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Baby Buzz

BACK TO BASICS

YOUR COMMUNITY

MR MUM

PARENTS IN BUSINESS

GET CREATIVE

COMPETITION TIME

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WelcomeI hope you all had awonderful Christmas andNewYear and are ready to start the NewYear! If you listen to the radio and the listeners who have already broken their NewYear’s resolutions, it makes you stop and think that perhaps we should focus on issuesthat are more relevant to our day to day lives. As long as we remember the importantpeople in our lives and treat people the way we would like to be treated then nothingelse matters. So this year, do something that youwouldn’t normally do, go somewhereyouwouldn’t normally go and learn something new. Teach your children, your friends,your parents, your loved one that with support anything is achievable.

In this issue, one of the things we are looking at is community spirit and how, wheneveryone comes together, local businesses and people can thrive. Local high streetshopping is fast dying out in favour of chain stores, but not everything locally costs afortune. Also, buying gifts is, as we’ve discovered, fast becoming a thing of the pastwhen you can so easily, and often more cheaply, make it yourself whilst having a hugeamount of fun (see our Get Creative feature on page 15 & 16 ). We have also includedour regular feature “Parents in Business” who are located all over the UK, so why notvisit their websites and see just how they’ve made their mark in the business world.Maybe it will give you an idea on possible career changes for 2013 (if so, drop us a lineand, who knows, maybe we can feature you in upcoming issues).

Let me finish by wishing you all a Prosperous and Happy New Year and I hope it iseverything you want it to be…

Nickie

Jo Johnson

Eve Tudor

Lisa Cooke

Caroline Hawkins

Participating in the Januaryreviews are:

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Baby Buzz Magazine LimitedUnit 136

North London Business ParkOakleigh Road SouthNew SouthgateLondon N11 1NP

Company No: 8234631

EditorNickie Evansnickie@babybuzzmagazine.comTel: 0208 361 0727Mob: 07535 541 303

Assistant EditorCindy Evans

Customer ServicesJenny Blythe

Website & DesignEmily Hewett, I am Emilycontact@iamemily.co.uk

Baby Buzz Magazine will bepublished 12 times per year

Warner Midland Limited

Disclaimer:The views expressed in this magazineare not always those of the publishers.Neither the publisher nor any otherperson associated with the productionand publication of this magazine makesany guarantee, warranties or claims asto the accuracy of any of the contents ofthis magazine. We include and useproducts and services that we believe tobe of a reputable standard but we advisereaders to make their own judgements.The publishers and magazine will not beheld accountable and or responsible forany loss caused by errors, loss ornegligence resulting from Baby BuzzMagazine Limited. We do not acceptresponsibility for any unsolicited materialor photographs published. Terms andConditions for our competitions can befound on our website at the time of beingpublished. No section of this magazineis authorised for use or reproduction inany form without the prior consent of theeditor.

A special thanks to everyonewho contributed over theChristmas and New Year break,your help was truly appreciated.

06 Parents in Business - Inspirational stories13 Love Your Doorstep - Bringing a community together22 Back to Basics - Traditional Toys30 Organix - The importance of eating properly47 Mr Mum - Trials and Tribulations

31 Organix - Yummy delights to tempt your children

26 Creation Station - All the fun, none of the mess!27 Love 13 - Classes to take - gifts to make

12 Getting the right work / mum life balance17 Putting Safety First34 Breastfeeding and the workplace45 Family finances: Working Parents: Look beyond your salary

Brother Max Scoop High ChairAden & Anais - Colour Block Sleeping BagsCustard & Crumble Welcome Home Gift Box2 x Halo & Horns Gift Baskets

18 Travel, safety & accessories reviews19 Product reviews

20 Fun winter clothes for your little one21 Maternity Essentials

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new beginnings

Susan Ada Catherine McShaneBorn 24/12/127lb 8oz

Congratulations to parentsMichael and Angela

Amber Rose VaughanBorn 15/12/127lb 1oz

Congratulations to parentsAlexandra and Chris

Picture taken by Jessica ChuPhotography For Little People

Valentine’s DayBy

Evans On Earth

Bring the nature in this Valentine’s Day andsurprise someone with plants that will last. Allof our gifts are arranged by hand, with love inmind.

Valentine's Day is a time to show love andappreciation to those closest to us – sweet-hearts, parents, siblings and friends. Flowersare a popular way to spread Valentine joy.Their vibrant cheer is especially appreciatednow, in the middle of winter.

We have tried to think outside the pot. Seeour collection of planted pots and miniaturegardens at www.evansonearth.co.uk

To place your order email us atgardens@evansonearth.co.uk or call us on

07535 667 844.

Competitions

Christopher John HaralambousBorn 31/12/129lbs 3oz

Congratulations to parents John& Vania

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Parents in BusinessInspirational StoriesIn this issue, we have met with more fantastic

people who have launched their own businessesand the secrets to their success. Check out some ofthe amazing products and services they have onoffer.

Who is behind QuackQuackMoo?It was started by me, Leanne Curtis-Cobb, after having my two boys.

How did the company get started?After becoming a mum, and with a fashion background, I was frustrated and at my wits end with thelack of good quality, practical clothing and accessories available on the market, so I simply decided todesign and make my own for friends and family whilst selling at craft fairs, and it all went from there.

What is the company about?The company is based around putting the FUN back into FUNctional. Everything QuackQuackMooproduces has a practical element that makes lives easier for parents, as well as making little ones morecomfortable and providing beautifully manufactured and amazing super soft fabrics in all of our designs.

What do you hope to achieve?I have a whole hoard of products that I have designed and that are in the pipeline for manufacture. Overthe coming months we hope to have all of these available both in-store and on-line.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?The highlight has got to be the positive reaction from parents, the awards we have been nominated forand won and the amazing emails of gratitude we get from parents. It is so nice to hear how much peopleare loving the quality and the design of our items.

What has been the downside to starting your own company?Starting QuackQuackMoo has been hard, really hard. Sometimes a nightmare - mainly when the childrenare ill and I am trying to juggle being a mum, a wife and a business woman. For the first few months, Iwasn't sure I could carry on and that was my darkest moment. But I just had to re-jig my life and workout a routine that works.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?Research, research and more research. Know your audience, know your retail outlets. Make sure you are100% with who your competitors are and where you sit in the market. Planning is key to anything beforejumping in with both feet, but when you do, give it everything you've got.

For more information, please contact:Tel: 020 8777 3226

Email: info@quackquackmooclothing.comWebsite: www.quackquackmooclothing.com

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Who is behind Captain Tortue?Captain Tortue was founded in 2003 by Philippe and Lillian Jacquelinet, a married couplefrom Aix en Provence, who have a passion for fashion and vision of how they wanted tobring that to the marketplace.

How did the company get started?Phillipe and Lillian initially met in Mauritius whilst both on business. They were given theCaptain Tortue brand name as a wedding present by Philippe's best man and set aboutcreating the company we now know as Captain Torture, using Philippe's knowledge andcontacts in the business and Lillian's skill with textiles. Both Philippe and Lillian are still very much involved in the design of theclothes and day to day running of the business which now operates in Eight countries in Europe including the UK and Ireland.

What is the company about?Captain Tortue is the leading direct fashion sales company in the UK and in contrast to struggling high street retailers our sales areincreasing year on year. It's a French success story now happening in the UK. The Captain Tortue Group now sells three ranges,Captain Tortue Children's clothing, and two ladies clothing ranges, Miss Captain for the more casual, and Lady Captain for themore chic. Captain Tortue designs are not available on the high street nor on-line and are for sale exclusively through our trainedindependent consultants who are based from home and are happy to help you shop for what best suits you .

What do you hope to achieve?I started this over 7 years ago and now am an ExecutiveManager of a team of 16 ladies. I'm lookingfor ladies to do what I did. You don't need any experience in sales or fashion and you will be fullytrained andmentored. I have two young children and I found a way of juggling work and lookingafter my kids which really works for me and could work for other mums. Being able to plan yourlife and not miss the very special moments like school plays is fantastic and that fact that you workin such a sociable environment was a great attraction for me, meeting new people all the time.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?Working for myself has given me a great sense of self belief and self worth. Loving fashion as I do and the fact that I have afantastic ready-made wardrobe every season is a great bonus. Seeing the effect that my enthusiasm for the clothes I sell and wearhas on my customers is a great feeling and is very effective when it comes to sales. I must say that I've build some very goodrelationships and friendships with many of my customers who come back season after season which is very satisfying.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?Running my own business has meant that I've had to learn to be organised when it comes to paperwork and administration ingeneral but the Captain Tortue head office is very helpful and always there at the end of the phone to help.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?I would certainly advise someone wanting to start their own business to find something that you're passionate about. It makes it awhole lot easier and more enjoyable. For me it's fashion and my passion helps drive me on to go that extra step for my customerswhen they have returns or have any issues. Also don't underestimate howmuch you need to put into a business tomake it successful.You get out what you put in so doing something that holds your interest and suits your lifestyle will certainly help here.

We are recruiting for new consultants all over the UK now, so if you fancy a new challenge, to earn some money and to getsome free clothes then get in touch, please quote ref. baby buzz. Tel. 01403 754040 or www.captaintortuegroup.com.

Parents in Business

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Parents in BusinessWho is behind the company?It was started bymy father in 1971 and I, Eloise Lloyd, took overthe reigns in 2010.

How did the company get started?It was started when my mother was pregnant with me after 3months of marriage. My Dad had been sacked from his job andso he decided to start up on his own and then just never lookedback. All members of my family current and past have beeninvolved, so it is a real family business.

What is the company about?

EDES is a family run business established in 1971 selling a range of electrical products. We have three shops based in Essex,located in Billericay, Wickford and Leigh-on-Sea, selling a range of lamps, wiring accessories, small domestic appliances,lighting, vacuum cleaner bags, spares and batteries. Five years ago we expanded our product range in our Leigh on Sea storeselling baking and cookware products from leading brands including Joseph Joseph, Masterclass, Silverwood, Tala,Kenwood, Delonghi, Dualit, Russell Hobbs and many others. Modern day mothers have to juggle work, home and children.You may not be an expert in the kitchen but enjoy having dinner parties, cooking on special family occasions or having fun

baking with the children. If you visit our store you will meet our team offriendly and knowledgeable staff who can help you with whatever you arelooking for, however, vague the description. If we don't know, we will find outand if we don't stock it, we can always get it for you.

What do you hope to achieve?We want to become a recognised brand that ‘modern day yummy mummys /grand mummys’ will purchase from, for anything they need for the kitchen.They do not have to be experts in the kitchen (like is the case with manycookshops). They can browse the site or if they cannot findwhat they are lookingfor, they can always contact us.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?It is hardwork but everyday has a different challenge and it is so much morerewarding than working for someone else.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?It has tested the relationship with my husband as it has been tiring andsometimes stressful, especially when starting this with a 6 month old baby andwe do not have family local to help us but if it had not been for his belief andsupport I would not have gone this far.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?Go for it! Don’t ever give up because you will regret more what you did not do rather than what you did do.

For more information, please contact Eloise Lloyd at:

Telephone: 0844 826 1339 08Email: customerservices@edeshomewares.co.uk

Website: www.edeshomewares.co.uk

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Parents in BusinessWho is behind the company?Myself Kelly Hart, and my mum Jacqui.

How did the company get started?I started the company in December 2010 having worked as a small businessconsultant at notonthehighstreet.com. It seemed a waste not to use myexpertise. I was working full time at a homeless shelter andwould come homeand wrap and pack parcels late into the night. By March 2011 it became clearthat the I needed help so I called on my mum.

What is the company about?I source gifts and homewares, some of which can be found in the Laines inBrighton. We also use Brighton illustrators and designers to create bespokepieces.

What do you hope to achieve?This year we are focusing on the developing and further marketing of ourwebsite and to continue growing the business until I can give up my day joband work on it full-time.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?Sourcing new and innovative products, meeting customers (I personally deliver gifts locally to customers), knowing thatworking really hard will grow the business and that we will benefit.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?Working full time and running my own business is tiring. Only in the last couple of months have we hired two members ofstaff to help with the Christmas orders.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?Believe in your idea and go for it. It will be hard work but the rewards are there. Look at Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornishof notonthehighstreet.com, we did.

For further information, please contact:

Email: hello@allthingsbrightonbeautiful.co.ukWebsite: www.allthingsbrightonbeautiful.co.uk

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Parents in BusinessWho is behind the company?Myself Chloe, 27 year old a mum of 3 small children.

How did the company get started?My children’s school asked if some parents would like to help raise money for theschool by running a face painting stall and i volunteered i enjoyed it somuch i broughtmy self a kit and started practicing on friends and families then did some courses andstarted face painting at fairs festivals and fetes progressing on to parties.

What is the company about?Glittertastics is about spreading colour , sparkle , happiness and laughter throughouttheworld to children and adults of all ages. It’s aboutmaking a difference andmakingpeople smile.

What do you hope to achieve?I hope to achieve to be a recommended household name worldwide and spread asmuch colour, sparkle and art as possible to as many people as I can.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?There has been a few! One of themwas face painting for a lady who had just receivedan honour by the Queen, face painting for Chicco Salim’s (from X-factor) daughter’s

birthday party, and winning paintiopia body painting festival apprentice 2012. I had never body painted before, it was my first timeand I had only been face painting for one year at that time. Raising over £2000 with Barclays Bank for Macmillan this year. There isa great sense of achievement watching your little hobby turn into an idea which then turns into your very own business, watching itgrow and expand into something big and new. I’ve also met some wonderful people along my journey.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?It is very hard to set up your own business especially when you are a mum. Alot of time is consumed, losing precious family time.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their ownbusiness?My advice would be that any dream is possible and nothing is to high! Aimhigh, keep trying and do your research! What is it that you want to do? Makesure you believe in what you are doing and having friends and family supportyou really is amazing .

I would like to thank my friends and family who have supported me alongtheway, but especiallymy partner Duane, you helpedmemakeGlittertasticshappen xx

For more information, please contact Chloe at:

Email: glittertastics@hotmail.co.uk

GLITTERTASTICS

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Parents in Business

Who is behind Heidi Products?The people behind Heidi Products are me ThomasRafferty and my two investors Paul and Nick. I'mcurrently a construction worker full-time as well asManaging Director. Paul is also in construction andNickhas his own tool making business.

How did the company get started?It all started with me forgetting how many scoops of formula I'd put in the bottle. I looked for something on the market butcouldn't find anything. I decided it would be simple enough to solve, so after a few designs I came up with the idea of theSCOOPMATE.

What is the company about?I named the company after my daughter Heidi. As a company it is still in its infancy, but we aim to create practical productsfor people to use in their everyday lives. We have a few ideas to follow up with once the Scoopmate is established.

What do you hope to achieve?I hope to achieve a better life for myself and my family by creating as many passive incomes as I can. Doing this willhopefully allow me to spend more time with my family which will in turn provide me with inspiration to create moreproducts/business ideas.

What has been the highlight of starting your own company?The highlight of starting Heidi products has to be the sense of achievement of seeing the final product. We have receivedgreat reviews and feedback from many people which makes me personally very proud, as most of the work has been donein a brew cabin on a building site or in the van.

What has been the downside of starting your own company?The downside is… If you ask my wife and children and probably my boss they would say that I'm always busy making calls(during the day) or sending e-mails (at night). In my mind I'm doing this for them. The kids get to see that with hard workyou can achieve anything you want, and my wife can see that I have ambition and belief in myself. As for the boss, I thinkhe thinks I'm a bit bonkers, but understands that I'm ambitious. For me there is no downside, just lessons to be learnt.

What would your advice be to any parent wanting to start up their own business?My advice to anyone starting in business is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. The more you know about somethingthe easier you will find it. If you know how things work you can PLAN and put into ACTION the right steps to achieveyour goal. Never under estimate how hard you have to work and if it’s something you are passionate about, it becomes tentimes easier. Oh yeah, and enjoy it. Its a great way to meet some great people, so why not go for it.

For further information,please contact:Email: sales@heidiproducts.co.uk

Website: www.heidiproducts.co.uk

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If you’ve recently had a baby and are enjoying those preciousfew months of being a mother, work will be the last thing onyour mind. The idea of leaving your new baby behind andre-joining the adult world of work can be a daunting prospect.

Sadly due to the massive cost of childcare in the UK and manyemployers’ inability to see the benefits flexible working canoffer them, many women find themselves with no choice but toeither go back to work full-time or give up work altogether.Finding the right work/mum life balance is the holy grail manymums are constantly seeking!

Get ready for workYou may not want to face it now, but if you know you willdefinitely be going back to your job, it’s a good idea to thinkabout how you want it to work as early as you can. That way,you have plenty of time to reach an unrushed arrangement withyour employer that you’re both happy with.

Set aside some uninterrupted time to sit down with your part-ner and discuss your routine, what your childcare options areand if you are thinking of applying for flexible working; whatwould work best for you. It can take some time to find childcarethat you’re happywith, sometimes there’s a waiting list and youalso need to factor in settling in days for you and your child. Beprepared well in advance then there’s no need to panic thatyou’re running out of time!

Here are a few things to consider before speaking to youremployer:

- Why you’re working: is it for financial reasons, do youlove working and know it will make you a happier mum-my or do you just feel like you should go back? Assessingwhat role work plays in your life might help you decidewhat to do, where and for how many days a week.

- What responsibilities/activities do you currently haveoutside of work? Can you still do these things as well aswork? Do these things need to be done, can they be doneby someone else?

- Howmuch do you actually need to earn?Get a figure youand your partner are happy with down on paper and thatway you can work out what your options are if you’regoing to speak to your employer about flexible working.

- What are your childcare options? You’ll also need todeduct the cost of childcare from your monthly wage ifyou’re not lucky enough to have family around to helpout. Don’t forget to factor in Childcare Vouchers whichcan save you around £1000 a year by allowing you tocontribute to your childcare costs from your pre-tax sala-ry. Discuss with your employer if they have an existingarrangement and make sure your partner does too.

Plan a career change?Many women find that becoming amother is the catalyst they need tomake a career change. Some getinvolved in a franchise, set up theirown business from scratch, workfrom home direct selling or write anovel! You might find that nowyou’re a mother your current careerpath doesn’t feel right and you wantto explore a change. It’s a good timeto reassess things to fit in with yournew family, so go for it!

Getting some Me-TimeFinding the right balance betweenbeing a mum and remembering whoyou were before you took that giantleap is something most of us strugglewith. Of course you love being amum but it’s so important to squeezetime for yourself and your partner into your busy life too. Bookin a regular date night for you both, make a date with yourselffor some qualityme-time involving a bubble bath and a pedicureor get into bed early with a book and a glass of wine. Gettingadult time with other mums is so important too; sharing yourteething problems/tantrums/weaning issues and fussy eatingdilemmas can really take a weight off your shoulders and leaveyou rejuvenated to face it all the next day!

If you haven’t worked for a while, we know how this can knockyour confidence, so formore on these subjects, great blogs, livelyforums, back to work support and flexible, part time jobs visitus at www.mojomums.co.uk

family affairs

by Sally Overhead

Sally Overhead, founder of Mojomums, is passionate aboutflexible working for mums and has 5 children (including triplets!)under the age of 7.

For further information, please contact:

Community: www.mojomums.co.ukJobs: www.mojomumsjobs.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

GETTING THE RIGHTWORK / MUM LIFE BALANCE

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your local community

Christmas Spirit has hit us all in abundance with plenty of goodwill and festivities all aroundbut did you know that sometimes, all you have to do is look a little closer to home to findyour own piece of goodwill right on your doorstep, something that lasts all year round...

I came across Love Your Doorstop purely by accident after visitingmy first ever Baby Show at EarlsCourt. I happened to start talking to a lovely lady who, we discovered after getting carried awayin conversation, lived quite close to me in Enfield. I hadn’t even contemplated joining a FacebookGroup let alone a local community but whatever prompted me to take the plunge, I am extremelythankful that I did. I’m not trying to sell you anything or tell you how to make the world a betterplace but if all it took were an idea, design or concept to bring a community together wouldn’t it beworth it…

by Nickie Evans

Emma RigbyFounder of

Love Your DoorStep

So who is behind Love Your Doorstep? New Zealand born, wife and mum of 2, Emma Rigby.Having worked in the City for 9 years, Emma always had aspirations of owning her own business.It was as a result of the riots that affected so many of our towns, that Emma came up with theconcept of workingwith the community and local business owners to help promote their businessesand encourage a developedmore supported network. Shopping locally seemed to be dying a deathin the UK, the economy was in a state of doom with the recession, neighbours had stopped talkingand this just becamemore of an emphasis after the riots. It was the perfect time to launch Love YourDoorStep to try and bring the community back together.

So what is the concept behind Love Your Doorstep? It not only encourages folksto work as a team and build stronger community links and support systems, but ithas become the perfect platform for actually bringing together businesses andindividuals with a vested interest in supporting each other through jobopportunities, charitable causes, networking, business referrals and genuinerecommendations. Naturally, these kind of introductions result in more businessfor those involved, whichmeansmoney back into the local economy and a deepenedsense of community spirit.

Love Your DoorStep is an exciting and rapidly growing on and off-line communityin Enfield and is rapidly expanding into several other areas of London. Originallyset up as a Facebook group, it has evolved into a dynamic new website, createdwith the intention of allowing more and more local people to have access to all thewonderful things the borough has to offer, with a constant flow of exciting andvaluable information, accessible all from one place. Don’t get the wrong idea, it'sso muchmore than just a place to catch upwith friends, it’s also a place where localbusiness owners can share information on products and services, offering each otherspontaneous help and support.

Local events and networking have never been so well supported and attended because now people are starting to communicate andfeel part of something again.

Whatmakes Love Your DoorStep so special and unique? Well, that’s the ‘real time’ aspect at which people are able to communicate.The contiguity and convenience that social media has prompted is exactly what Love Your DoorStep fulfils – that need to meet andshare ideas from the comfort of your own home - and the strong sense of community that relaxed and informal communication likethis naturally brings about.

Love Your DoorStep is all about raising awareness and prompts us all to discuss important issues in the area we live in,it’s getting people to talk in a way they’ve never done before.

Emma shares her reasons and inspirationfor developing the site adding "When Imarried my husband, who grew up in thisarea, it naturally become my home awayfrom home and I knew that this waswherewe’d raise our children. Neither of uscould quite believe it when the riotshappened, right here on our doorstep. Ihad this desperate desire to re-instate somecommunity spirit that just seemed lost, dueto our busy lives and damaged images thatthe riots had induced.”

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your local community

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your local community

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your local community

Ruby blu is a beautiful vintage style shop offering funky retro gifts,children’s clothes, toys, jewellery, cards, homeproducts, fragrances, books, bags andmuch more.Gifts for all, or a treat just foryou…a shop with soul.

Join in the communityspirit for 2013…

So what are the benefits of joining Love Your Doorstep:

● We are an interactive directory, we use social media platforms and our website to hand out local products and servicesdirect to the consumers in our local areas.

● We are a community of like minded business owners and residents who want to make Enfield better.

● We aren't just about an online presence, you can also build real friendships and get involved with support networksthat have been created via Love Your DoorStep.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

www.loveyourdoorstep.co.ukTwitter: @loveurdoorstep

Email: Emma@loveyourdoorstep

Please contact us if you would like the opportunity toset up this exciting venture on your DoorStep

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When I found out I waspregnant, my first thoughtswere probably like mostmums-to-be, in that Icouldn’t wait to startbuying all the “essentials”and admittedly the “not soessential” items.Whether it was the travel

system, the cot or the steriliser there was always a neverending list of things I really had to get. Safeguarding myhome didn’t really crossmymindwith the exception of a stairgate once the little one had startedwalking. Even that turnedinto a joke when we realised that the stair gate didn’t fix tothe wall properly and promptly fell off (on more than oneoccasion I have to add!). We’ve all read about companies whopromise to “help you” safely prepare your home for yourinquisitive child, sadlymost are after the commission and justhow many products they can sell you that you really don’tneed. As is often the case, you stumble across a company oran individual purely by chance and this is what happened tomewhen Imet Chris fromBaby SafeHomes at the Baby Show,Earls Court in October of last year. Chris is different to mostpeople you will meet when it comes to talking about hisbusiness. He is thoroughly committed and passionate indoing what is right for you as a family. There is no forced

sales pitch telling youwhat you have to get and how youmustcover every tiny inch of your home. Don’t get me wrong,Chris has a genuine interest, but that genuine interest issafeguarding your most precious possessions, your childrenand their safety. He will recommend everything he honestlybelieves you should get. You are under no obligation topurchase everything or indeed anything, you can simplychoose the items that best fit your requirements and Chriswill endeavour to have everything installed immediately.

If I had known then what I know now about how much of adaredevil my little onewould be, I would have taken the timeto look for someone like Chris to leadme in the right direction.If you look at the statistics about how many householdaccidents are caused by such simple occurrences in the homeinvolving children, you would certainly take the time andheed his advice. After all, what have you got to lose?

If you would like more information, please do contact Chrison the following:

Email: info@babysafehomes.co.ukTel: 0207 559 1491

Website: www.babysafehomes.co.uk

Putting Safety First…by Nickie Evans

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safety awareness

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travel, safety & accessories reviews

How easy was it to put the Joolz Day together?As I was taking it out of the box, I became a littlebit worried putting all the bits together but evenwith no instructions it took a matter of minutes toassemble.

Is it easy to handle / use?Like a dream! The manoeuvrability of the Joolz isamazingly smooth, turns are completely natural andat no point do you feel like you are pushing a heavytravel system.

Is it cost effective?It’s not the cheapest pushchair on the market.Ultimately you pay for what you get but what youget is worth every penny!

Is it easy to handle / use?Very much so. It has a veryquick and easy opening andclosing mechanism.

How easy was it to install?The instructions were very clearand we found it simple andquick to install.

What age is it suitable from?4-12 years. The seat fully adjuststo grow with your child.

Does it have a recliningfunction?There is no reclining function.We found this to be a problem asthe side impact head supportsdid not allow our five year oldson to sleep comfortably in theupright position.

The Kiddy Shock Absorberabsorbs braking energy tominimise the impact on the child.Our son said the seat wascomfortable and onlycomplainedwhen trying to sleep.However, the specific sideprotection components causingthe problem were designed toprotect the head and shoulderregion in case of a side collision.Hard to argue with an obvioussafety feature.

How practical are the covers?The covers can be removed andwashed on a gentle cycle.

Comments:The seat has more side impactsafety features than others wehave used or seen. However, itshould be mentioned thatsleeping comfort may have to besacrificed for safety, and the seatis designed for older (4-12 years)children.

Would you recommend it to afriend?Yes, with the above caveats.Price is reasonable whencompared to similar seats on themarket.

What car seat is the Joolz Day systemcompatible with?Maxi Cosi Cabrio(Fix), Maxi-Cosi Pebble, CybexAton and BeSafe car seats fit on the Joolz Day withthe use of an adapter set.

How practical is it?Collapsing the travel system is extremely straightforward and easy to adjust. The system is theultimate in comfort and you can instantly sensehow at ease your child is once they are using it.

Will the system fit into the boot of a standardfamily car?Yes it does fit, admittedly there isn’t space foranything else.

What age is it suitable from?Birth and upwards if you purchase the carry cotand the car seat.

Does it face forward as well as rearward?Yes, all pieces are dual facing.

What is it made from?The textiles closest to the childhave been tested and approvedin accordance with Oeko-TexStandard 100, class 1 for babyproducts. These are guaranteedharmless to children’s sensitiveskin and will not triggerallergies.

Is it easy to put together?It’s pretty much self assembled,and everything just clicks intoplace. With a few clicks intoplace and attaching the stringsfrom the material to the legs, thewhole assembly takes just a fewmoments.

What age is it suitable from?The BabyBjorn Light can be usedfor newborns and up untilaround the age of three.

How practical is it?The Travel Cot comes in acarrying case, which with it’spractical handles makes it aseasy to carry as an ordinary bag.

Benefits:The travel cot is designed totake up minimal space, thiscoupled with the sturdymattress keeps the travel cotfirmly on the floor. The cot’sinward sloping sides create asnug and cosy environment.Sleeping away from home withsmall children has never beeneasier.

19

tried & tested

Wallaboo was created in 2006 as agift for a newborn baby.

Cut by hand and sewn, the firstproduct created was a warm suedeblanket. Handcraftmanship issomething Wallaboo hold dear totheir hearts. For over five years theauthentic products have beenspreading around the globe!

These are the products that we triedand this is what we thought.

Newborn Car Set FootmuffThe first reaction is just how softthis is and how you just knowyour baby is going to be contentand warm snuggled within.Their are sufficient holes toadjust the straps as your childgrows.

Prices start from £37.99(www.babycurls.co.uk)

Pushchair FootmuffJust because your baby hasoutgrown the car seat doesn’tmean you have to sacrifice thecomfort you had with theNewborn Footmuff. Thepushchair Footmuff hasmultiple functions and convertsinto a seat liner for use inwarmer weather, elasticised atthe back helps secure it inposition and it adapts to mostharness systems.

Prices start from £69.99(www.boohoobaby.co.uk)

There is also a matching bagavailable with prices startingfrom £39.99.

(www.babys-mart.co.uk)

Last month we were given a didicaroriginal and the latest in the didicarrange, the Walk n Ride. We tried outthe Walk n Ride with an active 18month old and this is what we found.

What is the age bracket?The Walk N Ride is designed forchildren from 12 months toapproximately 3 years old, so its agreat option for little ones who wantto have a go at scooting about whilsthaving a little seat to enhance theirstability.

How easy is it to assemble?It took less than a minute to puttogether and it comes with a wholearray of decal stickers to dress it upshould you wish to do so, certainly funfor the older toddler who likes beingarty.

Is it easy to use?My baby managed to figure it outimmediately and was rolling aboutwithin a matter of moments!

How practical is it?It has no breaks or way to stop otherthan using your feet. I wouldn’trecommend allowing a younger childto go too far away from you as theymay not be able to stop on their own.If the Walk n Ride is being used athome then its absolutely brilliant.

Is it good value for money?Fantastic - with a large amount ofscooters available on the market, thisis the cheapest one we’ve found so farat a now reduced price of £31.95!Make sure if you do decide to buy itthat you buy an authentic one asthere are many counterfeit ones onthe market.

Would you recommend it?Absolutely, it’s great value for moneyand a definite hit with my little one!

If you have a young child who is bottle fedand you go out to eat or to a cafe, moreoften than not the establishment will refuseto provide you with hot water due to healthand safety reasons. We came across Yoomiat The Baby Show, Earls Court and loved theproduct instantly. We thought we wouldtrial it with some of our Focus Group Mums.

Is the Yoomi easy to assemble?Very straight forward as in a regular bottle,the only difference is the heating elementwhich sits in the teat.

How easy is the Yoomi to warm up?Simply pop the heating element into the podand put into the microwave forapproximately 2 minutes (depends on thepower of your microwave).

Is it practical?If like me you have a fussy child who refusesto drink cold milk, then this is essential, evenif its just cold outside and youwant your childto have a warm drink this covers all bases.

Is it easy to clean?As in a regular baby bottle the parts all verysimply come apart and you would steriliseas normal.

Would you recommend it to a friend?Absolutely. It’s a great product to have,although perhaps a little pricey. If your childdemands a warm feed whilst you are outand about, then this is a must!

“The instructions are quite easy and it wasnice to have the option of having a warmbottle for the baby whilst out and about..”

“I struggled with dismantling it andtrying to use it from the outset, Ididn’t feel to confident in feedingmyson with it.”

“I’d heard about these and had alwayswanted to give one a try. I did find it a bitawkward at first and it takes some gettingused to but in general its nice to be able togive my child a warm drink when its coldoutside..”

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winter wear

21

Maternity Essentials

We were extremely lucky to be sent a selection of clothing items for both maternitywear and breastfeeding, each designed for a variety of occasions. We had two of ourfocus group try out the products, one of whom is 7½ months pregnant and the other isa mummy to Alisa (6 months).

Rachel, (Mummy to Alisa, 6 months)

What were your initial impressions?Loved the style and designs of theclothing,

Did you find them within the currentfashion trend?Yes, seemed very in keeping with thelatest styles.

Did they feel comfortable?Unfortunately the tunic style dressseemed very tight fitting even though itwas an XL and so it showed every lumpand bump. The cropped t-shirt also felta little restrictive on me but worked foranothermember of our NCT groupwhowas a different build to me.

Were there any negative aspects to theitems of clothing given?I don’t feel they really suited my shapebut everyone else seemed very keen onthe cut and styles and were impressed.

Would you purchase these products ifyou found them on the high street?I would have to try them on to makesure they fitted my body type but theywere a success with other mums withinthe NCT group.

Emily, (7 months pregnant)

What were your initial impressions?The material was very soft but lookedlike it would 'hug' in all the wrongplaces, I wouldn't normally wearsomething that looked so tight butwhen I put it on it fit like a glove andI loved it - it was really comfortable too.

Did you find themwithin the currentfashion trend?Definitely on trend it's like a body condress for pregnant women!

Did they feel comfortable?So comfortable, in fact I'd go as far asto say the most comfy dress I've everworn.

Were there any negative aspects to theitems of clothing given?The black dress was far too bigwhereas the blue dress was perfect-perhaps the sizing needs to be adjusteda little. The blue dress, I loved andhave no negative comments at all!

Would you purchase these productsif you found them on the high street?I would definitely buy it and wellworth the money - I've had a zillioncomments on it every time I've wornit, it's perfect and makes you feel sogood when wearing it.

Sarah, (Mummy to Eva, 4 months)

What were your initialimpressions?Love the concept, somethingdifferent to what is currentlyavailable.

Did you find them within thecurrent fashion trend?Yes, with the black basic dress youcan alternate to suit your needs.

Did they feel comfortable?Extremely comfortable. I struggledat first with getting used to thebuttons but once you get the hangof how it works it becomes almostsecond nature. I found it easier tokeep the top buttons done uppermanently and to just undo thebuttons down either side as andwhen required.

Were there any negative aspects tothe items of clothing given?Not sure if there are enough colourvarieties to choose overall but if youget all of the bibs then you have astaple wardrobe selection instantly.

Would you purchase theseproducts if you found them on thehigh street?I would be a little hesitate only dueto the price. They certainly aren’tthe cheapest breastfeeding wearavailable so the price would need tobe looked at perhaps. Quality andstyle were excellent and I wouldstill recommend it to my expectingfriends.

Buzz Rating: 4/5Buzz Rating: 5/5

Buzz Rating: 3.5/5

22

a step back in time

In the first issue of Baby BuzzMagazine, we discoveredhow toy companies, retailers and individuals arereverting back to the old school more traditional toysand whilst we were keen to showcase some of theproducts on offer, we were also keen to learn why thiswas happening. We learnt through BUMP PR that thiswas just the tip of the iceberg and that in fact a seriousamount of awareness was being raised to the presenceof battery operated plastic toys that in fact distractchildren with countless, almost pointless, functionsand thus themove away from traditional toys. It is thedisappearance of the educational abacus, thebeautifully crafted wooden toy and the much loveddolls house that encourages creativity and imaginationand is very much the issue at the heart of thisresurgence. In October of last year the Slow ToyMovement and its awards aimed to recognise the ‘realtoys’ on the market, real in the sense that they are wellmade, inspire the mind and provide children with farmore than just noise and flashing lights commonlyassociated with the toys of today. I am notdisillusioned that there are electrical, battery operatedtoys that can provide a fun, educational aspect, butover the years these have all but replaced thetraditional toys that bring so much entertainment,creativity and enjoyment to our children. Surely theremust be a happy medium? We have tried and testedsome of the latest toys that have hit the market butthere are also an amazing array of creative play toysthat are about to be released. One of the mostinnovative brands to hit the UK market is Seedling.

Seedling products are imagined, designed and created in New Zealand, encompassing a variety of interests and skillsfrom drawing, gardening, sewing, science, imaginative play, painting, model building and plenty more. With theirold-fashioned edge, Seedling products also encourage kids to spend quality time with their parents, learning importantcommunication and relationship building skills. There are Seedling products to appeal to a range of ages from youngto old…

By Nickie Evans &Lisa Bryant of Bump PR

Prices from £34.99 Prices from £25.99

You can purchase Seedlingproducts from the followingretailers:

Selfridges, Heels,Liberties or

www.kindtoys.co.uk

23

How has havingchildren changed

your life?

your comments & views

After having my daughter, I decided notto go back to work. I was a deputymanager of a nursery school so decidednot to return after my maternity leave -this completely changed by lifestyle! Iwas never a party animal (don’t drink orsmoke) so in that sense my lifestyle hasn’tchanged. However, we no longer go tothe cinema etc and our daily routine isnow going to different child groups andkeeping Lily-Bea entertained!!

Mum Jo and daughter Lily-Bea

In every way. How I spend my money! I usedto look after myself more whether it was goingto the gym, getting my nails done, new clothesetc.. Nowadays these are last on my list. Ichanged my work to ensure I could work fromhome. I don’t wear designer clothes and I’venot had a holiday in 5 years!

Mum Eve and sons Raphael and Kaiden

We used to go out as a couple muchmore, but this has changed now aswe tend to go out more individually.This is a choice that we have madeso as not to leave Zoe with peoplethat don’t know her well. I don’thave as much time to do all my craftthings but instead have now startedto involve Zoe in them more.

Mum Lisa and daughter Zoe

What one thing did you wishyou had been told when you

were pregnant?That times of feeding are from startof one to the beginning of the nextas opposed to inbetween feeds!

Jo Johnson

To ignore all the "advice" and do what feltright, and I'm including midwives andhealth visitors in that!

Emily Crabtree

I wish I’d been informed more about preeclampsia and the risks. Oh, that I would bepermanently tired and that the baby weightdoesn't just fall off!

Danielle Panteli

Why low anabolic fluids occur andhow concerns with the baby, thatthey found out late on inpregnancy, scared me.

Mary Tryphona

Agree with the midwives/health visitors. Agree with the weight loss! Also the feeding!That's so true it made me giggle!! More about breast feeding. And I suppose also not tolisten to other parents too who preach about breast feeding/natural births etc etc whenat an emotional time anyway it may not be natures way for some and can be veryupsetting and feel nasty! As long as you are doing your best and the child is thrivingand happy why do we have to try and have the perfect birth and breast feed and havea routine immediately?

Kathryn O’Shea DuffyHad it not been for the number of twins coming to chat atthe ante natal about what its really like to have twins wewould have been none the wiser how much hard workbaby twins are and how different each baby was to eachother. Also to not feel guilty that I physically couldn't breastfeed even though I expressed for 6 weeks

Rakhee Shah The hospital really annoyed me re Breast feeding. They wereall breast is best healthy child etc but when showing youthey don't have a clue! I fed all mine but only because I waslazy and couldn't keep cleaning bottles!! But you reallyshould not feel guilty. Happy baby is most important andsometimes its a relief to hand baby over to be fed bysomeone else.Danielle Down

Do you love Jewellery?Stella & Dot is a boutique-style jewellery and accessories line, designed in New York, andavailable exclusively through in-home ‘Trunk Shows’ by Independent Stylists, like me!

Stella & Dot has brought their incredible style and Innovative, ultra-modern home-based “socialselling” business model to the UK. From the New York Times & BBC to the fashion pages of Instyleand Vogue and as seen on Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor everyone is talking about Stella& Dot !

To find out more or to request the full “Look Book” please contact me:naddyjhotmail.com / 07950 397 507

Or view the full collection at:www.stelladot.co.uk/naddyj

24

SPECIAL READERSHIP OFFERFirst 2 months free

(then only £29.99 per month)With all classes included (over 60 a week)

3 free personal training sessions and free monthly reviewswith your trainer.

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25

Find us at www.nappies2go.com

Email service@nappies2go.com

Telephone 01455 886190

Key fact s & figures...• 8 million disposable nappies used in t he UKeach day ­ t hat would fill Wembley stadium 8t imes a year.

• Each baby uses an average of 4,000 nappie s.• Over 90% of parent s choose to usedisposable nappies.

• 100% of nappies collected by Nappies2Go willbe diverte d from landfill.

• 95% of t he waste mater ial will be reclaimed.

Nappies t urned intorecycled plast ics andcardboard t ubing

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Facebook/nappies2go.com

twitter@nappies2go.com

Nappies2Go of fers a cost ef f ect iveand environmentally f r iendly wayof using disposable nappiesWe of fer a unique disposable nappy recycling andnappy deliver y ser vice across most part s of t he UKfor bot h parent s and nurser ies.

We collect used disposable nappiesfor recycling and deliver newPampers nappies direct t o yourdoor - alt hough you can chose totake j ust nappy recycling or j ustnappy deliver y.

It is really easy to get starte d -j ust visit our websitewww.nappies2go.com/get star ted orcall on 01455 886190.

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advertising feature

26

get creative

Get CreativeEach month we endeavour to find something creative that you can get up to with your children or perhaps somethingyou want to do just for you! There are so many fantastic creative places out there which don’t cost the earth and arerewarding in so many ways. In the January issue we have joined with The Creative Station and Love 13. Full detailscan also be found on our website: www.babybuzzmagazine.com/GetCreative.

There are many parents who, like me,absolutely hate mess! Yes I know, I havechildren and subsequently I have learnt tolive withmessy play - doesn’t mean I haveto like it! I was introduced to Jo who ownsthe Enfield Creation Station franchise andit was if someone had walked over to meand given me a freedom pass to keeping a(relatively) clean and tidy home!

So what is The Creation Station all about?Very simply Jo runs a variety of classesthat vary in theme each week withmaterials and prettymuch everything youneed provided for. On the day that weattended we were making wooden spoonpeople, which to the delight of my 20month old daughter involved sticking,painting, colouring and getting verymessyindeed. Thankfully at the start of thesession each child is provided with anall-in-one red or blue jumpsuit for theduration of the class which protects allclothing. Sadly, this is not provided to theadults and I came out covered in morepaint thanwas on the paper, but after sucha fun session, I could deal with that.

How the Weekly Sessions and HolidayActivities Work• Sessions cost £7.50 per child and

£4.00 per sibling thereafter.• Classes last from 50 minutes.• Child minders receive 50% discount

on all children (except the first).

Your View

To see all the arts and crafts classes, sessions andevents in and around the Enfield area, please visit:

www.thecreationstation.co.uk/childrens-art-class-and-party-entertainer/london-enfield/date/january-2013

For further information, please contact:Jo Sutcliffe

T: 07771 617896E: josutcliffe@thecreationstation.co.uk

“My 18 month old daughter and I have beenattending Creation Station ever since she was oldenough to be a Little Explorer, and we absolutelylove it! She is so excited by the Magic Box andjoining in with the special Creation Station chantwhile wriggling her fingers to make the magicwork and find out what clues are inside the box.The lovely thing about Creation Station is that the

children have complete creative control over how they go about their artsand crafts and they are free to select their own materials from the widevariety on offer! If you are a parent who is brave enough to attempt artsand crafts at home, the session also gives you simple but effective ideasfor things to make! At the end of the session the children love rushingback to the circle for show and tell, and having photos taken of theirfinishedmasterpieces. My daughter loves getting the special creative kidsstamp on both hands before leaving the session! Oh and one of the thingsI love? All of the mess if left behind for someone else to clear away!”

Top Tip:Never wipe glitter up with a wet cloth - it will stick like glue. Try sweeping it witha clean brush on to a piece of paper and either straight into the bin, or back inthe glitter jar! Or you could use a glitter tray to catch any spilt glitter before itmakes a mess!

27

Set in Bush Hill Park, Enfield is a place that from the outside you would think is a quaint, boutique style shop offering aselection of trinkets and home-made accessories. It is only once you venture inside do you appreciate what is truly onoffer. There are so many wonderful local cafe’s to each of us I’m sure, one that we favour more than the rest, but whatLove 13 offers is a unique combination of coffee /tea shop with a delicious variety of freshly baked goodies, a wonderfulshop selling bespoke accessories for every part of your home plus an array of classes that you can participate in to learnany number of crafts! For the more experienced individual there is a regular “meet” on Friday mornings where you canenjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake whilst knitting away and catching up on the gossip, what better way is there to whileaway a Friday morning… (I’d like to sign up for the Crochet please Denni!)...

Get Creative

Saturday 19th Jan, @ 10amWednesday 6th March @ 6pmSat 20th April, @ 10am

If you have never tried crochet before, this class is here to get you started.... Once you havelearnt the basics you’ll create a funky phone case (or glasses case if you prefer) with buttonfastening.

All materials provided, including your own hook to take home and continue creating!

Learn and practice a range of stitches and techniques before embroidering a design of yourchoice onto a cotton tea towel for you to take home.Sunday 27th Jan @ 12pm

For one hour you will have our sewing expert’s undivided attention! Do you have a sewingmachine that you haven’t yet learnt to use? Need some help getting started? Book a privatesession and bring along your machine…. You’ll soon be sewing up a storm!

Saturday 9th Feb, @ 10amTuesday 9th April @ 6pm

Contact us to arrange a timeand date that suits you!

Crochet Intermediate Level - Granny Squares!

You must already be able to chain and single crochet… If you have completed our 'Crochet forBeginners' class then you are ready!

So, first thing's first... What do you want to learn?LOVE 13

13 Queen Annes Place, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, EN1 2QBTelephone: 020 8364 0850Email: info@love13.co.uk

Wednesday from 10.30am are Mum& Baby mornings. Why not join other mums for a tea or coffee andslice of cake and a chance to meet new people? There is plenty of space for buggies & prams…

Excellent quality, fun and personalised products thatwill be enjoyed for a long time. Some products areexclusive to us, as we've designed them with loveourselves!

www.littlebirdiehouse.co.uk/

28

Your Allergy Issues…By Lindsey McManus, Allergy UK

Eosinophilic Gastro-Intestinal disorders are a complex andchronic group of disorders that develop when eosinophils,a particular type of white blood cell, are produced inexcessive amounts in various parts of the Gastro-Intestinaltract.

Eosinophils play a role in the body’s immune, but in somechildren they are released in excessive amounts in responseto a food allergy and can cause chronic inflammation anddamage to tissues throughout the gut. Although still fairlyuncommon we are seeing more children affected by thisdisease and this may be down to the increase in foodallergy, as almost half the children with Eosinophilicdisorders also have food allergies.

The main areas that are affected are the oesophagus, thestomach, small intestine and the large intestine (colon).Symptoms can be many and varied, some seen in othermedical conditions, all adding to the difficulty in obtaininga proper diagnosis. However there is often a thread thatruns through all the symptoms that may indicateEosinophilic disease. Some of the symptoms include:

Because it is such a complicated condition to diagnose itcan often take many months before a conclusive answer isreached, usually not until a child is referred to an allergyspecialist that the condition is picked up. Your child’sdoctor may suspect the diagnosis, but the only way toconfirm this is for your child to undergo an endoscopy. Thisis when your child’s oesophagus, stomach or intestine isexamined using a special camera and a sample of tissue(biopsy) is taken to check for eosinophils. The procedure isusually under anaesthetic or sedation and should be doneby an allergist or gastroenterologist (stomach / bowelspecialist).Although linked to food allergy, allergy testing is notalways helpful in diagnosing Eosinophilic disease. Whenfood is involved, cows'milk (dairy), wheat, meats, soy andegg seem to be themost common triggers. Inmore extremecases the list of foods that affect children suffering from this

condition can be long. However, unlike IgEmediated foodallergy where symptoms are immediate, in eosinophillicdisease symptoms are nearly always delayed.Although there is no cure for this condition, it is managedby strict dietary control under the supervision of specialistdietitians, gastroenterologists or allergists, whowill decidewhich option is best for the child.

Treatment options include:

● Dietary elimination: of specific foods orcommon food triggers; the resulting diet canbe complicated and a dietician will generallyadvise as to what foods can be eaten, in orderto ensure the child’s diet is adequate for theirgrowth and development

● Special milk feeds: Eosinophilic disordersappears to respond to milk feeds known asElemental feeds. Your child will usually needto avoid all other foods during this time. Oncethe inflammation is under control, foods canbe slowly introduced avoiding certain triggerfoods. This process is complicated and lengthy,and a dietician must supervise the process

● Medication: This is used to suppress the levelsof eosinophils and relieve the symptoms, thismay include steroids which suppressinflammation, but other medication may beused depending upon the child’s symptoms.

At the current time, our understanding of this conditionremains limited but new research produces moreinformation. Hopefully this will lead to quicker diagnosisand better management of this disease and avoid potentialcomplications.

● Refusal of food● Constipation● Poor appetite● Bloating● Anaemia●Nausea and/or Vomiting● Diarrhoea● Failure to thrive (poorgrowth and/or weight loss)

● Blood orMucus in stools● Malnutrition● Joint pain● Poor sleep● Abdominal or chest pain● Reflux● Difficulty swallowing

For more information , please contact:

Allergy UKAllergy Helpline: 01322 619898

health & wellbeing

29

fashion focus

Vic Smith BedsThe secret to our success is quality goods & customer service every time.

In our opinion we are very successful because we have a strong customer ethic.We believe in treating our customers the way we would like to be treated.

You want to talk to someone who is friendly, trainedand knowledgeable about beds.

Our delivery staff are well mannered, polite and helpful whilst settingup your new bed & removing your old one. We have now been doingthis for 25 years.

We believe in giving a top class service, regardless if the customer hasbought a top of the range Hobbs bed for £7,000 or a bargain £99 bed.If you bought a £7000 bed you would want trained, friendly staff advisingyou on the differences & equally trained, friendly staff on the delivery soit is not unreasonable to expect this on a bed that cost only £99.Our answer is it’s not unreasonable at all. In our Southgate store, beforethe staff walk into the shop area, there is a sign that reads “if you wanta good day -- treat people the way you want to be treated andyou won’t go far wrong!“.

We hope you’ll agree this is not a bad outlook on life. This companyhas adopted the term “good customer service”, or ‘GCS’ - we stronglyfeel if you look after the customer they will come back, but in betweenyou will recommend us to your friends & family.

We collect your old bedFree.

If you want a bed,you want a Vic Smith Bed.

Vic Smith Beds – here today for tomorrow.

Vic Smith BedsWinchmore Hill Rd ( Near M & S)Southgate, London, N14 6AA

Tel – 020 8882 8292Web – www.vicsmithbeds.co.uk

advertising feature

30

We all want the very best for ourchildren, and at Organix weunderstand the importance of inspiringa lifelong love of real food in your littleones.

By helping them to explore a widevariety of tastes and textures from anearly age, and adding interestingflavours to their diet while they’re young,you will help them to grow uprecognising and enjoying real, good

food, as well as helping to ensure theyget the right balance of nutrients forhealthy development.

The window of weaningThe type of food offered during thevery earlyweaning stage, known as the‘window of weaning’, is a veryimportant stage in your baby’sdevelopment and can influence yourlittle one’s diet later in life.

At six months a baby needs to begin toeat a wider variety of foods andtextures to get the energy and nutritionthey need for healthy development.Babies who are introduced to a wideselection of tastes and textures duringthe ‘window of weaning’ are likely tohave a greater chance of accepting awider range of foods later on in life.

It will take time for your baby to learnto appreciate lots of different foodtastes and textures so don’t worry ifyour little one often refuses certainfoods; it can take up to 14 attemptsbefore they learn to like a new food.Just be patient and keep trying a fewdays later in smaller servings. In theOrganix kitchen we have developed arange of foods especially created togive your baby the very best variety oftastes and textures during the windowof weaning, including Fruit Purees,Savoury Meals and Cereals.

Developing your babies hand-eyecoordinationIt’s important for us to ensure all of ourfoods not only help to develop yourbaby’s and child’s love for food, butalso help to develop their essential lifeskills. For example, when your babyreaches seven months old, it isimportant to start developing theirhand-eye coordination and begin toencourage self-feeding. This is whywehave created a variety of tasty fingerfoods that are great for growing babiesto grab on to, but gentle enough tochew on with their delicate gums. OurMultigrain Hearts are also uniquelydesigned to help your baby’s finemotor skills by encouraging them touse a pincer grip, picking up smallobjects with their thumb andforefinger.

Exploring new foodsAs your baby advances, weunderstand that you want to exploreas many new foods as possible withthem in the kitchen. However, onething many parents often talk to us

By Abby Ban, Meals Food Developer at Organix:

ORGANIX - Wanting the best for your child..food & recipes

31

about is the lack of time to constantlythink of new recipes for their children.Because of this we have cooked up ahuge variety of delicious and healthyrecipes in our Organix kitchen, that arefull of goodness, simple to cook, anduse real ingredients that you will findin your local stores.

As your little one transitions from ababy into a toddler, it becomes moreimportant that they learn to love andrecognise chunky, real food. For thedays when you’re on the go and wanttomake sure your toddler has deliciousmeals with the right balance ofnutrients, we have developed MightyMeals - wholesome meals packed fullof chunky, organic ingredients yourlittle one can bite into. Our MightyMeals are suitable for children aged 1-3years old and come in a range of recipechoices, including Pork Meatballs in aTomatoey Chickpea and Sweet PotatoSauce, Beef Stew and Dumplings, andof course we have a vegetarian optiontoo!

Healthy snackingAlthough it is important to ensureyou’re your toddler has balanced,nutritious meals, their tummies aren’t

big enough to take on board the energyand nutrients they need from just threemeals a day, so regular, healthy snacksalso play an essential role in their diet.Each snack should provide about 10%of your child’s daily energy intakealthough there are no hard and fastrules about how many snacks to give,or when to give them. Experimentwithdifferent times of day and don’t beafraid to let your toddler take the leadand rely on their in-built self-regulating appetite sensors as a guideto how much they need to eat!

Snacking on the right foods is part ofdeveloping healthy food preferencesso it’s important tomake good choices.This is why we have developedGoodies – snacks for your toddler thatare full of tasty goodness with noadded junk. The range includesdelicious oaty bars, fruit snacks,savoury nibbles and refreshing drinks,to help make sure your little one hasall the goodness they need for an actionpacked day.

Our promise to you…At Organix, the most importantpromise from us to you is that ourfoods are created by real people in our

kitchen, using nothing but the bestnatural organic ingredients, so you canrest assured there’s nothing in ourfoods to stop them being food as itshould be, just as you’dmake at home.That means nothing artificial, justingredients full of goodness – perfectfor giving your baby and toddler greatfood foundations for life.

food & recipes

Address : 65B East Barnet Road, Barnet,Herts, EN4 8RN

TELEPHONE 0208 449 911

Opening Times 8.30-6.00 Monday -FridaySaturday 8.30-12.00

Website : www.shaftesburygarage.co.ukEmail : Service@shaftesburygarage.co.uk

Enfield based Maths Tutor forPrimary & A-Level Students.

Fees per hour are as follows:

Primary student: £17Secondary student (up to year 9): £20

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CRB certified.Reference’s available upon request.

Can travel up to 2 miles

For more information, please contact:Merlyn Wright on 07921 264 295

32

food & recipes

Ratatouille

Step 1 - Chop all the vegetables into small bite sizepieces

Step 2 - Heat the olive oil in a pan then add theonion and crushed garlic, cooktogether until softened

Step 3 - Add the vegetables with the the thyme andbay leaf and leave to cook until thevegetables being to soften

Step 4 - Add the tomatoes and continue to cookuntil the vegetables are tender. Add a littlewater if necessary if the dish starts to dry out.

Step 5 - Remove the thyme and bay leaf beforeserving. This recipe is suitable for all agesand you can serve as appropriate to theage of your child.

3-4 portionsyes

1 tablespoon organic olive oil1 organic garlic clove2 large organic tomatoes1 organic red onionhalf organic red pepperhalf organic yellow pepperhalf small organic courgettehalf organic aubergine1 bay leafa sprig of fresh thyme

* Puree the ratatouille to a suitable consistency for thedevelopment stage of your child - serve with pasta as afinger food

* Alternatively if your baby is not ready for finger food, simplyadd the pasta and blend up with the vegetables

* Once your baby is used to this texture you can just chop itrather than pureeing and serve with chopped (smallpasta) or pasta as a finger food

* For toddlers and the rest of the family - serve the ratatouilleas a sauce over organic whole grain pasta with asprinkling of organic grated cheese or serve with grilledorganic chicken and some homemade bread

Spiced Pork with Plum3-4 portions

yes

3 slices of organic ginger200g organic minced pork1 clove of organic garlic1 Organic carrot, grated3 Organic spring onions, slicedÿ tsp Chinese 5 Spice4 organic plums, halved, stoned andchopped3 organic dried prunes, stoned andchopped250ml water

Step 1 - Pan fry the ginger for 1 minute, add theminced pork and cook until the porkstarts to colour

Step 2 - Add the garlic, carrot, spring onion andChinese 5 spice and fry for a further 2minutes

Step 3 - Add the plums, prunes, and water andsimmer for 20 minutes

Step 4 - Serve with rice or noodles

* Younger babies: Serve as it is or puree down to thedesired consistency for younger ones

* Over 12 months: You can add 1 tablespoon of honey tothe mix in Step 3 for a sweeter option

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food & recipes

Slow Cooked Beef Stew2-3 child-size portions / 2 adults

yes

400g organic beef stewing steak, cut into 2cm cubes1 organic onion, chopped1.5 tsp organic cinnamonA few twists of organic black pepper320ml water300g (about 2) organic sweet potatoes, peeled andchopped into 2cm cubes250ml water

2 organic carrots, sliced 2cm thickhalf organic celeriac, chopped into 3cm cubes400g (6 medium) organic new potatoes, quartered

Step 1 - Pre-heat the oven 160C/gas mark 3. Choose an ovenproof dishwhere the beef will fit in nomore than 2 layers. Put the diced beef,onions, cinnamon, black pepper and water into the ovenproofdish with a tight fitting lid (or cover with foil)

Step 2 - Slow cock for 3 hours. Check and stir the stew half way throughthe cooking time and make sure there is enough water justcovering the beef. Add more water if needed to keep the beefcovered.

Step 3 - After 3 hours, add the sweet potato and cook for a further 45-55minutes until the sweet potato is tender

Step 4 - The beef stew can be served as it is for adults and toddlers. Itshould be soft enough to mash for babies from 10 months.Otherwise use a hand blender to smooth the food to the righttexture for younger babies from 7 months.

Step 1 - Put the potatoes in a pan of water and bring to the boil for 10minutes.

Step 2 - Add the carrots and celeriac to the potatoes and boil for a further20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender

Step 3 - Mash or smooth the vegetables to the required consistency

Every month we host a FocusGroup with mums all comingtogether to test various productsand discuss different topics. Thismonthwe tested awide selectionof Organix Products.

Focus Group

These little pots are extremelyversatile! Not only do they tastegreat for children, provide theessential quota towards the 5a day but we have also usedthem as condiments on meat!

We just love organics! In fact I'mnot totally sure what I would doif they didn't exist anymore! Theirfood is a staple in both mychildren's diet. We have theirFruit pots and rice cakes everyday without fail and when thekids are feeling ill they seem totake over from normal food. Welove their crisps and cheesebiscuits and banana biccies too!!Brilliant! Not too sure on theirready made food though. Myyoungest turned his nose upand he will usually eat anything,but maybe I got the wrong one?I've never given my kids readymade food like that before, theyhave never had a jar ofanything other than fruit somaybe that's the problem. Buteverything else is made andsent from an angel!

These were one of the firstthings we gave to Lillie whenshe started feeding herself andthey’ve never left the shoppinglist. Whenever she feels underthe weather and we want tomake sure she has somethingto eat, we simply reach for thehearts.

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family focus

A new survey revealed that one third of mothers are

returning to work earlier than expected because of thecurrent economic climate. Committed to supportingworking mums Medela, the world leading breastpumpprovider, and babyworld.co.uk conducted the report tolearn more about the current opinions on maternity leaveand what provisions employers put in place to supportworking mothers.

Despite the fact that mothers are going back towork earlier,67% of them said their employers offered them no generaladvice or guidance on their return. Readjusting to life inthe work place following maternity leave can be a verychallenging time with one mother explaining she was soworried about leaving her daughter that she ‘felt physicallysick.’

The report highlighted that on the whole retuning to workwas a stressful experience, but it seemed to be particularlyhard for those who were still breastfeeding. Thirty percent

of mothers who took part in the survey were stillbreastfeeding when they returned to work. Worryingly,50% of the mums who were still feeding said their biggeststruggle was the fact there was nowhere they could go toexpressmilk. One participant said ‘I really dreaded it and gaveup breastfeeding the first time as the stress of going back to workand expressing was too much.’

Setting up a breastfeeding room is a simple changebusinesses canmake to support newmums. A special placewhere mums can go and express milk privately willreassuremany that they aremaking the right decision aboutreturning, and will prove that the company values its staffand places great importance on supporting mums whowant to breastfeed.

Some mothers may want to express, whereas others mayprefer to take short breaks throughout the day to feed theirbaby. Providing flexible working hours and taking the timeto really discuss all the options available is something allemployers should do as standard. Some businesses arecertainly leading the way by going the extra mile, forexample one mum said ‘I had an afternoon break to go to thenursery and feed my son which continued for a couple of monthswhich was a gentle introduction back to work.’

Commenting on the survey Managing Director of MedelaUK Paul Furlong said ‘This news should be a great concernfor employers, especially in the current climate when it’sdifficult to hold onto valued employees. Organisationsreally should be doing everything they can to supportmums. We’ve all heard of Babies in the Office, but adedicated expressing room is something far easier toimplement. It’s a great first step for businesses and willreally mark them apart.’

For more information onbreastfeeding please visit:http://www.medela.com/UK

Breastfeeding and The Work PlaceBy Poppy Sheen

A third of mothers are returning to workearlier than expected…

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36

37

As with most things in our current maternity culture, there issimply no straightforward answer to any question to do withhow to approach your birthing, it is as individual as each ofus is.

We are all designed to give birth, it can and should be acompletely normal part of our physiologic function, ourintuition and instincts should help lead us through birthing,as this is part of every woman’s ‘knowing’, part of everywoman’s power. And throughout the history of birthing,women have had attendants, those who stay with her throughher birthing journey, bringing her support and emotionalsustenance, offering her encouragement, keeping vigil as shestrives through the arduous hours of bearing her child.

This is of course the true meaning of mid-wife, an attendantwho is there to ‘wife’ for the mother, to be her helpmeet,bringing the unconditional support that a wife brings to herpartner. And it was by no means uncommon, throughouthistory, across cultures, for women to have more than oneattendant for her birthing. In any given community, when a

woman began to labour, the most experienced women wouldbe called upon to attend her.

Well, here we are in our NHS culture, with many hospitals,birthing units and home birth teams to support us, so whywould we need a doula when we are stepping into thestructured safety net of the medical systems? Well, it iscompletely fair to say that many couples are approaching birthperhaps feeling somewhat nervous in the context of hearingso many stories of bad birth experiences. Many couples areconcerned about what may happen in hospital and may feel abit anxious about the potential of ending up on the interventioncascade. Many couples might have had a difficult experiencethe first time and are wishing for it to be different for their nextbirth.

Now, I need to offer a caveat about where I am coming from,before I go on to tell you more about what a doula does andwhy it may be a good choice for you. I have been involvedwith UK maternity services for over 20 years, and it is alwaysmy wish, my intention, to offer unbiased and considered

family focus

Do I need a Doula?By Jani White

38

advice. As many of you know, I teach antenatal classes, andmy ambition is always to help to prepare couples tounderstand the realities of our current birthing culture.

I am the biggest fan of midwives (Angels, often working invery constrained and difficult circumstances), and I amactually a huge fan of the NHS, for it is still (in principle) atruly remarkable service, for all (!) its shortcomings.In the UKwe have a very low infant ormaternal mortality rate.We have evolved a system that is designed to ‘ensure’ thesafest possible birth outcomes.

However, the reality within those protocols and guidelines forsafe outcomes is that sometimes the process is sacrificed infavour of the outcome. This is often what is at the nub of whatmakes a ‘bad’ birth experience – when we feel out of control,when we feel any fear, this will change our perception offeeling in control. Sometimes it feels like the decisions andmanagement of the labour were not all that they could orshould have been, and we may feel that we did not truly havea say in those decisions.

The current reality is that our maternity service is stretched tothe very ‘n’th degree. There is a chronic shortage of midwifestaffing on wards that are often seeing double the intake theywere originally designed for. The facilities and staffing of ourmaternity services are truly strained. And, within the contextof that, still about 70% of women have a completely normalbirth experience, whilst about 30% have a difficult experience.

So what is a doula? And what does a doula do?In a nutshell, a doula is there to support the mother, and thedad, and the kids and inmany cases often helps to support themidwife. The doula ethos is to ‘Mother theMother’. The doularole is to support at the emotional level. When people ask me‘what is a doula?’ my reply is always ‘sister-mother-bestfriend’, that place of unconditional support, knowing you havea person to turn to, to rely upon, who will just let you beyourself – which is the very best place to be in to find thestrength for your birth experience. Being calm and centred iswhat gives you the best birthing energy.

A key role of the doula is to bring you a continuity of care, tohave someone with you at the labour that you already knowand have a bond with. To have somebody with you who willbe with you through the whole journey: through yourantenatal care, into your labour, at home with you as youbegin, on the way to the hospital with you, with you acrossany shift changes, from beginning to end, and then beyond.Your doula will also be there to support you post-natally,bringing that all important extra perspective of someone whowas there, as you share and reflect on your labour experience,and to make the tea, and to hold the baby whilst you have ashower, or to cook you a yummy meal – just to help in anyway that is needed.

Another key aspect of having doula support is the all-important role of interpreter and mediator. The doula is NOTthere in a clinical capacity, and her role is never in any way to

interfere with or replace the guiding role of the medicalmanagement team.

Personally, I think it a bit unfair that Dad’s should do a courseof antenatal classes and ‘hey presto’ be expected to handle allthe complexes of labour and maternity ward management.Having a doula that is trained and experienced inunderstanding medical labour management can be animmensely beneficial adjunct to helping you to make thedecisions about your labour management that resonate wellwithin your own hearts and minds.

A good doula is someone who is all about helping you in allaspects of the safe delivery of your baby, in the context of youfeeling secure and happy in your heart. When you are lookingfor a doula, do be sure to meet with several, feeling what theyfeel like, finding the person who resonates well with you. Dotalk with them about their experience and their training. Dobook your doula as early as possible; there are too few doulasin London for the level of demand, so this is something to dosooner than later in your pregnancy.

Here in the UK we have several doula organisations, thelargest of which is Doula UK, in which all members adhere toa Code of Practice, have done a requisite training in order tobecome a member, and adhere to an on-going commitment totraining as requirement for membership. Please see theirwebsite for a full description of that being a doula is aboutwww.doula.org.uk, with good advice about how to interviewadoula http://doula.org.uk/content/questions-ask-prospective-birth-doula .

So do you need a doula? I would certainly advocate that it isa good question to ask yourselves. The extra help and supportof doula care can make all the difference to giving you a senseof security; approaching your birth knowing you have a guideand helpmeet to steer you through our protocol drivenmodernmaternity care, and to help bring you into the best of your ownpower for positive birthing.

For more information, please contact:

Jani WhiteThe Birth Company137 Harley Street

LondonW1G 6BF

Website: www.naturechild.co.ukMobile: 07932 00 00 25

Email: jani@naturechild.co.uk

family focus

39

BBeADAbBEADS AND BOBBINS

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Mob: 07513508673

charity begins at home

Pop N Grow is the ONLYregistered charity whosupply medical clothing tochildren in need for FREE!We supply our very own andunique clothing to babiesfrom 2lbs in size up to 16years of age. If a childrequires any lines, tubes orwires which can makedressing difficult we can help!

We supply out unique baby grows (see our clothing section) andincubator vests FREE to any neonatal unit who wish for a supply, this is to allow the unit to give clothing for parents to use whichWORKS with the wires , tubes and lines commonly used withina neonatal unit. We work closely with each unit to make surethat what we supply works well for their level of care needed.

We can send out TLC (tender loving care) packs to any babyborn, at any gestation age that has to be admitted to specialbaby care or need ward transitional care. This pack will includeitems of clothing to fit the right age, and accommodate the carethe baby needs.

Conversions of BRAND NEW clothing for children with medicalneeds in hospital AND home, such as PEG , J feeding tubes ,dialysis , cancer treatments , surgery’s , etc . If wires, tubes orlines are needed we can help. This service is on a tailor madebasic and as such will be a waiting time for such garments,priority is always given for urgent cases such as hospitaladmittance.

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

40

Send your musical thoughts to nickie@babybuzzmagazine.com

Buzz onto www.babybuzzmagazine.com/musicand download the track for free

Replace walking with running,Jumping, splashing.

41

4 Fun Family Things To Do In Januaryarts & events…

A VERY OLDMANWITH ENORMOUS WINGSADDRESS: Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), Lavender Hill, Wandsworth, London,SW11 5TNTELEPHONE: 020 7223 6557DATES: 3�ᵈ to 19ᵗ� January 2013OPENING TIMES: 7pm (mats 2pm)PRICES: £10 - £15

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's magical tale is brought to life in a spellbinding collaboration between the Little Angel puppet theatreand storytelling masters, Kneehigh. This "rewarding, mature show" is "quietly charming and visually ravishing" (The Guardian),a treat for both children and adults. The beautifully crafted puppets and wondrous design stand out in a modern fable about fameand fortune, miracles that sore, and how quickly everything can come down to earth with a bump.

LONDON BRASS RUBBING CENTREADDRESS: The Crypt, St Martins In The Fields, Trafalgar Square,London, WC2N 4JJTELEPHONE: 020 7766 1122DATES: All Year.OPENING TIMES:Mon to Wed (10.00am - 6.00pm),Thurs to Sat (10.00am – 8.00pm), Sun (11.30 - 5pm)PRICES: from £4.50

Brass rubbing at St Martin’s is fun for all ages. Our collection of over100 replica brasses from churches and cathedrals across the UK includes medieval knights in armour, fire-breathing dragons andthe bejewelled ladies in waiting of rescue. Or be inspired by people like St George and William Shakespeare. While you or thechildren are creating your masterpieces why not pop in for a meal or glass of wine in the Café in the Crypt or discover the latestgifts on offer in the Shop. All profits support the work of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

PIRATE FUN DAY AT THE GOLDEN HINDE

ADDRESS: The Golden Hinde, St. Mary Overie Dock,Cathedral Street, London, SE1 9DETELEPHONE: 020 7403 0123DATES: From 3�ᵈ to 5ᵗ� January 2013OPENING TIMES: Thu - Sat (11:00am - 1:00pm);5ᵗ� Jan 2013 (2:00pm - 4:00pm)PRICES: Adult Ticket:From £7.00, Child Ticket: From £5.00,Family Ticket:From £20.00

A Pirate Fun Day for kids to join the crew and raise the anchor and fire the cannons before trying tofind the hidden treasure somewhere aboard the ship.

PETER PAN

ADDRESS: Peacock Theatre, Kingsway(entrance on Portugal Street), London, WC2A 2HTTELEPHONE: 0844 4124322DATES:From 24ᵗ� to 26ᵗ� January 2013OPENING TIMES: 2.30pm & 7.00pmPRICES: £13.00 to £18.00

Wendy, John and Michael Darling are safely tucked up in bed as their mum and dad are havinga party downstairs until a boy from a magical place called Neverland sneaks in, with his trustyfairy friend Tinker Bell, to look for his shadow. Soon, Peter Pan and the Darling children are offto Neverland on the greatest adventure of their lives - encountering mermaids, Indians, piratesand their wicked captain, Hook, and a very hungry crocodile.

42

Storage Ideas for Children's RoomThere is little point in having abeautifully designed child’s bedroomwith inadequate storage. Storage formsone of mainframes of a child’sbedroom, but tends to be hidden in thebackground. Contrary to what manythink, it does not have to be boring.

Storage can be functional yetcan add style and character toa child’s bedroom.

A place for everything andeverything in its place is anadage that holds true. Childrenhowever tend to find keepingtheir rooms tidy a chore soyour choice of storage has tobe fun and functional. Start bydetermining what needs to bestored.

Wardrobes & ArmoiresWhile this seems very obvious,most people don’t thinkbeyond basic clothes storageand toy storage.Choose wardrobes that areflexible and can be adapted todifferent functions, i.e. foldingand hanging. Some doubledoor wardrobes come withhanging rails on both sides with the option of addingshelves. Some even come with drawers at the bottom or onthe inside. Think safety when choosing wardrobes. Theyshould be affixed to the wall with a suitable bracket or havean anti-tilt mechanism built in. Most stores sell wardrobesas separate pieces or as part of a bedroom furniture set.Some come hand painted with characters or your child’sname, others are ornate in their design giving it a characterall by itself. Still some are available with mirrored doors.

Toy boxes and Chests.There are very good choices when picking out toy boxes.The first consideration before design and colors howevershould be safety. Safety catches prevent little fingers frombeing pinched or trapped. A toy box also has to be sturdyas it will take a lot of tough love over time. Some toy boxescome as part of a playroom theme set and include tablesand chairs, step stools, etc. Many toy boxes are handpainted and can be personalized with the child’s name too.Some bedroom sets have matching toy boxes if you’re after

a streamlined look. Others stand out proudly like thetraditional wicker baskets, more suitable for stuffed toys.It’s a good idea for your child to be involved with theselection of a happy home for their toys, half the battle ofkeeping the room tidy is won here.

Wall shelvesAwall shelf is a great place to display trophies, dolls or any

toy that deserves a place of itsown. Some wall shelves comewith hooks where you can handbags, baseball caps or even spellout your child’s name usinghanging letters. They come in arange of finishes and are pre-drilled to make installation easy.Keep in mind your child’s heightwhen fixing to the wall. Also becareful not to have heavy itemswithout a flat bottom on wallshelves- especially if it is abovethe bed or within your child’sheight.Wall shelves provide extrastorage when placed above achanging dresser in the nursery.

Bookshelves & BookcasesWe read to know we are notalone" (C.S. Lewis)

Your special somebody needssomewhere special for favorite story books. From nurseryrhymes to classic novels, they'll all fit perfectly in ourbeautiful bookcases. Bookcases should also be used forfavorite teddies and picture frames. It adds interest therebymaking reading synonymouswith fun. A lamp placed atopa bookcase serves to introduce soft lighting and a place forthe lamp.

Toks Aruoture is an Interior Designer and the owner of PunkinPatch Interiors, an infant and children’s boutique specializing inthe supply of luxury furniture and linens. For more information,please contact:

www.punkinpatch.co.ukblog.punkinpatch.co.uk

Our Pinterest Board

P:+44 (0)845 224 6836F:+44 (0)700 600 0389

E: toks@punkinpatch.co.uk

HOME INTERIORS By Punkin Patchhome & design

By Toks Aruoture

43

British weather can be so changeable and unpredictable it isoften difficult to decide what your child really needs when itcomes to budgeting for winter clothing. And if we earned apenny for every time we remind our children to put their coaton…and keep it on, that expensive heavy winter coat mightjust pay for itself this year!

Children need clothes and coats they can play in. Easy to puton and take off, lightweight and flexible, warm yet breathable.Outdoor activity levels vary greatly and good outerwearshould accommodate this. Play tag with your kids for 15minutes and you’ll soon realise that their coat needs to breathe,as well as keep out the wind and rain.

LayersBy dressing your child in suitable layers you can keep themwarm dry and happy in any weather.

Layer 1 – next to the skinAvoid cotton when it is cold because it traps moisture next tothe skin, making you feel cold. Try the one wool sock versusone cotton sock next time you spend time in the great outdoors– the difference is suprising! Silky polyester and soft merinowool are ideal because they wick moisture away whilsttrapping heat. Thermal layers should not be the reserve ofskiers – even under school uniform or PE kit children will staywarm outdoors, yet not feel too hot once they are indoorsagain.

Layer 2 – the middleAdd your all-year fleece sweater or fleece jacket whentemperatures fall below 10C. Polyester fleece breathes, retains

warmth and is so much easier to care for than wool knits. Aversatile wardrobe staple, quality fleece should not bobble andwill look smart wash after wash.

Layer 3 – wind and waterproofFinally to coats and waterproof trousers. The choice on thehigh street is endless and prices vary wildly. A quality coatdesigned specifically with children inmindwill be wornmoreoften and without too much nagging. Consider wind andwater resistance – not just from the fabric, but is it weathertight at the neck, cuffs and hem? Can your child move aroundfreely, and is the coat lightweight yet warm and breathable?Waterproof outerwear has taped seams, water-resistantouterwear should keep you dry in a downpour, but may notsurvive half a day of driving rain. Insulated, padded coats areimportant if you will spend over 2 hours in freezingtemperatures, but for all other winter weather a qualitywaterproof worn with the right layers underneath shouldsuffice. Look out for durable fabrics that can stand up toplaytime and machine washing, also unisex colours that canbe passed from sister to brother. Finally, are the sleevesadjustable and will it last a growing child for 2 winters?

Don’t let bad weather stop play!Jo Nilsson of Swedish kids brand Polarn O. Pyret shares a few tips and expels somemyths about keeping active kids warm on a budget this Winter.

winter wear

44

Stylish form meets essential functionality in the BrotherMax Scoop; a high chair so advanced it grows with yourfamily whilst its elegant design makes a striking additionto any contemporary kitchen.

Designed by Brother Max, the family-friendly babyproducts brand, and ergonomic design specialistsSeymourpowell, the Scoop Highchair starts its life in yourfamily as an ergonomic highchair for babies and easilyconverts as they grow into a stylish stool for children of upto five years old.

Made from chrome, stainless steel and premium mouldedplastic, it adjusts with ease to any table top height orbreakfast bar to ensure your baby becomes part of familymeal times and can be easily stored away afterwards.

As leaders in innovative products designed to makeeveryday tasks simpler and less time consuming, theBrother Max designers have thought of everything when itcomes to the functionality of the Scoop High Chair. In fact,this is the only non-wooden high chair on the market thatis certified as both a high chair and a piece of furniture.

The Scoop’s sophisticated and streamlined design meansno dirt traps for better hygiene and no finger traps forbaby’s hands to be caught in. The ingenious one-touchpneumatic lift feature enables you to adjust the chair with ease to any height, whilst a clever rotating feature allows theseat to rotate a full 360°. Other unique features include a smooth, child friendly mechanism allowing the table to movecompletely clear of the child for easy access and ‘table top’ eating. Smooth gliding castors offer portability around thehouse, with far more ease than other high chairs.

The chair can be used with an ergonomic Seat Insert (sold separately) to provide additional comfort and support foryounger babies and can also be usedwithout a harness, a design feature specifically incorporated to address the commonproblem of little ones freeing themselves from high chairs. Formaximum flexibility and value-for-money, this seat insert,and the entire table section, can then be completely removed, converting the Scoop Highchair into a stylish stool thatwill see your child through to at least five years old.

The exceptional attention to detail continues through to assembly, which takes just five minutes, while a high buildquality ensures ultra safe and sturdy mechanisms.

So why not say goodbye to clunky wooden high chairs and hello to the Scoop, the chair that grows with your family.

HIGHCHAIR SCOOPED IN STYLEBy Kim Swead, BrotherMax

Brother Max Scoop High Chair isavailable at Mothercare.com,Tesco.com, Kiddicare.com,Amazon.co.uk, Bentalls, NCT Shop,Jo Jo Maman Bebe and leadingindependent nursery retailers. Seat

For more information, please contact:

Kim SweadEmail: kim.swead@brothermax.comTel: 020 8387 4144Mob: 07786 856 075

Website: www.brothermax.com

advertising feature

45

Last month we looked at how parents can save money onchildcare costs by sacrificing some of their salary in exchangefor childcare vouchers. This monthwe look at changes comingup in 2013whichmay affect your family finances and how youcan get more financial and other benefits from your employerif you are a working parent.

Firstly, this month sees a change to Child Benefit which willaffect thousands of families. Entitlement to Child Benefit formany higher rate tax payers changed on 7ᵗ� January. Someform of universal Child Benefit has existed since 1946, withChild Benefit as we now know it introduced in 1977. Thegovernment has now introduced changes to get higher ratetaxpayers to pay more and help to address the UK’s deficit.After outcry from parents about the initial plans which wouldhave affected all those in the higher rate tax band, onlyhouseholds where one parent earns over £50,000 will now beaffected. If one parent earns over £60,000, you’ll lose thebenefit completely. The change is expected to affect over amillion families and the average loss in household incomefrom the benefit will be around £1,300.

Things are set to become more complicated for those earningbetween £50,000 and £60,000. If this applies to you, you willreceive the full benefit, but will then have to complete aself-assessment form at the end of each tax year and will be

charged extra income tax to offset the Child Benefit paymentsreceived. For thousands of workers earning a little over the£50,000 threshold, there is a way to reduce the impact onhousehold income from this change. The entitlement to ChildBenefit is calculated on the individual’s net income afteradjustments such as salary sacrifice benefits have beendeducted. So if you are not already taking Childcare Vouchers,now is the time to do so.

Higher rate taxpayers can currently sacrifice up to £124 permonth (£1,488 per year) in exchange for vouchers to pay for arange of registered childcare up to the age of 16. So if yourincome is a little over £50,000 a year, taking advantage ofChildcare Vouchers could take your net income below thethreshold where Child Benefit changes would apply. This isa win-win situation - not only will you maintain the amountof Child Benefit you currently receive, you will also receivethe tax benefit from taking Childcare Vouchers, which arenon-taxable and National Insurance exempt. As a higher ratetaxpayer, you can currently save up to £624 per year if yousacrifice the maximum allowance. Both working parents canjoin a scheme to increase these savings (up to £933 per yearfor a basic rate taxpayer).

If your employer offers a Childcare Voucher scheme, join it.If not, ask them to provide one – it’s a win-win situation forthe employer too, decreasing their employer NationalInsurance contributions for every working parent on thescheme and improving staff recruitment, retention andmorale.

If you earn just over £50,000 a year, reducing your net incomeby taking Childcare Vouchers could also mean you avoidhaving to complete a self-assessment tax return. HMRCestimates that around half a million people who previouslydidn’t have to complete a self-assessment formwill have to doso as part of the changes to Child Benefit.

These changes are complicated and have beenwidely criticisedas being unfair and unworkable.

Family FinancesWorking Parents - Look Beyond Your Salary

By Stephanie Forrester

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It is not based on combined household income, so two parentsworking and both earning just under £50,000 will keep all oftheir Child Benefit, whereas those with only one parentworking and earning just over £50,000 will not.

Also the new rules include an expectation that couples discloseto each other whether they claim Child Benefit, or earn above£50,000 a year, undermining the long-held principle ofindividual taxation.

Whatever your view, it makes sense to do what you can tomaximise your benefits and maintain your household incomeas far as possible while the changes are in place.

Other benefits

Other salary sacrifice benefits such as cycle to work, car leasingschemes and pensions will also help parents to maintain theirchild benefit.The Cycle toWork scheme is onewhich any employee can takeadvantage of. If you are aworking parent and one of yourNewYear’s resolutions is to get fitter, whether you are new tocycling, a regular enthusiast or simply want to reducetransport costs, the scheme could benefit you. Like ChildcareVouchers, this is a government-approved salary sacrificescheme which allows you to buy a new bike and equipmentat a discounted price and also save on tax and NationalInsurance. Employees save money on new bikes andequipment with up to 50% off retail prices. They then pay forthe bike over a 12 or 18-month period. Transfer of ownershipof equipment is carried out at the end of the lease agreement.

You could save up to £410, depending on your circumstances.Ask your employer about it…the scheme won’t cost themanything andwill add to their green credentials and the overallfitness of staff.

If you would like to take part in the Cycle to Work scheme ormake savings on childcare costs by using childcare vouchers,contact Busy Bees Benefits on 0330 333 9100 andwewill contactyour employer on your behalf.

For more information about Childcare Vouchers visitwww.busybeesbenefits.com. Follow Busy Bees Benefits onFacebook and Twitter for up-to-date information about ourMind the Gap – Raise the Cap campaign and for moreinformation about childcare vouchers, Cycle toWork and otheremployee benefits.

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I was lucky enough to be anonly child.

That luck, however, ran outwhen I was seven and I was“fortunate” enough to havea baby brother. A babybrother who stopped usfrom doing all the great funthings we used to do.Obviously when I say“great fun things” I meanwhatever I said I wanted to

do at the time because pre-baby brother I pretty much hadit all my own way. Karma wise it balanced out a few yearslater with the arrival of my baby sister, closer in age to mybrother it was a joy a to watch him suffer the agonies of asmall annoying limpet shadowing his every move aroundthe house and garden.

I mention this because I am now going through all of thisagain but from the other side of the fence, the parent fence(one I sometimes wish were electrified and mounted withautomatic machine gun emplacements). My eldest is fiveand a half but as big as a seven year old, his sister is twogoing on twenty two! The added fly in this already insectladen ointment is the fact that that my son is on the autisticspectrum and so not really able to connect socially withothers in a “neuro-typical”way. What this means in day today terms is that the usual sibling rivalries don’t reallyregister as rivalries to him but rather as annoyances to becrushed under his considerable “death hug,” a rathercanny substitute for hitting other children which wemanaged to train into his responses when we realised howmuch bigger than the other children he was. Theseannoyances consist of world ending scenarios such as hissister walking in front of the television while he iswatching it, the refusal to relinquish a favorite car ondemand, mum or dad starting to sing the words to one ofthe many Cbeebies number raps or a denial of one last goon the current favorite toy.

It does, of course, work both ways and our daughterknows exactly how to push the buttons that will set off herbig brother but generally it is simply a case of her wantingto do exactly what he does just because it is him and he isher big brother. This can be a little worrying when theactivity being copied is his need to run up and down thehallway for sensory input or “Stimming”.* Of course allchildren learn from their older siblings but do we want ourdaughter to learn that once a Lego shape has been builtand put on the window ledge it must ALWAYS be on the

window ledge? That’s where OCD lies. Conversely wehave seen our son learning some of the rituals of socialinteraction that we take for granted simply by beingexposed to them through having his sister around all thetime. One such ritual being that is ‘nice’ to give your sistera kiss goodnight even if it does mean grabbing her in aheadlock to do it.

The difficulty for all parents is that these learningprocesses and rivalries can become acute and lead to deepset long held bitterness or anger unless they are spottedearly and remedied. For us, as the parents of a child withspecial needs, the idea of a lack of sibling support in thefuture for our son is too difficult to contemplate. Thedifficulty being that the extra attention given to our soncould easily lead to resentment in his sister as she growsolder if not carefullymonitored and balanced. So how doesone address the idea that “your brother is special but so areyou, only in a different way, which is why he gets aminicab to school with a minder and you have to walkwith dad.”

It is not only children with special needs where this siblingminefield exists but also children who are ill long term andgo from being a normal annoying brother or sister to thereason why mum or dad spend days at a time at hospitalaway from the rest of the family. This is a scenario I havewitnessed first hand with the diagnosis of my six year oldnephew, Dean, with Neuroblastoma (N.B.), an insidiousand rare childhood cancer (100 children diagnosed in theUK each year), and yet my sister in law has struck the rightbalance with their older child, Eve, of open discussion andsupport for her clubs and activities.

Both children are under eight and having to deal with adifficult concepts and demands and yet, thanks to theirparents, they maintain that bond and rivalry that allsiblings should have. After all if you can’t count on yourbrother or sister who can you?

You can donate to Dean's treatment appeal page via TheDean Puplett Appeal Facebook page.http://www.facebook.com/TheDeanPuplettAppealHelpMeBeatNeuroblastomaCancer

*Stimming is a repetitive body movement, such as handflapping, body rocking, running back and forth. The termis shorthand for self-stimulation. Repetitive movement, orstereotpy, is often referred to as stimming under thehypothesis that it has a function related to sensory input. Itis a common occurrence among those on the AutisticSpectrum.

Mr MumBy Lawrence McGrandles Jnr

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Information from the Royal Society for the Prevention ofAccidents (ROSPA) - http://www.rospa.com/childsafety

Accidents are the major cause of death for children up to15 years old. A million children attend casualtydepartments due to home accidents throughout the UK.

Accidents to ChildrenThose most at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 yearsage group. Falls account for the majority of non-fatalaccidents while the highest number of deaths are due tofire. Most of these accidents are preventable throughincreased awareness, improvements in the homeenvironment and greater product safety.

What injuries occur?The most severe injuries are associated with heat-relatedaccidents and falls from a height. Older children are morelikely to sustain fractures than younger counterparts.Younger children have a higher percentage of burns andscalds as well as poisoning and ingestion accidents.

Where do accidents happen?The largest number of accidents happen in theliving/dining room. However, the most serious accidentshappen in the kitchen and on the stairs. Every year morethan 67,000 children experience an accident in the kitchen- 43,000 of these are aged between 0-4 years; 58,000children have accidents on the stairs.

Safety and child development:Children differ in their rate of development but theinformation below is a guide to development stages:

Preventing accidents to childrenGeneral safety advice

Children should be supervised at all timesKeep floors free of toys and obstructions that can be trippedoverAlways use a securely fitted safety harness in a pram,pushchair or highchairNever leave babies unattended on raised surfacesDo not place baby bouncers on raised surfaces - they couldfall off with the movement of the babyThe use of baby-walkers and table-mounted high chairs isnot recommended.

PUTTING SAFETY FIRSTAT HOME

Age Development Advice

0-6 months Wriggle and kick, grasp, suck, roll over Don’t leave on a raised surface

6mths - 1yr Stand, sit, crawl, put things in mouth Keep small objects and dangerous substancesout of reach

1-2 years Move about, reach things high up, and findhidden objects, walk and climb.

Never leave alone, place hot drinks out ofreach, use a fireguard and stairgates.

2-3 years Be adventurous, climb higher, pull and twistthings, watch and copy.

Be a good role model and be watchful. Placematches and lighters out of sight and reach.

3-4 years Use grown-up things, be helpful, understandinstructions, be adventurous, explore, walkdownstairs alone.

Continue to be a good role model, keep beingwatchful but start safety training.

4-5 years Play exciting games, can be independent, ridea bike, enjoy stories.

They can actually plan to do things and carryit out. Rules are very important to them, aslong as everybody keeps to the same ones.They enjoy learning. Continue safe training.

5-8 years Will be subject to peer pressure and will stillforget things.

Still need supervision, guidance and support.

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FallsAround 10 children die as a result of falls each year - somefromwindows and balconies and the remainder mostly fromstairs. Falls are by far the most common causes of accidentsin the home; they account for 44 per cent of all children’saccidents. Most falls involve tripping over on the same level.However, the most serious consequences result from fallsbetween two levels, such as falling out of a pram or highchairor falling from a bed. Children have also died or have beenseriously injured by heavy objects such as furniture andtelevisions being pushed or pulled over them. Sets ofdrawers, in a child’s eyes, make ideal climbing frames but, ifunsecured, they pull over easily.

Stairs and windowsPrevention

Fit a safety gate at the top and bottom of stairsNever leave tripping hazards on the stairsStairs should be carefully maintained - damaged or worncarpet should be repaired or removedMake sure balustrades are strong and do not have anyfootholds for climbingStairs should always be well litFit child resistant window restrictors but make sure you canget out easily in an emergencyDo not put anything under the window that can be climbedonFurniture and tall kitchen appliance, at risk from beingpulled over, should be secured to the wall.

FiresDomestic fires pose one of the greatest risks to children.Children playing with matches and lighters frequently starthouse fires.

Prevention

Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of childrenAlways use a fireguard and secure it to the wall

Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes properlyHave an escape route planned, and practise it, in case of fireFit a smoke alarm and check it regularlyThe incidence of burns and scalds in young children is muchhigher than that of older children and adults.

Scalds and burnsHot drinks cause most scalds to children under the age offive. A child’s skin is much more sensitive than an adult’s anda hot drink can still scald a child 15minutes after beingmade.Young children are also very vulnerable to sunburn.Hot bath water is responsible for the highest number of fataland severe scalding injuries among young children. Around500 children, mainly under fives, are admitted to hospitaland a further 2000 attend A and E departments every year asa result of bath water scalds.Children can also suffer burns after contact with open fires, acooker, irons, curling tongs and hair straighteners, cigarettes,matches, cigarette lighters and many other hot surfaces.

Prevention

Never hold a hot drink and a child at the same timeNever leave young children alone in the bathroomPut hot drinks out of reach and away from the edges of tablesand worktopsEncourage the use of a coiled flex or a cordless kettleKeep small children out of the kitchen whenever possibleRun the domestic hot water system at 46°C or fit athermostatic mixing valve to tapsWhen running a bath turn the cold water on first and alwaystest the water temperature with your elbow before letting achild get into the bath or showerAlways use rear hotplates and turn the panhandles awayfrom the front of the cookerKeep hot irons, curling tongs and hair-straighteners out ofreach even when cooling down.

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Glass-related accidentsThe increased use of glass in the home has led to moreglass related accidents. Every year children die followingan accident with architectural glass. Many children arealso injured when glass tumblers and bottles break.

Prevention

Use safety glass to (laminated, toughened or glass whichpasses the impact test) in all replacement windows anddoors - especially at low level. Laminated glass is good forsafety and securityMake existing glass safer by applying shatter resistant filmWhen buying furniture which incorporates glass, look forthe appropriate British Standard approval.Always clear up broken glass quickly and dispose of itsafelyBuy a greenhouse or cold frame with special safety glazingfeatures or isolate with fencing.

PoisoningMost poisoning accidents involve medicines, householdproducts and cosmetics.More than 28,000 children receive treatment for poisoning,or suspected poisoning accidents every year.

Prevention

Keep medicines and chemicals out of sight and reach ofchildren, preferably in a locked cupboardWherever possible, buy products in child resistantcontainersAlways store chemicals in their original containersDispose of unwanted medicines and chemicals safelyAvoid buying plants with poisonous leaves or berries orthose that can irritate the skin.

Suffocating and chokingChildren can swallow, inhale or choke on items such assmall toys, peanuts and marbles.Nappy sacks, used to dispose of soiled nappies, can alsopose a risk to babies and young children.

We are aware of at least 12 deaths involving these itemssince 2001, where babies have suffocated after a nappysack covered their mouth and nose, or have choked afterputting a nappy sack in their mouth.

Parents and carers are generally aware of the dangersposed by plastic bags, but may not make the link to nappysacks posing similar risks.

Prevention

Choose toys appropriate to the age of the childEnsure that small objects such as marbles and peanuts andsmall toys are kept out of reach of children under threeyears oldEncourage older children to keep their toys away from theiryounger playmatesPull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short andkept out of reachKeep animals, especially cats, out of the bedroom and usea net on a pramKeep nappy sacks out of the reach of babies and youngchildrenNever store nappy sacks in or around the cot or pram.

Strangulation including blind cords

To reduce the risk posed by looped cords, including blindcords, cords should be kept out of the reach of children.

Install blinds that do not have a cord, particularly in achild's bedroomDo not place a child's cot, bed, playpen or highchair near awindowPull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short andkept out of reachTie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies,clips or ties that are availableDo not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on thecot or bedDon't hang drawstring bags where a small child could gettheir head through the loop of the drawstring.

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PreventionTypically, we hear about one or two children dying afterbecoming tangled in blind cords in the UK each year and,of course, there are many more near misses.Research indicates that most accidental deaths involvingblind cords happen in the bedroom and occur in childrenbetween 16 months and 36 months old, with the majority(more than half) happening at around 23 months.

Don’t hang drawstring bags where a small child could gettheir head through the loop of the drawstringInstall blinds that do not have a cord, particularly in achild’s bedroomDo not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a

windowPull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short andkept out of reachTie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies,clips or ties that are availableDo not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard, on thecot or bed.RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as ashort-term solution. Cutting the cord in the wrong placecan make the blind inoperable; and it may also lead to onecord becoming a lot longer which increases the risk ofentanglement. Cut cords can also become tangled upresulting in the reformation of a loop.

DrowningChildren can drown in less than 3cm of water. They shouldbe under constant supervision when in or near any water.

Prevention

Never leave children or babies in the bath unsupervised,even for a momentNever leave uncovered bowls or buckets of water aroundthe homePaddling pools should be emptied and stored away whennot in useGarden ponds should be filled in while children are smallor securely fenced off. Take special care when visiting otherpeople’s gardens.

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