Has Stranger Danger Been forgotten?

As I waked to the school this morning with the kids I heard one of them say you cant talk to anyone and the other one say i'm not talking to anyone in that game they were talking about there iPad I have always drummed it into them they're not aloud to add just anyone into there games and if some one adds them they they have to show mummy first before accepting them. I repeated to them they should not talk to anyone that they don't know, then came the questions what about kids what about a man with a dog the list went on they didn't seem to understand the concept of not talking to people then I sat back and thought about what I was saying to them if they were to see a policeman they wouldn't know him but if they were lost I would want them to talk to him.

Has stranger Danger been forgotten? I think that the concept behind stranger danger is still there but it needs to be taught in different ways, media campaigns on this subject seems to have slowed right down, the media and in our schools are so hot about teaching Our children about being safe online and being careful what they share and whom they talk to to protect them from online predators, stranger danger or at least the concept of it, on the streets seems to of somewhat been forgotten. Now maybe because over some years this is due to the decline of parents who will actually let there children play out side on the front with there bikes or play on the park that is probably across the way from there home, As parents we all know why we don't want our children playing outside in the street alone or why we don't let them do things that our parents let us do, but ask yourself do your children know? I mean really understand?

I don't agree with the stranger danger alone as I said above stranger danger just doesn't quite sit right anymore because essentially if your child was in a dangerous situation being afraid to talk to people around them could put them in more danger. I believe that teaching your child about dangerous situations in stages makes more sense than the outdated stranger danger message as it can be split into sections and this is how I would teach my own children here are my top tips for keeping them safe you can never be to careful with children.

Avoid making personalised items too obvious, - school bags, packed lunch boxes , book bags when you label them think about where your child's name is going to go put them on the inside of the item rather than on the outside for all too see avoid named t-shirts or football shirts with there full name across the top if a child thinks an adult knows there name already it can give them a sense of trust and the adult come across as more friendly.

Establish a code/secret word, - this is something that I taught my boys a few years ago when they started going to the nursery for after school club we have a secret word and any adult that is approaching them or says they have got to take them home must know the secret word if they don't the boys know not to go with them.

Teach them not to have body secrets, - I personally hate that I have to teach my children this but I have always taught them that their private parts are theirs and only they should touch them if anyone else does they should tell mummy straight the way also if they are made to touch anyone else's they know its wrong and should follow the same rule. they also know that they shouldn't keep secrets its a good way to make sure children are always open about things.

If they are in danger alert someone,  - the obvious of course would be a policeman but of course these are not always to hand so the next best thing I would suggest is to approach a mum with young children generally mums are on the ball or to run in to a shop/shop keeper - most shops will have CCTV these days so the chances are they are going to be safe.

Teach them to fight back, - I would always want my children to know this that if someone was actually trying to take them away or hurt them they should fight back kick, scream, bite whatever it takes to grab peoples attention.

Let others know that they are in danger, - how many times have you walked past a child that is having a meltdown or screaming having a tantrum and you haven't paid a bit of attention to them, teach your children to shout things like he/shes  is a stranger or to shout I want my mum and dad they need to be getting people to pay attention and not just walk on by.

Its food for thought right? I think the age old day of stranger danger is not going to work anymore, but teaching your children in a more complex way but easy for them to understand is going to keep our children safe. the reality of online strangers is still just as important but remember these people walk among us it is just as important to keep teaching them of the real life dangers on our streets and not just forget.    

Cow and Gate veggie pouches #Review

We were recently sent Cow and Gate friends Veggie pouches to try out although Jack is a little over the age of eating puree food, We tried them all the same they are a great accompaniment to add to meals and to get your little one to try vegetables. Vegetables can be difficult to get your little ones taste buds used to little ones are often more receptive to the sweet tastes of fruit rather than bitter tasting vegetables. But, the earlier and more often your little one is given a variety of vegetable flavours during weaning, the more likely they will learn to love them.



Cow and Gate Veggie Friends starts with four different single vegetable varieties these are cauliflower, pea, carrot and broccoli, which is quite a distinct vegetable variety of tastes to be tried in the early stages of weaning. As your little one starts to enjoy and notice the single vegetable tastes. The Friends range expands to vegetable varieties with different flavour combinations including cheese, pasta and chicken. Adding a variety of flavours and textures but still keeping to a strong vegetable taste, means that we can help our little ones hopefully learn to love veggies for life.

I love that each of the beginner pouches have character names Claire Carrot, Chris Cauliflower, Bella Broccoli and Peter Pea, all of the Cow and Gate Friends vegetable pouches are re-sealable to use within 24 hours and made with no added salt, sugar, additives or preservatives. Each Friends vegetable pouch is ready to eat, steam cooked, with no mixing or disguising of vegetables with fruit and can be served warm or cold.

I personally love the weaning pouches they are so easy and convenient to use, they don't take up much room in the changing bag or cupboard they are less money than the jars, I find that I don't waste so much when I have the pouches and they are a lot less messy plus there easier to use when you are out and about. I love that you get what the packet says and it's nothing that I think is a weird flavour combination sometimes with some of the jars and other pouches that are about I do think, yuck why would you mix all that together. The constancy of the pouches are also really good sometimes I find baby food to be a bit watery but the Cow and gate friends are not at all.

Jack really loved the vegetable pouches he didn't turn his nose up at any he liked them as a dish on there own and as vegetables on the side of a main meal.

overall I thought the pouches were great value for money and would definitely recommend them in the weaning stage, they are a simple but an effective way of letting your little one get used to the individual tastes and textures of vegetables.

Have you tried the Friends Cow and Gate vegetable pouches before? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts.

We were sent a selection of weaning pouches from cow and gate for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own 

           

Relationship breakdowns, What about the children?

How difficult is it when relationships break down? as a young child, I think most people would say they dream of the perfect family, two point four children, a dog, a marriage, but in this day an age things are never that simple, people are quick to have children with people they think they know or as an accident/mistake/nice surprise its not wrong, I will be the first to hold my hands up to this, but long term it makes life difficult as some of these relationships will work and some just don't for many reasons - infidelity, personalty clash, age there are so many reasons relationships break down, which is hard when its just the normal person with no ties but each other.

What happens when there is children involved? - Many couples stay friends, many can be amicable for the sake of the children, share the parenting, share responsibility and then for others its a down right battle every step of the way, there are the dads that are fighting every corner for the rights to see there children or mums for that matter and then there are the few that just are not bothered if they see there children again the latter I myself can never understand.

But is it right to force someone to be in your children's lives if they don't want to be? whether it is a mum or a dad if that person doesn't want to be there for a child surely long term its going to cause that child more damage, or is it better to have them there no matter how rubbish you think the other person is as a parent giving the children the chance to learn for themselves - I honestly don't know the answer to this question its something that is personal to yourself, what I do know is that whatever the situation between yourself and the other parent the best way forward is not to argue - although you might not be arguing directly in front of the children they pick up on tension they feel your moods, they feel your pain, no matter how little or young you think they are trust me they know.

I do think that both parents deserve a fair shot no matter how much you dislike the other - this isn't about you anymore its about the children no matter how bad you feel, no matter how much you think they will be better off without that parent unless they have committed a major crime or have neglected them or are likely to (which has to be proven) I think they deserve to see there children and your child wont understand if you stop them seeing there parent, as far as they are concerned they love each parent equally so for there sake you need to put your differences aside, even bite your tongue if you have to, Always remember Children come first.

How can things be made easier?

• Work together - This means co-operating sort out the best arrangements to suit each other remember your both human and need each other to support each other lifestyle for example its no good trying to get the other party to agree to have your child a certain day if they have to work or have other commitments.
• Talk - When you have children especially younger children its hard to find out what there day has been like or what time they have eaten - or even if they have been to the toilet, sometimes you have got to exchange words, if you really feel like you don't want to talk to the other person or feel like you cant, you could try introducing a memo book or communication book which is solely used to write what the children have been doing or you could talk through a family member or friend that is completely neutral on both sides.   
• Keep cool - There are going to be times on both sides that you really want to scream and shout about things but seriously ask yourself what it is actually going to achieve long term, its not is it sometimes being a little tactful is the better way forward and might make things better in the long run.
• Remember Your Child has feelings - You may think that the other person is the worlds worst human, you may hate them or resent them for different reasons but all children know is that person is a person they love, don't make them feel like its wrong to like them or to talk about them and don't cloud there own views, let them make there own its important to put your differences aside for there sake. 

Any relationship breakdown of any form is difficult, I hope my list above helps you to think about your own situation, its so easy to get caught up in a battle of words and actions but ultimately when there is children involved its only them that matters - no matter how hard that is to swallow.

How have you coped with a relationship breakdown? Did you get caught up in the battle or arguments? and what has happened/is happening now I would love to hear your thoughts?  

           

End of Summer Party with Sway Pr

As summer is drawing to a close and autumn is well on its way I was invited to attend one last party held by Sway Pr. The party was in London at the very grand theatre royal with its high ceilings and lots of character it was the perfect place for an end of season event. The event was a chance to get to meet some other bloggers and and some of the clients/brands Sway Pr are are working with and what a lovely, friendly bunch of people they were too.

I had a lovely time getting to talk to some brands about there products the first brand I met were the fabulous Mia Tui, they had brought along some lovely samples of there changing bags there were all different sizes and types for different occasions - if you haven't heard of Mia Tui let me tell you a bit more about them they were designed by a mum for mums. The bags itself was designed out of necessity as there wasn't a bag on the market at that time which had in mind a busy mums lifestyle. In 2010 the first Amelie bag was born and now there is quite a few bags in the Mia Tui range, with an eye for fashion the Mia Tui team keep the range on trend they release seasonal colour ranges and new styles for women and men. They really take pride in there products they are high quality functional bags - with something for all occasions.

In the goody bag from the sway pr event we were all lucky enough to receive the Mia Tui Lottie cross body bag, this is the smallest bag in the range, its the perfect size for essentials like your purse, mobile phone and keys - its one of those grab and go sort of bags that is ideal for school runs or popping to the shops. The bag features an adjustable shoulder strap, on the inside there is a key clip to stop you from loosing them, there is a pocket especially designed to pop your mobile phone in and also some pen pockets so that everything is well organised the interior is bright pink so everything in the bag can be seen and your not rummaging around for anything - its a really lovely high quality designed bag I would definitely recommend having a look at the Mia Tui range they are fantastic bags with mums in mind.

Alongside the Mia Tui range there was also Bohn swimwear showcasing there fab range of swimwear available for women sizes 6 to 18 these were all lovely quality, there was also the WishaGift team this is a new website aimed at saving gifts for birthdays and Christmas to reduce getting numerous or identical gifts from people that you don't actually want. There was also skin care products from Love Boo - which is a purely natural product we were very lucky to get a small sample of the super stretchy miracle oil that Say's so long to stretch marks - it smells Divine.





Another product that was show cased was the Mutimac car seat, I have never actually seen anything like this before it really is a fantastic idea it immediately caught my eye. The Mutltimac was voted best child seat with money being no object by what car magazine - The Multi -Mac is a new concept in child car seat safety, allowing up to four children age 0-12 to travel comfortably in the back of a five seater vehicle, it means no more having all different seats in the back of the car or struggling over seats to get children in the car, the seat is all attached together so it makes travelling so much easier and it is one of the safest ways for children and infants to travel today.



Last but not least, probably the product that stood out the most for me. Which was from the Dinky Dragon team with their product the i-Angel - never heard of the I-angel, let me tell you about it it is a baby carrier - but not just any baby carrier it comes with a bun bag type seat attached to it, called the hip seat, the hip seat element means that the i-angel offers users comfortable weight distribution meaning babies and children can be carried for a longer period of time, resulting in happier children it also helps with that bonding in the early days.

The I-angel can be used with children aged from 0 - 3 years and is a 3 in 1 carrier, the i-angel hip seat Carrier is a baby carrier, hip seat and toddler back pack all in one. it can be worn in a number of different positions, including baby facing in and out, front and back. the i-angel's very lovely and unique design allows for the carrier to be adapted from a hip seat baby carrier to hip seat which can carry a toddler up to the age of three.

I tried the I-angel on at the sway pr event with a baby dummy that was quite heavy and stood with the i-angel on for a good 20 minutes and didn't feel any sort of strain at all on my back or pelvis, the shoulder straps are well padded for extra support and comfort, it is made from 100% cotton with detachable organic cotton teething pads, I loved the design and colours it also had a cute little hood with ears to protect baby from the sun or rain.


you can purchase the i-angel at John Lewis, JoJo Maman Bebe and online at dinkydragon.co.uk

There was one other special guest at the event, Imogen Thomas but unfortunately I missed the opportunity to meet her and ask her some question. but we had a great time and met some lovely people so thanks for a lovely afternoon Sway Pr it was great and fantastic to meet you all!

What do you think of the products mentioned? do have a favorite I would love to hear you thoughts.

        
  

#Weaning week, Wow baby cup #Review

Baby cups can be a pain not so much when your baby starts weaning as they don't drink too much juice, but once they get a bit older and they are having more fluid carrying a juice cup in your bag can become a pain, a lot of cups leak or drip you find the bottom of your bag damp with sticky juice.

We were sent the Wow cup to review the cup has 306 degree drinking edge meaning your child can drink from all the way round the edge and it is completely spill free. The cup offers a water free spill guarantee - which for mums like us means no more sticky bags or damp clothes in fact in the past I have thrown some clothes away because juice has leaked on them in the changing bag and I just couldn't lift the stain.



The cup is exactly what it says "Wow", I thought it was amazing, when I first got it out its packaging I did wonder how it worked, the Wow cup is aimed at children nine plus months and Jack is only just getting used to his sipping cup, I did try to get him to have a go but he is just too little so I got Adam to trial it he is three and seemed really excited when I gave it too him - the Cup has no spouts levers or buttons, I gave it to him as it was, I wanted to see if he could work it out for himself. He did straight the way I asked him if he liked it and he said yes - he also asked if he could keep it! so it was a thumbs up from him and from myself you can hold it and shake it upside down and it doesn't leak at all!.



Wow Cups are BPA free, Phthalate free, PVC free, and dishwasher safe. The valves are made of a soft food grade silicone and easily are removed from the lid by gently pressing on them from the inside of the cup. There is a convenient lid on every cup to keep the drinking surface clean when storing.

The Wow Baby Wow Cups are clear and hold up to 7 ounces. There are measurements along one side of the cup to easily track how much your child has drank. There are two types of cup available there are the Wow kids Cups which hold nine ounces of juice and the Wow Baby Wow Cup this is slightly different because not only does it have handles, but the rim of the cup is wider, giving baby a more natural edge so they don't need to apply much pressure while drinking.

I think that a baby would take some time to get used to the cup as you have to make a straw type shape with your mouth on the edge and also I noticed that Adam held the cup up slightly higher than a normal cup, but really these are no problem! I actually really loved this product and so did Adam I am so glad we have found the Wow cup and I will be investing in two of the bigger cups for the older boys! 

To find out more about the Wow cup or any of there other fantastic products you can visit there website www.wowcup.co.uk

We were sent the fantastic Wow cup for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own

#Weaning Week, Drinks and your baby

Whilst weaning its a good idea to always offer your baby a drink with a meal start off with a few sips of water from a sipping cup make sure the cup you give them is one that is within the right age group for you baby for example if your baby is six months give them a cup that states on it six months plus and so on.

Once they have got used to having water you can try giving them sugar free diluted juice or fruit juice one part juice and ten parts water, things like orange juice are a good source of vitamin C for your baby.

When you first start weaning baby milk will still be your babies main source of nutrition they should still be having around a pint of milk a day.

If you are breast feeding, babies may still have around five - six feeds a day but you may find they will gradually reduce this themselves, as once they start having more food they will need less milk.

Babies should not have cows milk until they are over 12 months old but cows milk is fine to cook with until then.

Some drinks are bad for your baby and should be avoided as they will cause tooth decay and can cause dihorrea not only that they can leave your baby feeling full so that they don't want to eat there meal meaning they are not getting the nutrition they require.

Avoid fizzy drinks, flavoured milk, tea and coffee, undiluted fruit juice.

This takes me to the end of my weaning week I hope it has helped you along with your little one if you missed anything you can find the stages below and let me know how you get on!

• How do I know my baby is ready for food?  
• What do I need? (Equipment)
• How to get started?
• Do's and Dont's & food Safety
• Food Choices
• Baby led Weaning
• Drinks and your baby

#Weaning week Ella's Kitchen The first food book #Review

If you want to have a go at cooking your own baby meals there is no better place to start than with Ella's Kitchen, The first food book "The Purple One" not only is it a recipe book, but all the way through there are top tips on how to start weaning your baby what foods to give them and when to start introducing lumpy food.

The book is actually fantastic - I am not really a book kind of person, but this recipe book is really easy to use, the book starts with purees and works all the way through to toddler meals and finger foods for older children.

At the beginning of the book there is an introduction page it tells you all about weaning and some great advice and tips, this follows through the book and there is an introduction at the start of each stage of weaning which tells you things like which foods the baby can start to try, how much on average they should be eating and other useful hints and tips for that stage. The book also has a really helpful weaning chart that you can stick up on your fridge or wall as a quick weaning reference when your cooking. The chart includes a really nice section where you can record all of you babies weaning milestones and food preferences.

The Recipes 

There are no weird recipes in the book or ingredients that you will have trouble finding, the recipes are mainly things that you would always have in the cupboard so no need to go out spending copious amounts of money on things haven't heard of which is often the case in a lot of recipe books.



The Recipes are really simple to follow I love that they have a little clock next to them so you know how long they will take to prepare and cook, it also tells you how many portions that the recipe will make or how many ice cube trays it will take up so you could make your little one meals in batches to last the whole week.

There are a variety of recipes too choose from in each of the weaning sections something to suit everyone, there are your basic fruit and veg purees to pies curries and pastas a lot of the recipes that are further on through the book could be used for the whole family, I love that the book is so adaptable and has so much helpful information.

I had a go at cooking the oats, banana + mixed spice the preparation time states in the book five minutes and the cook time ten minutes the recipe took me just a little over five minutes and the cook time was as stated, I wasn't sure about the mixed spices as it smelt quite strong, But Jack really enjoyed the meal and I really enjoyed that I had made the recipe myself I felt a sense of fulfilment.

I have to say this has got to be my favourite cook book, just because of how busy life can be and this book makes cooking really simple its a great way of knowing your little one is getting something healthy to eat, I can honestly say I am looking forward to Jack growing with this book and cooking more of the lovely recipes found within it.


The First Foods Book from Ella's Kitchen retails for £14.99 which, in my opinion, is great value for money as this book will last us way into the toddler years.

Visit Ella's Kitchen on their website here to see their full range of Cook Books.

I was sent a copy of this fantastic recipe book from Ella's Kitchen for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own.

Money Habits to teach your children

It’s amazing how quickly children grow – one minute they’re tiny babies, depending on you for absolutely everything, and the next they’re fully fledged little people, setting out on the adventure of growing up.

And, because childhood seems to be a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of time, it’s not only important that you cherish every second of it, it’s also vital that you start instilling into your little ones the attitudes and behaviours that will put them in good stead when they venture out into the big, wide world.
Recently, I’ve been trying to make a concerted effort to teach my children good money habits. Don’t get me wrong, it’s something that I’ve always tried to do – but now I’m making a solid and conscious effort to get it right!

A friend of mine recommended this really great money advice video from Mrs Moneypenny – she’s got some great tips, and they gave me a really good starting point.

Set a good example It goes with out saying that the majority of your children’s spending habits will come from you – so make sure you practice what you preach and set a good example.

Pocket Money

The amount of pocket money that you should give your child is a question that I’m sure has been troubling parents all over the world for decades, if not more.
The fact is, there is no easy answer to this question; it’s completely down to your personal preference (and your budget, of course).
Mrs Moneypenny suggests giving your child one pound for every year of their life – so if they’re 10, give them £10 per week or month, if they’re 7, give them £7. I’m trialing this approach with my little ones and it seems to work really well, especially when they get a pay rise on their birthdays!

Budgeting

When it comes to teaching them the importance of budgeting, it’s never too early! I think it’s so important and it sets them up to be good money-managers in their adult life, so I’ve always encouraged my kids to save their pocket money and budget it, so that they can afford the things they want – whatever they may be.

One thing I hadn’t thought of though is getting them to split their pocket money three ways. This is one of the things Mrs Moneypenny suggests and it’s something that I’m definitely going to introduce in my household.

The way the concept works is by getting your little ones to split their money into three parts – one third to spend on something they want now, one third to save for something they might want to buy or do in the future, and one third to give to charity. This sounds like a great way to teach them good saving habits and I can’t wait to give it a try!

A few years in the future…

Although it’s probably not one for your toddlers, when your children start to reach their early teens, it’s a good idea to start introducing them to the concept of their credit report. This might sound strange, and to be perfectly honest it’s not something I’d considered before I discovered Mrs Moneypenny, but when you think about it, it’s a really worthwhile activity.
After all, it’s one thing telling your children about the impact that their financial decisions can have upon their future, but it hits home far more if they can see it for themselves. So take some time and go through their report with them, explain the things that can affect it, and how a negative report might well cause them problems in the not too distant future.

#Weaning Week, Food Choices

Food choices when weaning your baby can be a minefield, knowing where to start can leave you scratching your head in this post. I am going to tell you about different food options the best foods to start with, home made food and supermarket based foods.

Where to start and first foods?

 - Baby cereals and baby rice - a good place to start when giving your baby food for the first time is with these foods they are plain and just give your baby a feel for what the different texture is like.

 - Sweet vegetables - Babies naturally have a sweet tooth so give them the sweeter vegetables they will love them and they are a healthier option. vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips.

 - Mashed fruit - again its sweet babies love nothing more than mashed banana, cooked apples and pears or you could even try something a bit more exotic like avocado.

 - Ripe fruit - If your baby is able to pick fruit up give them some soft ripe fruit such as strawberries or melon

Don't ever add sugar or salt to your babies food.

Ready prepared baby food.

If you head towards the baby isles in the supermarket there is a mass market for ready prepared baby food and to be honest its always pretty useful to have some about it can make life easy when you are travelling about with a little one or several little ones in tow.

 - When buying any ready prepared food always check food labels if the food is not primarily made for babies it can be very high in salt and sugar, check and change to healthier versions if possible.

 - It seems obvious but check "use by" and "best before" dates.

 - check the seals on any of the packaging have not been broken.

 - choose the food that contain no added sugars or sweeteners, again you can do this by checking labels.

Foods to try.

Once your baby is established on there first foods you can start trying to introduce other food options into there diet foods such as,

 -  lentils (dhal) or pulses

 - mashed up meat, fish and chicken.

 - mashed rice, noodles or pasta.

 - full fat dairy products such as yoghurt's, fromage frias or custard.

Recipes

If you cook a lot of food at home try making meals so they are universal, meaning you are not cooking separately for the family and your baby main meals can be easily adapted to suit your baby as well as the rest of the family. most of the baby websites around such as Hipp Organic, Ella's Kitchen and Cow and gate have there own recipe sections to help you along with making your own food. Also Ella's Kitchen have several recipe books available that focus on baby made meals only.

  

#Weaning week Hipp Organic #Review

As part of my Weaning week feature we were sent a fantastic bundle of baby foods from Hipp Organic. Hipp Organic have been a big part of our lives since I was pregnant with Liam at which time I joined up to their baby parenting club where they have some top tips and good advice. From joining there baby club this has followed on to using there products when Liam was weaning right the way through to now when its Jacks turn to start weaning. I do actually love there products there is a huge variety in choice flavours and different age ranges to suit babies.

If you don't know Hipp Organic, they're are a brand that create good, healthy, nutritious food for babies and toddlers. They pride themselves on creating meals that babies will enjoy and that will help them grow and learn to love good food.

Hipp Organic sent us an array of there lovely products, here is what they sent

• Creamy Porridge (box)
• Apple juice with mineral water
• Pear banana and kiwi Pouch (Pouch)
• peach apple and banana muesli with yogurt (Pouch)
• Cherry apple and banana breakfast (Pouch) 
• Mild tomato and chicken curry (pouch)
• Vegetable and chicken risotto with peas (pouch)
• creamy rice breakfast (jar)
• spaghetti bolagnase (jar)
• Pumpkin carrot and apple spaghetti (Jar)
• Carrot salmon and dill risotto (Jar)
• vegetable lasagne (jar)
• Just fruit pear, banana and kiwi (flavoured yoghurt's)

As you can see from the list there is quite a variation in the products lots of different flavours and tastes coming in all different packaging and this isn't even half of the products they make, there is so much variety to suit all.

In the past I have always had the baby jars for the older boys, with that fact in mind and that Jack has only just started weaning, we tried out the pouches that we were sent. 

The very first thing we tried was the Cherry, apple and banana breakfast - Cherry can sometimes be a bit sour so I was a bit unsure as to how Jack would be with the flavour, I had no need to worry it was a huge hit as he enjoyed every spoonful of the pouch. I loved the ease of the pouch the food was really easy to squeeze from the packet, I like that you can screw the tops back on so you can use half the packet the next day. I must say the breakfast smelt delicious and Jack ate every last bit and was looking for more! 

We also have tried the, pear banana and kiwi pouch and the peach apple and banana muesli with yogurt both of which were hits for Jack he really loved them, over the next few weeks we are looking forward to trying the other products we have been sent and incorporating the jars with the lumps in - watch out for a follow on post to see how we got on with lumpy food.

Hipp Organic is a fantastic brand of baby food, there website is also a place where you can gain lots of information and view all of their products, we will definitely be continuing to stock up with Hipp Organic products we love them!      

we were sent the lovely Hipp Organic products for the purpose of this review all opinions remain honest and my own.

#Weaning week Do's and don'ts, and food safety

When it comes to weaning there are some Do's and Don'ts rules that I live by and some are common sense others just give you food for thought I hope this helps you along with your little ones Weaning Journey.

• Do - be prepared for mess, all children make a mess its a natural part of exploring and playing, invest in plenty of bibs and if you have a carpet you don't want ruining get a plastic mat to put underneath or even a sheet it just makes cleaning up easier after.

• Do - Offer plenty of variety of food, weaning is an exciting time its like having new toys, experiment rotate flavours they will love it.

• Do make sure baby is always in an upright position when they are eating, whether it is on your knee in a seat or in the high chair they will always need to be upright this is important for digestion and swallowing.

• Do - give baby's small portions around the size of there own fist is a good measurement to go by

• Do - offer baby small bits of food from your plate so they feel like they are part of meal time it also gives them the chance to try different things.

• Do - Offer your baby a drink of water in a beaker they may only have a little sip and need guidance with it to start off with but like with everything it will get easier and they will learn how to hold it better over time.

• Don't - expect your baby to like or even swallow the first food you give them weaning is about being patient some babies will take time to get used to the change others will just love it from the off.

• Don't - rush, weaning is a slow process always give your baby plenty of time for there meals, don't be tempted to try and hurry them along.

• Don't - ever leave your baby alone at meal times, or unattended in a high chair it is dangerous.

• Don't - expect your baby to finish every piece of food you give them, like us they wont always want it all, they may feel full or they just might not like it.

• Don't - give babies foods that pose an obvious danger to them like nuts, meat with bones, honey for children under one or anything raw like shell fish.

• Don't - offer babies fatty foods, things that are high in salt, sugar or spices all of them can be damaging to your babies health.

• Don't - Ever start trying to wean your baby before four months

Food Safety

keep things clean, aways make sure you wash your hand before preparing any food. once your baby has had there food make sure you wash their dishes in warm soapy water - once your baby has reached six months you don't need to sterilise there weaning equipment, but you do still need to sterilise there bottles.

Cooking and re-heating food, always make sure your babies food is cooked thoroughly and is piping hot then leave it to cool down before serving. If you are going to give your baby meals from the freezer make sure it has been thoroughly defrosted before cooking them. A lot of baby meals can be microwaved, take care when using this method for cooking, microwaving food can leave hot spots so you need to make sure you have stirred the food properly to get rid of these then leave the meal to cool this makes sure the heat is the same throughout the meal. no matter where you are serving the meal from always make sure you check the temperature before serving it to your little one.

Check your food labels, always check the "use by" dates and or the "best before" dates. check the food you are giving to your baby is within there age group this is usually clearly displayed on the packaging or in the book if you are cooking from scratch. It is also best to check salt content as well all baby food should have less than 1g of salt, as salt is not good for young children and babies and can cause health problems.

Food storage, make sure you don't keep any opened baby jars or packets for more than 24hrs and keep them safely stored in the fridge where they will be kept fresh. If you are cooking from scratch make sure the food is properly cooled down before putting in the fridge or freezing label the food with dates and make sure it is in a dish or container that has a lid.   

#Weaning Week - How to get started?

So you have the correct equipment and your baby is showing signs that they are ready to be weaned here are my top tips on how to get started.

• Pick a time of the day that is quiet and your baby Isn't really hungry or really tired, I choose about an hour before Jacks tea time bottle was going to be due and after he had had a nap so he is wide awake but you could try mid morning after there morning nap it would work just the same.

• Start with something that is easy on the taste buds like baby rice as this doesn't have much taste, you can make it up with some of there normal milk it gets them ready for different textures.

• Place a small amount onto a plastic or rubber tipped spoon only give a few spoonfuls to start off with probably no more than four then follow with your babies own milk.

• Once they have had baby rice for a few days try, introducing a different taste give that to them for a few days, then repeat the steps with the next food until they get used to different flavours.

• Once your baby has been having meals for around a week try introducing another meal at a different time of the day, also try mixing up flavors together.

• Once your baby is successfully taking dinner and tea, introduce breakfast, there are lots of baby porridge's available, you could also try giving them puree fruit or a baby rusk made mushy by there milk.

• Don't be too hard on yourself if you baby turns there nose up or spits there food out, its only natural when they are used to only having baby milk, eating food takes practice, and patience.    

Once you have started feeding your baby solids, like us they will need a drink to go with it the best drink you can give your baby is water, if they are under six months water will need to be boiled then cooled the same as there baby milk, it is not recommended that you give fruit juice to babies under six months. It is important to remember that all fruit juices contain natural sugar and giving them through a baby bottle will cause tooth decay, also make sure you brush there teeth mornings and evenings even if they only have one tooth and they are drinking through a beaker.

Anabel Karma - baby #weaning products #Review

Annabel Karmel is an international best selling author on baby and children’s food and nutrition. She is the no.1 parenting author in the UK having sold over 4 million books up to now NUK has teamed up with Annabel to create a range of products designed to make life easier for parents, I have been sent three items to review from her range - the baby snack pot, the feeding cutlery set, and the feeding bowl.

The baby snack pot,

- Suitable for weaning

- Dishwasher safe

- Convenient size for at home or out and about

- Easy grip trainer handles

- Suitable for children from 36 months

The idea behind the snack pot is that it helps teach your little ones to eat on their own and is perfect for holding little snacks like raspberries and small pieces of fruit. The clip-on lid helps to keep food fresh, and the soft silicone fins mean the snacks won't fall out, whilst it's easy enough to reach in and grab snacks at any time.

I must admit Jack is to young for the snack pot but I took this out with me this week for Adam, he absolutely loves his fruit and the snack pot kept his strawberries and grapes fresh. He was also running round with the snack pot and it was great that when he did stop to eat something all the fruit had remained in the pot and he could just pop his hand in when he wanted something the pot itself is really easy to clean, lightweight, big enough to fill a small appetite but small enough to leave room in your bag for all the other things you need to carry about with you.


The Feeding bowl with lids


- Feeding bowl by Annabel Karmel, perfect for the weaning stage

- Made from BPA free plastic with vented lid for microwave use

- Features a seal-tight lid & non-slip suction base

The Annabel Karmel by NUK Feeding Bowl comes with a vented lid for the microwave and a seal-tight lid for when you are out and about. The bowl also has a non-slip suction base that helps avoid messy feeding times. It is also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free.

The bowl is a really good size I really like the different lid ideas but it could be easy to mix if you are out and about so just be careful which one you are using or you could end up with a bag full of food! The suction grip on the bottom isnt that strong however little ones grips are not either. This is the perfect bowl to carry about in the changing bag with you as its not to big and it is easy to clean if you are somewhere you can only give it a quick rinse.

Cutlery set

- Suitable for weaning

- Anti-slip handles and rounded edges for extra safety

-  Dishwasher safe

- The Feeding Spoons are suitable for children from 6 months. The mini cutlery are suitable for children from    8 months.

The Annabel Karmel by NUK Cutlery Set includes two feeding spoons which have especially long handles, making them ideal for tall jars, as well as a mini fork and spoon for when your little one is ready to start feeding themselves. The feeding spoon is particularly well-suited to your little one's mouth, with round edges for added safety. 

This is my favorite products out of the three I love that the two spoons have extra long handles not only for the fact they save mess when you have taller jars to get into but they also save your back when your reaching over the high chair to feed your baby, I find the grips on the cutlery make them really easy to use the set has definitely been designed with both mum and baby in mind.

All three items are very reasonable in price, they are all priced at £5.99 they are available to buy from a lot of high street stores and are also available online at Amazon and www.Nuk.co.uk

 I was sent these lovely weaning products for the purpose of this review all oppinions reamain honesr and my own.

#Weaning Week - What do I need? (equipment)

Following on from my last post you should now know if your baby is ready for weaning, this is the all round fun part and its a really exciting milestone and change in a babies life. Before you get started make sure you have all the right equipment, sometimes it can be over whelming seeing all the different brands on the high street and on the Internet and knowing what you actually need so here is my guide to the "Essentials" and then what is nice if you want some added extras.

Essentials 

• Highchair - Your baby will need somewhere safe to sit where they are positioned upright - Don't think you need to buy the most expensive they all do the same thing and you wont be grateful of it when your baby is wiping food all over it, also if you feel when you first put them in it they are slipping and sliding down sit them on your knee or in the pushchair until they have a bit more sitting balance just always make sure they are upright.

• Bibs - It seems an obvious choice of equipment. To save your babies clothes I have found the ones that are wipe clean are easier, make sure you always put them in one no one warns you once you get puree carrot or spaghetti on an outfit the stains are really hard to lift out.

• Bowls - plastic bowls are the best especially if you are going to let you baby feed themselves a bit at least if they are going to drop it its not going to break, having said that also available to buy are baby bowls with a suction cup on the bottom so your not going to have that worry.

• Weaning spoons - There are lots available to buy if you are feeding them I like the ones with the longer handles as then you save your back and don't need to lean so far over and if baby is feeding themselves, I would recommend the chunky handled spoons as they are easier for baby to grip

Added Extras

• Splash mat - if you haven't got a table or you have but you have a lovely carpet you want to protect a splash mat is great for just that.

• Juice cup - once your baby is six months you can wean them onto a juice cup so they can have a bit with there dinner or tea not only that it will protect there teeth.

• Freezer trays - If you want to make your own baby food these are great for storage and saving food, they don't have to be anything special you could use large ice cube trays or even the ice lolly trays.

• Blender - if you want to make your own puree remember though you wont be needing it that long as babies from six moths will quite quickly move on to lumpy food.

• Lidded storage containers - I love these they are so useful to have for freezing keeping fruit fresh or just for taking babies food out and about with yourself.

Remember you only need to sterilise baby equipment if you start weaning before six months. Keep following my Weaning Week feature to see some reviews of the equipment and more tips and advice on weaning.  

#Mum's stop feeling guilty

Picture the scene - I am wondering up and down the isles, in a well known clothes store when a pretty floral top catches my eye, I look through the sizes, "Yes" they have my size feeling the soft material, I pick it up spin it round on the coat hanger, taking in every angle of it, then I pull the coat hanger up to my chin holding the top against myself looking in the mirror across the store - its lovely - then comes that moment, my brain is working overtime "the boys need new shoes, coats, underwear, toys..... Everything, before my brain has caught up the top is back on the stand with the others and I am briskly walking out of the shop without so much as looking back.

I am sure every mum has been here at some point or another, its guilt, why we as mothers do this to our selves I have absolutely no idea, did the boys need new things? (probably not) but the guilt doesn't just stop there, on a daily basis I am wracked with guilt, questions to myself like have I told them off to much? did they eat enough food? Are there uniforms ironed properly? did I leave the baby to cry for too long? are they warm enough? are they too cold? have they gone bed to late/early?, The list is endless.

Then there are the rare occasions you get asked to go out for the evening or day you have it all planned in your head what you are wearing, who is going to look after the children, how long it will take you to get them ready, before you have to get yourself ready .....and there is that damned voice again................ what if the kids get poorly? What if they wont go to sleep? what if they somehow escape from the house? or aliens take them, its ridiculous isn't it! but by the end of the conversation with your self in your head the moment of planning has gone, you have yet again resigned yourself to yet another night in front of the TV, mum Guilt has got the best of us again.

I don't know about you? but part of the battle most days is just making it through the day to bed time with perhaps no major meltdowns, telling myself over and over, you know I really am doing OK, and then there is the other part of me that is shouting "YOU CAN DO BETTER",  You are a shit mum and why you thought you could cope with three children I don't know.

So why do we beat ourselves up so much? I blame lots of factors the older generation for always telling us "we never had anyone to look after our children for us you just had to get on with it" and then there are the perfect mums at school they're are the ones that strut into school every looking like they are a model, perfect hair, perfect makeup, kids that look like angels, then there is social media baking mums, crafting mums, mums that post pictures and "proud stories" not that there is anything wrong with this we all love our children and of course when they do something good we want to share it with the world, its almost like saying HA see I am doing something right as a mum/mother but in reality other mums will feel like they have to keep up. there is always something that makes you compare yourself and feel insignificant.

Do you know what to all the Mums/Mothers Out their,

STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP

I had a bit of a "light bulb" moment today, It was Liam's sports day, after there was a raffle and refreshments, I of course bought a couple of raffle tickets it goes towards the school fund and we won in fact we won twice, they had toys, books, gift vouchers for play days out  then there was adult things wine, perfume and gift sets etc for the adults. I gave the first ticket winning ticket to Liam and told him to go and pick something, which he did, he came back with a bottle of wine for me, I could have cried, he actually put me before himself and then there was the second ticket, that I gave to Adam thinking he would definitely pick something for himself but he didn't he bought me back a box of lovely face creams and you know in that moment I realised the boys don't care if I have a new top or a night out, they don't care if the house isn't spotless or the washing up isn't done, they don't care if mummy's looking tired.

What they do care about, if mummy is there to pick them up when they fall, or if your there when they cry out having a bad dream in the night, after all in all children's eyes you're there mum and you are awesome, so don't be so hard on yourself, after all their was no manual written for parenting. mummy's come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and lifestyles and none of them are wrong so remember to be kind to yourself you're doing just great!