Families Cambridgeshire Jan-Feb 2011

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The Useful magazine for families with children from birth to teenage

Cambridgeshire

The Useful magazine for families with children from birth to teenage

Cambridgeshirewww.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

! Nursery Special !Mums in Business !Happy Mums Part Two

Issue 8 • January/February 2011

We cater for 2-5 year olds in a fun, stimulating and

multicultural environment.

Excellent Ofsted Reports All Staff Fully Qualified

Committed & Professional Safe and secure

Established over 45 years Good outdoor facilities

Come and see for yourself

Make an appointment Please telephone Principal: 01223 356565

4a Millington Road, Newnham, Cambridge

www.millingtonroadnursery.co.uk

It’s a refreshing change:to have a choice of hundreds of holidays

that are recommended by otherfamilies who have been there

and experienced them

www.RecommendedFamilyHolidays.com

Lessons atDW Sports Fitness, Unit 2a(near ASDA), Beehive CentreCambridge, CB1 3ER

Cambridge families 2011 issue 8:Cambridge Schools 2010 22/12/10 09:58 Page 1

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® January/February 2011

Welcome to the eighth issue of FamiliesCambridgeshire - the really useful magazine forparents and children!

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and HappyNewYear. It always seems to go tooquickly.......Never mind, back to school and time tofulfill those NewYear’s resolutions. If you needinspiration, look no further than our Happy Mums

feature where this issue we will be focusing on dance -anything from ballroom to Zumba. Or if you want to be slightly moreadventurous check out our Mums in Business article to gatherinspiration from Mums who have set up their own businesses.....whatare you waiting for?

My personal revelation this issue is our article on page 8 regarding thedangers of mobile phones. I know I use mine far too much and havemade a point of switching off all mobiles and wifi in the house whennot necessary, it really is quite worrying.

Well, it will soon be half term so do look at our ‘Out and About’ pagesfor local activities, or if you’re planning a trip further afield our travelpage might inspire you.

As always, I do hope you enjoy this issue of Families and feel free tocontact me with any news or events that you would like to seefeatured in future issues. Please mention Families whenever youcontact one of our advertisers.

Best wishes Sara

02Welcome and News03 News04 Baby Page05 Travel06 Nursery08 Mobile Phones

09 Education10 Happy Mums12 Mums in Business14 Sleep Solutions15 Out and About16 Out and About

Circulation 12,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire availablethrough schools, nurseries, libraries, selected shops and restaurants.If you would like copies for your establishment please let me know.

Contact Sara Carr, [email protected]: 01223 319437 mobile: 07748 183700Print: Bishops Printers Limited,Portsmouthtel: 023 9233 4900www.bishops.co.uk.

Design: Louis T Koehorsttel: 01223 [email protected]

Families Cambridgeshire is part of theFamilies Group established in 1990 andheaded by Families SouthWest. Allfranchised magazines in the group areindependently owned and operated underlicense. We take every care preparing for themagazine, but the publishers and distributorscannot be held responsible for the claims ofadvertisers, the accuracy of the contents norfor any consequences.

Editor’s Welcome !

In this issue

News - January/February 2011Calling all young poetsCould you write a prize-winningpoem?Would you like to bepublished online, for free? Thenthe Firebird Children’s Prize forPoetry is for you.As the world’snewest poetry prize for a singlepoem, the Firebird Prize invitesall poets under the age ofeighteen to submit works forthe competition, and there is no

fee to have your work posted on the Firebird Poetry website.All poemsthat are posted will automatically be entered into the competition.Submissions are invited prior to midnight on the 21st March 2011 andthe winners will be announced at the Guardian Hay Festival 2011.“Poetry was my first literary love,” says Louis de Bernières, author ofCaptain Corelli’s Mandolin and a member of the judging panel. “Myfather used to recite it at the dinner table and I was made to memorisea poem a week at school.There is no better way of saying things thathave to be said.” So get scribbling! Go towww.firebirdpoetry.com for more information.

Watch those birdsYes, it’s that time of year again. It's the BigGarden Birdwatch, and the RSPB are onceagain inviting us to get involved.This year thesurvey takes place over the weekend of 29and 30 January 2011, when hundreds ofthousands of people can be found with penand paper in hand, checking out the birdsvisiting their gardens.Why not take the time torecord all of the birds that visit your garden thatweekend and join in the world's biggest wildlife survey,while having fun with your family without leaving the comfort of yourown home.You could even help smash the RSPB’s record of half amillion participants - after all, the more results they receive, the clearerthe picture they’ll get of what's happening to our garden birds in the UK.Find out more at www.rspb.org.uk.

Help them to saveRecent research undertaken byAsdahas shown that a surprising 81% ofparents in the UK think childrenshould receive lessons on how tosave their pocket money. Inresponse to this finding thesupermarket giant has launched itsfirst ever pocket money savingscard, the Monkey Bank. Designed inassociation with parents, the

Monkey Bank works in a similar way to a gift card where money isloaded on to the card either in store or online and then your child canlog in to play Monkey Paradise. Every penny saved on the card is turnedinto virtual ‘monkey nuts’ which they can use online to buy things fortheir island paradise like flowers or buildings.Amanda Farrell fromAsdasays, “We realise it can be hard for parents to teach young children tosave up their pocket money and we're hoping that Asda's Monkey Bankwill help to show children that if you save your money you can see itgrow to buy the things you really want. Parents can apply for theMonkey Bank online at www.asdamonkeybank.co.uk.

Purple Fitnesstel: 07545 284 928www.purplefitness.co.uk

Mention when calling toreceive a free taster Boot Camp!

A big thank you to The Corn Exchange for the ticket giveaways for SnowWhite onIce. Our winners were Rebbekah Sekyi and MarilynWright.

Cover picture courtesy of Marzanna Syncerz, Dreamstime.com

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T: 01635 298326


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®January/February 2011

" NewsSoothe their skinA new campaign has been launchedacross the country by the NationalEczema Society to help the 1 in 5children in the UK who sufferfrom eczema. Soak and Smoothis aimed at the 39% of mumswho admit that they do theirbest to control their child’seczema but wish they could dobetter.The campaign dealsprimarily with emollients and howto use them, and is supported by astep by step video tutorial to teach

parents how to use emollient treatmentseffectively.The video, plus details about the

campaign and more information on dealing with excema can be viewed athttp://www.eczema.org/emollients___how_to_apply_them.html

Handy AppAnnabel Karmel, the leading expert infeeding babies and toddlers, haslaunched her first iPhoneApp aimed atparents with babies from six monthsthrough to toddlers. In addition tooffering nutritious and easy recipeideas and tips, videos will illustrate a‘how to’ guide for cooking techniquesas well as guidance on baby’s firstfoods, with voice activated pageturning and an interactive mealplanner. “This App will be bringing myrecipes to life,” says Annabel. “Not onlywill it offer parents 70 of my favouritenew recipes but also advice andguidance on simple cooking techniquesto help make their lives easier andprovide good, nutritious food for babies and toddlers.” No need for bulkyrecipe books any more – get theApp from theApp Store for £4.99.

Protect your kids‘Safe’, the new socialnetworking safety programmefor primary schools, is launchedthis winter by DigitalME.Backed by ChildnetInternational, ‘Safe’ is designedto support primary schoolpupils in learning the essentialskills to enjoy social

networking, whilst remaining safe online.With children sharing contentonline and joining social networks at an increasingly younger age, there isa greater need to ensure primary aged pupils are equipped with theknowledge to understand potential risks and the skills to manage theirdigital footprint. DigitalME recognises that whilst the Internet is aninfinitely powerful tool, it also presents risks. Lucinda Fell, ChildnetInternational Policy and Communications Manager, says, "'Safe' embracesthe positive opportunities afforded by the Internet, encouraging youngpeople when sharing on the web to askWho?What?Where? These areimportant messages for primary pupils to consider." The programme isfree to schools and optional, paid for training, certificates, badges andother resources support the programme further.To find out more visitwww.digitalme.co.uk/safe

Shop til you dropWe could all do with a few more pounds in our pockets and a few moreminutes in the day – looking after the kids, working and dealing with dailychores doesn't leave a lot of time, or patience, for buying your little ones anew wardrobe.This February sees the launch of Half-Pint Chic - the newonline members club offering parents the chance to purchase beautifuldesigner childrenswear at up to 70% discount. Nicole Frost, Founder ofHalf-Pint Chic and proud mummy to two year old twins found it toughshopping and decided that it was time to offer all mummies analternative. "I am a busy working mother and not only did I find it astressful experience to take both the girls shopping, I also found that itwas so expensive, especially when I had to buy two of everything. It wasthis that made me realise there was a gap in the market for a designerchildrenswear discount site - not one where the stock sits on the site for

years but one thatchanges weekly to offermembers exciting newbrands and clothesperfect for the comingseasons." Log on now toregister for free atwww.halfpintchic.comand you’ll receive anemail letting you knowwhen each sale is aboutto go online.Then allyou have to do is sitback and look forwardto sales from brandsincluding Poppy & Ned,Baby Graziella, NoAdded Sugar,Their Nibsand many more.

BPAsbanishedfrom babybottlesThe EuropeanCommission hasjust announced aban on the use ofbisphenol-A (BPA)plastics in babybottles, which willcome into effectduring 2011.Thecontroversialchemical is stillcurrently used in some baby bottles sold in the UK, although many brandshave stopped using it, and there is evidence to suggest it can interferewith healthy growth and body functions, mimicking the effect of thehormone oestrogen in the body, to which babies are particularlyvulnerable. “We have been calling for a UK ban on selling baby bottlescontaining bisphenol-A plastics for several years,” says Belinda Phipps ofthe NCT, “and are thrilled their import and sale will soon be outlawedacross the EU.When you put hot liquids into a bottle containing BPA,particularly as the bottle gets older and more scratched, the chemical canleach out of the plastic and be absorbed into the baby’s body. However,now there are viable alternatives and so there is no reason to continueusing this chemical when there is concern about potential risks to youngbabies.” She adds, “we would now like to see BPA plastics banned in otherproducts, as the chemical is also used in the linings of some formula tinsand baby food containers.”Watch this space…www.nct.org.uk.

Splish SploshKate Haywood has become the new faceof Splish Splosh Swimming School. Aspart of her involvement theCommonwealth champion paid a visit toCambridge to offer top tips to its youngswimmers.Participating in a questions and answers

session the record-holding swimmer gave the students registered withSplish Splosh at DW Sports Fitness the opportunity to wear herOlympic medals and even joined them in the pool.With Kate set to jet of toAustralia soon for extensive training for the2012 games, Splish Splosh promise to keep their students up to date withKate’s progress, including a video blog via their website.www.splishsploshswimmingschool.net

By Joanna Parry and Sara Carr


Many of us try to be as green as possible when itcomes to our babies –we know that raising aneco-friendly baby is not only safer for baby butalso reduces the impact on the environment.Werecycle,we try to reduce our carbon impact andare aware of wasteful packaging.We buy bambooor organic cotton clothing, fair trade babyproducts and organic, locally grown vegetables.But how green really arewe? Lastmonthwelooked at the terrifying number of toxins that canbe present in nursery furnishings, carpeting andfurniture, andways to reduce them.But, as withmost things, creating an eco nursery can beexpensive. Sowhat aboutways to go greenwithout breaking the bank?

Save money“I was shocked to hear about all these potentialtoxins in my child’s nursery,” says Emma, mum ofthree. “But isn’t it going to cost a fortune toremove it all?”The answer is, possibly, yes. Butideas such as removing wireless equipment,installing plants and airing the room are free.Andthere are plenty more things you can do toensure your baby’s safety that don’t cost much.Take the Great Nappy Debate.The jury still seemsto be out as to whether cloth nappies have alower ecological footprint than disposables -according to research a baby will get throughabout 6,000 nappies before being toilet trained,each taking 200-500 years to decompose, but onthe other hand, cloth nappies require water andenergy for washing.Whichever you choose, youcan still go greener.With cloth nappies, hangthem out to dry instead of using a dryer, or use anappy service which has a lower environmentalimpact because of the efficiency of washing largequantities at one time. Look for cloth nappiesmade from eco-friendly material such as hemp,bamboo or organic cotton. If disposables aremore your cup of tea, try eco-disposable nappies,which only take about 100 days to biodegrade.Agood example are Tushies eco disposable nappiesfrom www.greenbaby.com.

! Cleaning: it doesn’tcost any more to buycleaning products madefrom natural plant andmineral ingredients thanconventional ones.Anddon’t always reach for the

bleach - the risk of contamination to yourbaby is very low from floors, walls and othersurfaces. Use a steam cleaner to clean carpetsinstead of toxic carpet cleaners, and wash rugsregularly.Avoid air fresheners, scented nappybins or anything else with a fragrance in it.Safer laundry detergents are becoming populartoo, and try to avoid fragrant fabric softenersthat can release harmful chemicals.

! Bathing: choose babywashes free of artificialfragrances, food-gradepreservatives and harshdetergent ingredients, andlook for gentle, non-dryingcleansers derived from

olive oil and oats, organic ingredients andessential oils. Even stretchmark cream andnappy balm can be organic.www.greenbaby.co.uk do a great range thatcontains organic beeswax, so it helps save thebees too! Alternatively, avoid bath productsaltogether.Water does the trick even for themuddiest of toddlers and not using soaps canhelp prevent over-dry baby skin.

! Feeding: Breastfeedingis free and green, yet thereis still a thought thatbreast milk can containharmful chemicals. Somepersistant organicpollutiants (POPs) don’t

break down quickly in the environment or inour bodies – they accumulate in the fat of thefish and meat we eat, and then in our own fatuntil they turn up in breast milk. Many POPshave now been banned in the UK so levels aregradually declining but if you are concernedabout them there are some simple steps youcan take to reduce your baby’s exposure. Don’tsmoke and stay away from smokers, avoidunnecessary medications and alcohol, try toavoid inhalation or skin contact with solventsand avoid using pesticies in your home andgarden and on your pet. Eat organic food andinclude more fruit and veg and less high fatdairy and meat products in your diet.

! Invest ethically: whenyou choose a savingsaccount for your little one,choose a bank or buildingsociety that specificallyavoids those businessesthat may damage the

environment or are involved in activities suchas tobacco production, animal testing,oppressive regimes or armaments. Instead gofor those that seek to encourage companiesthat have a positive environmental impact andsupport Fair Trade.

Finally, our Top Tips! Don’t buy anything new! The most sustainablebaby clothes your child can wear are hand-me-downs from friends, family or oldersiblings.Alternatively, shop at charity stores.You’ll save a fortune!

! Just like with baby clothes, second-handfurniture and family heirlooms are the lowest-impact way to furnish your baby's nursery, aslong as they don't contain lead paint or otherunsafe components.

! Babies smell sweet and fresh anyway, so whycover them up with fragranced powders andlotions? Use olive oil for baby lotion andcalendula salve for nappy rash.

! Buy less stuff! New baby products appear onthe market all the time, from gadgets to homeaccessories and everything in between. Manyof them are not recyclable and some give offnasty chemicals. Be more discerning - buy onlywhat you need and what you really,really want.

Helpful websiteswww.nrdc.org - for information on how toprotect your home, health and the planet

www.simplesteps.org

www.theecologist.org

www.projectnesting.org/starthttp://www.naturalnurseryblog.co.uk/

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2050064_design-functional-baby-nursery.html - for how todesign a functional green nursery

http://www.ecohouseagent.com/green-nursery.html

SuppliersFlooring – www.healthyflooring.org

Walls - www.earthbornpaints.co.uk,www.MyLittleEco.co.uk/ecopaint

Furniture – www.thegreenfamilia.co.uk,www.kiddisave.co.uk

Mattresses - www.abacaorganic.co.uk,www.greenbaby.com

Bathing products – www.greenbaby.com

Eco-nursery products -www.hellobabydirect.co.uk

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Are you green enough for your baby? Part 2 by Joanna Parry

J

Baby CaregCambridge families 2011 issue 8:Cambridge Schools 2010 22/12/10 09:58 Page 4

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Standfirst: We all need a holiday, but how are wegoing to manage it in the harsh new economics of the yearinto which we’re headed? Joanna Moorhead shares someideas on how to do make it work – whatever your budget(and even if you’ve no budget whatsoever!)It’s that time of the year when our thoughts invariably turn, as we shiver ingrey, cold Britain, to warmer climes and sun-kissed beaches.The kind ofplaces we hope to end up in a few months’ time, when it’s summer onceagain, and we’re getting away from it all for those magical two weeks wecall our annual holiday.

Of course holidays with kids are always tricky...and one of the trickiest aspectsof all is always financing them. And this year more than usual, finding themoney to pay for a holiday is, for thousands of families, going to be harderthan ever. But chins up – we’re not giving up!There are still ways to do it...andfor those who do have some money to spend, the bargains are likely to behotter than ever.

Holiday for free!Yes, you really can go on holiday without spending any money at all. Even ifyoumanage not to pay for your accommodation, you’ll still be making a hugesaving. Here are just some of the ways of achieving a cost-free break.

! Houseswap: The world falls into two camps on houseswapping. There arethose who swear by it, who’ve stayed in the best villas around the worldbecause of it; and there are those who can’t think of anything worse thanhaving to leave their house pristine for another family when they go away,and who fear being palmed off with some tenement hovel while its ownerslive it up in their luxury pad.

The truth about houseswapping is that it IS hard work...you might not bepaying for your accommodation, but you need to go to a lot of troublebeforehand to make sure you a) have the perfect swap and b) that your ownhouse is properly organised for the incoming family. Top tips from seasonedswappers are to find a family that’s asmuch like you as possible, and to ask lotsof questions and look at lots of photos of the place you’re going to.Also, don’trule out swaps with friends or relatives – these can be easier to organise, andyou can top and tail them with some together-time with your mates as youoverlap at one or both homes.

!Wildcamping: it ain’t for everyone, but those who love ‘real’ camping saythey really, really adore it.What it means is camping in the remote wilds –not on campsites (where you have to pay), but in the absolute back ofbeyond, where there’s no infrastructure at all. The downside, of course, isthat it’s usually illegal (unless you have the landowner’s permission) but ifyou’re headed to Scotland you’re in luck since the right to camp on hill landis now enshrined in public-access law. For more information, seewww.outdooraccess-scotland.com.

!Work for your keep!Working holidays, in fact, aren’t usually free – but theyare very, very cheap.The NationalTrust, for example, has holidays from £90a week including food and hostel-type accommodation. No previousexperience is necessary, as you’ll be led by trained volunteer leaders andstaff. The trust says it’s a great opportunity for families, especially those

with older children, to spend time together as afamily...you’ll be involved in ‘team activities’ and you’ll behelping to improve the environment. Children must be atleast eight years old. For more information, seehttps://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-volunteering/w-workingholidays.htm

Holiday for lessIn general, you get what you pay for with holiday spending.But it is possible to make your money go further – you justhave to work out a strategy, and stick to it.

! Bargain-hunt:There are bargains around on the holiday frontthis year...and as usual, the trick is either to book well ahead, or to

wait until the very last minute (and if your income is looking dodgy at themoment, the late-booking option could be the best).

Uncertainty is tricky when you’ve got kids, but try to keep them happy bypromising that you will go somewhere, you’re just not entirely sure exactlywhere...but work out a few basics, so you can tell them it will definitely involvea beach, a flight (if it’s abroad) and the chance to play with other kids (if you’regoing somewhere where there’ll be other families).

! Holiday with another family. This can make your outlay a lot cheaper,because the costs will be divided in two. If you’re holidaying with anotherfamily, the cheapest thing to do is either to stay in the UK or to go to Franceor somewhere else by ferry, since that’s the cheapest way to travel.

Look for bargains like La Blanchere in theVendee region of France – it’s a four-bed farmhouse set in a two-acre garden with a games barn and an above-ground swimming pool. It’s available for just £700 a week in high season – sofor two families sharing, that’s quite a bargain.For more information, seehttp://www.recommendedfamilyholidays.com/top25places.shtml

Holiday for moreIf you’re going to spend a bit of money this year, you’re in luck because therewill be plenty of choice – and you should be able to get somewhere that givesyou excellent value for money, given that many families will be looking for acheaper option.

! Shop around: so, you definitely need to shop around.Tell travel companiesabout deals you’ve been offered by competitors – and see whether they’reprepared to throw more into your deal, or to cut the cost. Make clear fromthe start that you’re looking for a holiday that’s pricy but also offers greatvalue. For example,AztecVillas has wonderful villas in Cyprus that give youeverything you’re ever going to need on a family holiday. The resort ofPenera has everything on your doorstep – cafes, restaurants, beach, waterpark – so although they’re not a cheap option, you won’t necessarily needto hire a car. Plus, the companymakes sure the villas are stockedwith all theclobber families with young kids need but don’t want to have to lugaround...pushchairs, DVDs, toys, balls, inflatables,Wii games. Prices around£1,100 (not including flights) for a villa sleeping eight in August. For moreinformation, see www.aztecvillas.com

!Go somewhere unfashionable. For 2011, for example, Mexico isn’t lookinglike the hottest holiday destination – but I was there last summer with myfamily for a fortnight, and thoughMexico is a country with problems, thoseproblems are light years away from your all-inclusive hotel on theYucatanpeninsula.We stayed at Club Med in Cancun, which was superlative – it’sgot the best position on the Cancun holiday strip, it’s well away from thebusiness of the town, the food is delicious andeven our older children enjoyed the teen hang-out called, oddly, Carwash. Plus watersports,children’s clubs and childcare, pretty views, agreat beach. For us,Mexico was a family holidayof a lifetime and it wasn’t a let-down – andgiven that the Yucatan is packed with all-inclusive hotels, and that it’s not had a greatpress of late, it should be a great place to get a lotmore for your (considerable) outlay in summer 2011.For more information, see www.clubmed.co.uk

How to do it for free, for less and (if you’reone of the lucky few who have some cash...)for moreBy Joanna Moorhead

b TravelCambridge families 2011 issue 8:Cambridge Schools 2010 22/12/10 09:58 Page 5

Childcare comes in arange of shapes andsizes, includingwilling relatives,nurseries,childminders,nannies andau pairs.

Apart fromyou ofcourse, donurseriesoffer the bestchildcare?That dependson what wouldsuit your child –and finding a goodnursery. If your child

would thrive on theconstant stimulation of other

children and adults they trust,using a wide range of toys and outdoor

facilities then the answer is probably yes. Otheradvantages include year-round care and the experience of qualifiedstaff, which can be particularly reassuring for first-time parents.

However, if your child is timid, doesn’t like competing for attention,prefers peace and quiet or isn’t ready for such a structured day, thendon’t miss our next issue which will focus on nannies, childmindersand other childcare options. For now, let’s look at nurseries.

When and where to startNurseries with the best reputations tend to be hot property, andbaby units are more scarce than places for 2-5 year-olds, so startlooking well ahead of the time you’ll need a place, and join awaiting list if necessary. Some mothers start while they are stillpregnant; others wait until their child is a babe in arms and theyhave a better idea of what they need.

Sophie Livesey, Manager of Patacake Day Nursery in Cambridgesuggests“ it's worth researching local availability during pregnancy ifyou are planning to return to work. Our waiting list is currently 18months long and this can lead to real disappointment for parents wholeft their search too late.”.

If you don’t know of any local nurseries, try some listed below.Otherwise, the Families Information Service can supply a list ofregistered childcarers in your area by phone on 0800 2346 346and online at www.direct.gov.uk/childcare

Your child’s needsOnce you’ve drawn up a shortlist of the nurseries you areconsidering, go and look around and ask lots of questions to see

if they would suit your child.Although all nurseries follow Ofstedgovernment guidelines, there is room for interpretation in the waythe childcare and learning are delivered. For example, privatenurseries might serve organic, freshly cooked meals or includeadditional activities such as dancing, French and outings.

Consider issues such as your child’s daily routine (nap times, typeof food provided etc), staff qualifications and experience, staff tochild ratios and what the staff turnover is like. Check that you arehappy with the range of toys and equipment available, cleanlinessof the premises, security, the policy on discipline and latecollections. Ask to see the latest Ofsted report or read it online.Sophie Livesey from Patacake Day Nursery in Cambridge, who havebeen recently awardred Outstanding by Ofsted, suggests “a goodstarting point for selecting aNursery is to look at theOfstedwebsite(see details below). The report will reflect not only the inspectorsviews but also that of the staff and families using the provision”.Find out if there are any extra charges for nappies, meals, certainactivities and the cost of the deposit to go on the waiting list. Factorin the time it will take you to travel to and from the nursery, probablyduring rush hour.After all this, themost important thing is to absorbthe atmosphere and look at whether the children are relaxed andhappy, and members of staff are responsive and caring.

N u r s e r i e s i n a n u t s h e l l

Daycare nurseriescA useful option for working parents, day nurseries aretypically open from 8am to early evening and children canstay for all or part of the day

cSome parents feel uneasy about leaving their baby in solecare, no matter how well-qualified that person is. It’sreassuring to know that nursery staff can safely take breaks,and that you are covered if a member of staff is off sick

cConsistency - your child can stay in the same environmentfrom the day you go back to work until they start school

cSocial environment - children who attend nursery find iteasier to settle into school routines when they join receptionclasses.

The cons:Some parents feel uncomfortable because playtime, naps andmeals are at more or less set times. Also you’ll need backup carewhen your child is unwell or if you’re late to collect.

Nursery classes in schoolscA first step into school, although a school nursery place doesnot automatically guarantee a place in reception

cConvenient if you are already dropping siblings at the school

cStimulation - some children are ready for school earlier thanothers and readily take to structured, educational play

cAge-specific activities are geared to the school children theyare becoming rather than the babies they used to be.

The cons:Sessions tend to be just three hours which is not practical formany families. Fulltime places are few and far between.

January/February 2011®®

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Choosing a Nursery – Childcare andEarly Learning By Robina Cowan

Childcare n

Patacake Day Nursery


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Pre-schools and playgroupscThe Preschool LearningAlliance is one of the largest providersof quality childcare in England, offering a wide choice ofsettings from pre-schools and baby and toddler groups to fulldaycare places in nurseries and children’s centres

cPLA settings are managed by experienced and qualifiedmanagers who lead teams of nursery workers and supportstaff, training them to meet children’s individual needs

cParents are encouraged to be active members, so you can bemore involved in your child’s care

cSmall scale settings are less daunting for shy children

The cons:Tend to be community operations so don’t expect glamorouspremises. You may need additional care if you work fulltimealthough wrap around hours are available in some settings.

Private nursery schoolscStimulation - by two and a half most children benefit fromsome kind of pre-school environment. They learn withoutknowing it while using letters, shapes and numbers, looking atbooks and expressing themselves through making things,drawing and singing

cPeer group - the opportunity to make friends of the same age

cMight be more flexible on the availability of hours or daysyou need to fit in with your work schedule

cOften smaller scale with a personal touch, and the nurseryhead is usually involved in the running of the school.

The cons:Some offer wrap-around care but are generally open only forschool hours so you will need someone to pick up and collect ifyou are at work.

Help with the costsNursery fees very greatly, depending on location, demand andwhat is offered, but can be from around £100 to over £200 a week.

1.Local authorities receive government funding so they canoffer15hours aweekof early years education to all three and fouryear-olds fromthe termafter their third birthday. If you chooseanurserywhich costsmore than the fundingor needmorehours,you topup thedifference.

2.Child tax credits andworking tax credits are available tohelpwithchildcare costs. FromApril 2011, the ‘child’elementof the childtax creditwill be increased for families earningup to£16,190ayearwith anabove-inflation increase.At the same time though,families earningover £41,400will no longer be eligible for thefull tax credit.

3.Someemployers offer childcare voucherswhich staff canopt toreceive insteadof part of their salary.Parents can saveupto£1000ayear by reducing their income tax andnationalinsurance contributions.

What parents say about nurseriescHands-on owners: ‘I would always go for an owner-runnursery. These people are not ‘in it for the money’. They aredoing the job because they genuinely like and understandchildren. It’s a vocational thing.’ Mary, mother of three undersix.

cLooks aren’t everything: ‘When you’re looking around, don’tbe fooled by appearances. Some of the shabbiestestablishments are far superior to some upmarket nurseries interms of quality of care. The best childcare we’ve ever foundwas in state-run nurseries and playgroups.’ Eliza, mother offour children aged three to eleven.

cSocialisation: ‘Although I’m not at work, from the age of twoI felt it was important for my son to start learning to get onwith a range of other children and adults, to help him whenhe started school.’ Matt, father of Ollie, three.

cExperienced staff: ‘Look at the ages of the staff. Youngstersfresh out of college may have more energy and I’m sure theyknow all the latest thinking on childcare but in my opinionthat’s no substitute for experience. I would always go for anursery with mature staff, every time. They have morepatience and you know they have to be doing this becausethey want to, they really love the children.’ Clara, mother ofthree under seven.

cExplore all options: ‘Go and see as many different nurseriesas you can. Don’t get tied up in the Ofsted and what otherpeople think. You know your child better than anyone.’Ramona, mother of Klaus, five.

More informationcRead more local childcare articles on our websitewww.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

cFor local nurseries and links to their Ofsted reports, go towww.findmyschool.co.uk

cThe National Day Nurseries Association provides a lot ofuseful information including a free checklist to take on yourvisit, and contact details for NDNA member nurseries,www.ndna.org.uk/parents, 01484 40 70 40

cThe PreschoolAlliance website has useful sections for parentsand practitioners, including links to find local PLA childcare,www.pre-school.org.uk.

Some local nurseries:-Millington Road Nursery School4a Millington Road, Newnham, Cambridgewww.millingtonroadnursery.co.uk 01223 365 565Patacake Day Nursery - Cockcroft Hall, Cockcroft Place,Clarkson Road, Cambridge, CB3 OHF [email protected] 315815Patacake Day Nursery - Sedley Court, Malta Road, CambridgeCB1 3LW [email protected] 01223 411636Cambridge Day Nursery 01223 566 323Ace Day Nursery 01223 366 355Harvey Road 01223 363 860RainbowDay Nursery01223 847 444ButterflyDay Nursery01223 358 117Baby Unicorns01223 359 488KidsunlimitedNurseries0845 365 2955

n Childcare

January/February 2011

Genesis Centre


Many of you will haveheard that mobile phonesmay carry health risks.Youprobably also know thatchildren are at an evengreater risk than adults.You may wonder why, ifthat is the case, theydo not come with ahealth warning, likecigarettes?

Dr Devra Davis,environmental andpublic healthspecialist,research scientistandgrandmother,did not wantto believe thiseither, so she

looked at the researchfor herself, and what she found out

alarmed her so much that she wrote a book,Disconnect:TheTruthAboutCellPhoneradiation,What the IndustryHas Done to Hide It, and How to ProtectYour family, 2010. She writesthat, “Contrary to the firmly held beliefs of many respected authorities,invisible radio frequency radiation can alter living cells and create thesame types of damage that we know increase the risk of cancer andneurological disease. [... ] children are growing up in a sea of radiofrequency radiation that did not exist even five years ago.”

My own concerns about cell phone radiation and other forms of digitalpulsed microwave radiation had been aroused a few years ago when Ibegan seeing an increasing number of children showing symptomsafter exposure to mobile phones, mast radiation or wireless radiation.These included hyperactive behaviour which reverted to normal whenthe children were away from the irradiated environment, skin rashesand eczemas that did not improve with treatment, night terrors andmood swings, lowered immunity in previously healthy children, andsudden nose-bleeds.At the same time, concerns were being raisedabout some cordless baby-monitors which used wireless technology,and advice was given not to site them close to the baby’s head, assome babies were showing symptoms of pain and distress(http://omega.twoday.net/stories/1616128)

A major concern about mobile phones has always been that the near-field plume of radiation can penetrate deep into a child’s skull becauseit is so much thinner and smaller than an adult’s. Standards for phonesare set for a large man talking for half-an hour, although half of theworld’s four billion cell phones are used by people under twenty.TheSAR (Specific Absorption Rate) printed on the mobile box relates simplyto the phone’s capacity to heat tissue, as manufacturers and standardsetters initially refused to believe that there could be any otherdetrimental effect from radio frequency radiation.This is strange as ourbodies run on electrical currents, many of which have been observedand measured in medical tests, and which are easily disrupted bypulsed frequencies, as has been demonstrated in a study by Dr MagdaHavas and colleagues, showing heart arrhythmias triggered by DECT(cordless)phones. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EI9fZX4iww).

As far as we know, there is no problem with the radio frequencies usedto send out analogue radio signals, but more and more research isshowing that pulsed digital frequencies can have non-thermal effectson living organisms. In the digital age this poses new health risksdepending on a person’s susceptibility, the density and intensity of theradiation, and the length of time they are exposed to it.

Children are certainly more susceptible because they are still growingand their neural circuitry will not be fully formed until they reach theirearly twenties. Until then, they need protection from anything thatcould interfere with their brain’s development. In France, this researchhas led to the decision to ban children in primary school from usingmobile phones, and discouraging mobile phone advertising aimed atchildren.They are also removing wireless communication systems frompublic places such as libraries, and hospitals, after workers complainedof feeling ill at work.

Most of the research into the health effects of mobile phones andphone masts, which is sponsored by the telecoms industry has foundno effect on human health, but studies carried out by independentscientists almost always find a physiological effect. However, fewresearchers look specifically at the effects of mobile phone radiation onchildren and young people, even when there is evidence that exposureto carcinogens in young people come with more serious risks than foradults. Significantly, every study which has looked at brain tumour risksover ten years of use, or longer, has found an increased risk of cancer.

a Keep calls on cordless or mobile phones shorta Text rather than calla Replace wireless equipment with non-wirelessaChange to a low-radiation or analogue babymonitora Turn all wireless equipment off at night, in the car, and whenpregnant women, babies or children are nearby

PattyHemingway(RMANM) is a familyhomeopath,witha specialinterest in electromagnetic radiation sicknesswww.pattyhemingway.com

www.environmentalhealthtrust.org - for more on how to usephones safely (includes a page for skeptics!)

www.wiredchild.org - news and research into mobile phonesusage for children and their parents.

www.bioinitiative.org – for Bioinitiative Report

www.powerwatch.org.uk - the latest research, clearly explained

www.es-uk.info – charity that supports people with symptoms ofelectrosensitivity

BooksRadiation Rescue: 4 steps to safeguardyour family from the other inconvenienttruth – the health hazards of wirelesstechnology. Kerry Crofton, 2009

Disconnect:TheTruth about Cell PhoneRadiation,What the Industry Has Done toHide it, and How to ProtectYour Family.Dr Devra Davis, 2010

January/February 2011®8 ®

Education B

Our enterprising children By Patty Hemingway


January/February 2011 ®®9

B EducationBoost your future earnings By Joanna Parry

A new report claims that having a goodnursery teacher can increase your earningcapacity in later years by as much as£10,000. Researchers have found that pupilswith an excellent nursery education went onto earn more than their peers from similarbackgrounds whose early-years teaching wasless effective.The Harvard-based researchersexamined the long-term effect of a standoutearly-years teacher working with pupils aged3-5, looking at factors including the impact

these teachers had on the eventual earnings of their former pupils.Theresearch found that adults who received better early-years educationwere likely to have significantly higher salaries than their poorlyeducated peers. In fact, 5-year-olds who made the typicalimprovements to be expected following a good early-years educationwould earn an additional £600-700 a year by their late 20s, an amountthat could be expected to increase proportionately throughout theirworking lives.The study also showed that pupils who learnt more atthis early stage were more likely to go on to university than their peers,and less likely to become single parents. Chris Davis, of the NationalPrimary Headteachers’Association, added, “The influence of earlyyears on a child’s long-term education is crucial.The better theexperience of the child pre-five, the better value youwill get fromthempost- five.”

World Maths Day 1 March 2011WithWorld Maths Dayjust ahead of us, pupilsfrom hundreds of UKschools are preparing to gohead-to-head against

students from across the globe in a huge international mathscompetition.This year, more than 2 million pupils from 37,000 schoolsacross 200 countries will take part, answering over 500,000,000questions in an attempt to push their classes to the top of theinternational league tables.There are three age categories – 5-8, 9-13and 14-18, and you can practice and play on your iPodTouch, iPhoneor iPad. Pre-register now at www.worldmathsday.com. But while thethrill of competition helps to sharpen some students’maths skills (andprove that the subject is far from boring!), British children still havesome work to do if they want to achieve the incredible consistencyshown among the Malaysian,Thai and Hong Kong students whodominate year on year.World Maths Day aims to motivate parents intohaving a positive attitude to numeracy and to try to use it more readilyin everyday situations with children.As part of this, the websitewww.zoobookoo.com has devisedTenTopTips for Numeracy, withpointers on how to help your child learn.Take a look and maybe yourchild can take part in this truly unique world event.

Happy Hopperz®Happy Hopperz® are nowavailable forAdoption fromwww.productswelove.co.ukat £26.95

The first batch of our bright &bouncy animals have arrived atthe ProductsWeLove Farm and arenow looking for children to takethem home to play.

So what is a Happy Hopper?Think... ‘rocking horse’meets‘space hopper’ and you’re nearlythere.They are bright inflatable

animals which provide a unique and fun bouncing experience for youngchildren and they have ears or horns to grip on to and big feet to keepthem steady. Not to mention that they are one of the hottest, mostsought-after toys this year!

Cordelia says ”It’s really fun! Imade up a gamewithmy brotherwhere you tug it off each other and get to bounce until theycatch you!”

Mummy says “I wish theymade adult sizes!”

Louis says “get offAbigail... it’smine! whaaaa!”

FAMILIES MAGAZINE SPECIAL OFFER:In addition to the current online offer ‘Buymore than one HappyHopperz and save £5.00 on each extra one purchased’we are alsooffering readers of Families Magazine an extra 5% discount on allorders placed before 31st January 2011 when they quote the codeFAMREADERSOFFER at the checkout.

Pauline QuirkeAcademy

Since its launch the Pauline QuirkeAcademy for PerformingArts hasgone from strength to strength with over 24Academies around thecountry, including Cambridge, and 1,000 students.

PQA provides performing arts training for children aged four to 18 in afriendly and supportive atmosphere. Students learn how film andtelevision productions are created and take part in specialistMasterclasses, including Stage Combat, Physical Comedy, Street Danceand Circus Skills.

To find out more and find your nearestAcademy please visitwww.pqacademy.com or call PQA on 08456 732022.

The Ring of the Nibelung.An English Pocket Operaproduction company inassociation with CentralSaint Martins College ofArt and Design.

FromTuesday 18th -Saturday 22nd January2011. CochraneTheatre,Southampton Row,London,WC1B 4AP

If you want to take thechildren for a NewYear’streat to London, why

not check this out!

One evening, four operas, one ring, nine owners, four schools and 120children!An operatic adventure based onWagner’s Ring of theNibelung, with Gods, Dragons, Giants, Dwarves,Valkyries and a castle!

The English Pocket Opera Company works with schools and makes aspecial effort to target its efforts towards those who are denied fullaccess to the most universal and binding of all languages - music!

For more information, or to support EPOC visit www.epoc.co

For tickets visit www.cochranetheatre.co.uk


14By Kate BirchDance can lift you emotionally and spiritually as much asphysically. You can dance your way through disappointment orrevitalise your routine. Dance can help take you through aprocess of healing. Dance can make you happy.

Do you think you can’t dance? In fact, everyone can dance andthere is a dance for everyone. Don’t worry if you have two leftfeet and the ungainliness of a wildebeest.

Dancing to ease the troubled spiritEmma Leech understands about dance being so much morethan a few well-placed steps. Twenty years ago she lost apartner to heroin addiction and subsequently found that 5Rhythms dance was the “only spiritual path that had any kindof reality to it.” She now teaches and gives back by taking it to“marginalized and diverse communities”, working in prisons andwith others crippled byaddiction. “People havecome into class and ithas completely changedtheir lives.”

These 5 Rhythms are the different energiesof Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical andStillness with Emma working around asimple movement quality to each rhythmrather than specific steps.

For details of 5 Rhythms teachers in Cambridgeshire go towww.gabrielleroth.com and enter United Kingdom in the FindA Teacher section.

Dancing as a releaseBiodanza also has a spiritualalmost transcendentalelement to it.Classes begin with self-exercises, move through pairswork and end with a groupdance in which the dancersfeel “connected with

everyone else, with nature and the universe.” Intriguingly, all isdone in silence. Talking brings you back into consciousness andremoves the “instinctive element.” You work with your partnersor the group through body language to achieve what is calledrhythmic synchronicity.

Although the class is structured, almost allowing for greaterfreedom, there are no steps to learn.

Biodanza is such a special form of free dance, it really allows you toexplore your emotions and creativity, in a very nurturing space. Inour daily lives we are often very restricted, but in the class I feel I canlet go and embracemyself, which is so liberating. Carolyn

Biodanza fills me with warmth and the passion to feel gratitudefor the life I am experiencing.I enjoy going in to the class,completely switching off my mind and expressing whateveremotion revels itself moment to moment. Viva

Biodanza offers me the space and time each week to take abreath, relax and lose my worries for an hour and a half,reminding me what I love about life. It works as both a mentaland physical release and as a result I leave feeling lighter, with asense of freedom, and more accepting of myself and of others.Lan Anh

Try:-www.meetup.com/Biodanza-East-Anglia-Vital-Development-to-Music/

Dancing because you always wanted toOf course for many of us with daughters, our first brush withformal dance classes is the local ballet school.Who can resistthe gauzy skirts and delightful absurdity of the first show? Andhere I put my hands up. My daughter took ballet as soon as shewas old enough, partly because of my frustrated ambitions.(Happily, she loved it.)

And I am not the only frustrated ballerina. More and moredance schools are offering ballet for adults. It is sogood it is forflexibility and posture, particularly for those of us who havespent years carrying children around on one hip. But there isalso a “meditative” aspect of the dance.

Bodyworks 01223 314 461Maple Academy of Performing Arts 01353 740 267Jill Bridger School of Dance 01480 469 711King Slocombe School of Dance 01223 356 023


10 ®

Whatever makes you happy dear pt 2

8

I´ll have wha t

Mum's Time !Cambridge families 2011 issue 8:Cambridge Schools 2010 22/12/10 09:59 Page 10

2

®®11January/February 2011

Dancing for the fun of itYou could try the cardio dance craze that is Zumba. These classesof this energetic combination of Latin rhythms and easy movesand there is a real demand for it.

Katie Granger runs classes throughout Cambridge and is startingan aqua zumba class at Abbey Pools in January. Contact Katie [email protected]

Natalia Bull also runs Zumbatomic (a programme speciallydesigned for kids), and will be holding a masterclass in Haverhillsports centre to raise money for a children’s Gym club. Find outmore [email protected]

Registered Zumba instructors can be found at www.zumba.com.

Going all StrictlyBut for those inconsolable with the end of the recent StrictlyCome Dancing series, the only choice is ballroo m and there areclasses acrossthe county. Try Ceroc, a modern jive fusion of salsa,ballroom, hip-hop, tango and jive or go for the more traditionalforms of ballroom and Latin.

Find local ballroom classes at www.uk-ballroom.co.uk

Go to www.ceroc.uk.com for details of these classes.

In the end, however, dancing does not have to be about fake tanand sparkly make-up. It doesn’t even have to be something youdo in a class or have any talent at. So kick off your shoes (or strapon your heels), put the music on and dance. Dance with yourpartner, dance with your friends, dance with your kids.

Justdance!Thosewithmedicalconcernsshould alwayscheck with their GPbefore attempting anykind of dance class.

she´s having...

! Mum's Time

Classes in Impington, Fulbourn,Girton, Histon and Neterhall.Aqua Zumba starting in Januaryat The Abbey Pool!

Zumbawith Katie Granger

katiegranger.zumba@googlemail .comtel: 07980429730


®®

12

Mums inBusiness...Have you ever thought about setting up your ownbusiness? Are youworried about juggling timesetting up your business and looking after yourchildren? Don’t knowwhere to start?It can be a daunting time, but if you decide not toreturn towork after having your baby or whenyour children return to school, this could be oneof the best decisions you evermake.

EmmaLock,LockStockBoutique

“I used towork asa teacher in a prim

ary school. Pre children days, I LOVED

my job. I was promoted

quickly and spentmy evenings resou

rcing and planning,After becoming a

mother, the guilt set in... I had a clas

s of 30

childrenwho neededmy undivided a

ttention but at home I had 2 ofmy ow

nwhowere desperate to be taken to

school

by theirmum instead of the childmin

der, picked up at 3pm instead of hav

ing to go to theAfter School Club. I h

ated

seeing their facescrumplewhen the

y’d hear that I couldn’tmake it to th

e Harvest festival or be the helper on

their trip.

After the arrival ofmy third child,No

ah, I took a year off and became that

mothermy children had been craving

for.

When I finally returned towork, I rea

lisedmy heart wasn’t in it. My house

was a tip,my stress levels were at an

all time

high and I was shattered but unable

to sleep.

It was during one ofmy sleepless nigh

ts that the idea ofLock Stock

Boutiquewas born.

I had enrolled on atextiles course atm

y local college theyear that I had

Noah. I had neverowned a sewingm

achine and holdmy hand up to

gluing onmy daughter’s Brownie bad

ges. Lock Stock Boutique prides

itself on producinghigh quality, reaso

nably priced textiles for the home. I

only use beautifulfabrics andmany i

tems can be personalised.

My handmade cards providemewith

a regular source of income.Their

unique selling point is the extent tow

hich they can be personalised e.g.

names added, haircolour changed, p

hrases added etc.

I am in the early stages of setting up

awebsite but currently runmost of

my business through Facebookwhic

h had been a fantastic tool for

networking and showcasing items.

These early days have been financial

ly challenging.Wehave had to

postpone our plans for an extension

andwe don’t knowhow

successful eachmonth is going to be

but I wouldn’t change things for

theworld.

Since opening Lock Stock Boutiquem

y stressful days have taken on a diffe

rent form...... canImanage to get al

l my orders done

withinmy personal deadlines, have I

ordered enough fabric? etc...... no d

iesel required, no racing around to ge

t towork on time,

no trying to rememberwhether to pic

k the children up from after school c

lubs or a friend's house! I LOVE being

my own boss

and I love the factI can do it all in the

comfort ofmy own homewith a love

ly cup of tea and the company of Ph

il andHolly!

If you're consideringmaking a chang

e...... go for it!!”

Lock Stock Boutique can be found o

n Facebook. Lookfor

‘Lock Stock Boutique Fan Page’

www.lockstockboutique.com

email : [email protected]

I asked a fewmums who decided to starttheir own businesses for their opinion....

Sophie Livesey,PatacakeNurseries“I have never been able to decide on whether there are more

pros or cons to working for yourself.Initially I wanted to have control over my career and also felt

passionately about the kind of childcare provision I wanted to

run. I had the time and dedication to give to an expanding

business and the rewards were fantastic - emotionally as well

as financially.When my daughters came along, I then had the

flexibility to plan my work schedule around my family’s needs,

but this relied entirely on working with good people who I

could trust when I needed to take a step back.

For me, the downside has always been the feeling of

compromise. I have two full time commitments in my life. My

family and my business with the responsibility of employing 50

people. Neither can have 100% of my time which they both

deserve.When you run your own business, there is never the

option to say 'this is not my problem', because it always is!

However, this dilemma applies to most working Mums

and Dads.”www.pata-cake.co.uk01223 315 81501223 411 636

Family !


®®13®

!Five tips to help you become a‘Mumpreneur’ by Helen Lindrop, Founder ofBusinessPlusBaby.com

When you became a mum, you may havefound your old job no longer fitted your newlife. Do you want to spend more time withyour children? Do you struggle to findaffordable childcare?Are school holidays aheadache for you?

Then why not start your own family-friendly business? Here are fivethings you’ll need to think about:

1. Decide what you want from a business. If you want theequivalent of a full time income you need to approach itdifferently from if you just need a hundred quid a month totop up the family budget. Using party plan as an example, youmay be able to supplement the family income with a fewparties a month, but in order to earn a full time income youmight need to recruit and lead a team.

2. Look at your skills and experience and see if you can use them.I've spoken to several mums lately who went into directselling or bought a franchise because they assumed they hadto do something completely different fromwhat they'd donebefore. In fact, using your existing skills can be the fastest wayto start generating an income.

3. Develop a Niche - be unique and different. Look at competingbusinesses and be clear about how your business is different. Itmight simply be that you are bringing something new anddifferent to your area, or it may be the way in which you offera service.

4. Look at the times you have available to work, your childcareand family situation. I considered running children's parties,but realised that in the time I'd kept my kitchen clean enoughto satisfy the local council's environmental health team, Icould have done a lot of work on an online business instead!

5. Look at your business model – does it just depend on tradingtime for money.This can be a problem if you are a time-poormum! If you have a skill that people will pay you for, that’sgreat, but look at ways of making it available that doesn’t justdepend on you putting the hours in – think e-books, onlinecourses, tip sheets, group teleclasses.

There are lots more tips on finding theright business idea for you in the Starta Family Friendly Business bookwhich is available now fromAmazon.co.uk.

Helen Lindop is the founder ofBusinessPlusBaby.com, a websitededicated to helping mums of youngchildren start their own businesses.She is also co-author of Start aFamily Friendly Business: 129Brilliant Business Ideas for Mums.

Kasia Findlater,PompilaKasia Findlater, mother of four, started her business when herchildren developed excema

When I asked Kasia on the telephone how she had started out,she answered “I don’t really know - get your foot out of the

cheese!” ( I don’tthink the lastcomment wasmeant for methough!)

However, Kasia’sclothes arefantastic andlooks to be a verypromisingdevelpment forchildren withexcema.

“Pompila seemed to just create itself. All my babies suffered fromsevere eczema. I noticed very early on that jersey fabric irritatedtheir skin, especially in the summer. I searched everywhere for analternative.

I could find shirts made of a suitable cotton but still nonedesigned to work as a baby body i.e. that did up under thebottom. Then I had the idea to commission some 'shirt bodies'. Imentioned my design idea to a friend, whomakes very beautifulunderwear. She thought it was a great idea, so very generouslyshe made some up.

www.pompila.com 07771646798

LisaSamos,Seaso

nal Style4Kids

“I was inspired to s

tart my business b

y readinga feature

in Vogue

in summer 2010 ab

out Natalie Masse

net, the founder o

f Net a

Porter. I then crea

ted my website du

ring the summer h

olidays

whenever I had a s

pare moment, day

and night…sourci

ng,

styling and photog

raphing all the clo

thes outside in day

light and

uploading the info

rmation in the eve

nings after the kid

s had

gone to bed.

It feels like a huge

achievement beca

use I havecreated i

t, I am

solely responsible

for it andI can wor

k on it atmy own s

peed.

The bonus is havin

g a new and happy

client!

As the comedienn

e Joan Rivers says

, “It’s such a chore

doing

housework…and t

hen you have to do

it all overagain in s

ix

months.”I couldn’

t managewithout m

y very efficient cle

aning

lady.

My website is an o

utlet formy creat

ivity which is a par

t of me

that I cannot supp

ress. Re-styling vin

tage clothes and r

ecreating

a new outfit for a

child fromhand-me

-downs and home

made

pieces and mixing

it up withjunk-sho

p/thrift store find

s on

travels seems sens

ible thesedays. I be

lieve weshould al

l recycle

more andthe fashio

n designer Vivienne

Westwood, who I

admire, thinks so t

oo.

At Seasonal Style

for Kids Isource be

autiful vintage, pr

e-loved

and lightly worn c

hildren’sclothing

for children for all

seasons.

Individual pieces in

excellentcondition

are put together to

create astyled fu

nctionaloutfit. Cl

eaned and pressed

and with

all the buttons in p

lace, each piece is

to be worn

and passed on…a

nd on…”

www.seasonalsty

le4kids.co.uk

[email protected]

om

Family

January/February 2011


Isn’t life hard enoughwithout having to live on very

little sleep? Sleep deprivation has beennamed as a torture technique becausethat is exactly what it is. If your childdoesn’t sleep, you become a livingzombie; you are probably sleeping in

different beds, snapping at everyone, gettingover emotional at everything.You startlooking at the floor in the supermarket andthink if I can just find a quiet corner, I’ll havea quick nap... There are parents everywherereading this and thinking yes that’s me -HELP!Well, don’t worry, help has arrived, andwhatever problem you may be having andhowever you got there, it can be fixed.

Many parents start off one of two wayswith their delicious newborn; they willeither have an angelic baby who sleeps allthe time, anywhere, or a baby who is veryalert and doesn’t seem to want to sleep.Most babies, including the seeminglyangelic ones, may well become the babythat doesn’t want to sleep.

The reasons this happens, so that you can beforewarned, is in the first two weeks yourbaby is sleepy and after this they will wakeup and will be hungry. Most parents are toldto feed on demand and so by the time yourbaby is able to sleep for 12 hours throughthe night (yes it is possible!) he or she will beused to being fed to sleep and that is whatthey will continue to do.

When you aren’t getting any sleep, you willdo anything to get some. So out ofdesperation your baby will be picking upbad habits on how to get to sleep. Rockingyour baby and using a dummy allcontribute to your baby’s inability to go tosleep by themselves.

Firstly, don’t panic.There is always a way tore-teach them. It’s certainly harder as yourbaby gets older, especially after a year, butit’s still achievable. Setting up a goodbedtime routine will reassure your baby, andfor younger babies, a dream feed before yougo to bed also helps them to sleep longer inthe night. Making sure your baby has lots ofdaytime naps will stop your baby becomingovertired. For example, a newborn will need

to sleep every hour and a 6 month-old every2 hours. Overtiredness is one of the mainreasons that your baby finds it difficult to gointo a deep sleep.You need to be consistentwith whichever routine you choose, and alsorealise that it took time for this to become ahabit so it may take time for it to work, butbe strong, encourage your baby and itwill work.

Your baby craves some sleep as much as youdo and what better lesson for them to learn,and for you to teach them…how to go to sleep!

JoTantum is a leading babysleep expert and author of‘Baby Secrets’.Her unique,gentlemethods helpensure a great night’s sleepfor any baby.

You can get individual baby sleep advicefrom JoTantum by visiting

www.greatvine.com/jo-tantum or calling0906 400 6222 (£1.50/min from a BTlandline. Calls from other networks andmobiles may vary.)

Sleep SolutionsLeading ba

by sleep exp

er

t

Jo Tantumdiscusses a

problem

many new parents

arefaced w

ith. ZZZzzz zzz

Tips from the experts at Greatvine: Linda Russell

JStart a simple bedtime routine as soon as possible.A bath, massage and feed in thebedroom will help relax your baby.

JUnless they had a low birth weight, don’t wake your baby up in the night to feed. Letthem sleep – and you can too. Instead, give them a dream feed at 11pm.That meansthey’ll have a long sleep in the middle of the night, when you have yours.

JDon’t change nappies in the night after 11pm unless dirty. It’ll wake them up andmake it harder to resettle.

JTry not to rock your baby or feed them to sleep. Cuddle them until they’re calm, thenput them in the cot while they’re awake, but drowsy. Jo Tantum

JAlways carry out the same familiar routine at bedtime with your baby. Babies are veryritualistic and like to know their routine is the same.

JDon’t make the cot a stimulating environment with musical toys or lights. It does notsend out the right signal.

JYour baby should always be awake when put in the cot so they know what ishappening.

JThe room should be very dark for all sleeps but not pitch black. Brenda Hart

JRemember you only have a sleep issue if you are not getting enough sleep. Don’tcompare yourself to all your friends.

JWhen planning to put a sleep routine in place always start your day and end your dayat the same time.

JBe reasonable with your expectations, you are not going to turn a bad sleeping habitround in a night!

JBe prepared to persevere, allow yourself four nights of the same routine and approachand then reassess.

JFrom the age of six weeks, have the same bedtime routine every night, so your babybegins to pick up bedtime cues.

JDo not let your baby or child become overtired, they will be even harder to settle.

h


14 ®

Baby sleepi

Christine Kitching and Tash Fulljames of John Lewis CambridgePralina Cashmere Comfort Blanket fromwww.stellinababy.com


Saturday 1st January 2011

Fitzwilliam MuseumSaturday First Fun 14.00 - 16.0001223 332 900 www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

NewYear´s Treasure Hunt,Haverhill 10:30 - 15:00Walk off the Xmas excesses by following a quiz trail around the East TownPark. Collect a quiz sheet from theVisitors Centre. Suitable for all thefamily, no need to book. £2 Phone: 01284 757088

NewYear´s Day Treasure Hunt 11:00 - 14:00Nowton Park,Nowton, Bury St EdmundsTest the mind with the first quiz of the year! Suitable for all the familyand accompanied children. Please wear warm clothes and sensiblefootwear. Start at the Nowton Park Rangers Centre.£3 per family. Phone: 01284 757088

Cromer NewYear’s Day Firework Display, Norfolk01263 512 254 www.northnorfolk.org/cromer

Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd January

A Toymaker’s ChristmasThe Junction Cambridge Leisure ParkFollowing A Merry Little Christmas in 2009, The Junction's AssociateArtists Gomito return with another magical Christmas story.When a chestnut seller arrives in a small town, all the residents are happyto befriend him.All but a mysterious toymaker, hidden away in hisworkshop.Original music, shadow puppets and presents galore tell a story of fun,friends and Christmas.01223 511 511 www.junction.co.uk

Saturday 1st January - Sunday March13th 2011

Winter Swan Feeds -WelneyWetland Centre01353 860 711 www.wwt.org.uk/welney

Saturday 1st January - 16th January

Aladdin. Cambridge Arts TheatreTraditional family pantomime, Starring Brad Fitt, Julie Buckfield, MattCrosby and James Hirst. Show times vary, see website for details.£30-£10 Phone: 01223 503333

Sunday 2nd January - Tuesday 4th January 2011

Christmas at Cromwell’s HouseAlso featuring a range of fun ‘hands on’ activities for the whole family.Normal admission prices.29 St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs 01353 662 062

Sunday 2nd January

Ely Guided RiversideWalk 11.00 - 12.3001353 662 062

Saturday 8th January 2011

Botanic Gardens, Cambridge Making Calendars.11.00 - 15.00£2.00 per childwww.botanic.cam.ac.uk 01223 331 875

Tuesday 11th January 2011

Ickworth HouseWoodland Ramble 10 amAdults £12 Members and Children £8Booking essential 01284 769 505The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk IP29 5QE

Friday 14th January - Saturday 15th January 2011

ElysianWinter Beer Festival,Ely www.elycamra.org.uk

Friday 14th January -Sunday 16th January2011

Whittlesea Straw BearFestivalProcession on the 15th01733 208 245www.strawbear.org.uk

Thursday 20th January 2011

Detox at Dragonfly - Burwash Manor 17.00 - 20.00Evening with goody bag and mini treatment.£10.00 with proceeds going toWallace Cancer Carewww.burwashmanor.com 01223 263 469

Thursday 20th January - Saturday 22nd JanuaryCambridgeWinter Ale Festivalwww.cambridgebeerfestival.com

Sunday 23rd January 2011

Bird Cakes 11.00 - 15.00Ferry Meadows, Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough01733 234 193

Monday 24th January 2011

Snowdrop Season begins. Anglesey Abbey.Lode nr. Cambridge01223 810 080 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey

Friday 28th January 2011

Katharine ofAragon Commemorative Day (including service)Peterborough Cathedral01733 343 342 www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk

Saturday 29 January 2011

The Nutcrackerwww.cornex.co.uk 01223 357 851Performed by The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia

Sunday 30th January 2011

Romeo and Juliet The Corn Exchangewww.cornex.co.uk 01223 357 851Performed by The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia

Swan Lake The Corn Exchangewww.cornex.co.uk 01223 357 851Performed by The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia

January/February 2011 ®®15

" What’s on/EventsCambridge families 2011 issue 8:Cambridge Schools 2010 22/12/10 09:59 Page 15

Thursday 3rd February - Sunday6th February

Holiday on Ice, East of EnglandShowground. Peterborough01392 278 801 www.holidayonice.co.uk

12th/13th, 19th/20th and 26th/27th February

Peckover House and GardenSnowdrops and Oranges 12.00 - 15.30 Normal admission pricesA rare opportunity to see the spring flower display in the garden and theorange trees in the Orangery. Please note that the house is not open.01945 583463

Sunday 13th February - Tuesday15th February

Moscow State CircusCambridge Corn Exchange,WheelerStreet, Cambridge Phone: 01223 357851

A 35-strong cast of Russia´s greatest, most flexible, award-winning circusperformers push the boundaries of physical ingenuity to the limit! TheMoscow State Circus returns with an award winning show, Legenda, whichcombines the legendary Russian folklore figure Rasputin withcontemporary and classical circus to make a sensational show.

Saturday 19th- Sunday 27thFebruary 2011

Scavenger Hunt11.00 - 15.00Ferry Meadows,Ham Farm House,Ham Lane,Peterborough01733 452 336

Monday 21st - Friday 25thFebruary 2011

Children’s LanguageWorkshopAlliance Francaise, Hills Road,Cambridge01223 561 854

Please always phone before setting out incase details have changed since pressdeadline or we got it wrong.

®® September/October 2010

" What’s on/Events

16

CLASSIFIED ADSDo you have unwanted items to sell? Place an advert in our classified section for as little as £30.00 to reach 25,000

readers in Cambridgeshire. Contact [email protected] for more information.

®

AllianceFrançaise

Come along to ourspecial children’s

workshops duringschool holidays!

Interactive French workshop forchildren from 5 to 11 years old:games, fun activities, crafts and

more… Including a specialgroup for bilinguals.

Monday 21st to Friday25th February 2011

9 to 12 am at the AllianceFrançaise, 60 Hills Road.

£20 per day

Places are limited. Enrolmentswill close on 14th February.

For more information, pleasevisit our website

www.alliance-cam.co.uk orcontact us.

Tel: 01223 561854

Enrol now for Spring term!Saturday workshops for children& Saturday classes for teenagers

8th January – 2nd April 2011(No classes during half-term from 19th

to 26th February)

Saturday workshops for children9.30 to 11am. Learn French in a relaxed

and playful atmosphere. Small classes forages 5-7 and 8-12. 3 different levels

Saturday classes for teenagers11.30am to 1pm

An interactive way to learn aboutFrench language and culture, GCSE and

A-level support.Small classes at 2 levels: Pre-GCSE and

pre AS/A levels

£154 for the term (11 weeks)

visit our websitewww.alliance-cam.co.uk or contact us.

Tel: 01223 561854


Documents

Families Cambridgeshire Jan-Feb 2011