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The Perfect gift for a baby – My Sensory Box Review

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Those of you who regularly follow my Instagram stories and blogs you will know that I absolutely love supporting mums in business and when we were given the opportunity to review a new sensory brand we were very excited.

When it comes to babies, we remember the bottles, cots, bouncers, video monitors and clothes, but we can sometimes forget about the importance of stimulating our little one’s senses. Sensory play helps with development, it improves hand eye co-ordination and can promote early language development.

Now, I am certainly no expert in this field, nor do I claim to be but this is why MyBump2Baby loves to work with the experts like Natalie, The Founder of My Sensory Box.

My Sensory Box is the perfect gift/purchase for expecting and new parents. The box is filled with magnificent, colourful props that will help stimulate your babies’ senses whilst creating memories that will last a lifetime.

My Sensory box currently has a unique family of 3, The Fidget Sensory Box, The Original Sensory Box and finally The Bumper Box which is the one we are reviewing today.

 

First Impressions of My Sensory Bumper box

I love how much effort went in to the packaging of the box, it came wrapped in cellophane with a neat ribbon on the right hand corner which showed it was ideal for a baby shower or as a gift when a new baby has been born. It is also ideal for someone last minute like me who often gets gifts on the way to the event

Upon opening the box, it was beautifully wrapped in green tissue paper. I was impressed with the amount of items in the box it was literally full to the brim of goodies.

 

Contents of the Bumper Box

An LED Bulb

3 Balls

Glow Sticks

Egg Shaker and Maraca

Scarf

Ribbons

Foil

Black and White Picture Cards

Feathers

Bubbles

Balloons

Now, you could be like I was and wonder “what the hell do I do with these items?”…. FEAR NOT, I can reassure you that Natalie, the founder of My Sensory box has literally thought of everything. Inside the box comes a fabulous little card with all the features and benefits of each prop so you know exactly what to do with each item.

What are the Benefits of the props inside My Sensory Box?

The Led Bulb provides your little ones with visual stimulation and helps with relaxation. The bulb can fit in to a main ceiling light or a table light and babies can enjoy the beautiful shapes and colours. George is 2 and a half and loved this, he is always asking for the magic light.

The Glow sticks are a great way to add fun to bath time, George and I used them and turned the lights down and put the shark song on he absolutely loved it.

The Egg Shaker and Maraca are great exploring sound; they can use whilst singing nursery rhymes.

What baby doesn’t love a game of peekaboo? The scarfs come in some stunning colours to drape of your babies face to stimulate touch.

The ribbons are a fantastic way to encourage movement and they are excellent for hand eye co-ordination.

What it is about foil and babies? Foil was Georges favourite items whenever we went to any sensory places, he still loves it now.

Did you know that Black and white is the first colours your baby sees? I didn’t until I read the information inside the box, the different black and white picture cards can be placed anywhere and help maximise early visual stimulation

Feathers are included to stoke over your little ones face, arms and legs.

2 lots of bubbles are included in the box and we all love bubbles

Balloons in line with first colours and includes and led light

The 3 balls are a great way to end the session with a gentle massage.

 

Overall Review of My Sensory Box

We love The Bumper Box from My Sensory Box. I can’t believe how much thought goes in to each box, it is clearly something that the founder Natalie is very passionate about. I feel that the price of £25.00 is very reasonable considering the amount of props in each box.

Although the box is aimed at babies, George really enjoys playing with the items from this box too.

I would purchase this box for a friend or family member and even myself if I was to have another baby. I love how compact the box is and the way that everything fits back in to the box neatly and can be stored away ready for the next play session.

**Please do not leave baby unattended with any of the items in the box. Must always be used under supervision of an adult**

 

Where can I purchase My Sensory Box?

The website is currently being built but in the meantime if you want to purchase this item you can click here

 

At MyBump2Baby we recognise how important sensory is and we have hundreds of local classes listing throughout the UK, you can find your nearest class here.

My Sensory Box Review

Moonlite Story Book Projector Review

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I am really excited to be sharing our Moonlite Story Book Projector Review with you. I must admit, bedtime can be a bit of a battle at times and I often hand over the IPad like it is a God given right, so I was really excited when I was asked to review the Moonlite Story book projector.

If I said my son wasn’t slightly addicted to his IPad, I would be lying. Running a business from home means that a lot of my time in the evening is spent on MyBump2Baby and what started as a perfect distraction now causes numerous issues in our house especially at bedtime. You see, Georges first word when he wakes up is IPad and the last words before he goes to sleep is IPad which is not ideal for a 2-year-old and I can’t help but feel a bit guilty about it but it is the only way I have time to do everything.

I have been thinking about different ways that I can put some magic back in to bed time without relying on Mr. Tumble, Peppa Pig or Waffle Doggy. I want to stimulate George’s mind at bedtime and calm him down so he gets the sleep he needs after a long day, I also want to embrace the fact that he is still finds me fun, as sad as it is, I am sure it is only a matter of time before I am locked out of his room whilst he plays his Xbox or Playstation.

The clocks are going back next weekend and with the evenings getting darker earlier – I am hoping this will be the start of a healthier bedtime routine for George. Moonlite has come up with an alternative way to read books, ideal for special occasions or when trying to wean your little one from IPad back to books. I am really excited to introduce the Moonlite Story Book Projector to George.

Moonlite Story reel projector review

Moonlite has a unique, wonderful way to bring story books to life. Moonlite uses a story book Projector which makes for a more exciting bedtime. The Moonlite projector is created by simply using the app on your smart phone. Creating a truly magical, immersive storytelling experience that fuels your child’s imagination like no other.

The projector is a small device that simply clips onto a smartphone and uses the torch to project timeless classics on to the wall, whilst projecting the images, the Moonlite app plays harmonic sound effects. Moonlite cleverly bridges the gap between traditional and digital books, offering a unique and memorable experience for both parent and child. Building story time, in whatever form it takes, into a bedtime routine is essential

Here are some of the incredible stories launching in the UK;

  • The Moonlite Starter Pack (SRP £19.99) featuring Eric Carle’s popular “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Very Busy Spider”
  • The Moonlite Gift Pack (SRP £39.99) featuring Mr Men and Fairy Tales
  • The Moonlite Story Reels (SRP £7.99 each) featuring Spot the Dog and Beatrix Potter The Tale of Jemima PuddleDuck, The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

We received the Fairy Tale Gift Pack and Spot the Dog story reel. Fairy tales were always my first choice at bedtime when I was a little girl so I was really looking forward to sharing some “all time classic magical stories with George.

Moonlite enhances that experience and makes children excited for bedtime, while promoting early literacy.

So How Does Moonlite work?

Moonlite is very quick and easy to use, you can follow the instructions below;

  1. Simply download Moonlite from the App Store or Google Play Store – it’s free!
    2. Pop one of the story reels into the Moonlite projector
    3. Attach Moonlite to your phone
    4. Open the app, unlock the story with the included activation code and start reading

The app goes through each step, showing you the steps to set it up.

Our Moonlite Story Book Projector Review

George was asking for his IPad initially and then as soon as we set up the projector and he could see the pictures, he was speechless. The music that plays alongside the story is magical and we all really enjoyed the whole experience.

I must admit that turning the story reel was a little difficult on my phone – a galaxy S8 which is a little slippy to the hand (my phone has more cracks than my foundation these days). It could be better for me if there was a device attached which you could click and it would turn the reel but I do think the issue is down to my phone and it didn’t take away from the fun we had.

We read 3 books in total that night including; Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the three bears and George has asked for the Moonlite story projector every night since so it was a definite hit in our house. I plan to buy plenty more story reels for the big C!

Moonlite Story reel projector review

I must stress that I am a huge book lover and I am in no way saying that these should be used as a book but perhaps as an alternative to books when you fancy a bit of a change.

Available From

The product is available at all good retailers including The Entertainer, Smyths Toys and Amazon.

 

The Shitty October

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Trying to keep my shit together as a mother, wife and business owner is a hard task, it’s no wonder that my blog has been none existent recently which I must add is bloody annoying and I must apologise.
Social media, mini blogs have become a little more prominent in my life as they are literally all I have time for.

Writing things down is my therapy and a massive hobby of mine so I have decided that a monthly update on life in general is an absolute must, I weirdly enjoy people laughing at my expense.

So the month so far – how has it been?

If you have been watching my Instagram Stories  you may already know how my month is going but if I had to sum up the month of October in one word, I would definately opt for the word “shitty” not cause of any other reason other than the fact I am potty training George.

Now, the whole concept of “potty training” sounded cute and easy initially I must admit… I mean, I have taught numerous animals to poo and wee in a box or outside without too much trouble so how hard can a toddler be..? Man… I was so naive I am actually looking back in time at myself and saying “awwwww”

Turns out George finds it funny to pee on mummy… It almost became a game…

I have been pissed on obscene amounts of times, I have had more splash backs from pouring poop down the toilet than I have ever had from a frying pan and I have spewed on my own mouth at least dozen times.

Poo in a potty is very different to poo in a nappy.. I’m not sure why but it is no longer coming from a “cute baby” and I am finding it increasingly difficult to be happy when he just leaves a dump in the potty. I try my very best to fist pump the air and get excited for him when he curls one out but it’s hard when you know you are going to have to drop that “mountain of crap” into the toilet and no matter how fast you try to do the “drop and run” you will be splashed… The “drop and run” is something that I am sadly not getting any better at.

You see…  the issue is that the consistency is always different… So you can’t really time it effectively.. some falls harder, some falls quicker, some falls messier and some doesn’t want to fall at all. I can’t help but wonder if the term “log flume” was invented by a poo drenched mum – it just seems so fitting!!

On a seperate note, George is now weirdly potty trained in the house if he has no pants on… but if he has pants on he just pees in them.. I have no idea how to transition as he can’t have his bare bum out forever? Then I start freaking out… what if he never does it? What if he ends up being a 30 year old man in nappies? What if our house stinks of wee and I am now just immune and no one tells me… what if we are nicknamed “the wee family“… Oh my …I couldn’t cope… but then I guess I wouldn’t know.. Would I?

Anyway enough about excrement for now… I promise I will be back soon, unless I drown in splash back – ahhh imagine!!!!

 

Top 10 List of our Newborn Essentials for Parents

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Becoming a parent can be a little what’s the word overwhelming, daunting, scary ….I could go on…. I mean honestly how much is there to think about? I for one, spent most of my pregnancy worrying and I began seriously worrying when my pregnancy app sent me an update announcing that my 12 week bump was now the size of a Grapefruit!!! Anyway, he is here now and all is well with the world so don’t worry about that part!!



As you make your way through pregnancy you will see that there are so many products and magazines out there that lure you and state “you need this, you need that” but in reality you don’t need everything they are throwing at you!!!

In todays blog I am going to be sharing with you my personal top 10 newborn baby essentials, the top 10 things that I personally bought, found really useful and would use again and I will also be sharing our comparison tables with each mini review so that we can ensure you find the best price across hundreds of retailers (this is updated automatically).

 

The Tommee Tippee Prep Machine

tommee tippee perfect prep machine

When you are pregnant, do you find that people keep telling you how hard it is being a parent? I did and I was like HELLLOOOO he is clearly inside me now, perhaps you should have told me before I had sex… unprotected, anyway that is another story!!  I would constantly get told about how difficult night feeds are and how you have to make up a bottle and then wait for it to cool down all whilst the baby is screaming. I was truly terrified!!!  Then like an angel my friend stood before me and whispered the sweetest words I have ever heard “Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine”.

Tommee Tippee is a well-known brand for baby feeding accessories and it is one of the most loved and trusted brands in the baby world. “So, what is this Machine” you ask? Basically this amazing machine makes up a ready-to-drink bottle in literally 2 minutes. Can you believe it…? “Impossible” you say??? I thought the same but ITS TRUEEEEEEE.

This is a great buy for any parent who want to make up baby’s bottles quickly and accurately. It is aimed at parents who are ready to make the move to formula milk.

Read our full review on this item by clicking here.

Compare deals from top retailers

The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Electric Steam Sterliser

The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Electric Steam Sterliser is very quick and extremely easy to use. All you need to do is add 80ml of water to the bottom of the steriliser (there is an 80ml line marked on Tommee Tippee bottles) you then close the lid and then push the button on the front. The button glows orange when the steriliser is switched on and goes off automatically when the cycle is finished five minutes later. You must allow an additional 3 minutes cooling time before lifting the lid. The bottles then stay sterile for a full 24 hours as long as the lid remains closed – so you could turn it on before bed, and have clean bottles at the ready in the morning.

Read our full review of this product here

Compare deals from top retailers

 

The Shnuggle Baby Bath

The Shnuggle bath is a multi-award winning bath designed to grow with your baby and has been carefully created to be a safe and secure place to bathe your baby. This bath is very light and is easily transported it is very comfortable for baby.

Compare deals from top retailers

 

Chicco Next To Me Crib, Chick to Chick

This crib from Chicco is amazing and promotes side-sleeping and allows you to sleep close to your child without being in the same bed. This was really handy for me as I had a C-section and found it difficult to sit up and look in to George’s moses basket at first and then we saw the dropside which means I could keep an eye on George without having to move. A lot of the mums we have spoken to also loved this item for breastfeeding.

I kept this crib in my bedroom and used the moses basket for downstairs and to take out of the house, it was much easier for me to have both but you really don’t need both.

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Baby Elegance Bath Changing Unit – Grey Star

I absolutely loved The Baby Elegance Bath unit as it had plenty of room for Storage. I would but all of George’s changing bits in one place and it was really handy. It stood in the corner of George’s bedroom, we used this for changing nappies, getting him dressed and getting him ready for bed after his bath.

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Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles

If you are going to be using other tommee tippee products like the Closer to Nature steam sterliser or the tomee tippee perect prep machine I would recommend getting these bottles especially to begin with. The sterliser fits the bottles in perfectly and they all work hand in hand really.

George still uses Tommee Tippee bottles and he is nearly 2 and half (oops) they have always been good for us, he did have a bout of Colic and we switched to Dr Browns for a short time but after that he was back on the Tommee Tippees.

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The Video Monitor – Motorola MPB36S

The MPB36S baby monitor is amazing and does everything you would need. The great news is you can take it away with you or if your little one is sleeping at the grandparents one evening they will be able to set it up easily too. There are tons fantastic features including lullabies. The image and sound quality is brilliant. The monitor also has built in infrared night vision, and the video remote, tilts and zooms to ensure you can see and hear your baby even if they have wriggled out of view.

Read our full review on this product here

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Bright Starts 5-in-1 Your Way Ball Play, Play Mat & Activity Gym

Yes, we all love newborn baby snuggles but once hubby goes back to work and the visitors have died down you have no choice but to snap back in to housework and jobs mode (I know its horrible) but the 5-in-1 Your Way Ball Play Activity Gym from Bright Starts is amazing with walls that can be adjusted up or down to stop your little one travelling too far. The 35 balls means that this gym isn’t just for newborns and can be used during the toddler years too as a ball pit! Engaging toys include an electronic toucan that entertains baby with lots of lovely tunes. Your little one will love this and so will you!!!

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Pram – Bugaboo camelion 3

I could talk about this pram for ages, from the moment I saw it I fell in love with it. I am not going to lie the price was a little out of my budget at the time at £1300 from Mothecare but since then the price has dropped. The maxi- cosi pebble car seat was used with this pram for the first few weeks which was ideal (I just had to buy the adapters) and then we enjoyed long walks in this pram over the summer and Autumn months. I never had any issues with this pram and would 100% buy it again.

Compare deals from top retailers

 

Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus Car Seat

When it comes to safety, Maxi Cosi is definitely one of the most reputable brands parents can depend on. A few years ago, they introduced the widely popular Maxi Cosi Pebble car seat. With the desire to improve features and design, they revamped the Pebble car seat and introduced the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus. This infant car seat carrier is light, easy to install, and comfortable. The new baby-hugg newborn inlay is certainly more comfortable than the previous model’s newborn insert.

Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus is part of the 2wayFix family, which meets the new i-Size regulations. This means that your child can continue to be in the car seat facing rearwards while using the same base for a longer time, which is approximately up to 4 years old. This certainly simplifies the transition from one car seat to another, as your child grows. Not to mention, a little less heavy on the wallet.

Read our full review of this product here.

Compare deals from top retailers

So there you have it, my 10 absolute must-haves for new parents!!!

 

 



BabyLed Spreads Review – Healthy Food for a Fussy Toddler

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As you can imagine our email inbox is full of brands wanting to work with us to find out our honest feedback on products with a view to share them with parents using MyBump2Baby. Our time is very limited so we have to pick products and brands to review that we feel will be most beneficial to our readers.



Initially when I was first contacted by BabyLed Spreads, I thought it was a fantastic idea and I thought the BabyLed spreads were just for babies but after liaising with the owner he informed me they are also a perfect healthy food for fussy toddlers which was ideal for us and a lot of mums I have spoken to recently.

BabyLed Spreads Review – Healthy Food for a Fussy Toddler

I am one of those mothers that often suffers with massive mummy guilt when it comes to meal times. George is not a “veg lover” which means a lot of my time is spent disguising vegetables by hiding them in the middle of mash or just giving him what he asks for which isn’t ideal as it is usually fish fingers, chips and beans. I was really excited to try these spreads and see if they made our lives any easier and healthier.

My Review of Baby Led Spreads based on a Fussy Toddler

I love the fact that the baby led spreads are simply ordered online and they come straight to your door making it a completely simple and painless process. You can order either 18 jars for £12.00 (67p per jar) or 9 jars for £6.50 (72p each) You also have the option for dairy free jars which is fantastic if your little one has an intolerance.

At MyBump2Baby we are huge supporters of the Charity Bliss and seeing that BabyLed Spreads also supports the charity made me very happy! For every 9 jars sold, BabyLed spreads donates 30p to Bliss and for every 18 jars sold 60p is donated.

 There are 6 flavours;

  • Ricotta & bean
  • Avocado, red pepper and tomato
  • Spicy pumpkin and chickpea
  • Red lentil and sweet potato
  • Green pea, rocket and dill
  • Carrot, Apple and Hummus

The great news about these jars is that they are small enough to shove in your handbag and there are literally no rules with them, they can be eaten warm, cold, mixed in with pasta, spread on toast, as a dip or whatever you fancy. These spreads can be as versatile as you need them to be and they can just become part of your everyday life without changing your routine, if anything these BabyLed spreads have only made my life easier.

 



Mealtimes with BabyLed Spreads with a Fussy Toddler

I wanted to make sure the week I reviewed the BabyLed Spreads was just a normal busy week in our household so I could see if they fitted in to our busy lives without spending time in the kitchen trying to make different recipes with them.

The owner of baby led spreads has kindly added recipes to our Baby weaning recipe section for you to have a look at and I will be making these once I get my next batch ordered but it was important to me that the BabyLed spreads are quick and easy as well as being healthy.

 

So what did I use the BabyLed Spreads for;

The week I used BabyLed spreads, I found meal times and ideas a lot easier and quicker. George had the BabyLed spreads mixed with pasta, spread on toast, as dips with carrot and cucumber and even with some crisps when he just fancied a snack in the afternoon.

 

 

Would I purchase BabyLed Spreads again for my Fussy Toddler?

100% yes, these spreads have taken the pressure off me trying to cook and hide veg within George’s dinners and George really enjoys them. There wasn’t one he didn’t like (or I didn’t like) and I am really looking forward to using them more.

Who do I think they would work well for?

I think these should be in every parent’s cupboards, you can use them as a go to when you are just wanting to whip something up quickly and the long life on them means that you can just use them to suit your needs.

I think these would be great to take on holiday too as they are small and compact and offer you that support with food should you need it. The pots work great on the go too which means you can stick some in your changing back and use them when you need to.

Order your BabyLed Spreads

If you want to order some of these fantastic BabyLed Spreads, visit their website by clicking here.

I would love to hear your feedback on this product and I will add it to this review. 

BabyLed Spread Recipes

If you want to check out some simple recipes using these fantastic BabyLed spreads click here.

Baby Weaning

I used the Bumbo Multi-seat for baby weaning, you can read my review here



Blueberry Avocado Banana Almond Smoothie

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Becoming a Love Island addict again this summer made me realise how old I actually look, so I was on the hunt to find the best foods to slow down aging. The contents of this yummy vegan friendly smoothie recipe have been referred to as “anti-aging friendly foods” so I thought “I am having some of that“!!! And I have mixed them all together and created the ultimate concoction with the hope I look like a 20 year old again!!



Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened Almond milk
  • 1 cup fresh spinach (I get the frozen balls from Morrisons)
  • ½ ripe avocado, pitted
  • 1 medium ripe banana, peeled
  • 2 cups frozen blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon of whole almonds
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Carla’s Method

Place the spinach and almond milk in the blender first, blend until smooth, then add the almonds, blend again then add the rest ingredients in to your blender. Blend until smooth.

*** FOR BEST RESULTS ADD A FROZEN ITEM TO MAKE ICE COLD***

 

Remember sharing is caring!!!!

Check out my favourite green smoothie recipe here



Fisher-Price Jumperoo Baby Bouncer Review

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Ok, ok ….I hold my hands up, perhaps I was a bad mum for Googling “how soon can my baby go in a Jumperoo?” obscene amounts of times per day for the first 6 months of George’s existence but let’s face it we all have busy lives, meals to prepare, chores to do. Sure, being a new mum is great – it is… but when are we meant to get jobs done? I mean, Seriously?



I bought George’s Fisher Price Jumperoo and set it up well before he could hold his head up and yes I couldn’t wait for him to sit in it so I could get some jobs done (there I said it).  Now of course the child inside of me was also just dying to watch him bounce … I felt giddy just thinking about it – I wanted to be the mum cheering from the side-lines (the couch) “HIGHER HIGHER”

The Fisher Price baby bouncer Jumperoo was a real life saver in our house and allowed me so much more time to do things that needed to be done and George absolutely loved it, there are so many different features that George never got bored. He played in happily it until he was 13 months old and he would have stayed in it longer but I was keen to see it go after an influx of presents from George’s birthday.

I decided to share our honest Fisher-Price Jumperoo Baby Bouncer review with you so you can decide if this item is worth buying or not.

Fisher Price Jumperoo Baby Bouncer Review

Fisher-Price Jumperoo Baby Bouncer review

I was delighted when I got my hands on the Fisher-Price Jumperoo and even though George wasn’t ready to go in it right away I made sure we set it up ready for the BIG DAY! I asked my husband to put it all together and it was very straight forward.

When the big day arrived we sat George in the Jumperoo and he was a little nervous at first, I mean wouldn’t you be? look at it!!! George stayed in the jumperoo a little longer each time as he discovered new sounds and lights and got very excited when he could turn himself around.

George often tired himself out in the Jumperoo, jumping up and down like a kangaroo and was always very excited when I put him in it. I moved the jumperoo from room to room so I could get on with my jobs whilst keeping an eye on my crazy child.

What does the Jumperoo do?

The Fisher Price Jumperoo allows your little one to turn 360 degrees, play music, watch lights and lay with different toys. The jumperoo is the perfect play apparatus for a full sensory play within one product.

Age restrictions and Safety

The Jumperoo play gym is designed for babies from 6-15 months
(max weight of 11.3kg and height of 85cm).

I felt like George was completely safe in the Jumperoo and there were never any accidents (apart from some poo accidents of course…. HIM not me, just so we are clear), I rarely left him unattended at first but as I got more confident in the product I did occasionally leave him whilst I made myself a cup of tea.

Style and comfort

This fabulous play gym is full of different stimulating features which ultimately means that the item is bulky and take up a lot of room, however the new design enables you to collapse it easily which means it doesn’t take up too much room.



The seat did seem really comfortable for George, although his time spent in the Jumperoo increased with age, I made sure I would take him out for a bit every 20 minutes but more often than not he would scream to go back in.

Cleaning the product

The item is easy to wipe down when necessary, we did have a few exploding nappies in the seat and the material can be removed and washed.

Compare deals from top retailers

________________________________________________________________________________

Would I get a Jumperoo again?

I would 100% get another Fisher price Jumperoo again, I felt that it gave me the chance to get things done in the house and actually made me feel like I had some normality back in my life again.

I felt that George became stronger and more alert from using the jumperoo

Time spent in Jumperoo

In the beginning George spent around 5 minutes in the Jumperoo here and there but as he became more confident he would often spend 20 minutes at a time in the Jumperoo which was great for me because those 20 minutes allowed me 20 minutes for jobs (you would be surprised how much you can do in 20 minutes).

Is it easy to clean?

The removable seat fabric is machine washable and safe to use in the dryer.

_______________________________________________________________Overall Review from MyBump2Baby

Yes, the product is a little bulky and a little on the expensive side, for me personally, the Fisher Price Jumperoo saved my sanity (to a certain extent) I could move it around the house and get on with my jobs and for the use George got out of this product made me feel the price is definately worth it

Reviews from our MyBump2Baby mummies

At MyBump2Baby we love hearing honest feedback from parents on products, here are some MyBump2Baby mums who wanted to leave honest reviews on the Bumbo multi-seat

“This was a life saver in our house, I have 5 children so as you can imagine I spend all my time doing jobs the Fisher Price Jumperoo was a God send” –  Amy from Withenshaw

“I used my baby shower vouchers on this and I am so thankful as I had no idea how useful it would be” Keely from Manchester

“The Fisher price Jumperoo was brilliant for us, Sophie still uses it now and is 1 years old” – Jacky from Grimsby

“The only problem with this item is it is not easy to transport, I love it and I honestly don’t know what I would do without it, Hattie was so needy as a baby and wanted attention all the time, the jumperoo slowly broke the neediness and in the end she liked being in that more than cuddles with me haha” Angela from Kendal

MyBump2Baby Score
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Price8.5
Easy to Clean10
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Subway® Helping Hearts™ Family 5K race

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Subway® has always been one of my favourite places to go when I need a bit of emotional TLC, whether it be recovering from the “worst hangover”, getting over a breakup or just craving a delicious treat, Subway® has always been there for me so I was thrilled when I was invited to be there for Subway® .



I was invited to Edinburgh to support the fantastic Subway® Helping Hearts™ Family 5K race in the beautiful Holyrood Park. Subway® partnered with Heart Research UK over 10 years ago and the money raised helps fund the Heart Research UK and Subway Healthy Heart Grant scheme; local grants for organisations to promote a heart healthy lifestyle.. My dad suffered from a heart attack a few years ago (a few days before my wedding… but that is another story) so I was delighted to come along and support this fantastic event.

 

What is the Subway® Helping Hearts™ Family 5K race

Subway® Helping Hearts™ Family 5K race day is a special day where families come together and help raise money for Heart Research UK. You can find out about future races here: https://support.heartresearch.org.uk/

 

How much is it to sign up and what is included?

It is £8 per person to sign up when you register online and there are limited spaces on the day for only £10.

All participants receive the following;

Subway® 5k t-shirt

Delicious Subway® lunch box and this includes lots of yummy snacks

Finishers’ medal and access to the fun family entertainment area.

Sign up here

 



 

On the Day

We arrived around 10:30am and the energy was just incredible, I couldn’t believe there were so many things for families to do. I genuinely thought there would just be a start and a finish line but there was so much more to this fantastic event.

The music was loudly beating, families were dancing and the sound of laughter travelled through the light breeze beautifully. On the other side of the field I could see footballs being kicked and watched the happy faces of young children jumping on the inflatables asking their parents to take pictures, whilst other kids were running around with their newly painted faces pretending to be animals.

 

There were games outdoors that suited all ages and there were also guest appearances from the “Subway® man” and the “Heart Research UK” Character.

It really was clear to see just how much time and effort went in to the arranging of this fabulous event and Subway in my eyes definitely went above and beyond in making sure that every family had THE best day possible.
As if all that wasn’t enough, we even got to meet the amazing Christian Scotland-Williamson an incredible NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There was an area that was specifically branded the “NFL Flag presented by Subway®” area where children (aged 5-14) could take part in exercises related to NFL Flag. There were lots of NFL Flag assistants helping out, Christian ScotlandWilliamson was helping out a lot in this area too and all of the assistants were incredible with the kids.

Christian Scotland-Williamson counted down the 5k family run. It started at 12pm and I couldn’t believe the number of families that took part. There were people running with buggies and kids running from the age of 2 – it was such a proud moment.

Every member who took place in the 5k run received a delicious Subway®  lunch box.

The lunch box was filled with lots of treats as well as a yummy 6-inch sub.

 

 

What is the NFL Flag Programme?

 

What is the NFL Flag Programme?

 

Subway® has partnered with the NFL and NFL Flag in a bid to help school children and their families get fit and active. The main aim is to bring the NFL closer to communities by enabling the NFL Flag programme to be rolled out nationally to even more schools across the UK and Ireland soon.

The exciting sponsorship allows the NFL Flag programme to create more partnerships with universities, who have established American football teams, to train-up the players to become NFL Ambassadors. This allows them to deliver an inspiring 6-12-week flag curriculum programme into schools for children aged 8-11.

Respect, Integrity and Responsibility

The aim is to focus on the NFL core values which are Respect, Integrity and Responsibility as well as improve their nutritional knowledge; the importance of getting active; as well as helping them learn how to play NFL Flag. Each 6-12-week programme ends with a regional tournament involving all participating schools in the locality of the university.

Over 10,000 kids in the UK have already taken part in the NFL Flag programme, presented by Subway® and they would love to see more kids benefit from this fantastic opportunity.

Tell schools in your local area about this amazing opportunity for children and ask them to register their interest by clicking the link below;

http://www.nfluk.com/news/specialfeatures/article-1/Register-your-school-to-play-Flag-Football/c4c6df2a-9e4e-4302-a06b-350f3069eb27

 

I did receive payment for this event and blog but all thoughts and views are my own.



Finding a Family Friendly Budget Hotel in Edinburgh

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I was invited to Edinburgh for a job recently and we decided it would be nice to have a family mini break over the weekend. We love Edinburgh and even chose Edinburgh as our honeymoon destination.

Edinburgh is a beautiful city, it has everything you would want whoever you are, with the strange yet beautifully perfect amount of history peppered with the class and style that the modern society adore.




I was really excited to head to Edinburgh again but I wanted to make sure that we didn’t spend more than I was earning as it wasn’t in this month’s itinerary and was an “off the cuff last minute decision”

The only downfall with Edinburgh is the price of the hotels, I looked at prices the weekend before and was utterly “gobsmacked”, my first thought was “how do families afford it a night away these days?” We decided to have a look at for some “family friendly budget hotels” in Edinburgh but a little out of the city centre. I really wanted a hotel that had a swimming pool so we could have a bit of fun if we came back to the hotel early due to tantrums (which are pretty much inevitable with a 2-year-old).

After scrolling through hotel after hotel we finally came across the “Best Western Kings Manor Hotel” located only a 7-minutes train ride outside the city centre of Edinburgh. The price was fantastic and we decided to click to book. The hotel is a dog friendly hotel which originally put me off a little but I must stress that the hotel is extremely clean and well kept.

Family friendly budget hotel edinburgh

I decided to write this review after our trip to this hotel as I want families to benefit from this amazing family budget hotel in Edinburgh like we did.

The Best Western, Kings Manor Hotel Edinburgh

Car Parking

We were really happy to see that car parking was included in the cost of the hotel, whenever we book a hotel I always forget about this additional cost.

Arrival

We walked in to the reception and we were greeted by Olivia who was absolutely lovely, she gave us a little colouring book for George with pencils, presented us with hotel information including swimming pool times, the wifi code and also helped us work out which transport would be best for us to get in to Edinburgh. Instantly we felt welcomed and we headed to our room.



The bus stop is located just outside the hotel and would take 20 minutes, the train is justa  few minutes away which would take 7 minutes or they could call a taxi for us, we decided to drive in to Edinburgh instead.

The Hotel Décor

The hotel décor was a little outdated but what do you expect when your hotel is half the price of other hotels in the area? I’d rather the hotel be a little outdated than twice the price.

The Hotel Room

Upon arrival we were upgraded to a club room which is always a bonus. The hotel room was  clean and extremely spacious, the travel cot was neat and was ready in our room when we arrived, there was a flat screen TV with around 30 channels and a PlayStation 2 which was a bit random but I thought it was a great idea. The bed was a queen size and very comfortable and we had an extra single bed in the bedroom too. You could have easily fit 2 adults and 2 children in this room without feeling to squashed.

There was a kettle with tea and coffee and plenty of biscuits. The room had an en-suite bath/shower which is ideal for toddler bath time (George hates showers).

George spend lots of time at the table colouring with the pack the hotel gave him which was handy whilst we unpacked and got ourselves ready.

Swimming/Spa

We were able to use the gym and swimming facilities during our stay at the hotel which was great. Gone are the days of being able to go for a meal then a few bars and stumble back to the hotel in the early hours – we now have a 2-year-old to think about. Booking a hotel with a swimming pool was important to us, reason being that if George “kicked off” early evening, we wouldn’t have to come home and be stuck in the bedroom all night, we could use the gym or go swimming without the night coming to a halt.

The swimming pool had a baby pool that George could comfortably walk around in, he enjoyed splashing me and his daddy. We then ventured to the bigger pool but it was a bit too cold for me (I have major issues with cooler pools) George and his dad were happy and warm in it once they got in but I used it as the perfect excuse to sit in the Jacuzzi and then move on to the steam room and sauna. Every time they started getting bored, I kept saying to them “wow you are both such good swimmers” and they stayed in the pool a bit longer – what a treat!!

Bar

There is a bar attached to the hotel, I was told the bar is NOT kid friendly which is a bit annoying although I can understand it if people are wanting a quiet drink. There was a restaurant but we didn’t try it, we headed in to the city centre instead.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Overall Summary

The Best Western Kings Manor hotel in Edinburgh was brilliant. I have stayed in some very expensive hotels and the service was incredible. The staff couldn’t do enough for us, the hotel was clean and well-kept and I would definately recommend this hotel to anyone thinking of heading to Edinburgh on a budget.

 

Family friendly budget hotel edinburghTo Book the Best Western Kings Manor Click here

 

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Value for Money5
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Review of the FitBit Charge HR 2 from a Busy Mum’s Perspective

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If you are a fan of my Instagram live videos and can sympathise when I talk about the diet that started on Monday ended on Tuesday and will be continuing the following Monday, then you will appreciate this post.

I was approached by Fitbit to write an honest review on the Fitbit Charge HR 2. This came at the right time for me as I was scoffing my face but not really exercising. I go through phases where I am either addicted to the gym or addicted to food.

Me addicted to Mcdonalds Hash browns

As a mum, it is so hard to find time to actually get to the gym and for me I wanted to see if the Fitbit is a good way to keep me on track with my fitness and eating habits with a view to lose a few lbs and generally feel healthier and happier without the hefty gym membership fee each month.



Ok, so before now, I was very much an indoor type of person, sure I went to the gym but if someone asked me to walk somewhere I would ask “why?” I was the type of person that couldn’t understand why people would want to walk when they drive but since getting my Fitbit walking is now one of my favourite things to do.

The Fitbit has been extremely beneficial for me at work, I work from home and just as I reach that 2pm “how am I going to keep my eyes open” slump, I stick my trainers on, pop the headphones in, press play on my favourite podcast and way I go!!!

Since using the Fitbit I have been a lot more aware of my overall health. I quickly released the reason why I am always tired is due to lack of sleep and I wasn’t dying from an undetected illness (I am such a Hypochondriac). I also wasn’t drinking enough which often made me think I was hungry rather than thirsty. I soon realised that I wasn’t moving enough throughout the day.

So what is the FitBit Charge 2 great for?

 

  • Motivation
  • Challenging yourself
  • Comparing your movements
  • Losing weight
  • Getting fitter
  • Calming Anxiety
  • Being Healthier
  • Logging food and water intake
  • Tracking menstrual cycles

 

What features does the FitBit Charge 2 have?

  • Heart rate monitor
  • Sleep Tracker
  • Activity Tracker
  • Breathing sessions
  • Steps taken
  • Distance covered
  • Calories burned (total)
  • Active Minutes with strenuous activity
  • Floors climbed
  • Move Reminders

 

 

The Fitbit Style and Appearance

Ok, so the fitbit Charge hr 2 is never going to look like the latest Michael Korrs watch, I mean, COME ONNNN it’s an exercise tracker. It is made to withstand the sweatiest of arms and it certainly looks that way. The good news is the strap can easily be changed from “Gym wear” to “office wear” with a simple adjustment. I have a brown leather band for when I am attending an important meeting or conference and my purple band for general day to day wear.

I much prefer the look of this fit bit to other fit bits, the screen is easy to see but not too big either. I did find the watch a little bulky to wear to begin with especially at night but within a couple of days I was used to it.

 

The FitbitCharge2 Hr App

The Fitbit app is fantastic and a great place to go to check out your health dashboard in more detail. In an instant you can see steps taken, floors climbed, activity, your sleep tracker and you can also use this dashboard to input your food and water intake if you want to maximise its use.

I love the fact that in this area Fitbit recognises that everyone is different and everyone has different goals so you can use this section to your advantage to allow Fitbit to help you with what matters the most whether it is drinking more water or getting more sleep.

 

 

Accepting Challenges

I love the fact that you can connect with other fitbit owners and set challenges and competitions. I often take on a weekend or weekly challenge and compete against other fitbit owners. If you want to add me my name is Carla L and my email is info@mybump2baby.com

The Heart Rate Monitor

The heart rate monitor works great for me when I am exercising at home or at the gym and I am trying to reach my fat burning zone. I really like this feature and I do notice a big difference when I exercise with my tracker as I always push myself to meet the zone I need to be in.

Sleep Tracker

My friends think I am lazy because I like to have a nap when I get the chance but lone behold since owning the Fitbit charge 2 I noticed that I only get around 5 – 6 hours sleep a night which is definitely not enough. I often work in to the early hours of the morning. I have now set a minimum sleep target of 7 hours to ensure I feel better – I am struggling to stick to it but I have definitely improved.

Activity Tracker

I love the fact that you can track different types of activity and not just steps. You can now track running, walking, hiking, biking, elliptical workouts and weight lifting sessions. You can select which ones you are more likely to use on the app.

Step Tracker

I did have a slight issue one day with the step tracker, I decided to do an extra-long walk which was around 7 miles in total, however I noticed that during the walk some of my steps weren’t recording. When I got home it said I had only walked 3,000 steps all day and I really wasn’t sure what had happened, after some research I did notice that my band wasn’t as tight as it should have been and I had worn the fit bit charge 2 in the shower that morning which is also a big NO, NO!!! THE FITBIT IS NOT WATERPROOF, I REPEAT THE FITBIT IS NOT WATERPROOF!! It never did it again – I did the same walk another time and it measured around 12,000 steps that day which seemed right.

Breathing

As some of you know, I get the occasional bout of anxiety and I have been told numerous times “it’s all about the breathing”, it often occurs at night and is tied in with over thinking and worrying about things I have zero control over. I have started using the breathing feature at night and it has been brilliant at calming me down and just chilling me out.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Fitbit Charge 2 is supposed to be 5 days but for me it needs to be charged every 4 days which is still a good amount.

 

Fit Bit Charge 2 review summary

I actually love this Fitbit so much and I am so glad I got the opportunity to try and test it. I was gutted that it was not waterproof but I know there are other Fitbits out there on the market that are. I did have that one day with the Fitbit where my steps didn’t tally up but as mentioned, I had been in the shower with it and I didn’t have it on as tight as normal, nonetheless it was bloody annoying. I didn’t experience any other issues with the FitBit charge 2 and it hasn’t happened since.

I do find it annoying that the fitbit is not shower proof, I have often forgot to put it back on and missed a whole day or tracking.

Has the Fitbit Charge 2 been successful with my goals?

Yes, I have lost 7lbs using the Fitbit and simply walking more. I haven’t really been to the gym much whilst I have been walking due to lack of time and how busy I have been but walking has been great for my mind as well as my body.

Would I cancel my gym membership?

No, walking is great and I really do enjoy it but I still love going to the gym for a good spin class. I love the fact that I can use the Fitbit to track other exercises as well as walking. If you are happy exercising out of the gym you could definately cancel your membership and I do feel the fitbit is a great way to monitor your health and progress.

 

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Ease of Use8.5
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