Eleven years later.
My beautiful girl with empathy in bucket loads, a beautiful spirit and a heart of gold.
She makes me proud everyday.
A loving sibling, a wonderful auntie, a brilliant granddaughter and an adorable daughter.
Still my ray of sunshine.
Still my gift to the world.
Still my blessing.
There is nothing in the world as wonderful as snuggling up with your baby. Infants feel safe and secure in the warm, loving arms of a parent. Now with a Tippitoes Star Wrap, babies can feel that comfort and security by being gently swaddled in the uniquely shaped wrap. It gives a modern twist on an everyday blanket, allowing baby's legs to be safely and snuggly covered while still allowing movement.
Tippitoes Star Wraps are designed to prevent overheating and are soft cotton lined to keep baby cool. A sleeping baby can be moved into a stroller or car seat without being disturbed. The harness fits around the wrap making it very convenient.
Tippitoes Star Wraps are suitable from birth. They are available in pink, cream, blue, lemon and in a printed design for £14.99 from the Tippitoes website.
Inside the Wendy House and Tippitoes are giving away THREE Star Wraps in Lemon in this easy to enter competition.
To win one simply...
Follow this Blog and leave me a comment to say you have done so. (Required)
Tweet: I want to win a Star Wrap with @TippitoesUK and @wendymcd83 Inside The Wendy House http://bit.ly/kpDgAl and leave a comment with your Twitter id. (Bonus Entry)
Like Tippitoes Baby Products on Facebook and leave me a comment. (Bonus Entry)
Like Inside the Wendy House on Facebook and post "I want to win a Star Wrap" and leave me a comment to let me know you've done so! (Bonus Entry)
Maximum 4 entries per person, using separate comments for each entry which include a way of contacting you. UK only. Winner drawn by Randomizer on July 18th 2011. Winners' details will be sent to PR company for prizes to be sent. Please respond to notification of win within 48 hours. Thank you :)
Oxo is an American brand that has been producing innovative household tools and gadgets for the home for over 20 years! They design products as solutions to help ease everyday tasks. Well now Oxo have applied this principle to develop a fantastic range of bright and functional Baby and Toddler products. Their Mealtime Feeding Range provides products designed with the future diners' needs in mind. From their practical Sprout Highchair to a range of spill-proof cups to weaning and self feeding their modern and unique take on feeding essentials is both aesthetically pleasing and perfectly practical. Available in Aqua, Orange and Green, these original products have won numerous design awards.
I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to try out the Oxo Tot Training Plate and Cutlery with Freddy. When it arrived I was instantly impressed by the really original look and feel of the products. The minimalist packaging wasn't wasteful or excessive. I liked the simplicity of the logo and pack design.
The Training Plate is a good size for a toddler and has an ingenious removable ring that gives the plate a lip to help your little one chase food around the plate...perfect for peas and other tricky food!! It minimizes mess at meal times. It can be removed when the toddler gets more efficient, so it will grow with your child. The plate is weighted for extra stability and features a non-slip base. This versatile plate helps your tot become an independent feeder.
The Fork and Spoon Set is ideal for little hands with its chunky, easy grip handles and slightly angled heads. They have no sharp edges and the prongs on the fork are rounded. The deep spoon helps an easy scooping technique and the fork safely pierces food to maximize the transition to grown-up cutlery. A flat spot on the back of the handles stop the cutlery from rolling away...simple but really clever and thoughtful.
The products are BPA, phthalate and PVC free which is something I strongly support. They are also dishwasher safe.
So, how did Freddy get on?? I think the following video can demonstrate just how great this range is! He was able to use the raised edge to help get the food on his fork. It showed that Oxo had really thought about what a toddler needs to gain independence and the action of chasing food against the edge of the plate was very instinctive to Freddy. The cutlery was really easy for him to hold and manipulate. I was really impressed!
Oxo Tot Feeding Range is available to purchase from Amazon and Kiddicare. The Training Plate is £6.00 and the Fork and Spoon Set is £6.00. A Feeding Set is also available which includes both items plus a lidded bowl for £15 from Kiddicare. I love this range and would recommend them to any mum with a toddler who is learning to eat independently. Freddy is doing really well with it. The design features really have made a difference to how well he can feed himself. Thank you Oxo Tot!!
Freddy absolutely hated bath time up until a few months ago. They used to be a battle, but now they are a source of fun! He splashes in the water, getting covered with the warm, bubbly water. It is so important that the products we use are suitable for our little ones. We've enjoyed trying out a lot of different bath products and tonight it was the turn of Boots Baby Sensitive Range.
Developed in consultation with a leading dermatologist, it is the mildest, gentlest product for baby's skin. They leave skin feeling soft and smooth and stop irritation before bed time. They are 100% colour free, fragrance free, hypo-allergenic and dermatologically tested. They are mild enough to use from birth and are suitable for sensitive skin.
Boots sent us the Sensitive Moisturising Bath, priced at £1.99 for 400ml. It provides gentle and caring cleaning. When added to water it gave dense, small bubbles giving a creamy consistency to the bath. It was fragrance free so left no perfume on Freddy's skin. He splashed everywhere but didn't mind it going in his face and eyes. His skin felt soft and he smelt fresh and clean.
Our daughter suffers from eczema and has flare-ups on her arms and legs. She bathed in the Boots Sensitive Moisturising bath and it did not inflame her skin at all. This is a real plus for us because she loves to relax in the tub, but it is difficult to find completely fragrance and colour free products that give bubbles but do not aggravate her.
Boots also sent us the Moisturising Baby Lotion and Baby Oil in this range. They are perfect for moisturising baby's delicate skin. Again these products are also good for Kizzy's sensitive skin. And at £1.99 are a really cost effective option. Also available is a Head to Toe Moisturising Wash and a Conditioning Shampoo. This is an excellent range at a really affordable price. Worth checking out if you have an eczema sufferer in the family!
The Boots Fun Animal Sponge is a man made sponge that is specially made to be ultra soft. We were sent a super cute blue elephant to try. It has a really squidgy, soft texture and feels gentle as it glides across the skin. It goes hard when dry, then softens up again in water. At £2, it is a good cheaper alternative to natural sponge.
Boots also stock a fun range of Corine de Farme Disney Winnie the Pooh products that are ultra sensitive and created to be soft, soothing and safe from birth. They leave skin soft and moisturised. Each product has a cute picture of Winnie the Pooh with his Hundred Acre Wood pals on, which is sure to delight little ones! Priced at £2.69 they are exclusive to Boots.
It's no surprise that Boots have been voted the UK's Top Family Brand, with their wide range of products to help parents at every step of their journey with their babies and children. With a huge range of products especially for bath times, Boots make bathing baby safe and fun! Check out the website for current special offers on toiletries.
In 1999, the all natural, alternative Cuski baby comforter was born. They are manageable, stylish and made using the softest, cuddliest washable organic cotton. These unique and lovable products soothe, calm and comfort babies. They are a much better alternative to a dummy or a bulky comfort blanket. They absorb the scent of mummy's own familiar aroma, which creates a cosy, safe environment for baby to drift off to sleep still feeling the closeness of mummy's hugs. The Cuskiboo is the latest addition to the family, which is made of a special bamboo yarn which has antibacterial properties which makes it the most hygienic comforter yet. It is fully breathable, doesn't shed, is eco-friendly and super soft. Available in a range of six gorgeous colours, in single or duo packs, they make a wonderful, unique gift for newborns. Prices start at £13.75 in the Cuski online store. Cuski are helping babies and toddlers sleep better in 30 countries across the globe. They are the only comforter in the world with their own written protocol for use in hospitals and are recommended by midwives. Suitable from birth to three years old, they are a safe, consistent and functional answer to helping babies get to sleep and feel secure, safe and happy.
Cuski also sell a range of innovative products which are perfect for mums and babies. The Cuski Orthopaedic Kids' Pillow has been developed to prevent future neck and back problems in children. It is sized and shaped to give essential neck support to the growing child and is suitable from the age of two.
The Award Winning Pillow.
Comes in its own cotton carrying bag to take away from home.
The lovely soft 100% knitted cotton cover.
Pillowcases available in Creamee and Minty colours.
The Cuski Pillow is made of heat-responsive visco-elastic memory foam which has been anatomically designed to:
Continuously self adjust to relieve pressure points
Mould to accommodate growing shoulders and natural curves
Keep the spine correctly aligned allowing muscles to relax
Reduce tossing and turning to create optimum comfort whilst sleeping
Young children can't tell us that they're not sleeping well. They aren't able to plump or re-adjust their pillows over night. They can become tired and irritable during the day if they don't get a good night's sleep. They can get pins and needles or numbness that they cannot articulate to us. The transition to using a pillow is a vital point in a toddler's development, but something that is often overlooked. The seven sensitive vertebrae in the neck receive little support from a conventional pillow. Cuski Pillow provides the vital sustainable support they need. This can eliminate future back and neck pain, arthritis and poor circulation and helps induce a more restful sleep for your child. This pillow is the first and only one your child will need during their growing years and is a real investment for their future physical development.
Cuski very kindly offered us the chance to try out the Cuski Orthopaedic Pillow for ourselves here Inside the Wendy House. Freddy was using a regular pillow and I must admit I never really thought about the implications of that decision. He is not a good sleeper and we have trouble getting him to stay in his bed. He usually won't stay in for more than an hour at a time without waking up! So testing the pillow would be very interesting.
I was very impressed with the thoughtful addition of a cotton carry bag with the pillow. It means that you can take it on holiday, to sleepovers or to nursery in its own holdall. The pillowcase was soft and of a really high quality, made of the same 100% cotton as the Cuski Comforter. It is an envelope design so uses no potentially harmful buttons or poppers. The pillow itself is made of memory foam which feels firm but squidgy and moulds to shape. It is shaped with a ridge on the front and the back and a dip in the middle which supports the head and neck. I am a fan of my own memory foam pillow, this looked like a mini version!
Freddy has his own cotbed and we were excited to try the Cuski Pillow. On the first night I awoke with a start at 2.40am realising that Fred hadn't woken up yet. I had to go and check on him. I found him in a deep sleep, snoring with his head gently cradled on his pillow. Impressive!! He certainly looked comfortable and peaceful...check it out on this video (excuse the quality but it was dark!!)
We've used the pillow for the last week and Freddy is definitely sleeping for longer spells in his own cotbed. He stays in one position rather than tossing and turning which is something he did with his conventional pillow. The unique shape of the pillow definitely helps him to sleep in a more comfortable way. His sleep pattern is getting better each night. I am genuinely thrilled with the effect it's had on his (and my) sleep. This is something that I did not expect and so I'd say this pillow is worth every penny.
The pillow is priced at £35 RRP. This is a real investment in terms of having a peaceful night's sleep for both you and your baby, as well as being important for your child's development. It is the only pillow you will need during these early years and it won't go saggy or misshapen. It is hygienic and a top quality product. I'm really glad that I have discovered Cuski....I recommend that you check them out too!
http://www.cuski.co.uk/
Pop over and check out Cuski on Facebook for fun, news, chat, competitions and exclusive fanpage discounts.
Baby's skin is so precious. When I see my baby boy ready for his bath he looks so perfect and I don't want to use anything harsh on his delicate skin. I make sure that I use gentle, organic bath products to keep his skin clean and healthy, but I've never really considered what sponge I use. Surely, if I go to the trouble of using pure, natural products, I shouldn't be using a synthetic sponge to wash him with?
So when I had the opportunity of trying the Tippitoes Seaborne Baby Sponge for review, I was intrigued to see whether it would be any different to use. It is suitable for use from birth and offers luxury straight from the sea bed!
The sponge arrived in its own container, which was a lovely detail, providing a place to store it and keep it clean between uses (once it has dried).
The sponge itself was a perfect size for baby. It is 100% natural, extracted directly from the seabed in specially controlled extraction areas which does not harm the environment. I must admit I did keep having the urge to sing the theme tune to Spongebob Squarepants ...but that is not a bad thing!!
Absorbent and yellow and porous!!
Natural sea sponges are the perfect choice for bathing for these reasons:
highly absorbent
soft texture
durable
long lasting
they hold water
self-cleaning
do not retain odours
won't peel
Tippitoes say:
"This luxurious and soft new sponge is perfect for bathing Baby; its porous texture makes it ideal for gentle cleansing, daily facial care, cleaning and exfoliating Baby's skin."
This is my experience of using the Seaborne Baby Sponge:
When dry, the sponge is quite hard, but when put in water it takes on the expected sponge-like texture and was really soft and squishy. It was very absorbent and soaked up the bubbly bath solution perfectly, making a little product go a long way.
It felt gentle and soft on the skin and Freddy enjoyed being washed down with the foamy sponge. It had none of the 'slimy' feeling that the synthetic sponges have.
It perfectly complemented the bath time products we use on Freddy, and I felt confident knowing that it was completely natural.
It needs to be rinsed out after use and left to dry naturally, whereby it reverts back to its dried state. If well looked after it is a long lasting, quality, baby bath product!
A cheeky bathtime wink!
Tippitoes offers affordable quality and for £7.49 this 100% natural bath time sponge really delivers!
Freddy got stuck in when his Graco Symbio arrived this morning! Daddy was away in Leeds so Freddy had to help me build his new wheels. What a good little helper he was!
Oooh...big box!!
What's inside???
Red and sporty...looking good!
Just get this plastic off!
Read the instructions!
I like the look of the seat...comfy and soft!
Nice metal chassis..looks cool!
Just need to put the two together!
The finished pushchair...I'm going to like my new wheels!!
Well, I am quite pleased with myself...even possibly a little smug! I have before me a brand, spanking new Graco Symbio Pushchair...put together with my own fair hands!
Now, I have to be honest, it really wasn't difficult. Has my husband been exaggerating the difficulty factor of pushchair building for the last 22 years just to impress me??? Or have Graco designed their Symbio to be user friendly from the moment it arrives?
The construction was very intuitive with the parts simply clicking into place. It went together easily and feels sturdy. I sat Freddy in it and he was quite comfortable and safe...so I think I've built it correctly!
I had a little play with the reversible handle and it was such a simple process to switch from rearwards to forwards facing...there'll be more on that fabulous feature in later posts!
I really like the look of the Symbio. It's not like any travel system I have had before. It has big chunky, swivelling wheels and a really modern looking metal frame. The seat is reminiscent of a car seat and is very soft and comfy. The straps are secure and easy to do up and undo...not at all fiddly which is a plus with a wriggly toddler. The raincover fits on with poppers and a zip...I love that idea. Quick and easy!
Everything seems to have been thought out to make the Symbio user friendly. My first impressions are very positive. I look forward to looking at the features in more detail when I put it to the test.
I am now raring to go...just need to figure out how to fold it up to fit in the boot of the car and the world's our oyster!!
Being a mother means being there for your children. We are there to provide the basics: sustenance, protection, warmth and comfort. These are the essential duties that we sign up to from the moment of conception until our child no longer needs us. During pregnancy nature takes care of these needs. All we really need to do is look after ourself and avoid soft cheese, peanuts, alcohol, caffeine, contact sports and bungee jumping. It's the easy bit for those of us lucky enough to have relatively uncomplicated pregnancies.
When our baby is born into the world, no longer safe in the protective blanket of our womb, our responsibilities grow. This tiny, mewling human is totally reliant on us to continue providing these same essential basics. Milk from my breast, an Isofix carseat for protection, a Gro-bag for warmth and gentle cuddles and cooing for comfort.
The nourishment and nurturing we provide sees our newborns grow and develop into inquisitive toddlers. They demand a whole new way of being looked after. Their developing tastebuds seek the excitement of new tastes and textures. Gone are the days of bland baby rice and pureed mush. Toddlers want the tantalising joys of Munch Bunch yogurts, Organix spicy tomato wheels and Fruitshoot My-5 juice. We have to baby-proof our homes with socket covers lest they decide to insert something long and pointy into the holes that bear more than a passing resemblance to a mini shape sorter! We keep them warm and cosy in their In The Night Garden onesies with non-slip soles. We rub knees and kiss heads to provide comfort when their newly acquired walking skills let them down!
Before we know it our child is starting school. The virtual umbilical cord, that held our little ones close over these early years ,begins to stretch and fade as they assert themselves as unique, independent individuals in the big wide world. We provide a packed lunch with cheesestrings, Innocent Fruit Smoothies and the occasional post-it note saying "I love you". We fit our cars with the latest booster seat and trust that the crumple zones really do work in case of the worst. We buy the cosiest coat from Next and insist they put their hoods up. We listen as they tell us that so-and-so said they are not their best friend anymore and we wipe away the tears and tell them that it will all be OK tomorrow. (And if it isn't we will march straight up to the school and demand that the little bully be dealt with!)
The teen years can be fraught, but personally I have enjoyed this time in my children's lives. They face new challenges on their journey to adulthood, and sometimes they can resent our parental contributions. Handled well though, this is the stage in their life where we can see the adult that they will become and feel great pride that we are a part of this transformation. We try our best to provide at least three square meals a day but keep breakfast biscuits in the cupboard and ready meals in the freezer just in case. We become a taxi service on call 24/7 because, although we might miss the series finale of Desperate Housewives, as least we know they will get home safely. (That's what Sky+ is for after all!) We buy them hoodies with the names of their favourite groups or causes emblazoned on the front. Yeah they look cool...but that fleecy lining and hood means they won't catch a chill!! We are always there if they need us...because they will need us. Maybe not all the time. Sometimes we'll be an utter embarrassment to our teens but when things go pear shaped, nothing will ease the pain like a plate of mum's home baked muffins, a listening ear and a hug.
Then they leave home! Nothing really changes...the needs are the same. Bags of baked beans, lentils, pasta, cup-a-soups and Angel Delight get delivered to their student digs or starter home with every regular visit. We pay for new tyres on their cars (we may complain but heaven forbid they have a blow out on the M1) and regularly deliver the "don't walk the streets on your own" advice. We slip them the odd few quid because we know how expensive bills are and we dread to think of our child shivering unable to heat their room in Winter. Whenever we go clothes shopping on the internet we can't help but check out the clothing in their sizes...and more often than not, a medium sized River Island coat or a pair of stout leather boots, that we know would withstand the rainy season in Manchester...will find their way into our basket! When things go wrong, we get the phone call. Illness, a prang in the car, relationship troubles, an allergic reaction to antibiotics, money worries, a drunken stumble resulting in concussion, an argument with a so-called friend, a misbehaving computer or most recently a broken arm....we are the first port of call for advice and sympathy.
Because, although they are now grown-ups, we still provide that comfort that only a mother can give!
