The nappy changing bag is a vital piece of equipment that will enable you to carry everything that your baby needs with you when you are out and about, but just how much do you need to carry around with you?  

Many of us think the bigger the better when choosing our changing bag but then end up lugging around a huge weighty bag full of things that we never use but take…just in case! 

Nappy changing bags come in all sorts of styles, shapes and sizes. Many prams and buggies come with matching nappy changing bags which can make it easy when deciding on the bag for you. My top tip is always go for a style or colour that your partner will be happy carrying and not something that is too girly or feminine. 

What do you really need to carry around with you? 

• Obviously nappies, nappy cream and the all essential wipes and many bags have a small removable changing pad which is very useful.
• Bottles of milk if you are bottle feeding and equipment you will need for your feeds, such as bibs etc
• Spare clothing but not the whole wardrobe!
• Dummies (if you use them), many bags have great little compartments where you can store all sorts of little items that you don’t want to get lost at the bottom of your bag.
• Lots of the bags now realise that mums no longer carry hand bags as well as a changing bag and they include pockets for your mobile phone and purse.

When you choose your bag, try it for size. Does it have adjustable straps, will you be carrying it over your shoulder, across your body or on your back? Does it fit comfortably on your buggy or pram? Is it the right size for you? Remember the bigger the bag the more junk you can carry around..hurray!

Part-2 which furniture do I need?

Many mums-to-be want to have a lovely nursery for their baby and this can involve getting it kitted out with various items of furniture.

Try to remember in all the excitement that your baby will soon outgrow it and if you are on a tight budget it’s not the end of the world. You may spend a small fortune on the gorgeous brown bear wall paper, matching bedding and all the matching baby furniture but in a few short years they may be begging for dinosaurs, ballerinas or whatever cartoon character is in fashion.

Some pieces you can buy will prove to be really handy and make your life so much easier.

Changing mat versus the changing station

·         You don’t need to spend a fortune on an expensive changing station a changing mat will do the job at a fraction of the price.

·         A changing mat is simple to wipe clean.

·         They are foam filled so it will be light to move around from room to room and has a raised edge to stop your baby rolling off.

·         As you use them on the floor you will not have the same worry of your baby rolling off.

However many mums find a changing station easier and more comfortable.

·         They are designed to bring your baby up to waist height so you won’t need to bend over or kneel on the floor. A great aid if you suffer from a bad back as a newborn can have over 10 nappy changes a day!( you may need to check out a few different tables to find the correct height for you).

·         Many also have plenty of storage space so you can keep everything you need for changing their nappy in one place.

·         You can buy them with wheels, which makes it great for moving around and they are normally fixable for safety.

·         They have a harness for safety as you will be changing your baby at waist height.

A nursing chair

A nursing chair is a great piece of furniture to put in your nursery (if you have the space). You could even check out second hand shops for a comfy chair which you can paint, varnish or cover to match your baby’s nursery theme. A rocking chair is a fabulous option for you both to sit, relax, feed and rock them to sleep. You may even get a few extra naps yourself!

Are cruise ships as child-friendly as they claim to be?

With her 13 years old daughter’s help, Jane Archer pits a casual three-star line against a five -star one.

Here, they sail with family-friendly Ocean Village.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/family/1901756/Child-friendly-cruises-Ocean-Village.html

 Author: Lisa Smith 

How many times do you grab a good book, pull your child or children into your lap or snuggle on the couch and read to them?  So many of us are guilty of never finding the time, when reading is such an important skill for children to learn. As a parent we have the greatest influence over whether or not they begin to learn or choose to learn to read.  We can encourage them to learn to read by making books and reading an important part of their life from day one.   

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Author: Richard Smart 

 Pregnancy is a time of preparation, wonder and eager anticipation. It is also a time of nausea, vomiting and constipation, tiredness, swollen ankles, cranky moods and sleepless nights. Add to this the worries that invade an expectant mother’s thinking. Some are rational and based on facts and some not so rational and most likely based on overactive hormone levels. Thinking about these, you will quickly understand while for many a mother-to-be pregnancy is a bit of a mixed bag. 

Nausea, vomiting, constipation and to a lesser extent also hormonal imbalances, can all be linked back to nutritional choices the expectant mother makes. While it is easy to assume that a pregnant woman will of course always choose the healthiest foods possible, the reality dictates that many women still have other children to take care. In addition, they might still be working full time, run their household and volunteer in the community. Thus, the somewhat idealistic notion of the expectant mother resting with feet propped up on the sofa snacking on carrots and lightly toasted almonds is rarely seen. 

Yet even the busiest mom-to-be does not need to despair! Healthy nutritional choices are easier than you think:

 ·         First and foremost, do not skip meals. Even a small meal consisting of little more than a few carrots and a handful of Cheerio’s is better than nothing. The goal is to keep your blood sugar levels even and therefore your hormones in balance.   ·         Iron supplements which are contained in your prenatal vitamins will lead to constipation. Counteract the constipating affect of the iron by snacking on high fibre crackers and prunes. At this point in time, individually wrapped prunes are commercially available and travel great in your purse or backpack.

 Part one – Cots and Moses baskets 

Getting your baby’s nursery ready can be a fun and exciting time.  

One of the most important things you will buy is a cot or Moses basket for your baby to sleep in. Most of us have our babies sleeping in our room for the first six months as advised by health professionals (many of us have them in with us for the first year or more!)    

• Many mums like the Moses basket as the first bed for their baby as it is smaller and more portable than a cot.
• It’s easily moved around from room to room, it will fit it in the car for visits to family and it will probably fit comfortably right next to your bed so your baby is close to you at night.
• If you buy a Moses basket you will still need to purchase a cot as most babies will have outgrown their Moses basket by around six-nine months.
• When you purchase your cot you may find you can get a second hand one for half the price and in good condition or a friend or relative may offer you their’s that they no longer need.
• No matter how well you know them it is always important to buy a new mattress to avoid cot death.

 Cot death 

Studies have shown that when a baby lies on a mattress inevitably the baby’s secretions fall onto the mattress through saliva, vomit and coughs and sneezes. This allows the growth of a fungus and this fungus attacks fire retardants in a way that it releases gases. These gases are heavier than air so they concentrate in the mattress. Babies are much more susceptible to these poisons and it is thought this is what causes cot death. Always buy a new mattress for every newborn baby as the fungus will not have had time to develop, never use a second hand mattress even if it looks like new. 

Mums-to-be need to take good care of their skin throughout pregnancy as skin cell reproduction is accelerated making it important to keep it moisturised and nourished. 

Huge changes are brought on due to pregnancy hormones so therefore to keep a pregnant body in tip top condition some changes or adjustments may be needed. 

Some simple tips for pregnant skincare 

• It’s really important to take a look at all your normal products just to check that they are suitable for use during pregnancy. Many vitamins and creams will state that you must check with your G.P if you are pregnant or lactating before use. If you are concerned switch to products which clearly state they are suitable for use throughout pregnancy
• Try to use moisturising body creams, washes and a good moisturiser. This will keep your skin supple and will help in the areas where the skin could get stretch marks.
• Although a long soak in the bath may relieve aches and give you time to relax, avoid having the water too hot and don’t spend too long in there, as the water will dehydrate the skin.
• Always use a rich nourishing moisturiser to smother over your skin once you have had your daily shower or bath. Make it part of your daily routine and pay extra attention to your bump. There are lots of organic and homeopathic oils and creams designed especially for pregnancy which may be worth trying out. Although a simple non perfumed moisturiser massaged onto your tummy in large circular motions in a clockwise direction will not only moisturise but to help avoid or aid pregnant constipation.
• Never use soap to wash with as this will strip your body of it’s natural oils, use a moisturising body wash in it’s place. 

Skin can alter greatly throughout your pregnancy so it’s important to find a skincare routine that’s right for you. Pick up lots of testers and try them out until you find what suits you and your pregnant skin.

by: Lyta Humphris

Are you finding it difficult to become pregnant? If so you can do many simple things to improve your chances of conception, the way we live can have a big effect on the reproductive system of both men and women and most people prefer natural ways to increase fertility. You may both have to change your life-style to incorporate healthy influences, and eliminate things you enjoy that reduce your fertility.

Alcohol Reduction
Alcohol can put pregnancy at risk. According to some studies, the risk of miscarriage appears to increase with moderate drinking during the first three months of pregnancy, particularly in the first weeks.

Reducing Stress
Stress can have a big effect on fertility. In women under stress, the reproductive hormone prolactin is over-produced and this can interfere with ovulation. The hypothalamus stops secreting gonadotrophin hormone, which in turn will affect the release of both the luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. As these hormones stimulate ovulation - fertility is affected.
Self help for stress is regular exercise, deep breathing techniques, hypnotherapy and visualization - a combined approach can include the following:

Nutritional Improvement
You should not overlook nutrition in fertility treatment – it is important to have a good level of nourishment that will allow your body to function well, and it is of course a very natural way to increase fertility! Bad eating habits can lower the reserves of nutrients that are necessary for reproductive hormone systems to work properly.
Your hormonal balance and fertility are affected by what you eat, your nutrient levels and how well your digestion works. If you are short of essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants, then your hormone production may be blocked - resulting in an imbalance that makes conception less likely.

Acupuncture

Have you ever wondered about the treatment of infertility with traditional medicine and acupuncture? Good candidates for trying medical acupuncture are people who have unexplained infertility - acupuncture is effective for balancing the body’s energies and raising the receptiveness of the body for conception. Men and women with a physical problem, such as damaged fallopian tubes, or a low sperm count, would be encouraged to try acupuncture in addition to their medical treatment.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is exceptionally beneficial and natural way to increase fertility. Hypnotherapists are already using Hypnotherapy to help women give birth peacefully, and teaching them that a normal birth should be a calm and natural process. Learning simple but specialised relaxation, and breathing, and other techniques, make the whole birth easier and more comfortable.
With unexplained infertility, hypnotherapists teach you to let go of the stress you have been holding on to, using specialised relaxation, and breathing techniques. It teaches you to let go of any emotional blocks or worries you may have that can create infertility issues – Hypnotherapy can help you identify and process emotional issues that might be interfering with conception.
In addition to dealing with deep-seated fears, hypnotherapy is effective in stress reduction, and this in turn allows for hormonal rebalancing. This has been seen in cases where there is too much prolactin being produced which can inhibit ovulation. In a relaxed environment at a clinic, you can work together to bring about positive attitudes and beliefs.
You can give your unconscious mind free rein here and allow yourself to be creative, free, and prepared to follow your heart’s wishes.

So there you have it - a range of natural ways to Increase infertility. Choose as many as befits your lifestyle and make things easier for yourself and your baby.

They are such small words that really make a difference yet seem to be so easily forgotten….why? 

I have constantly drummed into my 5 year old daughter that she doesn’t get anything without a ‘please’ followed by a ‘thank you’. She sometimes forgets and is by no means perfect but she knows that ‘I wants’ will be ignored, yet a ‘please could I have’ will achieve her objective nearly every time, as long as it’s not for some hugely expensive toy or sweets full of additives. 

Her little friends that look as sweet as candy, which have been invited over for dinner or birthday parties, however are a different matter. When prompted for their magic word they look at me as if I am some mad women and even prompting has achieved the words abracadabra before a please or thank you. When they have they told me they want a drink and I have insisted they don’t get one until they say please, they are later heard telling my daughter ‘I don’t like your mum, she’s mean!’  

Well if asking for such manners is mean then I will continue to be known as the mean mummy because I won’t and will not respond to ‘I WANT’ or ‘GET ME’ or any other demands. 

Being polite doesn’t cost anything but gets you everything……well in our house it does!

When you think of re-usable nappies images of the good old fashioned towelling nappies may spring to mind where you need hours of tuition to just get them folded into a nappy sized shape before you secure them with the biggest safety pin imaginable! Thank goodness those days are over and in their place are easier to use, more modern nappies that are eco- friendly! There are more pro’s too

• Your baby’s poo is now collected in bio-degradle liners which you can simply flush away and then store the nappy in a nappy bucket until you have enough washing to put on a whole load! Easy! Unfortunately it still doesn’t alter the fact that if you haven’t got the convenience of a tumble drier it could mean you house will turn into Madame twanky’s wash room, with lots of nappies drying all over the place!
• It can save you money, you will need around 20 nappies if you are using them full time and half this if you use them part-time with disposables. Give them a few washes before hand and this will help with absorbency. They are actually best after their 3^rd wash.
• There are lots of different types of eco-friendly nappies to chose from, all with funky designs and different shapes and all around the same price. Check them all out as you can find the one that suits you and your baby best.

If you’re still not convinced, there are a few other points to mull over 

• Disposable nappies can take hundreds of years to decompose and most of the nappies we throw away end up in a landfill.
• Some councils are finding it a huge problem and many are so desperate they are offering incentives for parents to use reusable nappies. Get in touch with your local council, as some offer money back if you buy reusable and some even have starter packs.
• If it’s the thought of washing the nappies or having them left drying all over the house or you simply can’t imagine coping with a baby and all the extra time washing then check out  nappy laundering services and let them do the hard work.

You could always use disposables for holidays or times when you need the added convenience and re-useable the rest of the time It’s worth a thought and may make you feel virtuous that you’re doing your bit for the environment?