Baby Buzz Magazine - June Issue

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EXCLUSIVE!!
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FOOD & REVIEWS PARENTS IN BUSINESS MUMMY-2-BE MR MA
A HAUCK COLT TRAVEL SYSTEM, 150 ASQUITH YOGA CLOTHING, NAPPY PURSE AND MUCH MORE
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Forget Prince Charming... This is what every little princess has been waiting for!
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Editors Letter
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Please support this months amazing charity. Pop N Grow make and supply premature clothing to babies all over the UK. Each set costs just 11 to make and so they rely on donations in order to maintain the amazing work they do. Please donate any amount, it all helps For more information or to make a donation please contact them at:
www.pop.n.grow.com pop.n.grow@gmail.com
Its nearly Summer!! Ok, was that a little optimistic? Ive had the most amazing month with trips all over Europe and the UK trying to find some amazing holiday destinations for all of my readers! They all range in prices and activities so that hopefully everyone will find something suitable for them. We also have a fantastic company who specialise in family holidays called Holiday Tots agree to be a long term feature within Baby Buzz Magazine, which will give you access to many more holiday tips and destinations all over the world, perfect for the Summer holidays creeping up upon us Each month I am amazed at the editorials and features that are sent in and I cant wait to share them with you all. We have some fantastic stories this month including the next instalment from gardening expert Dawn Isaac (gardening consultant behind the hit childrens CBeebies show Mr Blooms Nursery and an exclusive interview with Andy from CBeebies show Andys Wild Adventures. In last months issue we also featured an article from Yummy Discoveries and so this month we thought wed delve a little deeper and actually share some baby-led weaning recipes and a step-by-step guide to introducing your child to solid food when baby-led weaning. Weve also been sent a gorgeous baking kit from the lovely Suzy Pelta which weve taken step-by-step photos for you to see how much mess we made! This month we have 2 more amazing buggies to give away in our review section, not to be missed, plus an amazing array of other wonderful competitions. Remember - you have to enter to be in with a chance to win! As always, if there is anything you would like to know or would like us to review, just pop us an email with your contact details and well get straight back to you. My email address is: nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com
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A Warm Welcome To
Welcome to The World
Name: Mabel Alice Cordell D.O.B. 9th November 2012 Parents Name: Sarah Amari and Mark Cordell Weight: 7lb 3oz.
Name: Luella Chow D.O.B. 12th May 2013 Parents name: Daniel Chow & Jessica Samsoodin Weight: 3.71 kgs
Name: Talia Abigail Rollnick D.O.B: 25th March 2013 Parents Name: Sharona and Neil Rollnick Weight: 3.6kgs
Name: Betsy Rose Freeman Born 30th March 2013 Parents Name: Andrew & Rebecca Freeman Weight: 8lbs 8oz
Name: Eddison Michael James Matthew. D.O.B: 13th April 2013 Parents Name: Samantha Russell and Kevin Matthew Weight 6lb 1oz.
Competitions
COMPETITIONS
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INCLUDE: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER For your chance to win 150 of clothing from the luxurious Asquith London, simply let us know the two countries in which the clothing is manufactured? www.asquithlondon.co.uk
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Contents Page
Baby Buzz Magazine Limited 75 Telford Road New Southgate London N11 2RL Company No: 8234631 Editor Nickie Evans nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com 0208 361 0727 07535 541 303 Assistant Editor Cindy Evans Website & Design Emily Hewett, I am Emily contact@iamemily.co.uk Baby Buzz Magazine is published monthly by: Warner Midland Limited
The views expressed in this magazine are not always those of the publishers. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine makes any guarantee, warranties or claims as to the accuracy of any of the contents of this magazine. We include and use products and services that we believe to be of a reputable standard but we advise readers to make their own judgements. The publishers and magazine will not be held accountable and or responsible for any loss caused by errors, loss or negligence resulting from Baby Buzz Magazine Limited. We do not accept responsibility for any unsolicited material or photographs published. Terms and Conditions for our competitions can be found on our website at the time of being published. No section of this magazine is authorised for use or reproduction in any form without the prior consent of the editor.
COVER STORIES 13 Parents in Business - Inspirational stories 28 Get Growing with Dawn Isaac 30 Exclusive with Andy Day from Cbeebies 51 Mummy-2-be - Trimester 2! 52 Mr Mum - Trials and Tribulations Family Focus 31 Bebe Jacobs - Why we scare our children every night 33 Bestbear - Childcare for Children with Special Needs / Disabilities 38 BusyBeesBenefits - Where theres a will?.. 39 MojoMums - Helping mum get her mojo back! 71 Top Family Apps Family Business Focus 13 Parents in Business - Inspirational Stories 24 Business of the Month - Swimfin 36 The Buggy Network - mixing business with bottles 47 Legal Matters Concerning Children 54 Education with James Lee Consultancy 72 Whats On? 78 Business Card Directory Health & Wellbeing 12 Barrecore - Health & Fitness 34 Child Sleep Works - to sleep or not to sleep 42 Naturechild - Weaning 66 Safe & Sound - Health - Gastroenteritis 68 Hypnobirthing with Jennifer Barr Get Creative 69 Jo Jingles - Herts 70 Creation Station - Time to get creative Food & Recipes 43 Recipes with Yummy Discoveries 44 Suzy Pelta Bakes - Triple Chocolate Scones Travel Destinations - by Holiday Tots 56 Hoseasons - Westholme Lodge 57 Canvas Holidays - France 58 Martinhal - Portugal 59 Holiday Tots - West Sussex & France News & Reviews 61 KiddyCharts 62 Lenovo ThinkPad2 Review 63 Baby Buzz Focus Group Reviews 64 Volvo V60 Car Review 65 Emma Levine Fashion Competitions - Page 5 Rocket & Rose Metanium Hauck Ruby & Ginger Asquith London Dino Hoodie Kindle Colt Travel System Nappy Purse Win 150 of gorgeous Yoga Clothing
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Disclaimer:
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Cover Credits: Stacey Jade Armour Photography: www.sj-photography.co.uk
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Feature
MAIDEN FLIGHT OF NEW NATIONAL CHILDRENS AIR AMBULANCE GETS OFF THE GROUND IN THE NORTH EAST
would have taken over an hour. Our total flight time was only 15 minutes with the patient on board. As we flew along, we could see congested roads and the difficulty a land ambulance would face especially if it needed to travel in rush hour traffic. Its cases like this where every minute can, and does, count. After arriving at Hull Royal Infirmary, Theo underwent a tracheooesophageal fistula operation and is now recovering well with no expected complications. Dr Stephen Hancock, Lead Consultant for Embrace in charge of Theos care on board said: Embrace were delighted to work with The Childrens Air Ambulance on their first ever transfer, providing the medical and nursing teams to get this The much anticipated Childrens Air Ambulance got off to a flying baby to a specialist centre where he could undergo surgery. All the start this week, with its first ever transfer of a neonatal patient from teams involved have been working really hard to get to this point and it is gratifying to see the helicopter in the air. This service is so a local hospital to a specialist paediatric care centre. vital because quicker transfer times mean that our medical teams are available to look after more critically ill children. th On the morning of Saturday 11 May, one day old Theo Mikova was transferred on a fifteen minute flight from Scarborough Hospital to Hull Royal Infirmary after complications were revealed at his birth. Alex Toft, Director of Operations and Clinical Services for After a difficult labour, Theos mum Denisa Mikova (19) had to be The Childrens Air Ambulance, said: We are incredibly proud of put under a general anaesthetic in order to give birth to Theo by The Childrens Air Ambulance. This week sees the culmination of emergency Caesarean section. He was born weighing just under eighteen months of hard work and dedication from our teams to get 5lbs and was five days late. Once Theo arrived, doctors realised this aircraft off the ground. We are a bespoke helicopter transfer that he needed an operation on his windpipe, which had failed to service, which will be used to fly children to specialist hospitals so join correctly to his stomach and would make him very ill if that they can receive the treatment they so desperately need. left. Theos dad Lee Ratchford, 26, said: My girlfriend came round Taking a child out of the controlled environment of a hospital adds and was still in a lot of pain and we got her into her own little room. risk, we want to help minimise that risk. That was when the doctor came and explained to us what was wrong with him and that he needed surgery. As soon as the word Andy Williamson, CEO of The Childrens Air Ambulance, said: surgery came in I started crying and so did Denisa. But we were When a baby or child needs specialist help, the speed at which they assured everything would be alright and that was when we found receive the treatment is vital. We have been fundraising all year for out that he would be transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary. We this and it is fantastic to see the first potentially lifesaving transfer thought we would be going by ambulance but then the helicopter run so smoothly. This is the first of many paediatric transfers we will complete this year and our service will make a significant impact on came for him. the survival and recovery of hundreds of youngsters. Theo was transferred for emergency surgery via The Childrens Air Ambulance, while being looked after on board by the Embrace Yorkshire and Humber Infant and Childrens Transport Service, part of Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust. This was the first emergency airlift of its kind to happen with Tthe Childrens Air Ambulance and Embrace teams. Pilots Shaun Tinkler Rose and Paul Hogan took off in the Agusta 109 Grand helicopter, specially adapted to carry the latest specialist paediatric medical equipment, at 0925 from Coventry Airport. They collected the specialist medical team from Embrace headquarters and travelled to Scarborough Hospital to pick up little Theo. Once Theo was on board, flight time to Hull took just 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Denisa and Lee travelled to Hull Royal Infirmary in a land ambulance to join him when he came out of theatre. Such a swift and efficient move helps reduce stress on both the baby and the parents and quick intervention helps speed recovery. Dad Lee said of the transfer: I do appreciate a lot about what The Childrens Air Ambulance did for us. If it hadnt been there Theo would have had to wait an hour in the land ambulance with all the shaking around. The Childrens Air Ambulance lead pilot Shaun Tinkler Rose said: We estimated that by road this journey
The Childrens Air Ambulance relies entirely on donations and does not receive any government funding. The service costs 134,000 a month to provide. For more information about The Childrens Air Ambulance, or to donate, visit http://www.thechildrensairambulance.org.uk or to donate 5.00 from your phone, text TCAA77 5 to 70070
Advertorial
Pardon, you said virtual what?

Virtual Assistance automatically does this, in my mind, virtual means not quite and assistance means helping. So why set up a company thats not quite helping?! I thought long and hard about it. That was after getting long and hard (almost desperate to understand) stares, from friends and family alike. Thats when I decided that Id pitch Virtual ADMINISTRATION, rather than Virtual Assistance. Those stares changed, on hearing the word administration, into very safe and knowing nods! This was a few months ago, although the company is over a year old. Its taken some time to move it forward because I needed to move it away from its source. Both I and my husband were made redundant within a month of each other, two years ago. He decided hed learnt enough of his trade to set up on his own, so we bought a ladder, a small van and some public liability insurance. We combine many years training, skills and knowledge of the profession, with best practice customer care skills. His roofing firm continues to flourish and I continue to support it. However, I decided, at the beginning of this year that it was time to get VA Toolbox on the road. I am lucky too; Ive had the opportunity to consistently develop my vocation. I have worked for 12 years at mid-management level within the voluntary sector, for a few years in the private sector and today I appreciate the different skill sets I have. But 17 years ago, as a bored house wife starting a Business Administration NVQ course at The Camden Institute, it was very different. The tutor, standing in front of a predominantly female class, offered this question what business skills do you already have? Uncomfortably, nobody answered. The thought in my head was if I had any skills, would I be sitting here? He said You are thinking, if I had any skills, would I be sitting here, arent you? He then wrote shopping = planning, budgeting, maths (including fractions, percentages, weights and measures) and research on the board, This is the beginning of your CV. It stuck with me. Every day I think about what Ive learnt, what I know and what I want to know. This probably applies to many of you, but if you arent quite sure where to begin, think about what youve done today, and where these life skills apply to a working environment. Many of you may be returning to work when your youngest is five, so I do hope that this helps when it comes to writing your CV. Or you may be considering self employment. If youd like to know more about Virtual Administration, please feel free to contact me. If you are thinking about setting up a small business, VA Toolbox offers a free hour consultation, theres nothing to lose. Lou Moon, Director, VA Toolbox
lou@va-toolbox.co.uk www.vatoolbox.va-toolbox.co.uk
If someone had told Tamsin Malone from Maldon a few years ago that she would be running her own business based around babies, as a successful career girl responsible for scarily large sums of money in the world of corporate finance, she wouldnt have believed them. Now Tamsin and her husband Edward are working parents, raising their two and a half year old daughter Taegen and 15 month old son Monty. You may think that two pre-school aged children would be enough to keep any woman busy but Tamsin has recently taken on another baby - her newly formed business Essex Baby (www.essexbaby.com).
IT HAS TO BE ESSEX BABY
Advertorial
Its a one-stop-shop for parents in the county and includes a directory of baby and toddler related businesses and services theyll want to know about. The idea for the Essex Baby directory came from the hours I spent Googling things to do with Taegan and Monty and my frustration that it took so long to find the excellent goods and services on offer to parents in Essex.
Tamsin knows from experience that there is no tougher job than being a new mum. I suffered from postnatal depression and so appreciate what its like to feel isolated as a new mother. So the key aims of Essex Baby are to bring parents together to form a community network with access to free advice from experts, providing a place to share feelings and make friends online through the site forum and giving parents the Essex Baby is a rapidly expanding business. Tamsin is planning the launch of the websites new online shop, offering a range of high quality chance to actually meet up. mother and baby products not available from the high street. It is estimated that 10 15% of new mothers develop postnatal depression (PND) usually within six weeks of giving birth. Symptoms, With so much to do in setting up and developing Essex Baby, Tamsin ranging from relatively mild to severe, can appear gradually or would be the first to admit her work/home life mix involves a fair suddenly. At first Tamsin didnt recognise her symptoms, but when she amount of juggling. But its nothing like working the thirteen hour days did she didnt even want to admit she had PND to herself let alone to including the commute to London that she used to put in. That soon her friends or family. Ive always been a successful person who is in lost its shine because Tamsin hardly saw Taegen and Monty. Now it control. My PND was such a shock because Id had no problems with seems Tamsin has the very best of both worlds with the chance to enjoy Taegen but when Monty was born I began to feel like a failure as a motherhood and nurturing her family as well as tackling the challenge mother. He wasnt a bad baby, just a fussy feeder who wasnt too keen of devoting her spare time to growing her other little cherub, Essex on milk. We hadnt heard Taegen really cry until she was about nine Baby. And with Tamsins tenacity and drive, it could turn into a very big months old, so even the simple crying noises Monty made were very baby indeed. See for yourself at www.essexbaby.com. strange to me and made me feel like I was failing him. He cried quite a lot around feed times and I just didnt know how to make it right for him. Id get tearful and not really know why. It all came to a head when Tamsin broke down in tears in front of her Health Visitor, who was making a routine house call to check up on Monty, and the PND she was hiding became apparent. Tamsin immediately felt a sense of relief and it was the regular visits from her Health Visitor that aided Tamsins recovery. Taking a break from looking after the children, letting my Mum look after them so I could take an hour to myself made a massive difference. Talking through my feelings with the Health Visitor made me realise asking for help is ok, that I cannot control everything and I now accept that every baby is different. After returning to work in the City for a short while, Tamsin wanted to carve out a more family friendly work routine and decided that the time was right to start her own business and so the concept of Essex Baby emerged. Tamsins goal for Essex Baby is to make it the first online destination that new and expectant parents turn to for advice or support.
Taking the business from the virtual world out into the real one, Essex Baby has organised an extensive programme of expert-led courses, ranging from Ante Natal classes to sessions on feeding toddlers. Full details are listed in the online course directory. In addition to this, Essex Baby will soon be offering new mums the opportunity to meet up and to share their thoughts and feelings within a supported and safe environment. These sessions, where attendees can talk openly and receive support if they need it, are to be hosted by Steph Grainger, a Birth and Post Natal Doula.
website
www.essexbaby.com
telephone
07939 99 1621
facebook
Facebook.com/ Essexbaby.co.uk
twitter
@EssexBaby_
Press Release Copy written by Wendy Pike, info@NewsWoozle.co.uk
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Feature
Dance into Better Shape

Embracing the barrecore ethos of incorporating the most effective work-out methods to deliver unparalleled results, barreDANCE has launched to offer members and beginners a high-energy class with extra cardio benefits; maintaining body-shaping and toning at its core. The perfect complement to the signature barrecore class, this class fuses dance-based conditioning with fat-blasting and heart-pumping moves, to loud, stimulating music. The class is fun, fast-paced, and multi-faceted, targeting numerous muscle-groups with a variety of stylized choreography, incorporating multiple dance styles and genres. Energy levels are kept high to release mood-enhancing endorphins and to make the body sweat. Clients will leave each class feeling challenged and positively energized. In a short amount of time the body will become stronger and leaner and the self more confident and focused.
Body sculptured .. Well-being restored

Ante/Prenatal Workshop
This specialist workshop has been created to suit all women in each stage of their pregnancy and to ease the body back into exercise post the birth of the baby. Traditional barrecore exercises are modified for each trimester and to suit ones personal energy level. Every muscle group is worked, followed by a stretch for relief. There is an emphasis on creating a supple body to help it cope with the transformations throughout pregnancy. Once the modifications are learned, ladies can join the regular classes and incorporate the beneficial adaptions.
Same barrecore class pricing structure applies
www.barrecore.co.uk
Barrecore, 1st Floor, Atlantic Court, 77 Kings Road, London, SW3 4NX 020 73497500 info@barrecore.co.uk
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Are you in need of some inspiration or encouragement, is starting your own business the right thing to do? Read what this months businesses have done and how and why it worked for them
and tumble-dried and as it renews itself after every wash it doesnt loose its effectiveness during its lifetime. Little Grippers launched earlier this year with some very exciting press and customer feedback. We now working to develop the next exciting new range watch this space! What do you hope to achieve? We believe that Little Grippers will put an end to the age old issue of children's socks falling down and babies socks falling off. In the future we hope that our socks will be the only socks that children will want to wear, and the only baby socks that parents will want to buy. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? For Adrien, having come from a very demanding job with long hours and lots of travel both in the UK and abroad, and Rachel who is a stay-at-home mum getting back into the industry after an extended maternity leave of 3 years, working for ourselves, from home has
How did the company get started? Rachel and I have spent the majority of our careers in fashion and design, most of the time solving problems for retailers and brands alike.
We decided that we would draw on our own experiences as parents and as textile professionals, to develop something for ourselves. The life-long issue of babies socks falling off and school been a breath of fresh air! children socks falling down is a problem just waiting to be We dont have to trouble solved. There had to be something that we could design that would ourselves with long overcome these problems. This is how Little Grippers evolved. commutes to the office and we can plan our schedules around the family, making sure that neither the business or our children are What is the company about? compromised. Little Grippers is a new British brand which specialises in socks, gloves and mittens that do not fall off or fall down. Our Since starting Little Grippers, we have also been exposed to the world of PR, having appeared live on BBC Radio 2s Simon Mayo show and featured in national and local newspaper /magazine articles, which has been daunting but fun none the less! What has been the downside of starting your own company? Honestly, lack of sleep! We are so passionate about Little Grippers that we could easily work every night until the early hours. We also have to be careful that working together doesn't take over and that we are able to switch-off and be like any other normal husband and wife. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Research your market and product fully before you set-up. Knowing your market, customer and competitors is a must if you unique Stay On Technology is a band of silicon applied by are going to stand out from the crowd. Make sure that all of your robots directly to the cuff of the product, with no additional sewing suppliers and backers, especially your bank and accountants are as required or trims. The silicon is 100% natural, hypoallergenic and it passionate about your new venture as you are. is breathable, preventing any irritation to the baby or childs skin. The silicon band lasts the lifetime of the garment, it can be washed
www.littlegrippers.co.uk
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Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product? Lazy Daisy was founded by a Suffolk based mum of five, Julie Long. Julies background is in holistic therapies (gained relatively locally at the Suffolk College) which inspired her to embark on a lengthy training journey and which eventually led to her gaining accredited qualifications in a variety of perinatal therapies including Infant Massage, Baby Yoga, Pregnancy Massage and Birth Partnering. Her doula training with the renowned Michel Odent motivated her to seek out ways for lowering adrenaline through movement as well as massage therapies, and she went on to train in both pregnancy yoga and birth hypnosis. In 2006 Julie decided to evolve all of these techniques into one all inclusive movement and relaxation programme, and Daisy Birthing was born! In 2009 fellow director and clinical hypnotherapist and fertility specialist Sian Gilmartin joined the HQ team .... We are now very fortunate to have a number of specialists sitting within the training centre, including baby massage therapists and midwives too. How did the company get started? Julie is always very honest with new teachers about the roots of the business. Her decision to focus on the perinatal period was very much a decision of fate - not only because she kept having babies herself but in 2005 she experienced a difficult bout of PND and felt inspired by this to ensure other mums were given coping and 'anxiety releasing' techniques. This is something our classes really focus on providing tools to support a mum to be or new mum, without any judgement and to compliment her own choices and circumstances. We dont tell people how they should rather we give people tools to enhance their personal journey. We see lots of different birthing choices and parenting styles and welcome all to classes! During the dark days of PND, Julie also began to understand and value not only the importance of installing confident but also the need for peer or 'mother to mother' support. The evolution of Lazy Daisy into a national network was very much fired by her determination to create a country wide group of peer supporters who could not only listen, relate but could impart information to really help mums look forward to birth with confidence and enjoy their new baby! Over the past 10 years the Lazy Daisy programmes and brand has gone from strength to strength with both Daisy Birthing and Daisy baby capturing the birthing communitys imagination! Daisy Birthing was one of the first pregnancy movement programmes to gain approval by the Federation of Antenatal Educators as a recognised means of antenatal preparation and antenatal class education (in Summer 2009) and now has a team of fantastically skilled antenatal teachers from one end of the UK to the other and even internationally too. Similarly Daisy Baby is accredited as an infant massage and baby yoga programme by therapists association IPTI. Both have been nominated for various awards over the past 4 years.
What is the company about? So to summarise, in a nutshell Lazy Daisy provides peer-to-peer based antenatal classes, therapies and workshops classes for mums and taught by mums (but mums, like me, who go through a stringent training programme endorsed by FEDANT and very much steeped in anatomy and physiology). The company and all connected to it, are motivated by the belief that if every mum can feel bonded to her pregnancy and labour, this hugely enhances the feelings she has for herself, her baby and her life post birth. Daisy Birthing Pregnancy Classes are very much inspired by yogic movement and take mums through a weekly programme of pregnancy specific routines, designed to help mum feel stronger in her body and mindset and to prepare key birthing muscles ready for the journey ahead. We work a lot on alignment in the body, on easing common aches and pains and on ways to use gravity and movement, not only to help optimum positioning for baby, but also to aid labour. I think we are one of the only programmes to really try and link hypnosis alongside movement we use lots of rhythmic sequences, coupled with birth breathing and guided relaxation, to help mums relax whilst they move and to make the birth movements they will use in labour second nature so literally on due date these moves just play out! Mum can help her birthing partner understand the techniques she is learning (or enjoy an intensive introduction to the programme if she isnt able to make weekly classes) through our couples workshops. Furthermore, mum can enjoy returning to classes postnatally with baby, where she will find we cover everything from holistic techniques to aid colic and reflux, to top tips for winding and sleep .....
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Parents in Business
What do you hope to achieve? Like Julie I am a mum too and have two children of my own in fact I was pregnant with my 2nd when I chose to train with Lazy Daisy. I am really hoping now to carve myself out a family friendly career with real rewards not just financial but the emotional rewards the high of knowing you have helped someone to achieve a more confident birth or to enjoy the first few weeks with baby. This is so important and I feel so excited about having the chance to work in an arena I love. As a mum of girls, wanting them to feel strong and confident as they grow, I feel very fortunate to have a career which allows me to feel so strong, confident and inspired by motherhood! Ideally I would like to build my business (I am literally now starting out following maternity leave) to run regular weekly classes and with time, give up my day job! What has been the highlight of starting your own company? The mums and their stories without a doubt! A good friend of mine enrolled in one of my first terms of classes when she was pregnant and through learning to relax and have confidence in herself, I am so pleased to say that she achieved the wonderfully calm birth that she wanted it makes me feel so proud that I was able to contribute to this, she said she heard my voice all the way through her labour! What has been the downside of starting your own company? Of course like any business, there is the initial outlay with training and and licensing costing me just over 2,000. This of course is an expense you dont necessarily plan for whilst on maternity leave, so the initial financing has made things tight for our family but I trust that this will be short term pain for longer term career satisfaction! It can be very disconcerting not having a regular income which is why, for the time being, I will continue with my 'day job' and build my new business around this .... This gives me the security of my salary but the chance to build my evening classes and really start to spread the word in my local area. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? There are many advantages to being your own boss but at the same time you have to be realistic be prepared for hard work, especially at the beginning after all if it was easy everyone would do it! You need to be passionate, have a plan in mind and feel motivated by where you want to get to for me, I keep focused on the fact that I am building a career to work around my children as they grow. My husband is also self-employed and this can be tough, sometimes meaning we are both so busy with our respective ventures that we have to sacrifice time together as a family or a couple hopefully it'll be worth it in the end!
To find out more about my classes please email: karoline@lazydaisybirthing.co.uk or visit the Lazy Daisy website www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk
Lazy Daisy- Rayleigh Hockley Mobile: 07931 171 501 Facebook: Daisy Birthing Rayleigh Hockley
Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product? Hi I'm Sian and I own Photography for Little People (PLP) Hertfordshire North. I'm mum to a gorgeous little boy called Jack who's 6 going on 16! He is my world and my inspiration! How did the company get started? I started with PLP last August when I left the Army after 8 years service, 4 in the RAF as a photographer and 4 in the MPGS in the Army. I loved being a photographer in the RAF as everyday was different. I've sat on the back ramp of a Hercules plane photographing another Herc flying behind us and travelled all over the place with my camera in hand. When I had my son I joined the MPGS because it meant i wouldn't have to travel anymore and would be home to see my son grow up but i missed photography. After the breakdown of my marriage in 2011, I was desperate for a change I was working shifts, Jack was all over the place between me and his dad and all I could think of was running my own photography business but I just didn't know where to start. Finally I found Photography for Little People, a national franchise who were the perfect fit for me and in August 2012 I launched Hertfordshire North! What is the company about? Photography for Little People specialise in bump, newborn, child and family photography and hand and foot impressions creating lasting memories for you to treasure, beautiful frames and canvases all ready to hang on your wall. What do you hope to achieve? I hope to be the best photographer in my area, to be successful in what I'm doing and provide a happy stable home for my son! What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Winning best families photographer at the franchise awards last December and being a finalist in the newborn category. What has been the downside of starting your own company? I seem to end up working more hours than I ever did before but at least its on something I've dreamed of doing for a long time so I actually don't mind and I can work it all round Jack whenever I need to! What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Have good family and friends nearby to support you and give it everything you have as it won't happen if you just sit and wait for it to land in your lap!
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Parents in Business
Who are you? Im Marilu Wren, founder of Ocky Olly. A Mum of four, living near the beach in Devon with 3 dogs, 1 cat, 3 ducks and 2 chickens and my patient husband Gordie! What do you do? I design and create innovative, fun & practical clothing for kids. Our first product is the Smocka, a practical fun play top for pre-school children,that encourages them to play and learn outside. Made of fleece with fun, digitally designed canvas trims, it's ideal for little explorers who like to collect things. The large pocket has a waterproof lining which is perfect for conkers, leaves, shells and other discovered treasures. It also folds down to a simple pouch, but folding the Smocka and turning the pocket round it, so it stays clean and dry in your pram, car or bag. When did you establish your business? I came up with the idea two years ago, registered the company in Nov 12 and finally took in stock Summer 13 What made you start your own business? My husband sustained a spinal injury during surgery and we were forced to take stock of how we were going to support the family. We looked to the family, my past experience and love of design for inspiration. Our youngest Daisy who was 18 months at the time, was obsessed by pockets, collecting and owning things and she, along with my love of the Cornish Smock and the outdoors, inspired our first product. What do you love about working for yourself? I really enjoy tapping into my creative side which was very underutilised as a mum and I love being able to make so many things happen, especially bringing my designs to life. Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself? I have found it very lonely and would have loved to have another woman in the mix, to bounce ideas off, but Ive enjoyed joining Female Business Groups and mixing with other entrepreneurs and inspirational people. Its a double edged sword being a mum and working from home, both jobs cause resentment of the other. I wish I had more time to work and more time to be a mum! Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could? Every set back Ive had has taught me so much and been valuable in their own way. We are currently looking to raise equity investment through Crowdcube and in hindsight I would have worked harder on the social media communications programme so as to have maximium impact at this beginning stage of the pitch. What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business? Some advice I was given early on has held me in very good stead; the higher my goals and aspirations at the beginning of my journey, the more powerful my decisions will be for the long term good of my business. Believe in yourself and think BIG!
T. 01548 312 200 www.ockyolly.com

Parents in Business
What do you hope to achieve? Dan and I are now maxed out with the number of bracnhes that we have and so to continue to expand our network of classes we have spent the last couple of years developing our Licensed business model. In january this year we piloted our License agreement with our first Licensee in Chadwell Heath and Epping and we are looking forward to meeting future licensees to take Rascals all over the UK and inspire children through dance, singing and acting. In true keeping to the Rascals ethos the license agreement is an affordable way for other budding young performing arts teachers to get involved in a well-established brand. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? The highlights of running Rascals is seeing our students performing and sharing in the pride and amazement that their parents feel when they see them up on stage! It takes a lot of courage to take part in performances and having the confidence to get up and do it is a huge acheivement for most of our children. Once they realise how much fun it is they just grow and growin confidence and can't wait for the next show! It fills us with pride when we hear comments from parents about how much their shy timid child has grown in confidence and how our classes have helped them at school and in other areas of their lives, it feels really good to be able to make a difference. What has been the downside of starting your own company? It hasnt always been easy in the 16 year journey, running your own business doesnt allow you such things as bereavement time, family matters can really rock your world and cause you to take your eye off your business, but giving up has never been an option. Making Rascals the best that we can be motivates us to continue developing, improving and growing as a company. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Its a juggling act! Being a parent and running your own business is a balancing act and sometimes it is hard to get that balance right. The scales never seem to tip in the right direction, when you are great at work and working really hard then you are not spending time being a great parent and when you take time out to be a fantastic parent the company suffers as there is ALWAYS something that needs ticking off the list! When you have a dream and a vision for where you want your company to go, working all hours to try and achieve your dream is not always compatible with being a parent!! but If you believe in yourself and your product and are willing to work hard then you just find a way!
Who is behind the Product? Rascals is a family run business owned and directed by myself Diane and and my husband Dan Neave. We met in 1994 when I was studying dance at the prestigious Laban Centre of Movement and Dance in London and Dan was working as a solicitors clerk. How did the company get started? It was whilst teaching at other schools that I noticed the tendency for many to focus on the most talented children with the favourites always gaining the best parts. Some schools charged astronomical fees making it impossible for parents without a large pot of excess money to be able to afford it. It was this experience that fuelled our vision of creating an affordable theatre school where all children would be welcomed, regardless of ability or background, and that all children would be treated the same and given the same opportunities. We opened our first Saturday morning school back in 1997, and then developed our unique after school format with the launch of our first after school session in 2000. The Rascals energetic spirit has steadily grown and we now have 9 branches across Essex. What is the company about? The aim at Rascals has always been to provide affordable and most importantly FUN classes in Street Dance, Drama, Pop Singing & Musical Theatre. The main focus of our school is to provide fun and exciting classes that will build your childs confidence, inspire them and give them skills for life. Rascals motto is: Ready for life! It can be harsh out in the real world but children find comfort in the nurturing and supportive classes that Rascals offer's. A fearless place that offers them a chance to blossom and learn how to shine in the real world. Confidence, creativity and strength of character can be as useful in the workplace as a number of academic qualifications. Rascals students become fearless about things that many people tend to dread such as;public speaking, team playing and leadership roles. Our classes are physically and mentally challenging but most of all, great fun. Children gain in confidence and character, improve coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility, develop social skills, make new friends and are able to express themselves more easily.
www.babybuzzmagazine.com twitter.com/@Babybuzzmag
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Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product? I'm Lisa, mum to Amy who is six years old. Amy's my little helper with the packaging and the post office run. How did the company get started? It all began when I made a few Personalised Blankets for family and friends as gifts. I started to get a few enquiries from people who had seen these Blankets and got a couple of orders. Once Amy started school I found myself with a little more time and decided to try out more colours and designs. I then set up a Facebook page to see if I would get any interest and everything just took off from there. Along with the Blankets I now offer Baby Wear, Rag Dolls, Swimming Bags and T-shirts which can all be Personalised What is the company about? Cheeky Wee Monkeys create Personalised Embroidered Gifts aimed at newborns and younger children with fun and unique designs. There is nothing more special than to receive a gift with your child's name on it and children love to see their name on gifts. What do you hope to achieve? To offer a bigger range of products and gradually turn Cheeky Wee Monkeys into a full-time business. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Working hours that fit around my family life, to do something I enjoy and of course the feedback I receive from customers is very satisfying. What has been the downside of starting your own company? It's been hard financially for me. I was very lucky to get a loan from my parents which paid for my embroidery machine and everything else was funded by myself which has made the whole process from my idea to start up slow going. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Research your idea, believe in your idea and get as much business advice as you can.
www.cheekyweemonkeys.com sales@cheekyweemonkeys.com
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Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product? Spring Baby is run by me, Nicola - mum to 17 month old Isla, retired Spring Baby model and my inspiration in launching this venture. How did the company get started? For the last 15 years I've worked in publishing and was freelancing as a magazine designer for the past six years until the birth of my daughter. I loved being self-employed, but my priorities changed when Isla was born. As my maternity leave was passing swiftly, I decided to look for a change in career, I still wanted to work for myself but needed the flexibility to be there for Isla. I first discovered Spring Baby while researching the babywear market, when the opportunity came to purchase the company I jumped at the chance. Spring Baby was founded in 2009 by previous owners, I bought the company over in September 2012 and have since rebranded and redesigned the range of babywear. With the help of my dearest friend Heather, who is a talented freelance illustrator, I've created a family of characters. What is the company about? Spring Baby is an online shop that stocks a range of babywear, designed with fun animal motifs. Providing practical and essential babywear for the little ones. What do you hope to achieve? My aim is to continue growing the brand. This includes expanding the range with a variety of products including t-shirts, bibs and nappy bags. Also adding a few new characters and sizes along the way. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Receiving my first delivery of new stock and getting the website up and running made it all the more real. Getting lovely and positive feedback from customers. What has been the downside of starting your own company? Having the confidence and courage to try something new. It's been a huge learning curve, but one that I've enjoyed. It probably seems a bit crazy to start a new business having just become a new mum, but with hard work and a few late nights both roles are possible. As for the housework well that gets a bit neglected from time to time. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Research! Work hard and who knows where your new journey will take you. Great support and advice from family has also been invaluable to me. Go for it!
www.springbaby.co.uk
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Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product/services? Myself, Martina Finn. I left my job working in special needs education to start my own business. I am a full time mum with one very lively little toddler. How did the company get started? For 10 years, I was happily working for the Hertfordshire county council in SEN education. Then my son came along and I started to look for childcare solutions. Sebastian started nursery after my maternity period ended and I returned back to work, however I felt a need to start something new and challenge myself more. To set up a Childcare agency seemed a obvious choice as I have ten years experience in this field, though the business side aspect was something completely new and required a lot of hard work and learning on the spot. I started the Puzzle Childcare Agency at the end of November 2012. What is the company about? Puzzle Childcare is a young vibrant nanny and au-pair agency, specialising in childcare and special needs childcare services in London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We are a small agency which allows us to focus on the individuals needs and offer families that personal touch, I go to the family and talk personally to them and discuss what are the best options available for them. What do you hope to achieve? To establish Puzzle Childcare as a top recruiting nanny and au-pair agency in the south east Region. I am making small steps, but hopefully in the coming months and years I will be able to establish this agency as a company that is highly regarded by parents. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Seeing the website go online and things starting to shape up! Talking to the first clients and learning day to day tasks in running a business whilst still doing my most important role of being mum, wife and taking care of my family. What has been the downside of starting your own company? I had a very difficult time at the start because of the loss of my father suddenly, which put things on hold. The hardest part is to find families in todays financial market, it's hard to get clients and for the parents to put their trust and money into a new childcare agency as money is tight and everybody is watching their pennies. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Don't allow anything to stop you in fulfilling your dream in starting up your business. Take all the advise you can get and if possible or appropriate get family and friends to help. Use friends skills to save you time and money, if a friend can design a website for you as a favour then take that, my mother and brother helped me with the website , it will save you start up bills and gives you more confidence as friends are involved in the process so can offer encouragement.
www.puzzlechildcare.co.uk info@puzzlechildcare.co.uk Contact number: 01923 578447

Parents in Business
Who is behind the Product? My company is Marie Donn Photography, and unsurprisingly Im owner, photographer, administrator, and milk monitor for it all although Id be lying if I said it was all me; I couldnt do any of it without the behind-the-scenes support of my husband Gavin, especially as so much of my work takes place at weekends! How did the company get started? I started the Company about 3 years ago now but if Im honest I think I probably started to operate seriously in the Spring of 2012. It was at that point that I really decided to look at what I was offering and make a break for the kind of customer service and experience Id want myself from a family photographer. What is the company about? Itd be too simplistic to say that this is a photography business so many people have their own cameras now that what I offer needs to be something more; so I would suggest I offer creative family photography experiences fun appointments with one another for busy families, wonderful mornings of laughter and exploration, and capturing key milestones in every familys life, with the added touch of the memories captured on camera to enjoy again and again through bespoke products. I think this is a pretty rare offering in the Essex area, where more traditional studio photography has been much more available in the past Im all about the great outdoors, and capturing life where its actually lived, than forcing smiles in a box! What do you hope to achieve? For my families, I aim to create an experience and images they treasure that make them smile whenever they see or think of them. I hope to give them back a little time together, which is so hard to find these days, and I wish for them that they are inspired to make even more time together afterwards (asking me along would be a wonderful bonus of course!). For my business, and my family, I hope to maintain the wonderful flow of clients I have been lucky enough to enjoy, at just the right level to allow me to keep my customer service high and yet make my own special time with my growing family. I only shoot 3 or 4 times a month, to maintain this balance, as my childrens time is every bit as precious as my clients. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? There are so many highlights! Meeting wonderful people; sharing great memories; exploring new places; finding out exactly what I can do, in a field I never dreamed of entering before a few years ago, and learning all the time. What has been the downside of starting your own company? There are a few of these as well I dont think I honestly understood how much juggling, extra hours, and administration would be required not just for me but for my family too. I think I read somewhere that a photography business is about 5% shooting, when Im sure most people think thats the majority of my time. Deciding to offer a professional service demands a commitment to that level of service, and I believe Ive got it right, but the balance has been a while coming and my family life has had to bend over backwards on occasion to allow me to get this far. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Seek advice; not just business advice, but from those who support you. Understand whether your finance and support network is strong enough because actually its not just you starting the business! Seek local business start-up schemes and advice, and think about networking to gain great contacts who will make how you work so much smoother and dont be afraid to outsource if it means playing to your strengths I have an accountant for my one-woman band, because thats their strength, not mine, and every January I am so glad I made that decision! Consider the time you have available around your family life, and remember to keep time for your own family and for a rest occasionally!
www.mariedonnphotography.com
info@mariedonnphotography.com www.facebook.com/mariedonnphotography
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The We Love Craft group enables like-minded individuals, who are passionate about buying and selling high quality crafts , to meet on a frequent basis. The group hold a monthly fair every 2nd Saturday of the month to give people an opportunity to buy unique gifts from crafters (apart from January when there is no event). Not only do the fairs bring together these amazing people and their creative products but they also provide an opportunity to bring the family together for an afternoon of fun, assorted activities and highlights the community spirit by promoting local produce. So what can you expect if you attend one of the craft fairs? A wide range of art and craft stalls with over 20 different types of craft on display. For the June fair there are a selection of activities ranging from childrens crafting tables, bouncy castle (weather permitting), face painting, childrens jewellery, baby knitwear, personalised childrens books, bags and cushions, faerie doors, childrens hair accessories and wonderful balloon creations by Balloonatastics. Maddielli will also be there with their pop-up studio with walk-up mini shoots being made available to all ages. Why not come along and have some fun with tiaras and top hats, feather boas and firemans hats! For more information why not visit the Facebook page: We Love Craft and join in the group or email welovecraft@talktalk.net. You can get notifications on the latest fair and details of the crafters who will be featuring.
Childrens jewellery Baby knitwear Personalised childrens books,bags and cushions Faerie doors Children's hair accessories
Childrens crafting table Bouncy castle (weather permitting) Face painting Balloons by Balloonatastic Glitter tattoos
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Business of the Month

Who is behind the Product? Now retired swim coach (30 years experience) Kevin Moseley How did the company get started? After the ridicule from the Dragons in the Den, Kevin self financed the company himself. He re-mortgaged his house, cashed in his pensions, life savings etc and got heavily into debt with the bank. The cash was used for worldwide patents, trademarks, research and development, testing procedures and eventually some stock. The list to get SwimFin off the ground was endless. What is the company about? We want to change a swimming lesson into a fun session. SwimFin was developed so that every member of the family can use it, either at home or in the pool, in or out of the water. Learning to swim is a psychological process and the early days are important to create the right mindset. We pride ourselves on our customer service and we care about our products and customers. We are always on hand to offer advice on the use of SwimFin and swimming in general. We are in touch with our customers and understand their needs. Our company mission statement is as follows - "to sell a high quality product that provides and encourages a fun learning experience for children and family members, of all ages and abilities". What do you hope to achieve? We want to educate the world that SwimFin is truly innovative and is really making a difference to the child (or adults) learning process. There are countless swimming aids on the market but there's nothing quite like SwimFin when it comes down to the one stop shop. Its the only vertical swimming aid in the world that will work on any age and ability, from beginners to advance and every stroke front crawl, breastroke, butterfly and backstroke. The problem is, because we've invented something that breaks all the (normal) rules in learning to swim, some instructors don't see how it works or are too old fashioned to change their ways. SwimFin has already had a massive impact in over 80 countries and we want to continue to provide fun and be safe times for families in the water. SwimFin is becoming a trusted and recognised brand. We have much work to do but we are fast becoming the market leader and are extremely popular with parents and children worldwide. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? The testimonials we get back from normal every day families stating, how we as a company, have made a massive change to their lives, are extremely rewarding to us all at SwimFin HQ. Its a buzz to walk into a pool somewhere in the world and see teachers using your invention and the kids laughing and playing learning to swim the fun way. What has been the downside of starting your own company? The downside was the massive leap into the unknown, the stress, the extremely long days (I do recall on a few occasions working 22 hours). Risking everything on a gamble, the possibility of losing your home, bailiffs etc. But Kevin knew he had something that the market would need and want. Those days seem so long ago know. Apart from the early days there hasn't really been a downside. Everyday is a new challenge. We deal with new customers and companies from all over the world on a daily basis. The Team behind the company are amazing. What would your advice be to anyone wanting to start up their own business? Never try and set up a company without taking sound and solid advice. There are so many organisations out there that want to help you. We found the local Chamber of Commerce invaluable and because we export, the UKTI have a minefield of experienced personnel. Talk to an accountant, seek some legal advice. Know your market and keep it real. Be different, offer something your competitors don't. Its a tough world running your own company, but extremely rewarding if you can do it.
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
BABY BUZZ MAGAZINES
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Feature
WHERE NEW MUMMIES COME TO MEET NEW MUMMIES
A little while ago I was informed about a new group called Nurturing Mums which offered new mums the opportunity of meeting on a regular basis whilst also having regular guest speakers come in and talk about different topics. Founders Gemma and Elise invited me to the first Nurturing Mums evening which took place on 21st May at a gorgeous local place in Muswell Hill, called The Clissold Arms. The evening was all about socialising with other mums, businesses and friends but also had an energetic speech given by Business and Maternity Coach Rebecca Fishman (www.labofself.com). Rebecca spoke about a range of concerns ranging from changes that motherhood can bring, challenges that mothers face e.g. guilt, loss of self and also the big question of deciding whether to go back to work or try something new. The evening, I felt, was a resounding success which enabled me to meet many wonderful businesses and mums alike but also to find out about a wonderful business called My Showcase, the owner of which will be appearing in Julys Parents in Business feature. I found the event extremely enlightening especially during the talk given by Rebecca, where some of the mums really opened up about their feelings and concerns and it really hit home that we all have so many different experiences and worries and that just by voicing our feelings and concerns the weight is lifted. I would definitely recommend the group to any new mums who havent got the support network around them with other mums perhaps in the same situation as they are. For more information, please visit: www.nurturingmumsuk.com
Nurturing Mums is a five week course set in an informal, friendly atmosphere where mums can chat, learn and relax. Guest speakers share their expert advice and answer questions on key topics including sleep, feeding and weaning. In addition, a professional photographer takes precious mum-and-baby shots to treasure, an indulgent pamper morning gives the new mums a longed-for beauty treatment and a life-coach talks about getting back to the real you with advice about going back to work, embracing your new role and focusing on the positives in the tough early weeks. Contact us: info@nurturingmumsuk.com www.facebook.com/nurturing mums @nurturingmumsuk
info@nurturingmumsuk.com
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FREE Taster sessions 10am-3pm to inc.
WEDNESDAY 17th JULY
Talking Tots * Rhyme Academy Hartbeeps * Streetlife Dance

Also stalls & craft inc. Hand/Foot castings, Fingerprint Jewellery,Titchy Toes
All kids/babies 1 entry Adults FREE (includes entry to soft play area) Caf open selling teas/Coffees Jackets, Toasties, Homemade cakes etc.
Deli Cious Chocolate Presented By Karen Turner Smith Cheesecake Chocolates 13 for a box of 5 including post and packing!
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Birannagh Children's Boutique opened in Queen's Road Buckhurst Hill, in April 2007. Our aim is to offer an excellent choice of good quality affordable children's clothes. Our wide product range will appeal to both children and parents alike - the type of goods that you can't buy in the Big Shops. You'll find something for the just-born to the all grown-up 14 year old girls or 8 years for boys. We sell a range of top quality modern and innovative products at affordable prices. Every one of our goods has been specifically chosen by us for its quality, usefulness, uniqueness or sometimes just because it looks so cool. We know our customers want to buy something that is a little bit different, stylish and engaging for their children but don't want to pay the earth for it. So, as well as stocking known brands such as Converse and FC Kids, we actively seek out interesting and different ranges of goods from around the world and our product range is constantly evolving.
www.childrensclothesonline.co.uk www.facebook.com/briannaghchildrensboutique Tel: 020 8506 1015 Come and visit us now in store or online for some great offers!
57 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5BU
Get Growing - Monthly Exclusive with Dawn Isaac By Dawn Isaac, garden designer and writer specialising in children's gardening -
www.dawn-isaac.com
Love me Tender
At long last it's getting warmer!
pinch of seeds between finger and thumb before sprinkling them onto the surface of the compost. They can then dust a little more compost on top so they are very lightly covered.
From a grow your own perspective, this means you can start Larger seeds can be thinking about planting out and sowing some more tender crops picked up individually and planted one or two at a with the children. time in separate pots. Big, You see not everything likes our weather. And who can blame flat seeds such as pumpkin, squash and even them? cucumbers can be pushed into the Lots of the things we love to grow, such as tomatoes, courgettes compost sideways. If they don't go and pumpkins come from warmer, sunnier places and they can't far enough in, the children can add a stand the frost. And if you thought frost was something that only little more compost on top before happens in winter - be warned: night time temperatures can hit pressing it down. freezing as late as mid May in most of Britain - and even late May The big, fat seeds of beans should be put in individual pots and it's in the many Northern parts. easiest to ask the children to make a hole in the compost with This means you're best starting off tender plants with some their index finger and then drop in the bean, before covering protection. If you're lucky enough to have a greenhouse, that is them over. perfect, but a sunny windowsill works just as well - if not better as Finally, for all the seeds sown, add a label, water them in using a the children can keep an eye on their precious crops. watering can with a fine rose (the attachment at the end of the You can sow with children outside - to keep the mess slightly spout) and place them on a sunny windowsill. It can be wise to put contained - or else, why not invest in a length of oil cloth as a the pots on a tray of some sort to catch any water than runs through the base and stop it dripping onto the sill. gardening cover to put over an indoor table? Start by asking children to add some seed compost to a half size seed tray. If you don't have one of these then you can recycle some plastic pots such as good sized yoghurt pots (minus the yoghurt... obviously). If you are recycling such pots remember it is vital you add some holes to the bottom so excess water can drain away. Once the compost has been added, make sure the children press it down, so you don't have any large air pockets. For very small seeds such as tomatoes, the easiest thing is to put these onto saucer so children can see them clearly. They can then take a At the start of June, all danger of frost should have gone, so you can plant our your crops in the garden. Don't forget to add a cane next to plants that need some support such as beans and tomatoes, and keep them watered in dry weather. NEXT MONTH: Smarter Growing: Hints and Tips
www.dawn-isaac.com
What to plant this month:
Courgettes - sow indoors - you can find different varieties such as round or yellow courgettes, if you want a change from the green straight type Pumpkins - sow indoors (if you don't have much room look for varieties that will grow on in a large pot) Tomatoes - sow inside - if you haven't a greenhouse make sure the variety you chose can be planted outside later in the season Runner beans and French beans - can be sown directly into the ground after the danger of frost has passed Sow more lettuce, radishes and peas so you have crops ready at different times
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Get Growing - Monthly Exclusive with Dawn Isaac
Get Garden Creative

June project: Wheelbarrow Vegetable Garden
This project is from Dawn's book - Garden Crafts for Children (CICO RRP 14.99)
Dawn Isaac is a garden designer and writer specialising in children's gardening www.dawn-isaac.com
You will need
Old wheelbarrow Scrubbing brush Warm soapy water Gravel Potting compost Water retaining granules Garden twine or string Clothes pegs Selection of dwarf or compact seed species or small plants such as: 1 mini broad bean plant 1 cherry tomato plant Beetroot seeds Tom Thumb lettuce seeds Parmex carrots seeds Radish seeds Short sticks or bamboo canes Watering can with a fine rose
You don't need acres of space, or even a garden, to grow tasty vegetables. Using an old wheelbarrow and some well-chosen seeds and plants, you can create a mobile mini vegetable plot. As the wheelbarrow isn't very deep, it is worth choosing smaller varieties. 1 Ask a grown up to drill or puncture holes every 10-15cm in the base of the wheelbarrow. Use the scrubbing brush and warm, soapy water to give the wheelbarrow a good clean, and then leave it to dry. Add a layer of gravel, about 2-3cm deep to the bottom of the wheelbarrow to help with drainage. Add some potting mix to the wheelbarrow so that it comes to within 4-5cm of the top. Add some water-retaining granules and then mix them into the potting mix. Use lengths of garden twine or string to mark out six square sections over the top of the wheelbarrow and to form mini fences. Use the clothes pegs to secure the ends of the twine or string to the rim of the barrow. Plant a different seeds species or plant in each square. Place the tallest plants at the deeper end of the wheelbarrow in order to give their roots more room to grow and plant the smaller ones toward the front. Plants such as tomatoes and beans may grow quite tall, so push a short stick or bamboo cane into the potting mix next to these plants so that you can tie them in as they grow taller. Water the plants thoroughly using the fine end on the end of your watering can so that you don't disturb the potting mix around the seeds. Keep the barrow well watered and then harvest your vegetables when they reach maturity.
twitter.com/@Babybuzzmag Facebook: Baby-Buzz-Magazine 29
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Celebrity Feature
Fun, Fun, Fun! With Cbeebies Presenter Andy Day
Tell us a little about yourself? I'm very tall with gigantic hair... Oh, I also love the outdoors, I live on a narrow boat, I love camping, and Ill challenge anyone to a game of table tennis! What have you enjoyed most about working on CBeebies? You get to play around with different voices / costumes and characters which is great fun, and the people are amazing. What made you want to be a childrens presenter? I worked with children in Italy for three months when I was 17 and loved performing in children's shows. You can afford to be very silly, which I love. What is your background training? I completed my A-levels at college, Drama/Performance being one of my subjects. What are your future aspirations? I would like to see the show that Im currently touring in with my good friend Mike James, 'Tick Tock Time Machine' broadcast on TV, and continue making fun children's theatre. I would also like to delve into film. Im a huge fan of Simon Pegg! Whats the funniest thing that has happened to you? I was in a public toilet very early one morning. Thinking no one was there, I began doing impressions from my favourite horror Poltergeist, then I heard a toilet flush in the cubicle next to me! I laughed a lot when they left. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to follow in your footsteps? Be true to what you love, work hard and be nice to people; no one wants to work with someone unpleasant! What are you doing next? Mike and I are working on some ideas for our next show, to follow Tick Tock Time Machine which is touring until November. Im also currently filming Andys Dinosaur Adventures to air on CBeebies very soon. Over the summer, I can be seen at a number of festivals with Sid Sloane. Ill then be appearing in panto in St Albans this Christmas. So all is good and very busy!
Following the success of their acclaimed UK tour, the BAFTA nominated childrens presenter, (CBeebies) and his comedy partner , have revealed plans to continue touring throughout the autumn. The dynamic duo teamed-up with Tweenies to produce this family-friendly adventure creator (suitable for ages 3+), which sees Andy and Mike whisked on a timetravel adventure; think Bill and Ted crossed-with Back to The Future. The show received its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year and is now due to enjoy a third-leg, performing at a further 13 venues across the UK from 21 September 13. 'A cut above most other childrens shows out there 'so much here for everyone... elaborate set... fun audience participation... one of the liveliest hours you'll have' Andy & Mikes adventures begin when they stumble across a mysterious machine locked away in the garden of their Fun Pad many years before by their great, great, great Grandfather Wally Bum Met by the machines guardian, they are sent on a time-travel quest. The intrepid duo must collect items from both the past and future, whilst avoid being trapped in the mists of time forever. Will they make it? One things certain they havent a chance without the audiences help! 'Highly energetic and amusing, a more entertaining children's show is hard to find.' Together, the star of the recently BAFTA nominated Andys Wild Adventures (CBeebies) alongside his co-star Mike, combine their trademark style of humour, wit and infectious energy, with an irrepressible sense of fun. Providing audiences with a performance that will have them longing to travel back in time to see it all over again. Visit the following website for more information:
www.andyandmike.com
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Our Experts
WHY WE SCARE OUR CHILDREN EVERY NIGHT! READ ON

Even though I love having older children theres one thing I miss about the fact that theyre no longer small and thats reading to them at bedtime. Reading their bedtime stories used to relax me as well as them far too often Id find myself falling asleep as I was reading, to cries of Wake up Mummy and carry on. What is the significance to children of this reading together time and what sort of stories should we be reading to them? T.I.M.E. Have you heard that LOVE is spelt T.I.M.E. The most important reason for reading a bed time story is of course time spent together within a busy day. Youll slow down together and share something without necessarily needing to say anything other than what is in the book. Of course most parents use it as a time for checking that alls OK in their childs world and for giving them those last kisses and cuddles before bed. the name of their school or street. But even if you dont feel you can invent stories, change the name of the child in the story to YOUR childs name. They will love this! Facts. Books-even at a childs level are full of facts. So as youre reading, be your childs teacher as well. Ask them who, what, why, where and when questions related to what youre reading to stretch your childs knowledge. Overcoming problems. Books can help children going through transitions or experiencing problems without having to talk about them directly. The characters in the book go through similar problems and help the child find solutions. Even if the problem isnt exactly the same, it shows the child they are not alone with their problem and they can relate to it. Parents have often asked me why some stories especially folk tales have such horrible people or are so scary. Why do we want to scare our children just before they go to sleep? Is this necessary for young children? The answer is Yes. Children use these scary stories to get in touch with and release their own fears without having to go through the scenario in reality. So Cinderella expresses every childs fear that they will lose their mother, having wicked, bossy siblings, and that they could be treated like a slave. Red Riding Hood addresses the fear of strangers and being lost and finding a loved relative like a grandma hurt.
I do in fact recommend that parents have regular special 1- 1 time with each of their children apart from story time at bedtime. 1-1 time should be about 15 20 minutes long and should involve an activity when a child is lively and wide awake not sleepy as in the case before bed. 1-1 time can be the time for talking, sharing and even learning a new skill. This is so vital to a childs development and should be on yours (and theirs) regular if not daily schedule. But sharing a bedtime story fulfills other meaningful benefits.
Intelligence. Reading at bedtime also boosts your childs intelligence. When you read to them youre role modelling that reading is important, you enlarge their vocabulary by reading words they are not yet able to read for themselves. Of course you are developing more than vocabulary you are also helping them develop speech patterns and inflections, pitch, tone and volume especially with pre Of course these stories also allow the child to identify with the hero schoolers. or heroine and feel good and brave too. Confidence. You are also helping to develop your childs confidence as they become familiar with words and sounds and thats one of the reasons theres lots of repetition in young childrens books. The more they hear it and join in, the more confident they feel that they can do it. They quickly master repetitive phrases like Run, run as fast as you can, you cant catch me Im the gingerbread man!
The skills of handling books. You are also teaching them about the feel and touch of books and even basics like how to hold them, and to read from left to right (in English anyway as other languages read in different directions). If youre a kindle lover, read sometimes from a kindle to a Books are so powerful, can be such fun and can teach so much. Dont child so they know its available but also use books! skip an essential part of the day as by reading with him/her, you are giving your child an excellent foundation for the future. Imagination. This is a major reason for reading as just by watching the expressions of awe, wonder and excitement Bebe Jacobs on childrens faces, you can see how much their imagination Parenting Educator and Workshop Facilitator is working. One fun way to read is to put your childs name www.parentingcoachingnow.com into the story. This works best if youre making up a story info@parentingcoachingnow.com and use their name, their friends names and even insert M: 07939880856
Concentration. We all know how much young children fidget and are restless at bedtime. If you emphasize that the story will only be read if they are tucked up and stay lying down with their head on their pillow (otherwise you stop reading temporarily) they will learn how to relax their bodies. Their concentration will be increased as they wont be fiddling or distracted by other things and they will allow their bodies to get into sleep mode. This discipline is good in itself, you are helping them increase their concentration span and you are teaching them what it feels like to be relaxed.
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Our Experts
Childcare for Children with Special Needs / Disabilities

Every parent looking for suitable childcare for their child wants to find a reliable and trustworthy solution that matches the individual childs needs for care. You want your child to be happy and safe when you are leaving them with someone else, and for them to enjoy their time away from you. It can be hard to find the right solution for your family, with parents weighing up the available options, listening to recommendations, meeting with childcarers and working out what is best for their individual circumstances and their individual child.
How much specialist care does your child need and how can you support the childcarer to deliver this specialist care. Will they need specialist training or equipment? Are carers willing to be shown how to administer medicine? Do they have the relevant insurance and have they received any training in administering medicines. As a parent, you'll be shown how to give medication to your child by your doctor, nurse or health visitor. You can ask the same person to give this training to your child's new carer. Does your child have therapy or an appointment that they might need to go to in the day and is the childcarer willing to take your child to these appointments? Would the childcarer also be willing to undertake any of the therapy activities your child needs? Is the building accessible? Are physical adaptations needed to the building? Eg a ramp Do you want your child to be in a mainstream or special needs environment?
When you have a child with additional needs or a disability this can be even harder to achieve, due to the additional care needs the child may need, and the limited options sometimes available. As the complexity of the childs needs increase, the childcare options become more and more limited. However, parents of children with additional needs and disabilities often need to go out to work due to the additional costs involved with raising their child, and also children with disabilities can often feel isolated and can benefit hugely from getting to spend time with lots of other children. So although childcare for your child might be difficult to arrange, and take longer to find the right care solution, do persevere as it will be worth it! The first thing any parent looking for childcare should do (whether or not you have a child with an additional need or disability) is look at what your dealbreakers are what is it that a childcare provider must be able to deliver to meet your needs and the needs of your child? For most families this list will include location (close to home or work), hours available, cost, qualifications/experience, mix of other children and play opportunities. For families with children with additional needs this may also include criteria such as the ability to communicate in a way that suits your child (eg use of Makaton sign language, or PECS communication system), the ability to deal with your childs specific health needs (eg administering medication) and more.
It is important that you have an open and honest discussion about your childs needs with any potential childcarer. Remember you are the expert in caring for your child and you need to be able to impart as much information as possible to give the childcarer the knowledge and confidence that they need to care for your child. Even if they have cared for a child with similar needs or disability, your child is an individual so you need to be able to clearly explain what your child will need when being looked after.
The childcarer may feel nervous or anxious about caring for your child, especially if they havent cared for a child with special needs before, but do remind them that you also had no experience before your child was born and give them the knowledge, information and support that they It is important to note that every child is different, and every child with need to help them care for your child. A good attitude and a willingness additional needs/disability is different so it is really important for you to to learn can often be more important than years of experience. work out what is important to you and your family before you explore the Under the Equality Act childcarers should not treat a disabled child less available options. There are a range of childcare options available, whether in your own favourably than other children, which means that your child should have home (nanny or au pair) or outside of the home (childminder, nursery, the same play and learning opportunities as other children and that you preschool, special needs preschool etc) and you can find out about the should not be charged more just because your child has a disability. Your benefits of each of these options in the childcare information section on Local Authority may have funding specifically to assist childcare places for bestbear.co.uk. Some childcarers and childcare agencies specialise in children with disabilities or special needs. Contact your local Family working with families with children with special needs, and again Information Service (FIS) for further information.
bestbear.co.uk lists a range of agencies who would be happy to help you There are a number of options available to help parents pay for childcare find a suitable childcarer. and you may be entitled to some additional funding through the disabled child element of Child Tax Credit if you claim DLA for your child. The care When you are meeting with potential childcarers you may want to component of Disability Living Allowance for children can also be used to prepare a list of questions in advance. Think back to the dealbreakers you help pay childcare costs. listed initially and ask questions to ensure these needs will be met. You Direct payments may also be available to you following an assessment of might also want to consider: need by your Local Authority, and these can be used to buy in services for Does the carer have experience in looking after a child with a your child. Direct payments can be used to pay for a home carer, nursery similar disability/needs? place, childminder or out-of-school club. You can also use direct If not, would they be happy for you to show them what is payments to pay a relative to look after your child, provided that person needed and attend appropriate training sessions? You will need does not live at your home and they are considered to be the most to consider whether sufficient and affordable training is suitable person. available locally Can they communicate effectively with your child if they rely on alternative forms of communication such as PECS or sign language?
Tel: 08707 201277 help@bestbear.co.uk

Facebook: Baby-Buzz-Magazine 33
Our Experts
To sleep or not to sleepthat is the question

By: Maryanne Taylor, Child Sleep Works www.childsleepworks.co.uk Congratulations, youve just produced a little bundle of perfection and youre running high on adrenaline and giddy with happiness. You have read up and researched extensively about how this post-partum period is supposed to go bonding with the baby in the first few weeks, for example, is considered essential. You with the help of seemingly endless adverts for nappies, soft toys and baby-friendly moisturising cream - visualise relaxing days cuddling your baby on the sofa, going for walks in the sunshine while he/she sleeps peacefully in the buggy, and meeting friends for coffee with the baby sitting cooing happily on your lap. You are ready to join the new mums conversations about how well your baby eats, poos and sleeps and is simply a delight, such a happy baby, and rarely cries unless hes hungry. This is how its going to be, right? Well it may well be and, if so, to you I say, enjoy! But for the other 99% of us, I have one piece of advice, certainly when it comes to sleep, and that is:dont compare. As youll hear many times over the course of the next 5 years (and beyond), every baby is different, and comparing your babys feeding schedule (or lack of one) or sleep schedule (or lack of one) will serve one purpose and one purpose alone to make you question your own maternal abilities. Too many times I hear words to the effect of but my friends baby just eats, sleeps and coos, and my baby just pukes, cries and poos. Whats wrong with him/me? terms of their sleep needs. Newborn babies have longer periods of asleep than awake time for the first few weeks and months. It may be that YOUR baby (but of course not your friends baby) is ready to go back to sleep after an hour of being awake. And thats fine if thats what he needs. It may be that YOUR baby (again, not your friends baby) wakes up after a nap of 30 minutes. Also fine. Working with, rather than against, your babys sleep patterns for the first few months will help you to understand his needs better, and similarly, as he gets older and his sleep starts falling into a more regular routine.
Suggestion number 3 understand your limitations and trust your instincts. It seems like your friend (the one with the perfect sleeping, perfect eating baby why are you still friends with her anyway??) has embraced this new adventure into motherhood with calm, ease and poise. Barely a ruffle to be seen. Believe me, the ruffle is there, its just well and truly hidden behind closed doors. Dont get bogged down with having to do it all right. There is only what feels right for you and your baby. So leave the pile of dishes in the sink, laundry in the basket, and e-mails in your inbox, and lie on the couch and have a nap when So Id like to share some general suggestions in helping yourthe baby does. It may go against the grain initially but it can be self get acquainted with the sleeping habits of this little person amazingly liberating too. who has just crashed into your world So in a nutshell - to cope with the blissful first few weeks and Suggestion number 1 understand the cry. months of your babys life go with the flow and dont try and Babies by their very nature are programmed to cry (and indeed fix sleeping or feeding patterns; be kind to yourself; and most poo and puke, but thats for another time). If he could com- importantly, ditch the friend with the apparently perfect baby. municate with you in words, your baby would tell you when he was tired and needed to rest his weary head, but until you get Call: 07760 252750 to that point, you will have to make do with the crying. UnderEmail: info@childsleepworks.co.uk standing that cry can be a tremendously empowering feeling. Granted, you do have a list of options to choose from as to what this cry might mean, but after a few weeks youll start to read the signals its been an hour and a half since my last sleep and Im rubbing my eyes and crying = its time for a sleep; its around 3 hours after my last feed and Im grumbling = hungry child; theres a weird smell around here and Im uncomfortable = OK, that ones obvious Suggestion number 2 understand the sleep. In our adult world, its black and white were tired, we sleep (unless of course there are external factors which affect this such as insomnia or non sleeping offspring). Babies are a little more complicated, notwithstanding their inability to tell you whats wrong, and require a different level of understanding in
www.childsleepworks.co.uk
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Our Experts
Bringing baby bottles and business together!

This month we've had lots of people coming to our meetings and even more requesting new areas that Buggy Network will soon be expanding to! Ive been networking away like a mad woman therefore going to other meeting groups and using social media! Im meeting lots of amazing women and some men (although I know there are more of you out there!) and Im finding that people arent all as bad as you might first think(!) That's a funny thing to say, no? Being a Londoner, it seems we're surrounded by people that dont care and only think about themselves. Well that seems to be a true stereotype that I certainly found to be the case when I used to use the underground to commute into town every day. When I was pregnant with my first child I nearly fainted on the train and had to get off and sit on the platform alone till I felt better with not a friendly face in sight. Compare that to my current work and and if a similar thing happened now I know I would be surrounded by amazing people making sure that I was okay with a slice of cake and a cup of tea ready at hand. Im not pregnant but some of my members are and are having a difficult time - it's very difficult when you are a working mum and working for yourself as well! Some people come along and arent sure about what they want to do, or they have a vision but no idea of how to go about it. They ask me if they should come along as they dont feel they have a 'proper business' or business cards etc to pass out. I say "OF COURSE!" - The Buggy Network is about meeting people! The funny thing is that we all love it in the end, because we start the meeting getting coffee, chatting about what we have in common (usually the kids!) but that's probably the last we talk about them since once the meeting starts it's all about you (as it should be - this is work after all!). No-one leaves the meeting feeling like they have wasted their time we leave having met like-minded people that can help us with our jobs and dreams and therefore get inspiration or how to get it done or how to get on our way. We make friends and we get a kick up the bum that we maybe needed, to do SOMETHING not sit at home and think about it! The Buggy Network is about uniting with other parents in our master plans to take over the world, and we can do it! I certainly know that you can, and I know that I want to help you get there! Ive even started up workshops to help members with their social media, and they are going really well! Currently they are just for beginners but you would be surprised what you dont know or may have missed! If you become a Member you will also receive help too in the form of online tutorials to watch when the kids are asleep or when you get 10 minutes to yourself, so there's sure to be something to cover everything and everyone. I hope you can come to a meeting, I hand-pick the best places, and if the coffee and cake isnt up to standard its a definite no-go! Of course we also need the kids to be happy too and usually a carton of juice, a biscuit, some great toys or somewhere where mayhem can be conducted means they get to have a fun time too.
Firstly, you can always make a recommendation with someone elses business in your brain bank, and secondly someone The Buggy Network, is where business cards and babies can always has a helpful suggestion for your own business! We are have fun together whilst we help you build the dreams for your mostly women after all, but even the men that come along get business. stuck in! We seem to thrive on helping each other, we are truly amazing! People often ask about the format of the meetings and I say that there is a small part where you introduce yourself to the people in the room and tell us a bit about yourself. "Oh, really?! Im not really Im not good at that! Do I have to?" YES YOU DO ;-) And further more, you're going to love it! Hee!
For more information and details of next events, please visit: www.thebuggynetwork.com
www.thebuggynetwork.com
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Feature
A heart-breaking true story of what happens when wanting a family isnt as simple as you think it will be
NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS SO EASY

My partner and I had fallen in love at first sight. Well within a year we were pregnant and living together. We adored each other, our son and our life together. Our boy was thirteen months old when I fell pregnant again. I knew straight away and when it was confirmed we were thrilled. Then, about three weeks in I turned to my partner and said 'Baby, I don't think this baby will make it to term'. Instantly I was overwhelmed with a sense of guilt for saying and believing such an awful thing so I put every effort into convincing myself that it wasn't true and imagining who my baby would become. I became sure she was a girl, invested her with the qualities of strength, bravery and nobility and started calling her Ripley (after Sigourney Weaver's character in Alien, what greater feminist icon?). At the time we spent hours each night rocking our son to (back to) sleep so I'd tell him about the baby, the stage it was at now, what newborns are like and what a wonderful big brother he'd make. I easily managed to forget that terrible feeling that had struck and the gloss returned to our dream. I had buried that spark of illumination so deep that I was only slightly perplexed by the length of time the sonographer was staring at the screen at our twelve week scan. However when she turned and asked 'Are you sure about the dates?' I knew exactly what had happened. Our 'twelve week old' was the size of an eight week old and there was no heartbeat. The doctors were concerned about the length of time she'd already been rotting inside me and wanted to hoover me out as soon as possible but the thought of evicting my baby, dead or not, before she was ready to come out was more than I could bear and, besides, I felt that it was my strength of believing in the pregnancy that had maintained it and now that I knew for sure it was over it wouldn't be long before events unfolded spontaneously. I was quite correct and my contractions had begun by the next morning. I was losing fluid, blood and clots which I was trying to catch in a sieve over the toilet- unfortunately it wasn't in place when the baby came- which felt something like a golf ball popping out-and disappeared down the u-bend. I told my partner and had a brief conversation which ended in me elbow deep in the toilet bowl terrified lest my baby was made out of tissue paper and disintegrated at my touch. Luckily she was a little more robust than that. She was in her sac which was complete so we never saw her 'in the flesh' but we could clearly see her golf ball sized head and her tiny spine and the beginnings at least of arms which was the most bitter sweet and tragically beautiful image I now have at my disposal. We wrapped her in our favourite of our son's newborn babygros and buried her under a Eucalyptus with some photographs, an old toy belonging to my partner, a necklace I'd worn every day for five years till that point, a conker for each of us that our son had picked up at the park and a letter I'd had to write to her. Day times I allocated our son a 'no grieving' policy but my nights and my interior became darker and darker. Before the miscarriage I thought I'd found my calling in life, as a mother, but now I sneered at myself for imagining such a thing when I couldn't even successfully carry a baby. I hated myself for ruining everything and of course the depression fed into this as a vicious circle getting worse by the day. So... I starved myself. I cut off communication with my best friends (I didn't know why at the time but now I think that I felt that the girl they'd known since they were eleven was a lie and really I was
this... Monster who wasn't fit to be in their lives). I used to secretly smash my head against the wall which would give me this enormous sense of relief, silencing the tormenting voices in my head to one delicious throb-throb-throb. My partner kept asking what the bumps were and as it became more and more frequent I got more and more scared I'd develop a clot and die (I can't claim to have been too bothered either way for my own sake but I was terrified it'd happen when I was in sole care of Our child and he'd be in danger) so eventually I admitted what I'd been doing, promised to stop (which, but for one or two hiccups I did) and sought help. Over the next few months I took antidepressants which certainly didn't have quite the effect I was after and visited a councillor weekly. It was hard-going but I was determined to fix myself before we had another baby... Till one night. Which left us pregnant again. I couldn't wait to kick the drugs and didn't like the idea of them going through to baby so, against medical advice, I went cold turkey as soon as I knew. I actually found the side effects of the sudden stop (dizziness, hot and cold sweats) strangely satisfying as I knew it was part of my transition to something new. I discovered that without them I wasn't strong enough to do the counselling but I had some useful tools to hand from the sessions I had had previously and things like the eating problem cleared themselves up because I had to look after my new child. He's just turned one. Looking at him helps me a lot because I would have been eight months pregnant with Ripley when he was conceived so I can't long for her situation to be different without imagining him out of the picture which is, of course, impossible. I'm not the same person as I was before the miscarriage and my struggle with depression goes on but the dark times tend to be less dark and less inescapable now- and I've learned the importance of building my defences. Sometimes against my will, I get out there and meet people and talk to them; other mums especially, and meaningfully were opportunity arises. Let me tell you, I have been astonished by the number of people who've gone through this kind of thing and having their stories in my heart too now creates a tapestry that I can cloak around myself when I feel isolated and remind myself that it's not only bearing children that connects you with Earths mothers but losing them too. In a bid to bolster my self esteem which was left in tatters I'm now running a weekly session of crafts, stories and songs for preschoolers and beginning to write. It's refreshing for a mum of two preschoolers to do some work that you can actually finish (as opposed to tidying and bathing and feeding and all those mothers jobs that never end) but what has really helped me is the socialising and the networking where I've met such inspiring women who are all so generous and encouraging. Life is really hard, I realise that now, but I hope I'm also learning how I personally can cope with it and I hope that anybody out there reading this in a similar place to where I was in the dark days takes from this article that the darkness is just part of the human condition, try not to hate yourself for it, grope blindly for any opportunity that might just take you to a slightly new place in your life and, crucially, talk to anybody you can bring yourself to talk to. Bit by bit it gets more bearable.
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Our Experts
Where theres a will

Youve had your baby. Congratulations!
You may already have done a lot of planning for the future and completed lots of official paperwork, including forms for maternity leave, registering the birth, setting up a savings account for your child and maybe booking and budgeting for childcare. Amongst all these must dos you are hopefully making the most of your time with your child, taking them to all sorts of groups and watching them grow. Children are life affirming. friend or relative, but it may also make sense to have more than one executor, including the solicitor, to ensure everything is done properly and in good time. A death in the family is obviously an emotional time and if a friend or relative is grieving, they may well need professional support with the burden of dealing with the masses of paperwork bills, bank accounts, pensions etc when you die. You should talk to whoever you want to appoint about the responsibilities of being an executor before writing your will, so they understand whats involved. Elizabeth said We discussed everything we wanted with family So thinking about writing a will, will be the last thing on your mind, members before having the wills drawn up to be sure they were it shouldnt be. willing to support Jacob according to our wishes. I feel I have peace of mind now that the wills are in place. Michael and I each have Elizabeth had been married for five years before giving birth to one sibling so we decided that my brother and his wife, who Jacob in 2009. She and her husband, Michael, had talked a few already have children, would look after Jacob in the event of our times about making a will but it was something which always deaths and Michaels sister and her husband, who dont have ended up at the bottom of the list in their busy schedule and as children, would be the executors of the will and trustees. The they were married they assumed that if one of them died, the money from our estate will be held in trust for Jacob but we want other would be the beneficiary. However, the need for a will came his carers to have access to it to pay for his upkeep and into sharper focus after Jacob was born. development. The trustees will have to agree for it to be released for his care. Elizabeth said: We had occasionally joked about what would happen if one or both of us went under the proverbial bus. Once As Margaret Mitchell wrote in Gone With the Wind, 1936: Jacob was born we realised it was actually a rather more pressing "Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time issue. For us, it wasnt about passing on money and possessions so for any of them." With a little planning at least you can lessen the much as what would happen to Jacob if, say, we had a fatal car worry and inconvenience for your loved ones. accident but he survived. Who would take care of him? We wanted to set down exactly who would be responsible for bringing Busy Bees Benefits offers a Will Writing service through its partner him up if we werent around when he was still a child. solicitors. For more information please visit: www.busybeesbenefits.com/more-benefits/will-writing Everyone should consider having a will written, no matter what their age, but particularly if they are a parent. A will ensures that your property and possessions (your estate), however small, pass and fill in your details to receive more information or alternatively to the people you actually want them to go to. A will also gives you call us on 0330 333 9100. the opportunity to express your funeral desires, appoint guardians for children, protect your partner if you are unmarried, minimise inheritance tax and provide for your children. Without a will your possessions will have the Rules of Intestacy applied; these rules follow the family tree in a strict order of priority and if you are not married or have remarried your partner or children may not receive anything. You can write your own will, but you need to be sure it is written in such a way that your intentions are clear and that the will is legal. If your will is not legal, then the Rules of Intestacy apply. Elizabeth and Michael approached a solicitor to ensure the will was written correctly. Having taken advice, they decided to have mirror wills which were almost identical documents, reflecting the fact that they had similar wishes. You also need to consider who will be the executor of the will. Being the executor will include doing things like paying debts, taxes, closing bank accounts and paying for funerals and solicitors costs from the proceeds of your estate. The executor could be a
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THEY SAID WHAT?!

case for me. Nor do I want to hear OMG are they triplets?! how horrendous! or triplets! Couldnt think of anything worse Really? Could you really not think of anything worse? If you actually stop and think about what youre saying to me is it ok? For one, you are saying it in front of my children who can hear you! And I am a person with feelings too. If you think about what I was doing when you said it, minding my own business and avoiding eye contact with you and you made an effort to come over to me especially to insult not me but MY CHILDREN!! ? My 7 year old is so used to your stupid comments now that when you walk away she now says mummy there are so many nasty people and rolls her eyes. Did your own mothers really NOT tell you that if you cant say anything nice not to say anything at all? One lady, who is actually a mum herself reacted to the news that I have triplets by physically retching and then holding her stomach and telling me that it had made her feel physically sick! Days later I am still trying to get my head around how it was ok for her to do that? Does she not understand that her very stupid, very childish Sally Overhead, CEO of Mojomums, an online community and reaction to my children was actually very hurtful! recruitment agency aimed at helping mums regain their mojo, talks frankly about peoples reactions to her triplets including BUT in-spite of all of that, the thing that YOU are most guilty of and the thing that ruins my day more than any other is asked by those some very shocking ones! of you who skipped past the whole if you cant say anything nice Having triplets is one of the most wonderful experiences I think dont say anything at all part and just moved right onto asking that you can have. It isnt something that everyone gets to personal questions to a stranger???? experience and the dynamics between three children all born at the same time, doing everything together fascinates me. I think I It happens every time I leave the house with my triplets, I can see am especially lucky as I have two older daughters who I got to you coming. I cringe on your behalf and although you come in enjoy one at a time and when I think about the fact that I now have many disguises, I can spot you a mile off! Im standing in a silent 5 very beautiful, kind and caring children (most of the time) it really queue of 10 people in the post office, you tap me on the shoulder makes me feel very lucky indeed. and here it comes triplets? Are they IVF? However there is one big downside to having triplets and that is YOUOk, so maybe not you personally but Joe Public, the lady in the corner shop, the friend of a friend, the man walking down the road, the 25 people in Sainsburys, the lady at the school gate, the nurse in A&E and the other mum who I met for the first time at a kids party at the weekend. Some of you just say really stupid things, and actually thats ok we still dine out on the lady who asked me if they would all be one on their first birthday! I cant help but be amused by three twins and asking me if they are all identical (I have two very different girls and one boy) is also pretty amusing! Stupid but amusing! Seriously you have just asked me how my children were conceived!! You dont know me, I dont know you, you havent asked me my name or if they are even my children, you havent introduced yourself, shook my hand, youre not a friend or member of my family instead of answering that very personal question, how would you feel if I asked you how your children were conceived? missionary position?
Would you on a normal day walk around Tesco displaying a box of condoms on the top of your trolley for all to see? Announcing to the queue, just these condoms and some bananas please Or would you hide them under your shopping along with your tampax and thrush cream because you do not want complete strangers to However, take note those of you who feel it is OK to unburden know your personal life? your own feelings towards the thought of having three of your own child on me they are not three of your children they are three of SO why then do you think that I would want to share that mine. My children are polite and well behaved and I LOVE THEM! information with YOU? IT IS NOT ok for you to ask me a very I do not want to hear that you would commit suicide, die or be personal question LET ALONE about my children IN FRONT OF MY horrified if you had triplets that may be the case but it isnt the CHILDREN?
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Because of YOU at the age of 5, I had to explain to my daughter who knew nothing about the birds and the bees what IVF was, because of you I have had to do the same with my 4 year old, because of you my triplets will also be having that subject explained to them before they have to!! Because of you I dont like going out on days where I am in a rush, because of you sometimes I dont go out and because of you I avoid the dreaded queue where you can get my undivided attention and I cant escape! For the record, I love my children, all of them the same including the triplets. I dont forget their names, get them mixed up or split my love 5 ways! I have 5 times as much love to give. I would not change my life for the world, I know parents whose one child is harder work than my five put together. Yes it is harder to get out sometimes; maybe you could offer a hand rather than staring and talking about me behind my back? My triplets slept through the night at 11 weeks old, how old were your children? I work, I do normal things, we have already taken three holidays since they Please pass this blog onto everyone you know, and everyone I were born and we are going on two more this year having triplets know! Not because I want you to read my blog but because I want to be able to leave my house and return with my dignity in tact! is like winning the lottery! Although it goes against my upbringing and an inner need to respect others, respect their privacy and be polite I have decided that from today on, if you insult me, or ask me a personal question I am going to tell you that you have insulted me and point out that the question you just asked was inappropriate -I hope that you wont be offended. So unless you are coming over to me to tell me how lucky I am, how beautiful my children are or to ask the time, please dont bother and IF YOU HAVENT GOT ANYTHING NICE TO SAY PLEASE DONT SAY IT AT ALL!!!
By Sally Overhead Founder, Mojomums
www.mojomums.co.uk
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Our Experts
There are so many questions around this subject, and, depending on what you read, you might find a confusing minefield of conflicting advice, especially in the internet chat rooms. Saying that, when you look through the all the main-site advice of mumsnet et al, you will find an overriding theme that matches the received wisdom, correlating to the NHS guidelines, and offering strong clear advice for the best principals to start your baby onto solids. These guidelines are, on the whole, very clear and sensible. Ideally you do not need to introduce solids until your baby is ready. When babies are able to sit up of their own accord, and are able to coordinate moving their hands to their mouth of their own accord, and when they can easily swallow, these are the key and clear signs that your baby is ready to begin to experiment with food. The important thing to remember is that you will be giving your baby all the nutrition they need from breast or bottle feeding, and, in the beginning, all you need to do is provide the space and opportunity for your baby to begin to experiment with food.
Weaning: Slow and steady wins the day
So when is the right time to begin solid feeding? Every baby is different. In Chinese medicine we would look at timing first foods to when baby is really beginning to move about more, whether that may be rolling, crawling, sitting up to play, and certainly when they begin to move themselves about on the furniture, finding their way towards walking. The reasoning here is to recognise that once baby begins to start moving, they will be needing more calorific fuel to help motor themselves. Initial feeds should be about helping your baby to adjust to the new sensations and to learn to digest this more complex kind of nourishment. Breastmilk and formula is very easy to digest. The gentle introduction of solids is all about helping the stomach and the spleen-pancreas and the liver and small intestine and large intestine learn how to breakdown and process these new foods.
A guiding principal in the very beginning is that it is best to just feed one food at a time, meaning at one feed you only use one food. This is very supportive to helping the pancreatic and liver enzymes and amino acids to do their job. The best place to start is at your dinner table. This is just as much about When lots of foods come in all at once, this can be too complex for a socialising as it is about food, and in the beginning it does not really need to digestive system that is only just trying to learn to break things down. be about eating. Your baby will just be delighted to join in the scene, and will enjoy copying you and learning about the shared intimacy of enjoying a meal Carrots, butternut squash, potato, swede, parsnip, sweet potato and together. Slow and easy introduction is the best way, there is absolutely no pumpkin are all ideal. Interesting this also fits with the Chinese medicine associations of foods to organs. All of these foods tend to be in the orange rush. colour range and they are all very naturally sweet both of which are the Initially, as you begin to introduce your little one to eating, sit down to your colour and flavour associated to the spleen. own dinner, pop baby into their high chair and offer a few things for them to play with foods they can easily pick up and carry to their mouths, things The key player in the development of your childs digestion is the spleenwhich they can use their lips to explore, that they can enjoy gumming on, pancreas. Did you know that when we are born, the spleen is virtually already its adult size?! Isnt that amazing our whole body grows to fit our and that they will not choke upon (!). spleen!! This tells us something about the immense importance of this organ Be sure to give them their cutlery to play with, the nice soft edged plastic in our digestion for what are babies if not pure digestion machines eat, spoons that are easy to grip are best. Best to start with spoons, as babies will poo sleep, eat, poo sleep. stab themselves as they learn to manage the cutlery, so forks should be avoided. Plastic is better as they might hurt themselves if they misjudge and There are some great books and websites out there offering good clear bash themselves as often happens! It will be kid-o-vision for you as you advice for how to make a gentle start. Initially use your breastmilk or formula watch your little one learns to manage the difficult coordination of bringing to make vegetable purees and baby rice. Only feed one food at a time, and hand to mouth often gigleworthy. Thats why these play sessions at the in the very beginning it is best to only feed one thing for 3 days in a row. This table are so valuable. Eating is not the aim, its just a chance for your baby to gives you a good opportunity to see if your baby is having any food reactions. If baby is consistently spitting a food back out, it either means that they are copy and learn and develop their coordination. not quite ready for swallowing, so just slow track the solids. It may also may Ideal first things could be gluten free, additive free sugar free rusks. There mean that they really do NOT like the flavour of the food you are introducing. are some good organic products on the market without added any sugar salt The trick in all this is to have immense patience, help to make it fun, be very or preservatives, so please do shop around. The current wisdom is that it is observant about what interests them and what they prefer not to have, and very important to not start your baby on any wheat, gluten, nuts, peanuts, by all means be sure to cut yourself some slack. There is no race, and with a peanut products, seeds, liver, eggs, fish, shellfish, cows milk and soft or slow and careful start you will find that your babys digestion develops well, unpasteurised cheese. Add to that list any salt, sugar, or additives and generating a strong and robust interest in food, and that eventually they will eat anything and everything with appetite and enjoyment. preservatives. Carrot sticks are wonderful, as the carrot is naturally sweet, and babies love this flavour (Ill explain more in a moment), and any food which is about the size of your finger is useful for your baby to mouth and teeth and just generally explore, without any need to ingest it. Things like carrot, celery, cucumber sticks are great, and you can keep them in the fridge, as the cold hard surface of the vegetable sticks can be quite soothing for baby to gum on when they are teething. Any books, internet sites, articles by Annabel Karmel will point you in just the right direction, and the advice of Clare Byam-Cook will also steer you towards the right first foods for your baby. Happy eating! And do learn to enjoy wiping up pureed food mess or perhaps think about getting a dog theyll hoover up any mess with ease!
Jani runs regular monthly weaning workshops at the Haelan Centre in Crouch Letting your baby play with food is the best way to begin, so things which are End. large enough not to choke on are most ideal. Try letting them mess about with some baby rice or sieved mashed potato, it will be Messy, but the key Website: www.naturechild.co.uk word here is fun! Your baby will watch and copy you, trying to bring food to Mobile: 07932 00 00 25 their mouth, experimenting with the feel, the texture, the taste. Of course, Email: jani@naturechild.co.uk they will end up wearing most of it.
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Getting Started With Baby-led Weaning

Baby-led Weaning (BLW) is increasing in popularity as parents recognise the benefits of allowing their child to self-feed. But with so many different ideas and confusion around the concept, here are some simple steps to get you started. What is Baby-led Weaning? Baby-led weaning (BLW) is when you offer solid foods to your baby and allow them to feed themselves. This differs to traditional weaning where you spoon-feed your baby pured and mashed foods. How do I know my baby is ready to explore solids? The UK Department of Health (DoH) recommend introducing solid foods on top of breast or formula milk at around 6 months and not before 4 months (17 weeks). However, the DoH also recognise that each child is unique and recommend that each infant must be managed individually. Watch for signs your child is ready to explore solid foods. These include: Sitting up with little or no support Wanting to put toys and other objects in their mouth Grabbing your food and popping it in their mouth
How do I do it? Make sure your baby is sitting upright Dont let anyone, except your baby, put food in their mouth Dont leave your baby alone with food Dont offer your baby any salt, sugar, whole nuts or raw honey Cut small fruits such as grapes and cherries in half and remove any stones Be prepared for a mess and to have some fun! Always place at least two food options on the plate or highchair table. This enables your child to make a choice around what to put in their mouth. If they dont choose to eat and instead smear it across their cheeks, stay calm and relaxed and dont worry. This is not about nutrition - your child will still get all the nutrients they need from breast milk or formula and by around 9-12 months next mealtime or another day. Throughout weaning, continue to they will probably have got the hang of eating and they will offer regular milk feeds and gradually your baby will reduce their choose to drink less milk as they eat more solids. milk intake as their appetite for food grows Offer colourful foods. Children interact with food in the same way What should I serve? they do with toys: They see a bright toy/food that sparks their True BLW enthusiasts will tell you to offer your baby whatever youre having. If youre among the many parents who feel interest and reach to pop it in their mouth. uncomfortable serving up a thai green curry or lasagne as a first Offer your baby the opportunity to try some food, dont feed meal we have put together some First Menus for you to try. them. If theyre not interested, dont worry and try again at the
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Recipes
Cucumber platter
MENU: Grated cucumber Cucumber sticks with skin on Cucumber sticks with skin off Cucumber & mint dip To serve, simply pop some of each on a plate or the highchair table and let your little one explore.
Did you know....

Cucumber is not a common intolerance or allergen since it is primarily water. However, that doesnt mean to say it cant be one Offering a single food type at a time, yet in different ways means you can identify an intolerance quickly
Although the same ingredient, the different ways it is presented means it is seen as a different food by your child so they feel By taking a cucumber and quartering it, you will get a good size empowered and in control by making a choice over what to eat stick for your little one to grab The different colours with dark green and light green will stimuCucumber & Mint Dip late your babys interest Preparation time: 5 minutes cucumber (remove skin by peeling with a vegetable peeler) Cucumbers are not nutrient-dense and may not satisfy a hungry 2 tbsp full-fat natural Greek yogurt baby 4-6 fresh mint leaves For teething babies, the cucumber sticks can soothe and cool the 1. Whizz the ingredients in a food processor and serve: gums Leftovers: Use the dip to cool down a hot curry Cucumbers can cause some babies to be quite windy Leftovers: Whizz in a garlic clove and squeeze of lemon juice to make a tzatziki. Your little one looks to you to make sure what they eat is safe so Leftovers: Yummy served with the Broccoli Nuggets (see enjoy eating the same foods together. recipe below) Adult add-on: Sit down with your baby and enjoy dipping your own choice of raw veggies in this dip
Recipes
Menu: Steamed Broccoli Florets Broccoli Nuggets (recipe below) Broccoli Cheese (recipe below) Broccoli Puree (recipe below) Broccoli Nuggets Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes 8-10 Broccoli florets Breadcrumbs (2-3tbsp) Grated cheese (1-2 tbsp) Full-fat milk (4-6 tbsp) 1. 2. 3. 4. Steam/boil the broccoli for several minutes until tender Preheat the oven to 190C (180 Fan), Gas 5 Allow the broccoli to cool. Pop in the food processor to chop Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and mix together to make a gloopy mixture (add more breadcrumbs or cheese to thicken and milk to make wetter) Shape the mixture in to patties or sausages Grease a baking sheet and lay out your nuggets and pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes (turning after 10 minutes). Theyre cooked when golden and firm
5. 6. Broccoli Puree Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: <5 minutes 1 small potato (peeled and chopped) 1-2 garlic cloves (peeled) 10-12 broccoli florets 250ml salt-free chicken stock 4 tbsp cream cheese 1tbsp parmesan cheese (optional) 1. Steam / boil the potatoes and broccoli until soft (10-20 minutes) 2. Chuck all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz so it has a mashed potatoey feel Leftovers: Add more stock to thin the sauce. Stir-in with some cooked pasta for a lovely pasta sauce Leftovers: Pop in a casserole dish, top with some breadcrumbs and cheese and under the grill for 5-10 minutes until golden and bubbling to make a quick Broccoli Gratin
Tip: Try serving with our Cucumber & Mint Dip (recipe above) Tip: Try blitzing some porridge oats in a food blender and using instead of the breadcrumbs
Broccoli Cheese Preparation time: <5 minutes Cooking time: <5 minutes 6-8 Broccoli florets Grated cheese (1-2 handfuls) Knob of Butter (melted) Ground Black Pepper & Squeeze of lemon juice (optional) Steam the broccoli until tender and then tip in to a microwave-safe dish 2. Pour melted butter, black pepper and lemon juice (if using) on to the broccoli 3. Sprinkle cheese over the top and pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted Tip: Tip: Ensure the cheese is cooled thoroughly before serving This works as a quick side dish to any meal 1.
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Recipes
Each month we feature savoury options for children ranging from birth to approximately toddler stages. For the June issue we have also featured some baby led weaning tips and recipes . For this issue, we also decided to do something a little more fun and catered towards the older child (and adult of course). I had the pleasure of meeting lovely Suzy Pelta at a networking event recently and we got talking about how I love everything sweet but more importantly the wonderful baking kits she has created. The baking kits are available for purchase from www.notonthehighstreet.com, www.amazon.com and www.bakerandmaker.com. For this issue, Suzy gave us the Triple Chocolate Scones baking tin which was so wonderfully simple to follow and delicious that we couldnt help sharing the step by step process we followed. For more information on Suzys Baking Kits and more yummy recipes just visit www.suzypeltabakes.com
Suzy Pelta Bakes
1. The ingredients
4.
Mix well
7.
Lots and lots of little balls
2.
Read the instructions
5.
Mix into a sticky dough
8.
All ready to go in the oven
3.
Put ingredients into bowl
6.
Roll into little balls
9.
All ready to eat!!!!
Enjoy xx
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Legal
LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING CHILDREN

Here at Chapman Pieri Solicitors we specialise exclusively in all aspects of family law and education law. We are experts in our filed and are Accredited Specialist of Resolution. Resolution is an organisation of professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. We follow a Code of Practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family problems. We encourage solutions that consider the needs of the whole family and in particular the best interests of children. Children & Parental responsibility (PR) People often have a misconception when it comes to the issue of Parental Responsibility for a child and concerns about the children upon separation. I have set out a guide which I hope you will find useful. Please do not consider the guide to be anything other than general information and is not the same as obtaining legal advice. Each case is different and specialist advice should be sought where necessary. What is and who has Parental responsibility (PR)? PR is defined as all rights, duties and responsibilities that a parent has in relation to a child. Birth mothers automatically have parental responsibility for a child from the moment of birth, as do fathers, where the parents are married or marry later. Whether unmarried fathers have PR will depend upon the childs date of birth and whether he is named on the childs birth certificate. Unmarried couples: If a child's birth is registered on or after 1st December 2003 by both parents together and the father's name is on the birth certificate, then the father will automatically gain PR. If the birth was registered prior to 1st December 2003 or where it was registered after that date but by the mother alone, then the father will not have automatic PR. Fathers without PR can obtain it entering into a formal agreement with the mother or by an order through the Courts. Step-fathers can also apply for PR. Where both parents have PR, they should consult one another on major issues such as religion, education, name change and medical matters. Each parent may act alone but this is subject to any statutory provision to the contrary. INTERESTING COURT CASES:Court terminates Fathers Parental Responsibility In one of the first reported cases since 1995, the Court has determined that the childs needs justify the termination of PR. The Judge terminated the PR of a father who had been imprisoned for sexual abuse of his own child's half-sisters. The case concerned D who was born to the parties in 2004. In 2009 the father pleaded guilty to sexual offences committed on two of the Mothers daughters from another relationship. The father was sentenced to a total of 48 months imprisonment and was released at the halfway point in June 2011. Immediately upon his release from prison, the mother issued an application for the termination of the fathers PR. The father then applied for a Specific Issue Order (please see below) requiring the mother to supply annual reports as to the child's progress. The Judge concluded that the "magnetic factors" in this case were D's emotional needs, the harm he had suffered, and the risk of future harm. He concluded that D's emotional security would be imperilled were the father to continue to have any further involvement in his life. The father's PR was terminated and his application for a Specific Issue Order was rejected. The only other reported case on the termination of PR dates back to 1995: In that case the Judge allowed an application to terminate PR (acquired by a PR agreement) in relation to a father who had been sent to prison for causing serious injuries to his child. The Judge held that the order was justified as the father had "forfeited" his PR and in considering the merits of the application for PR in these circumstances, a Court would not have granted the application.
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Legal
Children Act Proceedings Sometimes, it becomes necessary for the Court to become involved in making decisions about a child. For example, a Court may be asked to decide where and with whom a child should live or where and when contact should take place with a non-resident parent. When the Court is asked to consider a matter affecting a child, the childs welfare is of paramount consideration and the Court will have regard to the following: The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding); The childs physical, emotional and educational needs; The likely affect on the child or any change in his/her circumstances; The childs age, sex, background and any characteristics which the Court considers relevant. Any harm which the child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering; How capable are each of its parents and any other parent in question to whom the Court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his needs; The range of powers available to the Court under the Act of the proceedings in question.
There are a number of Orders that can be obtained under the Children Act 1989. When the Court is considering whether or not to make one or more Orders with respect to a child, it shall not make the Orders unless it considers that doing so will be better for the child than making no Order at all. This is because of the new attitude of the Court is that if matters can be dealt with by agreement between the parents it is better for the child and the parents. However, in a case where no agreement can be reached the matter will have to be decided by the Court. There a range of Orders available under the Childrens Act such as:A) Residence Order/Shared Residence Order This is an Order which settles the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom a child is to live. It affects where the child is resident each week (other than exceptions listed in the paragraph below). The other parent retains all other parental responsibility. A Resident Order can be made in favour of two or more persons who do not live together. It may specify the period during which a child is to live in different households. It is possible to get an unequal share in Residence Orders. So, for example, you can have an order which states the child is to live with one parent during the week and the other at weekends. A Residence Order automatically affects two other parental rights. Firstly, once such an order is in force, no person can cause the child to be known by a new surname without either the written consent of every other person who has parental responsibility or the leave of the Court. Secondly, where a Residence Order is in force, no person may remove the child from the United Kingdom without the written consent of every other person who has parental responsibility or the leave of the Court. The person in whose favour the residence order is made may take the child out of the jurisdiction for less than one month without such consent. This provision is meant to cover holidays. The Order can impose conditions which must be complied with by specific persons such as school attendance. In addition, an Interim Order can be made at any stage in proceedings. A Residence Order requiring residence with the parents ends automatically if the parents live together for a continuing period of 6 months. B) Contact Order This Orders that a person with whom a child lives is to allow the child to visit or stay with the person named in the order, or, for that person of the child otherwise to have contact with each other. It permits not only physical contact but also indirect contact by letter and telephone. As it permits staying contact it overlaps with the Residence Order. Contact Orders are a right of the child and not of the parties. Contact will therefore usually be granted unless there is a very good reason why it should not. The normal form of Order would be for reasonable contact leaving details to the parties but this may not work in practice and therefore it is usually necessary to specify the times/dates of the contact. Prohibited Steps Order This is an Order providing that certain steps which cannot be taken by the parent in meeting his parental responsibility for a child which is of a kind specified in the Order. These steps shall not be taken by any person without the consent of the Court. This type of Order can be used against anyone, not just a parent, and can be used to prevent abduction, to prevent a change of name, or be used to forbid contact with a child.
C)
Legal
D) Specific Issue Order This is an Order giving directions for the purpose of determining a specific question which has arisen, or which may arise in connection with any aspect of parental responsibilities for a child. The aim is not to give one parent a general right to make decisions about a particular parental responsibility, but to settle a specific dispute. The most common uses are Orders to settle a dispute about schooling or to settle a dispute about medical treatment. With regard to Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders, it is possible to obtain an ex-parte Order (where no notice is given to the other party) if there is an emergency. This means that you may ask the Court to make an Order in the absence of the other party. For example, if it was an emergency situation and for a certain reason you believe it would be in the best interests of the child to not involve the other parent. Ex-parte applications are not very common as there is a high threshold to prove to the Court why a party should not be notified of proceedings.
If you require advice on any aspect of family law such as childrens matters, divorce, dispute about the finances of a marriage upon divorce or any other family law matter please do not hesitate to contact us at Chapman Pieri Solicitors on Tel. 0208 882-9850; Email. info@cpfamilylaw.co.uk or check us out on www.cpfamilylaw.co.uk or Facebook. We offer a fixed fee Consultation at 75 plus VAT so please call to book an appointment with one of our Resolution Accredited Family Law Specialist Solicitors.
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Feature
The Mummy-to-Be
Its been all go this month, what with a 22 week scan to look forward to and new midwives to meet. Bump seems keen to be part of the action as its suddenly popped out and become very visible. Ive started feeling some light movements, too. Initially I thought my bowels had started throwing mini tantrums, but its turned out to be Baby. The most pressing conundrum of the month (and possibly the pregnancy) has been whether we find out the sex of the baby. Before we went for our second scan, my boyfriend and I discussed whether we wanted to know what the little chap or chappess, was. I was keen to find out and Andrew, my boyfriend, didnt mind either way. As we live in a one-bed flat which is roughly the size of a Weetabix box (youd struggle to swing a hamster, never mind a cat), we didnt exactly have the worry of wondering what colour to paint the nursery more what colour to paint the corner of our bedroom. Ultimately, Im impatient and nosey so we agreed to find out. Before the scan shenanigans, we had our first appointment with the community midwives. Theyll be taking me through the remainder of the pregnancy and helping me with birth plans etc, so we both wanted to meet them. All was going well until the waiting room at the health centre filled up with tiny babies (as well as a mums-to-be clinic, there was a new-born baby group happening at the same time). Andrew gave up his chair to a new mum, and the receptionist bought out a tiny childs chair for him to sit on. It was bright green and would have nicely accommodated a two-year-old. Andrew politely declined the chair, but the receptionist insisted that he sit on it. Go on, its very strong. Itll save you standing up. Not wishing to be rude, Andrew took the chair and perched on it. It may have been a bit small, but Andrew looked very much at home sitting on it in his business suit. More importantly, the rest of the waiting room seemed to find the spectacle thoroughly entertaining, which was good its important to make friends early on! Once in, we sc listened to Babys heart, had a chat with the midwives about birth plans and were on our way, ready for the scan.
Trimester 2
re en
When Scan Day finally rolled around, I was beside myself with excitement. Andrew and I were convinced that we were expecting a boy, as were our families. We had no grounds for this assumption at all, we just sort of knew. Before our 6.30pm scan, I had to endure a day of touring of theatre ticketing call centres in the East Midlands for work. I discovered that it is very difficult to concentrate on venue software and OAP matinee discounts when youre about to find out whether youll be dealing with Vicky Pollard or one of the Inbetweeners in sixteen years time. Finally it was time to escape back to London, and after being reunited then having a brief fight in and excitedly declaring that Andrew was going to have to get used to having the taxi queue at St Pancras, Andrew and I were on our way. two women in the house. In no time at all I was on my back, tummy out, covered in jelly, trying to make out the grainy pictures on the monitor. Although I have decent eyesight, I confess to not being able to make head nor tail of the on-screen action. It didnt help that I was sideways-on with the doctors elbow in the way. Andrew was nodding along with the doctors, confidently throwing a few oohs, and ahhs in for good measure. There were three doctors in attendance including a junior, who was manning the scanning camera (the transducer, if you dont mind). About half an hour in, the junior doctor discovered that he hadnt been taking the photographs correctly so we had to start again. It was no problem, but it meant we had to wait another half an hour to find out which flavour tyke wed been cultivating. Once everything was measured and photographed, he covered the screen with his hands and theatrically demanded that we guess whether our baby was a boy or a girl (wed told him earlier that we wanted to know). He looked like a magician performing a trick. Come on, guess! he said, nodding enthusiastically. Andrew and I looked at each other and both shyly muttered boy. Wrrrrong! shouted the doctor gleefully, you have a little girl in there! He was in full performance mode now, pointing out things on the
I was staggered a little girl! We were wrong! Our psychic powers were hopeless! In an absolute daze I got up and we discussed the results with the doctors. Everything was normal according to the scan so we could go away and share our news with our families. A baby girl. Wow! Once we got home I burst into tears. Finding out the sex makes everything so much more real (I know, I know... the growing bump, morning sickness and constipation make things pretty transparent). I was overwhelmed, but we were both delighted. There are lots of girls in my family, so I know where I am with the female of the species. Andrew, however, doesnt have any sisters or female cousins so spent the rest of the evening with a look of panic on his face. That look of panic has been there for a couple of weeks now. Every now and again he mutters something about our little girl not being allowed to have a boyfriend until shes at least 35. Hell grow out of it. I on the other hand have been shopping for budget maternity clothes online with mixed results. More on my elasticated-waistband findings next month!
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Mr Ma !
By Lawrence McGrandles Jnr
Feature
This past month saw me face something of a conundrum, not a simple anagram type conundrum a-la Countdown but more an is this the right thing to do at this moment in my life? type conundrum, the sort that would make Countdown far more interesting although thirty seconds may not, strictly speaking, be sufficient thinking time for life affecting questions. The question I was facing was, should I go back to work? Not a new question in the grand scheme of parenting but one that is an emotional and financial minefield.
days, and the performances would be evenings. There would be a couple of matinee shows but with a lot of jiggery pokery on my wifes shifts those could be made to fall on her day off. I accepted the job and made arrangements for my first day of rehearsal. The first day was very odd as it involved me traveling on public transport first thing in the morning which I hadnt done in a very long time. The novelty of it seemed to dispel the usual lack of charm that a packed train carriage normally conveys and I smiled all the way in to work. The day was fairly easy but it felt quite long being away from Monkey #1 and Monkey #2 when normally I would be apart from them only until 4pm at the latest. The performances, of which there were only nine, involved getting to the theatre at least an hour before the show was due to start and so I would have to leave either just as Monkey #1 was getting home or just before and this meant that on a couple of occasions I would only see the kids first thing in the morning while getting them ready for school. For a lot of parents this is probably quite usual but for me having been used to doing the whole thing from breakfast to dinner to bath to bed this sudden change was quite disconcerting. It also made me wonder how well adjusted I was to the idea of going back to work full time and if the reward of getting to do a job I really enjoyed outweighed the rewards of being a full time dad.
For my family this particular minefield also has to take into account the fact that my six year old son is on the autistic spectrum so any childcare or babysitting arrangements have to be weighted heavily with that in mind. With regard to childcare or babysitting the scenario normally plays out like this; we get an invitation to go somewhere and get all excited at the chance to have a grown up day/night out, we then pause, look at each other and say in unison what about the kids? At this point I phone my mother to see if she is available (she works a shift pattern that includes very early earlies and very late lates). If she is around she will always say yes and we can relax knowing that Monkey #1 will be in good hands as Nana is well versed in all of his little ticks and habits. If Nana is unavailable we have a very good family friend who also happens to be Godmother to Monkey #1 and so also aware of what makes him him, but once those avenues are expended we are invariably forced to say I dont think I am quite ready to stop being Mr Mum but the sorry but we can not attend. reviews have come in from the play and they have been quite I should point out that the work I was contemplating going back nice. I enjoyed it thoroughly, whilst discovering that the job I to was part of my former life as an actor. I was offered the short trained for four years to do and then practiced (intermittently) run of a play at a London fringe theatre for expenses only. The for the last sixteen years is still one I love and one I am able to run would only be nine performances and the rehearsal period do, however I have also found out that I enjoy another job that I before hand would be three weeks to fit around peoples have had no training for, am good at but am unlikely to ever get availability. This meant I would be able to dictate my availability any reviews for. based on when I could get my childcare arranged and would only be in short bursts. So essentially it would mean minimal disruption because it was not going to be a lot of nine to five
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Education
Training, Educational Consultancy and Guardianship Services

At James-Lee Consultancy, we offer a wide range of services from Educational Consultancy, placing students into their chosen educational institution to providing UK Guardianship Services to the arrangement of Personal Tutors. We offer expert, impartial, honest and accurate information to help students and their parents with their choices. Choosing the right school We understand that finding the right school for your child can be a confusing and a lengthy process. Our experienced educational consultants have collectively placed hundreds of students into educational institutions and can assist parents into finding the right school/college or university and assist them on the application process. We work with independent schools, independent colleges, state boarding schools and universities and we can support parents in most aspects of their childrens education. Our educational consultancy services are bespoke to your needs and requirements. Short courses Aside from long-term courses, we advise and place students into short-term courses such as summer camps, Easter revision, English as an Additional Language and re-sits in AS and A-levels. We also offer one-to-one Personal Tutors in all academic subjects and foreign languages (French, Spanish and Mandarin to name a few). Subjects & Course Selection, University application and UCAS We can provide continuous support on the UK university application process including guiding students in completing UCAS and writing an effective personal statement. We can also give them guidance in choosing the right subjects and courses as well as helping them with looking for work experience and placements and with writing their CV. Once the A-level results have been published in August and should results not go to plan, we also give advice and give support on Clearing and re-sitting A-levels. It is our belief that placing the students emotions, education and welfare at the centre of all our actions helps ensure the students feel happy and secure. This will allow them to grow in confidence and flourish in their chosen academic field and gain lifelong skills. We pride ourselves on providing the best possible care and support for all our students wellbeing and development. We are impartial and ultimately we have the students best interests at heart so the advice we provide is always honest. All the information that we give has been extensively researched, is always factual and is thoroughly reviewed. All our members of staff are fully trained and inducted with our business policies and procedures before they can carry out any of our services. They have had an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and have had a thorugh background check. They are all experienced or have a background in training, teaching and/or education. Host Families Required We are always on a look out to recruit good Host Families throughout the year. We need caring host families in safe areas to offer single and twin rooms to our international students. Personal Tutors in all academic subjects required We are currently recruiting for experienced Personal Tutors with a minimum of an undergraduate degree in all subjects from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5 for one-toone tuition. We also require EAL and ESOL Tutors. All tutors must be UK residents and have the right to live and work in the UK. We are highly selective in choosing our Host Families and Tutors. They are vetted thoroughly and we carry out enhanced CRB checks on everyone working with us. We offer competitive rates, prompt payments and continuous support. Safeguarding our students is our priority! If you are interested in learning more about the roles or would like to apply to work with us, please contact us. www.babybuzzmagazine.com twitter.com/@Babybuzzmag Facebook: Baby-Buzz-Magazine
Educational Consultancy Services

We give advice on: School, College and University selection and placement Subject and course selection (e.g.: in post 16 education GCSEs; A-levels; IB; GNVQ; foundation; diploma or degree courses) Admissions including: entry exam preparation; mock interview and preparation; clearing system for universities; personal statement review Work experience advice including Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) Preparation, interview and presentation skills training Changing educational institutions Scholarship and funding UCAS application ESOL courses IELTS preparation Tutoring Soft skills training Special university entrance exams e.g.: UKCAT; BMAT Entrance requirements for schools, colleges and universities Life in the U.K.
For more information, please contact us for a free consultation on: +44 (0) 208 886 53 00 / +44 (0) 7990 970 806 or email us on: info@jamesleeconsultancy.com or send an enquiry via our website: www.jamesleeconsultancy.com
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Education
55
Travel
Westholme Lodges Aysgarth, Leyburn, Yorkshire Dales

What the brochure says:
Westholme Lodges is part of the Evermore Lodge Holidays Collection, the ultimate in stylish relaxation tucked away on the banks of fabulous Bishopdale Beck. Surrounded by the rolling countryside, flower-filled meadows and lush valleys of Bishopdale, this blissful retreat unlocks endless opportunities for peace, tranquility and creating cherished memories with family and friends. Luxury meets scenic splendour in these superchic lodges, with hot tubs (dependent on lodge selected) providing the ideal venue for soaking up the views. As a perfect complement to doing as little or as much as you please, Hendersons bar and restaurant is at hand for sampling some delicious Yorkshire home cooking. This is the heart of the Dales, the inspiration for the famous Bronts and home to some of Englands finest walking along the Pennine Way. Brimham Rocks and Malham Cove offer awesome natural delights, while Ripon, an hours drive away, has evocative ruins, glorious gardens and a theme park though Bettys Tea Rooms hosts unmissable Yorkshire treats for any visitor! The accommodation provided for the review was the Westholme Oak, at Westholme Lodges, Yorkshire part of the Evermore Lodge Holiday Collection courtesy of Hoseasons. Accommodation within the park consists of lodges sleeping between two to six people. A weeks stay at Westholme Lodges starts from 269 and a short-break starts from 165.
What you actually get:

For a UK based holiday break this was certainly one that took me by surprise. I hadnt been on a UK based trip in an awfully long time and so when the opportunity came to review something at home, I jumped at the chance. Pictures can be very deceptive so when I viewed the online pictures of the park lodges I was a little sceptical. When I arrived at the main reception to pick up my keys I was greeted by an extremely warm and friendly team. I opened the door to my lodge to be met by a warm, inviting interior with the music on low. The interior of the lodges are more luxurious than the pictures depict and the sense of luxury exudes from every room. The sense of serenity and calm hits you almost immediately upon entering the park and you truly do come here to unwind and enjoy the park and all it has to offer. It is an amazing base to wonder off on long walks or to drive to the many towns surrounding the park from Wensleydale to unknown little towns dotted in between. The restaurant onsite serves a lovely array of different dishes some of which are local traditional recipes. Prices are more than reasonable but should you wish to buy some groceries and be more self-accommodating and cost aware then there is a fully stocked cooperative a mere 10 minute drive away. Perhaps the one thing we would recommend would be an on site shop so that you wouldnt need to depend on your car whilst on holiday. Otherwise this is definitely one place we will be visiting again as a family.
For more information about holidaying with Hoseasons in the UK and in Europe please contact:
Rating: 5 / 5
www.hoseasons.co.uk 0844 847 1100

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Travel
Camping la Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Rivire

What the brochure says:
Camping la Croix du Vieux Pont is a tranquil parkland site with graceful poplar trees, bowing willows, vibrant cherry blossom and neat hedges. This is a fantastic site to wander around meet the bird life along the riverside or the friendly ducklings in the grounds of the adjacent chteau. At the centre of the site there are two lakes for fishing and watersports, plus a small lake complete with a sandy beach and beach side bar. This flat site offers a playground for children along with fun trampolines and a new indoor facility with activities such as bowling, laser quest and an exciting soft play area. There are first-class facilities, including a well-run restaurant with a childrens menu, highchairs and early eating times. A sunny terrace overlooks the fantastic pool complex with a superb heated indoor pool with waterslides and a lagoon-style outdoor pool. Canvas are also about to celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, so clearly they are doing something right!
What you actually get:

The description of the parkland couldnt be more accurate! The park itself is very large but extremely tranquil. The area appears quite isolated but if you have a car then you have access to a variety of local towns, with Disneyland Paris being just 45 minutes away! Canvas offers a wide array of different camping options with stunning log cabins that sleep up to 10 to pop-up tents that at first glance make you think youve taken a step back in time. Fortunately once you step inside the most basic of tents you find that the beds have memory foam mattresses and the kitchen has plumbing facilities with fridge freezer. The park is suitable for all ages so if you wanted to have a family holiday ranging from baby to grandparent everybody would be catered for. The childrens activities especially are out of this world with a fantastic selection of different games to participate in that boredom just wouldnt be a concern. Prices vary during peak and off peak times but one thing you can be sure of, there is something to suit every budget.
www.canvasholidays.co.uk
Rating: 4 / 5
Travel
As much as I love my home town, sometimes you just need to have a little bit of sun! I had the opportunity of visiting a five star family resort in the Algarve, Portugal called Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel for a walking tour vacation and to see what facilities were available for families. The Location The resort is surrounded by the Natural Costa Vicentina Park whilst having breathtaking views overlooking a pristine beach on the south-west tip of the Algarve. The fishing port of Sagres is nearby and Faro airport is a 90minute drive away. The region enjoys many sunny days (temperatures in the sun are around 20C in the winter) enabling the resort to hold a number of activities for guests including daily yoga/ pilates on the beach. There are 12 beaches all within a few minutes drive from the resort and both accommodation and air fares are available at very affordable prices in the winter and spring. Families Martinhal is very family friendly and has a well-equipped kids club catering for ages from 6 months to 18 years and is staffed by dedicated and trained child carers. Not only can you register your child for a wide range of activities and games but you can also enjoy a little more indulgence with your family at the Finisterra Spa where there are Tween & Teen treatments and family treatments to be enjoyed together. The Rooms My beach room had a balcony with stunning views overlooking the ocean and large en-suite. Great care has been taken with Artisan skills seen in the cork tables and cane-woven lamps made from Algarvian reeds. An evening turn down service is one of the little luxurious touches that help make your stay memorable and make you feel that little bit special. The Food Lunch on the terrace at the chic As Dunas, where freshly caught seafood is the speciality, is out of this world, choosing my own freshly caught crayfish on the day we arrived gave me an idea of the week we had in store. Breakfast was an experience I hadnt had before with champagne and strawberries and the most exquisite buffet Ive had the pleasure of experiencing. As well as serving breakfast O Terraco is also the location for delicious gourmet fare in the evening. Both restaurants offer childrens menus with fresh, vibrant food all freshly made and varied .
The Walking Tour One of the main reasons for our visit was to experience a new addition to the activities that Martinhal already have to offer which is their Walking Tours. There are 4 different walking tours that you can choose from, each varying in duration. The walking tours are a unique way of discovering an unexplored wilderness of breathtaking beauty. Before you think that walking isnt for you and that you arent fit enough to do something like this, I have never walked further than house to car and so when I was asked to participate in the longest tour I was a little nervous. I can honestly say it was the most exhilarating walk Ive ever done and would happily do it again every day. Apart from being great exercise I had to chance to enjoy 3 hours of great conversation with my tour guide and learnt a lot about the area and the history surrounding it. For the low price of 5 per tour it really is worth every cent! Awards Winner of the 2012 World Travel Awards for Europes Leading Villa Resort, Martinhal is very family friendly and has a well-equipped kids club catering for ages from 6 months to 18 years and is staffed by dedicated and trained child carers. The resort is a 5* destination with a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere. You Should Know This is truly a family resort that is based in a quiet tranquil location but still able to provide ample activities for children and families to enjoy alone or together. Of course, it isnt the cheapest of holiday destinations but you really do get what you pay for and with this holiday you get the world! For more information and to see what offers are available, please visit:
Rating: 4.5 / 5
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www.martinhal.com
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Travel
BE ENCHANTED BY THE AUDE REGION IN

The Aude region in Southern Frances scenic Languedoc-Roussillion is home to the cosmopolitan city of Narbonne, numerous picturesque villages, Mediterranean beaches and dramatically located cathor castles. The historic city of Carcassonne sits on the Aude river and has its very own man-made beach. This area is great for families looking for a cultural holiday with lots of interesting activities for all ages. It is accessible by plane (closest airports are Carcassonne and Toulouse), by train from Paris or by car from the Ferry ports. Three families loved it so much they decided to leave the UK and start a new life there; thankfully they all chose to run family-friendly accommodation so diverse to each other that there is something for everyone! Family-friendly, award-winning Wine and Olive Chteau 1 3 bedrooms (From 400 PW) This wonderful chteau, a working wine and olive oil domain, offers an idyllic getaway for the whole family. The cluster of independent cottages have been decorated to a high standard and owners Floris and Victoria offer a fantastic range of family activities: fencing lessons for the kids , medieval costume workshops, treasure hunts set in medieval villages, picnics on a private barge on the canal du Midi and wine tastings. Within the grounds youngsters have lots to choose from to keep them amused: swing set, playroom (with a good selection of toys, puzzles, books, kitchenette and dressing up clothes etc), Orangerie where they will find a ping-pong table and fuzz ball, enclosed swimming pool and the owners will also set up a paddling pool for toddlers. Traditional French village house 5 bedrooms, sleeps 13 (from 1429 PW) If you are looking for a family getaway in a traditional French village why not visit this traditional French house? This wonderful house has been lovingly restored by owners Mark and Andrea who live close by with their young children. It is perfect for exploring this region of the Languedoc and has its own private solar heated pool, enclosed garden and play barn with Little Tykes play frame. The owners are happy to supply meals and pampering sessions, as well as babysitting should you want them! Small gite cluster with swimming pool and gardens 2 and 3 bedrooms (from 300 PW) Last but by no means least are these beautifully restored gites, nestled in the extensive grounds of owners Louise and Mikes private property. Within the grounds there is an enclosed 6 x 12 swimming pool (heated to 24 degrees May-September) and the front garden, which has the pool, is enclosed by fences and natural barriers so children cannot wander and each gite has its own private terrace'. All of these holiday properties are fantastic for all the family and located within half an hours drive of Carcassonne. Feel free to contact me for more details or pop onto the Holiday Tots website and take a look! Sachelle x
SOUTHERN FRANCE
www.holidaytots.co.uk Stylish holiday properties, little ones welcome!

Travel
WEST SUSSEX FOR FAMILIES
West Sussex lies directly south of London and boasts a wide range of scenery from coastline to down-land and is arguably the sunniest county in the United Kingdom. Who does it appeal to? All ages and families looking to enjoy the outdoors. There really is plenty to keep everyone happy! The Sussex coastline has a variety of beaches: whether it be for toddler splashing, traditional sandcastle building or kite surfing. Furthermore the plentiful castles and stately homes offer a fun day out. A visit to the major towns in the area such as Brighton is a must but the county has so much more to offer. Sussex and part of Hampshire recently received National Park status and its beaches made the Times Top 10: Brighton as most trendy and West Witterings as best for swimming (we love this beach, the sand is golden and the sea shallow perfect for toddlers!). There are some lovely historic villages and market towns with Steyning being one of the prettiest. This lively town is located within walking distance to the Downs and the River Adur: it has a weekly farmers market and boasts more independent retailers than chains. On Holiday Tots we have a selection of three holiday properties in the area. They are owned by Louise and Les who are passionate bakers keen to introduce others to the world of baking, offering workshops for adults and pizza parties for children. The Bake House properties include two lovely cottages situated in five acres of gardens and grounds with swimming pool. There is a third property, a four-bedroom detached converted coachhouse, located in Steyning, just a ten minute drive from the Bake House where guests can enjoy all the activities including the pool! Some good sites to visit for information on what is on in the area and more holiday accommodation ideas are: www.southdowns.gov.uk www.visitbrighton.com www.westsussex.info
Win A BabyMule Ruck-Sack worth 84!
Holiday Tots Competition
Whether you are just about to have a baby or have a toddler in tow this Baby Mule ruck-sack is an absolute winner! We found these when our little one was three and use it for days out, plane journeys and holidays. Wear it as backpack, sling it over your shoulder as a messenger, or clip it to your buggy. All straps tuck seamlessly away. 180degree zips mean no more rummaging, poppers and nets keep everything in place, with six secure pockets to organise your things. Changing pouch, change mat, bottle insulator and dirty bag included. To enter visit: www.holidaytots.co.uk For more details on the BabyMule ruck-sack visit: www.babymule.co.uk
Sachelle x
www.holidaytots.co.uk Stylish holiday properties, little ones welcome!

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Innovative Products
However, I can guarantee that my kids love anything involving an egg box and a pipe cleaner. Take your time Whether you are doing either of the above activities, or just playing a board game with your kids, sometimes the best reward for success is your time. It's easy to forget with our busy lives just to spend that little bit of one-on-one time with our children, particularly if we have more than one kid to run after. For example, some of the rewards that work the best are those where you just have fun with your kids, and give them your attention. A favourite in our house is an extra story at bedtime.
Every child is unique, so every reward Charity shop raiding chart should be too, right? Clearly you don't actually "raid" the charity shops as that would be far Sticker charts are fast becoming a vital tool from charitable... in the parenting journey. Even Supernanny Give your child 1.00 to spend there, and set aside a good hour to tells us that: watch them choose from whatever toys, clothes, books, or DvDs that "Saying well done to your child is the very are available. Part of the fun is in the choosing, and also the time you best way to promote her good behaviour. Keeping a reward spend with them doing the activity. It's also so much cheaper than chart makes sure you both stop and recognize when she does buying that full price Skylander that your five-year old might actually be things right, and gives her something to aim for so she keeps asking for.... it up." Active kids We have used reward charts since the kids were around two years old. Perhaps there has been an activity that your child had been asking you As well as providing a great opportunity for praise, they can provide a to try for ages, but you haven't been able to spare the time/money to great boost to your child's emotional learning. Clearly, praise is an look into doing. Rewarding good behaviour can be a good time to try important part of using a reward chart. Not only should we give our these out. Some organised groups let you try out for free as well. child praise upon success, but using the chart together is a great opportunity to encourage your child to feel proud of themselves However, you do need to budget to make sure that if your child does because of their achievements. This means that the sticker chart like it, you can follow through on the reward and keep your child in the doesn't all become about what YOU say is good, It also becomes a relevant activity. As I am sure many of you are already aware, following means of encouraging your child to be proud of themselves for their through on promises with reward charts are a key part of making them own successes. It's not just how proud YOU are of them. This can help work effectively. to build your child's self-confidence. It can re-enforce that their actions aren't just about pleasing you, but also about being pleased with Now you will notice that there is one glaring omission here...Money. This is clearly deliberate on my part. In all honestly, this is a personal themselves. choice, and it is something that can work with your kids. However, I find Reward charts needn't be all about buying your kids new toys either. that paying a younger child (under 4) is totally ineffective as they don't In fact, we very rarely feel that this is necessary. In my experience, even understand the concept of money. when you do, you can still hold tightly on to the purse strings! Some of the best rewards are those that actually cost us nothing. Some great Giving pocket money for chores to your older children can work, but you might prefer to view chores as part of your child's responsibility to suggestions for sticker chart rewards include: the household. They are part of your household "team." Chore charts can be a great way to show that they are doing their bit, and to give Old favourites Stickers do still work well for some kids. For others, stickers are a bit another opportunity for praise, though. It doesn't need to be about the overkill - schools use them a lot, so they can be more motivated by wonga. something a little different. In addition, really small children just want to put them all at once. If this does happen, it's probably that your child KiddyCharts customers have used reward charts with great success since we started, and if you consider your rewards careful, I am sure is just a bit too young for the chart anyway. you can too. Playground playtime Giving your child a special trip out to the park, the swings, for a walk in Remember, what works for your friend, might not work for you. the woods searching for minibeasts, or even just for a ride on their bike Personalise your charts for your child as much as you can. costs nothing. It can create some of the most wonderful memories for you as a family though. It's likely enough that they will love doing it, and Every child is, after all, unique. it'll be a great incentive for them, but it won't cost you a penny. Crafting out In our house, painting and play dough are often avoided by mum because of the clearing up, and the need to hoover down the cats afterwards.
http://www.kiddycharts.com http://www.stickersstarsandsmiles.com
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News and Reviews
The Lenovo ThinkPad2...

The Lenovo ThinkPad 2 is a nice looking bit of kit at a moderate price for a tablet. It has a large wide screen and the rear is covered in smooth, soft-touch matte black rubberised plastic and its light, too, weighing only 568g. It feels sturdy and as though it would survive the odd knock and sticky fingers. But, as the most ideal family tablet, Im just not sure. It wasnt particularly intuitive and I struggled to get it to do what I wanted initially (unlike the ipad, which although it has its faults, I was able to use straight out of the box without any problem at all until I dropped and smashed the screen into a million pieces and Apple wouldnt repair or exchange except for far too much money despite the ipad being just 2 weeks old but hey, thats a story for another day!). There are so many screens and buttons to click just to get the basic programs up and running and you really need to know where to look. I felt there was a lot of extraneous gobbledygook to get through and dont feel that younger members of the family would cope very well. Im not a great fan of Windows 8 and I dont think this helped matters. The touch screen capability was lacking and I found myself tapping and re-tapping and swiping like a mad women to get pages to move or change. It got frustrating after a while and I ended up reaching for my heavier but much more reliable laptop. And if you have chubby fingers, well, then this really isnt the tablet for you! The ThinkPad 2 comes with a stylus and I had to use it more often than I thought I would to be able to make selections and click browser buttons. It felt like a bit of a waste of having a touch screen at all really. Screen resolution was okay but video playback wasnt great with juddery images and slow downloads, so no good for kiddie cartoons or shows. So, in my honest opinion, this is not my dream family tablet. However, where I think this tablet would work, would be for business users and mobile workers. Small businesses on the go that need computer and internet access without lugging around a large and fragile piece of equipment would get the most from the ThinkPad 2. Set up with everything you could need including a decent camera, it would be an ideal option and a good business investment. It has a great battery life (up to 10 hours) and all the necessary ports that you would expect and need (1x USB 2.0, Mini HDMI, microSD slot, audio jack) with the addition of a noise cancelling digital microphone and dual stereo speakers for those all-important online business calls. Accessories (at considerable additional cost) include a keyboard, mouse and case and although the docking system doesnt feel particularly stable, I think it would be worth considering, to make the most of the ThinkPad 2. Prices on the Lenovo website start at 519.99 for 32 GB and go up to 698.99 for 64 GB.
We also run Bookable Baby/Toddler classes weekday mornings term time.
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For more information, please contact:
News and Reviews Each month we are sent an array of new and innovative products to test and review, some of which are great and some, which whilst in theory seem like a good idea ,just dont quite work. We also have a Focus Group that meets once a month, and this month we will be discussing swimming and the benefits it has for our children. We will also be given a range of swimming related products to test. We will also be If you would be interested in joining our Focus Group, please do contact us via email at info@babybuzzmagazine.com or via Facebook/Baby Buzz Focus Group. Full details of the next event are available via my social media sites or via the website.
THE COSY PLAY PLAY MAT
The first product we are reviewing for this issue is the Cosy Play play mat which at first glance might just seem like your ordinary play mat. Dont be fooled! This play mat almost doubles up as a quilted mattress, picnic blanket and any other use that involves sitting or lying on the floor. The Cosy Play is made up of a super comfortable memory foam mat measuring 1.0m x 1.5m and has a waterproof base layer suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The top of the mat is a baby soft fleece covering which is removable and machine washable, an essential in any parents vocabulary! The beauty of the Cosy Play is that it comes in an assortment of really bright funky colours but that you can also buy replacement / spare covers for an affordable 17.50! The Cosy Play itself is in line with prices of other play mats currently on the market and costs 85.00. Considering the multifunction of the play mat, this really is a worthwhile investment.
Baby Buzz Rating: 5/5
If you would like to more information or would like to purchase one of these amazing play mats, please visit: www.cosyplay.co.uk
MIMIJUMI
With natural colours, textures and forms, the mimijumi baby bottle provides the perfect complement to breastfeeding and the best possible transition to bottle feeding. The innovative nipple design replicates a mothers breast, creating a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier and healthier bottle fed baby. Bold colours and soft textures are combined to give the Not So Hungry bottle a distinctive, eye-catching appearance. The bottles are produced with the highest quality standards to protect your baby. All mimijumi bottles are BPA and latex free, EA free, and exceed US safety standards. The bottles arent the cheapest on the market but the design and style of these are pretty unique. We are yet to see anything like them. If you are looking for something to assist between the transition between breastfeeding and bottle feedings, this would be the bottle to do it with. Prices vary depending on size of bottles required , the Not So Hungry size starts from 11.99.
THE IZZY MELODY BABY BANGLE

The Ultimate Teether for even the youngest and smallest amongst us as it is Safe, Soft on the gums, Sterile, Lightweight, Easy to hold and transforms into a Beautifully Stylish accessory for Mum to wear. The packaging is what first captures your attention. It is simply out of this world. The bangles are fantastic quality and surprisingly UK made. They contain no harmful products and double as a stylish fashion accessory. There are three colours to choose from but from a personal opinion the product is a little expensive at 14.95 per bangle.
For more information, please visit: www.izzymelody.co.uk
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News and Reviews

One of the biggest questions weve had from our readers over the last few months was whether we would be reviewing family cars within Baby Buzz. I questioned why and the most common answers were boot space to withstand the size of travel systems and buggys but also cost and affordability. On more than a few occasions one particular model was mentioned as being sold with the bonus of having a great load capacity but in reality not being able to take more than a pushchair at any one time, leaving no space for shopping or necessities if going abroad. For this reason, we have started off by contacting different Car Dealerships to see if we can test drive a range of family friendly vehicles and for our first issue weve been given the task of reviewing the new Volvo V60 D2 SE Lux Nav (in red).
V60 D2 SE Lux Nav

What were my first impressions? The Volvo has never been one to be noted for its aesthetically pleasing designs / appearance but with the model that we test drove, first impressions were really positive. The model we test drove had a sleek contour towards the rear and much unlike the box-like appearance on the standard new model. The car was in blood red and looked crisp. Was the Volvo easy to handle? Ive not had much experience of driving cars that were as big as the Volvo but I surpassed myself and managed to adjust to the technology advances that came with this particular model. It took some adjusting to get used to parking and reversing but with the parking sensors that had been included as part of the extras pack this was easy to overcome. The overall ride is not disappointing and the vehicle handles very smoothly. Was their ample space? In abundance! I dont quite understand some of the review comments I have read over the last month questioning similar models boot space, when the space on this was more than sufficient. In fact according to the statistics given to me by Volvo the boot has a maximum load of 430 litres with the seats up (557 with the seats down!). Not something to be sniffed at. We could easily have fitted in 2 or three pushchairs and still had a large amount Are there any accessories / extras packs available? Absolutely. The model supplied to me for test drive had the following extras: Driver support pack Exterior styling pack Security pack Rear parking camera Heated front seats Digital Radio Is the Volvo affordable: This is probably the only point in which the Volvo causes me to hesitate. There are so many plus points to this vehicle but the V60 is priced at 30,695 or with all the added extras I had it would be 35,265.
Test Drive Model Specification:

Top Speed mph Acceleration 0-60, sec Urban mpg Extra Urban mpg Combined mpg Emissions, CO2 Tax Band Kerbweight: 118 10.7 54.3 68.9 62.8 119 C 1573

OTR: 30,695
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Childrens Fashion
Emma Levine Kids & Baby is a collection of uniquely designed children's clothing which aims to offer beautifully wearable, fashion-forward designer pieces without the heavy price tag. From floral prints to vintage styles, flower girls will look adorable in these beautiful dresses.
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April Lace Dress From 45.00
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Crochet Waistcoat From 29.00
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Our Expert
TUMMY BUGS (ALSO KNOWN AS GASTROENTERITIS)

What are tummy bugs? Tummy bugs are usually spread by a virus but can be spread by bacteria and result in diarrhoea (watery poo) and vomiting. For most children it is not serious and passes within a few days, although as the parent it feels like forever when your child is unwell. The most important factor during an episode of childhood gastroenteritis is to ensure that your child does not become dehydrated. How common are they? Tummy bugs are very common in young children with most children having several episodes during childhood, something I know from personal experience. It is almost impossible to avoid contact with it, especially when your child is at nursery or school, where it tends to occur in outbreaks. What do they look like? The symptoms are diarrhoea and/or vomiting, and sometimes this co-occurs with a high temperature and tummy pains. Diarrhoea usually lasts for 57 days and in most children it will stop within 2 weeks. Vomiting often lasts for 12 days and in most children it will stop within 3 days. Most children with gastroenteritis get better quickly without treatment and can be looked after at home safely. However, severe diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is when the body doesnt have enough water or the right balance of salts to carry out its normal functions. Children with dehydration often feel and look unwell, and if the dehydration becomes severe it can be dangerous. Some of the symptoms of dehydration are: seeming unwell sunken eyes dry mouth and dry eyes thirst being unusually irritable or lethargic passing less urine than normal. Dehydration in children with gastroenteritis is more likely to occur in: children younger than 1 year, especially those younger than 6 months. (This is because babies don't need to lose much fluid to lose a significant proportion of their total body fluid). infants who were of low birth weight and have not caught up their weight. children who have passed six or more diarrhoeal stools in the past 24 hours children who have vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours children who have not been offered or have not been able to tolerate supplementary fluids breastfed infants who have stopped breastfeeding during the illness children with signs of malnutrition.
What should I do? In mild cases, you probably will not need to visit your family doctor (GP). You will not usually need medicines to treat tummy bugs. The most important thing to do is to replace the fluid your childs body is losing through the diarrhoea and vomiting. In most cases, it is better that the germ is flushed out of your childs system. If your child has gastroenteritis but is not dehydrated, keep feeding them as normal (for example, breast milk) and offer regular drinks. Fruit juice and fizzy drinks should be discouraged because they can make the diarrhoea worse. Encourage your child to drink clear fluids or try rehydrating sachets, such as diarolyte, which are available from chemists without prescription and you can make up the drink by dissolving them in water, following the instructions on the sachet. It is a good idea to have a stock of these in your secure medicine cabinet. This solution helps to replace the water and salts lost from the body because of diarrhoea and vomiting this is called rehydration. If your child does not like the taste of the sachets, a trick in the A and E departments is to sometimes flavour the rehydration drink with a very little amount of orange squash. Your child is less likely to be sick if you encourage him or her to drink small amounts frequently rather than a large drink, for example a spoonful every 2-3 minutes. You can spoon the fluid or use a syringe or put it in a bottle or cup use whatever the child will allow. If your child vomits after drinking, wait 5-10 minutes before giving them some more. If you are breastfeeding, you should try to maintain a normal feeding pattern. Your child may not want to eat during the bout of diarrhoea and vomiting and although it is very hard as a parent to see your child not eating, the most important thing is to keep them well hydrated. Once your child is rehydrated, its important that they eat well to help with their recovery. They can start to eat solid food straight away, and they should be encouraged to drink plenty of their usual fluids. When they are feeling better they will catch up on their food again, this I know very well from my twins who caught a nasty tummy bug last year. Once they were better they woke up at night hungry for their milk, something they had not done for a while, catching up what they had missed with their illness and when they had grown enough they stopped waking up again. It really was incredible how they regulated themselves. I learnt not to push them with food if they were not ready, thereby avoiding a lot of mess and upset. Symptoms of pain and fever can normally be relieved using liquid paracetamol. You should not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age. The use of anti-diarrhoea medicine is also not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Antibiotics are rarely needed and used when there is a history of foreign travel or of possible food poisoning, after a stool sample is taken to be tested.
Our Expert
When should I call the doctor/ambulance? In the majority of cases, the bout will be mild, it will get better in a few days and you probably will not need to visit your family doctor (GP). Your child is unlikely to suffer any lasting effects from a tummy bug, if any dehydration is treated in time. The important thing is to ensure that they have plenty to drink. It can also be passed by direct contact from person to person or through poor hygiene. You should contact your GP as the bug may be caused by food poisoning, and they will know if other people have fallen ill after eating the same food. If this is the case, then the Environmental Health Department for your area will need to be told and you may be contacted for more information.
Tummy bugs, they are highly contagious among children. It is If you contact a healthcare professional by phone, they should ask important to take steps to prevent the condition from spreading you questions about your childs symptoms. This will help them to from your child to other children. decide if your child needs to see someone face to face. Your healthcare professional should explain how to tell if your childs illness is Recommended steps include: getting worse, and arrange for you to speak to or see them again if Ensuring you and your child washes their hands and dries you need to. If you see a healthcare professional face to face they them thoroughly after going to toilet, or touching the potshould examine your child to check if they have become dehydrated ty, or after changing nappies and also before touching and to rule out serious illness. food. It is recommended to use liquid soap and warm running water. Thoroughly cleaning the potty, or toilet, using disinfectant Circumstances in which you would need to ring your GP for advice after each bout of diarrhoea and vomiting. and/or a visit include Not sharing your child's towels, flannels, cutlery, or eating utensils with other household members. If your child is under the age of six months. Not taking your child to nursery, or school, or another If your child has an underlying medical condition (for exam childcare provider until 48 hours have passed since their ple, heart or kidney problems, diabetes, history of premalast bout of diarrhoea and vomiting. ture birth). Not taking your child swimming for 2 weeks after diarrhoea If your child has a high temperature. has stopped. If you suspect dehydration is developing (see earlier). If your child is vomiting and unable to keep fluids down. If there is blood in their diarrhoea or vomit or any green You can reduce the likelihood of your child catching another tummy bug by teaching them to wash their hands thoroughly before eating vomit. and after visiting the toilet. If your child has severe abdominal pain. If there are any other symptoms you are worried about Infections caught abroad. If you think it was caused by a particular food. If your child has severe symptoms or if you feel their condi tion is worsening. If your child's symptoms are not settling (for example, vomiting for more than 24 hours, or diarrhoea that does not start to settle after 3-4 days, or overall symptoms not improving within 48 hours ). if your child cannot tolerate fluids orally they may need to have the rehydration solution through a tube that passes through their nose into the stomach (called an NGT). Sometimes your child may need to have fluids through a drip into a vein. if at any time your child becomes listless, floppy and groggy), you should call your GP immediately, or go to your local Accident and Emergency (A&E) department as these are signs of dehydration. Anything else I need to know?
How are tummy bugs spread and how can you prevent them? Tummy bugs caused by a virus are spread by droplets expelled during vomiting or by coming into contact with vomit or poo. Tummy bugs can also be caused by bacteria and can be spread by eating and drinking contaminated water or undercooked food, or by poor hygiene, like not washing your hands after going to the toilet or before eating.
www.safeandsound.uk.net
Our Expert
HypnoBirthing (The Mongan Method) is a complete antenatal programme that teaches simple self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques for a more comfortable birth. HypnoBirthing allows you to take control and experience the magic and joy of birth and I am extremely passionate about educating women that pain does not need to be a natural accompaniment to a normal birth.
I discovered HypnoBirthing while I was pregnant with my beautiful baby boy Harry who I gave birth to in September 2012. Everyone I knew delighted in telling me their horror birth stories and competing in who had the longest and most painful labour. It was refreshing when one of my friends told me she had birthed relatively pain free In addition to ordinary antenatal classes the course teaches: using HypnoBirthing. Breathing, and visualisation techniques that will help you to I instantly researched HypnoBirthing and decided this was the birth relax during your pregnancy, labour and birth experience I wanted as there are many benefits such as a shorter Understanding how the birthing muscles work in perfect labour and potentially without the need for any pain relief. The need harmony to aid the birthing process for medical intervention is reduced and there are significantly fewer How to be calm, confident and informed when working surgical births. HypnoBirthing babies often tend to be calmer, feed with and not against your caregiver better and sleep through the night sooner as they have entered the How to break the feartensionpain cycle through re world in a gentle, calm manner. I read pages and pages of positive education and a fear release session birth stories without any negative comments and thought I might as The effects of the birthing hormones during labour well give HypnoBirthing a go as I have nothing to lose but everything Light touch massage to release the body's natural pain to gain. relief endorphins Allowing your birthing companion to be an integral part of I had a fantastic pregnancy and I bought the Marie Mongan the birth and not just a helpless onlooker HypnoBirthing book when I was 15 weeks pregnant but I felt I Prenatal bonding to help reduce the baby blues or post needed the extra guidance so I decided to start the natal depression HypnoBirthing course at 35 weeks pregnant. The optimum time for Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your starting the course is 30 weeks but I wanted to wait until I started my baby into the world without the need for violent forceful maternity leave so I could put all my energy into my relaxation pushing practice. My partner was very sceptical about attending the course Natural techniques to bring labour on when you have and thought of every excuse to get out of coming with me but by the exceeded your 'estimated due date' end of the first session he left feeling positive, excited and ready to fully support me in my HypnoBirthing journey. Having Harry has been a life changing experience and I cannot wait to have my next HypnoBirthing baby, I will certainly be opting for a I particularly remember falling asleep twice during my labour as I was VBAC at home! so deeply relaxed, I was fully aware of what was going on around me and could feel the pressure of the contractions (or surges as they are If you feel that HypnoBirthing could benefit you in achieving a called in HypnoBirthing). I also remember the midwife kept telling confident, calmer and more natural birth then please contact me on me I was having a big baby so I kept reciting the HypnoBirthing the following, to discuss HypnoBirthing and how to book your course. affirmation my baby is the right size for my body. Harry weighed 7lb Jenny Barr 10oz and nowhere near the 10lb plus I was repeatedly told! I was classed under the special circumstances category in HypnoBirthing and had a c-section after a substantial amount of time labouring, I was completely calm which reflected in Harrys constant steady heart rate. I was happy that I had done everything
possible to birth naturally and transferred my relaxation techniques to help me to remain calm during surgery as I knew that a relaxed body would recover quicker. I started boot camp 11 weeks after having Harry! Harry is a typical chilled out HypnoBirthing baby who has slept through the night from 5 weeks old, he loves my HypnoBirthing music and I often play it when he is due a nap so he can fall asleep to it. The course is generally held over 5 sessions at weekly intervals and we recommend you begin your course between 20-30 weeks but as long as you can complete the course before you give birth, you can begin whenever you like! HypnoBirthing is suitable for everyone and it can help women who are scared of birth because they have never done it before, because of a previous bad experience or if they want a calmer, easier and more natural birth experience.
Phone: 07825 185750 Email: hypnobirthing@jenniferbarr.co.uk www.jenniferbarr.co.uk

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Give your child a KidStart in life
Save money for their future every time you shop

There is no greater feeling than doing something good for your child.
Simply JOIN Kidstart today for FREE at www.kidstart.co.uk/BabyBuzz and get money back for your baby's future everytime you shop at places like ASDA, John Lewis, Mothercare, Ebay and Waitrose, a percentage of what you spend will go into a savings account for your
Giving your child a KidStart in life is really that simple.
A little help along the way
Read how Nikki and Paul have saved 210 for their daughter.
A friend told me about KidStart when I fell pregnant and I registered straight away. My parents are also members and they save for her as well. I shop at Next, Mothercare, Homebase (weve just moved house) and Ebay. I did our RAC membership and not only received some money back for Maddie but also got a saving on our membership
Shop at hundreds of great retailers including:
JOIN for FREE, Shop & Save at www.kidstart.co.uk/BabyBuzz
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Top Ten Apps for Parents
TOP TEN APPS FOR PARENTS

Being a parent is busy enough without having to spend hours flicking through thousands of apps designed for mums and dads to find out which are the good, the great and the downright useless. Sarah Hand at SaibrPR has done the hard work for you and listed her top ten apps for parents. Happy Downloading! 1. 23snaps free
even a tast reminder alert function which sends reminders to your phone. 6. Parenting Ages and Stages Free The Parenting Ages & Stages app targets the age/stage of your child so that you receive information relating to child development and parenting issues that are meaningful and relevant to you. The app features content for 5 stages: pregnancy, first year, second year, the early years and the school years.
This indispensible app allows you to capture and privately share photos, videos and updates of your children with family and close friends. You can also print out high quality and affordable photo books and prints so you can have physical mementoes as well as precious digital memories. 2. Baby First Aid - 1.30
7. My Smart Hands Baby Sign Language Dictionary - 2.99 This handy app teaches you and your little one the 300 ASL signs you need to know for clear communication. Youll get detailed instruction, great memory tips and fun quizzes to monitor your learning process.
A simple and clear app which guides you through all aspects of baby first aid with easy to follow instructions. A must in case of emergencies and a reassuring app to have on your phone.
3.
WOWMUM Free
Designed to make life easy for mums on the go thisWOWMUM instantly locates nearly baby and child friendly places sorted into three simple categories; EAT,PLAY and PAMPER. It even has a nappy changing panic button genius!
8. FirstWords Animals 1.99 This educational app will not only provide your little one with hours of fun but will also give them a head start on learning letters, creating words and associating these words with familiar objects. The app includes 39 different animals each matched with an entertaining animal sounds.
4.
iReward Chart 2.50
As well as recording the usual good behaviours such as sharing, helping out and completing homework, you can also set your child specific tasks and rewards and keep track of them so you know what they should be doing and when.
9. World of Lullabies 1.79 This tuneful app includes all your favourite lullabies to send your little one off into the land of nod. Plus the app includes all the lyrics so you can enjoy singing along and dont have to worry about forgetting the words.
5.
Baby Pack & Go Packing List 0.69
If you are always on the go travelling with your child this is a useful app. It contains readymade packing lists of baby and toddler items you wont want to forget as well as allowing you to add your own items. Theres
10. Toddler Counting Free Designed by parents and preschool teachers, this educational app helps teach basic counting skills through realistic photos, numbers that count out loud as your child counts and digits that are displayed along with the sounds, to teach reading the numbers. It makes learning fun!
The Arts
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The Arts
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Business Card Directory
Baby Signing Classes Wanstead, Woodford & Loughton Help your baby communicate BEFORE speech with our award winning MUSIC programme! Sing and Sign benefits include: *Enhancing early vocabulary and understanding, *Reducing frustration (for baby and parent!), *Stimulating your baby's intellectual and emotional development Small classes, weekly themes, singing, signing and making friends! Book NOW for summer term classes: Contact: Vicki 07958 307 837 or Syrah 07834 728 415 vickiandsyrah@singandsign.com www.singandsign.com
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www.runningfit.org.uk
Get Fit, Lose weight, Learn to run, Have fun!
This is a fun and sociable post natal exercise class for mums who want to get their fitness back. We do all walking, jogging and running from and back to our prams, so any pram can be used and you are never too far away from your little one.
www.pinkypirates.com Online Childrens Boutique Georgia Lyons Director 07703743335 Georgia@pinkypirates.co.uk
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BABYKNITS
Babyknits2012@hotmail.co.uk
Beautiful hand knitted booties, available in sizes from newborn up to 18 months. Prices from: 6.00 plus postage. Inerdiva is a growing fashion & home business, and we continue to be excited by our growing fan base! Inerdiva equates to exquisite fashion for your closet and home.
Email: inerdiva@hotmail.co.uk
A fun company giving children opportunities to create unique items from T-shirts, Bags, ceramics and glasses.
For any information, please contact: Kirsty / Jess: 07950 431 413 / 07549 645 212 Kirstyjaye@hotmail.com Facebook.com/Paintzit
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Ruby blu is a beautiful vintage style shop offering funky retro gifts, childrens clothes, toys, jewellery, cards, home products, fragrances, books, bags and much more. Gifts for all, or a treat just for youa shop with soul.
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FOOD & REVIEWS PARENTS IN BUSINESS MUMMY-2-BE MR MA

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News and Reviews

The Lenovo ThinkPad2...