Category Archives: Parenting

Fun for little ones with Hape Bug About

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After a fraught Christmas and numerous birthdays we now approach new toys with some trepidation. What will we need to get the toy out of the box while the impatient child stands at our side, desperate to play with their new gift? We arm ourselves with screwdrivers, scissors and knives to tackle the job. Will we need one or the other – or all of them?

No need for that with Hape Bug About. I opened the box quite easily, and took out the toy. I had expected to need at least a screwdriver and Allen key or two but what joy to be able to take it straight from the box and have it ready for play.

 

The Hape Bug About is mostly made from wood with a bright red removable fabric seat.

Little ones hold on to the antennae and push along with steady feet. Great fun for budding adventurers and there is space in the buggy belly for a child’s precious treasures, those teddies and books that must be taken everywhere.

The Bug About is easy to wipe down and clean, easy to store.

As will all Hape products it is made with a commitment to sustainability and  compliant with international safety and quality standards.

Recommended for ages 12 months and up.

Hape Bug About £44.99 available from Argos.

Hape Maple Building Blocks

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Are you looking for the perfect gift for a young child? Then look no further. The classics are still the best and Hape is the master, providing traditional and innovative toys that are perfect for learning and stretching the imagination.

Is there anyone who didn’t have a set of bricks when they were kids? What’s the first toy you go looking for when you have a child of your own, or your first grandchild? A bag of bricks.

Hape’s Maple Building Blocks are painted bright primary colours and are perfect for building towers, garages, palaces and kingdoms. My four grandchildren had great fun building their empires and the littlest member of the tribe (6 months) loved sucking and biting on them  – and there was no need to panic because all Hape’s products are designed and made with quality and safety in mind.

It really is a must for every grandparent’s toy box and the set of 50 bricks comes in a neat drawstring bag, so they are easy to tidy away until the next time they come to play.

Hape Toys is one of the world’s largest producers of toys made from sustainable materials. Thier range is creatively designed and eco-friendly.

All of the products meet, and often exceed, the strictest international standards for quality and safety.

The Hape Maple Blocks are available to buy online from John Lewis for £14.40

Piccolo Baby Food Review

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piccolobabyfoodreview stage 1and 2

Baby food is big business, and pouches even bigger still. Convenient and healthy, most – if not all- parents will give their little ones baby food pouches. They are great for eating out, keeping in a bag for an emergency, or just for a meal indoors. They are also great for when parents are too tired to cook. Piccolo are an Italian brand bringing Mediterranean goodness to the market.

Piccolo Pure – is their first single fruits range, for which they have handpicked and blended the tastiest fruit varieties including Stanley Plum, Fairtrade Banana, Fairtrade Mango and Williams Pear: each chosen because their delicious and distinctive tastes, making them perfect for little ones as their taste buds begin to explore first flavours. My son loved all of these. He devoured them in minutes.

Their Pure Banana and Pure Mango blends are the only baby food pouches to hold Fairtrade accreditation, as they continue their commitment to give back through ethical and sustainable sourcing and by donating 10% profits to charity.

 

They have also launched variety baskets of Piccolo recipes crammed full of delicious fruit and veg to excite little ones’ taste buds.  And with a pouch to get parents through Monday to Friday, there won’t be any need for that last-minute empty cupboard panic when their baby is hungry. I think this is a brilliant idea. It takes some of the pressure of parenting. Something which is always much needed.

 

Finally, they have new recipes launching this summer, using nutritious, organic ingredients and distinctive flavours including coconut, cinnamon, sage and rosemary.  They are launching a delicious Lamb Ratatouille (with a hint of rosemary), perfect for recreating the end of summer Mediterranean feeling, our first fish based pouch with Salmon Fish Pie (with a pinch of parsley, basil and thyme) and a very English Roast Pork, Parsnip and Apple recipe.

My little one tried the ones in bold and loved them all. Particular favourites were the Lamb Ratatouille with a hint of rosemary and Squash, Mac & Cheese with a hint of sage. 

 

Stage 1

  • Blushing Berries, Pear & Banana
  • Banana, Coconut & Baby Brown Rice with a pinch of cinnamon
  • Pear, Strawberry & Yoghurt with wholegrain Oats

Veg Only

  • Sun-ripened Tomato and Red Pepper with a dash of olive oil
  • Parsnip Carrot & Leek with a hint of thyme

Stage 2

  • Lamb Ratatouille with a hint of rosemary
  • Tomato, Lentil & Angel Pasta with a dash of olive oil
  • Squash, Mac & Cheese with a hint of sage
  • Roast Pork, Parsnip & Apple with a hint of rosemary
  • Salmon Fish Pie with a pinch of parsley, basil and thyme

 

As you can see from the list, the recipes are exciting and different. They make some other baby food pouches look very boring indeed. We are a fan of Piccolo, the brand is a great way to feed your child in a healthy and sustainable way. Frost loves.

 

The Modern Day Pregnancy Hospital Bag | Then And Now

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giving birth, birth, childbirth, the truth about giving birthWith over two decades of experience of pregnancy and birth, and more than 650,000 users every month, Emma’s Diary, the essential pregnancy support resource has been able to look back at key trends to compare the contents of the modern day hospital bag compared with that of 20 years ago and the contrasts are remarkable.

No need to carry a camera

One of the big differences is that we no longer need to carry a camera in our hospital bag today, providing we have our phone and charger, most cameras on mobile phones are so good today that we don’t need both.  Equally, the convenience of reading a book on our Kindle or tablet eliminates the need for a physical book and doubles up as a way to communicate with family and friends online.

Clean eating trend

The trend for clean eating has also seen the choice of snacks and drinks change dramatically over the years, with high-energy drinks, fresh smoothies and snacks such as vegetable crisps and protein bars being popular in 2017.

CDs replaced with streaming music on our devices

The devices we use to listen to music (a popular past time for women in labour) have also changed beyond all recognition as we have moved from portable CD players (and the need to carry CDs in our hospital bags) to streaming music on our mobile phones and tablets.  Although our tastes in music may have evolved, using music to help soothe and relax us during labour is still an important element.

Some things never change

We still need disposable pants and they still look as ghastly as they always did!  Baby clothes, mitts, maternity pads, nursing bras, slippers, toiletries, tissues and baby wipes are still very much part of the modern day hospital bag.

According to Emma’s Diary – here are its top 15 contents for mums to be hospital bags from 2017 and 1997 (20 years ago).

 

2017 Mum’s Hospital Bag Contents:

  1. Mobile 4G smartphone/iPhone
  2. iPad/tablet
  3. Music downloaded to your phone and earphones (Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You, Bruno Mars’ That’s What I Like and The Weekend’s Starboy have been chart toppers this year)
  4. Lip balm (such as Burt’s Bees)
  5. Snacks and drinks (water, smoothie, isotonic drink, vegetable crisps)
  6. Kindle (Into the Water and Caravel are popular books this year)
  7. Baby wipes
  8. Birth ball
  9. TENS machine
  10. Slippers, socks, nightwear
  11. Maternity Pads
  12. Baby clothes and nappies
  13. Nursing bras
  14. Disposable pants
  15. Toiletries and hair brush/clips

 

1997 Mum’s Hospital Bag Contents:

  1. Portable CD player (or the minidisc player launched in 1992 for those gadget lovers!)
  2. CDs/Mini discs – (Blur’s Beetlebum, No Doubt’s Don’t Speak and Spice Girls’ Spice up your Life were all chart toppers this year!)
  3. Paperback book (Cold Mountain and Harry Potter were popular
  4. Mobile phone (probably a Nokia 6110 or similar)
  5. Camera (film, polaroid or first digital if you were into gadgets)
  6. Snacks and drinks (water, Orbitz drink, bag of Doritos 3D)
  7. Lip balm (such as Nivia)
  8. Tissues/cotton wool balls
  9. Slippers, socks, nightwear
  10. Maternity pads
  11. Baby clothes and nappies
  12. Nursing bras
  13. Disposable pants
  14. Toiletries and hair brush/clips
  15. Address book (with contact numbers)

 

Mum of two and Marketing Director at Emma’s Diary, Faye Mingo commented: “It’s been great fun looking back at the change in contents of the hospital back of 1997 compared with today.  So much has changed and yet so much is still relevant today.  What is probably the most astonishing is the change in the way we communicate and connect with others and how that has had a direct impact on what we now take into hospital, whether that’s related to the music we listen to, the books we read or how we converse with others – times change!”

 

www.emmasdiary.co.uk

 

 

Hape Discovery Spaceship Review

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Hape’s Discovery Spaceship review Hape’s Discovery SpaceshipMy son has far too many toys so I try to resist doing reviews. Unfortunately I am a soft touch and when I see something amazing that I know he will love I cannot help myself. Which is how we came to review the Hape Discovery Spaceship. First of all, it has everything you expect from Hape: it is beautifully crafted from birch wood, is environmentally friendly, and it is high quality. It is not only hours of fun, but develops hand-eye coordination at the same time.

The spaceship has great detail, and lots of it. It has four different stages of creative play, as well as a lift-off rocket for endless, imaginative fun.

hapediscoveryspacecentrereview hapetoy hapespaceshipreview

The spaceship also comes with lots of great figures and objects. There is 2 astronauts, an alien, a working treadmill, a bed, and a flag among other details. Everything is crafted with excellence.

This is a brilliant and educational toy that will fire up any imagination. It gives hours of fun play. Both my son and I are huge fans. We love it.

 

Minimal assembly is needed to build this masterpiece, it contain only 3 upright panels, 4 shelves and 1 rocket module to build. It is not hard at all, but lots of fun. Designed just like a real space shuttle children can prepare, launch and arrive at any destination.

This otherworldly set even includes characters to play along and share the experience with. Your child can engage with a robot, make friends with an alien or explore alongside the 2 astronaut figures. With a range of friendly characters, your child’s fun will never end. To make the Discovery Spaceship even more realistic, Hape have paid attention to detail, adding elements such as a: treadmill, bed, working elevator, flag and multiple pieces of laboratory equipment. There’s even a fold out solar panel to play on, alongside a moon crater and vehicle carrying oxygen tanks, elevating your child’s imagination.

This 37-piece set is a must have for any aspiring astronaut or adventurer. Children 3 years upwards can enjoy the Discovery Spaceship while parents can be assured it complies with international safety and quality standards, making sure your children have only the best.

Prepare your child for blast off and introduce them to the Discovery Spaceship, for endless out of this world play.

The Hape Discovery Spaceship measures 74 x 47.8 x 47.8cm and is £86.99 from Argos.

 

Explore the Artic with Hape

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Yes, I know we are still waiting for the warm weather but while we do why not treat the children (or yourself) to one of these beautiful wooden puzzles from George Luck at Hape. 

The puzzle comes on a wooden base with two pictures that fit neatly, one on top of the other. It’s so lovely to take off one layer to reveal another picture underneath. Tiny fingers will love the feel of the smooth wooden shapes.

Jigsaw puzzles have long been recognised for helping develop a child’s dexterity skills and shape recognition, as well as the important co-ordination of hands and eyes.

George Luck has created an Artic Animals adventure to be enjoyed from 5 years upwards.

This two-layer puzzle introduces your child to a range of animals from the frozen North. Make friends with the furry Polar Bears, friendly Walrus or even the amazing Whale!  Gather together all 36 pieces and embark on an adventure.

Have fun with your child finding the animals, snow, water and sky to build a truly magical winter wonderland. Watch as the big Polar Bear looks through a hole in the ice, ready to catch its dinner!

This puzzle, as with all Hape Toys, teaches your child a range of valuable skills such as: developing special awareness, hand-eye co-ordination and problem solving skills.

Best of all, George Luck puzzles are created using non-toxic finishes, water based paints, and only the highest quality child safe materials.

Hape’s Artic Animals for ages 5+ is available online from Debenhams for £13.00.

Screening programme reduced life-threatening infection in newborn babies by over 80%

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breastfeeding, benefits of breastfeeding, mum, baby, what age to stop breastfeedingA leading London hospital dramatically reduced the rates of a life-threatening infection in newborn babies thanks to a simple screening test.

New research published today from a pilot study[1] at Northwick Park Hospital reports that screening pregnant women for group B Strep (GBS) reduced the rate of these potentially deadly infections in their newborn babies by 83%.

The results, published in the prestigious BMJ Open come just days after the National Screening Committee said there was “insufficient evidence” to introduce GBS screening for mums-to-be in the UK.

Yet in countries that have introduced antenatal GBS screening – recognised internationally as best practice – rates of these infections have fallen by significantly, by 70-90%.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Strep B) is the UK’s most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies, causing sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis, and claims the life of one baby a week.

Previously Northwick Park Hospital had one of the highest rates of group B Strep infection in newborn babies in the country, almost three times the national average, despite following national guidelines.

To combat this worrying figure, Dr Gopal Rao, Consultant Microbiologist at Northwick Park Hospital, decided to set up the screening programme in his busy UK multi-ethnic community to see whether this would help reduce the rate of group B Strep infection in newborn babies.

Over 6,000 pregnant women chose to have the test. This involved taking two simple swabs (which the majority of women chose to do themselves at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy) – after being given information about GBS.

 

[1] Outcome of a screening programme for the prevention of neonatal invasive early-onset group B Streptococcus infection in a UK maternity unit: an observational study. Rao GG, Nartey G, McAree T, O’Reilly A, Hiles S, Lee T, Wallace S, Batura R, Khanna P, Abbas H, Tilsed C, Nicholl R, Lamagni T, Bassett P. BMJ Open 2017;7:e014634. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014634.

 

 

Humanitas Announces A New Season Of Diddy Rascals Fun

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Humanitas Announces A New Season Of Diddy Rascals FunThe Family Friendly Raves Return To Raise the Roof AND Raise Money for Family, Healthcare and Education

 

Big beats for tiny feet are back, as a new season of Diddy Rascals events are launched for 2017, with the exciting addition of Diddy Rascals Movies, and a festival.

Launched in 2016 by former Ministry of Sound alumni and now part of the charity Humanitas all Diddy Rascals events are not for profit, helping Humanitas provide long-term, professional support to individuals in areas of devastating poverty around the world.  Three basic human rights are family, healthcare and education and this small but mighty charity has been on the ground providing real relief since its inception in 2001.

Diddy Rascals Raves:  live DJs play a soundtrack of classic house pitched perfectly to both parents and kids, while inflatables, face painting, horns and glow sticks give it an authentically ‘old-skool’, playful vibe.   A chill-out room gives younger kids the chance to hang out in the ball pool, enjoy the lights and soak up the ambience.  Ideal for 2 to 8 year old mini-ravers, younger or older siblings are welcome.

 

EVENT LISTINGS

Saturday 20th May, 1-3pm, Half Moon, Putney, London

Sunday 28th May, 2-4pm, Harpenden Halls, Harpenden, Herts

Sunday 11th June, 1-3pm  Hitchin Town Hall, Hitchin, Herts

Saturday 1st July, 1-3pm Half Moon, Putney, London

Sunday 30th July: 2-4pm Harpenden Halls – Harpenden, Herts

 

Diddy Rascals Movies

A rolling programme of enjoyable movies for mums and dads, screened in an entertaining, safe environment that allows mini wanderers the chance to roam and play without fear of being ‘shushed’.   Kicking off with a screening of la La Land on 16th May.

 

MOVIE LISTINGS

Tuesday 16th May Harpenden Halls – La La land (12A, 2016)

Tuesday 20th June: Harpenden Halls – Clueless (12, 1995)

Tuesday 18th July: Harpenden Halls – Pitch Perfect (12A, 2012)

Tuesday 6th May: Hitchin Town Hall – La La land (12A, 2016)

Diddy Festival

Lets pump it up and get raving in our special inflatable fun factory out in a field. Expect all the wild antics from our raves but in our inflatable room, plus face painting, messy play and much more family fun.

 

FESTIVAL LISITNGS

Sunday 16th July, 12-6pm, The Priory, Hitchin, Herts

 

Prices

  • £5 Entrance fee / under 18 months go free.

 

Diddy Rascals Dates & Venues – check website for latest updates

 

Tickets available at www.diddy-rascals.com

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