Winter Sleeping Bags for Kids from Slumbersac

Slumbersac sleeping bags have been keeping babies sleeping safely for years. They have ensured that our little ones can sleep, free from the danger of overheating, maintaining a constant temperature during the night and keeping babies safe from wriggling their heads under covers. Slumbersacs are also convenient to use, comfortable, made from 100% cotton and are easy to care for. They have a great range of styles, colours and designs to choose from.

Slumbersac sleeping bags are perfect for babies and toddlers, but they are also great for older children up to the age of ten. Freddy, who is six years old, has been sent one to try out.

He received a camouflage print 3.5 Tog winter Slumbersac complete with long sleeves. It has a full length zip-up front and bottom and is warmly padded. There are some great design features on the slumbersac such as the double zip that runs up and down the front of the bag with the fabric protector at the top to stop the child's neck from being irritated. The separate zip up bottom is a great idea if the child wants to walk somewhere while inside the bag, or give their feet an airing! The elasticated cuffs on the long sleeves stop them from riding up. The Slumbersac is spacious without swamping the child and has plenty of growing room, being 150cm long from the shoulder to the bottom of the bag. I love the fabric with the grown-up camo design, which is perfect for older kids. Freddy loves it!

The Slumbersac allows children to sleep comfortably through the night. Freddy is a night time wriggler and often kicks off a conventional duvet, then wakes up later on when he gets chilly. The sleeping bag keeps him cosy all night through and is ideal for room temperatures of below eighteen degrees. The Slumbersac is perfect for travelling, staying at a grandparents' house or for sleepovers with friends, providing familiarity and comfort at nighttime. It is also brilliant for snuggling up on the sofa to watch a movie on a chilly day or for watching TV before bedtime. This Slumbersac would be an excellent investment for the winter months.

It is great that the Slumbersac is fully machine washable and can also be tumble dried. This will keep it looking good for years of use.

The winter 3.5 tog camouflage Slumbersac is £32.99 and is available in sizes 3-6 and 6-10 years.

Find the full range of Slumbersac sleeping bags, available from birth to 10 years, online at 
www.slumbersac.co.uk.

Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

I recently took part in a sleep survey for Silentnight and while filling out the form I realised just how disrupted my sleep pattern has become over the years.

Becoming a parent is the start of a magical and wonderful journey, but it can also mean the end of having a good night's sleep.  With the early days of night feeds to the interrupted sleep that comes with a bed sharing toddler, a peaceful night sleep soon becomes the stuff of dreams.  Throw the worry of teenagers into the mix and we become so out of sync with our natural sleep cycle, that a good night's sleep becomes even more elusive.

Although we can't control those times when our children need us at night time, there are things we can do to make the most of the hours of slumber that we do have at our disposal when our little ones are tucked up safely in bed!

Tips for a better night's sleep

• Make your bedroom a relaxing place.  It's your sanctuary.
• Keep it peaceful, cool and comfortable.  
• Make sure you have a good quality mattress.  Check out the new rolled Silentnight mattresses for a convenient way of buying and handling a new mattress.  We bought ourselves a rolled memory foam mattress and it is brilliant.  It's amazing how compactly they are packaged, and then they spring up to full size on the bed.  Memory foam is just so comfortable too!
• Make sure it is dark in your bedroom to promote melatonin production.  Avoid watching TV in bed or using backlit e-readers.
• Associate your bed with sleep (and the odd spot of romance!!), so your body gets a powerful cue at night time.  Don't use your bed to do anything stressful like paperwork or revision!
• A light carbohydrate based snack can promote sleep.  Try a banana or cereal. Avoid a heavy meal before bed and don't eat spicy or acidic foods.
• Even if you can't sleep, try to relax, breathe deeply and visualize a restful place. Don't panic!  Focus on all the physical sensations you can feel such as the duvet on your skin and the sound of your breathing.
• Avoid caffeine in the evenings.
• Try to keep a good sleep routine with a regular bedtime.
• Make sure you get sunlight and exercise during the day to promote restful sleep at night time.
• Give some remedies a try.  I was sent some Better You Magnesium Oil Goodnight Spray from Silentnight to test out to see if it improved my sleep.  It is a unique combination of magnesium and essential oils to help promote deep muscle relaxation, a sense of wellbeing and promote a peaceful sleep.  It made my legs feel very relaxed and smelt very relaxing.  I can suffer with aching joints and restless legs that can keep me awake, but the spray and a quick, gentle massage relieved the symptoms. It meant one less thing to hinder falling asleep! I have recommended this product to my parents as I was so impressed with it. (Available from Amazon.)

Hopefully by following these tips we can improve our slumber and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. I live in hope of rediscovering the joys of a good night sleep...I just need to stop my Ian from waking me up with his snoring and get Freddy to stay in his own bed all night through and I'll be sorted!!  Sweet dreams!!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful! So Stay Warm!

Morphy Richards Washable King Size Fleece Heated Under Blanket Review

When I heard I was getting a heated blanket from Morphy Richards to review as part of the Innovators program, I was really not sure what to expect.  My preconceived idea on electric blankets is born from the 70's when old people had scratchy plug in blankets to protect them from the cold in their unheated houses.  However, after having used the Morphy Richards King Size Fleece Heated Under Blanket, my view has completely changed.  It's one of the best things I've ever reviewed!

The fleecy fitted blanket fits snugly onto the mattress.  There is no evidence of the ultra thin, energy efficient nano wires that are woven into the blanket to transmit the heat through it.  It just feels like a luxurious furry fleece.  My usual fitted sheet went over the underblanket with ease.

The underblanket is dual controlled with four heat settings to choose from.  I really feel the cold whereas Ian is less bothered by the chilly nights.  I hate getting into a cold bed and as I usually get in before Ian does, I have to endure freezing feet until the bedclothes warm up.  Not any more!!

The underblanket heats up the bed perfectly.  Having dual controls means I can turn my side up to the  maximum setting and Ian can set his at a lower temperature.  Getting in feels like climbing onto a giant hot water bottle.  Extra heat at the foot of the bed keeps your feet extra warm. It is wonderful!  (It has built in safety features and will shut off if it gets too hot.)

As you warm up, you can turn the temperature down using the controller and the blanket maintains a gentle warmth to keep you completely cosy all night long.  This luxury costs from just 2p per night so it is totally affordable.   This underblanket is definitely going to be my favourite winter item!

The underblanket is machine washable and tumble dryer safe and comes with a storage bag to keep it safely stowed away over the summer months.  It also comes with a 3 year guarantee.

The King Size Fleece Underblanket is £64.99 on the Morphy Richards website.  The single size costs £34.99 and the double size costs £44.99. Other styles are also available with prices staring at just £19.99.

I would highly recommend this item to anyone who like me does not like getting into a chilly bed!  In fact I am going to get one for Freddy's bed, to warm it up before he gets in, as he is terrible at kicking off his duvet, getting cold and ending up in bed with us every night.  This may be the solution!

It would be a great Christmas gift idea too.  Perfect for elderly relatives or kids alike to keep them super snuggly this winter!
 

Snoozing with Daddy

Silent Sunday Snooze

The excesses of Christmas caught up with 18 month old Fred and big sister 19 year old Megan x