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The Importance of Life Insurance – A True Story

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MyBump2Baby are proud to be working with financial advisors throughout the UK to raise awareness on the importance of protecting your loved ones. Protecting our families is often something that is put on the “back burner” and sometimes forgotten about until the worst happens and sadly by then it is too late. Here is an article from Lauren who runs MyBump2Baby Newcastle Upon Tyne . Lauren sadly lost her much loved mother in 2019 and shares her experience on the importance of life insurance and how it can help families at such a traumatic time.

Life insurance seems to be one of those things that you don’t really think about until it’s too late, but that shouldn’t be the case.  Everyone seems to know why it is so important to us all, BUT a lot of us choose to ignore what would happen if we were to die suddenly without having any life insurance in place.  If this was to happen without us having life insurance in place, it could potentially have devastating effects for your family which could result in being left with a large bill to pay for your final expenses, or even worse, losing their family home because they can’t afford to repay the mortgage.

Unfortunately, I lost my mum last year on 9th December and honestly life insurance was not something I had ever thought about until this day.  You don’t realise how important life insurance really is until you’re on the other side of it.  On top of dealing with the sudden loss of my mum, we had to plan the funeral and all of the expenses that came with it.  I never realised how expensive it was to organise and pay for a funeral!  My mum and dad have always been good with money and savings, so whilst we didn’t rely on the money to pay for the funeral, it was still a worry to think about how expensive a funeral could be.

I have two children myself who are nearly 3, and one and a half, and at the time of my mum passing I still lived in the family home with them, my partner, my mum, my dad and my sister, and whilst the house is like Mary Poppins’ handbag, it was definitely a squeeze for us all to be living there.  I’ve always wanted a house of my own to raise the girls and make our own memories but with the cost of houses these days it never seemed to be a possibility.  Whilst losing my mum was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life, I will always be thankful that something good came out of it – in a weird kind of way.  So, my dad decided that once we had everything sorted he was happy to split the money between myself and my sister because he wanted us to get on the property ladder.  Thanks to my mum we now have our first family home, mortgage free, so there is no stress and worrying about paying the mortgage, which with two kids can be so stressful to worry about! It makes me sad that mum isn’t here to pop round for a coffee and see the house and make more memories with us but I will be forever grateful that because my mum had her life insurance we were able to use it to get our first family home.

That’s just my own personal story, and I know that everyone’s stories differ but the importance of life insurance really is paramount to your family.  Life insurance can help your family to pay off your debts, provide for your children, give peace of mind to your family financially, even if your life insurance is for a small amount it will mean more to your family than you could ever possibly imagine.

To get in touch with your local MyBump2Baby financial advisor please fill in our contact form with your name, telelphone number and town name and we will pass your details on to your nearest advisor.

Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Pram Review 

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Today’s it is all about the Bugaboo Cameleon 3, this pram is so popular that even celebrities have been spotted using it. Bugaboo has been loved since 2005, it’s stylish and easy to use, making it a favourite for lots of parents. We are very excited to introduce our Bugaboo Cameleon 3 pram review.

What’s included with the Bugaboo Cameleon 3:

  • Chassis
  • Fabric base seat
  • Fabric base carrycot
  • Underseat bag
  • Raincover
  • Tailored fabric set

This stylish pram is available in many colours, meaning that you can match the pram to the colour that you desire. There are 4 base colours – Dark Brown, Sand, Dark Grey and Black. The tailored fabric set is available in 8 different colours – Orange, Off-White, Red, Sand, Royal Blue, Petrol Blue, Black and Pink.

 

 

Build:

Sturdy yet slim. The brand new Bugaboo Cameleon 3 has adopted the same central shape as its previous models. It is totally recognisable through maintaining this shape. It’s slim build is reflected in the weight of the pram, as it weighs just 9.6kg.

The pram has a large basket underneath the baby seat, so you can store anything you may need to take out with you in there.

 

Adjustability:

The pram offers an adjustable handle height, ranging from 100cm to 111cm, which is helpful for parents of different heights. It’s easy to adjust, just click the catches on either side of the handle bar. It clicks into 7 different locations, making it easy for parents to select the appropriate height. The catches just need to be clicked back into place to lock the handle in the chosen position.

One fantastic feature of this pram is that the handle can be adjusted up and over the seat, so you don’t have to take your child out of the seat when sitting at the table in a restaurant. It’s perfect if your child is in the ‘front facing’ position and you go to sit down somewhere. You can just spin the pram around to face you without having the handle in the way. No more having to wake your baby up unnecessarily!

Only the suspension on the front wheels can be adjusted on this pram, and not in the traditional way, yet it’s still simple. The rear tyres are now made with foam, making it incredibly easy to maintain cleanliness.

 

Driving:

Driving the Bugaboo Cameleon couldn’t be easier, it has 4 tyres. The two front tyres are 6 inches and the rear tyres are 12 inches. It’s stable and lightweight, making it easy to push. It is meant to last years, hence why Bugaboo decided to make it possible to adjust the swivel wheel based on your baby’s weight. Ensuring a comfortable journey for your baby.

Now here’s the best feature, it can be tough pushing a pram through sand or mud, but this pram makes life loads easier. You can convert the pram into a two wheel pushchair and adjust the handle in order to pull it along behind you. Pushing a pram has never been so easy!

One negative that we have to say is that the brake on the pram is not as easy as it should be to use. The button is hard to squeeze and can often hurt parents if they’re not careful. This is a major downside in my opinion. While the brake works well, it does need some improvement. However, there is potential that over time, the brake will become less stiff.

 

Comfort:

Of course your baby’s comfort plays a huge part in which pram you choose. This pram is comfy and features a 5 point harness, ensuring that your baby is secure everywhere you go. The foam filled tyres offer a smooth journey for your child. The pram has 3 seat reclining positions too, so that your child can be comfortable no matter what they’re doing.

 

Folding:

Firstly, the seat must be removed to fold the pram. Folding the pram can take a few attempts to get it right, but once you’ve done it, it’s easy. All you have to do is press in two buttons on either side of the pram and then lift the chassis, sorted.

The only problem is that you have to try and stop the handle from touching the ground, which is not usually a problem, unless it’s muddy and wet. However, saying that, the handle is easy enough to wipe clean.

 

Conclusion if the Bugaboo camelion 3 Pram:

We rate the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 –  5/5. 

It’s stylish and easy to adjust, with only a couple of small issues. This impressive pram can be tailored to the style that you want and how can you say no when celebs use it!

The braking issue is likely to resolve itself over time, through use.

Bugaboo have done an amazing job adopting the features of previous Bugaboo models in this one.

 

“The Bugaboo is fantastic, I often go for lunch with my friends and I love that I can adjust the handle without taking my baby out of her pram.” – Hannah, 29.

 

“We tried a few other prams before we found this one, and what a great choice,. I loved that I could tailor the colour scheme to suit us. I can hardly fault this pram, the braking was a bit stiff at first, but it soon resolved itself.” – Jo, 35.

 

What is Play Therapy and how does it work? A guest blog by Nicki Malcolm

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If you have ever wondered “What is play therapy” or “how does it work?” this guest blog, written by Play Therapist, Nicki Malcolm explains it all….

Play and Creative Arts Therapy is a powerful intervention where individuals (all age ranges) use sand and symbols/miniatures or other creative forms to makes sense of their inner world. This change facilitates the unconscious to become conscious in a safe, protected and holding therapeutic relationship.

I think about ‘trauma’ as a wide spectrum that differs from someone’s personal experience. During this process of when we haven’t been able to access the frontal lobes to process the trauma (logically, understanding, thinking and reasoning) it can get ‘stuck’ in the part of our brain which we know as the limbic system. The right hand side of the brain stores memories as pictures while the left hand brain uses verbalisation and reasoning to make sense of these images.  This is why Play and Creative Arts Therapy is so amazing and powerful as individuals can project their stories/pictures onto the medium of creativity and play, allowing both sides of the brain to begin to comminute with each other and therefore processing experiences.

When a child is struggling they will express themselves through behaviour, this can present as anxiety, depression, anger/aggression, withdrawn, ADHD, school refuser, self-harm, low self-esteem/worth and many more. These behaviours are a way of communicating to an adult that they are struggling and haven’t got the words to explain how they are feeling or are unable to make sense of their thoughts as mentioned previously with the right/left hand side of the brain function.  Such behaviours can be caused by bereavement, divorce, abuse, neglect, and a depressed or additive parent/carer, lack of parent/carer attachment.

As we know, play is an essential and natural part of child development.  It is a natural medium of self- expression and exploration.  These sessions provide a safe space and a non-judgemental relationship where a child can express such feelings of anger, rejection, failure, abandonment, loss etc.  During the session they can start to process and make sense of their inner world.  This therapy work allows the unconscious process and the magical journey of healing to occur as the child develops a sense of self.

“It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.”  D.W. Winnicott British pediatrician 1896–1971

Individuals that I work with are usually stressed and struggling in school and at home or even both, many are school refusers, cause disruption or can be at the opposite end of the spectrum and be withdrawn and ‘not seen’ by the adults, they have major melt downs and are ‘difficult’ in general. Teachers and parents are often at a loss with the behaviour and have either not got the skills or the time to support the child.  I want to emphasise that this is in no way a criticism of teachers or parents, they have many things to juggle, whilst still trying to be the best they can be for the child.  I know many teachers that give over and above on a daily basis and feel frustrated and defeated that they haven’t got the time to spend supporting children more with their emotional needs.  Likewise parents/carers are doing the best that they can do with the techniques that they know and that have been passed onto them. (I have done exactly the same) We as parents want the best for our children, we want them to conform, play by the rules, be happy and well adjusted, have fun, make friends and the list goes on.  When our children present us with challenges through their behaviour, disconnection occurs in the parent/carer/child relationship.  This causes a lot of pain and feelings of failure etc on both parties.

Recently schools have now provided or are providing a Mental Health Lead to support children as we see that mental health is increasing.  It is part of their role to identify children that are struggling and support them and provide them with other outside inventions (therapy etc) if needed.

In today’s society, we could blame lots of external and environmental changes in our modern world, which of course does have an impact on our children, but fundamentally, it is my belief, that we pass our ‘inner story’ onto our children on an unconscious basis.  What we tell them, how we respond to situations and experiences is a blueprint of their belief system.  Imagine our brain as a filing system, when we experience a situation, emotion we unconsciously search our filing system to see how we should respond or react.  It searches through many files and then finds the file and that is how we respond based on past experiences. Play therapy helps to change/challenge our belief system and create our own blueprint that doesn’t allow us to follow the same pattern that replays itself from generation to generation.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Carl Gustav Jung

A Play and Creative Arts therapist will belong to a professional organisation that has been accredited by the PSA (Professional Standards Authority) and has had years of theory and practical training.  Some therapists, depending on training provider (PTUK, BAPT, and BAPT) have had their own therapy as they have had to process and become aware of their ‘inner story’. This assists the client in being able to process and heal, the client needs to feel unconsciously and consciously held by their therapist, feeling safe to bring what they need to in their therapy sessions and not have their therapist counter transfer their beliefs and emotions onto them, leaving the client feeling unheard and judged.  A trained therapist has to go through a tough process of being aware of themselves and is constantly learning and evolving.

As a therapist, I need to allow some time for self- care as sometimes my role can be emotionally challenging. I spend time meditating and being creative myself.  I don’t see my role as a job, it’s my calling and passion. I love what I do supporting children, teens, adults and families.

For more information check out Nicki’s websites by clicking the links below;

nickimalcolm.com

www.blossomingconnections.co.uk

Babbabox – an amazing newborn gift set which is eco-friendly too!

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When it comes to buying gifts for those close to me, I can be very sentimental. I love buying thoughtful presents for loved ones which they can keep forever and this is particularly true for new babies! When my own son was born, I loved received keepsake presents which we can look back on in years to come and revisit those special memories which are over so quickly! I just wish that, a year ago when he was born, I had heard of Babbabox and seen the amazing newborn gift set they do which is eco-friendly too!

Babbabox Co was formed in January 2019 to provide outstanding worthwhile gifts which don’t break the bank. All items are made to order in a workshop in Essex. Babbabox have created the perfect mix of gifts which are unique, bespoke and sentimental yet still practical and made with fantastic quality materials.

Everyone loves a memory box and Babbabox create personalised, bespoke wooden boxes to keep those special memories safe.  Each range has a Royal theme. For a mini box you can choose from the Duke & Duchess or Earl & Countess options or you could go for the ultimate bespoke keepsake option from the King & Queen or Prince & Princess options. Regardless of which option you choose from they are all stunning and amazing value for money.

We were sent a selection from the Duke and Duchess range which included a box, maracas (with a gorgeous ladybird design), spoon, muslin and teether.  Each of the items is personalised with the name of your choice. All of the items, except for the muslin, are crafted from fine quality wood which means that not only do they look beautiful but they are eco-friendly too as they are bio-degradable! You can choose from pink or blue muslins

The box comes wrapped in recycled craft paper which looks amazing or you can upgrade your order to a jute bag to complete the look for an extra £5.00. When you remove the wrapping, you are presented with an exquisite box (of varying sizes depending on what you order) with gorgeous detailing.  The lid comes embossed with the child’s details. You could choose to have a full name or start it off with Prince or Princess. You can even choose which font you would prefer to have! The boxes come with beautiful locks and some have matching corners which compliment the box and make it look extra special.

The most expensive of the range would be the King and Queen range which includes;

Muslin cloth

Wooden spoon to capture their first bites

Teddy bear shaped teether

Mini wooden train

Mini wooden comb and hair brush

Pair of maracas in their own personalised box

Dummy clip in a personalised box

Wooden cube with date of birth, initials, height, time of birth personalised on the cube

Each item is beautifully made and the added personalisation makes it extra special. Imagine how it will feel to brush your baby’s first curls with a personalised wooden brush which can then be safely stored for years to come with those extra special memories always intact. Or to watch your child play with a handmade wooden train or teether instead of the plastic we have become accustomed to.

Not only do Babbabox create these magical gift sets for new babies but you can purchase items separately too. If you wanted to provide sustainable items for your child you can purchase maracas, sensory toys and unique items such as a personalised wooden shoe with laces to help your child learn how to tie their shoelaces. They even have a special box containing a wooden toothbrush, capsule timer and a tooth box for when your child gains their very first tooth!

Everything Babbabox create is magical and unique. Whether it is a newborn gift you are looking for or something special and unique as a Christmas gift or an EID box, Babbabox have something incredible to choose from.

To see the whole range or to order visit the Babbobox website by clicking here.

Mamas and Papas Announces Store Closures

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We were incredibly sad to hear about the closure of 6 mamas and papas stores. Will 2020 be the death of the high street? Do you shop online to save time and money? We would love to hear your thoughts.

Only 6 days ago Mothercare announced that they had gone in to administration. And today, Mamas and Papas have announced the closure of 6 stores. The retailer has now made 73 staff members redundant with immediate effect and a further 54 roles are now at risk.

Mamas & Papas announced that its unprofitable stores in Aberdeen, Preston, Milton Keynes, Lincoln, Leamington and Fareham have closed this Friday. Mamas and Papas have stated that its remaining stores will continue to trade as normal, they have also announced that going forward they are looking to “simplify” operations at their head office in Huddersfield, which ultimately could lead to further job losses.

Mamas and Papas was founded in 1981 in Huddersfield by David and Luisa Scacchetti and rapidly grew but was bought by Bluegem after a restructuring process only five years ago.

Riccardo Cincotta, executive chairman of Mamas & Papas, said: “These actions are always difficult but they are also necessary in a challenging market to ensure Mamas & Papas achieves its considerable future potential. We remain fully focused on maintaining our position as the UK’s most popular nursery brand. We will continue to review our store portfolio in the light of customers’ changing behaviour and we remain fully committed to an omni-channel offering that reflects their evolving needs.”The retailer said all customer orders, including outstanding orders placed with the closed stores, are unaffected by the administration and will be “delivered on time without disruption”

Thoughts are with all those who have been made redundant.

The Egg Stroller Pram Review

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At MyBump2Baby we love to give parents an honest review of products and services before you hit the purchase button. Having a baby can be an expensive time and it important you know exactly what you are getting for your money.

Here is our review on the Egg Stroller Pram Review

MyBump2Baby review the Egg Stroller pram

The egg brand began back in 2015, and it has advanced and been very popular since then. The company egg manufacture luxurious prams for the style conscious parent in mind. The egg pram is modelled on an actual hen’s egg, which is why it is designed using a curved structure. This pram offers many different styles and colour schemes, making it a stylish and luxurious pram, whilst still being comfortable for both parent and child.

The Egg Stroller Pram Review

Features:

  • Chassis
  • Seat unit
  • Seat cover
  • Choice of colour
  • Insect net
  • Raincover

 

Add ons: 

  • Carrycot
  • Footmuff
  • Car seat adapter
  • Seat liner
  • Umbrella
  • Changing bag
  • Cup holder

 

Comfort of the Egg Pram

With three different seating positions, the egg is perfect for allowing your baby to sleep or sit up and look around. It’s ‘carrycot’ sleeping position is great for supporting your baby’s spinal development. Egg have developed a seat that is comfortable, with durable material and a hood providing blackout technology. There is a footrest included for your baby, with three different positions, meaning again that this pram is very versatile and comfort is key to the egg company.

 

Adjustment of the Egg Pram:

Functionality has obviously played a huge part in the development of this pram, as a parent you are able to just lift a lever to adjust the seat, even with your baby still in the pram! The pram’s handle has five different height positions as well, making it perfect for any height. It’s incredibly versatile. Adjusting the handle couldn’t be any smoother, the handle is quite padded, which only adds to the comfort of the pram.Unfortunately, the basket attached to the pram is not the biggest on the market, meaning that it’s only suitable for a couple of bags.

 

Driving the Egg Pram:

The egg pram drives very easily, with stability and security both in place. Even tough experiences, such as getting your pram up on the kerb is made easy due to the handle and weight distribution of the egg pram. It weighs just over 13kg, the perfect weight for a pram. The egg pram has durable and puncture proof tyres, that have been produced to ensure a comfortable journey. Egg have developed the wheels to include a spring, reducing the rattling and wobbling of the pram. Parents reported that when pushing the pram, it felt very ‘together’ and ‘sturdy’. It is clear that quality is an important factor of egg prams. It’s braking technology is also very clever, the parent will press the brake for it to engage and press it again for it to disengage, no more hurting your feet on tricky brakes!

 

Folding the Egg Pram:

One key feature that many parents research whilst searching for the perfect pram is how easily it folds, it is key that it fits in the boot of your car. To collapse the egg, the seat must initially be removed, next the handle needs to be adjusted to its lowest position, then you must twist the handle towards your body. Finally, a strap must be pulled from the middle of the seat to fully fold the pram. One negative that we found through research is that when folding the pram, the handle touches the wheels, which can be a pain if the wheels are muddy. However, there’s no denying that the pram is easy to fold and it does fold small enough to fit in a car boot.

 

Conclusion of the Egg Pram:

It’s not hard to see that we rate the egg pram very highly, it’s almost faultless. It’s a gorgeous design, that focuses on luxury whilst maintaining comfort for both parent and child. It’s durable, which means it will last. The only real negative that we found can be solved with a quick wash, so we can’t really complain.

You can purchase the Egg Pram here.

 

We give the egg pram 5/5.

 

Here is what some MyBump2Baby mums think;

“The egg pram was the best on the market when we bought it, and it still is now. It’s so easy to push and folds so well in the car, which is perfect for our days out!” – Claire, 36.

“I love that this pram has so many adjustments for both me and my baby, it’s great that I can adjust the position of the seat if my baby is asleep. I can’t really fault the egg.” – Sophia, 29.

please note: The links in the article are affiliate links and we may earn commission from the provider on the products purchased.

Three Top Tips for Your First Trimester from The Birthing Coach Bournemouth

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This is an expert article from our expert coach Tanya Bunting  Tanya Bunting is a birthing coach based in Bournemouth. Today Tanya shares her three top tips for your first trimstester. If you would like to to learn NLP and Hypnosis for a relaxing pregnancy and a comfortable birth visit her website

Three Top Tips for Your First Trimester

 I’ve lost count of the number of times that my pregnant colleagues or clients have noted how tired or sick they are feeling in the first trimester and each time I hear them; I remember it well!

If you’re currently pregnant, I’m sure you remember that moment when it suddenly dawned on you that you might be pregnant. Maybe you missed your period or maybe, like me, you noticed a few tell tale signs that got you thinking.

 

Morning Sickness in the first trimester

Almost 30 years later, I clearly remember an uneasy tummy on route to college. It wasn’t the sort of tummy upset that turns you off your food, in fact it lured me into eating a British Rail Breakfast from the buffet car. After a few days, the nausea hit before I left the house so having decided that I must be ill, I phoned in sick and skipped a day from teacher training college. I was dozing in my bed when I suddenly realised it was morning sickness. With that, I was up and out, running to the chemist at top speed with a full bladder and returning home to confirm a positive pregnancy test within the hour. Lucky for me, the nausea subsided after the first trimester; unlike my second pregnancy when it continued until my daughter was born and required me to leave my classroom on a regular basis. If only I knew then what I know now…

Richard Bandler, Co-Creator of Neuro Linguistic Programming [NLP], teaches his students and clients to recognise their feelings. He notes that e-motion is energy moving; and, that the Vagus nerve that wanders from the brain into the organs in the neck, chest and abdomen has so many nerve endings that we are able to sense the direction in which the feelings are moving. So much so that you can recognise the direction and shape of the feeling. To combat unwanted feelings in NLP, we teach people what they can do to instantly reduce or stop the feeling. So, the next time you feel nauseas you can:

 

 

Top Tip 1: Dissolve Discomfort & Reverse the Feeling of Morning Sickness

 

  1. Notice the feeling inside your body. Where does it start? How does it move? Which direction does it spin? [Clockwise? Anti-clockwise? Forwards? Backwards?] To realise this easily, spin your hand in the four directions and sense which spin “fits” best with what you’re feeling inside.
  2. Slow the feeling down. Notice how you can make it STOP!
  3. Now, spin it the opposite way and notice that discomfort dissolve.

 

The term Morning Sickness is misleading as it can occur at any time of day or night! It also affects people differently. Whilst some Mums can just get on, others have more severe symptoms and may even need to avoid certain foods or smells that exacerbate the symptoms. If you have noticed certain trigger foods, you can use the next NLP strategy to switch your thoughts to something more comfortable.

 

I guess that if you remember a food or activity that makes you nauseas now, there will be a picture, sound or smell associated with it. If you dwell on it, the feeling gets worse, does it not? So, not only can you slow down, stop and reverse the spin; you can also swop the picture, sound or smell to something more palatable using another NLP technique called the swish pattern.

 

Top Tip 2: Swish Pattern: Switch a negative to a positive in 5 Easy Steps

 

  1. Notice the picture that forms in your mind when you feel nauseas [e.g. roller coaster or trigger food]
  2. Remember a picture that makes you feel comfortable [e.g. a calm place or a favourite meal]
  3. Bring up the “Nauseas” picture in your mind and insert the “Comfortable picture” in the bottom left hand corner.
  4. Count to three and then gently swish the pictures quickly so that the “Nausea” picture shrinks down, and the “Comfortable” picture appears as life size in your mind. Do this 4-5 times. As you feel more and more comfortable; swish [or swop] quickly so that you rewire your neurology to focus on the good picture. Turn the colours up, notice any sounds or pleasant smells and notice how much better you feel.
  5. Now, notice the good feeling associate with the “comfortable” picture; gauge which way that feeling is spinning and make it spin faster and faster, noticing that any unwanted sensations can be replaced with a renewed feeling of comfort.

 

It’s also important to get plenty of rest because tiredness can make nausea worse.

 

The example above has been written to support you to swish from nausea to comfort. You can follow the same steps to swish [or switch] form any negative thought or picture in your mind to a positive. One of my Mums in her third trimester recently arrived late for a Painless Childbirth Session because she was tired and emotional and focusing on a negative aspect relating to her workload prior to going on maternity leave. When I spoke with her, she actually wanted to focus on the final preparations for welcoming her new baby into our world. So, we combined the two strategies outlined above by swishing the picture, stepping into the new picture in her mind, noticing how the feeling changed and then doubling the good feelings again and again.

 

Tiredness in the first trimester

 

It’s common to feel tired or even exhausted in pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks when hormonal changes can affect your energy levels and emotions. I remember falling asleep in my dinner and waking up when my husband attempted to take the plate away!

 

If you want to pace yourself, you can be mindful, Mumma. If you don’t already know, 20 minutes in trance is equivalent to 3-4 hours sleep. So, mindfulness, meditation or self-hypnosis will help you to re-energise throughout the day.

Top-Tip 3: Be Mindful, Mumma

 Mindfulness, Hypnosis and Meditation all work by going inside, slowing down your breathing rate and ultimately slowing down your brain waves.

The main difference between hypnosis and the other two is the mental processing that takes place during hypnosis as a result of the use of positive or direct suggestions. In a nutshell, when you’re in this altered state, your unconscious is much more susceptible to suggestions that you or a Clinical Hypnotherapist can make to support you to achieve what you want, instead of anything else. In your first trimester, you can use self-hypnosis to:

  • Improve your sleep pattern
  • Relax
  • Prepare for being a Mum
  • Maintain good energy levels
  • Induce relaxation and alleviate anxiety

 

You can also work with a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist to:

  • Further manage morning sickness
  • Learn self-hypnosis in preparation
  • Establish better habits [if you’re giving up smoking and/or alcohol]

 

If you want to be more mindful, you can:

 

  1. Listen to a guided visualisation.
  2. Learn self-hypnosis.

 

If you want to learn NLP and Hypnosis for a relaxing pregnancy and a comfortable, you may want to get started as soon as possible, and preferably no later than 30 weeks gestation.

 

If you want to access my service, please visit my website at: tanyabuntingcoaching.org

 

Or, contact me directly on 07985415650 to share your hopes and dreams for your baby’s welcome to our world and I will share how I can help.

 

Warmest wishes

 

Tanya x

Buggy Bee – how to save money and be environmentally friendly by renting baby equipment!

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Being eco-friendly is at the top of everyone’s agenda in the modern day and there are increasing ways to be an eco-friendly parent. I was delighted to review, Buggy bee who offer a way to save money and be environmentally friendly by renting baby equipment……

I know people say kids cost money but it’s not until you become a parent that you realise just how much you actually spend! When I was pregnant, I went to all the baby shows and read all the baby magazines. All the fantastic, new products called out to me and my credit card took a battering. Poor hubby would roll his eyes each time I told him about an “amazing new product” which we just “had to have!”

The reality is that most of the stuff you buy you don’t actually need! Then you end up either storing it for years, giving it away or selling it.

Buggy bee has an ingenius concept where using their website you can SELL, RENT, SWAP or GIVE AWAY your baby equipment to other members with the service being free to list your items.

There is no commitment or membership contracts required to use Buggy bee and it is dedicated to products for babies and children only.  In order to use it, you simply register and either list your items or search for what you need.

You can easily search for what you need from a huge list and there is the option to search by location so you can find items nearby. Other search options are by price, brand, colour or condition of the product from “new with tags” to “satisfactory”.

This website is not only fantastic to ensure families save money and save waste but it is also a fantastic way to find baby equipment to use when you are on holiday. Simply search for the location you are heading to on your holiday and see what is nearby to rent.

We bought a brand new, expensive pram when our son was born which cost a fortune. In hindsight, you don’t need the latest, most expensive pram. Babies grow out of them so quickly it doesn’t matter if you use second hand so long as it is clean and in good condition.  Or, if you did buy the expensive brand, then get some extra use out of it and rent or sell it to another family who need one. It’ll save you the storage space too!

How many of your kids have a million toys hidden away in boxes which they don’t play with anymore? Instead of throwing them away, list them on Buggy bee and let another child get enjoyment out of them too! There is a huge selection of toy categories from ride on toys to tech toys. Children lose interest in toys quickly so renting them means an endless supply of new, exciting toys to play with.

Search Buggy bee for toys which children grow out of quickly and you’ll save yourself a load of cash! Get a second hand Jumperoo or bike for a fraction of the cost of a brand new one – give it a once over with some disinfectant and you’re good to go!

Something I didn’t think of when buying stuff was whether my baby would even like it! Babies are notoriously fussy over some things. For example, I spent a fortune on a SleepyHead yet my son hated it and wouldn’t lie in it. It would have made so much more sense to rent it first and see if he liked it before buying one! The same with bedside cribs, some babies will love them and others will want there own larger space. Babies grow at alarming rates too so some babies outgrow their moses basket, bedside cribs or bouncers before they’re a few months old. When you think about it, that is a LOT of waste and expense for parents.

Buggy bee has a huge amount of categories so pretty much anything you can think of is on the website. There is even a maternity section to browse. Maternity wear is so expensive brand new and only gets worn for a few months so it makes sense to reduce waste and reuse good quality items.

  • Buggy bee is a peer to peer rental company that links people who needs things with those that have them.
  • Earn extra money and make some room in your house!
  • Think about the environment and act green.
  • Easy to use, connect with the seller and check availability.
  • Make secure payments.
  • Arrange pick up or choose delivery.

Buggy bee is the new way of shopping for your baby.

To register with Buggy bee or see what is available now click

Review by Tracey Isom

Beckie’s Story – Why I Love Working for Mini First Aid

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Beckie’s Story – why I love working for Mini First Aid

At Mini First Aid, we have a team of 60 fantastic franchisees across the UK who train around 1000 parents every week in life-saving first aid skills.

We spoke to Beckie who runs Mini First Aid Wrexham, Flintshire and Chester about why she joined and what she loves about her job.

How did you first hear about Mini First Aid?

I was feeding my baby in the early hours of the morning, when I saw a Mini First Aid post pop up on Mummy Social!  I am a trained nurse but was on maternity leave at the time, so it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to try something different whilst still using my nursing skills.

Why did you decide to buy a Mini First Aid franchise?

I’ve been a qualified nurse since I was 21 and have always worked in healthcare.  I loved my job but I wanted something that was more flexible to fit around family life – my boys are still young and there’s only 17 months between them, so I wanted to spend more time with them but still earn a living. Mini First Aid enables me to do this.

What do you enjoy most about working for Mini First Aid?

The flexibility it gives you is amazing – I feel very lucky to have found a job that I can fit around my family, but that is also very rewarding and fulfilling; seeing parents, grandparents and guardians going away from a class with confidence they didn’t have at the beginning is really great to see.

The support from head office and the other franchisees is incredible – it feels like a big family. We all have different backgrounds, but we use these different skills and experiences to help each other out

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Have you faced any challenges with your new career?

There will always be challenges when you have young children!

I’m often answering calls and emails whilst entertaining my boys. However, you wouldn’t be able to do that with another job, so that’s what makes Mini First Aid such a family friendly job!

How many days do you work?

I currently run on average 1-2 classes per week although this does vary greatly. I still work on a more flexible basis as a nurse to keep my skills up to date. As Mini First Aid is so flexible – you can choose how many hours you want to work and when – I can fit this around my nursing shifts and childcare really easily.

Finally, what would you say to someone who was thinking about joining Mini First Aid?

Just do it, you won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for a flexible job that you can fit around your family, with great support, then I really don’t think you can beat Mini First Aid.

 

Click here to find out more about becoming a Mini First Aid franchisee or trainer

Click here to find your local Mini First Aid class

 

Possibly the best book for outdoor play ideas with toddlers and children!

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I was very excited to receive a copy of this fantastic book “Wild Things, Over 100 Magical Outdoor Adventures” by Lonely Planet Kids to complete a book review.  It is possibly the best book for outdoor play ideas with toddlers and children. When I was a child, I had a very vivid imagination but, over the years, this has diminished replaced with mundane “adult-ness”! This book transports you back to when you were a child and the world was full of endless fun and make believe. It reminded me of building dens with my brother in the garden and playing make believe on woodland walks.

“Have you ever wanted to find fairies in the garden, meet a unicorn, ride a dragon or share a picnic with a mermaid? Just because you’ve never seen these magical creatures doesn’t mean they don’t exist!”

The narrative is written in a way which appeals to youngsters and helps to open up their imagination. It is full of engaging photos and fun facts alongside loads of exciting activities including;

Tracking dragons

Building snow unicorns.

Bringing tree monsters to life

Making a witches costume

Creating fairy fashions

Secret codes and messages

Looking after the natural world

Capturing moon magic

Once you have read all about Wild Things Training (including the Staying Safe chapter which is very important) and ensured you have everything in the “Wild Things Survival Kit” there are several chapters full of imaginative play ideas. There are sections for Dragons, Witches and Wizards, Elves and Fairies, Mini-Worlds, Monsters, Mythical Beasts, Mermaids and Giants and Goblins, Trolls and the Dark Creatures.

The book is packed with fun activities which will stimulate all of the senses. I loved the section about “sharpening up your wild senses” asking you to question whether the early morning fog could, in fact, be dragon’s breath or was the faraway island mountain actually a sleeping giant? It is simple, imaginative play ideas which can transform anywhere into a place of fun and make believe whether your child reads this alone or you get involved and play along too.

There are activities to explore sight, sound, taste and touch with each of the pages packed with ideas to stretch the imagination. Wild Things includes activities for during the day, night and all seasons so there is something to do all year round!

Each of the sections explores the theme with lots of colourful pictures and text. From creating dragons out of tree trunks and fairy fashions out of wild flowers, this magical book will be loved by all children.  Who knew you could design such beautiful “clothing” for our fairy friends out of ferns and flower petals?

Once your children have created hand-made willow wings and leafy elfin headdresses, they can go and explore the mini-worlds and make tiny boats to send leaf or bark messages. Or why not hunt for tree monsters or beach monsters , if you are near the sea?

Wild Things states it is suitable for children aged 6-8 but I think children of all ages can enjoy the activities in this book. If you have younger children, this book will give you lots of ideas of how you can create activities for you to do together and encourages the family to get outdoors.

I know that this book will stay on my bookcase for years to come for outdoor fun with my little boy!

To purchase this amazing book click here