Reading as part of the Bedtime Routine

Fairy Non-Bio, with the help of Timmy Time, have come together to discuss the importance of reading to your little ones at bed time to help them sleep.

According to new research commissioned by Fairy, 8 out of 10 mums read to their children every night at bedtime.  The survey of 1,000 UK mums (with children aged up to seven) took an in-depth look at bedtime routines.  Whilst dads are playing a much bigger role in parenting, this research uncovered that bedtime is still mostly the woman's domain. (Although in my house Daddy is solely in charge of bed times and gets Freddy off to bed every night.  He still enjoys sharing a book with him at bedtime though!)

Working Mums Make Bedtime Work

61% of working mums said that they have to rush through the routine in order to get their child into bed on time, but that bedtime reading remains a priority for them. In fact, 16% of mums would shorten bath time in order to have time to read with the average amount of time spent reading to their children being 11 minutes.

Reading clearly plays a key role in establishing successful bedtime routines and is helpful when settling down children for the night. Other reasons given for reading to kids at bedtime include aiding their development, encouraging an interest in books and bonding with children.

Bedtime Routine: Successful or Stressful?

35% of parents said that their child tends to settle down quickly and easily most nights, with a further 43% saying this is the case 3 or 4 nights of the week.  Unfortunately, bedtime isn't always easy and some parents struggle with the nightly routine. 1% of mums find this part of the day is stressful, and 2% admit to dreading bedtime.

Finding the right bedtime routine that works for both parent and child is important and incorporating reading is a great way of helping children to settle.  Snuggling up under a blanket and sharing a good book is a lovely, calming way to end the day.

Fairy's Timmy Time on pack promotion

Fairy knows how important reading is - it is an important step in a child’s development, boosting speech and vocabulary and teaching essential literacy skills.

To encourage parents to read to their children, Fairy has renewed the partnership with Timmy Time, which includes an on-pack promotion offering a free bedtime book with every purchase of Fairy Non Bio or Fabric Softener.  The colourful paperbacks featuring  Timmy's Bedtime Tales are perfect for reading together.

You and your little one can share the exciting adventures of Timmy, the little lamb with a lot to learn! 

For more information on Fairy visit www.softeningyourworld.com or for more information on Fairy partnership with Timmy Time please visit www.timmytime.tv/fairy

The Fairy range is proud to have been reviewed by Allergy UK and awarded their British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval.

We have been sent some Fairy Gel and Timmy Time books from Fairy.

Dreams...The Secret To A Good Night's Sleep

Philosphers, authors, scientists and poets throughout the ages have written about sleep.  The Dalai Lama called sleep "the best meditation".  Shakespeare told us "To sleep perchance to dream."  George Allen Sr said "Leisure time is that five or six hours when you sleep at night."   Much like the weather, sleep is a pre-occupation with us all.  "Did you sleep well?" is an oft used morning greeting, and stories of sleepless nights are regularly shared.  Similarly, people are all too keen to tell each other the contents of their dreams, perhaps because after just 10 minutes, 90% of what we dreamt is forgotten!  As you sleep your brain recharges, your body releases important hormones and your cells repair themselves.  Sleep is an essential part of life!


Ask any sleep deprived parent and they will tell you that without a good night's sleep they fail to fully function during the day.  Sleep is essential for brain function and without a good 7-9 hours we are soon transformed into virtual zombies!  We actually will spend one whole third of our lives sleeping...so it is vitally important that we give ourselves the best chance of having a peaceful, comfortable, relaxing night's sleep. 


Dreams, Britain's leading bed specialists want to give everyone a good night's sleep and use the latest sleep technology to offer the latest in beds, pillows, duvets and mattresses so we can find the best combination for sending us off to the land of nod.  There is nothing worse than an uncomfortable sleeping arrangement.  It can lead to aches and pains as well as all the issues associated with sleep deprivation.

I was sent a Therapur Creation Pillow from Dreams, designed to promote soothing and restful sleep with a memory foam filling that moulds to the unique shape of your head and neck to keep you comfortable all night long. The pillow holds your head in the optimum sleeping position which is best for your neck and spine.

The pillow cover is made of Tactel, an incredibly soft fabric that draws away excess moisture keeping you fresh and cool.  The cover is removable and fully washable.  It feels really luxurious and thick and a world away from the cheap mesh covered pillows I've become accustomed to!

Unlike other memory foam pillows I have used, the Creation Pillow is full size and 43cm high.  It gives medium to firm support and  feels much denser and heavier than a regular pillow.  I usually use a very flat, squishy pillow so sleeping on this was a very different experience.  My head sank into it as the memory foam moulded to my shape, but still felt firmly supported.  As someone more used to lying flat, I think it will take me some time getting used to having my head elevated, but the supportive cocooning definitely feels very pleasant as I sink into my pillow!  It isn't as soft as my usual pillow, but knowing that this is designed to facilitate the optimum sleeping position, makes me wonder what damage I may have done to my spine over the years using cheap pillows.

At the moment, my biggest cause of sleepless nights is my toddler Freddy and Ian's snoring...good to know that my pillow isn't adding to this problem!

At £59.99 this is a premium priced pillow but the removable, washable Tactel cover will keep it looking and feeling fresh and new.  This is an investment in adopting a healthier approach to sleep.  Knowing how vital sleep is to wellbeing, I think it is definitely worth the expense to find a pillow that allows you to sleep comfortably and peacefully. Check out Dreams Beds to find a pillow perfect for your needs!

Sleep Tight with Cuski xxx

Cuski say "Happy Babies = Happy Parents!"  

Cuskiboo

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/

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