Baby Buzz

PARENTS IN BUSINESS MUMMY-2-BE FOOD & REVIEWS GET CREATIVE DEBT MR MUM

COMPETITION TIME
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Editors Letter http://www.facebook.com/LiveLoveDoodle

THE BABY BUZZ FOCUS GROUP

Sabrina

Lisa

Jo Maria

Hi everyone
Weve almost made it to Spring! Okay, I know that we had a snowfall just a few weeks ago but Im determined to think positively. There will soon be the flourish of new buds, farms filling with newborn animals and the feeling of exciting times ahead. The weather will change and see off the coughs and colds and bugs that have been bothering us all over Winter and we can look forward to all the fun things to come in the Spring and Summer. We have a host of things to look forward to this year, from new beginnings and new babies making their way into the world to teaching our children the importance of reading and encouraging them to be the best that they can be. We will also cover something catered towards the older children with knowing when the right time is to give them added responsibilities to help you at home. As horrible as this sounds, it actually builds up their awareness and confidence in knowing that you have entrusted them with a new task. We will also tackle fun ways of getting fit whilst not having to worry about sticking to a rigid diet - its all about using common sense and combining practical exercises to benefit your lifestyle.. As always we will feature fun creative things to do with your children over the weekends or the school holidays, not everything has to cost the earth. There are some great recipes from Organix and a simple Spag Bol from me, so why not try them out with your little ones and teach them something fun that also tastes nice! Check out our baby blog with mum-to-be Lindsey as she progresses on from her first trimester exciting times ahead for her as she starts to get into her stride. Remember, 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 let you know. The email address is: info@babybuzzmagazine.com

Elizabeth

Kirsty

Eve
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Family Focus

Baby Buzz Magazine Limited Unit 136 North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South New Southgate London N11 1NP Company No: 8234631 Editor Nickie Evans nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com 0208 361 0727 07535 541 303 Assistant Editor Cindy Evans Customer Services Jenny Blythe 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.

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COVER STORIES 10 Parents in Business - Inspirational stories 18 Debt and how to manage it 22 Children and Gardens - Keeping it Safe 23 Buggy Networking - Mixing Business with Children 57 Mummy-2-be - Trimester 2! 58 Mr Mum - Trials and Tribulations 63 Business Card Directory Family Focus 25 The importance of reading to your children 49 Baby Must Haves - New Products 50 Baby Must Haves - Alternatives to Easter 48 Its all about the battles - MojoMums Get Creative 27 Zebra Ceramics 28 The Craft Cabin Food & Recipes 32 Food & Reviews 33 The Cuddle Pirate Health & Wellbeing 43 Post Natal Depression - Naturechild 52 Health & Fitness with A1 Fitness 54 Surrogacy & The Law - Chapman Pieri 55 Reflexology & Fertility Travel Tips 41 Travel Tips - by Holiday Tots 42 Peak District National Park - Cottage Rentals News & Reviews 45 Products - Tried & Tested by you Fashion 51 The Fashion Runway with IndiaCoCo Competitions Page 5 Gold Forever Pendant from Babes with Babies Made with Love - A beautiful handmade Tooth Fairy Bear Bravado - Lingerie Wardrobe to be won 2 x Coochy Coo Nappy Cakes Bonnie Baby Gift Set from Pretty Special

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Disclaimer:

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Cover Credits: Photography: Maria Ackroyd at Ackroyd Photogarahy

New Beginnings

Name: Charlie Alfred Harrison Born: 14/01/13 Weight: 9lbs Parents: Anna Boyden & Ben Harrison

Name: Lucy Leanne Reynolds Born: 16/12/2012 Weight: 5lbs 10oz Parents: Caroline Mcveigh & Anthony Reynolds

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 mumand-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: nurturingmums@gmail.com www.facebook.com/nurturingmums @nurturingmumsuk

Name: Finley Zack Takayanagi Born: 21/01/2013 Weight: 6lb 11oz Parents: Sarah Patterson & George Takayanagi

Name: Angelina Ava Kousoulou Born: 12/2/2013 Weight: 6lb 6oz Parents: Garry & Lia Kousoulou

For your chance to win a beautiful 18k gorgeous gold plated pendant, simply answer the following question: What wishlist did the Forever Pendant appear in October 2010?

COMPETITIONS
www.babeswithbabies.co.uk For your chance to win a stunning Bonnie Baby Gift set, simply answer the following question: How much do you have to spend to qualify for free delivery?

Competitions

all answers to:

Info@babybuzzmagazine.com (Include: name, address, telephone number)

EMAIL

For your chance to win one of two beautiful 2 tier nappycakes, both designed in neutral colours (suitable for a boy or girl), simply answer the following question: What price is the three tier bath time frog with keepsake capsule? (Answers can be found at www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk)

Made With Love Made with Love was created in October 2012, when I was reluctantly packing my daughters first sleepsuits into the loft. I decided to design her a patchwork bunny using a selection of my favourites. Now, each time I look at her bunny, I find great comfort in picturing those precious early days and the memory that each sleepsuit holds. Before I knew it, I was receiving orders from all over the country. This tooth fairy bear is a new idea of mine, and Im hoping that there are many more ideas to come.

Contact Details: Katey.applegarth@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/MadeWithLove.MakingMemories www,madewithlovememories.com

For your chance to win this beautiful tooth fairy bear, simply answer the following question: In what month was Made with Love created?

Win a fantastic lingerie wardrobe from Bravado Designs by simply answering the following question: Where is Bravado Designs located?
(Answers can be found at: www.bravadodesigns.com/uk-en/about/contact-us)

Prize includes: 1 x Maternity Bra, 1 x Nursing Bra and the Essential Tank Top
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Family Focus

Can you lay the table please?

Getting your children to help out at home
Tripped over a toy? Easier to pop it back in the box? Meal over? Quicker to pick up their plates and pop them into the sink? How many jobs are you doing at home that your children could be doing for themselves? Many well educated and smart parents are today teaching their children learned helplessness. They (or paid helpers) are simply doing too much for their children including most household tasks and chores. Start when they are young and think about what is age appropriate. All nursery schools and day care centres expect children to help with tidying away toys -usually accompanied by a song which makes it more fun and also acts as a trigger so they know what to expect when they hear that song. When I was in Africa, I saw children as young as 5 or 6 helping sweep up the school and the school yard. In fact at the school I was volunteering at, thats what was expected of every child for the first and last half hour of every day.

Why do so many parents do too much for their children? Here are some reasons: In a busy schedule its simply quicker to do it as children are So what can your children do, to help and how can you help them to do generally slower than adults. Parents dont want their child to have more on their plate as it? Make a list with them. school plus different before and after school activities take up Be clear about what you expect from now on (but dont most of their waking hours. So theres not time left in the day introduce too much at once). for children to do domestic chores. Make a chart and make it very visual. Even young children can Teaching children to do these tasks is in itself time consuming. take their plates from the table to the sink (or dishwasher) and You cant show a child once how to hoover and expect them to can lay cutlery on a table. do it properly ever after. Tell them WHEN tasks have to be done so they make time Many parents are concerned that children wont do the task to Reward the success of these tasks. (Dont reward with money the high standards of the parents so the parent thinks, Ill have or food- theres lots of other things which motivate children) to re do it anyway, I might as well just do it myself in the first Prepare the environment for success by having toy boxes at place. childrens heights or using plastic plates until they can lift Some parents think childhood is just for playing and having fun heavier china ones, and label where things go so everything has and the child will have enough responsibilities in adulthood so its place. why burden them now with mundane chores. And tasks may not be completed as quickly or as thoroughly as And theres some families who think What would the paid help you would like at the beginning but practice makes perfect and do if my children are helping? Thats the nanny/au pairs job. it depends on how well youve taught them and for parents its a case of short term pain for long term gain. Does it matter if children help around the house or not? If you want your child to grow up with a CAN DO attitude, and to be able to fit in as a team player, and understand the values of kindness and But heres the essential part. You have to break the skills down into consideration, then yes, it matters. If you expect they will have servants manageable steps and teach them. This does take time at the beginning to do absolutely everything for them, then maybe it doesnt matter. AND and its usually where parents go wrong. They tell the child that their new task is to do something and forget that unless youve taken real time you are their first servant! to teach the child EXACTLY how to do that task, the child will either do it When parents do everything for their children, the effects can be as slowly or not very well or both. The child might then feel theyre not good enough at doing that task and will be reluctant to repeat those follows: Your child develops the feeling that you do it because they mistakes the next time and hence they try to get out of the tasks in the arent capable, so as they grow up they dont even try as they future. If a child is praised and feels successful and that they are making are convinced they wont succeed. These children make little a significant contribution to the family, they will be far more helpful and effort to learn new skills and quickly rule out the possibility that capable. And anyone who achieves successes in small tasks is far more likely to try to be successful in bigger tasks. If you cant even be trusted they could if they tried. Or in more extreme cases, they feel helpless, which makes them to do those small tasks (because Mum does it all for you) then how will feel they lack control. They might develop feelings of being a you develop the confidence for those bigger tasks in life? And families victim and their lack of responsibility is so heightened they cant where children share tasks do become a closer team as they feel valued take responsibility for decisions or cant take responsibility to and that they are all needed to make the household run smoothly. say No so they say yes and surrender to the will of others. So parents, by not giving your children any responsibilities around the In 1976 a study by Langer and Rodin showed that elderly people in nursing house you are teaching them learned helplessness, and sending the homes where conformity and passivity was encouraged and their every message that they are not responsible enough to contribute their skills whim was attended to, the health and wellbeing of these patients to the household. In contrast, by taking the time and trouble to teach them what needs to be done, breaking the skills down into manageable declined rapidly. They were given no responsibilities and no choices. steps you are showing them that you value what they are capable of doing Similarly in homeless shelters where people cant pick their own beds or and that they can go from learning these small tasks to achieving bigger choose what they want to eat, the residents and less likely to try and get tasks and that you are a family team. a job or find an apartment. They have learnt that they are either not Bebe Jacobs capable or not valued enough to be given responsibilities. As a parent info@parentingcoachingnow.com you want your child to feel skilled and this shouldnt just be academic or Tel: 07939 880 856 leisure based skills but should include domestic skills too. Domestic www.facebook.com/bebeparentcoach www. parentingcoachingnow.com chores can be fun!

Family Focus

Who is behind the product? My husband Jeff and I are the owners of Win Green (www.wingreen.co.uk), a designer and producer of hand-made embroidered and appliqud childrens playhouses and accessories. Our products are sold globally and customers have included Harrods, Hamleys, Barneys of New York and Saks Fifth Avenue. We live in Chislehurst, Kent with our children Lila (5) and Lucas (3). How did the company get started? Win Green was founded in 2001 by previous owners. We first discovered Win Green whilst looking for gifts for our two children and their friends. We immediately fell in love with their beautifully created designs and the uniqueness and high quality of their products. When the opportunity came in 2011 to purchase the company we jumped at the chance! What do you hope to achieve? We strongly believe children should be encouraged to explore their imagination and creativity through old-fashioned, traditional play. This is important in a childs early years of learning, especially in the time of the digital age. We hope to continue to produce inspiring and fun designs for children to enjoy.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company? It has been a huge learning curve and, at times, been quite overwhelming. But it has also brought much excitement and joy to our family, especially our children who love to provide input into our new designs. It is also very rewarding when our customers, most of whom are parents themselves, send us a photo of their little cherub having fun in their new playhouse. It certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile. What has been the downside of starting your own company? The time commitment of developing your own company is immense and switching off can sometimes be very difficult. We are however extremely fortunate to have a strong support group of many understanding and caring friends, family and employees to help us out. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Owning and developing your own business should not primarily be about making a fortune but instead it should be about having a passion for what you do and wanting to create something special and unique for others to enjoy. It is very much a balancing act and you certainly need a great support network around you, both at home and at work. But we have never looked back and we cant wait to see what the future holds.

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Who is behind the Product? Me, Melanie, wife to Ben and Mum to Finley and Doug the dog. How did the company get started? Whilst on maternity leave I soon realised that shopping was no longer fun when you have a small child in tow. My time available for browsing baby clothes was limited by Finley and although I wanted to find affordable, quality organic baby's clothes that were unique, it proved to be virtually impossible on the high street and even trickier to find trustworthy sites on the web. With the eminent return to work approaching, I decided in June 2012 to take the leap and launched www.prettyspecial.co.uk. Having already spent an inordinate amount of time researching brands for Finley, it didn't take long to put together a great range of baby and children's clothes, on an easy, secure shopping site. What is the company about? Pretty Special is an online boutique that stocks stylish children's clothes from 0 to 6 years, toddler and baby footwear and baby accessories. The majority of our brands are by British designers, with some made in Britain and others that are made with great attention to detail in highly ethical environments in fair traded cotton. Pretty Special offers a combination of original, high quality and great value childrens clothes with great customer support. What do you hope to achieve? I hope that the business will grow steadily over the next few years and become the 'go to' site for parents and grandparents. Already the business has seen orders from as far afield as Taiwan, Spain and Australia, so our reach is ever growing and we hope to expand our customer base further. Recently we have been running a pop up shop in Bristol in tandem with a local toy shop and would hope that this becomes a permanent feature. The dream would be to have a bricks and mortar shop and fill the gap on the high street for quality children's clothes. It's also nice to meet our customers face to face! What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Having recently won the Mumpreneur Silver Website award was a real buzz and has made all the hard work feel worthwhile. It's really exciting to run your own business and it is easy to get caught up in the fear. Taking a moment to enjoy the journey and realise how much I've achieved, does put a big grin on my face! What has been the downside of starting your own company? Being patient is a real chore for me as I work at a hundred miles an hour and like to see an instant return on my hard work. Building a business isn't something that happens overnight but I think that the effort I've put in has so far started to pay off so, actually it's a positive! What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Research, research and then talk to anyone who'll listen about your research! Being in business for yourself is not for the feint hearted. I'm very lucky as I have fantastic support from my husband, Ben. It's good to have someone to lean on as you'll never know all the answers to all the questions so at some point you just have to accept the challenge, swallow the fear and just go for it. If you have a passion for it then you'll work it out, the key is to enjoy the journey.
images supplied by FTPictures

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Who is behind the Product? Rocket & Rose is run by Gemma Bennett - mum to 18 month old twins, Daisy & Ruby. I run the company by myself & create all the items in the evening when the twins are in bed. How did the company get started? My twin girls, Daisy & Ruby were born 4 weeks early in August 2011 & weighing just 4lb 11 & 3lb 8. Around November time I started looking for some cute tutu outfits for the Twinklies to wear on Christmas Day, but couldnt find them that small (they only weighed about 7lb by then), so I decided to make my own. I studied Theatre Costume Design at The London College of Fashion, so I had the skills there, but just hadnt used them in a long long time! Mummy friends on Social media sites & groups saw the tutus & asked if I could make them, for their little princesses, and it all started from there. It started with the tutus, then people started asking for matching tops then tops for the boys then hoodies and dinosaur hoodies & its basically grown from there & I now have over 200 products and finally became a limited company in August 2012. What is the company about? Rocket & Rose is about creating that very special item of clothing or accessory for your favourite little person in a range of fun, funky, colourful & wonderful items. A product that is one of a kind and designed by you and only you. Rocket & Rose is your imagination made to order. What do you hope to achieve? 6 months ago I would have said "to move into my own workshop so I don't have to work from the spare box room". In March we are moving into our workshop that is 6 times the size! So now I am aiming to increase our product range, employ a member of staff to take on some of the workload & look to getting Rocket & Rose stocked in independent boutiques across the country and online. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? I've had a lot of support from friends and family with this business. Without their support - especially my husband, Dan I could never have got this far. All my customers and social media followers are wonderfully supportive & many of them have happily given out leaflets or recommended Rocket & Rose to their friends. The business has grown so quickly I'm really lucky to have such wonderful support. What has been the downside of starting your own company? It's been a really tough 16 months to get to this stage. A lot of hurdles and at times very stressful with raising a young family & Dan working shifts. It's not easy starting up without someone to bounce your ideas off & I've had to learn a LOT very quickly.... from accounts & tax returns to working an industrial embroidery machine and sourcing the most cost effective fabric and materials for the business to make a profit. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Keep going & believe in yourself. There are lots of hurdles that you will encounter. Some you will fly over & some will have you crashing down. Dont let the falls outweigh the flying. Dont take everything too personally & take everything one step at a time, but plan ahead! If I can do this whilst looking after baby twins then anyone can! 12

Who is behind the Product? Jae and Mark, parents of Max (5) and Zo (2). For owners of an online baby business, we have rather unconventional backgrounds in oceanographic research, followed by city finance and business consultancy. But like most parents, we found that having kids turned our lives upside-down. How did the company get started? Like all good inventions, ScratchSleeves were born of necessity. When our son, Max, was 4 months old his little face erupted with angry, itchy eczema. And he scratched. A lot. One particularly bad morning, which will stay with us forever, we found him in his cot covered in blood and looking like a scene from a horror movie. He had somehow extracted his arms from his swaddling blanket, wriggled just one thumb out of the flip-over mitts of his sleep-suit and scratched at his poor itchy little face to shreds. We had already searched the internet for an effective solution to his scratching and not found anything remotely useful; so Jae set to work with her trusty sewing machine, an unwanted t-shirt and some silk left over from making her wedding dress and ScratchSleeves the mitts really do that stay on were born. The cardigan design makes sure that the mitts stay firmly in place and the silk mitts work brilliantly to stop razor sharp nails working their way through the mitts themselves. They worked so well that we gave a couple of sets to a scratchy little girl we met at Max's swimming class. The thank you email we got back from her parents said it all ...for the first time in her life, Erin has slept through the night. She also woke up without any fresh scratches on her face. We can't thank you enough." That was 4 years ago. We have now helped countless other little ones sleep comfortably through the night with our original ScratchSleeves design. It seems that every year we have added a new size to the original range, the first of the 5-6 year size will be with us in March. This year, based on customer feedback, we are adding some really funky (and effective) baby PJs to our range. These have the same silky mitts as the original ScratchSleeves and we have added a layer of silk to the front of the feet to minimise the impact of toe scratching. What is the company about? The motivation behind ScratchSleeves is to ensure that parents dont have to struggle with their little ones scratching in the same way we did. It was a horrid time and one that could have been avoided. Everything we do, every decision we make is focused on providing an easy, effective solution for our customers because we understand that they are having a rough time. This ethos covers everything: from ensuring that our website is as user-friendly as possible, to designing our packaging so it fits through a standard letterbox meaning that parents dont have to drop everything to receive their order or, worse still, wait a day and before going to the Post Office to collect it. What do you hope to achieve? Ultimately we are aiming to get ScratchSleeves so well known that parents dont have to look for a solution to their childs scratching because theyve already heard of our products. Weve got long way to go but were definitely making progress. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Knowing that we have made a huge difference to the lives of thousands of families. And its not just eczema sufferers: ScratchSleeves are also great at stopping little ones picking chicken pox spots, sucking their thumbs and even pulling out their hair. We speak to so many parents who have been at their wits end trying to find something that will work. This week we spoke to a mum who wanted them for her little one is about to have cleft palette surgery. The lovely feedback that we get from our customers makes all the effort that we put into this adventure (and it really is an adventure) so worthwhile. What has been the downside of starting your own company? ScratchSleeves has taken over our lives and our home. We get so embroiled in it that we have next to no other conversation topics, thankfully we have very understanding friends who tell us when were getting boring! What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Running your own business is all-consuming and its that passion and drive that will make you succeed, but to stay effective you really do need to step back occasionally. Networking events and business presentations are brilliant for this, although we always come back with at least 3 more things on our to-do lists. It also helps to have a mentor to keep you focused on the big picture. At the moment Jae is running the business and Mark is taking the mentoring role, but for the first 3 years it was the other way round and this switch in roles has brought a fresh vigour to the company.

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Who is behind the Product? Husband and wife team Charlotte and Rufus Pearl, ably assisted by a team of wonderful girls at PL HQ! How did the company get started? A dare by my then boyfriend, now husband and business partner to make the bag which I had seen and wanted but couldnt afford shortly after leaving university. I assuredly said I could and then had to follow through; and Im glad I did! What is the company about? Its about making the mundane paraphernalia of parenting covetable, but Pink Lining is also about a shared outlook rather than a shared look being a Mother is hard enough so we want people to embrace the little things and be able to smile What do you hope to achieve? We want to add a bit of colour and humour into families lives with tried, tested & carefully thought out products. We hope to continue building a brand that our customers will engage with and grow with us What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Seeing our product out and about never ceases to be an enjoyable moment my children have stopped saying mummy, that lady has stolen your bag which means we must be doing well! In terms of highlights generally, we try and make sure to celebrate every triumph as its important, not to get carried away with the big picture, and take time to realise when something good has happened What has been the downside of starting your own company? I dont like to focus on the negatives for many reasons but not least because without the decisions all of us have made in the past, we wouldnt be the people we are todayif I had to pick one thing I find difficult about running the business though its the times when I have to work hard and may miss out on time with my children luckily this doesnt happen too often, as they will always be my number 1 priority! What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Do research the product and market as much as you can and go into it knowing it will be tough but if you have the drive and ambition GO FOR IT but only if you are passionate about it!!

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Who is behind the Product? The Cambridge Satchel Company was founded by Julie Deane in 2008 at her kitchen table just outside Cambridge. The Satchels are lovingly handmade in the UK by skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. Julie works closely with her mother, Freda Thomas to add new colours and collections, carefully selecting colours in line with current trends whilst also reflecting the brand identity. How did the company get started? The Cambridge Satchel Company was created to remove Julie Deane's daughter from a school where she was being bullied to a school where she would be happy and thrive. In just ten weeks, and a start up fund of 600 the company was born. Four years on the Company employs more than 80 people, supports six UK businesses and produces around 900 bags a day. Their satchels have been dubbed 'The Brit It Bag' and have been hits at fashion weeks worldwide. In August 2012 the Cambridge Satchel Company was chosen as the face of the new Google Chrome Advert ' The web is what you make of it' and to date it has received over 4.4 million YouTube views. We officially opened our first Bricks & Mortar store in Covent Garden, London on 14 February 2013. What is the company about? The Cambridge Satchel Company is committed to preserving British manufacturing. In 2011 the company set up its first manufacturer based in Leicester whilst continuing to support other UK manufacturers. Since the company first started bloggers have played a key part in promoting and championing the brand and as part of their new Covent Garden store they have opened a bloggers lounge and lending library to thank the bloggers for their support. What do you hope to achieve? As a company we want to make satchels that our customers love and can cherish for many years to come. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? Since starting the company there have been many highlights. In 2011 my mother and I visited 10 Downing Street after winning the Reds Hot Women Awards. Being chosen as the face of the new Google Chrome advert and opening our first store in London, (which we officially opened on 14 February 2013) were also incredible highlights for us. What has been the downside of starting your own company? Since starting the company we have had to take on a brand protection company - Mark Monitor, as we have found many counterfeit sites and products being sold online claiming to be the original Cambridge Satchel. It is terrible to see how many fraudulent websites are out there and we ask the public to be careful when buying online to make sure they are buying the original brand and not a fake. What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Finding the right work life balance is possibly one of the hardest things about starting up your own business but finding time for your family is essential. 15

Who is behind the product? I am Lorraine, a thirty something married mum, who left my job as a Health & Safety Manager in the travel industry to become a full time mum to my two fabulous children. Robbie Williams fan & wine drinker! How did the company get started? I wanted to buy a nappy cake for my sister when she was pregnant with my niece and couldnt find anyone who made what I wanted, so I made her one myself. The photo of it went onto Facebook and I got requests from friends to make gifts for them too. I created a Facebook business page, twitter account and a website and attended some local events with my products. The positive reaction from people was astounding and I was able to run it as a full time business within 6 months. What is the company about? Coochy Coo Nappy Cakes design and create handmade baby gifts, making adorable, affordable gifts to welcome the most precious gift of all into the world. We use products that are practical and useful for parents and present them in a way to make the gift outstanding. Our gift range has expanded over the last year and we have a diverse range of gifts for baby girls, baby boys, twins and a large selection of neutral baby gifts which are all tailored to suit a varied range of budgets. What do you hope to achieve? I am really happy with what I have achieved so far and in such a short space of time. It literally started from nothing and I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have had such amazing support from friends, family and customers. My main aim has always been to have the perfect work/life balance so I have developed a business that fits in around my children, they are my priority and always will be. What has been the highlight of starting your own company? The biggest highlight has been the approval from Amazon to sell my products through their sales channels both in the UK and in Europe, which allowed me to viably expand into a full time business. What has been the downside of starting your own company? Long days and even longer nights, as the business was growing and new ideas were developing. Every aspect of starting a business is down to you. I am effectively the director, manufacturer, accountant, sales and marketing department, administrator and postage and packing department all rolled into one, (but being a control freak this suits me just fine)! What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business? Dont take it lightly! If youre serious about it then do your research, be prepared to work hard and be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them. Most of all enjoy the benefits of being your own boss and give yourself a day off once in a while , 16

Family Focus

How Safe is Your Child's Antiperspirant or Deodorant?

Antiperspirants and deodorants have become essentials in our modern world, used by almost everyone on a daily basis. In a strive to stay free from body odour most people remain unaware of the hidden nasties in personal care products and are uninformed that up to 60% of what the skin comes into contact with can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Commercial deodorants and antiperspirants have been linked to problems ranging from skin irritation to Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer - despite this they are introduced to children as young as eight. What should I choose? Deodorant or Anti-perspirant? Antiperspirants and deodorants are not the same thing: - You still sweat with Deodorants, this is a vital bodily function which regulates temperature and eliminates toxins from the body, simply put deodorants neutralise odours and stop the sweat from smelling. - Antiperspirants actually block pores with aluminium salts, preventing sweating from occurring; along with other health concerns Aluminium can also cause inflammation and discomfort, and may aggravate conditions such as prickly heat. What Age Should My Child Start Using A Deodorant? Most young people don't really experience unpleasant body odour (BO) until puberty, although they can develop BO at any age. Children are more susceptible to synthetic chemicals as their bodies are still developing making avoiding toxic toiletries even more crucial. At the onset of puberty raging hormones affect all glands in the body, not least the sweat glands, making teens sweat more. An essential function, sweating helps to regulate body temperature and release toxins - it is therefore advisable not to use antiperspirants on your child or on yourself. Did You Know? BO is simply a result of sweat reacting with the bacteria on our skin! So what is the answer? How about a natural skin friendly deodorant that restricts the bacteria that cause BO, traps odour forming bacteria and prevents new bacteria from growing. No-more call for chemical formulations that block pores and irritate the skin. Green People offers a safe solution for teens and young children with Oy! Organic Young Roll-On Deodorant, the first ever certified organic deodorant roll-on especially for young skin. It uses Alum, a natural rock crystal and Zinc Ricinoleate salt from the castor oil plant to prevent bacteria from growing and to trap and stop BO in its tracks, whilst still allowing the skin to breathe! This soothing Aloe Vera-based deodorant is pH balanced to be gentle on underarm skin and contains Prebiotics to supports the skin's own good natural bacterial flora and keeps the 'bad' odourcreating bacteria in check. Its wonderfully zesty blend of certified organic Orange, Lemon & Mandarin will leave your child smelling fresh! Truly organic with >89% certified organic ingredients. PS: Always introduce deodorants along with good hygiene habits. Oy! Organic Young Deodorant 7.95, 75ml http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/deodorantforchildren

Diverting 1 million nappies from landfill It has been a great start to the year and we can all feel good knowing that we are on target to divert over 1 million nappies from landfill - this is a huge target and we want to thank you for your support. This week has been especially busy as we were interviewed by BBC Radio 4 for the 'Costing the Earth' programme to be aired in March. We tracked the journey of baby Ffion's nappy waste to the plant where it is reclaimed into paper and plastic fibres within an hour. Our nomination for the Guardian Sustainability award was submitted this week and fingers crossed for a good result. We spent the weekend at the Liverpool UK Baby and Toddler show where we saw a 53,000 platinum dummy which can be viewed on our facebook page. We will be sponsoring the Baby Changing area at UK Baby Show at London Excel (Feb 22-24), and Birmingham NEC (May 17-19) - we have a number of complimentary tickets to give away so please send an email to service@nappies2go.com if you would like to attend. Our collection footprint is growing all the time but we would really appreciate your support in helping to spread the word amongst your parent (to-be) friends. As a thank you for every friend that joins we will give you a 5 voucher for John Lewis or Marks and Spencer or a 6 pack of wipes whichever you prefer. Just ask your friend to send an email to service@nappies2go.com with your name.

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Financial Focus

DEBT AND HOW TO MANAGE IT

Informally negotiated arrangement with creditors No minimum or maximum level of debt. Credit debts only. There is The National Debtline has a fantastic website offering significant no time limit. You may be paying for many years. information in which you can start the ball rolling in dealing with your debt, but before we get to the finer details there are a few simple Free debt-management plan (DMP) points to remember: Usually over 5,000. Credit debts usually. There is no time limit. You may be paying for many years. It is never too late to get advice. Remember, there is help out there and you are never alone!. Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) None, but due to costs not much point unless you owe over 15,000. Dont borrow money to pay off your debts without thinking Most debts except: secured debts, rent, student loans, court fines, carefully. Get advice first. If you own your home, this kind of maintenance and child support.No time limit, but usually five years. borrowing could lead to you losing your home. Bankruptcy If you have lost your job or are off work because of illness, check A creditor can only issue a bankruptcy petition if you owe 750 or whether your payments are covered by payment protection more. You can make yourself bankrupt however much you owe. Most insurance. Check your credit agreement. Contact the insurance debts except: student loans, court fines, maintenance and child company or the lender to find out more details about how to claim. support. Debt relief order (DRO) Make sure you tackle your priority debts first - for example, debts Under 15,000. Most debts except: student loans, court fines, which could mean losing your home or having your gas or maintenance and child support. electricity cut off. Administration order (AO) If you are going to make offers to your creditors, you will need to 5,000 or below. Credit debts and some priority debts. You can send them a copy of your budget summary when you tell them ask for a composition order, which means the debts may be written off after a shorter time such as two or three years. Otherwise, there about your difficulties. is no time limit. You may be paying for many years. Contact everyone you own money to. If you make arrangements to pay some creditors but not others, you could run into Consolidation loan difficulties again. No minimum or maximum level of debt. It will depend upon what the lender is prepared to lend. Any debts your lender allows you to If the first person you speak to is unhelpful, ask to speak to include. The length of time it takes you to repay the loan. somebody more senior who may be able to agree to what you want. Offers in full and final settlement Check you are claiming all the benefits and tax credits you can. The most important thing to know is that you are not alone! Thousands of families go through the same worries and debt problems and yet so many dont think there is a way out of it. Each experience of debt is different from the circumstances behind it to the way the problems brought on as a result of it. There are numerous companies out there to offer assistance and not all of them charge for offering the advice service. There are many different options available to clear your debts, which all vary depending on your circumstances. Below is a brief description of what you can do depending on how much you owe. Remember to always speak to someone first as there may be a better option for you to take:

No minimum or maximum level of debt. Usually credit debts. A Dont give up trying to reach an agreement even if creditors are short time, unless payment is in instalments. difficult.

If a creditor takes court action, dont panic. Fill in the reply forms Write off the debt to court papers and let the court have all the facts. The court will No minimum or maximum level of debt. Usually credit debts. Debts use this as information to decide if you owe the money and what would be cleared. instalments you should pay. Charitable payments towards debts Always go to court hearings. Take a copy of your budget summary No minimum or maximum level of debt. Depends upon the charity, with you. Dont think that going to the county court makes you but usually priority debts. Debts would be cleared or reduced. a criminal; its not that kind of court. They will not send you to prison and there is no jury.

Always keep copies of any letters of court forms you send or receive. Lots of people are in debt because they dont receive all the money they are entitled to. Before you work out your personal budget, check and see if you are entitled to any additional benefits. Contact www.talk2us.org.uk who will be able to assist with any queries.

0808 808 4000

Monday to Friday 9am-9pm and Saturday 9.30am-1pm Visit My Money Steps for personalised advice 24 hours a day
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Thank you to the National Debtline for facts and figures.

Financial Focus

LIFE AND TIMES OF A SPENDAHOLIC

My early adult life was live in the fast lane and so it made sense my spending habits matched my lifestyle live fast. spend faster! They say ignorance is bliss which, for me, was sadly all too true!! I went from 2k to 43k in the space of three years!! I cant blame anyone or terrible circumstances, I was young, irresponsible and, like many people, guilty of the deal with it another day syndrome! I was 20 years old, in a steady relationship and circumstances arose which saw me need to move home ASAP. I called the bank to see if they could help me as I didnt have a deposit or anything to put in my flat! Within 3 days the money was in my account. I remember hearing their terms and conditions and thinking whats two years to pay off a small debt? A few months down the line my bank gave me 2 credit cards both loaded with 1500 each!! so with the loan and cards it was time to kit out the flat, new gadgets, furnishings even a new wardrobe! (well consolidation. When I explained I wasnt looking for another loan, they did say not to worry, as long as I pay the minimum 10 per they simply told me they couldnt help me! When I asked how could month Ill be fine!). they help me get out of this debt and pay them back, I was simply shown the door! I was devastated, I was sobbing outside the bank So that was my life for about 18 months,. Then the day came when with no clue as to what I was going to do from hereon out. So I I got my first red letter (eek!) my phone bill had bounced, so I got on headed back to work and went online. I found information on the phone again and the bank was as helpful as ever have an Bankruptcy, but was terrified of the idea (back then it was still such overdraft Madam, heres 1,500 to see you through those tough an ugly word with so much stigma attached to it). Then I found an times before payday! Who knew the bank were so supportive! insolvency agency advice company, they had loads of information Another few months and the noose got tighter cards declining on about debt management and a then new Individual Voluntary nights out! Back on the phone....(you see the where this is going Arrangement(IVA) which was an alternative to Bankruptcy. I spoke right!) Over the course of the three years in my debt, Id moved to their advisor who went through the process with me, and emailed twice, my relationship had broken down, taken 6 holidays, bought 2 me more information about it all. There was light at the end of this cars, designer bags and clothes, mobile phones and the rest as you dark narrow tunnel that I found myself in! can say, is history. When I got home I spoke with my parents who offered to help, I think I mainly tried to drink my debt away! I remember moving however I declined their offer, as I knew as much as they wanted to back home and my dad always asking me about my finances (every help me it would be too much of a financial burden for them. This time he said the dreaded F word I thought I was going to feel sick) was my problem and I knew only I could get myself out of it. so I did a lot of avoiding parents and the subject of money and I think the scariest part was telling my boyfriend, was he going to enjoyed my new found single life! Another year later Im in a new leave me because I wasnt honest enough to say Im broke? So one relationship and out for a friends birthday, card declines (strangely) weekend I just blurted it out! I was waiting for an argument to ensue, at the tube station thought nothing of it... got into town and went but instead there was a momentary silence, then he simply said in to take money out DENIED!! -3600 O/D I was over my over draft jest so youre basically saying I wont be a kept man? I honestly limit, I ended up coming home depressed and panicking as to how I thought that it would have been the end of us, but he couldnt have was going to myself out of this hole! At first my initial reaction was been more understanding. He had no loans or credit cards, and was get another job and at one point I was working 3 jobs and as an act a firm believer in never owing anyone any money! So I had a great of desperation I sold many of my possessions including nearly all my teacher on how to live within your means. jewellery! But to be honest it just wasn't enough to help fix the problem I had created. Most of the IVA process was dealt with over the phone, as they do all the legal paperwork for you, I went in the day my papers were Every time I spoke to the bank over the years about my mounting approved by the courts and signed the agreement. The great thing debt, everything was dealt with over the phone. This time they was that whilst I was in my IVA, none of the creditors could send me wanted to meet with me. I was now at a point where even I knew red letters or call me to chase for money or threaten me with bailiffs that t another loan was not going to help. I wanted the bank to help as they would be in breach of the terms bound by the courts! Relief me, get out of debt, but instead their only solution was more That is the only word to explain how I felt after the first months

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Financial Focus

payment went through. I had a new bank account, my salary was being paid in and even after my IVA payment and bills there was money in the bank. Continued It was great and scary at the same time. The joy of it was I knew exactly what I was going to be left with to survive the next month. So my mindset had changed, my spending habits changed. I changed cosmetics brand... before I was spending 30 for a face cream (to this day I still dont understand some of my spending choices..lol) now my face cream costs 8 and is made by the same company behind the 30 bottle (Go figure??) At first, I did think Oh my god, Ill never have a life again I literally thought I couldnt go out, or socialise like the good old days! But it was those old days that got me in this mess! I soon learnt how to say no. Before my IVA was in place I used to be out 6 days a week socialising((champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget springs to mind...lol) Id always buy a new outfit for the weekend, I soon realised that this was no longer going to be possible. To be honest by the time the IVA was in place I was all partyd out it was time to hang up my raving shoes(for now) Who knew this lil girl was finally growing up (ok well sort of!)

had to cut myself a little slack! I know you cant even get an overdraft these days and the banks are much stricter on their lending. Its a shame they werent like this always. I wouldnt have got myself into half as much trouble as I did. The banks were like a candy shop when it came to their lending they told me to I was about a year out from finishing my IVA, by then Id taken help myself... I did, they told me to take more and I said thanks! redundancy from my job of 10 years in travel and moved into the But the minute I said I couldnt pay, they kicked me to the kerb corporate world temping as a PA, hoping it was going to become and it was a case of not my problem you live and learn! more permanent, but due to the nature of the business couldnt be guaranteed so my contract with them was on going. Then I The Bankruptcy experience wasnt as smooth sailing as the IVA found out I was pregnant. This changed everything. I came back process. I felt shame, the staff werent very helpful and some from Christmas break, to be told of redundancies which left me individuals were quite judgemental (it didnt help being heavily in limbo as they couldnt confirm whether my position was going pregnant and emotional) Its easy to forget we are all human, we to affected by this. The morning sickness didnt help but it added are from all walks of life and our reasons for bankruptcy are to the dread and panic I felt about my future. different. By 3pm it was done, I went home with loads of paperwork, with the red stamp of bankrupt. The train ride back Luckily I was fine work-wise but in March we had a massive change was a reflective journey, I thought about the years that lead up to in management and it was decided that I wouldnt be kept on, this point and looked to the future, I knew that by the time my however they were kind enough to agree to keep me until I was unborn baby was at least 5 I would be completely free from my ready to take my maternity leave, but now I had to deal with the bankruptcy, it seemed like a lifetime away. IVA situation, how was I going to pay the money? I didnt have a job to return to after the maternity leave ended so I spoke with Yet here I am, has my life changed much? Well Im a mum to an my administrators who were so helpful and completely amazing 4 year old boy, I have a great man in my life and I now understood the predicament I was in. They appreciated that Id have my own business and Im also rockin my party heels again paid so much of the debt back and never defaulted. I spoke with every now and then ;-) I can honestly say Im truly happy! Sure I the administrators and I even had to write a letter outlining my dont dont fancy car, or get to go on holidays 2 or 3 times a year decision to take bankruptcy which was then sent to the creditors but that will all come. I live within my means, and manage my (who were able to reject the bankruptcy motion) respond. money and finances much better these days Im in a good place mind, heart and soul and that people is priceless! Taking the bankruptcy wasnt a decision I came to lightly. I knew exactly what it meant for me, my car was going to be taken from If you are in a similar position, dont ever feel like you are alone! me, I would have no chance of getting mortgage and Id have the There is so much help and free services out there to help you out mark of it all on my files for the next 5-6 years. So paperwork was with the options available, debt is a big problem these days and completed online and off I went to the Royal Courts of Justice many of us suffer in silence and there is just no need. There are (place sounds scarier than it is). lots of charities which have been set up now to help and its FREE!! Just make sure you deal with it sooner than later as it wont I cant lie I was really sad about it all, I just Id worked so hard to disappear on its own. But most importantly, you will get your life pay my debts and now I was having to cancel it all out by taking back and when you get to the point I have finally reached, youll bankruptcy. But after a long hard think about everything I wonder why you never did it sooner! But you WILL get there :D remembered I DID work hard, I DID pay back money I owed, and without the IVA I wouldnt have been able to do that much. So I Naddy xxx

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Garden & Children Focus

GARDENS & KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN SAFE

Now that the weather is changing it would be good to go over a Ponds must be fenced off, covered with chicken wire on a frame if couple of things before we start with the gardening fun. small enough. Check pumps for water features. Make sure all cables (lights, pumps, etc.) are out of reach. Put your tools away, when Before you let your little treasures out, lets have a look at a few not in use. Children like to copy, but adult tools are not designed for essential safety checks. Gardens are beautiful, but can also be little hands. Even washing lines should be retracted or stored away. Lock all plant feeds, weed killers and chemicals away. potentially hazardous to little explorers. First things first, use common sense. Never leave your toddler Hope the list did not put you off allowing your child into the garden. There is no need to be afraid of outdoors. Just remember to use unattended. EVER ! your common sense and know Dont worry if the phone rings, the person can leave a message. If your garden. Dont forget that the doorbell rings, take your child with you and that cup of tea you children love to explore and really need, either take your child with you or simply wait until later. investigate. Every hidden corner of the garden means great Treat your garden like an extra room. Give it the same attention as adventure. I know it might look scary, but the more you know you would to your house. your garden, the more time you Check your fencing on a regular basis. Wobbly posts can be harmful. will all spend there and the A hole in the fence can be nothing to you, but a big adventure for easier it will get. your toddler. If you have a hedge fence, maybe its time to think of And remember: children who installing a chain link fence as well. spend more time outside may be Check your hard services. They should be free of algae and moss. less likely to develop allergies. Those can make the surface very slippery. Wash with a pressure Bringing sunshine into a childs washer, they can perform miracles. Make sure all paving is fitted life increases levels of vitamin D and has a great effect on a childs properly. Loose stones can cause trip hazards. health.

Beauty and the Plants

If you want a beautiful garden you need to plant your seeds at the right time. And so it goes with love for gardening. My parents planted the seed in my head, but back then the work in our garden wasnt so easy. We were close to being self-sustainable, and I have to say I admire my parents for doing that and working so hard. They grew potatoes, onions, garlic, strawberries, tomatoes, rhubarb, radishes, leeks, cauliflowers and so much more. Did I appreciate it as a child?! No!! It has taken nearly 20 years for that little seed in my head to germinate and grow, and I love it now and I so wish I could have a garden as big as my parents one. Even so, on the few square meters that we do have, I try to do my best to introduce the beauty of gardening to my little Muddy. Is she going to appreciate it?! Who knows?! But if we plant the seed at the right time, the knowledge will be there and hopefully one day it will germinate and bloom as it did for me. I am not going to say grow vegetables and fruit to save money. For me gardening is a challenge and an exercise. It teaches me to be patient and it strengthens my spirit. And I would like Muddy to experience the same. I want to introduce her to the beauty, surprise and magic Mother Nature can make. She might not love to garden, but at least I will give her the option. Gardening is a great space to stimulate and develop childrens senses. Seeing beautiful colours and shapes, listening to bugs, birds and trees, experience different taste of fruit and herbs, touching all sorts of textures from soft fuzzy leaves to hard sticks and rocks, smelling flowers, who wouldnt love to do that. Besides that there are other valuable lessons to be learnt. Patience as they wait for plants to grow, responsibility as they have to look after their plants, life cycle as the plants die at the end of the season and understanding where food comes from. But most of all, it is fun. Fun getting dirty and if nothing else finding an activity for the whole family to enjoy.

Evans on Earth Tel: 07983 951 368 gardens@evansonearth.co.uk

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Gardening Focus

The Sensory Garden

Over the last few years we have seen schools encourage young deterring pests from eating the plant. See if your children can children to plant seeds both at home and in small plots in school recognise a few of the more common smells and spot the different grounds starting with herbs and some vegetables plus flowering insects attracted to them. plants such as Marigolds, Sunflowers, Sweet Peas and Lavender, the latter two giving out heady scents, and it is with scent we have the 1) Curry Plant- Curry scented leaves give off a spicy aroma on beginning of a sensory garden. It is comparatively easy to create a a warm sunny day. garden for children that is not only beautiful to look at, but tantalises 2) Lavender -The classic scent of summer. Get the children to their senses too. These plants offer a great way to catch childrens squeeze the flowers and smell their fingers. imaginations, and get them interested in the garden too. 3) Chocolate Cosmos-Beautiful deep red flowers that give off a chocolate/vanilla scent, the children, and adults will love it! Plants for all five senses: 4) Sweet Peas- Pretty sweet scented climbing plant, cut the Try a few plants from each of these groups and encourage children flowers regularly to encourage growth throughout summer. to describe in words and pictures the sights, textures, tastes and sounds these wonderful plants bring. Taste: There are so many to choose from and many of our fruits, Sight: Children love bright colours and these eye-catching flowers vegetables and herbs are not just tasty to us but also to animals and insects too. and leaves are sure to be popular. 1) Sunflowers- How tall can you get them to grow? 2) Pot marigold-Bright orange daisies. 3) Chameleon plant -Amazing three-toned foliage that smells of lemon. 4) Swiss Chard bright lights-The brightly coloured stems and foliage of this unusual vegetable are as tasty as they are beautiful. 5) Heuchera chocolate ruffles-Purple leaves with chocolate covered undersides and pretty pale pink flowers. 1) Spearmint- Great with peas and potatoes. 2) Rosemary-Great with meat and fish, plant alongside paths where people can brush past and release its scent. 3) Nasturtium-Use in salads, the colourful red, yellow and orange flowers plus foliage give off a peppery taste. 4) Chives -Chop up the foliage in salads, they also produce pretty pink to purple flowers. 5) Wild Strawberry -Children will love hunting for the sweet delicious fruit.

Sound: Just sit in your garden on a summers day, close your eyes and There are a few plants that can be used to create a sensory garden listen to the sounds of nature around you, birds, insects and the wind which will awaken the senses of children everywhere whilst also encouraging learning and development. The smells, sounds, feel, rustling through the plants. taste and sight of these plants which we sometimes take for granted 1) Greater quaking grass-An annual grass whose nodding might just encourage our children to become the gardeners of the future. flowers rustle in the wind. 2) Love-in-a-mist-Bright blue flowers which form pretty seed- Wouldnt it also be great if all childrens Hospitals and Hospices created sensory gardens, the healing benefits I am sure would heads that rattle when shaken. 3) Miscanthus Oligostachyus-Pretty bamboo-like foliage, outweigh the costs. striped yellow and cream, that creates a rustling noise. 4) Sweetcorn-Another rustler and good to eat too. For more advice on creating your own sensory garden, please contact 5) Bamboo-Pretty foliage that whispers in the wind while its me. Bob Blyth (0208 441 6995 / 07511 948 691) stems knock together, creating a hollow sound. Touch: Leaves vary between plants from rough to smooth, furry to spiky, get the children to touch the plants and describe what they feel like. You can also explain to them that every texture has a purpose. For instance, furry leaves protect the plants from extremes of hot and cold weather, succulent ones help to store water and sharp spines stop the plants from being eaten by insects. 1) Lambs Ears-Children will love the silky foliage. 2) Silver Sage-The leaves have a down like feel. 3) Jerusalem Sage-Soft downy leaves and stems and pretty yellow flowers. 4) Houseleek- A succulent plant with rosettes that produce long stems. The leaves are rigid to touch; they hold water in hot weather. 5) African Sundew- This is a meat eating plant that catches its prey using a glue-like substance on the leaf surface. Its sticky to touch, the kids will love it! Smell: The scent given off by leaves and flowers is wonderful and often has a purpose such as attracting insects (bees for pollen) or

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Business Focus

Bringing baby bottles and business together!

Connecting with other people and businesses is one of the most influential forms of marketing that a person can do, since there is no greater source of income generated than the power of "The Recommendation"; helping to get others work, bearing others in mind when opportunities come up, and sharing inside and trusted knowledge of the businesses around you. Through weekly Buggy Network meetings, working mums & dads can come and spread the word about their own businesses and meet others all whilst in a safe and fun environment where accompanying children can play and relax. You can have a lovely cup of coffee and maybe a sneaky cake therefore whilst showcasing your work, find out about others, share your inside knowledge, and help each other on those issues that are stopping them from reaching their potential. All whilst your children sit on your lap, play, and make new friends! Why it works In a meeting in February two ladies that hadnt met before sat next to each other with their small children and swapped toys and biscuits, Natalie Layton and Danielle Panteli. They happily chatted whilst we waited for other members to come in and got to know each other as people do. When the meeting started we all went around the room introducing each other and discussed what we do for a living. As Natalie told us about how she had become a nanny and was looking for children to look after either during the day or for ad hock baby-sitting at night, Danielles face lit up as she was having child care issues and desperately needed some baby-sitting every now and again so that her and her partner could go out!! Both were so excited that they had found someone so easily just by not doing the usually introductions but talking about that other side of themselves that is sometimes seen as taboo! Danielle and her husband run Pure Hair and Beauty in Enfield down the road from where Natalie lives and they would have never known of each other if they hadnt met under these circumstances. Both woman made great connections that day and in other meetings too, and both women didnt feel like they were not only giving up time to be away from their children whilst they worked, but they spent quality time with their children whilst they did some business!! We at The Buggy Network have our cake and eat it!! (The kids get rice cakes!) We are launching membership on Womans Day the 8 March in Enfield at Southbury Leisure Centre at their soft play whereby you can sign up to The Buggy Network and join our growing group of families helping each other through the combination of work and play! Membership includes your very own page on the website directory full of pictures and links, and tutorials every month to help you whilst the kids sleep to get your business working that bit harder. Tutorials are on all sorts of subjects from lessons in Twitter and LinkedIn to Coaches helping you with your outlook on your business and how to get it and you working stronger. Do join us to celebrate or find us on www.thebuggynetwork.com Bringing baby bottles and business together!

If you would like to advertise here, please contact me now. 07535 541 303 0208 361 0727

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Family Focus

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Family Focus

HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ TO YOUR CHILD?

Children are reading less as their lives become more crowded with other activities, new research suggests. They are reading fewer novels, comics, magazines and websites, according to a National Literacy Trust study of 21,000 children and teenagers. While many enjoyed reading, some 17% said they would be embarrassed if a friend saw them with a book. In this day and age, that just seems ridiculous doesnt it? A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "The findings of this survey come as no surprise and shows that we need to continue our drive to encourage young people to develop a love of reading. In a world of so many distractions for young minds, the place of literature is more important than ever. "Children need to master the basics of reading as early as possible so they can then go on to explore magical and powerful books that can explode with imagination. Sharing Books with Your Baby / Toddler Your baby starts communicating from the day they were born. When you talk, listen and respond to them you are helping them develop very special skills. It is for this reason that we are giving you all a big push to start reading to your children from the get-go! Sharing books is a wonderful way to help your child learn to talk (and its the ideal opportunity to share a cuddle at the same time.) Here are a few helpful tips to get you started: Find a quiet place. Turn off the TV or radio so there are no distractions. As well as reading the story, talk about the pictures. If theres a picture of a dog, talk about a dog that you know. Give your child time to respond to your chatter, whether it be happy mumbles or little sounds that resemble your own. Don't put any pressure on your child to name the pictures, but if she copies your words, praise her and say the words again for her. Visit your library for different books its free to join. Dont worry if books get damaged; libraries understand that this sometimes happens. Find your local library and become a member! Dont read for too long. Young children get bored quickly so little and often is best. Let other grown-ups grandparents, carers and older brothers and sisters join in too. Its good to share favourite books again and again. Repetition helps children to understand and remember the language they hear. Remember, youre not teaching your child to read. You learn to talk a long time before you learn to read, and book sharing is a wonderful way to help your childs language development. Why reading is good for talking? Sharing books with babies and young children is a fun way to share talk. You and your child will enjoy the experience, which means there is a strong chance it will become a regular activity. Talking and listening to young children develops their social and literacy skills and reading aloud is a good way of encouraging two-way communication. Babies love the sound of their parents' voices and reading aloud to them can be calming during times of distress or unease. Coupled with the appearance of their favourite book and/or character, it can be a very soothing experience and help build the bond between you and your child. Books introduce children to the exciting world of stories and help them learn to express their own thoughts and emotions. Stories provide parents and carers with a structure to help them talk aloud to children and listen to their responses. It helps overcome adult inhibitions and provides topics for discussion. Reading together gives babies and young children the chance to respond. A gurgle in anticipation of a favourite story ending, or a smile of enjoyment, shows you that young children like to communicate and do so from a very young age. Characters, words and sounds discovered through books can be talked about outside of reading time. Books are an important source of new vocabulary. Songs and rhymes are especially good for children as the rhythms and repetitive language make it easier for babies to learn language skills. Reading aloud combines the benefits of talking, listening and storytelling within a single activity and helps to build the foundation for language development. The majority of brain development occurs in the first three years of a childs life. Reading to babies and young children, and giving them time to respond, will help make the most of this opportunity. Here are a few ideas that you could use to liven up story time. M Do the voices Try to make sure each character talks differently this makes the story come to life for the listeners. M Get with the programme Make sure you have a regular slot in which to read every day. This makes sure you don't forget about it, and stops everyone forgetting the plot! M Go for a journey If you have a regular reading time every day, choose a longer chapter book. It'll be more of an experience for you and your listener, and helps build their memory and understanding. M Keep them guessing Ask questions every so often to find out what your child thinks might happen next. M Make sure they're still with you Recap what's happened every few pages. M Always leave them wanting more Quit reading at an exciting point in the story.

A big thank you to the National Literacy Trust for information and support.

World Book Day is the biggest celebration of its kind, anywhere. Millions and millions of book vouchers are given out, great free books for kids, excitement everywhere (on blogs, in newspapers, on TV and in schools, libraries and, of course, bookshops), people coming together (including lots and lots of young readers) in a big, loud, happy celebration of reading. And we really do want you to help make 25 this March 7th 2013 the best World Book Day ever.

Family Focus

YOUR SOURCE TO GREAT BOOKS SUITABLE FROM BIRTH ONWARDS

In the last few weeks Ive bought quite a few books for my oldest daughter, now at secondary school, and as a result of the big push in encouraging all parents to start reading to our children from birth onwards, I thought it was time to practise what I preached and do the same for my youngest daughter. Ive signed up with Usborne Books at Home for the sole purpose that if Im going to be buying books on a regular basis for both the oldest and youngest, then surely it makes sense to get as much back as possible. There are incentives and promotions and discounts available that in due course will far outweigh the minimal set-up cost it was to join. Anyway, my goal is to help any parent in getting the books that will best help them encourage their child to read and to learn. I have enclosed some advertising offers that are fantastic for getting you started without breaking the bank and then where you go from there is completely up to you. I am more than happy to help and can let you know about any offers available.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.
Maya Angelou

GUIDED READING CLASSES STARTING SOON

Another project we are starting (in Enfield first and then to be rolled out to surrounding areas) is the Guided Reading Classes that will be held on a Saturday or Sunday for approximately an hour. Classes start for children aged 4+. There are 4 series available with 3 books in each series. We will be reading through a series of books with your child that adheres to the National Curriculum. At the end of the group your child will leave with a copy of the book that they have been reading and also a fun activity sheet to complete at home with you, that relates to the book that they have read. The groups are designed to encourage your child that reading is fun whilst being educational and at the same time will assist with their reading skills as they develop. Each class will cost 7.99 and this price includes a copy of the book and the activity sheet. Each class will be held where parents can sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

If you would like to participate in the next class, please do complete the form and send it back to me at: Unit 136, North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP Alternatively you can contact me at: E: nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com T: 0208 361 0727 M: 07535 541 303

GUIDED READING CLASSES - BOOKING FORM: Parents Name: Childs Name: Childs Age: Contact No:

Should you wish to host a book party with me, please do contact me on the following: E: info@babybuzzmagazine.com T: 020 8361 0727 M: 07535 541 303
26

Get Creative - Reviews

Each month we endeavour to find something creative that you can get up to with your children or perhaps something you want to do just for yourself! There are so many fantastic opportunities out there which dont have to cost the earth and are rewarding in many more ways than one. For the March issue we have visited Zebra Ceramics and Glittertastics for both economical creative play and something a little more costly but so very rewarding. Full details can also be found on our website: www.babybuzzmagazine.com

Get Creative

For the March issue we were invited to Zebra and choose what you want to do. There is ample Ceramics for an afternoon of ceramics therapy! space for buggies and at the time we sat down there was a birthday party in full swing which didnt ZEBRA Ceramics is a stylish and contemporary impede on or distract us from our afternoon. The North London ceramic painting studio and cafe staff are warm and friendly and always on hand to with indoor & outdoor play areas for your little give you some advice or helpful tips. Dont be ones. The studio is ideal for all ages to relax and fooled into thinking this is just somewhere to take enjoy quality time together creating unique, lasting your child, there were a few adults present happily ceramic mementos & gifts. They also specialise in painting away and quite content with all the hustle capturing little Hand & Footprints using ceramics, and bustle. I think what surprised me most was clay or silver which enables you to treasure them how calming and therapeutic the afternoon felt, forever. the atmosphere was calm and we were painting and talking away with no cares. For the afternoon I too my 11 year old daughter Mia. Ive found that a lot of classes or groups are The cafe was surprisingly well priced with kids always geared towards the younger child and so it drinks and snacks ranging from 50p and 80p, was nice afternoon for just the two of us to get beverages for mums and dads is just as reasonable away from everything else and to just sit down and they also cater towards organic produce, cakes together, enjoy some brownies and some great and gluten free brownies. coffee (for me of course - she certainly doesnt need any!) and, of course, to get creative. The paints have no fumes and are clearly colour coded and you are given a glazed mug with all the On first impressions the studio is light and airy and colours on to give you an indication of what the has comfy sofas to one side and a row of tables and colour you have chosen will look like once baked. chairs to the other side and to the rear of the This may sound like stating the obvious but believe studio. Considering on the day we went it was me some of the colours couldnt have looked at snowing and raining and looked dreary it was a different from the pots they were in! You can order welcome sight to walk in to a warm cosy a range of personalised hand-painted gifts and environment. We were seated at our table and framed clay hand and footprints with prices given the initial brief instructions. On your first visit starting from 75 for a single print. You also have you will be informed that you are to pay 5 which the option of purchasing silver print jewellery is the studio fee which includes the paints and I which is created using mess free, non-toxic and imagine the cost of baking your finished article. easy to use impression kits. For further You then have a vast selection of pots, figurines, i n f o r m a t i o n , plates, cups and assorted objects to choose from - please contact this is probably the most difficult part as you end Zebra Ceramics. up wanting to choose a variety! Prices start from 4 and can get a little pricier the larger your chosen item is. Each item is clearly priced so you can pick

Zebra Ceramics Ltd 110 Alexandra Park Road Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE info@zebraceramics.co.uk www.zebraceramics.co.uk Tel: 020 8442 1314

27

Get Creative - Reviews

The Craft Cabin E4 is a fun, safe and educational experience for children and adults alike, catering for all ages! Not only do we offer an extensive range of ceramic decorative items, you may prefer to paint on canvass, create a keepsake for someone special, like mum, dad, your teacher, guardian or why not treat yourself to a masterpiece to display at home for all to see. A few of the things we can offer are; M Paint and/or Deco patch. M Birthday Parties. M Workshops for adults. M Workshops for children. M A separate, safe and secure play area for under 5s playing children's TV all day. M Freshly ground Coffee, Tea and Cold drinks. M A selection of fresh hot and cold light bites and delicious snacks to tie you over. M Messy Play sessions for Pre-School Children. M Hand and Foot Casting Keep sakes. M Private Tuition of Maths and English by a fully qualified tutor with 15+ years experience. M Baby Massage Classes on site (attendance by booking only) M Hand Crafted, personalised mirrors and plaques (made to order) M Beautiful selection of baby gifts in stock
One Mums Review: The Craft Cabin is located on the High Street in Chingford, close to train stations and buses. For parents who drive, there is off-street parking available at very reasonable prices (and its FREE after 4pm). The Craft Cabin is a warm and child friendly place with welcoming staff, the cabin has a wide variety of craft activities for your little munchkins to do from making a book mark to creating their next master piece on canvas. My children chose to paint ceramics which they loved, and even better was that they were all very reasonably priced from 3 to 9. The Craft Cabin also have snacks suitable for even for the smallest member of your arty clan, with hot and cold paninis , sandwiches , soups and beverages also available. So whilst your little picassos create their next master piece you can relax with your little one in The Craft Cabin Den, this is a room at the back of the shop with a play pen with suitable clean toys for all ages in which my youngest Noah loved and with comfortable sofas for those who whish to breast freed. The Craft Cabin also have baby changing facilities. Over all we loved The Craft Cabin, great value for money, good facilities and a great place in general for the whole family to enjoy.

28

Health & Wellbeing

The bottom line on nappy rash

By Heather Morris, Midwife
Nappy rash is a g e n e r a l definition used to describe a range of inflammatory reactions of the skin in the nappy area. It is a common problem and is estimated to affect up to a third of nappy wearing infants at any one time (Wolf et al, 2000). It equally affects boys and girls and infants of all racial groups (Gupta and Skinner, 2004). Some babies only have it once in a while, whereas others experience it time and again. A number of factors that appear to be linked to an increased likelihood of nappy rash occurring have been identified in clinical literature and anecdotally by parents. This article examines the evidence, both clinical and anecdotal to support these trigger times, which include antibiotic use, an episode of play in providing advice and reassurance to anxious parents diarrhoea, teething, weaning, switching from breast to formula worried about nappy rash. Popular UK parenting websites have milk and during mild infections like colds. pages of discussion about nappy rash, which give some valuable insights into parents' percep- tions of nappy rash. A number of A recent NOP survey was undertaken to examine parents trigger factors have been linked with bouts of nappy rash. perceptions of these trigger times (GFK, 2012). As nappy rash is such a common condition, it is likely that parents will seek advice A comprehensive search of UK online parenting forums found the about the condition from their midwife. This article aims to put top seven most frequently cited 'trigger factors' were: into context some of the nappy rash trigger times, which parents Teething, are likely to be aware of, to help midwives give appropriate and Episodes of diarrhoea, informed advice. Antibiotic use, Weaning Symptoms Switching from breast milk to formula milk The symptoms of nappy rash vary according to how severe Mild infections, such as a cold the rash is. Most cases only present mild symptoms. A small When a baby first starts to sleep through the night. part of the nappy area will be covered in a pink or red rash, usually made up of small spots or blotches. The baby should Other factors mentioned but only infrequently, included switching otherwise appear well with no systemic symptoms. In moderate detergents for nappy washing, the use of cloth nappies and the use of disposable nappies. The seven most frequently identified to severe cases, the infant may have more advanced and painful 'trigger' factors were included in a survey conducted by GFK NOP symptoms which make the child distressed and uncomfortable. in March 2012 to learn more about parents' views of nappy rash Symptoms may include bright red spots, dry, cracked and broken (GFK, 2012). One thousand and nineteen adults aged over 16 were skin and possibly ulcers or blisters on the skin. The rash will cover recruited across the UK to take part in a telephone survey. The a larger part of the nappy area and may spread down the sample was selected to provide an accurate and statistically legs or up towards the abdomen. The infant is likely to cry representative picture of the UK adult population (GFK, 2012). Trigger Times more often than usual and be very irritable. Parents associate nappy rash with a number of 'trigger times', which predispose infants to the condition. Colds and teething Although most cases of nappy rash are mild and easily managed, it is an area of concern to parents. The midwife has a key role to were the most commonly mentioned causative factors, although 29

Health & Wellbeing

dietary changes are also important, together with bouts of diarrhoea. Parents said that several of these factors can play a part-with respondents giving an average of three causes each. Parents aged 55 or over gave a different priority to these factors, when recalling the causes of nappy rash when their children were very young. Although some of these causes received very similar ratings, it is notable that the older group did not consider colds or weaning nearly as significant as their younger counterparts did, while teething was given greater prominence. Skincare Advice Whatever the trigger or cause of nappy rash, parents will need information about treatment and prevention. The midwife has a key role to play in providing advice and reassurance to anxious parents worried about nappy rash. Skincare advice is key to both the treatment and prevention of nappy rash. Parents and/or carers should be advised to try and reduce the baby's exposure to skin irritants including urine, faeces and friction.

the skin, making it more vulnerable to irritants and microorganisms. Treatment For mild nappy rash that is not causing discom-fort, midwives should advise about appropriate skincare. A barrier cream should be prescribed or recommended for use at each nappy change to protect the skin. Zinc ointment BP, zinc and castor oil or metanium ointment are all recommended (CKS, 2010). Ointments are generally more effective than creams and lotions, as they provide a better moisture barrier (Atherton, 2004). If nappy rash is not causing distress it is unlikely that a secondary candida infection is present and management with skincare advice and an appropriate ointment is all that is needed.

Prevention Parents and/or carers should be advised that the best way to prevent nappy rash occurring is to follow good skin care routines. Advice should include: Leaving the nappy off for a long as possible Changing the nappy regularly Nappies should be left off for as long as is practical, as the longer Using only water or alcohol-free /fragrance- free baby wipes the skin is occluded, the greater the risk of persistent dermatitis Avoiding soap, bubble baths and lotions due to ongoing increases in skin hydration, pH and friction (Gupta Avoiding using tight-fitting plastic pants over and Skinner, 2004). The child should be cleaned and changed as soon as possible after the nappy has become wet or soiled. A US Conclusions survey of 1089 infants showed that the incidence and severity of Nappy rash is a common condition affecting most infants at some nappy rash was significantly lower when parents reported more time. It appears to be associated with key triggers and there is strong anecdotal as well as some clinical evidence to support this. frequent nappy changes (Jordan et al, 1986). Management of mild nappy rash involves good skincare routines Water or fragrance-free/alcohol-free baby wipes should be used and the use of an appropriate barrier ointment. for cleansing the skin, which should be patted dry gently after For more information, please contact: cleansing. Vigorous rubbing should be avoided because of the friction on the delicate skin. The child should be bathed daily heather@hma-ltd.co.uk but excessive bathing should be avoided as this may dry the skin and lead to worsening of nappy rash. Soap, bubble baths and lotions should be avoided as they can remove lipids from

Your Chance To Win

Email me with your contact details to: info@babybuzzmagazine.com

Exercising with your baby can be a great way to get in shape, and listening to music can be just the motivator you need. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment is giving away an Aquabeat MP3 player (RRP around 70) which can store 1000 of your favourite tracks, its waterproof so you can even use it while swimming. 6 runners up will receive a Metanium Busy Baby Planner (RRP 10) to put on the fridge or wall so Things To Do can be seen at a glance. The chart can be wiped clean at the end of the week and new information added, so you can always keep track of your busy week. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment has a unique formula to help guard against nappy rash. It helps seal in the skins natural moisture and contains no fragrance or lanolin so its gentle enough to use at each nappy change. Protection for your baby and motivation for you Every day! Visit: www.metanium.co.uk
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31

Food & Recipes

Ratatouille
3-4 portions yes

Asparagus, Chickpea and Parmesan Mash

2 portions yes

1 tablespoon organic olive oil 1 organic garlic clove 2 large organic tomatoes 1 organic red onion half organic red pepper half organic yellow pepper half small organic courgette half organic aubergine 1 bay leaf a sprig of fresh thyme

1 small organic sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes 1 small organic carrot, chopped 1 teaspoon organic rapeseed oil (or organic olive oil) 3 heaped tablespoons of tinned organic chickpeas, drained (but keep the water for blending) 8 spears of organic asparagus, chopped 2 handfuls of organic watercress, chopped 1 heaped tablespoon of grated organic parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon organic chives, finely chopped Organic creme fraiche or organic yogurt (optional)

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 -

Chop all the vegetables into small bite size pieces Heat the olive oil in a pan then add the onion and crushed garlic, cook together until softened Add the vegetables with the the thyme and bay leaf and leave to cook until the vegetables being to soften Add the tomatoes and continue to cook until the vegetables are tender. Add a little water if necessary if the dish starts to dry out. Remove the thyme and bay leaf before serving. This recipe is suitable for all ages and you can serve as appropriate to the age of your child.

Step 1 Step 2 -

Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 -

In a saucepan stir fry the sweet potato and the carrot in the oil for a couple of minutes Add the chickpea and enough water to cover the vegetables and cook for a further 8 minutes or until the sweet potato is soft. Add more water if required so the vegetables don't dry out. Add the asparagus and watercress and cook for another minute Stir in the parmesan cheese and chives to the mixture and remove from the heat. Blend immediately to the required texture. Add the creme fraiche, yogurt or water from the chickpeas to loosen the texture if you need to.

Courtesy of

32

Food & Recipes

Bournemouth working mum of two, Kelly Elsworthy, has written a series of illustrated childrens books aimed at children aged three to seven. Designed to promote healthier eating habits, the series links in with the Healthy Early Years government programme encouraging a sensible and balanced diet for pre-schoolers and Primary level children. Like most mums, Kelly wants to ensure that her children eat and actively enjoy a healthy, balanced diet. She developed the concept of The Adventures of the Cuddle Pirate and his Crew whilst making up stories for her 3-year-old son, Jack and his friends at nursery to encourage them to eat nutritional foods at mealtimes. Through the childrens engagement with the various characters representing different fruits and vegetables, they began to associate them with the importance of eating healthily. They responded so well to the stories, she decided to put pen to paper and bring the concept to life. Kelly kindly sent Baby Buzz some of these books to give away. We sent a few copies to mums in the Baby Buzz Focus Group to see what they thought and most were pleasantly surprised at the eagerness in which their children wanted to read the stories and understand the benefits of eating healthy. For me the characters made it much easier for the children to relate to good and bad aspects of the story. The first book in the series is available to buy direct from www.thecuddlepirate .com and there is also a free downloadable app now available for Android and iPhone/iPad users. We have 5 books to give away, email me at: nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com for your chance to get a copy. 33

Spaghetti Bolognaise
8 portions yes

1 large tablespoon of olive oil 2 organic garlic cloves 4 medium onions, chopped 4 medium carrots, chopped 1 large organic red pepper 275g of organic diced mushrooms 500g of lean minced beef steak 2 tins of chopped tomatoes 1 carton of passata 2 tablespoons of tomato puree 2 teaspoons of oregano

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 -

Chop all the vegetables into small chunky pieces Heat the olive oil in a pan then add the onion and crushed garlic, cook together until softened Add the vegetables with the oregano and leave to cook until the vegetables being to soften Add the lean mince to the vegetables and fry until its evenly browned. Add the tomato puree, passata and chopped tomatoes and simmer gently for 40 minutes. Serve with the pasta of your choice

Focus Group

Food Reviews & News

Every month we host a Focus Group with mums all coming together to test various products and discuss different topics. This month we tested a wide selection of baby & toddler snacks. Find out what our mums thought. Would you like to join our Focus Group? Sign up now at info@babybuzzmagazine.com.

Kiddylicious Smoothie Melts: Mary: These for us were a snack option you either loved or hated. My 2 year old was less than impressed and whilst she thought they had no flavour, she also found them too sweet. Personally I would prefer to give her a piece of fruit as one of her five a day. We gave these a whirl with my son who is 4. First impressions are they look like little polystyrene foam balls. We didnt think there was much taste to them, packaging was enticing though.

Naddy:

Sabrina: Eiliyah tried the banana and mango smoothie melts but didnt enjoy these at all, she is an extremely fussy eater anyway. Sabrina: Eiliyah tried the strawberry wiggles and liked them which was good. Mary: Naddy: Mary: My daughter loved them but more for a treat than a snack, I would put these in party bags as they have that sweet texture but have 80% apple in them and no added sugar which is great. The strawberry wiggles went down a treat.. They were full of flavour and definitely a great alternative to sweets. A keeper for the snack bag! Oh my god, these are the nicest on the market, much better than other popular brands currently available. Not only did my daughter love these, but so did I, the flavour was natural and not sweet, these are a must for my shopping trolley every week! Thought these were ok, I enjoyed them more I think. I had tried these once before but they are delicious and I tend to buy these for my older daughter as well as my youngest. A great alternative to normal crisps and a lot healthier for you too. For me these are a regular purchase as well.

Naddy: Nickie:

Elizabeth: I love these. The ingredients are so pure and simple I feel totally confident about what's going into baby and he loves sucking his meals straight from the pouch (which incidentally I find a rather clean and tidy method compared to spooning...). Eve: These have always gone down well with my son and I like the way it can be eaten or sucked straight from the pouch, saving on a lot of unnecessary mess! Always a regular addition to our bags when we go out.

Caroline: Nice, easy to snack on and she seemed to enjoy them. Naddy: Nickie: These didnt go down to well with the little man. He was curious but literally said they are cheerios for babies! I gave him some to try but he really didnt liken em. I did ask why he said they tasted of nothing... I was really impressed with these. I liked that they were healthy and contained nothing untoward or sugary. I found I was giving these also as a snack throughout the day to both oldest and youngest daughter as both enjoyed them and found them filling enough to last until mealtime. My only hesitation would be price, but I guess you pay for what you want and these are certainly good for your child.

Sabrina: My little one didnt seem to like these and I was going to try them adding a little bit of sugar but that seemed to defy the point.

If you would like to join the Baby Buzz Focus Group, please email me at info@babybuzzmagazine.com along with your name, address and telephone number.
34

Benefits that work for you

Holiday Savings To Put a Spring in Your Step

March is a great month! Spring is in the air, its Mothers Day on the 10th, the Easter weekend starts on the 29th and the clocks go forward on the 31st, bringing longer, lighter days and more opportunities for after school activities for the kids. choose. Camps can be booked for just one day or for the whole holiday period. They must be registered with Ofsted in England or the equivalent bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The sticking point, however, can be the cost. Some providers have monthly payment plans. Holiday camps and schemes are available for children as young as 4, right up to the age of 16. They are a great solution for busy working parents who are unable to take enough time off work to cover the whole school holiday. A wide range of activities are on offer throughout each day including sports, arts, crafts and nature/adventure activities. Many local nurseries and schools will run holiday schemes too. You should check with your local authority to see what they have on offer.

Easter is the first longer school holiday of the year and many parents find it an expensive time. School holidays are a perfect opportunity for children to get out and about and experience new activities, learn new skills and develop social abilities. If you are a working parent and are lucky enough to have time off work over Easter, there are lots of things you can do for free or relatively little cost. Websites such as Netmums and Raring to Go are great for informing you about free and low-cost events and activities which are available in your local area. You simply register to see listings of a wide range of Many holiday schemes can be paid for using childcare vouchers, which are available to working parents via their things to do. employer. Childcare vouchers are a benefit, not a right, and Many websites, aimed at parents, also provide lots of ideas so parents must ask their employer to provide them. The for ways to keep your children busy and happy, at home or scheme will not cost the employer anything to offer and could out and about, which wont hurt your pocket. For example, save them around 400 per year per employee on the scheme. when did you last go to the park, or the woods, go on a bug hunt or a bike ride, or have fun making a family picnic and then If you join your employers scheme you can currently exchange seeking out a lovely spot in which you can enjoy it? If you need up to 243* per month, which is deducted from your wages something a little more exciting, there are lots of offers and is not subject to income tax or National Insurance available at this time of year providing discounts on entry to contributions, hence you save money. This amount is major attractions, which at standard prices can end up costing exchanged for childcare vouchers. Parents then pay their childcare provider with the vouchers. Through taking childcare a family over 100 for a day out. vouchers, parents can save up to 933* per year on the cost Planning ahead is important to get the best deals. One way of their childcare. Childcare vouchers can be used to pay any to reduce the cost is to save up points from supermarket registered childcare provider for children up to the age of 16, schemes which can then be exchanged for tickets to including nurseries, childminders, play schools, pre-schools, attractions such as theme parks, museums and zoos. Some of crches, nannies, au pairs, before and after school clubs, the deals are really good with a voucher for, say 5, being holiday clubs/camps, play schemes, reception classes and out redeemable for a ticket which would cost four times as much of school care at independent schools. if you paid on entry. It may not seem like the obvious place to look, but your employer may be able to offer help to reduce Act now to help parents save more! the cost of entertaining the family some employers offer schemes such as BusyBuyer offering discounts and cash back Busy Bees Benefits is campaigning to raise the weekly childcare on days out, leisure activities and entertainment. Any voucher allowance from 55 to 75 per week to help parents employer in the UK can access the scheme for their staff and save more on the cost of their childcare. Raising the cap will as a member of the scheme you will receive regular updates increase savings per parent to over 1200 per year. If you about the latest deals. You will need to buy, for example, a gift want to save more, sign the e-petition at card in advance for the entertainment of your choice, be it a http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31669 to help restaurant, cinema or theme park. Its worth talking to your persuade the government to increase the cap. The e-petition employer about offering such a scheme to staff. They cost very currently has almost 18,000 signatures and closes this month little to put in place and are shown to increase staff morale - on 21 March. and retention. For more information about how you can start saving using Childcare Vouchers or the BusyBuyer scheme, visit Work and School Holidays www.busybeesbenefits.com If you are a parent who is unable to take time off work at Easter, you may need to access a holiday scheme, activity club or out of school activities for your children. Allowing children to attend such schemes will help them to engage with new people, take part in team events and develop new skills. There 35 are a wide range of holiday camp providers from which to

36

Give a Gift Voucher 25

A PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR PORTRAIT SHOOT FOR UP TO 5 PEOPLE
Purchase a 25 voucher* and Get 50 included to spend on any product.
To purchase call t: 0845 838 5375 or 01279 433392 www.suekennedy.co.uk

www.facebook.com/portraitphotos
Sue Kennedy Photography Ltd, Parndon Mill, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2HP e: sue@suekennedy.co.uk

Sue Kennedy
your family photographer

*Voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or exchanged for cash. Valid until 31st March 2013. Shoot must have taken place by 31st March 2013. For shoots within a 20 mile radius of Harlow, further afield will incur additional mileage or travel costs.

37

Family Focus

Holiday Childcare Your Options

Arranging suitable childcare during the school holidays can be a huge challenge for working parents. Many families get a hand from grandparents and other relatives, but if you do not have the luxury of family close by then we can help you explore the different options for holiday childcare and activities. Good quality childcare can provide your children with fun and new experiences during school holidays, with opportunities to make new friends, stay fit and healthy and maybe even learn a new skill at the same time. Best Bear offers a comprehensive childcare search http://www.bestbear.co.uk/find-childcare, once you have decided which options are most suitable for your holiday childcare needs. Holiday Playschemes / Clubs Holiday play schemes offer organised play and activities for school aged children during the school holidays, at an affordable price. Activities on offer are designed to stimulate and educate children, and include sports, outdoor and indoor games, arts, crafts and drama, swimming and day trips. These clubs can be offered as part of a school's extended services, but can also be run by private or voluntary organisations. They can be based on school premises, or in youth clubs, village halls, community centres or sports/leisure centres. They usually open five days a week during school holidays, and offer childcare for children aged 5 to 11, though some do also cater for older children. They tend to run from 9.30am to 3.30pm, with children staying for lunch, though many also offer additional breakfast and late afternoon sessions, offering a full days childcare from 8am through to 6pm. Some holiday clubs only open for selected weeks in the holidays. On average, holiday playschemes cost 20.00 per day, but this varies. They can look after children of any age, and their hours are usually flexible. Nannies' fees will start at around 6.00 (or 9.00 in London) per hour, but this tends to vary greatly. You will also have to pay your nanny's tax and National Insurance contributions. To cut costs, you might also want to consider a nanny share. Not only will this cut the costs by nearly half it will also provide a playmate for your child/ren. You can only operate a nanny share with one other family. If a nanny takes on children from three families or more they would have to be registered as a childminder. http://www.bestbear.co.uk/find-childcare/childcare-search.php Holiday Camps A number of organisations offer adventure and holiday camps for children. Some of these are residential, while others are simply day camps. Activities offered include sport, arts and crafts or camping trips. The British Activity Holiday Association is the trade association for providers of activity holidays and courses in the UK. Member centres have all agreed to abide by the BAHA Code of Practice and are committed to high standards of safety, value for money and customer service. http://www.baha.org.uk/ Regulation If a childcare setting caters for children younger than eight years old, they must be registered by Ofsted. Likewise, if they open more than two hours a day on more than five days a year, they also need to be registered with Ofsted. All registered providers offering childcare will have been issued a certificate from Ofsted providing details of the number of children, age range and qualifications of the staff or provider.

http://local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/index.jsp?LGSL=18&LGIL=8&Serv Anyone who works with children and young people will also have had to iceName=Find+out+about+school+holiday+schemes+near+you have had a police check (CRB check). If you recruit childcare direct, for instance employ an au pair or nanny from a website which offers CV Community Playschemes Community play schemes (which tend to be run by local councils or listings, such as Best Bear, then it is always recommended that you ensure voluntary organisations) are sometimes held for two week periods in the references are thoroughly checked. Best Bear offers a cost effective summer holidays in community centres, schools or village halls. They reference checking service where we speak to each referee on the phone, provide morning and afternoon sessions and cater for children 5 - 12 asking detailed questions before providing a report within 7-10 days. years. There is usually a nominal charge to cover costs. http://www.bestbear.co.uk/find-childcare/reference-checking.php Childminders and Day Nurseries Some childminders and day nurseries will offer places during school Childcare Vouchers holidays, depending on whether they have free spaces. Childminders You may wish to consider joining a childcare voucher scheme. Childcare offer childcare in their own home, and usually work from 8.00am to vouchers can be used to pay for all types of registered childcare, including 6.00pm but many are flexible. They will charge anything between 2.50 day nurseries, nannies, au pairs, crches, childminders, out of school and 7.50 an hour depending on location. Your local Family Information clubs, holiday schemes, activity clubs and qualifying childcare offered by schools. They provide tax savings and allow you to spread the cost of Service (FIS) can give you a list of childminders with places available holiday childcare throughout the year. Tel: 0800 096 0296 http://childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk/childcarefinder/ Day nurseries care for children and babies from three or four months old up to school age. The majority of nurseries open between 7.30am and 8.00am and close at 6.00pm or 6.30pm. They tend to cost from 150 to 200 per week, again depending on location. http://www.bestbear.co.uk/find-childcare/nursery-search.php Nannies and Home-based Carers Nannies are employed by parents to look after children in the family home either on a live-in or live-out basis. They should either be qualified childcare professionals or should have at least two years experience of caring for children.

Tel: 08707 201277 help@bestbear.co.uk

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We sell original, beautifully crafted toys and amazing prints for babies and children from ethical and sustainable sources, that you will not typically find on the high street. find Take a peek and shop with confidence on our secure website confidence

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To keep up to date with our latest news and offers, why not become a friend on Facebook /RoobubandCustard and Twitter @RoobubCustard

Health & Beauty

TOP TIPS FOR LOOKING AFTER MUMMY TOO..

Are the nasty greys starting to come through and youre not sure what to do? Or you fancying a change of colour but asking yourself is it safe to colour my hair during pregnancy? Can it be harmful to me or the baby? There have been numerous studies on hair colouring during pregnancy and to this day there is no evidence that colouring your hair causes any harm to your baby. My advice would be to contact your GP before colouring your hair they could recommend you wait until your second trimester, as the first trimester is when all of your babys major organs are forming. If you worried about the dye being absorbed into the skin then the risk of that is not very high as only a small amount of dye gets absorbed, this is so small that it is not thought to be harmful to your baby. This also applies to breastfeeding mothers its very unlikely that a significant amount of the chemical used can pass through your bloodstream and into your breast milk. Things I would look out for and the dos and donts for colouring your hair at home or in a salon; I would always suggest a patch test for an expectant mother, even if you have a colour done regularly in our salon. The skin can change it could become more sensitive, you could find you react to something you didnt react to before. If youre worried about the colour going on to your scalp then having foils is another option as the colour is only absorbed by the hair and not the scalp. If youre colouring your hair at home use gloves or you could get someone to help you apply the colour as things wont be as easy to do with that bump in the way! In a salon or home sit in a well ventilated area as some colours can be quite overwhelming, and your sense of smell is stronger and in some cases more sensitive. Always make sure the colour is thoroughly rinsed out from the hair. I would always recommend using a naturally derived hair colour or henna as henna is a vegetable dye, so considered to be safe. We would always advise you have your hair done in a salon as you never know how some dyes might turn out and leaving to the professionals might be a safer option. Being an expectant mother putting your head over the bath or sink to wash your colour out might not be as comfortable as it use to be, plus you get to sit down and relax, have a hot drink made for you and in some salons a complimentary hand massage, which is ideal - taking a bit of weight off your feet can be revitalising. The hair texture can also change so its something else to look out for during your pregnancy which could also affect your colour; the condition of the hair could get dry and could be more or less absorbent in one case we had a salon guests colour not take as well as normal as it become more resistant to colour during pregnancy. If unsure ask your hairdressers advice and even get a strand test done. Even if youre thinking about a perm or straightening your hair the same will apply seek advice and have a strand test. Going for soft curls could end up a frizz ball in the hormone infused locks! This month, for Baby Buzz magazine readers, we want to give away a hair conditioning make-over for your hair and a make-up tutorial. The hair condition make-over is a naturally derived product that is described as a facial for your hair! This will give mummy-to-be a great chance to relax as it comes with a head, neck and hand massage, and will also include a cut and blow dry. Well also do your make-up for you with some tips and advice using our mineral make-up. The winner will have a before and after photo taken and we will feature it in Aprils baby buzz magazine. This will all take place in Pure Hair and Beauty, nominated one of the top 5 salons in the London region for the English Hair and Beauty Awards. For your chance to win, simply email the answer of the following question to info@babybuzzmagazine.com:

Whats recommended you have done before you have a color?

Next month I will give you some home remedies for treating you hair and some styling tips.

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Holiday & Travel Tips

Top tips on going on holiday with your baby and what to look for when searching for a holiday property
So now we are 2, 3, 4, 5 or more...

Nothing beats a great getaway whatever the size of your family unit. For most of us a holiday is a major expense and a well earned break so there are a lot of high expectations. My favourite style of holiday with the kids is when I stay in a home from home environment where, after a good day splashing in the pool at the beach or exploring the local area, we can gather round a great big table and enjoy home cooked local produce and drink Why I like self-catering accommodation and what to look for. local wine! (with the odd night out for dinner of course!) Now that you are ready to go, what style of accommodation should you Every age group has its own advantages when it comes to travelling: babies choose? There are so many types of holidays offering a variety of are portable and not yet mobile, toddlers are inquisitive and things like a accommodation from hotels to camping, from private villas to cottage few grains of sand or a little bit of water will keep them entertained for complexes there is something out there for everyone! hours, older children are eager to learn and often embrace travelling with a wonderful naivety that makes for a special kind of holiday. We find we see I am a fan of self-catering holiday accommodation as it gives the whole things we would never have noticed before our children holidayed with us! family a base to play and relax in but it can often delight or disappoint and it is important to know what to look for when searching for your ideal Holidaying with a baby can be a bit daunting but it can be so rewarding and property. Talk to the owners and get a feel for what they are like, ask plenty offer some well earned relaxation time as a family. Here a few tips that will of questions relating to your needs, what are the baby toddler facilities, if there is a garden is it safe, if there is a swimming pool is it heated (especially hopefully help ease the strain for out of season breaks, all well and good having a pool if the water is Changing time nappy changing is inevitable and a good quality fun bearable!). Location is all important too, think about how far you would like changing bag with mat always makes this time a little more pleasurable. If to be from amenities etc and for peace of mind check that the owners have you are travelling by plane remember the toilets are small and a good tip is details of the local doctor and pharmacy. When browsing on the Internet to have a nappy sack pre-packed with nappy, wipes and cream at the ready. make sure you see a good cross section of images especially of both the interior and exterior, from these you should get a good feel as to the layout Keeping cool and safe from the sun - Sun shade for car, portable hand fan, of the whole property and its proximity to other properties (if any). sun shade for buggy or beach for those all important naps and sun lotion. You will find a stylish selection of holiday properties on the Holiday Tots Hydration important Keep your little one hydrated, it is a good idea to website where the hard work has already been done for you. Every have a small bottle of boiled water at hand to offer. If your baby is breast property has a great range of facilities for families with young children and fed and wont take the bottle, offer a tea spoon every so often (a cause of offer a family friendly welcome. Some are private others are in hamlet or resort style settings with pools, kids clubs, home cooked meals, spa high temperature when in a hot climate is often due to lack of fluids). treatments and wine tastings and more... If you would like any help with Sterilising travel If you are still at the sterilising stage dont forget your your holiday search please feel free to get in touch. sterilising tablets, they are perfect and portable and you can use any style Happy holiday where ever you decide to go! of container, alternatively flush out items with boiling water. Sachelle My ears hurt! If travelling by plane offer breast or bottle as soon as you begin take off or on descent. I have always found it relieves my little ones Holiday Tots ears or if baby is taking finger foods and doesnt want to feed offer a baby www.holidaytots.co.uk biscuit/rusk the chewing/sucking motion will help alleviate the pressure. Stylish holiday properties, little ones welcome! Getting about A baby sling is really useful for strolling around the shops and at the airport, it keeps both hands free for browsing as well as a buggy for really hot lazy days... Keeping calm If your baby has a soother, favourite teddy, blanket or toy dont forget it! If it is really irreplaceable, sow or stick your contact details to it just in case it goes missing or take more than one if you can. Amusement If your baby is at the stage where she needs amusing take a couple of favourite toys for the plane, flash cards and sticky tape are a good time waster. Food If baby is now at the stage where she is enjoying a bit of solid, make life easier (after all you are on holiday!) and purchase lots of pouches, they are perfect for transporting and if you let her try some before you leave you will know what she likes. Dont forget food for you too especially for the journey and if you are breast feeding.

Bottle feeding- If your baby is not yet taking solids and you are bottle feeding remember to check if your destination offers the same brand as she is used to. It might be an idea to pack the ready-made formula to save you having to make bottles up while away. Above all have fun and if your baby is old enough why not let her try the delicacies of her new destination, fresh fruit has never tasted sooo good!

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Holiday & Travel Tips

Dove Dale Holiday Cottage, Peak District National Park

Valley View is a large, detached self catering holiday house at Milldale in Dovedale, within the Peak District National Park. Bring your pet on holiday too! Valley View holiday accommodation is dog friendly and pet friendly! Up to a maximum of four well behaved dogs. Sleeps 12 + cot this is a large self catering holiday cottage ideal for short breaks with friends and family or longer breaks in the school holidays. Alton Towers only 30 minutes drive. The Accommodation M Valley View self catering holiday accommodation sleeps up to 12+cot in 6 bedrooms, including one double bedroom in the attached holiday Cottage Annex (with its own additional lounge and bathroom). Three bathrooms - one in Cottage Annex Sky Sports and TV on two TV's and surrond sound in lounge Large lounge with plenty of seating Large dining table seats up to 14 Modern, fully equipped kitchen Superb pub, The George, Alstonfield only 15 minutes walk

M M M M M
M

Superb Walking Fabulous family and dog friendly walks from the door, suitable for walkers of all ages along the exquisite river Dove which flows within 100 yards of the front door. Enjoy the freedom of being in the countryside! Alton Towers This large self catering holiday house offers fantastic accommodation for family holidays and we are close to Alton Towers. Valley View holiday house is within half an hour's drive of Alton Towers, so why not relax in the stunning scenery and still enjoy the excitement of Alton Towers? The Scenery Superb views from the front and rear of the large holiday cottage overlooking Dovedale and Milldale. This holiday house is in one of the most stunning locations in the Peak District. Please note that we are situated in a quiet rural hamlet and this property is suitable for those wishing a relaxing break in the country. We are not a party house and we cannot cater for hen or stag parties.

For more information and to check availability and prices please contact: wendyboast@dovedaleholidaycottage.co.uk

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family focus

BLACK OR BLUE?

By Jani White, Naturechild

It is very important to talk with someone about these feelings and symptoms. For many women the first real check they will have as to whether Women may experience: these emotions may be an issue will not happen until the 6 week post natal sudden mood swings check-up. If you are feeling this way, dont wait for that 6 week appointment, unexpected bouts of tearfulness / crying you are absolutely free to contact your midwife, health visitor or GP and feelings of exhaustion ask them to talk this through with you. If you are experiencing these feelings feelings of inability to cope it is so important to talk with someone. Many women will come through feelings of guilt or anger their labour experience feeling that it was not what they expected, not what they hoped for, wished for, and may feel confused about the fact that Well, yes, we often, nay, usually, have these sorts of symptoms on around although their baby has been safely delivered, they still somehow feel day 3-4, just as the milk is coming in. But dont you think that maybe cheated about their labour experience. depression is the wrong word here? I think that calling it the Blues is really much more accurate, and, as you will see further along, the symptoms that There is a very important process that we all need to go through after having warrant the word depression should be understood in a completely different a baby, called de-briefing. This is that thing where you NEED to tell your context. I would like to argue that it is a NORMAL part of the physiology of birth story again and again, as you order the whole experience in your heart birthing to go through this transition. The hormones are shifting Big Time!! and mind, placing all the circumstances into context, reviewing how you felt Our bodies are relinquishing the fulsome scope of hormonal structure that and experienced every stage of the labour, during the birth and in the early has maintained the pregnancy and taken us through the arduous and extra hours and days with your newborn. ordinary process of labour. And then we are gifted with that delicious bubble of the euphoric oxytocin hormone cascades that buoy us through those first Some women feel very embarrassed or shy or inhibited if their experience few days. has not matched their hopes and expectations. Sometimes the feelings of anger, grief, sadness and fear can feel truly overwhelming, swamping you, But then things need to shift and change, and our systems unwind us from and playing havoc with your already vulnerable state. the high that is that birthing cocktail, as all the hormonal triggers begin to prepare the milk complexes and to hormonally help our bodies onto the Women can often feel that it was something about themselves that was not track towards recovery and towards resuming our non-pregnant status. up to the job, that somehow they failed. In the swirling swim of all those And with that, I should like to argue, it is fully appropriate that we have a unbalanced hormones, sometimes it is not easy to see the wood for the day or so of sadness and vulnerability. Quite apart from the fact that our trees. This is why it is so vital to find a sympathetic listener, ideally one with body is doing the emotional and hormonal equivalent of an Olympic appropriate training, to help you perceive your thoughts and feelings and gymnastics routine, I truly believe that it is an important time for women to help you order them in a way that can help you sort out your experience. to grieve for the loss of the pregnancy. Another aspect of why we may fall into this kind of depressive state may be purely physical. Childbirth will necessarily cause a significant blood loss, and Being pregnant is the most marvellous feeling to have that wholly a huge loss of energy (what we call Qi in Chinese medicine). When we are symbiotic relationship, that you are housing another being within you. The deficient in blood and energy, this will have a profound effect on our post unutterable closeness of that bond is indescribably beautiful and I believe natal recovery, and can rock our emotional status to the point of feeling that it is right and appropriate that we have a moment of sadness as we these depressive symptoms. relinquish that status and that particular closeness. Often, in our culture, women are not resting enough after their childbirth, Which is coupled of course with all the joys of NOT being pregnant, being doing too much too soon and stressing their bodys reserves just at a time able to see our toes again (!) and of course, the unutterable joy of sharing when we need to conserve them. We must make much more of an effort our baby with our lover. So when do things walk across that line between in our society to Mother the Mother; to cosset her, to feed her nourishing the normal shifts of this early blossoming of motherhood and potentially strengthening foods, and to ensure she is getting enough rest, all in the turn into something more akin to clinically becoming depression? context of taking care of her newborn, often without the support of those extra hands that can make all the difference. Symptoms to suggest that this is more than just a response to the post natal hormonal changes are: The most important message to take away from this discussion is to feel confident to ask for help if you are not feeling that you are coping exaggerated mood swings emotionally in the early weeks with your baby. Be gentle with yourself and marked sleep disturbance be forgiving. When our hormones are out of whack it is hard to feel sensible. changed eating habits, particularly loss of appetite that is not Be assured that some degree of tearfulness on day 3-4 is normal, and should related to pre-existing nausea or morning sickness you find yourself struggling, please know that help and support is only a prolonged or unusual periods of fatigue or high energy phone call away. extended loss of interest in activities normally enjoyed persistent feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness Post Natal Support: the Association for Post natal Illness http://apni.org/ Birth Crisis Help Line: http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/birthcrisis.htm suicidal thoughts or urges violent or aggressive feelings towards the baby If these symptoms go on for longer than 2 weeks it is advisable to seek qualified help from your midwife, health visitor, counsellor, GP or a specialist who may be able to recommend suitable supportive medications. Mood swings are considered a normal part of pregnancy and post partum.

Often termed the baby blues, it is thought that as many as half of all women may experience depression in the first week after their childbirth. This is thought to relate to the huge shift in hormone balance, from labour to breastfeeding.

Irritability, irrationality, weepiness, misgivings, fears, joy, elation are all common emotional responses. But for some women these emotions become overwhelming resulting in a depressive and/or anxious state.

Website: www.naturechild.co.uk Mobile: 07932 00 00 25 Email: jani@naturechild.co.uk

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44

Products - Tried & Tested by You

Is it easy to handle / use? Absolutely! The Aire+ is extremely durable and the adjustable handles and all wheel suspension make the stroller a dream to push. First impressions are great too, the Ladybird Red is a particularly gorgeous colour and suitable whether you have a boy or girl. What car seat is the Aire+ system compatible with? The Aire+ comes complete as a travel system including car seat so you dont need to worry about adapters and which car seat will fit which is a huge bonus. Is it cost effective? This has to be one of the cheapest travel systems available at just 150.00! Fantastic value for money. How easy was it to put the Aire+ together? The stroller and car seat come delivered all in one box. You simply pop the car seat out and attach the wheels to the stroller. The car seat sits snugly on the bumper bar and clicks securely into place. How practical is it? One of biggest assets to the Aire+ is that it is one of the lightest strollers on the market at just 5.35kg! The stroller is also amazing in that you can open and close it with one hand, and as any parent will tell you when you have a child in one hand and cant put them down this is essential and rare! The front swivel wheels are adjustable to cater for uneven terrain and then once folded there is an automatic lock to keep it in position and freestanding. Will the system fit into the boot of a standard family car? Easily, there is then substantial space for everything else which is great and so important! What age is it suitable from? Birth and upwards thanks to being a complete travel system. Does it face forward as well as rearward? No but from the point of being able to sit up unaided your child can sit in the stroller to face forward and see what is going on.

Is it easy to handle / use? Wow! The agility on this is outstanding and as with the Aire+ is fantastic to manoeuvre. The first impression is striking and in collapsed mode amazingly small. What car seat is the Babyzen Yoyo system compatible with? As far as Im aware, it isnt car seat compatible and suits babies from 6 months upwards. Is it cost effective? It isnt the cheapest stroller on the market, but if money isnt an option or you are willing to wait for 4-6 months to purchase something that will last you a lot longer then it definitely is worth the wait. Prices start from 309. How easy was it to put the Babyzen Yoyo together? Everything is already assembled and as with the Aire+ is the easiest stroller to open and close one handed. The Babyzen has a one of a kind folding mechanism which allows it to be opened and folded in seconds with just one hand. How practical is it? This has to be the next lightest stroller available at just 5.8kg but comes with a shoulder carry strap and is extremely easy to carry around. The Babyzen Yoyo is also the first buggy in the world to fully comply with size recommendations for cabin luggage so for the avid traveller this is an amazing asset! Will the system fit into the boot of a standard family car? Absolutely, if it complies with cabin luggage requirements, it will fit any size car from the Fiat 500 to the Mini. What age is it suitable from? From 6 months upwards but suitable up to 15kg and available in 3 vibrant colours. Any negatives? The wheels arent great! They are small and they don't' absorb any 'terrain'! that you have simply walking up the road! I know its designed for travelling and the airport floors would be great, but I probably wouldnt use it whilst on holiday.

What is it? This is the new Samsung Safeview Monitor released towards the end of last year Specifications: 3.5" Color Video Pan, Tilt & Zoom Interference-free (900ft*) Two way talk feature Remote NIght Light Night Vision How easy is it to set up? Extremely easy! You simply attach the power cables, plug in and away you go. Both units are paired up already so the hardest thing is taking it out of the box! Is it really as good as it says? Absolutely, the clarity on the screen is brilliant and the two-way talk feature is crystal clear. My little one stopped in her tracks thinking mummy was in the room talking to her. For me, this was a much easier way of settling her without having to go up and down the stairs constantly and getting her more distressed each time I left the room. Technical: The unit charges extremely quickly which is a god send as the unit is wireless and gives you the freedom to move around. The base unit has a long range transmission of 800ft which is great too! The unit is also remote controlled so you can move the camera to where it sees best. Is it value for money? Prices start from 159.99 so for the equipment you get, absolutely, great value for money.

Buzz Rating: 5/5

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Buzz Rating: 5/5

Buzz Rating: 4/5

Products - Tried & Tested by You

Focus Group

As youve seen already with the food reviews, this month some of our focus group members also got to try a selection of new and exciting baby related products recently brought to the market. Would you like to join our Focus Group? Sign up now at info@babybuzzmagazine.com.

Safety Dome: Sarah: At first glance this looks like something you would protect your food but just on a larger scale! The Dome actually comes in really useful when I want to be sure my little ones brother doesnt get to adventurous and poke his new sister in the eyes or pull her hair! I also imagine it would be great to be outside and to put over a child in the garden, keeping bugs or insects away from them. I wasnt sure what to make of this at first but it certainly is reassuring as a protective cover. It wont obviously withhold a huge drop of something on it but it gives a certain amount of protection. I would use this when out visiting families who have a pet whilst having a small child close by. Very easy to store away and doesnt take up much space at all.

Claire:

Avant Baby - Baby Peace Pram Curtain: Nickie: Very funky designs but also extremely practical! The Avant Shield does a lot more than first appearances have you
believe. The Baby Peace pram curtain is a 100% organic protective curtain that easily attaches to the hood of your pram or car seat shielding your baby from both the sun and wind, leaving your baby to settle in a calm and secure environment. The curtain also protects from 99.5% UVA and 99.7% UVB sun radiation. You can never be too careful. Prices start from: 29.99

Dream Genii Twinkle Togs: Eve: Great idea in theory but we tried it with my son who never keeps anything over him long enough. We found he became quite hot and bothered with this on and ultimately had to take it off as he became very sweaty. Shame as the styles and designs and really nice. I love this. My daughter has a habit of kicking everything off and then wakes up crying because she is too cold. We tried this and for the first time in a long time she slept right through and stayed warm. She woke up wanting to stay in it as it was comfortable and she felt snug. Definitely a must for us and also love the patterns and colours. Will invest in some slightly larger sizes also as this worked very well.

Nickie:

Padalily Handle Cushion: Maria: This product has really made carrying my little boy in his car seat a much more pleasant experience. He is only 12 weeks old but weighs over 18lbs already (his birth weight was 10lb 7oz) so even the short distance from my flat to the car would be painful on my arm especially with a 2 year old in tow who likes to stroll at her own pace! This product 'eases' the load so to speak but costing around 20 I would say it is a luxury item rather than a necessity - and would make a nice baby shower gift. I haven't seen one of these before and it has attracted a few curious looks when I've been out and about! Overall, a good product - looks good, there is a huge range of styles and colours and does exactly what it's supposed to!

Cord Lock Away Safety Wand: Jo: It was fairly easy to install, and works well for our beaded cord. We have a black out blind on top of this, a roller type blind, and the cord for that is really long (to the floor) its a shame there isnt a similar contraption for those kind of cords too.

If you would like to join the Baby Buzz Focus Group, please email me at info@babybuzzmagazine.com along with your name, address and telephone number.

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Products - Tried & Tested by You

The only way is enfants is an online childrens clothing store specializing in unique and chic pieces for both girls and boys. Making stressful shopping trips a thing of the past, the team at TOWIEnfants are constantly sourcing the latest trends and looks so that you can make your little ones look fabulous at the click of a button, from the comfort of your home. The online boutique offers some beautiful clothing for both boys and girls and the quality is fantastic. We were sent the little dress to try out on my youngest and it was wonderful, very smart and more importantly, very affordable! Definitely I would parents and parents to be to keep an eye out on!

www.theonlywayisenfants.com
gNappies Lisa: We have been using gNappies since Zoe (2.5yrs) was about a year old as I was becoming more aware that disposable nappies were just sitting in landfill sites and could take up to 500 years to biodegrade. I wanted to lessen the amount of damage we caused to the environment by changing to cloth nappies. We chose the gNappies system as they are the best of both worlds, as we were able to use the gCloths which are washable inserts or the biodegradable (and compostable) disposable gRefills. We only use the gCloths at night now as Zoe is potty trained during the day, but use the gRefills when we go away on holiday as the gPants and gPouches can be easily washed by hand and dry really quickly. Prior to potty training I often used the gRefills when we were out for the day so that I wasn't carrying around dirty nappies all day. The great thing about them is that you only need 6-8 gPants to use them full time as the gPants and the gPouches don't need to be changed every nappy change. We bought extra pouches and gCloths so that we only washed them every 3-4 days. The gPouch and the gCloths get thrown straight in a dry nappy bin and are rinsed in the washing machine prior to being put on a 40 degree C wash with our white wash. The gPants just get washed with our normal washing (as they are coloured), so it worked out I may have done 1 extra wash a week.

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How DO you cope with 5 children? This is one of the questions I get asked the most! If I am going anywhere other than work and I have my (nearly) 2 year old triplets with me then I am almost guaranteed to get asked it! I give random answers like you just do or you have no choice normally followed by they are really very good which starts the looks of mmmmm we believe you!
So I thought I would take a moment to see how do you cope with 5 children under 7?, and to be honest I cope because I work! I love my children, they make it all worthwhile and this is the way it is! I cant change it, I wouldnt want to change it and I actually feel very, very lucky to have my 5 beautiful children and lots of people cope with a lot more than 5! AND I chose my battles wisely! Choosing your battles, I think even with one child is key! Even more so when you do find yourself with 5 beautiful children under 7! You cant argue with them all, lets face it you would always be arguing, and I dont want to be one of those shouty mums. I did actually take the time to think about my battles in advance and for me I put a lot of importance on the following: 1) BEDTIME! This is my biggest thing, kids need sleep! Tired kids are grumpy kids and when they have school its not fair! Its crucial that we, as adults, have time to wind down and relax! When I hear people say that their child wont get to bed I dont understand it? Probably because we have always put ours to bed no arguments, so they go to bed. But also, I think youre the adult, just put them to bed! Close the door, make it non-negotiable, and administer punishment if you need to an over tired child will of course put up a fuss! 2) WHAT THEY EAT NOT WHEN My kids eat well balanced good food. Most of it is NOT prepared from scratch by me, but was by someone somewhere and I will buy the good meals for them and the best ingredients from the green grocer and a nice variety. They have plenty of healthy options, fruit, cheese yoghurts as snacks and the sweets they do have are pure pressed fruit. That doesnt mean that they dont eat chocolate and crisps, but its in proportion to their weekly overall diet. What we dont sweat about is meal times, we are fluid with these to allow for whats going on and if you have to eat on the go, then fine! My biggest tip for feeding young children a variety is: buy sectioned

Its all about Battles!

MoJoMums

trays for them and then make sure you fill all sections it makes you think about what you are giving them! 3) CLEAN AND TIDY When they leave the house! I am big on hair styles, a clean ironed uniform and clean faces how they come back is another matter but I have done my job! 4) CUDDLES CUDDLES AND MORE CUDDLE I make the time to spend a few minutes when they get up and when they go to bed to have cuddles and some undivided time. It might be chatting, looking at a book or just cuddling but this makes me feel less guilty about working and being busy and they get that special time with me. I ask them what they have done, we laugh, tickle and I sit on the floor with them. This is golden time for me and it has to be something very important for me to miss it! 5) HAPPY & POLITE We talk about being polite in our house a lot. We talk about treating people how you want to be treated and being kind to other people. Last night was parents evening and I was very pleased to hear how well my 7 year old is doing, but I always ask at the end, is she polite to adults and other children, friendly and a nice child?

Of course you also have to choose which battles you are going to let go, and sometimes these are on a case by case basis and typically for me they are giving in to cereal for dinner when I know they have had a cooked lunch and a party. Tidiness is not the highest quality in my brood! and we not precious or strict on mess we probably should be with 5, but I like to see them have fun rather than stay clean as long as they started out that way! I am sure my battles will not only change, but also get more frequent, tiring and harder to win! I am looking forward to seeing how the triplets battle group or singularly? The same battles or different this one I think I know the answer to as they are already so different! My last battle and one I face daily is the battle of the hard done by parent! I take the rubbish out, I changed the last nappy, I made the milk! I am pretty confident in saying that I am the most hard done by, a quick list would prove this but its just not a battle worth winning! By Sally Overhead Founder, Mojomums

www.mojomums.co.uk

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Baby Must Haves

Chillipeeps Bottle Tops Price: From 4.98 (Asda)

Sleep Trainer Alarm Clock Price: 30.00 (Great Little Trading Company)

Born Free (ActiveFlow Venting Technology) Price: From 6.50 (www.newbornfree.com)

Totseat Price: 29.95 (www.totseat.com)

Safe Dreams Cot Wrap - the safe alternative ! Price: 25.99 (www.safedreams.co.uk)

Snugglebundl Price: 39.99 (www.snugglebundl.co.uk )

Baby Peace ( pram protective curtain) Price: 29.99 (www.babye.co.uk)

Handmade Hat & Blanket Set Price: Hats from 18.95, blankets from 35.00 (www.cobwebknits.co.uk)

The New Hamster Storage Bags Price: 24.99 a pair (www.hamsterbags.co.uk)

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Baby Must Haves

We are fast approaching Easter and whilst the holidays have a religious meaning to many people, to a lot of people it will be about Easter eggs and how much and how big they can be. Whilst I can wholeheartedly confess to being a chocoholic, how much I choose to eat to how much I choose to give my children are two very different things, and I guess if Im honest the youngest more so (any attempt at withholding all chocolate from my oldest would result in carnage!) So Ive searched out some great products geared towards our younger children that are just as much fun and will bring as much enjoyment as well as lasting that bit longer than an Easter Egg!

Easter Extravaganza Colouring In Tablecloth (Pack of 2) Price: From 11.99 (www.eggnogg.co.uk)

Wax Crayons in fantastic options! Price: from 3.50 per pack ! (www.littleposties.co.uk)

Scootrix Noise Maker Price: From (www.scootrix.com)

The WonderCube Price: from 17.99 (www.mywondercube.co.uk)

Trainee Egg Set Price: 12.00 (www.tumtumtots.com)

Hoppy The Bunny Price: 14.99 (www.safedreams.co.uk )

Smart-Trike Dream Price: 99.99 (www.mothercare.com)

Sonny Angels Price: 5.99 (www.kindtoys.co.uk)

Skibz Dribble Bibs Price: 15.00 (Gift Box) (www.skibz.co.uk)

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Fashion Runway - Children

15 each

25

18

22

17

28

24

35

24

24

30

Visit us at: www.indiacoco.com Tel: 0845 475 0911

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Baby & Child Fashion

HEALTH & FITNESS by

As a Personal Trainer and Weight Management Coach, I am always asked looking for when it comes to weight loss or toning. Challenge your body, by what the best exercise is for weight loss and toning up and what the best upping the duration, intensity, and number of times you exercise, and also by progressing the exercises and regularly changing them. diet is. When it comes to exercise, here is what I tell people: You need to find an activity that you enjoy doing. If you enjoy what youre doing, youre more likely to stick to it, and less likely to find an excuse to get out of it! There is no better or worse exercise when it comes to cardiovascular, your body doesnt differentiate if youre cycling, running, out for a power walk (with or without a buggy), or using the cross trainer. Its up to you and your own preferences. Now on to the diet.... A diet needs to be a way of eating that you can sustain for the long haul. Somehow weve been told that counting calories or points is the way forward. No. When were in diet mode, were generally obsessed with the scales, and look at the products with the fewest calories. Is it really possible to do so for the rest of your life? Does counting calories really mean you eat what your body really needs?

If you want to reach your optimal weight, and be healthy and slim for the rest of your life, you have to feed your body the nutrients it requires to function properly. Have you looked at the ingredients list of some of those Ideally, you should do regular low fat, no calorie, sugar free products? Next time youre in the cardiovascular exercise (4-6 times a week) supermarket, compare the ingredients list from an original product to the as well as 2-3 strength training sessions. supposedly healthy version of it. Strength training doesnt mean lifting heavy weights, it can be done using your own body A few things to look out for: weight, as well as resistance bands. - the shorter the list of ingredients, the more natural the product is. Sessions dont have to last hours either - - the first 3 named ingredients are those that feature the most in the product. half an hour is perfect! If youre short on time, you can also build up in batches - avoid food items that contain words you can barely pronounce, let alone understand. throughout the day. You might not get fast results, but in the long run youll get there. - try to avoid food that contains sugar or sugar derivatives (anything ending with -ose except for fructose as thats natural sugar from fruit). The time of day you choose to train doesnt - avoid buying food with traffic light systems - only processed foods display those - you wont see them on meat, fruit and veg.... make much difference. Ideally you wouldnt want to train too close to bedtime, but other than that, try and fit it in when its Our bodies know how to deal with natural foods and how to digest them. convenient for you, this will help you stick to However, over time, manufacturers started adding preservatives and other chemicals to make food last longer, taste better, or even just produce ready it. meals that are easy to fit into our busy lives. Its all nice and easy, however If you want to have an idea of what a week our digestive system starts suffering and struggling. could look like, here is a sample workout To digest food, we use nutrients (vitamins and minerals) stored in the body. week: When foods we eat are natural, we take in more of these than we lose, so Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday: 30- we keep on replenishing our reserves. Processed food generally contains 45mins of cardiovascular exercise (any far fewer nutrients than the original versions, and the added chemicals need many more nutrients to digest them - leaving you with a nutrient type). If you can, add more sessions. reserve deficit - which in time can lead to ill health. You might say you dont Tuesday, Thursday: 30-45mins of strength have time to cook every day from scratch. Cooking does indeed take time, training including few minutes of warmup however, there are ways to make it easier. Vegetables, stews, soups, and and stretches which could include some of lots of other types of foods can be cooked in big batches and then frozen in smaller portions. That way, you will always have some fresh, natural food the following exercises: available. It is worth a bit more effort and planning, if you want to be Warmup: few minutes of star jumps, or healthy and succeed in your weight loss journey for the long term. running few times up and down the stairs. Lower Body: Squats, lunges, leg raises and Keep a stock of healthy snacks like oatcakes, nuts, veggies with a bit of humus (ideally home made) & fruit so you are not tempted by unhealthy leg circles (both lying on your side) Upper Body: Arm circles (both directions), options. triceps dips (using a bench in the park, or a step, or a sturdy chair), biceps curls (using Over time, we have lost touch with the bodies natural ability to tell us when baked bean tins or small bottles of water), were hungry and when were full. Eating while doing something else push-ups (on all fours to start off with, (work, watching TV, etc) is taking away our ability to focus on that internal moving on to the knees with weight message. Habit, mood, social pressures and many other factors can lead to eating when our bodies do not require it (although you should never skip forward, up to full ones). Abs: Abs curls, leg raises, scissors, bicycle breakfast just make it healthy J ). curls, Russian twist If you need any help with your weight loss journey, both on the exercise and Stretches: Full body stretches nutrition front, you can contact me, Anne Iarchy, Personal Trainer and These are exercises that dont require any real equipment and can be done Weight Management Coach in Barnet and North London on 07880 627 944 anywhere. Obviously, if youre going to the gym, you can add or swap lots or email anne@barnetpersonaltrainer.co.uk of different exercises to it. Try to do 2 sets of 15-20 repetitions of each exercise. If youre short on time, you can always divide the workout. Do the I work on a 1:1 basis with clients, as well as hold 8 week group courses warmup, and just do one or more parts of the workout and stretch the focusing on changing behaviour around food and exercise. For more appropriate muscles youve worked. Remember to vary your exercises, information of my programmes and to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, sticking to the same routine for years wont give you the results you are go to my website http://www.barnetpersonaltrainer.co.uk. 52

Family Focus

Weaning: Helpful Tips and Advice by Allergy UK

Deciding when to start weaning your baby can be a difficult decision to make, and this can be made even more worrying if you have allergies in the family. Breastfeeding solely for six months does give your baby the best possible start as far as allergies are concerned, but new mums may be worried as when to start introducing solids and which foods to start with. Advice from the Department of Health states it is best to wait until six months of age before babies are weaned on to solid foods, irrespective of whether they are breast-fed or receive formula until that time. However, the European Academy of Allergology & Clinical Immunology recommends that, in terms of allergy protection, weaning should take place from four to six months of age. If you feel that your baby does need to be introduced to solid food before six months, it is important that you follow the recommendation that the earliest a baby should be weaned is 17 weeks of age. Make sure you start with foods that are classed as low allergenic foods. Those foods most likely to cause an allergic reaction should not be introduced before six months. When first weaning choose rice, potatoes, green and root vegetables, apples, pears, bananas and stone fruits as starter foods. If you are concerned about the risk of allergy when weaning, the best advice is to feed the infant one type of food at a time until you are happy that the infant is not reacting to the foods. Parents of babies with a high risk of allergy, may worry about introducing foods too early and may even decide to delay weaning because of this. It is important that you do not delay weaning beyond the age of six months as babies need the additional nutrition and calories from solid foods as they grow. Furthermore, delaying or avoiding foods after this time does not seem to offer any protection against allergy starting in response to those foods. There is some research suggesting it may increase the risk of allergy and other diseases.
First Weaning (not before 17 weeks) Serve food as: Smooth purees From 6 months (26 weeks) Smooth purees 7 - 9 months 9 - 12 months By 12 months

Thicker mixtures with some lumps and soft finger foods

Mashed, chopped and minced foods, chopped firmer finger foods Lightly cooked or raw foods

Mashed and chopped family foods and variety of finger foods All major allergenic foods except peanuts. Unsweetened fruit juice with meals (not as main drink)

Introduce: Smooth cereals, eg. baby rice, potatoes Soft cooked fruit - bananas, pears, apple, stone fruit Soft cooked fruit and cooked, pureed pulses Soft cooked vegetables carrots, swede and turnips Raw soft fruit and vegetables as finger foods

Continue introducing as many new foods as you can to your baby

Root and green vegetables

Gluten containing foods bread and cereals Dairy foods - custard, cheese, yoghurt Well cooked egg and fish

Avoid: All high allergenic foods - Peanuts milk, egg, wheat (gluten), fish and shell fish, tree nuts and peanuts, soya, celery, mustard seed, sesame seed, sulphites Peanuts Peanuts Peanuts

For more advice on pregnancy and allergy go to: www.allergyuk.org or call Allergy UK on 01322 619898
53

Your Legal Help

Surrogacy and the Law

surrogate is married or In the second in a series of three articles on fertility law, Karen in a civil partnership her Chapman of Chapman Pieri Solicitors looks at some of the legal partner will normally be the legal father or considerations of surrogacy arrangements in the UK. second parent, unless Surrogacy in the UK is legal but restricted by rules designed to prevent the spouse or civil commercially arranged surrogacy. Host surrogacy is where you have partner did not consent. embryos in storage or can use your own eggs or eggs from a third party If the surrogate is donor (or donor provided by a clinic). Host surrogacy will involve IVF unmarried, then the By Karen Chapman, treatment in the UK or abroad; Straight surrogacy is where the surrogate biological father will Chapman Pieri Solicitors mother donates her egg as well as carrying your child. This can be usually be the legal father. Only the legal achieved through IVF or artificial insemination. parents can be named on the first UK birth Arranging surrogacy in the UK After a It is a criminal offence in the UK to advertise that you are looking for or certificate. order is willing to act as a surrogate mother. It is also a criminal offence to parental negotiate a surrogate arrangement on a commercial basis. There are granted the intended non-profit making organisations such as COTS and Surrogacy UK which parents are issued with operate legally in helping surrogacy agreements to be made. Surrogacy a new birth certificate. agreements are not legally binding in the UK, however this does not automatically mean there is no remedy if the surrogate mother changes Parental Orders Couples can apply to court for a parental order to reassign parenthood her mind. to the intended parents and extinguish the legal status of the surrogate mother. To apply for a parental order, the conception must have taken International surrogacy Predominantly due to restrictions on surrogacy arrangements in the UK, place artificially, the surrogate and her husband or civil partner must many people look to commercial organisations abroad to help them freely consent and usually no more than reasonable expenses must have meet a surrogate. Under UK law it is unlawful to pay money to a been paid. One of the parents must be the biological parent. Parental surrogate over and above reasonable expenses. International order applications cannot be applied for by a single parent, this makes applications are scrutinised carefully to make sure that the arrangements the legal position between an intended single parent and child in the UK precarious. have been managed responsibly. Who are the legal parents? The birth mother is always the legal mother following birth. This means that the intended parent has no immediate legal recognition even if she is the biological mother through host surrogacy. Who is the legal father depends largely on the relationship status of the surrogate. If the If you are considering surrogacy it is essential to seek advice to understand the legal implications following birth and beyond. Contact Chapman Pieri Solicitors on 020 www.cpfamilylaw.co.uk for more information. 88829850 or

POP NGROW - Specialist Clothing for Sick Babies

Pop N Grow is the ONLY registered charity who supply medical clothing to children in need for FREE! We supply our very own and unique clothing to babies from 2lbs in size up to 16 years of age. If a child requires any lines, tubes or wires which can make dressing difficult we can help! We supply out unique baby grows (see our clothing section) and incubator vests FREE to any neonatal unit who wish for a supply , this is to allow the unit to give clothing for parents to use which WORKS with the wires , tubes and lines commonly used within a neonatal unit. We work closely with each unit to make sure that what we supply works well for their level of care needed. We can send out TLC (tender loving care) packs to any baby born, at any gestation age that has to be admitted to special baby care or need ward transitional care. This pack will include items of clothing to fit the right age, and accommodate the care the baby needs. Conversions of BRAND NEW clothing for children with medical needs in hospital AND home, such as PEG , J feeding tubes , dialysis , cancer treatments , surgerys , etc . If wires, tubes or lines are needed we can help. This service is on a tailor made basic and as such will be a waiting time for such garments, priority is always given for urgent cases such as hospital admittance. 54

To make a donation please visit: http://www.popngrow.co.uk/

Reflexology

REFLEXOLOGY AND FERTILITY

Every 1 in 6 couples trying to conceive for a baby will not be able particular area, then reflexology can help to reduce the imbalance to do so naturally and will require some sort of help to get the baby with the hope of diminishing it completely but promote relaxation too. they so desire. The norm is to try for a year (if you are under the age of 35) of having unprotected sex and 6 months if you are over the age of 35 before you will go to the doctors to see if there are any medical issues stopping you from conceiving. If there are any issues, then more than likely your doctor will refer you to a fertility specialist who will then decide what assisted conception route you need to take whether its taking tablets such as clomid or metformin or actually undergoing treatment such as IUI, IVF or ICSI. Unfortunately what doctors and fertility specialists DONT tend to tell you is that these are not the ONLY options available. Going through IVF is a big thing and doesnt ALWAYS work and is a very invasive procedure. Not to mention how much havoc the drugs used might play on your body too. Now I am not against IVF in any way (I had it myself and as a result I have my beautiful twins who are now 4) but I wish now someone had told me about what my other options were 6 years ago and not be told Well its IVF for you! Being a complementary therapist, I love to treat a person holistically. Having been through infertility myself, I am very passionate about helping others in their journey to try and conceive and I do believe Reflexology along with taking a look at ones diet and lifestyle may be of great benefit with trying to conceive. Going through infertility is without doubt a stressful time and stress may be one of the biggest factors in preventing conception. Regular sessions of reflexology may help with keeping stress levels at bay and many people have reported the beneficial effects to their health and wellbeing after having reflexology. When seeing a reflexologist for infertility, you should be able to expect the following from them (which youre unlikely to get from your GP or fertility clinic) Treat you with compassion and understanding, Give you time and space to talk about your fertility jour ney, Have an understanding about fertility issues and treat ment, Give you a fertility supporting reflexology treatment, tai lored to where you are in your cycle or fertility treatment, Support you in making lifestyle changes to support your fertility,

With Reflexology being non-invasive and quite a gentle therapy, Refer you to any other fertility specialists or resources its a lovely therapy to have and enjoy especially if you are about they believe may help you. to embark on an invasive treatment like IVF. Its definitely my favourite therapy to receive AND give as well If you are undergoing infertility, you do not need to suffer in silence or agree with IVF is your only option because it really doesnt have Reflexology works on the principle of that every reflex point is to be. I am happy to have a chat with you to find out what your related to a part of our body and if there is an imbalance in a issues are and what your options may be.

Web: http://www.haveamassage.co.uk Email: info@haveamassage.co.uk Mobile: 07957 197 277 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HaveAMassage Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/haveamassageRS

Excellent quality, fun and personalised products that will be enjoyed for a long time. Some products are exclusive to us, as we've designed them with love ourselves! www.littlebirdiehouse.co.uk/

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Fashion Runway - Mummy 2 Be

Isabella Oliver Tilda Print Maxi Dress - 269

Isabella Oliver Lulu Lace Dress - 118

H&M Mama Dress - 24.99

JoJoMamanBebe Navy Stripe Dress - 39.00

Just because you are pregnant doesnt mean you have to compromise on fashion especially when it comes to your lingerie. Baby Buzz Magazine found company Cake Lingerie who provide the maternity essentials to simply some of the most beautiful sets and individual pieces we have seen dedicated to pregnant women. Check out the April issue for a review of some of the products sent to one mum to sample. If you simply cant wait, visit the website at www.cakelingerie.co.uk

This is our way of saying Thank You for choosing Puzzle Childcare Agency! We are now offering 30% discount off our usual placement fees until the end of March 2013! For more information, please visit our website www.puzzlechildcare.co.uk or by email info@puzzlechildcare.co.uk 56

mummy blog - stage 2

The Mummy-to-Be
Wow, this finding out youre pregnant lark isnt easy, is it? After last months happy (if shocking) discovery, Ive found myself hurtling towards motherhood at an alarming rate of knots. Not that Im complaining, but there just seems to be so much to organise before the little fella appears. Being of a slightly disorganised persuasion I fear that by the time Ive arranged the ante-natal classes and read all the pregnancy books, Baby will have been born, gone to school, left home and had kids of their own, while Im still trying to get the kiddie-proof cap off the folic acid tablets. OK, perhaps Im exaggerating, but this month has been very busy indeed. First I had to get my head around referring myself to the hospital. My GP was helpful, but suggested that as I wasnt sure which hospital I wanted to have my baby in, that I do some research, decide on where Id like to go and refer myself. So I did. I was offered appointments to meet the midwives, a Nuchal scan was arranged and suddenly it was all systems go. Aaaagh! Also, after holding on to our little secret for a month, my boyfriend and I decided it was time to tell our families. My two closest friends had already guessed (not drinking vino had given me away!) and we wanted to make sure our families knew before anyone else spotted my no-alcohol/sudden interest in broccoli & spinach diet so it was time to let the cat out of the bag! Now, I love my family and were very close. Im lucky enough to have two sisters and a baby brother (well, hes 29 and 67). I thought telling them would be straightforward. No chance. My boyfriend, Andrew, and I had decided to break the news when staying over at my mums house for a family dinner, but when it came to it I couldnt bring myself to say the words. Partly because my mum has always recoiled in horror at the idea of being called Grandma, Granny, Nanny or anything else that makes her sound a day over 45. The meal went on, and I sat, mute, while Andrew kept glancing at me and nodding encouragingly. I couldnt make the words come, so Andrew resorted to texting me from under the table with things like TELL THEM, and JUST SAY IT! I couldnt just say it though, and the meal finished with nobody being any the wiser. This selective muteness/text tennis went on all evening, and I think Andrew and I mustve done permanent damage to our eyesight and facial features with the amount of glaring and frowning that was going on.

Trimester 2

gestures so we went for a walk. In no time at all though, we were in. Lots of questions and a blood test later we were on our way again with bag full of baby info. A couple of days later it was Scan Day. Our appointment was at 6pm, so we had to get through an excruciatingly long day at work before we could hot-foot it to the hospital. We had spoken about what would happen if any abnormalities were found, and had decided to take advice from the doctors if anything cropped up. As Im 37 there was a reasonable risk, but wed opted to remain open-minded and positive. Sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, you could tell the first-timers in an instant all wide-eyed and confused-looking! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I still couldnt believe I was having a baby. Id seen him/her on the screen at the ectopic test, but we were much further along now. Eventually we were called in. They doctor and nurse were lovely (although I could tell the nurse was a bit stern). Once Id had a blood test and was on the bed with my tummy covered in gel, the screen came to life. The nurse pointed out our baby. My boyfriend asked whether it had ginger hair, like him. The stern nurse pointed out that the screen was black and white so he shut up. All I could do was stare in awe at the images that were popping up before us. Hands and feet! A nose! Little legs! Suddenly, the reality of the situation hit me and I found myself in the grip of nervous laughter. This made Baby move around quite a bit, so stern nurse told me off, which only led to more hysteria. I knew that they needed to get accurate measurements of the baby to check for abnormalities, so I forced myself to calm down and take deep breaths. Eventually I shut up, as did Baby, and they were able to get all of the information the needed to complete the test. We were then sent out to the waiting room to await the results. The forty-five minutes in the waiting room dragged. You cant help worrying about all the possible outcomes. What if there was a problem? All we could do was wait. Not for the first time since finding out I was expecting, I felt very vulnerable. We were the last couple left in the waiting room when we were called back. The doctor sat us down and went though the results. Everything was as normal as it could be at this stage. Phew. She told us that we were twelve weeks and two days pregnant, so there was still a long way to go. We left the hospital feeling happy and grateful. Unfortunately, wed left the hospital without something very important . . . a picture of Baby! How could we?! Andrew shot back in and managed to catch the doctor before she went home.

Next morning, Andrew launched himself at my mum and told her I had important news. I just blurted it out. My mum stood with her mouth open for what seemed like a couple of weeks, then shot off to tell my sisters and brother. My sister, Jo, completely misunderstood the news and thought we were talking about forgetting her Christmas present (eh?) so was suddenly furious. Once shed Next scan is at 22 calmed down, I advised her to go for a hearing test and seek help weeks. Andrews hoping for her anger management. My family seemed shocked but happy, that therell be some ginso it was time to leave my clan and head to Andrews. They were ger hair on this one! much easier. We walked through the front door, Andrew said were having a baby, everybody hugged then we had a cup of tea. Next up, we had the midwives to meet and the scan to look forward to. We had our first appointment at 9am on a Saturday morning. For some reason we got to the midwives centre at 8.30am. We would have waited outside, but an aggressive-looking squirrel was eyeing up my cereal bar and making threatening paw

Daddy - to -Be, Andrew

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Mr Ma !
By Lawrence McGrandles Jnr The other aspect of toilet training or the need for toilet training is cost and the environmental impact, all of those nappies going into all those landfills. Initially we tried the new old fashioned cloth nappies but the washing machine seemed to be running twenty four hours a day and without a dryer we were a little stuck. Next we moved onto green disposable nappies but eventually they became cost prohibitive and so we ended up with the usual suspects in the disposable nappy line up. The choice here is a minefield of its own. Not only do you need to know what weight your child is for the sizing but also how active, or not, they are. In fact one could have a range of nappies at home for different requirements, active, night time, swimming, admittedly you would be justified in a For all the heartache and stains we are now in a position to say our separate nappy for swimming as no one wants to see a child with son is toilet trained, but we have now entered the arena of a nappy so water logged that it is dragging along the poolside spontaneous toilet breaks. This type of break that is usually behind them. requested whilst driving somewhere on a motorway and is preceded, barely, by an anguished cry of I need a weeeee. Of course for all the smug delight in just completing toilet training Obviously with an autistic child there are rules that must be for my son the fact remains that next week sees the start, again, adhered to such as, going to the toilet involves a toilet of some of all the mopping and laundry as my two and a half year old sort. As a way around these conventions I have established certain daughter enters the fray. Hopefully it wont be too long before we new rules such as a wheel wee where one is permitted and have a poster of Dora The Explorer telling us recuerde limpiar el actively encouraged to use the back wheel of the car for culo. emergencies (this was an idea I picked up from the urban myth that London Cabbies were allowed to do this because of an old statute that was never repealed). My son took to this rule a little too well and for a while there was almost always a wheel wee whenever I took him anywhere in the car. Then there are the constant reminders and questions about the frequency and impending nature of any calls of nature that may be on the way. Not to mention the posters. Our bathroom is now adorned with various posters including one of Lightning McQueen, the star of Disneys Cars franchise, and underneath printed in bold red letters is the tag line Lightning McQueen says dont forget to wipe your bottom. Now having watched Cars somewhere in the region of two to three hundred times I can say with certainty that this is not a line from the film and in fact one would be hard pressed to find this particular sentence anywhere outside of our bathroom and the bathroom at my sons school where a selfsame poster encourages him to emulate his hero. I am constantly worried about questions arising from the fact that Lightning McQueen does not appear to have a bottom of his own and yet is constantly reminding my son to remember etc. The other poster is a handy step by sep guide to using the toilet created with symbols, this has also proved invaluable for visitors who may have forgotten how to carry out the required function of their visit or perhaps had a glass or two of wine. 58 There are two words guaranteed to strike fear and terror into the heart of any parent; Toilet, Training. Even those of us with shiny wipe clean floors unencumbered by difficult to launder rugs or carpet baulk at the notion of constant mopping and extra laundry. My five and a half year old son has just completed the last phase of this lengthy operation and the night time pull ups are now a thing of the past. His new sleep attire consists of pajamas and big boy pants. The only downside to this glorious achievement is that my son, who is on the Autistic Spectrum, will now wake up at three or four in the morning to go to the bathroom and proceed to turn all the lights on whilst occasionally tap dancing on the tiled floor. Attempting to convince my son that it would be a good idea to go back to bed and not tap dance is difficult, very difficult, in fact it usually means getting into his bed with him. Did I mention its a bunk bed? Which of course means it can be all the more difficult if he has decided that it is a top bunk kinda night.

Mr Ma

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Baby Buzz Arts & Events

FAMILY FUN IN MARCH

March is here, bringing the promise of Spring and a month full of special dates including Mothers Day on the 10, St. Patricks Day on the 17 and Easter Sunday on the 31. Though it may feel like that warmer weather is still a little way off, we hope that youll you find something that will inspire you to leave your warm, cosy homes and venture out to experience some of what the capital has to offer this month. Every month, we try to include something from all over London and wed love to hear from you if theres something amazing going on in your community that we can share with our readers.

NORTH LONDON MAVIS SPARKLE - 10 March With a Magician for a Dad and a Stargazer for a Mum, no wonder theres more to Mavis than meets the eye. RUMPLESTILTSKIN AND THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE - 17 March Rumpelstiltskin and the Wheel of Fortune' is a story of transformation to laugh at and tingle to. MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTERS - 24 March Saint Georgie, a professional monster catcher and his faithful sidekick, Squeezy, are on their most dangerous mission yet. Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, London, N12 0GA - www.artsdepot.co.uk (02083695454) THE SAGAS OF NOGGIN THE NOG - 24 March In the lands of the North, the Men of the Northlands sit by their great log fires and they tell a tale. Jacksons Lane Theatre, 269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA - www.jacksonslane.org.uk (02083414421) THE NIGHTINGALE - 6 to 10 March A selfish King replaces his melodic songbird with an all mod-cons mechanical gizmo - then wonders if something is missing from his life. TOMTEN - 15 to 16 March Viktor Rydbergs well-loved Swedish poem is brought to life in a new puppetry show for children age 3 plus and their families. The Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, London, N1 2DN - www.littleangeltheatre.com (02072261787) LITTLE BO PEEP 16 March Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesnt know where to find them. Her companion Little Boy Blue keeps falling asleep. Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, London, N6 5HG - www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk (02083488716) TALES FROM THE SHED Friday & Saturday, 1 to 23 March Tales from the Shed is a highly entertaining, interactive theatre show that is perfect for young children. Chickenshed, 290 Chase Side, Southgate, London, N14 4PE - www.chickenshed.org.uk (02082929222)

WEST LONDON NOBODY RIDES A UNICORN 9 March Zoe knows she must set the Unicorn free but will she be putting herself in terrible danger if she does? WOLF TALES - 15 to 16 March The big bad wolf from your favourite fairy tales reveals the secrets behind stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs. LANDSCAPES - 23 to 24 March Come and explore the four corners of the world: the desert, the ocean, the rainforest and the South Pole, with the help of puppets. Lyric Hammersmith Lyric Square, King St, London, W6 0QL - www.lyric.co.uk (02087416850) THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE AND OTHER TALES FROM AESOP - 23 March The Hare and the Tortoise and other tales from Aesop Featuring the most famous race in the world plus a fox, a lion a mouse and other animals. JOEYS FIREWORKS Until the 17 March A fun family show Featuring Burglar Bill, Dog Toby, Joey the Clown, and that naughty reprobate Mr Punch. Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice, Blomfield Road, Little Venice, W9 2PF - www. puppetbarge.com (02072496876)

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Baby Buzz Arts & Events EAST LONDON THE PIED PIPER - 9 March When the Pied Piper plays his flute, the rats run, the greedy mayor rubs his hands and the children dance. MOON AND GENIE - 21 to 27 March Moon and Genie to join Jamal and his friend, a streetdancing life-size monkey, as they summon the genie of the saucepan. Half Moon Young Peoples Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London, E1 0ND - www.halfmoon.org.uk (02072658138) THE BIG WRITE - FESTIVAL OF CHILDRENS LITERATURE - 7 to 17 March Discover Children's Story Centre 383-387 High St, Stratford, E15 4qz - www.discover.org.uk (02085365555) RUBBISH - 7 to 9 March 'Rubbish' is a highly visual and playful production exploring the unexpected value of discarded objects. Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX - www.stratford-circus.com (02082791001) EGG-TASTIC EASTER FUN AT V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD - 29 March to 1April Enjoy bunny stories and games. Solve clues to find out where the Easter Bunny has hidden his chocolate eggs. Make an Easter egg basket and other seasonal crafts. Drop-in All ages. V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9PA - www.museumofchildhood.org.uk (020 8983 5200)

NORTH WEST LONDON MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTERS 9 March Saint Georgie, a professional monster catcher and his faithful sidekick, Squeezy, are on their most dangerous mission yet. CIRCLES IN THE SAND 23 March An intimate, imaginative and captivating play for under 3s, exploring sand in new and exciting ways. The Tricycle, 269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR - www.tricycle.co.uk (02073726611) SOUTH EAST LONDON MOUTH OPEN, STORY JUMP OUT - 5 to 15 March Polarbear makes things up: stories, jokes, adventures a master maker-upper. But where did it all begin? Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ - www.unicorntheatre.com (08700534534) HELP MY SUPPLY TEACHER IS MAGIC - 29 March to 01 April Interactive Illusions, Up Close and Magical and Tricks of the Trade - as seen on CBBC - in an astounding hour of absolute magic! Purcell Room, South Bank, Southwark, SE1 8XX - ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk (02079604242) EASTER EGG HUNT AT CUTTY SARK 29 March to 1 April The Cutty Sarks chickens are laying eggs in odd places. On this Easter Egg Hunt, how many can you spot around the ship? The Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9HT www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark/ (020 8312 6608) ARTHURS DREAM BOAT 16 March One night, Arthur has an amazing dream about a beautiful pink and green boat with a stripy mast, but no one (not even his dog!) is interested. Canada Water Culture Space, 21 Surrey Quays Road, London, SE16 7AR - www.canadawaterculturespace.org.uk/ (020 7525 2931) LITTLE RED HEN 2 March The Little Red Hen is an interactive storytelling piece for involving puppetry, song, live music and lots and lots of joining in. LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD - 23 March A comical mixture of Fairy Tales with audience participation and mime. Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath Park, London, SE3 9RQ - www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on (02083189758) TOM THUMB - 17 March The classic children's tale about the very curious child, Tom Thumb. MY BROTHER THE ROBOT - 24 to 25 March When Bobbie gets into danger one day, will her robot brother save her? The Albany Theatre, Douglas Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4AG - www.thealbany.org.uk (02086920231)

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Baby Buzz Arts & Events

SOUTH WEST LONDON WASH - 12 to 14 March Follow the adventure of a favourite toy needing its very first wash. With song, rhythm, puppetry and movement from his first dip in the warm soapy water to styling his soft clean fur. GRIMM TALES - 5 to 23 March Join the award winning Theatr Iolo as they bring to life the magical stories of the Brothers Grimm. Grimm Tales includes the deliciously scary Ashputtel (the original Cinderella story), Hansel & Gretel and Snow White. Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB - www.polkatheatre.com (02085434888) A COCKROACH TOUR OF THE SCIENCE MUSEUM - Every Saturday & Sunday until September. A Cockroach Tour of the Science Museum is a participatory event by art group Superflex, which invites participants to take on the form of cockroaches. Visitors will be able to dress up in realistic cockroach costumes to begin a journey through the Museum, exploring the impact on the climate of scientific and technological developments from the perspective of one of the oldest, most resilient life forms on the planet. Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD - www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/cockroachtour (0870 870 4868) THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK - 10 March Based on the classic childrens book, this is a funny, gentle and reassuring tale about Plop, the fearful barn owl. MY BROTHER THE ROBOT - 16 to 17 March When Bobbie gets into danger one day, will her robot brother save her? Chelsea Theatre, 7 Worlds End Place, Kensington, London, SW10 0DR www.chelseatheatre.org.uk (02073521967)

CENTRAL LONDON balletLORENT RAPUNZEL - 29 to 30 March Best-known for her cascading hair and entrapment within a tall tower, Rapunzels story shows the darker beauty of this classic tale from the parents forced to give up their child and the Witch who takes her from them, to the Prince who comes to her rescue. Family Weekend is Sadlers Wells annual two-day festival where the fun continues before and after the performance. With an array of exciting games and activities happening all over the building, this is an event that offers entertainment for all the family. Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN - www.sadlerswells.com (02079077071) ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET 2 - MY FIRST CINDERELLA - 27 March to 7 April My First Cinderella tells everyones favourite rags-to-riches story in a beautifully adapted version for young audiences. Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT - www.sadlerswells.com (02079077071) THE LINDT BIG EASTER EGG HUNT 22 March 2013 to 1 April Over 100 giant Easter eggs will be hidden in cities across the UK as part of The Lindt Big Egg Hunt until Easter. The worlds biggest Easter egg hunt challenges the public to find all or some of the eggs whilst raising vital funds for leading childrens charity, Action for Children. Covent Garden Piazza, Central Avenue, London, WC2E 9JT - www.thebigegghunt.co.uk ST PATRICK'S DAY - 17 March The St Patrick's Day Parade takes place every year in London. It involves marching bands, floats, street theatre and more. This year's parade takes place on 17 March, beginning at 12 noon in Piccadilly. It then proceeds to Trafalgar Square, where you can enjoy the free St Patrick's Day Festival until 6pm. Look out for The Puca, a giant inflatable dragon, winding its way through the streets during the parade. The Trafalgar Square festival celebrates Ireland's culture, including a wide range of traditional and contemporary dancing; a comedy tent hosted by the London Irish Comedy Festival; a film tent showing film shorts by Irish filmmakers; and a food market with the chance to sample produce from the Emerald Isle.

***Please call venues or visit websites for details of performance times and prices.***
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Baby Buzz Directory

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Baby Buzz Directory

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Sarah@TheReflexologyClinic.co.uk

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Baby Buzz Directory

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Baby Buzz Directory

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