gives it a sweet flavour).

But for an even easier version, you can use Lebanese flatbreads as a base and then it’s ready in no time. Even if we keep it simple for the kids, we add extra greens to our pieces so everyone ends up happy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large (500g/ 1lb) cauliflower head • 100g (4oz/1 cup) almond flour • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 4 eggs. Potato topping: 3 medium-sized firm potatoes • 1 small courgette (zucchini) • 2 tbsp sea salt • 4 tbsp olive oil • 100g (3 ½ oz/ 3/4 cup) feta, crumbled • 1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced • 2 tbsp thyme leaves, roughly chopped • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Adult upgrade: 4 tbsp pesto • Baby kale or rocket (arugula) • Lemon juice

RECIPES

the salt and cover with cold water for 20 minutes. Drain the water, rinse and pat the potatoes and courgette dry on a tea (dish) towel. 5 Brush the baked cauliflower base with a thin layer of the olive oil. Cover it with half of the feta, then add the potato and courgette slices, onion, thyme and, finally, the remaining feta. Season with salt and black pepper.

Drizzle with more of the olive oil and bake for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are golden and the edges are slightly burnt. 6 Serve immediately.

Adult upgrade: Top the baked pizza with a drizzling of pesto and some baby kale dressed in lemon juice.

A helping hand: A pizza doesn’t have to be round or square, it can look however you want it to. So let the children be in charge of shaping the pizzas. Show how they should flatten out the dough and let them decide whether to make one large or several smaller shapes. Let them also put toppings on their own pizza slice.

DIRECTIONS 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/ gas 6) and line a baking tray (pan) with parchment paper. 2 To make the cauliflower base, coarsely chop the cauliflower (use the brighter part of the stem too), place in a food processor and blend until you have a fine rice-like texture. Measure 1 litre (34fl oz/4 cups) of the vegetable ‘rice’ and place in a mixing bowl. Add the almond flour, oregano, salt and pepper and mix with your hands.

Make a well in the middle and add the eggs. Whisk the eggs with a fork. Use your hands to pull the dry ingredients towards the middle until everything is combined and you can shape it into a ball.

It should be more loose and wet than a traditional bread dough. Leave to sit for 10 minutes. 3 Transfer to the prepared baking tray (pan) and shape into a large pizza by flattening the dough with your hands, making the edges slightly higher.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until slightly golden and firm.

4 Meanwhile, prepare the potato topping.

Slice the potatoes and courgette very thinly with a mandolin or a knife. Place the slices in a deep plate, sprinkle them with

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dairy free halal all natural Introducing your little one to a new world of variety and taste adventure.

Our exotic natural ingredients delight and broaden taste palates eliminating fussy eating in later years.

Available in

,

and

Read about our delicious, award winning recipes at

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wellne s s

RECIPES

the glasses, then top with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cacao powder and a teaspoon of nut butter. Finally, drizzle with the remaining melted chocolate and scatter the remaining chopped nuts over the top. 5 Serve with a wide straw and a spoon.

A helping hand: We actually don’t tell our kids that their shakes are spiked with cauliflower so you might be better off blending this yourself. Instead, let them help out with the toppings – melting and drizzling the chocolate, whipping the cream and sprinkling everything on top.

Note: If you buy packs of frozen cauliflower or broccoli, they are usually pre-cooked or steamed before they are frozen so they can be added directly into the smoothie from the freezer. If you freeze your own vegetables, steam them first to make them easier to break down and digest.

Tip: Using a lot of frozen ingredients helps give the shake an ice creamlike consistency, but you need a good high-speed blender. You can make it with an ordinary blender as well by replacing frozen bananas and avocado with fresh.

Salted Caramel Freak Shake Makes 2 glasses Active preparation: 15 minutes Start to finish: 15 minutes

W

ait, what? This salted caramel shake is made using cauliflower and avocado!? Yup, it’s the ultimate Friday night shake and yet it contains ingredients that will keep blood sugar levels a little less freakish than regular milkshakes. We go all in with toppings, though, because drinking healthy-ish shakes should be fun!

INGREDIENTS Shake ingredients: 50g (2oz/ ½ cup) frozen cauliflower florets • 1 frozen (prechopped) ripe banana • ½ frozen (prechopped) avocado (75g/2 ½ oz), or fresh • 4–5 soft dates, pitted • Good pinch of sea salt • 250ml (8 ½ fl oz/1 cup) coconut • Drinking

milk or milk of choice • 1 tbsp cacao powder • 1 tbsp nut butter of choice Toppings: 75g (2 ½ oz) dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids) • 4 tbsp hazelnuts, finely chopped • 100ml (3 ½ fl oz/scant ½ cup) whipped coconut cream or regular whipped cream • 1 tsp cacao powder • 2 tsp peanut butter

DIRECTIONS 1 Melt the chocolate in a water bath or bain-marie and dip the rims of two glasses into the melted chocolate. Let the chocolate drip off and cool slightly and then sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate until entirely coated. 2 Dip a teaspoon in the melted chocolate and drizzle across the inside of the glasses to create a pattern (like in the photo). 3 Place the shake ingredients in a highspeed blender and mix until smooth; you might need to use a tamper or spoon to push down the ingredients or to add a little extra liquid – the goal is a thick, ice-cream-like shake. Taste and adjust the flavours. 4 Spoon the mixture into

LITTLE GREEN KITCH EN

By David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl; Hardie Grant, £22.00 greenkitchenstories.com

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THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY

IN TRUSTED HANDS THE LINDO WING, ST MARY’S HOSPITAL

The Lindo Wing, St Mary’s Hospital South Wharf Road, London, W2 1NY T: +44 (0)20 3312 6224 E: imperial.lindo.maternity@nhs.net W: imperialprivatehealthcare.co.uk Part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. All our profits are reinvested to support our NHS services

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wellness PROMOTION

SUMMER SOOTHERS

L

An exclusive family recipe from Yeo Valley

ittle Yeos pots of thick and creamy organic fromage frais have been specially made for little hands and tummies and come in a convenient pack of six.

If you’re keen to avoid products with a high level of sugar you can rest assured that all of the Little Yeos Fromage Frais are sweetened only with real fruit puree and a little concentrated grape juice.

Little Yeos Fruity Favourites yogurts are a healthy choice for bigger kids and keep lunch boxes interesting, with a different fruity flavour every day.

All Little Yeos are free from artificial sweeteners, colours and

preservatives as well as being organic. The result: you can feel confident you’re giving your little ones a good start in life.

Introducing your baby to the wonderful world of food should be fun and pleasurable so that they grow up with a love for delicious and nutritious foods that will put them on the road to good health for life. Read on for a quick and easy recipe, perfect for teething tots and older children needing to cool down this summer.

It’s got no nasties and will help introduce your little ones to tasty new flavours, such as strawberry and mango...

yeovalley.co.uk

Little Yeos Teething Lollies Ingredients Little Yeos Fromage Frais •

6 x lolly sticks or feeding spoons Method 1

Remove the lids from a pack of Strawberry and Mango Little Yeos and freeze for an hour.

2

When the yogurts are semi-frozen, push lolly sticks or feeding spoons into the middle of each pot, and continue freezing for another 3 hours.

3

When ready to serve, dip the pots into warm water and pull the lollies out of the pots. Use to sooth teething gums and rumbling tums!

Tip Our fruity fromage frais already contains real fruit puree, but you can add a fruity boost to these lollies by adding in squished or chopped berries to introduce your baby to more flavours and textures. They’re also a delicious summer snack for older tots too!

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gut

feeling

Dr Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani, paediatrician and co-founder of Little Tummy on how to support your baby’s gut health

A

healthy gut supports us and our children in a lot of different ways.

It assists with digestion to ease problems like constipation or bloating, which have been linked to an unbalanced gut flora, and our gut microbes fight infections and help our immune system to stay strong. It also produces vitamins, such as Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting, and serotonin, a chemical which puts us in a good mood.

The first 1000 days of a child’s life is when the microbiome is developed. The gut microbiome is the community of all the bacteria and other microorganisms living in our intestinal system. The gut bacteria and their environment work together to support your baby’s health.

When babies are born, they start off with less than 100 different species of bacteria in their gut. During the first two years of life, the microbiome becomes more diverse until it resembles that of an adult with more than

1000 different species of microorganisms.

Recent research has established an association between an unbalanced gut and different types of diseases, such as diabetes, allergies and obesity. With the gut bacteria being so important for a healthy life, what can we do to support the development of a healthy gut for our children?

During pregnancy  The development of a child’s microbiome starts in the womb. We know from research that the first bacteria migrate to a child’s gut in the later stages of pregnancy, most likely via the amniotic fluid or the umbilical cord. A mother’s gut bacteria is also transferred to her baby during birth. Establishing a healthy microbiome during pregnancy can, therefore, be a first step to support your baby. Studies have also shown that the birth mode has an impact on a baby’s microbiome as bacteria are transferred from mother to child during a vaginal birth. However, we cannot tell yet, what impact this has on a child’s future health development.

TIP: Try to eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole-grain

carbohydrates. Fermented foods, such as kefir and kombucha could be beneficial too.

After birth  Bacteria can also migrate from mother to baby during skin-to-skin contact, especially during the first 24 hours after birth.

Breast milk contains an abundance of good ingredients for your baby and is a great way to support their gut health. When it comes to the microbiome, studies have shown that 30 percent of the beneficial bacteria in a baby’s intestinal tract come directly from mother’s milk. Breast milk also contains human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), small molecules, which feed the gut bacteria and help them

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welln es s ADVICE

“The first bacteria migrate to a child’s gut in the later stages of pregnancy”

• Starchy vegetables, such as sweet potato, chickpea or parsnip • W hole grains, such as oats, barley and quinoa Processed foods and high-sugar foods can have a negative effect on gut bacteria and should, therefore, be avoided. Ready-made baby meals from the supermarket shelves are usually heavily heat-processed, which destroys the complex structure of the fibre and sets free a lot of fruit sugar.

TIP: Once your baby is ready to start solids, offer a well-balanced diet of foods rich in fibre.

Home-made or cold-pressed meals, such as Little Tummy, should be preferred over heattreated ones, as they preserve the complex structure of the fibre and therefore help your baby’s gut bacteria to thrive.

Toddler years thrive. Some formula brands add HMO to their products to mimic the effects of breast milk. Long-term results of studies are in progress, so it is unclear what health benefits HMO added to formula really have.

On the other hand, the addition of HMO to infant formula has been proven to be safe and makes it more similar to breast milk.

It might, therefore, be a good option for mothers who don’t breastfeed.

TIP: Cuddle as much as you can with your baby, especially in the first 24 hours and with skin-to-skin contact. Try to breastfeed if you can and for how long you feel comfortable.

If choosing formula, opt for one containing human milk oligosaccharides (HMO).

Introducing solids  Around the age of six months babies start to eat solid foods. This is the time when the microbes in their gut start to diversify and slowly reach the state where they are similar to an adult’s gut. This is one of the reasons why a baby’s bowel movements change texture, colour and, alas, odour, during this period.

The fibre in the new foods feed the gut bacteria and support their development.

Whole foods with high fibre content are, for example: • Dark leafy greens, such as broccoli, kale and spinach • Legumes, such as beans, lentils and peas

 Even when babies are off their milk feeds, the microbiome will continue to diversify.

This is why it is important to keep up the good work of the first year of life. A balanced microbiome will help to keep tummy troubles away and to support a strong immune system.

TIP: Children should continue to eat a great variety of fibre-rich foods. A two year-old child should eat about 15mg of fibre per day. This could include oats in the morning, seeds as a snack and a plate of vegetables for dinner.

Little Tummy is a baby food company that delivers cold-pressed and nutrient-dense baby meals directly to parents’ doorsteps. littletummy.co July 2019 | 63

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SEEING SPOTS Five tips for soothing your child when they have chickenpox from Doctor Stephanie Ooi

H

ighly infectious and particularly miserable during the summer months, chickenpox is one of the most common illnesses to affect young children (more than 95% will contract it) and is most prevalent in under-tens.

Most children make a full recovery without needing medical intervention. However it can still be uncomfortable and upsetting for little ones and worrying for parents.

When the red, fluid-filled spots appear, there are some things you can do to comfort your child and distract them from the itching. Doctor Stephanie Ooi, a GP from MyHealthcare Clinic, has provided tips to advise parents on the best ways to soothe a case of the summer spots.

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gentle itching remedies 1 Use

While traditional remedies such as calamine lotion have long been the go-to home treatment for chickenpox, there are newer mousse products available on the market that can help. These can be easier to use than creams or lotions as they are less messy and don’t require rubbing-in to sensitive rash-covered skin and often provide additional benefits. Products such as Pox-Clin CoolMousse can help soothe irritation, itching and sensitivity caused by chickenpox and it also contains a bacterial blocker which helps prevent reinfection and minimises scarring.

Another natural remedy to soothe the discomfort and itching is to take an oatmeal bath, which helps to prevent the spread of infection from one body part to another. To make your own oatmeal bath at home, you can use regular unflavoured porridge oats, slow cooked oats or instant oats. Use around 100g for a toddler and 300g for an older child. A coffee grinder or food processor can be used to grind the oats up to a smaller consistency. Test a tablespoon of oats in a glass of warm water – if the water goes a milky colour, your oats are ground-up enough. Draw a warm bath (not too hot), place the oats in and have your child soak for around 20 minutes.

Some children also find baking soda soothing. You can add roughly a mug of the baking soda to a lukewarm bath and soak for 20 minutes. When you help the child out of the bath, use a clean towel to pat, rather than rub the skin dry.

your child hydrated 2 Keep

Try to encourage your child to drink as much water as possible.

When chickenpox spots appear in a child’s mouth it can make eating or drinking slightly distressing and uncomfortable. Try to give soft and bland foods and avoid salty snacks

that can aggravate a sore mouth. A very common symptom of chickenpox is a loss of appetite – whilst this is worrying for parents, hydration is more important than food here.

One way to encourage them to consume more liquids is to create soothing ice pops. Simply fill a lolly tray with water or coconut water, or flavour with some squash. It’s best to avoid orange flavouring as the acidic content of this may irritate the mouth.

If your child does feel up to eating, natural yoghurt with honey, stewed apples or pears or a chicken bone broth are good options. Dairy and chicken contain the amino acid lysine which is said to aid healing.

Be aware of signs of dehydration – dark urine, infrequent need to use the bathroom or dry nappies, fast breathing, having few or no tears left when crying, dry lips or blotchy, cold hands and feet. If your child has any of these symptoms, please seek urgent medical advice.

medical advice for some cases 3 Seek

In most cases you won’t need to take your child to the GP for chickenpox as it will get better on its own. This usually takes about a week. However, there are some instances when medical advice should be sought. If you notice that the skin around the spots has become red, hot and painful, consult your doctor as this can be a sign of skin infection. Also seek medical advice if your child has had a fever for more than four days, if there are signs of dehydration as mentioned above or their condition seems to be worsening. Ultimately you know them best so if something doesn’t seem right then seek medical advice.

Soothe the pain and fever with approved 4 painkillers Aside from the uncomfortable rash, chickenpox can also often cause cold and flu-like symptoms, including

“It’s advised to keep your child away from school, nursery or social situations” a high temperature (38+ degrees), muscular aches and pains, as well as headaches. These can make children feel pretty miserable and unwell. You can use paracetamol at home to soothe the pain and fever. It’s best to avoid giving aspirin to any child for any illness – as this can leave your child at risk of developing Reye’s syndrome (a rare disorder that causes swelling in the liver and brain).

distractions 5 Provide

Due to the highly contagious nature of chickenpox, it’s advised keep your child away from school, nursery or social situations with other children until the spots have fully crusted over.

This can take as long as 10 days. Many children will just want to rest and a day in front of the TV is completely understandable! However, lots of parents know that after a few days of isolation, children can feel restless and need a distraction from the itching and misery of being house-bound.

Try making an indoor assault course with cushions, chairs and blankets.

If you have a garden and the weather is nice, have a picnic together, plant some seeds, or use outdoor chalks to create pictures. You could make a salt dough with ingredients from your kitchen - 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of flour and 3/4 cup of water. Combine the salt and flour together then stir-in the water gradually until it forms a doughy consistency. You can create shapes or make hand and footprints in the dough.

Place shapes in the oven at 180 degrees and bake until hardened. You can even decorate them with non-toxic paints. myhealthcareclinic.com poxclin.co.uk July 2019 | 65

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“The condition can affect up to one in five babies, so you’re not alone”

T BABY Happy

Soothe an unsettled tum with Colief Infant Drops, the effective dietary supplement that has been tried and tested by parents for 20 years

he first few months with your baby are both special and challenging, but Colief can help you from the start.

When your newborn cries constantly and seems distressed, it can be very upsetting for you, not to mention tiring, with all the sleepless nights.

Although it is worrying for you, colic is common in babies and in a small number, it may be caused by temporary lactose intolerance as their digestive system develops. This is where Colief Infant Drops can help. An effective dietary supplement that can be added to infant milk, Colief has been tried and trusted by parents for 20 years.

The active ingredient in it is lactase, a safe, naturally-occurring enzyme produced in the

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wellness

PROMOTION

Colief to the milk each time you breastfeed or use infant formula.

small intestine. In fact, it’s the only lactase enzyme supported by clinical studies. That’s why it’s the most commonly prescribed treatment for colicky symptoms. The 30-minute wait time when using Colief is very important. The active ingredient in Colief, lactase enzyme, takes around 30 minutes to break down the majority of the lactose in the milk. Some infants may tolerate greater amounts of lactose in the feed, so you could try reducing the waiting time to 15 minutes, especially after the first month using Colief Infant Drops. If this does not satisfy your baby a return to 30 minutes is advised.

WHAT IS COLIC?

Colic is defined as repeated episodes of excessive and inconsolable crying in a new-born baby who otherwise appears to be perfectly healthy. The condition can affect up to one in five babies, so you’re not alone.

Infant colic can have many causes. In some cases it is believed to be caused by temporary lactose intolerance. This is because in the first months of life, some babies are unable to fully break down lactose, a complex sugar in breast and formula milk. It can produce wind, bloating and cause discomfort, and one of the primary symptoms is inconsolable crying. As any parent with a distressed, crying baby knows, colic affects a whole household, and can be very frustrating and upsetting for all involved. Colief Infant Drops can help ease the symptoms. The result is less discomfort and fewer tears.

Simply add a few drops of

HOW TO USE COLIEF INFANT DROPS

4 drops • Express about a tablespoon (15ml) of breast milk into a clean container • Add 4 drops of Colief to the milk • Give this to your infant on a spoon before initiating breastfeeding • Breastfeed as normal

USING COLIEF WITH FORMULA

4 drops • Prepare your infant’s formula as per manufacturer’s instructions • Add 4 drops of Colief Infant Drops to warm (not hot) formula • Wait 30 minutes, gently shaking the formula occasionally, then feed your infant as normal, making sure that the formula is at the correct temperature • Discard any unused formula

COLIC:

Tips And Tricks

If you suspect your baby has colic the following can help Keep a cry diary • Speak to your health visitor • Try a 1 week trial of Colief Infant Drops to help diagnose whether temporary lactose intolerance could be the cause of the colic symptoms • Introduce a soothing routine around the time of the day when your baby’s colic is usually at its worst, this is typically in the evenings

Colief Infant Drops is available at Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide. 7ml RRP £11.99, 15ml RRP £15.99 facebook.com/ColiefCare colief.com July 2019 | 67

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mama’s

B E AU T Y NOTES Hair, make-up and beauty news for the month ahead

CLEAN SWEEP

we love

DR ROEBUCK’S

We love this sulfate-free, gentle face wash from Australian clean-beauty brand Dr Roebuck’s. Calendula and Arnica reduce redness and irritation (providing antibacterial benefits), whilst oat leaf extract and green tea help to soothe, calm and hydrate the skin. £30; spacenk.com

OH BABY ALMA

Designed for the gentlest neonatal skin, Alma’s products contain certified organic ingredients and the best raw materials from nature. Their baby oil calms and prevents irritation with a mix including avocado, mandarin and geranium essential oils. £61; smallable.com

Juicy Fruit IRENE FORTE

This pomegranate face mask from Italian skincare brand Irene Forte has earned a firm place in our bathroom cabinets. Free from nasties, it’s chockfull of glow-giving ingredients including aloe vera juice and avocado oil to help brighten, hydrate and tone the skin. £99; ireneforteskincare.com

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BE AUT Y

n Salo w e i Rev

Skin Quencher E V O LV E

Hyaluronic acid is the beauty buzz product of the summer and this targeted serum is packed with the super hydrating ingredient. Proven to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, it’s an effective treatment for those with dry skin. £30; glasshousesalon.co.uk

THE RUNNYMEAD ON THAMES

C R E AT I N G CALM

B

W o r d s J E S S I C A S H A LT O U T

M A L Á KO

Perfect to pack in your suitcase, this blissfully scented oil combines lemongrass, may chang and frankincense to balance and calm energy levels when you’re tired or jet lagged. It’s also great for dry skin, muscle tension and giving you shiny locks. £20; malakoskincare.co.uk

5 of t he b e st BA B Y B A L M S BLOOM AND BLOSSOM Wonder Balm, £14; bloomandblossom.com

STORKSAK ORGANICS Baby Balm, £8.95; storksak.com

BAMFORD Organic Baby Balm, £22; bamford.com

MINOIS PARIS Magic Balm, £22; minoisparis.fr

abymooning – a last hurrah before your little one arrives.

Say no more! We left our firstborn with the grandparents and sped off to The Runnymead on Thames in Surrey for some relaxation before our second turns our world upside down. The hotel’s spa alone provides enough relaxation that you needn’t do anything else! I’ve had a few pregnancy massages before but this was in a different league. It began with a with a back, leg and arm massage, the pressure was perfect! Followed by a several head massages, cool pads over the eyes and a facial – which was a treatment in itself. I lost count of how many creams and hot flannels were applied. The spa also consists of indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a whirlpool bath, an infrared cabin, traditional saunas and a eucalyptus steam room.

We finished our day off with a delicious three-course meal in the award-winning Lock Bar & Restaurant. Not sure if we were just pleased to be out baby-free, but the whole experience left us feeling more relaxed than we have been in months.

Couples Babymoon Break from £375 runnymedehotel.com

LITTLE AURELIA Comfort & Calm Rescue Cream, £28; aureliaskincare.com

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Line of best f it DESIGN OF

Hailing from the forests of Smaland, Sweden, Design Of specialises in minimalist, multi-functional steel furniture. The storage units and smaller table can be adapted perfectly for a child’s room.

Square table, €325 and Mini Shelf, €592; designof.se

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mama

N U R S E RY NOTES Interiors inspiration for the hardest-working room in your home Wo r d s H E L E N BA RO N

WA L L F LOW E R MAJVILLAN

Tales of adventure in blackened pastels, greys, creams and gold give Majvillan the edge over other wallpaper brands.

That and it being an eco-friendly print-house using sustainable, waterbased colours. £75 per roll; bobbyrabbit.co.uk

we love DREAM W E AV E R BERMBACH

This handcrafted Bermbach moses basket is one of the prettiest newborn essentials we’ve seen! Its low-rise, flexible shape means that when baby outgrows it, it can still be used as a decorative item. Frida Moses Basket (mattress sold separately) £121; smallable.com

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Rug Rat IAN SNOW

If you want to add a riot of carnival colour to the nursery, look no further than this mini shaggy rug from purveyor of ethically sourced products, Ian Snow. Not only is it made from recycled materials, it’s fair trade too. £49; iansnow.com

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h o me & interio rs

Wooden Wonder

NURSERIES

shop focus

LANKA KADE

Set up after its founders returned from a Red Cross trip to Sri Lanka, this UKbased toy company focuses on the craft and supply of beautiful fair-trade toys.

Natural wood Noah’s Ark with characters, £85; notonthehighstreet.com

STOKKE

Mama visits the Scandi brand’s flagship London store

S

CO O L WO O L BINIBAMBA

Available in tonally trendy hues of moon and milk, these merino wool ‘wriggle-rugs’ tick all the boxes: sustainable, hypoallergenic, naturally antibacterial and with temperature-regulating superpowers that make them toasty in winter and cool come summer.£319; naturalbabyshower.co.uk

5 o f t he b e st C O OL C L O C K S REMI Connected Nightlight, £80; smallable.com EO Face Clock, £33; fi nnishdesignshop.com RED HANG GANG Elephant Clock, £30; notonthehighstreet.com

tokke is one of the most venerable and venerated of children’s brands, and its practical Scandinavian style is in full effect at its flagship store in London’s Westfield shopping centre. The shop carries the full range of Stokke pieces, from the iconic Tripp Trapp high chair to innovative nursery furniture and new compact city stroller the Stokke Beat. But it isn’t just a product showcase: it’s also a parenting hub, with personal shoppers on hand to provide expert advice and a programme of regular familycentred events.

Foremost among these are talks from some of the most exciting experts in the family field. We’re particularly enthused about the upcoming ‘Real Talks’ series with Rebecca Schiller – doula, author and founder of Birthrights. She’ll be hosting monthly themed workshops on subjects surrounding pregnancy, labour and family life. It’s intended as an arena for mamas to meet, participate and share their own experiences without fear of judgement – a rare safe space – Rebecca’s work is both important and enthralling. One of many to come, we’ve been assured, so be sure to check the Stokke website for details and head on down. stokke.com

SNOOZEE Sleep Trainer, £29; purflo.com

TENDER LEAF Bear Clock, £19.95; jojomamanbebe.co.uk

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S P A N S T Y L E Absolutely Mama tours lifestyle store owner Nicola Eyre’s stylish Span house I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

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icola Eyre is the founder of super-cool family lifestyle store Cissy Wears in Hither Green. Having lived in London for over 20 years, last year she moved to New Ash Green in Kent along with her husband and their four children.

The family had been looking out for a 1960s Span house by the architect Eric Lyons for a number of years when they finally came across the perfect property. Radical for their time, Span houses continue to inspire modern architecture, built with the ethos to create a ‘home within a garden’. We took a peek inside the family’s light and airy new home.

Q How did you come to buy the house and what drew you to it?

A Span houses are usually 2 or 3 bedroom, and the larger houses (we are a family of 6) are few and far between. The last one we saw on the market was about 8 years ago when Cissy was a baby, and although we totally fell in love, we just didn’t feel the time was right for us to move outside of London. We’d always kept an eye on the area, and then one day one of the large houses came up on the market.

We made a snap decision to go and see it and that was it. We decided we wanted to go for it and made the decision to move.

Q What was it like when you bought it and did you do any renovation work before it was ready for you move in?

A The previous owner was an elderly gentleman who had been there for 38 years with his wife and four children, so the decor was... dated.

Q How long did it take you to redecorate and what was the biggest project?

A We knew when we bought it that we were going to have to gut the whole place as several internal walls had been put up over the years and we wanted to strip it back

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h o me & interio rs INSPIRATION

“The previous owner was an elderly gentleman, so the decor was... dated”

July 2019

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“It’s so lovely to hear the sound of birdsong so loudly and clearly every time you open a window or door”

to its former style. A lot of the original features were still there – like the flooring, exposed brickwork, skirting, and even the kitchen. We tried to salvage what we could, although when the builders moved in they discovered all the ceilings had asbestos in them (pretty common for the era) so everything had to be put on hold whilst it was ripped out. Similarly, the original parquet floor which we hoped to restore was full of asbestos-filled bitumen which meant we had to lose that too. The biggest project was the painstaking installation of replacement finger parquet flooring which had to be put down tile by tile.

Q What was your vision?

A I wanted to get it back to how it originally was without transporting myself into some Austin Powers style time warp. I wanted to modernise it in keeping with my own minimalist tastes.

Q As the owner of a lifestyle store, is there a temptation to bring home everything you source for the shop?

A Well actually, my whole concept is that if I wouldn’t have it in my house, then I wouldn’t have it in my shop. So I do have to put my money where my mouth is sometimes.

Q Which room is your favourite?

A I love my open-plan lounge area, the huge windows let loads of light in and it’s so peaceful to sit under the green of the trees surrounded by my calm space.

Q How did it feel moving out of London? And what do you love about your new area?

A Maybe it’s because I still work in London, but I didn’t feel any great emotion moving away. I’m back several times a week, so very much feel like a Londoner. What I do notice when I come back though is the change in air quality, that’s something I’d never noticed but now very glad to be away from. Also it’s so lovely to hear the sound of birdsong so loudly and clearly every time you open a window or door. Whilst some people feel an affinity to the sea, I love to be surrounded by woodland and trees. Having said that, we are only 45 minutes drive from the coast now, so I’m looking forward to the summer when we can head to the beach after school.

Q How has it changed your family life?

A I’m still waiting for that! We live such busy lives that we still haven’t found that change in pace I was hoping for. Maybe when you have four kids and your own business you never get to slow down! cissywears.com July 2019 | 77

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Pack Smart AWAY

We’re big fans of Away’s luggage, which has lots of clever features including an optional battery pack, whisper-quiet wheels and an interior compression system. The makers of stylish suitcases have just added a new colourway to their range: ‘Coast’ a pleasingly unisex greyish blue (not pictured). awaytravel.com

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The Maserati of SUVs LEVANTE V6 2019 STARTING FROM £500 A MONTH, 0% APR† WITH 3 YEARS FREE SERVICING** H.R. OWEN MASERATI LONDON MELTON COURT, 25-27 OLD BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW7 3TD 0333 240 1580 HROWEN.CO.UK/MASERATI Fuel economy and CO2 results for the Maserati Levante MY19 range in mpg (l/100km) combined: 20.7 (13.6) to 30.0 (9.4). *CO2 emissions: 282 - 207 g/km. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars

tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. †Offer available on Maserati Levante V6 MY19 range ordered and registered between 01/01/19 and 31/03/19. 24 month term. Minimum 20% customer deposit required. Model shown is a Maserati Levante V6 GranLusso MY19 (incl. Tri-coat paint, Silver painted callipers, Metallic finish roof rails, Panoramic sunroof, Bowers & Wilkins sound system, Rear laminated privacy glass, Driver Assistance Pack and 20” Efesto alloy wheels) which will increase the customer deposit to 32% and a monthly payment of £600. Optional final payment may vary depending on version. With Maserati PCP you may return the vehicle instead of making the final payment. It must be in good condition and if you exceed the agreed annual mileage, you will be charged 12p per mile for exceeding 15,000 miles p.a. in this example. Subject to status. Guarantees may be required. T&Cs apply. At participating Retailers only. Maserati Financial Services, SL1 0RW. We work with a number of creditors including Maserati Financial Services. **Three years free servicing offer is based on typical usage (12,000 miles per annum) and is covered by a three service Maserati “Premium Service” plan. The “Premium Service” program covers all the inspections, replacements of components and consumables provided by the official maintenance schedule described in the vehicle owner’s manual. Offer available on new Maserati Levante MY19 range ordered, registered & delivered by 31/03/19. At participating Retailers only.

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INSPIRATIONS

MUM & BABY EVIAN

New to the popular wellness resort is the mum and baby Bliss Getaway. Relaxing massages, aqua sessions and babycarrying workshops combine with plenty of bonding time in the peaceful environs of the Swiss Alps. evianresort.com

mama’s

T R AV E L NOTES

Helen Baron rounds up the most exciting destinations at home and abroad we love

SMOOTH O P E R AT O R

COOLA

Created for sensitive skin, this non-nano mineral-active SPF50 sunscreen is gentle but waterresistant and non-tacky. Organic ingredients such as avocado and coconut oil keep delicate skin nourished. £23 for a sunscreen stick; spacenk.com

BAILEY ROBINSON

Bailey Robinson craft tailor-made holidays. Let their expertise guide you to a wealth of inspiration, from unique destinations and family activities to the best times to go, well, pretty much anywhere. baileyrobinson.com

3 m o r e t o b o o k m a r k i n P O RT U GA L Sao Lourenco

Magnolia Hotel

Pine Clif fs

A beautiful farmscape set in Portugal’s picturesque wine region, with a Susan Kauffman spa on site. Families will love the stylish yard or meadow cottages, as well as activities from horseriding to stargazing.

A boutique contemporary hotel that pays homage to the 1950s motor-hotel, the Magnolia brings a touch of Palm Springs to the Quinta do Lago resort. For families, there are seven unique cottages and suites.

One of Portugal’s leading family and golf resorts with an unmatched array of family leisure facilities. Little ones will love the staggering 7000sqm Porto Pirata Kid’s Club, suitable for ages 4 months – 11 years.

barrocal.pt

themagnoliahotelqdl.com

pinecliffs.com

ALENTEJO

C O R N WA L L

SUN SAFE

SAO LOURENCO

ALGARVE

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I S L A N D L I F E Discovering the tranquil and familyfriendly side to the glamourous island of Mykonos with a stay at the Myconian Collection W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

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t was Jackie Kennedy that first brought the jet-set crowd Mykonos, an island that’s since become a glittering beacon of glamour in the middle of the Aegean Sea. A cosmopolitan crowd of celebrities holiday on the Greek isle, but the buzz has always focused on the exclusive clubs, the crazy parties and afterdark bar culture. So I was intrigued to discover that the destination has a more tranquil and peaceful side, perfectly suited to both blissed-out babymooners and new parents in need of a relaxing family getaway.

The Myconian Collection, has no less than ten of the leading luxury hotels on Mykonos (three of which are members of Relais & Châteaux) in its portfolio. We are staying at the 5-star Kyma, which has been awarded status as a Design Hotel. The 52-room, 29 suite property has an intimate 1960s feel, alive with colourful modern art and quirky furniture, carefully curated and collected from all over Europe. The rooms and suites are beautifully designed, some boasting

terraces with private pools and Jacuzzis – which would be perfect for kids to splash about in. Cots and any other essential baby accessories you need can be arranged on request.

On the first morning I am woken by the light streaming in through my balcony doors.

Shining down from a blazing, bright blue sky, I am struck by the almost magical quality of the beams cast by the sun. The hotel overlooks the hillside of Mykonos Town, and I have panoramic views across the famous 16th century windmills, the pristine white cubic houses and out to the glistening sea. I can already feel my internal body clock resetting to the slow rhythm of island life.

We eat breakfast in the newly-refurbished George’s Bar overlooking the idyllic pool area, a gentle breeze cooling us from the heat of the sun. Families with babies and toddlers trickle in, and the staff make a huge fuss of them – this is a hotel that clearly welcomes little ones.

The Collection was founded in 1979 by George Dakylides and his wife Eleftheria and today it’s run by their four sons. It’s a true

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“I have panoramic views across the famous 16th century windmills, the pristine white cubic houses and out to the glistening sea”

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Happy lives here!

We want you and your little ones to holiday just the way you want to: safe, stress free and in locations you love.

It’s why we’ve developed our own exclusive resort experience alongside our range of beautiful, family friendly properties.

We hand pick every destination to meet your young family’s needs—from pool safety to playtime—and they’re fully equipped with everything you need, so you can travel light and feel at home as soon as you arrive.

Discover the Tots difference and let us help you find your perfect, fun-filled family holiday.

All private pools barriered

FREE baby and toddler kit

30 point child safety check

Call us

0800 808 5487 Browse and book at

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“It’s a true family business and it really comes across in the exceptional service. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble” family business and it really comes across in the exceptional service. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble and the hotel really delivers on looking after your every need. This is luxury on the next level, and guests can take advantage of the concierge, private dining, limousines and even helicopter and private jet charters.

The hotel can also arrange a car to take you to the other properties, and we love being able to dine in a different restaurant every

night, hangout by the seemingly endless picture-perfect pools and visit the island’s beautiful Elia beach (where the Collection has a private section with complimentary sunbeds). The proximity to the coastline makes the properties on this side of the island perfect for families.

All of the hotels offer a fine dining experience and we enjoy meals at four of the restaurants during our stay. NOA at Kyma combines traditional Mediterranean flavours with a gourmet twist. Using the freshest farm-to-table ingredients, the Greek mezethes (including fried squid calamari, fava beans with octopus, lentil salad, moussaka, pasticcio and dolmades) is delicious. All dietary requirements can be catered to and there’s a special menu for kids on request. If you prefer to dine without your little ones, a babysitter can be arranged.

During our stay, I also visit the sanctuary that is the hotel’s Satori spa for a morning of ultimate relaxation. First up, 50 minutes spent soaking in the five thalassotherapy pools. Drawing on the cleansing and curative properties of seawater (praised since Greek antiquity), each pool has different therapeutic salinity contents (including lavender and aloe vera) and uses hydro-massage to soothe the skin. Afterwards, I have a heavenly full-body

MYKONOS

massage in a cosy treatment room filled with twinkling lights. The spa uses Elemis and Ligne of St Barth products and boasts a long list of cutting-edge beauty treatments. For couples, the spa has a special bed in the shape of an oyster (one of only five in the world). And if you’re pregnant, they can tailor a relaxing massage according to your trimester.

Kyma is such a haven of relaxation, that no one would blame you if you flopped onto one of the floating sunbeds in the pool and didn’t move for the rest of your stay. However, if you want to explore the culture that the island has to offer, the hotel can arrange a number of curated experiences for you. On the second day of our stay, a car takes us to Rizes, a traditional folklore farmstead located in the beautiful undulating countryside of Ano Mera. Mykonos local Nikos and his wife Yiota have created a peaceful hideaway, where you can learn about the history of island life, take riding and cookery lessons, bake bread and enjoy the farm’s produce. It makes for a fun day out for children, who are encouraged to join in with the farmstead’s activities.

We also spend an afternoon with a tour guide, exploring the pretty cobbled streets of Mykonos Town (another curated experience on offer from the hotel). In the daytime, it has a relaxed feel, with lots of great boutiques, cafes and restaurants to while away the time.

Afterwards, we take a boat to Delos. The neighbouring island is home to one of the biggest archaeological sites in Europe and is said to be the mythological birthplace of Apollo. The island’s ruins encompass Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues – which are overrun with beautiful wildflowers at the time of our visit.

But it’s the magical light that people have travelled here for centuries to soak in.

As the sun sets across the Aegean sea, we get to admire the glistening view out to Mykonos – an island forever etched in my memory for being as glamorous as it is tranquil.

CLASSIC COLLECTION H O L I DAY S 7 nights at Myconian Kyma from £1496 per person.

Price based on 2 adults sharing an Apollon deluxe garden view room on a bed & breakfast basis and includes return flights from London Gatwick and private transfers. Room upgrade: Ocean junior suite sea view from £137 to £166 per person per night depending on season.

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Helping ensure your little one's food is Just right...

The Thermapen First Foods digital thermometer takes the guesswork out of preparing baby food and milk. Quickly and easily know the food you are serving to your little one is at the perfect temperature for them to safely enjoy.

THERMAPEN.CO.UK GET 20% OFF WITH PROMO CODE MAMA-20 VALID UNTIL 30/06/19

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UK GETAWAY

Escape to the

COUNTRY Jessica Shaltout enjoys a relaxing spa weekend in the Sussex countryside

THE HOTEL

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ituated just an hour and a half from London in the Sussex countryside, the hotel overlooks the stunning South-Downs. A 19th century neo-Jacobean building, covered in rhododendron and set among 93 acres of woodlands and ornamental gardens, its totally Insta-worthy. Inside, the decor is the epitome of old school English comfort. Imagine large fireplaces, oversized chairs and embossed wallpapers.

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he relaxing ambiance of the hotel does not stop there, it follows through into their state-of-the-art, luxury spa. Here they offer a gym and spin studio, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and swim pond, a thermal suite, treatment rooms, a barbers and restaurant. After enjoying a pregnancy massage, I met my husband and daughter in the pool for a family swim. They offer two family sessions – at the start and end of the day. The next day, we enjoyed brunch in the restaurant, Botanica, which, although not totally vegetarian, offers a wide

company Tinies, however a children’s menu is available at Camellia if dining with the family (over 12s only at The Pass).

THINGS TO DO which you can watch a flat-screen television, and a huge shower – almost a room in itself.

Tip – check out the ‘pillow menu’ before you go. They even offer a pregnancy one! range of plant-based foods.

Overlooking the beautiful scenery (with the sun basking over us) it was the perfect way to unwind.

THE ROOM

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ooms are very spacious, so great if you’re travelling with kids. They provide a cot free of charge, as well as bath accessories and toys. The decor has an indulgent feel, with cladding, exposed brickwork and ornate fireplaces. Ours was a room with a view, overlooking the beautiful countryside and all rooms come with smart technology. The bathrooms are most impressive.

We had a free-standing bath, from

THE FOOD

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here are two restaurants, The Pass, a Michelin-starred fine dining experience that offers a seven course tasting menu, or Camellia, a more traditional British dining offering, set in a charming old fashioned room. This is where we ate. The restaurant had a nice buzz about it and the food was fresh and seasonal.

They use ingredients from the hotel’s garden and local Sussex suppliers, creating a unique style of traditional dishes with a contemporary twist. We took full advantage of our mini-break and booked a babysitter from local

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he local town is Horhsam, which is quite small, but offers a high street and art gallery. There is also a golf course nearby. There is plenty of countryside to explore if some fresh air is what you are after, both in the grounds of the hotel and further afield on the South Downs. Local attractions include Ridgeview Wine Estate, the beautiful gardens of Handcross and Haywards Heath, or slightly further afield is Arundal Castle. Back at the hotel, there is also a library with books and board games to entertain you in front of a cosy fire, or enjoy a Pimms on the terrace!

Prices start at £265 per night for an overnight stay, breakfast and spa access at South Lodge. exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge

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‘ Enjoying childhood and realising our imagination.’

“My favourite thing about Dallington School is that the teachers and students are very friendly and positive, there is a brilliant atmosphere in the classroom” - Johan “I think Dallington teaches you in a way no other school does and I really enjoy that” - Alex Dallington is a family-run co-educational independent school, with a nursery, in the heart of London.

Personal tours each day of the week, except Wednesday.

Next Open Evening: Thursday 3rd October 2019 from 6 to 8 pm

Headteacher: Maria Blake Proprietor and Founder: Mogg Hercules MBE Email: hercules@dallingtonschool.co.uk Phone: 020 7251 2284 www.dallingtonschool.co.uk USE.indd 1

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Art play LOLA

Lots of Lovely Art is a magical, educational art kit for children of all ages delivered directly through your letterbox.

Filled with high-quality materials it inspires children to explore artists.

Subscriptions are available for 3, 6 or 12 months, and one-off single purchases for £27 per box can be made at any time. lotsoflovelyart.org

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CHISWICK

PROMOTION

a variety of neighbouring areas, but most typically from nearby Balham and Clapham, as our properties offer a more affordable option for younger families.” The average rent for a family home through KFH East Dulwich is £3,500 pcm. On top of excellent schooling, East Dulwich is home to a Picture House Cinema, boutique shops, plenty of history as the birthplace of Enid Blyton and superb restaurants with outdoor seating areas for summer.

Chiswick

EAST DULWICH

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We round-up some of London’s most familyfriendly areas and leafy neighbourhoods

ew parents have long made tracks for London’s leafy suburbs, where they can get green space and cleaner air without leaving the city. London property group, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH) round up a few of the spots you might want to consider while raising small children.

Earlsfield

With the ever-popular Balham and Clapham to the east, Battersea to the north and Tooting to the south, Earlsfield was for a long time considered the wallflower of south London postcodes. But with excellent primary schools, a huge selection of family properties and green spaces such as Wandsworth Common and Wimbledon Park nearby, Earlsfield has become the first choice for a huge proportion of south London’s yummy mummies. Rebecca May has worked for KFH

for 23 years and is currently Sales Manager at KFH Earlsfield. She says, “The Borough of Wandsworth as a whole is known for its great community spirit. Bars and cafes such as Belle Amie and Bean and Hop contribute to this, while Eddie Catz play centre, Mini Potters pottery painting and the local library offer a huge selection of parent and child sessions.” Traditionally, the housing stock has been made up of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, period conversions and maisonettes, with the average sale price currently sitting around £940,000.

Leafy Chiswick boasts attractive period properties and quick motorway access. It’s perfect for those who want the advantages of the capital but without the hustle and bustle of city life. Safe, quiet and affluent, Chiswick is home to a wealth of high-performing primary schools which attract families from neighbourhoods such as Chelsea and Fulham.

There is also a fantastic assortment of nearby amenities such as Kidzania, the London Museum of Water and Steam and Chiswick House. Ramsey Conyers, Sales Manager at KFH Chiswick has worked in the area for over 15 years. He says, “Our buyers are a wonderful mix of families new to the area and those who have lived within the community for generations. The average price of a home sold through KFH Chiswick is over £1 million.” Families looking to move to Chiswick can expect a gorgeous selection of Victorian cottages, Edwardian terraces, conversion properties and new builds.

CLAPHAM

East Dulwich

Young families are drawn to East Dulwich by the well-priced property and the reputation it has for being a vibrant, buzzing area. It has excellent transport links with London Bridge just 20 minutes away by train, yet maintains a rural charm. Roxanne Alleyne, mother of two, and Lettings Manager at KFH East Dulwich, says, “Families move to East Dulwich from

Looking to buy, sell, rent or let in any of these areas? The team at KFH know London, and they understand your journey. Get in touch kfh.co.uk July 2019 | 91

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Judith Parke, Head of the Home Learning Environment at the National Literacy Trust shares six great activities to prepare your child for school

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child’s language development begins long before they start school and is shaped by the people and places in their lives – their home learning environment. Education doesn’t begin on their first day of school, but on the day they are born. And it starts with small talk. As a parent you play a vital role in your child’s early learning. Read on for some of our favourite activities to help get your child ready to thrive in the classroom.

1. My favourite meal YOU’LL NEED:

• A paper plate (or circle of paper) • Crayons or pencils • Child-safe scissors • Food magazines • Glue This activity will get your child chatting about the things they like to eat. Talk to your child about foods they like, then look for pictures in the food magazines. Help them cut out their favourites and stick them to their paper plate.

Discussing your child’s likes and dislikes at

home will help them feel more confident when it comes to making decisions at school. You could follow this activity up by pointing and naming the different ingredients that go into making their favourite meal the next time you’re preparing it, hopefully sparking a love of cooking at the same time!

2. Making puppets YOU’LL NEED:

• A book your child likes • Paper and crayons • Child-safe scissors • Sellotape • Lollipop sticks, straws or an old spoon Ask your child to choose a character or object they like from a favourite book, then get them to draw a picture of it. Help them cut it out and stick it to the lollipop stick (or whatever you’re using as the stick for your puppet).

Then you can snuggle up, read the book aloud and encourage your child to use the puppet when the character or object appears.

Not only is this activity a lot of fun, but playing with puppets can also help your child work through and understand emotions ahead of meeting their new schoolmates.

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reso urces EDUCATION

“Education doesn't begin on the first day of school, but on the day they are born”

3. The memory game

Together with your child, gather some of their favourite toys, books and objects. Lay them out on the floor or on a table and talk about what’s there. Next, ask your child to close their eyes while you remove some of the items. Then get your child to open their eyes and see if they can list what’s missing.

You can play this game the other way around, with your child removing the items and testing your memory.

This game encourages your child to talk, think, play and solve problems, making it a great way to prepare them for the classroom. Repeating the game regularly will help children build concentration and memory.

4. Make a memory book YOU’LL NEED:

• A scrapbook • Pens, pencils or crayons • Photographs, magazines and catalogues • Child-safe scissors • Glue Help your child decorate the cover of their scrapbook and write their name on it. Then help them choose their favourite things books, toys, pets, people, TV shows - and draw them in the book together.

You can also pick out family photos and things they like from any magazines you have around the house and stick them in together. Encourage your child to keep collecting things they like, such as tickets, July 2019 | 93

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Sylvia’s Happy Childcare is homebased nursery in Queen’s Park. Our aims are to provide outstanding Early Years Education for children through creative hands-on play and learning experiences in a stimulating, safe and relaxed environment.

We want children to feel excited about learning and aim to give them a positive first experience of life.

We are open 50 weeks of the year including school holidays

Monday to Friday from 8:00am - 6:00pm To arrange an appointment to view our nursery or for more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.

www.sylviashappychildcare.london

T: 0208 9602 217 M: 07908 667 509

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reso urces EDUCATION

“Sparking their imagination, this activity helps your child learn skills they will need when they start school”

colours, learn numbers and practise their counting. It also helps your child pay attention to their surroundings - a particularly useful skill for school!

6. Sharing stories

photos and drawings, to keep adding to the book. Creating a memory book is a fun indoor activity to do together and also gives you and your child something special to keep.

Sparking their imagination, this activity helps your child learn skills they will need when they start school, like reading and drawing, and will give them confidence to choose the things they like. Children love to read about things they have done or about people who are important to them, so making a memory book is a great way to help build your child’s self-esteem and confidence, while also helping develop their sense of identity.

5. Out and about

Next time you’re out with your child – whether you’re going for a walk in the park, taking a car journey or heading to the supermarket - use it as an opportunity to chat with your child about the things they see and practise their counting skills at the same time. Decide something to look out for, then see who can spot the most.

• How many red cars can you see?

• How many traffic lights are there?

• How many dogs can you spot?

• How many squirrels can you find in the park?

• How many things are in the shopping basket?

This game helps children recognise

Try to find time each day to look at a book or share a story with your child.

Ask your child to tell you about their favourite story. Then sit down together during a quiet time and read it together. As you go, pause to ask them questions about the story. Try asking: • “What’s just happened?”

• “How does this part make you feel?”

• “What do you think happens next?”

Remember that children like hearing their favourite stories again and again!

By sharing stories together, you are building strong associations that will help with your child’s learning. Reading with your child will also help them learn to talk and read, which will help them do well at school.

Here are three of our favourite books to share together: • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury • Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson • I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child You can let us know what your favourite activities are by using #smalltalking on social media.

TOP FIVE TIPS for helping your child to settle in at school

Let them play with other children, which will help them practise taking turns and sharing.

• Get them used to being left with friends or family so that they know they are safe and you will come back.

• Help them to ask for what they need, if they are hungry, thirsty or tired.

• Find out about the school so you understand what will happen when your child starts. See if you can have a home visit from the teacher before starting school or look at the school’s website.

• Practise the morning routine including getting up and dressed, and having breakfast ‘in time for school'. Make sure your child has plenty of sleep and is ready for school on their first day.

For more great activities to help your child get ready for school, go to small-talk.org.uk.

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We’re here to help when you and your family are ready to find your new home. Visit kfh.co.uk 9864_KFH_Spring Campaign_Absolutely Mama_Banner_420x28_art_v2.indd 1

Henry Fawcett Community Nursery (Leaf ) Clayton St, London SE11 5BZ 020 7582 0509

to know Mama’s guide to London’s best nurseries and preschools

Base Zero Nursery Happy Days 109A Randlesdown Rd, Gramsci Way, London, SE6 3HB 020 8461 3510 The Villa 54 Lyndhurst Grove, London SE15 5AH 0207 703 6216 Chairbears Day Nursery 9-12 Deptford Broadway, London SE84PA 020 8305 6588

SOUT H W EST N O RTH WEST

NORTH

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North Bridge House Nursery School/Pre-Prep 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, Camden Town, London NW3 5JY 020 7267 6266

Les Trois Oursons 4 Collins Yard, London N1 2XU 020 7099 0452

Hatching Dragon Nursery School 1 Viscount St, London EC1Y 0AA 020 7256 9365

Little Stars Nursery 58 Allen Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 8RZ 020 7254 4367

Sahan Preschool Day Nursery 12 Stukeley Rd, London, E7 9QZ 020 3719 7002

The Mulberry House School 7 Minster Road, London, NW2 3SD 020 8452 7340 Living Spring Montessori St Michael’s Church Annexe, St Michael’s Road, London, NW2 6XG 020 8830 7331 Nuffy Bear Nursery Brondesbury Park Fitness & Wellbeing Centre, Sidmouth Road, London, NW2 5JY 020 3432 8708

Sylvia's Happy Childcare 119a Chevening Road, London, NW6 6DU 020 8960 2217

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Puddleducks Nurseries Puddleducks House, r/o 75 Friern Barnet Road, London NW3 5JY 020 7267 6266 Hackney Care For Kids 61 Evering Rd, London N16 7PR 020 7923 3471 William Patten Daycare Nursery William Patten School, Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London N16 0NX 020 3844 4227 Creative Explorers Day Nursery 18 Gisburn Rd, London N8 7BS 07956 809748

Oliver Thomas Nursery School 1 Mathews Ave, London, E6 6BU 020 8552 1177

The Lyceum Nursery 6 Paul Street, City of London, London, EC2A 4JH registrar@lyceumschool.co.uk lyceumschool.co.uk 020 7247 1588

SOUT H E AST Dulwich Montessori Nursery School St Stephen’s Church, College Road, Dulwich, London SE21 7HN 0208 766 0091

Eaton Square Nursery School, Belgravia 28 & 30 Eccleston Street, London SW1W 9PY Eaton Square Nursery School, Knightsbridge Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BX Eaton Square Nursery School, Pimlico 32a Lupus Street, London SW1V 3DZ nursery@eatonsquareschool.com eatonsquareschool.com 020 7931 9469 The Knightsbridge Kindergarten St Peter’s Church, 119 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL 020 7371 2306 The Willcocks Nursery School Holy Trinity With All Saints Church, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BA 020 7584 5054

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reso urces DIRECTORY

London. Property. We get it.

07/05/2019 10:37

Melrose House 55 Finlay St, Fulham SW6 6HF 020 7736 9296

Wee Ones Nursery 4 St Ann’s Cresent, London SW18 2LR 0208 870 7729

Hatching Dragons Westminster Units 3&4 Westminster Quarter, 2 Monck street, London, SW1P 2BQ 0203 912 2902

The Orchard Day Nursery 201-203 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1NL 020 3880 7373

Tadpoles Nursery School 68 Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10 0NQ 020 7352 9757 The Barnes Village Nursery 3A Station Rd, London SW13 0LP 020 8878 5111 Gwendolen House 39 Gwendolen Ave SW15 6EH 0203 441 2450 London Early Years Foundation 121 Marsham St, Westminster, London SW1P 4LX 020 7834 8679 One World Nursery 9 Knowle Cl, London SW9 0TQ 020 7924 9505 Dee’s Day Nursery (Wimbledon) 2 Mansel Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 4AA 020 8944 0284 Learning Ladders Nursery Ground Floor, Falkner Court, Francis Chichester Way, London SW11 5HX 020 7622 9300 Kiddi Caru Day Nursery 2 Piazza Buildings Empress State, London SW6 1TW 0207 386 4505 Tiggers Nursery School, Putney 87 Putney Bridge Rd, London SW15 2PA 020 8874 4668

Tiny Thinkers Childcare 192 Tudor Drive, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5QG 0203 441 2450

W EST Little Chepstow Nursery 108 Lancaster Road, W11 1QS 0207 243 0243 Rolfe’s Nursery School The Little House, 34a Oxford Gardens, London, W10 5UQ 020 8969 5805 New Studio Pre-School Kelfield Mews, Kelfield Gardens, London, W10 6LS 020 8969 5805 Denbigh Under Fives Group 5b Denbigh Road, Denbigh Road, London, W11 2SJ 020 7221 5318 Kids Unlimited 34 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 3BQ 0845 365 2918 St Peter’s Nursery School 59a Portobello Road, London W11 3DB 020 7243 2617 Ladbroke Square Montessori School 43 Ladbroke Square, London W11 3ND 020 7229 0125 The Square School 18 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 3QU 020 7221 6004

Holland Park Nursery School Kenley Walk Hall, Kenley Walk, London W11 4BA 020 7792 0323 Jack in the Box Kelmscott Community Hall, Ashchurch Grove, White City, London W12 9BT 020 8811 8099 Stepping Stones Nursery 5 Gayford Road, London W12 9BY 020 8811 1646 Bright Sparks Montessori School 142 Sinclair Road, London, W14 0NL 020 7371 4697 Vanessa Nursery 12 Cathnor Road, London W12 6JA 020 8743 8196 Little Owls Nursery 108 Lakeside Rd, London W14 0DY 020 3266 0044 The Kensington Kindergarten St Barnabas Church, 23 Addison Rd, Kensington, London W14 8LH 020 7371 4848

Iverna Gardens Montessori Nursery School Armenian Church Hall, Iverna Gardens, London W8 6TP 020 7937 0794 Caterpillar Montessori PO Box 105 11 London W4 5WU W4 5LG 020 8747 8531 Maggie and Rose 55 Finlay St, Fulham SW6 6HF 020 7736 9296 Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School Distillery Lane, Fulham Reach W6 9US 020 8748 4303 Windham Nursery School Windham Road, Richmond, Surrey, London TW9 2HP 0208 831 6060 Merchant Square Day Nursery 13 Harbet Rd, Paddington, London W2 1AJ 020 7402 2227 Busy Bees at Hammersmith 3 Bute Gardens, London W6 7DR 0208 741 9945

Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School Distillery Ln, London W6 9PL 020 8748 4303

The Corner House Day Nursery 82 Lavington Rd, London W13 9LR 020 8567 2806

One World Montessori and Pre-Preparatory 69 - 71 Brook Green, London W6 7BE 020 7603 6065

Bunny Park Day Nursery & Nursery School 37 Manor Court Rd, London W7 3EJ 020 8567 6142

Little Cherubs Nursery School Our Lady Of Victories Church Hall, 16a Abingdon Road, London W8 6AF 07810 712241

Hatching Dragons Twickenham 2 The Green, Twickenham, London, TW2 5AA 0203 912 2901

Carmelite Parish Centre Pitt Street W8 4JH 07810 712241

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TRIED & TESTED

IN DEPTH REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PARENTING KIT

r e s ou rces REVIEWS

BINIBAMBA snuggler in Rose

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to their delight! While the baby seat and tray can easily be added to the chair from six months with a machine washable cushion.

When it comes to buying baby items, we consciously opt for products with longevity to save money and waste (we also love Stokke’s extendable Sleepi cot) and I can see us using this chair for many, many years to come.

looked for a pram liner the first time around, but could never find a sheepskin that had the texture or the colour I liked. So often, they are are yellowy-tinged and don’t last well. Then BINIBAMBA entered the market last year (good timing as I was pregnant again) and I put one of their 100% natural merino Snugglers straight on my wish list.

The brand’s super-soft sheepskin pram liners have been designed to adapt to most pushchairs and mine is a neat fit for both our Bugaboo Donkey and Micralite FastFold. They work with most car seats too, with carefully positioned strap holes for both three and five-point harnesses.

It was hard to choose from the beautiful range of muted shades, but I opted for the dusty ‘rose’ colour (just the right shade of blush pink).

Made by hand in England and tanned by one of the last remaining British tanneries, all of BINIBAMBA’s Snugglers are hypoallergenic and free of harmful AZO dyes, so they are kind to little ones’ skin as well as the planet.

Research also shows that babies who sleep on sheepskin as newborns are less likely to develop asthma!

Due to the wondrous qualities of naturally thermostatic merino, the BINIBAMBA Snuggler keeps babies warm in winter and cool in summer, making it an essential all year round! I also love that you can easily sponge it clean as it’s such a durable material.

 With newborn set £257; stokke.com

 £95; binibamba.com

Stokke Tripp Trapp® in Storm Grey

T

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he Stokke Tripp Trapp is one of those baby products that you see in most family kitchens.

Marketed as ‘The Chair That Grows With Your Child’™, this is a beautifully made high chair and is excellent value for money as your child can use it at any age.

Made from high quality materials, the sturdy chair has a smooth, easy wipe finish and is available in a multitude of wood types and tasteful paint colours that blend effortlessly into your home. We opted for a subtle storm grey which tones seamlessly with our kitchen.

From an assembly perspective the instructions are very clear. It is straightforward to set up with just the Allen key that comes with it and all the bolts are the same, making it easier for time-poor parents.

The newborn seat means that our daughter can comfortably join her siblings at the dinner table, much

“I can see us using this chair for many, many years to come”

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The International Hip Dysplasia Institute acknowledges this baby carrier as a hip healthy product.

Keep them close Introducing You can’t hold your baby all the time. Even though you may want to.

CUDL™ makes it easy to keep baby close and secure, all while keeping your hands free. It’s comfortable and customisable with mesh fabric, padded shoulder straps and waist belt and the magnetic buckles ensure an easy and secure attachment.

Keep baby facing in and snuggled up starting with an integrated infant booster for newborns, which then easily unzips as your child grows. As baby wants to explore the world, have them face out (up to 18 months) or switch to backpack mode (up to 36 months) for growing toddlers.

Find out more at nuna.eu

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