Mama O C TO B E R 2 0 2 0 • I S S U E 4 2
The Magazine for Modern Mums
LITTLE SPOOKS Halloween fun for minis • MAMA FIT Postpartum exercise • MUSLIM MAMA We meet Nilly Dahlia • UNIQUE STAYS Cool British staycations
L I K E
NURSERY SPECIAL THE LATEST INTERIORS TRENDS
A
D R E A M
ISSUE 42 • OCTOBER 2020
Get more ZZZs this autumn with expert sleep advice and the latest innovations to help you have restful night
THE MAGAZINE FOR MODERN MUMS Mama_October20_Cover_CG_v2.indd 2
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Tripp Trapp® Designed by: Peter Opsvik
T H E C H A I R T H AT G R OW S W I T H T H E C H I L D™ TRIPP TRAPP® Bringing your Tripp Trapp® home is the start of a new story that will span generations. Tripp Trapp® is designed for every stage of childhood and beyond. This is longevity in its purest form. Let your story begin. stokke.com | @stokkebaby
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Stokke® Sleepi™ Design: Susanne Grønlund & Claus Hviid Knudsen
T H E B E D T H AT E VO LV E S AS YO U R C H I L D G R OW S S TO K K E ® S L E E P I ™ The distinctive oval shape of Stokke® Sleepi™ gives your baby a cozy nest-like environment. Its small footprint combined with lockable swivel wheels makes it easy to move and efficient in even the smallest of spaces. Best of all, it grows with your child expanding to accommodate their changing needs and size.
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mam a WELCOME
contents OCTOBER 2020
46
60
32
78
AGENDA 14 New Books October’s new releases ESSENTIALS 18 Sleep Edit Everything you need for a restful night
24 Tot Gear
Key kit to make parenting easier
MAMAHOOD 30 Woman in Work
ON THE COVER: @sleepydoe_bath sleepydoe.com
We meet the founder of family lifestyle store NorFolk, Fiona Burrage
34 Muslim Mama COVER PHOTO: TOBY MITCHELL
tobymitchellcreative.com
74
Vlogger and Instagram influencer Nilly Dahlia
8 FASHION 40 Autumn Nights
Sleepwear for getting cosy in from Sleepy Doe
46 Kids Fashion Notes Th e best looks and launches for little ones
48 Love Again Preloved designer fashion from Kidswear Collective
WELLNESS 60 Global Eating
Recipes from Rukmini Iyer’s cookbook
64 B eauty Notes
October’s brand new products for mamas and minis
68 Sleep Tight Expert tips from a sleep consultant
HOME & INTERIORS 78 Nursery Notes Beautiful decor and furniture for your little one’s space
80 Interiors Special The latest nursery trends for little ones’ spaces
84 Home Tour Inside the home of the founder of Meri Meri
RESOURCES 90 B ig Thinking
Teaching them to think
October 2020 | 5
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mam a WELCOME HALLOWEEN EDIT P.20
Editor’s
LETTER
SLEEP EDIT P.18
W
INTERIORS TOUR P.84
ith the nights starting to draw in, this month’s issue focuses on something that every parent obsesses over: sleep. Sleep is vital for our physical and mental health, which is why we asked sleep consultant Karen Miller to give us her expert advice. Read her tips on page 68. We also have the latest innovations to help you get a restful night; and the cosiest pyjamas from Sleepy Doe, the Bath-based brand featured on this month’s beautiful cover. Elsewhere in this issue, we round up the latest nursery trends in our interiors special. We have Halloween costumes for mini monsters – even if there’s no trick or treating this year, there’s no reason why we can’t still dress up! And we meet vlogger Nilly Dahlia who talks to us about Muslim motherhood. And finally, we round up the most unique staycations in the UK for last minute getaways this half term. Enjoy!
C a rly Gl e n di n n i n g E DITOR
@carlyjglendinning carly@zest-media.com
BOOKS P.14
Part of the
Brand Partnerships Manager: NAVINDER LALL Finance Director: JERRIE KOLECI
T h e M a g a z i n e Fo r M o d e r n 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 Social Media Editor: JESSICA SHALTOUT Marketing Manager: LUCIE PEARCE Art Director: PAWEL KUBA Senior Designer: MIKE ROBERTS Mid-weight Designer: REBECCA NOONAN
Director: LEAH DAY Managing Director: SHERIF SHALTOUT U n i T G 0 6 We n l o c k S tu d i o s , 50 -52 Wharf Road, London N1 7EU
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020 7704 0588
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zest.london To read the latest issue of Absolutely Mama subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelymama
Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.
October 2020
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10 things we Absolutely
LOV E The products and brands getting our attention this month
Slow Style
AS WE GROW If your goal is to buy less but better this autumn look no further than As We Grow. The collection is made in a sustainable way using traditional craft techniques and is designed to last for generations. aswegrow.is
CARRY ME STUDIO ROMEO Eco-friendly brand Studio Romeo has launched a limited edition leopard print for their popular baby carrier. The design requires no knotting or tying – you just put it on crisscross-style and pop baby in. €85; studio-romeo.com
IN PRINT
TH E BONNIE MOB Brighton based brand The bonnie mob are known for their adorable prints and this season’s collection is no exception. We love this organic cotton bodysuit with a sweet woodland design. £18; thebonniemob.com
Burn Baby O CTA EVO In the spirit of creating a sanctuary at home, we’re coveting the new candle collection from Octaevo right now. Sculptural, hand poured and just the thing to update your space. €34.50; octaevo.com
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ma m a LOVE S
Plan Ahead
M A RJ O L EIN DEL HA A Hands up if you’re ready to put 2020 behind you? We’re already busily making plans for a much better 2021 with this stylishly minimal diary from Marjolein Delhaa. £25; cissywears.com
GET COMFY
P HIL & P HA E The collection from Phil&Phae is all about soft colours and even softer organic fabrics. We love that their pieces are seasonless – so you’ll be able to pass them on. philandphae.com
UNDER C OV E R
BE I JA LON DO N If you’re thinking about Christmas already, check out Beija London’s Gift Package Experience. One on our wishlists, it includes a bra fitting session as well as other goodies. beija.london
KIND DEEDS
BOD E N Boden has teamed up with Baby Basics, a charity that supports vulnerable families. Boden customers will be able to donate pre-loved clothing for little ones ages 0-6. boden.co.uk
Lip Service S IST ER & CO. As we head into chapped lips season, guard against the elements with this 100% natural lip tonic from Sister & Co. Smells delicious and contains organic ingredients too. £10; sisterandcompany.co.uk
Cosy Up
STUDIO NOOS How cute is this cuddly wallet from Studio Noos? Perfect for your mama essentials, it’s one to keep safely tucked out of sight, or else you might find it in your mini’s rucksack. £22.50; cissywears.com
or’s Editick P
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Patch Kids
CROCKFORD BRIDGE FARM
The Pumpkin Fields at Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey are open on selected dates during October. There’s an advance booking system to maintain a safe and controlled environment for families to enjoy some Halloween-inspired fun. crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk
October 2020 | 11
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W H AT ’ S O N
From online theatre shows to Halloween delights, Absolutely Mama rounds up October’s best activities...
W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 24 – 25 October Artsdepot
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, the critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories. artsdepot.co.uk
we love
Gruffalo Adventures 17 October – 1 November • Kew Gardens
Gruffalo Adventures plots a specially curated journey through the Kew Gardens Arboretum. Visitors will encounter much-loved characters from author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s book, including Fox, Owl and Snake, and of course, The Gruffalo. kew.org
Halloween at ZSL London Zoo 24 October – 1 November ZSL London Zoo
Halloween is descending on ZSL London Zoo, promising a week of frightful fun this October half-term. Goulish guests will be able to download an activity pack at home before following a creepy trail through the zoo. zsl.org
12 | absolutely-mama.co.uk
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EVENTS
Let’s
ROALD DAHL’S THE TWITS Until 30 November The Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn is launching a brand-new theatrical reading of one of Roald Dahl’s best-loved books: The Twits. The digital storytelling will be streamed on the Unicorn’s YouTube channel and The Guardian’s website so young audiences can enjoy it whenever they like. unicorntheatre.com
PLAY Three baby classes M O N K EY MUSIC
Ongoing Various locations
Monkey Music classes for babies and toddlers – with singing, dancing and playing – are now booking face-to-face classes for the autumn term. With venues across the UK, there will be Covid-secure protocols in place. monkeymusic.co.uk
THERE’S A BEAR
ON MY CHAIR Until 1 November Little Angel Theatre
ittle Angel Theatre has a number of online shows for minis to watch at home. The puppet retelling of Ross Collins’s picture book, There’s A Bear On My Chair was created by Toby Olié, in association with Little Angel Theatre and is shared with permission of Nosy Crow.
L
M OV E R S AND SHAKERS Ongoing Various locations
30-minute music and movement sessions for 0s to 3s, Movers and Shakers have restarted some of their classes. Numbers are strictly limited and Covid guidelines are in place to keep everyone safe.
littleangeltheatre.com
movers-and-shakers.com
Anna and Arji’s BROOM CUPBOARD Every Monday until 9 November A Line Art
nspired by ‘80s and ‘90s DIY TV shows such as Art Attack and Blue Peter, Anna and Arji’s Broom Cupboard is aimed at creating playful art at home. Each webisode focuses on a creative task from craft activities to poetry, and is accompanied by downloadable resources.
I
DIDDI DAN C E
Ongoing Various locations
Preschool dance classes, Diddi Dance, have returned with face-to-face classes – reducing group numbers and with protective measures in place. They will also be continuing with their online sessions. diddidance.com
alineart.co.uk
October 2020 | 13
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We love
BOOKS This month’s new releases to enjoy with your little ones W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G
Girl Power
GOOD N IG HT STORI ES FOR REB EL G I R L S , 100 I M M IG R ANT WO M E N WH O CHAN G E D TH E WO R LD By Elena Favilli
The female-led coalition Rebel Girls behind the New York Times bestselling children’s book series, The Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and award-winning podcast by the same name, has launched their latest book featuring 100 inspiring immigrant women from all over the world. £27.10; rebelgirls.com
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STICKER FUN
LITTLE PEOPLE BIG DREAMS S T I C K E R AC T I V I T Y B O O K By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
This fun activity book is the companion to the bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series. Get their creative juices flowing with colouring, stickers, and searchand-fi nd – alongside information about famous icons. £5.99; quartoknows.com
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BOOKS
BRAVE STEPS
PA B L O
PICKS HIS SHOES By Grainne McGuiness
Based on the popular CBeebies series, this brilliant new book follows Pablo – a 5½ year old on the autism spectrum. Using his magic crayons, he bravely turns his life challenges into fantastic adventures. £6.99; waterstones.com
BURNING B R I G HT O N C E U P O N A D R AG O N ’ S F I R E By Beatrice Blue
Save our
SEAS FISH By Brendan Kearney
Now published in paperback format, this story follows two children as they discover how dragons got their fi re. The follow up to Once Upon a Unicorn Horn, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. £6.99; quartoknows.com
Dive into this eco-adventure with Finn the fisherman and his dog Skip, who introduce young children to plastic pollution and how they can help. With beautiful illustrations, Fish spreads an uplifting message about protecting the world around us. £6.99; amazon.co.uk
Making
MUSIC TH E STORY ORCH E STR A C A R N I VA L O F T H E A N I M A L S By Jessica Courtney-Tickle
This series brings classical music to life for little ones through retellings of classic ballets. In Carnival of the Animals, two brothers discover a magical animal kingdom hidden behind their bookcase – if only they could take all the animals home… £14.99; quartoknows.com
A N I M A L M AG I C TIGER, TIGER BURNING BRIGHT! By Fiona Waters and Britta Teckentrup
Following on from Nosy Crow’s smash-hit nature anthology ‘I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree’, Fiona Waters’ selection celebrates the animal kingdom and Britta Teckentrup’s stunning illustrations bring this rich poetic landscape to life. £25; nosycrow.com October 2020
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Cruise Control JOOLZ
The new Day+ from Joolz builds on the success of the brand’s previous models with clever new design features. The most comfortable ride yet and with lots of one-handed features, it comes with a cot, seat and can be used with a car seat too. From £929; joolz.com
October 2020 | 17
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The
Sleep Edit
Carly Glendinning rounds up the best products for a restful night
Editor’s Pick
AND R ELAX BBHUGME
If you’re expecting and struggling to get comfortable at night, a pregnancy pillow may help. bbhugme’s popular design was created by three female chiropractors and provides full 5-point support. bbhugme.com
Sweet Dreams LITTLE BUTTERFLY LONDON
Including massage as part of their evening routine may help your little one to relax before bedtime. Little Butterfly’s Fall into Dreams massage oil is suitable for mama and baby and is free from nasties. littlebutterflylondon.com
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SNOOZE TIME ADEN + ANAIS
Swaddling recreates the familiar and cosy feeling of the womb, preventing starling movements that wake them. aden + anais have one of the biggest selections of swaddles around and we love this new tiger design. adenandanais.co.uk
absolutely-mama.co.uk
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essen t i a ls SLEEP
5 Soot h ing
E XTRAS
1
GET COSY MORI
A baby sleeping bag will ensure your little one stays at a constant temperature and doesn’t overheat. The designs from MORI are made from organic cotton and help to promote a restful night. babymori.com
2 SIDE BY SIDE
4
JOIE
The new Romie Glide cot from Joie provides all the benefits of co-sleeping without having to worry about safety. The clever design also rocks your baby to sleep and can be wheeled from room to room with the side up. joiebaby.com
Soft Glow KONGES SLØJD
A night light can be great for little ones who are afraid of the dark. Stylish and perfect for creating a soothing ambience, we love these new designs from Konges Sløjd. kongessloejd.dk
3
5
1. Organic Zoo, Playsuit, £36; organic-zoo.com
2. Liewood, Baby Nest, €112.99; houseofkids.com 3. Sebra, Cloud Mobile, £41.95; sacndiborn.co.uk 4. Nanit, Nanit Plus Complete Bundle, £379.99; mamasandpapas.com 5. Lizzie Loves, Be Sleepy, £7.95; lizzie-loves.com
October 2020
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The
Halloween
Carly Glendinning rounds up the best spooky products
Editor’s Pick
Edit
HANGING ARO U ND THE BRIGHT COMPANY
We wait for The Bright Company to release their Halloween pyjamas every October and this year’s style doesn’t disappoint. Don’t hang around to get this super-cool bat wing style as they often sell out fast! thebrightcompany.uk
Say Boo! MORI
Perfect for the miniest of monsters, this playful sweatshirt from MORI can be worn well after fright night. Super soft and made with organic cotton it’s ideal for cosying up in now the weather is getting colder too. babymori.com
TAKE FRIGHT NUMERO 74
A fun alternative to the usual witches, cats and bats, how beautiful are these butterfly and phoenix wings from Numero 74? Handcrafted and made from organic cotton, they are an easy way to look the part. numero74.com 2 0 | absolutely-mama.co.uk
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essentials HALLOWEEN
5 Sp o o k y
E XTRAS
1
WITCHING HOUR MERI MERI
Meri Meri is a one-stop-shop for all things Halloween. Find everything you need for a spooky celebration – from scarily good tableware to devilish dress-up like this skirt and wings. merimeri.co.uk
2 AFTER DARK ORGANIC ZOO
Just as good after Halloween, we love the simple moon print in the Organic Zoo collection. Featured on sweatshirts, babygrows and accessories, it’s unisex – so you’ll be able to pass it on to the next little spook. organic-zoo.com
Hocus Pocus
NAILMATIC
Washing away the evidence of Halloween is made easy with Nailmatic’s water-based varnishes. They contain no nasty ingredients and can be removed with warm soapy water. sorenshouse.co.uk
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3
5
1. Stella McCartney Kids, Hoodie, £95; stellamccartney.com
2. Meri Meri, Bat Plates, £6.75; merimeri.co.uk 3. Mille Deux, Pumpkin Hair Clip, £11; milledeux.com 4. Meri Meri, Cat Headband, £13.50; merimeri.co.uk 5. Meri Meri, Cat Napkins, £5.25; merimeri.co.uk
October 2020
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mam ahood COLUMN
“Luna has spent the majority of her first year in lockdown. She has never really been to a playgroup”
real mum talk...
Telling it like it is
Anna Woolf on baby classes and playgroups during the pandemic...
T
he R number is on the rise. It feels unavoidable after a more relaxed summer. And every day the news feels overwhelming; it’s hard to know what to do or how to stay safe. We are coping by dealing with what we can do, week by week. That means being mainly focused on keeping the big one in school, but what about the littlest? Luna has spent the majority of the first year of her life in lockdown. She has never really been to a playgroup, she doesn’t really have many friends (or ones that she sees regularly). Soft play or the usual baby and toddler friendly activities (which all seem to involve sharing/dribbling/and generally giving and receiving germs) feel risky. We’ve decided however
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that we have to do something. Last week we tried out two complimentary classes: Didi Dance at Artsdepot and Monkey Music (both have a range of classes across the UK). The classes felt super safe: the organisations have worked hard to create Covid-secure procedures such as noting everyone’s contact Didi Dance at Artsdepot
details for test and trace, sanitising instruments (or you can bring your own!) as well as keeping littles and their grown-ups at a safe distance in the class. You know what? I was really impressed. It definitely felt different to a usual baby class (I fear those days are gone, for a while at least), but both classes still contained the essence of what is so important for our littles’ development: joy, music and socialisation. Once I’d gotten over my own embarrassment of singing incy wincy out of tune (!) it was amazing to see Luna light up in a way I haven’t seen yet. She was really enjoying the sense of community that the classes brought and loved trying the different instruments and toys. We will continue with one class a week for now, as long as the government allows it. The rules continue to change and who knows what the next few weeks or months will bring as lockdown continues to change and evolve. All I know now is that I’ve seen a glimpse of Luna’s future – playing with kids her own age, and getting more used to being in different places with different people. And, despite the restrictions imposed and the worry we are feeling, it’s time to take that step. Anna Woolf, Marketing Consultant and mama to Alba 5, and Luna 1 @socialmediamum annawoolf.net
absolutely-mama.co.uk
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ProFold The one that makes life easier.
Available at
micralite.com Micralite Absolutely1Mama Profold Ad - JN821.indd 1 MICRALITE.indd
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e s s ent i al s
TOT GEAR
ent parroved app
TA K E COVE R JUNIOR JONES
The J-PROTECT is a clever visor that attaches easily to the hood of most stroller brands. It offers protection for little ones aged 0-3 who cannot wear face coverings when they are out and about. £34.99; juniorjones.com
TOT GEAR MAMA HACK
Inspired kit to make parenting easier
BÉABA
With most of us juggling more than ever, batch cooking your little one’s meals can be an easy win. Beaba’s Babycook Neo 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker makes it easy to prepare home cooked meals in advance and minimises food waste. £160; beaba.co.uk
CARRY ON JOOLZ X MAXI COZI
Joolz has teamed up with Maxi Cozi to launch a new car seat which can be used with any of their pushchair designs. Suitable from birth and compliant with the latest i-Size regulations, newborns will be completely safe as well as comfortable. £219; joolz.com
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MAMA BEHIND THE SQUARES
Babymoov Dreamy Sleep Trainer Nightlight The mama behind Absolutely Mama’s Instagram feed, Jessica Shaltout, puts the latest parenting kit through its paces @absolutelymama
S
leep – the bane of every new parents’ life. We are constantly looking for gadgets that might help us finally get them to ‘sleep-through’ – and I am no exception. Give me a gadget and I will try it – 15 months in and I am desperate! Queue the Dreamy Sleep Trainer Nightlight which aims to help your child establish a bedtime routine. As the clocks go back and nights draw in, Babymoov, the baby product innovators have turned their attention to nightlights, bit this is more than just a nightlight. For me, I just need some light when I go into the baby’s room as it is pitch black (another tip I read to help them sleep through!), but it actually has a lot of other features that are really helpful. The sleep training colour feature has a blue glow for night and yellow for day, perfect for those early days. We also really liked the starry night projector and the fact that this works off a charger rather than batteries. I did find that the buttons can be a little tricky to find late at night, but this is something you get used to. The nightlight also has 6 lullabies/white noise and several timers. A great product for helping with the dreaded nights, I’m yet to get my full nights sleep though! Dreamy Sleep Trainer Nightlight; £34.99
babymoov.co.uk
absolutely-mama.co.uk
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essentia ls TOT
GEAR
STYLISH STROLLING MICRALITE
Micralite has introduced a stylish graphite colour way for their popular ProFold stroller. Suitable from birth to 15kg, it’s perfect for travel or apartment living. £225; micralite.com
more
TOT GEAR NURSERY UPDATE
Inspired kit to make parenting easier
M A M A S & PA PA S
The award-winning Oxford furniture collection from Mamas & Papas combines elegant detailing with clever design and storage features. Bringing a traditional feel to any nursery, it comes in white or grey. mamasandpapas.com
TA K E A S E AT
SPECIAL EDITION
S I LV E R C R O S S
M A M A S & PA PA S
British nursery brand Silver Cross has introduced a new look for its awardwinning car safety range. The range will be available in Donington – an all-black colour way and the Balance (pictured) is now an i-Size car seat. silvercrossbaby.com
Mamas & Papas has launched a special winter edition for their popular Ocarro pushchair. The Simply Luxe is inspired by minimalistic Scandinavian design with natural flannel fabrics and a gunmetal chassis. From £967; mamasandpapas.com October 2020
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Move in in Move your own ownway way your
Travel Travelsystem systembundle bundle available available
™ ™ Includes Includesthe theMIXX MIXX™,,MIXX MIXX™ carry carry cot, ™™ PIPA PIPA lite litelx,lx,PIPA PIPA lite litebase, base, MIXX MIXX™™ ring adapter. adapter. Available Availableininbirch birchand and caviar. caviar. ™™
Supermarket. Train. Playground. Supermarket. Train. Playground. For quick trips outs, weekends away, For quick trips outs, weekends away, and everythingininbetween between—— and everything ™ the MIXX is the one. the MIXX™ is the one. Plusits itssmooth smoothmaneuverability maneuverability allows Plus allows you to push with one hand, for some you to push with one hand, for some funspins spinsalong alongthe theway. way.OrOrforfor when fun when you need to double back to pick that you need to double back to pick upup that dropped bear. dropped bear. Designedwith withallallthe thelittle littledetails details Designed in mind, so your adventures in mind, so your adventures inin parenthoodcan canbe bethat that parenthood mucheasier. easier. much Find Findout outmore moreatat www.nunababy.com www.nunababy.com
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mamahood W E M E E T F I O N A B U R R AG E , FO U N D E R O F N O R - FO LK p . 3 0 V LO G G E R N I LLY DA H LI A O N M U S LI M M OT H E R H O O D p . 3 4
Mama Cool
IN THIS SECTION
This month we meet three inspirational mothers. Fiona Burrage tells us about how she launched family lifestyle store Nor-Folk; we talk to Insta Mama Jessica Wang about motherhood and fashion blogging; and we also meet Nilly Dahlia, vlogger and muslim mama of three.
October 2020 | 2 9
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woman in
WOR K Fiona Burrage, mama of one and creative director of Sop, Nor–Folk and co-founder of Studio Inn
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 Nor-Folk and Sop... What made you want to launch the store and the brand? A I studied graphic design at the then Norwich School of Art and Design and was also interested in ‘brand’. After graduation I worked in a couple of agencies and prior to maternity leave was co-running a branding consultancy with my husband, The Click. Once our son was born, it was like a new lease of life. Perhaps it was the sheer sleep deprivation that unlocked a new way of thinking, but it gave me this new perspective. I began designing for what I liked and what I felt others would like too. Nor–Folk was initially a childrenswear clothing brand and at one point, we had 70 stockists around the world and had exhibited across Europe. I somehow fell into the creation of Nor–Folk, but I knew my real
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passion was brand and design. So when I scaled the clothing back, I worked as a consultant whilst I tried to join the dots of what Nor–Folk should be. We bought a cabin in 2018 and at that point it became clear that Nor–Folk should be about Norfolk and celebrating everything good about the county. Sop was conceived during the renovation of the cabin. When we’d finished and I stood back, I turned to Bobby and said, it doesn’t smell like it looks. The principle was Sop or Scents of place is that it encapsulates the Norfolk landscape and allows guests to take a piece of their stay home. Q How long did it take to get the business up and running? A Nor–Folk was very quick to launch because we have the skill set in house to design a brand, products and website. The production of t-shirts are also very quick to launch so a couple of months with little investment. I’d asked on Instagram if anyone who followed me to tag a store we should be selling in. And thankfully they did! With Sop, it was launched in April of this year, when all of my work had been cancelled. It was a sort of go hard, invest all of my money and make ‘this’ work. However the planning/thinking had been around 18 months. Supply chains as well as a
“Perhaps it was the sleep deprevation that unlocked a new way of thinking, but it gave me this new perspective”
lack of childcare has probably reduced the speed of the growth but to date I am immensely proud with what I have done. Q Did your parenthood journey play a part in the decision to launch the business? A Absolutely, totally and utterly inspired by Stanley. And he continues to be instrumental. Stanley is now 7 and asks to wear Nor–Folk sweaters and carries a Sop travel bag to school (as his pencil case) so he can ‘advertise’ me. He’s said on more than one occasion that he’s proud of me which is very special. Q How do you find new products, brands and makers for the store? A I’m a relentless researcher and generally a very curious person! I’m thankful that I live in the most wonderfully connected city. I strongly believe in business if
INTERVIEW
you’re a good person, treat people well, it will be paid back with support. Q How important is sustainability to the business? A Hugely, I think Stanley has made this even more apparent. Every decision I take has a bearing on him, his peers and one day his family. I really hope that Sop can become a B corp company and I can leave a legacy where we’ve not only helped the local community but also further afield with the profits. Q And finally, best and worst things about running your own business? A Being able to get involved in anything. And being able to get involved in anything. I love the variety of things from pricing, to customer service, to photography and marketing. But then on other days I think, wouldn’t it be lovely to just do one thing and do it well! But I’m VERY lucky to have the most incredible support network who when I have wobbles remind me that whilst I might crave simplicity on occasion, I’m driven by a love of diversity. And they pop me back on course. And ultimately I am very lucky to do something I love. @nor-folk nor-folk.com October 2020 | 31
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“I don’t know if becoming a mother has changed my fashion sense, but it has definitely made me more confident”
INSTA MAMA New York based fashion blogger and mama of two Jessica Wang
@jessicawang • notjessfashion.com
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Q How did you get into fashion blogging and what do you love most about it? A Fashion blogging happened spontaneously as I started my blog while I was working in investment banking. I realized quickly that corporate wasn’t my calling. The blog was really an outlet to express myself at first, then through it, I found my voice and style. Having the blog changed me – it made me more confident and gave me a sense of purpose. Little did I know that it would become a platform for modern women who want to escape the bustling city life of NYC. I love that it’s now a community of like-minded women who appreciate fashion, beauty, travel and more. Q You have a huge following on Instagram. What do you like and dislike about the platform? A You are expected to be on 24/7. It’s a never-ending cycle of producing content, posting content, engaging with your followers, and brainstorming new content. It’s exhausting at times, but the funny thing is that what I dislike tends to become the thing that inspires and pushes me to constantly evolve and surpass myself. Q Did your style change when you became a mother? A My style has always been ever-evolving. I don’t know if becoming a mother has changed my fashion sense, but it has definitely made me more confident.
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Q How do you dress your daughters and what’s your approach to their style? A I think it’s so important to let kids experiment with pieces that interest them and outfits they want to wear even though it can get a little crazy at times. We love playing dress up and taking photos, and I’ll let them pick their outfits for the most part. If we’re headed somewhere that requires them to look more pulled together, I’ll step in and make changes as needed. Comfort is always a priority though. Q What’s it like raising a family in New York? A Family life in the city has its challenges for sure from the crowds to the cost to the traffic and more. However, we appreciate how culturally diverse it is and that there
are so many activities for the girls to experience. In the long run, I believe it’ll teach them a lot about communication, independence and perseverance. Q What are your favourite spots to hang out as a family? A We love outdoor activities in the summer – like going to the beach and water parks, but in the winter, we go to the movies, bowling, and indoor trampoline parks. We also travel 3-5 times a year as a family and love Mexico and the Caribbeans. Both are a short plane ride away and we get to enjoy, relax, and get away from the busy city life. Q And finally, best and worst things about motherhood? A The best part is the unconditional love and being able to watch the girls grow. As for the worst – it’s impossible to keep the house clean and organized. And some alone time in the bathroom would be nice!
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illy Dahlia lives in the Sussex countryside with her husband Ali and their three little ones, who are all under five. She talks about what it’s like to be a British Bengali Muslim mama on her YouTube channel and her Instagram feed. Here, she chats with us about everything from what it’s like to be the only hijabi in the toddler groups to how she’s juggled being a busy working mama during lockdown… Q Tell us about your YouTube channel… A I started YouTube initially as a hobby on the weekends as a break from studying my Masters but then life happened and I got married and fell pregnant, but as I was researching about birth plans, I couldn’t find much about pregnancies with Islamic guidance and there was
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mamah o o d INTERVIEW
Muslim
MAMA
Absolutely Mama meets Nilly Dahlia, vlogger, Instagram influencer and mama-of-three... I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G zero results on YouTube. This made me realise there was a gap for Muslim mothers on YouTube because I couldn’t be the only Muslim woman wondering what was right or wrong in Islam in regards to motherhood. And, I wanted to help other Muslim women on the internet and not feel alone. Q What made you want to talk about what it’s like to be a British Bengali Muslim mother? A Whenever I would see a campaign, an advert on TV, any news articles, billboards about motherhood I would only see white mothers and it would really upset me that the media were not portraying different ethnicities/religions when it came to discussing parents. Because of this, society’s perception of motherhood was limited and I wanted to break this down and show that we are also mothers, debating over the same issues whether it be, which pram to
“I wanted to help
other Muslim women on the internet ” buy, or whether we should baby-led wean or give our child purees. That the colour of my skin and the fact I wear a scarf shouldn’t be a barrier for me to be involved in talking about motherhood. Also, I felt really lonely being the only hijabi in the toddler groups and other parents weren’t approaching me, which after discussing it stemmed from the fact they didn’t know how to approach a Muslim woman as their perception of Muslim women was based on how the media have portrayed us, oppressed. And, I really wanted to demolish this perception. I didn’t
want other Muslim mothers to feel lonely as I did. So, if one non-Muslim woman watches my videos, sees that I’m an ordinary mum and approaches a Muslim mother based on my vlogs, then I’ve done my job right.. Q What has parenting been like for you during the pandemic? A I found parenting extremely difficult during the pandemic. Taking on multiple roles, from teacher to chef, without a break was exhausting and I felt like I had spread myself thinly which meant I was never always 100%, which made me feel frustrated. I never realised how much I relied on my kids being at school to help with my mental health as that was my break from parenting three kids at the same time. Taking the kids out was usually my way of ensuring the house stayed tidy, with the pandemic this was near enough impossible and I have to admit, the daily chores had to take a back seat because it was just so difficult trying to entertain three kids with different capabilities at the same time all day long. Q How do you juggle being a mama of three with being a successful vlogger and influencer? A Thank you. Those words are very kind. I think I manage to create content because my work is based on my daily life so I am
able to incorporate my work into my lifestyle with my three kids. Although, editing has to be done once the kids are asleep and there have been many occasions where I am working until 2/3am. I think parenting is a tough job, so if I find a hack or an offer that I know would help other mothers whether it be making life easier or help save money, then I want to share that with my audience. I also think perceiving my job as a hobby and something I love to do really helps me connect with my audience. I have always stayed true to myself and my values, which I think my audience appreciates. Q And finally, best and worst bits about motherhood? A The best bit about motherhood is definitely looking at my children in awe at how amazing, kind, thoughtful and smart they are and I helped make them that way, and of course the cuddles!! The worst bits about motherhood have to be how lonely it can be, the mum guilt, the need to be a supermum which means refusing help even though you deep down are screaming yes for help but feel like you can’t as it might look like you can’t cope and not being able to take a step back to come back as the best version of yourself for your kids and losing your own identity once you become a mother. But the best bits always outweigh the worst bits as my favourite mantra in life since becoming a mother is, the days are long but the years are short. It kept me going through the early breastfeeding months. @nillydahlia youtube.com/nillydahlia October 2020 | 35
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Getting Cosy FLUFF
As the weather starts to get chillier, our thoughts turn to winter coats. Fluff’s practical styles for little ones are made using naturally sourced, ethical and anti-allergic down and come in a range of delicious hues. fluffkidswear.com
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ST Y L E NOTES
The month’s best styles, collaborations and collections
NIGHT NIGHT
DESMOND & DEMPSEY
we love
The clocks going back always makes us want a new pair of pyjamas. Get your 40 winks in the hand painted swan print collection from Desmond & Dempsey, which is made from organic cotton. desmondanddempsey.com
LIMITED EDITION JEM + BEA
In celebration of their 5th birthday, changing bag brand Jem + Bea has launched a limited edition navy colour way of their bestselling Jemima changing bag. The luxurious style is made from buttery soft leather. jemandbea.com
Hey Mama ISABELLA OLIVER
Expecting this autumn? With more time spent indoors at the moment, easy to wear pieces are the order of the day. The new collection from maternity favourite Isabella Oliver ticks all the boxes with comfort and style in spades. isabellaoliver.com
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Seeing Stars
MAMA
nd Bra us Foc
ESTELLA BARTLETT
Estella Barlett’s new collection is a treasure trove of delicate pieces, perfect for layering. There’s charms to suit every taste – from twinkling stars, to pineapples and unicorns. estellabartlett.com
IVY & OAK A sustainable womenswear brand with capsule maternity and ‘mummy & mini’ collections...
B
RELAXED COOL HUNA
A new sleepwear brand on our radar, HUNA design for women of all shapes and sizes. Their pyjamas are ethically made in Wales from sustainably sourced linen and are suitable for breastfeeding. hunasleep.co.uk
5 of t he b e st T RANS I TI ONA L ST Y L E
ARKET Oversized Cardigan, £99; arket.com
AEVUM Beryl Bag, £225; aevumbags.com
LAUREN RUBINSKI Bracelet, £1260; net-a-porter.com COS Jumpsuit, £115; cosstores.com
ARKET Boots, £175; arket.com
erlin based, IVY & OAK was founded in 2016 with the aim of connecting social and environmental awareness. Going beyond the use of organic cotton and recyclable cardboard boxes, the business is committed to reducing their ecological footprint and maximising positive social impact. 80% of their collections are produced in Europe and the brand only works with suppliers who are committed to sustainable fabrication, fair working conditions and wages. Their pieces are timeless and simple and designed to last beyond one season. This is a philosophy that also applies to their capsule maternity collection where every style can be worn postpartum. Expectant mamas will find loose flowy dresses, tunic tops and there’s even several bridal styles that will happily accommodate a growing bump. We also love their ‘mummy & mini’ collection which is full of outfits for mothers and daughters in matching fabrics. Cleverly, many of the ‘mini’ styles make use of leftover fabric to reduce waste. A brand definitely worth checking out – especially if you want to consume more responsibly right now. ivy-oak.com
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Autumn
N I G H T S As the clocks go back, snuggle up together in the cosiest sleepwear... s l e e p y d o e .c o m
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Photography: TOBY MITCHELL
tobymitchellcreative.com
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FA S H I O N NOTES Carly Glendinning rounds up the month’s best styles, looks and launches
S H OW E R STYLE LIEWOOD
we love
No one does outerwear better than the Scandinavians and we love the new rainwear collection from Danish brand Liewood. Made from recycled polyester, the designs are wind and water resistant too. liewood.com
STEP UP SCAMP & DUDE X SUPERGA
Following last year’s sell out success, Scamp & Dude and Superga have teamed up once again on a collaboration for mamas and minis. The styles combine Scamp & Dude’s signature prints and Superga’s classic trainer designs. scampanddude.com
Back to Basics ARKET
The basics collection for little ones from highstreet favourite ARKET is colourful, fun and most importantly comfy and easy to wear. Perfect for play days and nursery days. arket.com
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Retro Cool CARRÉMENT BEAU
With all the hallmarks of classic French design, the new collection from Carrément Beau has a nostalgic feel. Look out for traditional knits, checks and stripes – the sort of pieces you’ll want to keep forever. kidsaround.com
LOVELUX LONDON An eco-friendly sweatshirt brand for mamas and minis...
OH BABY
T
BONNET Á POMPON
Made with 100% natural materials, this season’s newborn collection from French-designed, Spanishmade brand Bonnet á Pompon is sweeter than ever. Expect cosy knits, delicate prints and subtle colour combinations. bonnetapompon.com
5 of t he b e st AU T U M N F E E L S MAISON MANGOSTAN Boots, £55; maisonmangostan.com
FUB Pom Pom Hat, €35; fub.dk
WANDER & WONDER T Shirt, £32; wander-n-wonder.com
THE MARC JACOBS Faux Fur Coat, from £165 kidsaround.com
AIÖ Trousers, €52; aiokids.com
he pandemic has made us rethink so many things, including our mental health and our approach to consumerism and the environment. We’ve seen a shift towards shopping independent and it’s exciting to see new brands popping up with a focus on doing good. One of these brands is LoveLux London, launched in the midst of lockdown. The brand make eco-friendly sweatshirts for mamas and minis ages 3-11 years emblazoned with messages of empowerment and positivity. Many little ones have been separated from family and friends for months and are now facing big changes at school and nursery, so the idea is that the matching designs will help children feel more confident. Aside from their focus on mental health, the brand gets another big thumbs up from us for their commitment to the environment. Each sweatshirt is made using premium super soft GOTS-certified organic cotton, is free from any harmful chemicals and is made at a Fair Wear certified factory in Bangladesh. We also love that the designs are gender-neutral, not to mention colourful, fun and really easy to wear. An independent definitely worth supporting right now. loveluxlondon.com
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l o v e a g a i n Pre-loved and past season style for little ones... k i d s w e a r c o l l e c t i v e .c o m
Photography: ULLA NYEMAN Styling: TRACEY JACOB
Clothes are from a selection from Kidswear Collective available online as well as in-store and online at Selfridges.
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wellness E A SY R EC I P E S F R O M T H E N E W R OA ST I N G T I N CO O K B O O K p .6 0 T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F P O ST N ATA L F I T N E S S p .6 6
Bump Fit NIKE
Nike has launched their first dedicated maternity collection to support women during all stages of pregnancy and beyond. The brand worked with nearly 30 female athletes who were pregnant or postpartum to create a range focused on fit, feel and function. nike.com
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2-in-1 multi-award winning
pregnancy support & feeding pillow Unique shape designed to promote the health of mum and baby
Encourages the user to lie on their left hand side - the best position to promote maximum blood flow between mum and baby during sleep Supports back, bump and knees to aid
sleep
restful
2-in-1 use - use as a support pillow during pregnancy, and as a feeding pillow once baby has arrived
i i n e g m a e dr m o r f New easy to use
Easily adjustable for the perfect fit every time
adjustable comfortable
Available from dreamgenii.com, Amazon and leading Nursery Retailers DG.indd 1
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HEALTH
DRIFT OFF
T O G E T H E R H E A LT H
If there’s one thing parents obsess over it has to be sleep. Research shows that magnesium supplements can improve your overall sleep quality. Although it can’t stop the baby from crying, try this natural blend from Together Health for a more restful night. togetherhealth.co.uk
mama’s
WELLNESS NOTES Sleep remedies, healthy snacks and immune boosters
S N AC K TIME PICCOLO
The answer to healthy on-the-go snacking, baby and toddler food brand Piccolo is adding two brand new products to their range. Their tasty high fibre melts and oat bars are made from organic, balanced ingredients. mylittlepiccolo.com
Wellbeing Hub T I S S E R A N D A R O M AT H E R A P Y
Tisserand has launched an online wellbeing hub where you will be able to access sleep advice, calming rituals and tips to boost your mood. There’s also activities including breathing exercises and even adult colouring. tisserand.com
IMMUNE BOOST BIO SCENTS
As we enter into cold and flu season, Bio Scents has launched a collection plant-powered essential oils aimed at boosting immunity and alleviating stress and anxiety. Their oils are 100% natural and ethically sourced. bio-scents.com
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BEING
Well
Absolutely Mama meets Lizzie King, mama, cook, author and founder of Lizzie Loves
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 How did you cope juggling motherhood and launching a business at the same time during lockdown? A I’m not sure I juggled, I think I soldiered on as best I could, and balls definitely were dropped. I think home-schooling three (none were the right age to go back to school) and launching a business in lockdown was one of the toughest things I’ve done. Letting them get on themselves is a must (I’m no helicopter mother) and then we tried to make a time for us. It was lunchtime – a non-negotiable, all the family and zero phones time. The days ran away with us and it often meant working until the wee hours which wasn’t great for general wellbeing. But we all stayed well throughout, and laughed a lot as well as shouted.
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wellness INTERVIEW
Q What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to mamas (who are running on empty) to help them look after their health during the pandemic? A Say no a few times. It’s hard when you’re trying to do everything, but the list can’t be endless or you run out of steam and then everyone loses. For me, I particularly found the beauty of my new remedy: Be Sleepy, it was incredibly helpful for both me and my kids to get some really restful sleep. At times during lockdown some were finding winding down hard, or a little anxious, and other times when sleep was just really hard – the magnesium as well as the melatonin worked wonders to help us relax, unwind and get to sleep faster and for longer. Q And what about little ones? Do you have any tips? A Trying to keep the days structured helped a lot. With mealtimes and bedtimes set every day. There’s so much intel on the circadian rhythm and how keeping waking and bedtimes the same being so important for cognitive function, mood and immune systems, for children especially. We wanted to keep everyone as well as possible, to keep everyone’s resilience up. We cooked a lot of fresh food, like most people, but there were hectic days we got pizzas and fish and chips, and I used our BE WELL, an immune support drink on days like those to make sure everyone’s vitamin levels were topped up. Q How did you get into food and health? Did you always love to cook? A Food has been the most crucial part of the day in my family since I was tiny. One of five, we spent holidays driving through Europe as children being instructed to find restaurants in guide books as my Dad pointed
“Food has been the most crucial part of the day in my family since I was tiny” at battlefields out the window. We all got involved in the kitchen, and it was always the hub. I worked in film before children, the Harry Potter films, but weekends were about cooking feasts and dinner parties. When I first got pregnant 14 years ago I wanted to make sure my diet was doing what it could to make as much difference. I did a nutrition course as it all fascinated me and then started a food business VITALOVE in 2012, – Vitamins and Love, but it got really big really fast at the same time as I had my third baby so I put it on hold… In 2015 I started my blog and Instagram accounts sharing
recipes and it took off, I got a book deal and that was published in 2017. The last two years I’ve worked on launching our natural remedies – the ultimate combination of my two real loves – health and recipes – things I’ve always wanted for my children that I couldn’t find in the syringe and sticky syrup section of the chemists. Made from natural ingredients, they’re powdered formulas stirred into water or milk with effective ingredients that do the job. We launched in March and they’ve smashed all the targets and just won an award for Best Launch. Q What’s your go-to family meal when you’re running low on time? A A decent pasta that I can whip up a sauce to in the time it takes to cook the pasta – often a pesto made with some combination of the fresh herbs, nuts and cheese in the processor is super easy and adds a hit of nutrition, or a speedy veg sauce in a pan with a tin of tomatoes and lots of garlic and onions as the base. Takes no time and everyone eats it all up. Q And finally, what’s your favourite way to make time for yourself and relax? A I love a sweat session in the morning – Tracy Anderson streamed into the living room most days is a head saver. Or getting out of the house alone for a march/walk with a podcast to absorb. But my sanity saver when I’m running low on patience and energy – every evening I try to make time for a luxurious bath, with candles, a book, salt and oils, no one speaks to me and it’s bliss. I need a Do Not Disturb sign for the door, but I think they all get the message. @lizzieloveshealthy @lizzielovesremedies October 2020 | 59
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Roasted Aubergine with Peanuts, Chilli & Lime
T
he peanut dressing for this quick and easy dish works so well with the aubergines and pepper – perfect to serve alongside rice or noodles. As brands of peanut butter vary, you may need to spend a little time beating it with the soy sauce and sesame oil to get a good spoonable consistency – but it’s well worth it.
Serves 2 generously Prep 15 minutes Cook 45 minutes INGREDIENTS • 2 aubergines, cut lengthways into eighths • 1 red pepper, roughly sliced • 170g baby corn • 3 cloves of garlic, grated • 5cm ginger, grated • 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes • 2 tablespoons sesame oil • Lots of freshly ground black pepper
G LO BAL
Eat in g
Three easy recipes from Rukmini Iyer’s new cookbook The Roasting Tin Around The World
For the dressing • 1 heaped tablespoon crunchy peanut butter (approx. 75g) • 2 tablespoons good soy sauce • 1 tablespoon sesame oil • 4 tablespoons water • 2–4 limes, juice only • 1 fresh red chilli, thinly sliced To Serve • A handful of fresh coriander, chopped • Quick-cook rice or noodles
DIRECTIONS 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/200°C/gas 6. 2 Tip the aubergines, red pepper and corn into a tin large enough to hold them all in one layer and mix through the garlic, ginger, salt, sesame oil
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RECIPE S
and black pepper. Transfer to the oven and roast for 45 minutes. 3 Meanwhile, mix together all the ingredients for the dressing and set aside. (You want a good spoonable consistency, something like double cream, so you may need to add a little more water to adjust the texture depending on your brand of peanut butter). 4 Once the aubergines are cooked through, pour over the dressing, taste and adjust the salt as needed, scatter over the fresh coriander and serve hot with quick-cook rice or noodles.
Chermoula Roasted Tuna, Peppers, Chickpeas & Raisins
Serves 4 Prep 15 minutes Cook 50 minutes INGREDIENTS • 45g fresh mint, leaves only • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin • 1 1½ teaspoons ground paprika • 4 cloves of garlic, peeled • 3 tablespoons olive oil • A pinch of sea salt • 1 preserved lemon or ½ lemon, zest only, and 1 teaspoon white vinegar • 3 colourful pointy peppers, halved • 1 medium aubergine, cut into eighths • 1 red onion, cut into 1cm slices • 300g cherry tomatoes, with their vines • 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas, drained • 4 nice thick tuna steaks • 100g raisins • 100ml warm water • A handful of flaked almonds To serve • A handful of fresh mint
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/200°C/gas 6. 1
2 Tip all the chermoula ingredients into a blender and blitz until combined. Taste and add a little more salt as needed. 3 Tip the peppers, aubergine, onion, cherry tomatoes with their vines and the chickpeas into a roasting tin large enough to more or less hold the vegetables in one layer. Mix through three-quarters of the chermoula, making sure to coat the vegetables evenly, then transfer to the oven and roast for 40 minutes.
4 Meanwhile, spread the remaining chermoula all over the tuna steaks, then return them to the fridge to marinate. Don’t wash the blender – tip in the raisins and water, stir and set aside. 5 Once the vegetables have had 40 minutes, tip in the raisins and liquid. Remove the tomato vines, squash down the tomatoes, then lay the tuna over the vegetables. Scatter over the almonds, then return to the oven for 10–12 minutes, until the tuna is just cooked and the almonds are crisp. 6
Scatter over the mint and serve. October 2020 | 61
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RECIPE S
INGREDIENTS • 200g unsalted butter • 300g dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids, broken up • 250g digestive biscuits or Graham crackers • 50g mini vegetarian marshmallows (I like pink and white) • 75g salted peanuts, roughly chopped
DIRECTIONS 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/200°C/gas 6. 2 Tip the butter and chocolate into a saucepan over a low heat and stir until both have fully melted. 3 Break up all but 4 of the digestive biscuits or Graham crackers and stir them into the chocolate butter, then stir in 100g of the marshmallows. Spread the mixture in a lined shallow roasting tin, then scatter with the remaining digestive biscuits, broken into larger pieces, the marshmallows and the peanuts. 4 Transfer the tin to the oven and bake for 5–10 minutes, until the marshmallows have just started to catch and turn golden brown. 5 Let the tin cool on the side before cutting the cake into squares. (I rather like a square or two while it’s still warm out of the oven, but for a proper refrigerator cake, you’ll need to pop it into the fridge to chill for a few hours before serving, so it sets properly.)
S’mores Rocky Road
with Peanuts, Marshmallows & Chocolate
T
his is possibly my proudest creation: chocolate refrigerator cake, or tiffin, crossed with rocky road, crossed with s’mores – the American campfire classic of Graham crackers and marshmallows sandwiched with a piece of chocolate, and toasted over a fire. In this version, the marshmallows just start to catch and caramelise under a hot oven. Perfect to take over to friends’ houses, as it is rich and generously proportioned.
Serves many, many people Prep 10 minutes Cook 10 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
Extracted from: The Roasting Tin Around The World – Global One Dish Dinners by Rukmini Iyer (Square Peg) is out now, £16.99 HBK, Photography by David Loftus
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mama’s
B E AU T Y NOTES Hair, make-up and beauty news for the month ahead
G LOW U P
we love
RMS BEAUTY
If your summer glow is already fading, this luminous face and body power from RMS Beauty will give you a hint of shimmer. Universally flattering and made with non-toxic ingredients. £37; contentbeautyandwellbeing.com
MOISTURE BOOST RAHUA
Perfect for rehydrating your skin this sprayable lotion offers protection for sensitive skin. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle goes to the Pink Flamingo Project to protect precious species and their habitats. £18; rahua.com
Skin Refresh S A I N T I R I S A D R I AT I C A
Inspired by the plants, remedies and sea spas of the Adriatic, this award-winning radiance essence refreshes and hydrates on the go. Smells delicious and leaves skin feeling plump and nourished. £45; siaadriatica.com
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BEAUT Y
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Natural Beauty H O LY G R A I L B E A U T Y C O .
A new favourite on our bathroom shelves, Holy Grail Beauty products are cruelty free and use 70% organic bases. The brand doesn’t believe in unnecessary ingredients, trends or gimmicks, and their products really deliver results. holygrail-beauty.com
CHELSEA DENTAL CLINIC
T
W o r d s J E S S I C A S H A LT O U T
HEY MAMA NESSA
NESSA’s clean skincare range is formulated to support you through every stage of womanhood – from monthly hormone cycles, to pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood and menopause. We love their new Crowning Glory Hair Oil, which is a postpartum lifesaver. nessaorganics.com
5 of t he b e st BA B Y B A L M S GREEN PEOPLE Mum & Baby Balm, £12; greenpeople.co.uk
COWSHED Baby Balm, £10; cowshed.com
SISTER & CO. Organic Baby Balm, £16; sisterandcompany.co.uk
BAMFORD Baby Balm, £22; bamford.com
STORKSAK Baby Balm, £8.95; storksak.com
he Chelsea Dental Clinic has an interesting story. Only five years ago, when Dr Rhona joined, she was seeing just one patient a month. Using her vision of creating a holistic practise with all the specialties under one roof, and empowering social influencers and journalists, she grew the practice to a place where it was fully booked for up to six months in advance. So what about the treatments? I went for teeth whitening which takes just 60 minutes. Dr Rhona inserts a device into your mouth to keep it open (this is the worst bit!) and applies a layer of gel to your teeth. She then places an LED lamp onto the teeth for 15 minutes. This is repeated three more times. I have quite sensitive teeth so I was worried it may sting, but this wasn’t a problem. It’s slightly uncomfortable sitting in the chair waiting with the lamp/mouthguard in, but if you have earphones you can zone out! Dr Rhona tailors the treatment to each individual client, based on your individual needs – which makes it feel worth the investment. There is however a limit to how much whitening solution can be applied so you shouldn’t expect anything too dramatic, but there is definitely a noticeable difference. Philips Zoom at Chelsea Dental Clinic – £750 chelseadentalclinic.co.uk
October 2020
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MAMA FIT
The importance of pre and postnatal fitness, especially for BAME mothers W o r d s M A YA S A F F R O N
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t’s no secret that BAME women in Britain die more than white women during childbirth. As a pre and postnatal PT I have a proximity to a whole range of mothers and mothersto-be. From my experience BAME women are less likely to prioritise their fitness due to the familial demands placed on them. I currently have only two Asian postnatal clients and one black postnatal client and zero pregnant BAME women. This is not to say that ethnic minority women are incapable of exercising throughout their pregnancy and thereafter or even that they cannot afford the service. I am well aware of how systemic racism shapes society, stopping all people of colour excelling to the levels of their white counterparts. If you are still in disbelief/
“The fitness model you see isn’t the only model” unaware of the disparity despite the most recent surge in BLM, then I urge you to do some research. However, Let’s table that for a second and pretend that doesn’t exist. I have come to the conclusion that BAME women are less likely to prioritise their needs because most ethnic communities are set up on the basis that the mother is the backbone of the family and must ensure everyone else is good before she is! For example, in a typical Punjabi household husband and wife live with the husband’s parents and siblings and potentially his grandparents too! His wife will wake up and will start breakfast for the entire family (eldest first) and feed herself last. By then she’s definitely missed the 7am HIIT class at her local gym. She’s not unhappy about this or even slightly phased, it’s just how it is! I’m not knocking it at all, I think the west would greatly benefit from support from extended family. However, this model does not allow for a woman’s fitness to happen in a ‘conventional’ gym going way. Therefore BAME women think ‘it can’t happen for me at all, where am I gonna find the time?!’ FYI the example I just gave is without a baby in the equation.
3 TIPS Invest in something that will help remove obstacles, it may sound obvious but I’ve noticed that it’s not that new mums become less physically able to perform their regular exercise, but rather they are too overwhelmed by all the new things they have to do each day! Invest in something which will help gain you an extra 30 min when you need it, eg another pair of hands for two mornings a week, a bouncer for the baby or even a breastfeeding sports bra! Prioritise your exercise, that means tell yourself each day you have to do SOME kind of exercise. I don’t want to add to your pressures, but this is something that will make you feel SO much better! So make a promise to yourself and one other person who you can trust to hold you accountable that you’ll get it done! Don’t attempt things you did previously, without accepting that your body has just completed the ultimate fitness challenge (delivery) AND you’re still recovering. Trying to do what you used to straight after becoming a new mum, is the fastest surest way to give up!
This is a call to action. Beautiful BAME women, I know society doesn’t always make it easy for you, I know that there isn’t as much out there expressing your SHEER value in comparison to a white woman’s, but you are so very loved. Please start to prioritise your health and fitness, especially throughout your pregnancy and thereafter. You will be stronger, fitter and even happier. There will be obstacles, but you wouldn’t let that get in the way of making your little one some food – this is that important. The fitness model you see isn’t the only model! Grab an hour just before bed, in your bedroom, wear whatever you want, slap a YouTube HITT session on and bang it out! We are taking up more space now, there’s a way, you just have to find it.
Female Only Personal Trainer Maya Saffron specialises in pre and postnatal fitness
whatsmayadoing.com @mayasaffronhan
Specific antenatal interventions for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) pregnant women at high risk of poor birth outcomes in the United Kingdom: a scoping review | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Full Text In the U.K., there are disparities in maternal mortality rates; the estimated white British maternal death rate is 8 per 100,000 maternities, compared to 28.05 for the Black ethnic group (combined); 32.82 for Black Africans, 31.89 for Black Caribbeans, 12.24 for Asians (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi’s), 12.52 for Pakistani, and 12.47 for Bangladeshi [7, 8].
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SLEEP
TIGHT
A sleep consultant explains why parents don’t need to accept sleep deprivation… Wo r d s K A R E N M I L L E R
Y
ou can forget about sleep now! is a very common phrase that new and expecting parents are sure to hear over and over again from friends and family. It’s commonly accepted that once you have a child, sleep deprivation is the norm and something you just have to learn to live with. We seem to have made little progress over the years when it comes to advice around babies’ sleep. Phrases such as ‘Sleep when the baby sleeps’ and ‘It’s just a phase’ as well as ‘Get used to being exhausted’ are simply not helpful. The truth is, sleep is a biological need, not a luxury. The consequences of getting less than seven hours sleep a night on someone’s physical and mental health are much more serious than people realise. More than 1 in 10 women in the UK suffer with postnatal depression, according to the NHS, and up to 1 in 10 new fathers are also suffering. More needs to be done to educate new parents on the links between sleep deprivation and mental health issues. In his book ‘Why We Sleep’, Matthew Walker talks about how sleeping
less than six to seven hours a night demolishes your immune system, more than doubling your risk of cancer. He explains that insufficient sleep is a key lifestyle factor as to whether or not you will develop Alzheimer’s disease. It also contributes to all major psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety and suicidality. Most shockingly, Walker discusses how drowsy driving, which are accidents caused by sleep deprived drivers, exceed those caused by alcohol and drugs combined.
“Sleep is a biological need, not a luxury” As a sleep consultant, I know that many parents feel guilty for reaching out for support and wanting their child to sleep. Many are even suffering with severe anxiety as a result. The loss of control and exhaustion some mothers feel spending all day trying and failing to get their baby to sleep, only to be up all night as well, is frankly miserable. Added to that is the pressure of having to potentially go back to work
on little to no sleep, with many expressing that they don’t know how they will cope, but they feel like they have little choice. Not only does it affect the mother’s ability to function as a parent but it can also impact your relationship. Many couples end up sleeping in separate rooms and miss having their evenings to spend with their partner. Weekends are mostly spent with dads trying to carry some of the burden, so mum can catch up on some sleep, but where does that leave you as a couple? It’s becoming more acceptable to reach out and ask for help for things like breastfeeding, for example, with lots of support available, but when it comes to sleep there seems to be this unwritten rule that you just have to accept it. Mums feel judged for expressing their concern over their child’s sleep and many do not admit to using a sleep consultant, for fear of others thinking they are being selfish for wanting a good night’s sleep. But what can you do to help your child sleep more soundly?
Sleep Environment Creating the right environment can help promote the sleepy hormone, melatonin, which helps baby to settle and stay asleep. Use black out blinds to keep the room as dark as possible and keep the temperature
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Don’t Rush In
between 18-20c. Night lights are great for toddlers when they become scared of the dark around age three, avoid white/ blue light which can block melatonin.
Awake Windows Avoiding the dreaded overtiredness makes all the difference in how well your child sleeps. To do this, don’t rely on tired signs as some babies don’t have any. Instead find out what their ideal awake windows are for their age and stick to those. Put them to sleep within that window of time, not after, and this will help to ensure they settle quickly.
Overnight – stop, listen and then react. This will help you to learn what type of cry it is. Are they genuinely hungry? Do they need help to calm down or are they just tired? Sometimes we don’t need to go in at all, especially if baby is over four months they may settle themselves back to sleep. The most important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way for getting your child to sleep – but it is possible for them to sleep well. Sleep isn’t something for the select lucky few who have ‘good’ babies, it’s important for everyone to be able to function properly. It’s time to make sleep a priority because there is a reason why everything is better after a good night’s sleep.
Sleep Props Consider which sleep associations you’re comfortable with. Dummies are great for newborns but can become an issue after four months. Use positive sleep props like comfy toys, swaddles and white noise.
Karen Miller is a Baby and Toddler Sleep Consultant and founder of Asleep At Last
asleepatlast.co.uk @karenmiller_asleepatlast
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Rural Hideaway CRACKINGTON HIDEAWAYS
New to the iescape kids collection, the two cottages belonging to Crackington Hideaways are tucked away on a 200-acre working farm on the North Cornwall coast. There’s scenic walks in all directions and a surfing beach nearby. From £88 p/n. i-escape.com
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organic, fresh baby & toddler food www.bellotababy.com
next day, to your door.
littlebutterflylondon.com
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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 SDC.indd 1
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escapes
INSPIRATIONS
STYLISH STAYS KIP HIDEAWAYS The place to go for boutique travel inspiration, Kip Hideaways has plenty of family-friendly properties and they are all in the UK. In celebration of their first birthday they have a special offer on winter stays, check out their website for more details. kiphideaways.com
mama’s
T R AV E L NOTES
Carly Glendinning rounds up the most exciting travel kit and destinations we love
BRUNCH SPOT
A DV E N T U R E TIME
THE BUTTERY
TÔA ST I E
Part of The Lime Tree Hotel, The Buttery is a new family-friendly brunch destination in Belgravia. The menu offers brunch classics and through the back you’ll find the prettiest walled garden. limetreehotel.co.uk
Töastie’s Adventure Shop has a great range of eco-friendly rainwear, backpacks and adventure toys to keep them entertained on car journeys. A must-visit for anyone planning a staycation this half term. toastiekids.com
3 f o r O U T D O O R AC T I V I T I E S The Grove
Another Place
The Lakes
Kids aged between 5 and 15 will be able to brush up on their ball skills and train alongside their heroes with a host of training sessions run by Football Escapes at five-star hotel The Grove.
Another Place, The Lake is a stylish but relaxed hotel on the shores of Ullswater. Familyfriendly outdoor activities include wild swimming and stand-up paddleboarding on the lake.
Set in 850 acres of unspoilt Cotswolds countryside, The Lakes by YOO has an extensive range of outdoor activities on offer – from zipwire, to boating and woodland trails.
footballescapes.com
another.place
thelakesbyyoo.com
HERTFORDSHIRE
LAKE DISTRICT
COTSWOLDS
THE GROVE, HERTFORDSHIRE
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ave the current travel restrictions left you yearning for a dose of adventure? Thankfully, our British shores offer plenty of fantastically quirky staycation options. Zoey Goto rounds up the best unusual minibreaks, from bedding down in a safari park to playing king of the castle at a regal sleepover.
Warwick Castle WA RW ICK
I
WARWICK CASTLE
UNIQUE Stays Absolutely Mama rounds up Britain’s most individual staycations… Wo r d s Z O E Y G O T O
f you’re looking to bring history to life for kids, then an overnight stay at Warwick Castle just can’t be beaten! Situated in the castle grounds, the Knight’s Village is a collection of modern wooden lodges decked out in a playful medieval style – think walls adorned with shields and faux-tapestry wallpaper in the kid’s room. A full evening of medieval themed entertainment is included in the price of your sleepover, which involves learning jester skills, have-a-go archery and sword-fighting demonstrations. There really is never a dull moment at the Warwick Castle sleepover! From £149 per night based on 4 people sharing a Woodland Lodge. warwick-castle.com
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GETAWAYS
STARGAZER POD AND CABIN
The Oakey Koakey Treehouse E A ST SUSSE X THE OAKEY KOAKEY TREEHOUSE
The Coastguard Lookout K EN T
A
hoy there! Pirate spotting is a must in this stunning coastal tower, situated in Dungeness. The maritime lookout was originally built in the 1950s as a HM Coastguard radar monitoring station but has since been transformed into stylish accommodation, set out over four floors. The views are fantastic and on a clear day you can even catch a glimpse of France. Throw open the patio doors and the beach is quite literally on your doorstep, with stretches of shingle and sea for children to explore. The lookout has a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering, or there’s local pubs within walking distance and Rye is a short drive away. A wood burning stove and underfloor heating makes this a cosy retreat in the winter months. A 2 night stay sleeping a family of 5 from £562. hostunusual.com/categories/hostunusual/the-coastguard-lookout
THE COASTGUARD LOOKOUT
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et a squirrel’s eye view of the world by staying at this chic treehouse hideaway. Set in its own patch of private woodland filled with deer, badgers and birdsong, it’s just an hour’s drive from London but feels like another world. Inside, the treehouse is filled with creature comforts including underfloor heating, electricity, and a fully furnished bathroom and kitchen. The children’s forest-themed bedroom is a real crowd-pleaser and kids will love climbing the tree trunk ladder up into their bunk beds. Surrounding the treehouse, there are plenty of rambling fields to explore or a short drive away you’ll find the pretty village of Ticehurst. Huddle around the fire-pit in the evenings for marshmallow melting and stargazing. From £188 per night for a family of four. canopyandstars.co.uk/ theoakeykoakeytreehouse
Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve K EN T
I
f you can’t jet off to the wilds of Africa, then an overnighter at Port Lympne offers a wonderful alternative. The reserve combines a world-class safari park experience with luxurious overnight lodges, many of which overlook the animal enclosures. The lion and tiger lodges are the sleepover hot-tickets, as there’s only glass between your living space and the big cats. The characterful conservation park is home to over 900 animals, including zebras, apes and lions, and dino-loving kids will enjoy taking a golf buggy tour through the model dinosaur forest. For an extra special stay book an animal encounter, where you can scatter feed gorillas or meet the white rhinos.
Stargazer Pod and Cabin NORTH DEVON
L
ie down on your backs, gaze up at the night sky and discover why The National Trust recently voted stargazing into their ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list. This geodesic dome in Devon offers the perfect spot for kids to brush up on the constellations, whilst also providing a great play-zone regardless of the unpredictable British weather. The sleeping accommodation is in the neighbouring cabin, which also has a modern kitchen and bathroom. Elsewhere on Loveland Farm, there’s a huge indoor heated salt-water swimming pool and further afield you’ll find surf spots and hiking trails. This is the place to come to connect with nature and soak up the vistas. From £160 per night for a family of 6. canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/ devon/loveland-farm/stargazer-pod
PORT LYMPNE HOTEL AND RESERVE
The hog deer creek shepherd’s hut sleeps 4 from £299 per night. aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne October 2020 | 75
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T H E B E ST N E W I N T E R I O R S L AU N C H E S FO R LI T T LE O N E S p .78 I N S I D E T H E H O M E O F M E R I M E R I FO U N D E R M E R E D I T H E ST UA R T- S M I T H p . 8 4
In Bloom
CAM CAM COPENHAGEN
Cosy up this autumn with the prettiest printed bedding from Cam Cam Copenhagen. The Danish brand’s duvets, pillows, sheets and blankets are made using 100% organic cotton. camcamcopenhagen.com
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mama
N U R S E RY NOTES Carly Glendinning’s interior picks for the month ahead
we love
OFF TO B E D SEBRA
Better for the environment (and your wallet!) we’re all for investing in nursery furniture that grows with your little one. Sebra’s Junior and Grow bed extends out so it can be used all the way into adulthood. scandiborn.co.uk
ART AT TAC K DJECO
Not just for babies, a mobile can act as an art piece in your little one’s space – creating a visual focal point. We love this colourful design from Djeco – which is inspired by the expressionist work of Picasso. tickety-boo.co.uk
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Oui Oui MAISON CHARLOTTE
One for francophiles, Maison Charlotte brings together Parisian style with eco credentials. Their elegant nursery furniture and bedding is made with organic and environmentally-friendly materials. maisoncharlotte.fr
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h o me & interio rs
Block Party
NURSERIE S
d Bran s u Foc
LIEWOOD
Perfectly rounded for little hands, these stacking blocks from Liewood are great for developing their motor skills. The stylishly muted colour palette will look great in their nursery too. liewood.com
NOT ONLY PINK AND BLUE A new online store that aims to tackle harmful stereotyping…
IN PRINT
O
HAM
Artist and illustrator Joanna Ham makes beautiful artworks that are perfect for a gender neutral nursery space. Her print series follows the daily adventures of a playful character called Rabbit. hammade.com
5 of t he b e st E D U CATI ONA L SEBRA Wooden Puzzle £25; themodernnursery.com
DIDDITHINKERS Poster, £30; cissywears.com EDX EDUCATION Eco Rainbow Pebbles, £29.99; edxeducation.com
FERM LIVING Memory Game, £15; scandiborn.co.uk
CISSY WEARS Sensory Play Animals, £24; cissywears.com
nline retailers often shy away from tackling the issue of gender stereotyping for kid’s clothing and toys. Categories labeled ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ are usually well intentioned – merely aimed at helping the shopper navigate the site more easily. But this line of thought doesn’t allow for the belief that kids should be allowed to wear and play with whatever they like. That boys should be free to play with dolls and wear pink and girls should be encouraged to play with cars and not only dressed in skirts. A new online store named ‘Not Only Pink and Blue’ aims to change the way we buy and think about children’s products. The platform brings together a wide range of small, independent brands that embody the philosophy that children should be free to be children without any limitations on their aspirations. It’s a one-stop-shop for colourful gender-neutral clothing, books featuring diverse role models, and toys that will appeal to little ones of all ages and stages. And in a world that feels increasingly more divided, anything that helps us to raise the next generation to be more accepting, tolerant and equal feels like just what we need right now. notonlypinkandblue.com
October 2020
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THE NURSERY TREND REPORT We round up our favourite interiors trends for little ones this autumn… W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G
OEUF NYC oeufnyc.com
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OYOY LIVING DESIGN oyoylivingdesign.co.uk
NATURAL TOUCHES
T
he growing momentum in environmental awareness has seeped into the nursery interiors world, where the trend for natural materials is going strong. For furniture, look out for rattan, bamboo, wood and wicker pieces, and if it’s sourced sustainably or recycled all the better. Add cushions, blankets and bed linen in organic cottons and washed linen. And accessories? Choose fun pieces along a nature theme – OYOY’s oversized mushroom wicker basket makes brilliant storage and creates a focal point in the room.
SCANDIBORN
Rattan Mirror, £39.95; scandiborn.co.uk
FERM LIVING
Desert Kids Chair, €215; fermliving.com
COTTAGE TOYS Jute Rug, £69.95; cottage-toys.co.uk
OLLI ELLA
Mushroom Basket, £45; olliella.com
SCANDIBORN
Rattan Crib, £175.95; scandiborn.co.uk
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MERI MERI
Blanket, £50; merimeri.co.uk
LITTLE DUTCH Abacus, £13.59; scandiborn.co.uk
RAINBOW COLOURS
MAMAS & PAPAS
U
nisex and fun, rainbows have been popular for a while now but recently we’re seeing them in a more muted pastel colour palette. The motif is easy to introduce into your nursery scheme in a subtle way with accessories such as Raduga Grez’s wooden stacking rainbow (all over Instagram right now). Or you can go all out and choose a beautiful wallpaper – like the one below from Hibou Home. We also love OYOY’s rainbow rugs – which look just as good on the wall as they do on the floor.
Musical Mobile, £35; mamasandpapas.com
OYOY CHARLIE CRANE
Rainbow Rug, £78.95; scandiborn.co.uk
Kumi Crib, €369; charliecraneparis.com
HIBOU HOME hibouhome.com
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FERM LIVING fermliving.com
ON SAFARI
A
nother really great unisex nursery trend that we’re seeing everywhere right now is safari animals. Tigers, lions, giraffes and elephants are popping up on everything from rugs, to nightlights and even bookcases. Animal motifs in nurseries can bring to mind a garish primary colour palette, but this trend is all about natural earthy tones. A canopy is a great addition to this scheme – whether is mosquito-net-style around the bed, or creating a cosy corner to read bedtime stories by torchlight.
FERM LIVING
Elephant Lamp, £55.95; scandiborn.co.uk
NUMERO 74
Tiger Cushion, €35,00; numero74.com
BLOOMINGVILLE Giraffe Bookcase, £340; themodernnursery.com
CAM CAM COPENHAGEN Canopy, £113; camcamcopenhagen.com
OYOY
Lion Rug, £75; oyoylivingdesign.co.uk
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“We were determined to have a Regency style property”
MAKING
MAGIC
Absolutely Mama takes a peek inside the home of Meredithe Stuart-Smith, founder of Meri Meri... 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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h o me & interio rs INSPIRATION
M
eredithe Stuart-Smith believes in the magic of childhood. The founder of Meri Meri, she is the creator of a whimsical world where party meets play. It’s one filled with glitter crowns, fairy wings, cascading pastel paper chandeliers and giant foil balloons in the shape of mermaids. It seems fitting, then, that Meri Meri was inspired by a childhood dream. Stuart-Smith grew up down the street from the Hallmark card company in Kansas. She would make cards and tape them up to the window, secretly hoping that someone from Hallmark would walk by and ‘discover’ her.
Fast forward to 1985 and in the hope of bringing her childhood dream to life, she began making handmade cards from her kitchen table in Los Angeles. She named the brand Meri Meri after a childhood nickname, and would go door-to-door with her designs. People would often tell her that no one would buy them. Luckily for Stuart-Smith, Bergdorf Goodman didn’t agree. The business really began to take off after she picked up the luxury department store as her first big client at a tradeshow in 1987. Today, her designs are stocked in stores all across the globe. The brand is based in Cheltenham, where Stuart-Smith lives with her husband. The couple met at a stationery show in New York and moved across the pond over 20 years ago. They live in a four-bedroom
property set in a stucco-fronted 1840 rectory, which was divided into three apartments in the 1950s. Meri Meri designs pop up here and there – a velvet cushion in the shape of a swan, a gold paper garland decked from the ceiling – but overall the house has a clean, elegant and distinctly grownup feel. Here, Stuart-Smith talks about her eclectic interiors style and what she loves most about her home... Q How did you come to buy your house and what drew you to it? A It took us about two years to find our house. We put lovely handwritten notes through letterboxes asking if the residents might be interested in selling their house. We were determined to have a Regency style property. While Cheltenham is a Regency town filled with beautiful period properties, so many of them have been converted into flats. We moved to Cheltenham for our daughter to attend Cheltenham Ladies’ College as a day girl. It was also important for our home to be located near the college so that she could walk to school. October 2020 | 85
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h o me & interio rs INSPIRATION
“My inspiration is always from houses grander than mine”
Q What was it like when you bought it and did you do any renovation work? A The house had not been touched in 50 years. We had to rewire, replumb, add bathrooms, a kitchen etc. We also had to live in the house while it was being renovated. We moved our things from room to room.
Q How have you incorporated Meri Meri designs into the house and do you have any favourite pieces? A I love our velvet cushions and have a few dotted around the house. Sometimes I will hang one of our paper chandeliers from our sitting room chandelier.
Q What was your decorating vision and where did you look to for inspiration? A My inspiration is always from houses grander than mine. I have always been a collector of antiques, vintage finds and art. My style is truly eclectic. I love objects but hate clutter. It’s a contradiction and a constant fight within myself.
Q Being an interior designer, is there a temptation to change things all the time? A There is, however it really takes a lot of creative focus and head space to do it well. Meri Meri is such a creatively driven company and we produce several collections a year, it takes much of my energy!
Q What’s your favourite room in the house? A By far the kitchen and the shelves on the back wall. They were custom made in Italy and are in themselves a stunning feature. They’re also a striking place to display art and crockery.
Q And finally, was home your sanctuary during lockdown? Or were you climbing up the walls? A Home was a haven however I desperately missed the buzz of our studio and the incredible team I work with everyday. merimeri.co.uk October 2020 | 87
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AWARDS
2020
It’s time to vote! Absolutely Mama is excited to announce the third annual A B S O L U T E L Y M A M A AWA R D S ! We’re honouring the very best in the world of parenting – from everyday essentials, to kids fashion, travel must-haves and the toys your kids love the most.
Your voice is important to us and we want to hear from you about the brands you can’t live without. By voting, you’ll automatically be entered into a competition to WIN a host of prizes from Scandiborn, Jem + Bea, bbhugme & OYOY worth over £600. TO CA ST YO U R VOT E A N D TO B E I N W I T H A C H A N C E TO W I N , V I S I T
absolutely-mama.co.uk/mama-awards-2020
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Play Time
CLOUD T WELVE
Notting Hill members club and wellness destination Cloud Twelve has reopened their state-of-the-art family space. The nature-inspired area is designed to stimulate creativity and imagination, encouraging little ones to learn while they play. cloudtwelve.co.uk
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Big T H I N K I N G Are we teaching our children to think? Here are 5 tips...
W o r d s H E AT H E R W E L C H , E D X E D U C AT I O N
“If we encourage children to think, we are teaching them how to be leaders”
W
ith all the knowledge and experiences we provide to our children are we teaching them to think, see a problem or answer a question? Does our education system teach our children to follow a learned process to solve a problem? This is one very important area of learning, however being able to identify issues before they are there or even to solve the problem requires a much more in-depth thought pattern. Can we enhance this at home by teaching our children to think? Heather Welch of Edx Education gives us five easy ways in which parents and caregivers can encourage children to think during the early years.
1
CHOICES
It’s maybe as simple as choosing their own clothes (even if they don’t match), deciding on what to spend their pocket money on, choosing from the menu, a sport, books. Explain your reasons for a good choice, why certain activities are a bad choice.
2
L I S T E N
Listen to them when they are trying to explain to you the difference between a character in their game, story or the new sport they played, etc. Ask open ended questions so they have to explain to you the different concepts, encourage them to tell you a story.
3
E X P LO R E
Allow them to take a few risks (within reason and supervised). Let them make their own potions, play with water, climb trees, build forts, make up their own games at the park and many more activities.
4
EXPERIMENT
Talk to them about things to solve. For example, plant tomatoes in four areas around your garden near shade, sunlight, each area looking a little different. Then experiment, why did it grow here and not there? What can we do differently? Take them grocery shopping, look at why we pack the trolley, why do we choose certain foods?
5
EXPERIENCES OR OPPORTUNITIES
Try different activities, allow them to find their passion. What do they love doing? Try to engage with them with their interests. Take them to the local market and keep an open mind about the culture around them, talk about the different foods on the shelves from around the world. Last of all, spend time with your children, engage them in your interests or even things you used to do as a child. In life, sometimes we become busy and then make decisions for our little ones. If we encourage children to think, we are teaching them how to be leaders in their school, community and workplace and we are making sure they are ready for the world which we are going to leave them. edxeducation.com
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reso urce s LEARNING
October 2020 | 91
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Claire MAGEE
Claire Magee is the MD at Nannycare, specialists in goat milk based nutrition for babies nannycare.co.uk
Ask the
EXPERTS Q
&
A
Parenting and medical professionals, as well as leading entrepreneurs, answer some of your most pressing questions 92
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Q Why did Nannycare choose goat milk for their Follow on? A We chose goat milk because we thought it the best option for making formula. While human milk is undoubtedly the ultimate and gold standard, in some ways, goat milk is considered closer to breast milk than cow milk is. In fact, studies have found that goat milk contains some of the same health-boosting properties that are also found in human milk.¹ Nannycare was the world’s first goat milk formula almost 30 years ago so we understand goat milk and know how to handle it to ensure all our milks taste great without any aroma. Traditionally formulas have been based on cow’s milk. Now that goat milk formula is readily available, it provides parents with important choice. And who doesn’t want choice as a parent? If you feel it’s time to move on from breastfeeding, it’s worth considering a goat milk-based option.
For more information, call the Nannycare Careline UK: 0800 328 5826 ROI: 1800 937 375, email us on enquiry@nannycare.co.uk or visit our website www.nannycare.co.uk You can find Nannycare Follow On in selected Tesco, Boots, Waitrose, Asda and Morrison’s stores and available on Ocado and Amazon. You can also order in local independent pharmacies. Important notice: Goat milk formula is not suitable for infants with diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy. Breastfeeding is best for your baby. Follow on milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet and not as a breastmilk substitute before 6 months. Consult your healthcare professional for feeding advice. 1. It is similar to human milk in that it contains numerous cytoplasmic particles that are broken off from the cell during apocrine secretion (Boutinaud & Jammes, 2002) jfhc.co.uk/goat-milk-measure-formulas
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reso ur c es ADVICE
Damon MARRIOTT Damon Mariott is the Head of Product Development at Joie joiebaby.com
Q Why should my child stay rear facing in their car seat for longer? A When it comes to car seats the facts are clear – rearward facing is safer – 73% safer to be precise. In the event of an accident children are much more susceptible to injury because their weak neck muscles are unable to support the weight of their heads. A forward-facing car seat will keep a child’s upper body in one place, but
the force of the impact will throw the head forward and can cause potentially life altering injuries. A rear-facing car seat however, will absorb the force of the impact, significantly reducing the risk of injury to the head and neck. Even if the impact comes from a rear collision, a rear-facing seat is still the safer option. Statistically speaking, rear impacts are less likely to cause a serious injury – there’s less force involved as both vehicles are travelling in the same direction, and when used correctly, a rear facing seat will absorb the crash energy as well as keeping the motion of the child under control.
Angela SPENCER Baby wellness expert and awardwinning author Angela Spencer is the founder of Babyopathy babyopathy.com
Q How can I take care of myself at work through each trimester of pregnancy? A Working whilst pregnant has changed over the decades, but it has become a huge factor in the potential risks to our pregnancy and baby. For example, years ago we would leave work at around 6 months of pregnancy and have time to rest and nest and put our feet up. Now we quite often work up to our due date, which puts added stress on us and our bodies, plus we miss out on the crucial resting and nesting phase. Stress can have a detrimental effect on pregnancy, so my first tip is to leave work at least 6 weeks before your due date (preferably
earlier) to minimise your risk. That’s not all though, let’s look at your second trimester when your baby has their first conscious sensory connections – a neural (brain) response to sensory stimulations! It is a magical thing as it is the beginning of their conscious development, but it can also be affected by stress. For example, your baby can hear and feel if your work relationships are strained, they may also be affected by strong smells, chemicals and if you’re on your feet all day. So, my second tip is think about your own sensory surroundings because your baby can experience them too! Finally, we don’t usually tell our employers we are pregnant until we are past our first trimester, BUT, stress at work during the first trimester can have a negative affect on our pregnancy, it can even dictate if we have a premature birth or not. So my third piece of advice is tell your employer asap and discuss stress at work, just ask them to keep it confidential! October 2020
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Quote Absolutely Mama & Save
10%
every newborn baby’s umbilical cord is packed with life-giving cells The stem cells in your baby’s umbilical cord have an extraordinary power to heal. When lives are touched by disease or injury these parent cells can restore health. BV.indd 1
Get in touch
01752 753 723 @Biovaultfamily hello@biovaultfamily.com biovaultfamily.com
02/03/2020 11:42
reso ur c es ADVICE
Fiona-Jane
KENWORTHY Marketing Manager at Dreamgenii dreamgenii.com
Q What is the correct sleep position during pregnancy? A It’s vital that pregnant women are made aware of the importance of correct sleep position and the implications for the health of mother and baby. Sadly around one in 200 pregnancies in the UK end in a still birth and leading charity Tommy’s is running the ‘Sleep On Side’ campaign to educate women about the risk of sleeping on their backs in late pregnancy. One theory suggests that lying on your back puts all the weight of the baby and uterus on the main blood vessels that supply the baby; which can restrict blood flow and oxygen. Sleeping on your side during late pregnancy can be difficult. The multi award winning Dreamgenii® Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow can help you sleep easily on your side. It not only aids restful sleep, it supports the bump, back and knees and helps mumto-be to lie left laterally and prevents you rolling onto your back during sleep.
Clare BOURNE
Clare Bourne is a specialist Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapist at Six Physio Chelsea sixphysio.com Q Pelvic fl oor muscles... Where are they? What do they actually do? Why are they so important? A Like any muscle, if we don’t use our pelvic floor and strengthen it, it weakens. Urinary leakage is not normal and should not be accepted as a new norm. It is common, and many women do experience urinary incontinence
after birth, however there is a lot that can be done. Women’s health physiotherapists are trained in helping women recover postnatally, with special pelvic floor training – which is the first line treatment for urinary continence in the UK, as stated in recent NICE Guidelines. Pelvic floor exercises are often described as ‘oh when you squeeze down there’, which is essentially not wrong, however it is not all about squeezing (or contracting as physios like to call it). The relaxation of a muscle is as important as the contraction and lots of women struggle to let go of their pelvic floor, allowing it to fully relax. When we are stressed, not breathing deeply, or relaxed our pelvic floor naturally sits quite tight. So before starting your squeeze try and take a deep breath in and see if you can feel your pelvic floor relaxing – it is as important as the squeeze. October 2020
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VENICCI.indd 1
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TRIED & TESTED
WE ROAD TEST THE LATEST PARENTING KIT
reso ur c es REVIEW
Venicci
T I N U M 3 - I N - O N E T R AV E L S Y S T E M
This sleek travel system from British brand Venicci is a bit of a game changer. With its superb functionality and sleek design the Tinum has it covered! R e v i e w e d b y L E A H DAY
CHASSIS
T
he gun metal aluminum frame with black leatherette handle is stylish and lends itself to the premium features of the pram, giving it a luxury feel with an urban touch. The compactability and one button fold function is effortless and the easy carry handle is practically placed for everyday life. - Chassis weight 7.25kg - With seat unit 11.6kg The compact and lightweight system makes getting around a dream and you would not feel the need to invest in an additional buggy for traveling overseas as it is light and compact enough to see you through all life’s little journeys.
CARRY COT AND S E AT U N I T
T
he beautiful quilting around the inside of the carrycot and the ventilation provides your little one with wonderful comfort no matter the weather. However the standout feature of the whole travel system is the mattress! It is the deepest I have come across and is 1cm thicker at the head and tapers down to the feet to ensure absolute comfort. When we road tested it with my beautiful nephew Hendix we were hard pressed to get him out. He was just as comfortable as he is in his cot making nap time strolls a cinch.
The seat unit offers a comfortable ride and the seat weight goes up to a whopping 22kgs (the average weight of a 7yo) which is 5kgs heavier than many other pushchairs on the market ensuring the lifetime value of this product is incredible.
WHEELS AND FA B R I C S
T
he pushability on this system is excellent and the 360 front wheels provides you with a super smooth ride on all terrains. The side buttons for seat removal and hood positioning are extremely simple and user friendly. The fabric has a UV 50+ filter and is also water repellent making any journey easy come rain or shine and there are several beautiful fabric patterns to choose between. We chose the Camo which we absolutely love along with the attention to detail on all the matching trims throughout.
From £719; venicci.co.uk October 2020
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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
E AST
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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IN DEPTH REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PARENTING KIT
r e s ou rc es REVIEWS
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Freerider Co. Baby Wrap
A
Re vie we d by SOPH I E H E L SBY
bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow
T
Re vie w e d b y M I M I N E W B E R RY
he dreaded sciatica set in early this pregnancy and a combination of tiredness and sleep deprivation (due to not being able to get comfortable at night) really started to get to me. I like to sleep on my back and as experts recommend you lie on your left side from at least the third trimester onwards (to increase blood and oxygen flow), I was determined to start ‘training myself’ from as early as possible. Side sleeping however seemed to be adding to my pain. Created by three female chiropractors, the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow is ergonomically designed to relieve pressure on your bump, pelvis, knees, lower back and ankles and make side sleeping more comfortable. It’s filled with microbeads and the ‘pebbles’ at the each end of the fabric cover allow
you to adjust the firmness of your pillow. My sciatica was so bad that it took a few nights before I noticed a difference, but since I started using it I’ve suffered far less pain in my hips and buttocks and I’m sleeping much better. I’m also using it as a back-rest in the day, whilst I’m working at home and can’t wait to try it for nursing once my little one arrives. And the best thing? It’s about as stylish as a pregnancy pillow can get and I love the range of changeable covers, epecially the new watercolour design. £138, bbhugme.com
side from being important for bonding and having lots of medical benefits too, baby wearing is a lifesaver for new mums. My little one settles so much easier when she’s cosily tucked up in the sling, and it means that I can get on with things around the house while she naps. What really drew me to the Freerider Co. baby wrap is that it’s made from sustainable fabric (created from eucalyptus tree pulp). My daughter suffered from eczema when she was born, so I’m really conscious about what I put next to her skin. The Freerider Co. fabric is so soft and hasn’t irritated her skin at all. It’s also stretchier than other wraps we’ve tried, which seems to be really comfortable for her and also for me. Tying it so it fitted snuggly took a few practice tries, but overall it’s pretty easy to put on once you’ve mastered it and the brand provides clear instructions. The label in the middle of the wrap also helps you to get it into the right position. Freerider Co. has a great range of pretty prints and colours – and there’s something to suit every style (even for dads too!). We’d really recommend this carrier to other parents. £59.99, freeriderco.com
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