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Our Top 5 Subscription boxes for mums and babies

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Top 5 Subscription Boxes for Mum and Babies

There is just something so satisfying about getting a regular delivery of something you love straight to your door. I am personally a huge fan of monthly subscriptions and I guess it all started with me when I could get my favourite magazines delivered.

Subscriptions have taken the world by storm and according to Forbes 15% of online shoppers have signed up for one or more subscription services in the past year. It isn’t surprising as there is literally something for everyone. From clothing to self-care to food products.

We wanted to celebrate our top 5 subscription boxes for mum and babies and we are sure you will love them as much as us so here goes in no particular;

 

Joe and Anna Subscription Bag

Price: £18.00 per month

Website: https://www.joeandanna.co.uk

Inside the monthly Subscription bag;

8 unique x 40g Joe and Anna Wax Melts

The Coconut and Soy Wax melts come in a beautiful Hessian sack

Approximately 300 hours of burning

 

So Why do we love Joe and Anna…

We regularly promote businesses that have a self-care element to them. Did you know that recently 76% of our mums admitted that they don’t take time out of their day to focus on themselves? Many added that finding the time to fit in… even 1 hour of self-care a day is a real struggle.

Joe and Anna’s high quality Coconut and Soy Wax melts are a perfect wind down for a busy mum on the go, the rich, intense yet relaxing scents burn away whilst you sip your steamy hot chocolate or delightful glass of bubbly in the evening, you might only have 10 minutes of self-care time but we can assure you that these high quality, hand poured Coconut and soy wax melts will allow you to drift off in to a state of utter calmness no matter how long you can spare.

You may feel that you don’t simply have the time for self-care but I can assure you that even burning away the hand poured natural Coconut and soy wax whilst you take make up off with a baby wipe is still an absolute treat and not only that your house will smell incredible.

Our personal experience using Joe and Anna Subscription bag

 

Upon delivery of the bag, I couldn’t help but notice the strong rich aromas coming from the bag. To say I was excited to open this bag was a huge understatement. Each unique coconut soy wax melt is individually wrapped which kept me in suspense as I unraveled every unique scent one by one – it was like Christmas. The lovingly crafted combination of aromas give off that “high-end” impression, it is clear to see that a lot of time, market research and effort has gone in to creating a perfect subscription bag that fits through your letter box to ensure you never miss your self-care fix.

For me, as a busy business mum this is a perfect way to invest in a self-care ritual that doesn’t break the bank and doesn’t require a certain amount of time. I can have a self-care regime no matter how busy I am. If I want to burn a wax melt when I am in the bath I can or if I want to burn a Coconut and soy wax melt whilst I am writing my latest blog – I can. I love the fact that the scent runs through the entire wax rather than your usual scented ‘plug’ along the wick.

I can rest assure that these hand poured soy wax melts are free from harmful paraffin wax or chemicals which means families can rest assure that no one is breathing anything in that is harmful and completely suitable for people with allergies, compared to cheap candles.

 

I personally can highly recommend this product and feel it is the perfect gift for you or someone you care about.

Reviews

 Don’t only take our word for this fantastic brand, check out their reviews over on Facebook.

Recommended on MyBump2Baby Badge

Based on our personal experience we have awarded this fabulous business with our recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

 

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The Little Sensory Box

Price: £30 per quarter

Website: https://www.thelittlesensorybox.com

Inside the Quarterly Subscription box;

The Little Sensory box offer a sensory subscription service tailored around your baby’s key development stages within their first 12 months. The boxes provide you with the equipment and guides to stimulate your baby’s senses based on your babies age. As part of the subscription service each quarter your baby will receive 4 boxes throughout their first year based on their age. Each box contains between 6-10 sensory items to support you through sensory play.

The new born box includes;

The Learning through play guide

Sensory scarf

Ribbon Wand

Textured Tag Blanket

Black and White Book

Black and White Blocks

Rattle

 

So Why do we love The Little Sensory Box…

From before birth, babies are already exploring their senses, they begin to make sense of the world around them as they grow through the exploration of new textures and materials. Sensory play through both classes and equipment are becoming increasingly popular across the globe and we especially love that The Little Sensory Box provides you with the equipment you need to maximise your baby’s senses. The tailor made box gives you peace of mind that the equipment you are using is accurately in time with your baby’s developing senses.

Our Personal Experience of The Little Sensory Box

Before we even received the box we loved the idea of this subscription box to encourage bonding through sensory play. As a new mum the thought of going outdoors and facing a group or class when you have had no sleep isn’t always the nicest of thoughts, so receiving the sensory box straight to your door is a welcomed treat.

The beautifully designed new born box was delivered and I couldn’t wait to open it and take a peek inside. As I opened the box it had lovely gift wrapping inside which gave it an extra special feel to it.

I opened the box and it was full of the equipment mentioned above, the “learning through play” guide was neatly sat on the top, this is a beautifully made colourful guide that provides parents with a detailed approach to sensory play. It’s clear, easy to understand format makes learning simple. The guide contents included a detailed introduction to the new born sensory box as well as the benefits of the items in the box and how to play with them to maximise your babies’ senses and encouraging learning.

I love how the new born sensory box contains everything you need to get for unlimited sensory fun for the first 3 months.

I personally can highly recommend this product and feel it is the perfect gift for you or someone you care about.

Reviews

 Don’t only take our word for this fantastic brand, check out their reviews over on Facebook.

 

Recommended on MyBump2Baby Badge

Based on our personal experience we have awarded this fabulous business with our recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

 

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Belles and Babes – Organic Baby Clothing Subscription Box Review

Price: From £36.00/month

Website: https://www.bellesandbabes.co.uk/baby

Inside the 3 Monthly Subscription box;

It is expensive to buy the best quality, sustainable, organic baby clothing, but it is much more affordable to hire and that is what Belles and Babes have to offer. Delivering essential washed and ready to wear clothing direct to your door. Belles and Babes then replace your bundle when your babe has outgrown their previous size. All clothing is beautiful and well designed in the softest material, ensuring that the environment and the people who made it have been well treated too. You can expect to receive hire of 18 essential everyday items of luxury organic clothing for your £36 a month with all delivery costs included and no contract. Each bundle is worth £300-400 and will be in excellent new or nearly new condition, washed and ready to wear. Bundles can be customised and tailored to baby’s age, gender and season.

An example box includes;

18 pieces of super soft organic clothes from brands such as:

Baby Mori

Pigeon Organics

Little Green Radicals

Kite Kids

All wear and tear is included in the subscription price.

 

So why do we love Belles and Babes…

Now everyone knows that babies outgrow their clothes so fast it feels like they jump up to the next stage weekly. You quickly replace the outgrown clothes spending a fortune in the high street shops whilst your spare room quickly fills with bags upon bags of clothes that you promise to sell on eBay or take to the nearest charity shop, but you don’t and the pile soon becomes unmanageable. Belles and Babes wash the clothes and make any repairs necessary and when the clothes are too worn to reuse, they will upcycle or recycle them to reduce waste. So you feel safe in the knowledge that you ae not contributing to added waste.

Our Personal view of Belles and Babes.

Firstly, what a fantastic idea that saves the endless buying (I am all for money saving) of new clothes that last for what feels like 2 weeks. I have lost count of the amount of clothes I have donated to charity or I am ashamed to admit I have binned when I have been too busy. The fantastic services provide you with not only lovely pre washed and cared for clothes but the correct sizes when you need them. The clothes are high quality and I feel so much better knowing I am helping the environment as lots of the clothes are nearly new and in excellent condition, I also like the fact that when I am finished the clothes will be returned and lovingly cared for and used again by another gorgeous baby. It is very clear that the owner goes the extra mile tailoring the boxes if desired to your preferences. When a mum is running a business you know they care and have you covered and it certainly shows with Belles and Babes.

When it is that simple to receive new baby clothes to your door washed and ready to go what could stop you from subscribing.

I personally can highly recommend this product for you and feel it is the perfect gift for someone you care about.

Reviews

Don’t only take our word for this fantastic brand; check out their reviews over on their Facebook page or on their website.

 Recommended on MyBump2Baby Badge

Based on our personal experience we have awarded this fabulous business with our recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

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Fairy Milk Mother

Price: from £24.99 a month

Website: https://fairymilkmother.com/product/subscription-plan/

Inside the Monthly Subscription box;

An example subscription box includes 5 -7 items from the list below;

Breastfeeding Bra
Breastfeeding Top
Tea
Energy Snacks
Nipple balm or oil
Breast pads
Muslin cloth
Breast Pump
Milk storage bag
Face Mask
Breastfeeding cookie
Personalised tote or mug
Hand sanitiser
Panty Liner
Baby Balm
Personalised Journal
Baby sling
Breastfeeding Cover
Breastfeeding Gel Pads for Engorgement Improve Milk Production
Breastfeeding Treatment – Nipple Treatment
Breastfeeding Smoothie
Baby Bottle
Breastfeeding Bracelet
Breastfeeding Vitamin

So why do we love The Fairy Milk…

The Fairy Milk Mother box is a subscription or one off service tailored around breastfeeding. It is specifically designed to help and support mums who are breastfeeding or/and pumping. Fairy Milk Mother aims to empower breastfeeding mothers by providing products. According to the Fairy Milk Mother website, the UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. Fairy Milk Mother believes that this is due to lack of support for mothers.

Fairy Milk Mother are committed to providing support that will enhance a breastfeeding mothers experience. They understand that this precious period of bonding can take a bit of effort and they enjoy sharing a selection of products that have been tried and tested to make the whole journey a bit easier. The great news is if you don’t want to commit to a subscription, they have non subscription boxes available, perfect gift for a new mum.

 Our Personal view of the Fairy Milk Mother Subscription Box

Breastfeeding is an individual and unique journey for every mother. Fairy Milk Mother recognises the struggles that some mothers have and their aim is to support them as much as possible whilst celebrating their breastfeeding journey. We have spoken to lots of mums who have struggled to breastfeed and found that if they were offered more support they would have potentially been able to continue their breastfeeding journey.

We love how this box support and cheers breastfeeding mums on from the side lines. We also really like that once you have decided on this unique subscription box you fill in a short survey at checkout to ensure the box meets your needs and requirements.

Reviews

Don’t only take our word for this fantastic brand, check out their reviews over on their website.

 

Recommended on MyBump2Baby Badge

 

Based on what we have read and the reviews on the website we have awarded this fabulous business with our recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

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The Ecocobox

Price: From £15/month equivalent (£30/box shipped every 2 months)

Website: https://www.ecocobox.com/

Inside the Bi-Monthly Subscription box;

Ecocobox is a subscription service with a mission to shower mums with gifts. It is specifically designed for mums who are conscious about the products they use on themselves and their family and want to avoid toxins and buy ethically. They focus on eco-luxe brands, helping mums transition to natural and eco products without compromise. With the ecocobox team doing the research for mum, this subscription creates the space and excuse for some “me time”, and they even make it guilt free by including items for your bump or little one too! The very pretty box is packed full of 5+ gorgeous products (minimum 4 full sized) which is sent free to your door every couple of months. Brands and items are chosen based on the needs and wants of mums. You can expect to receive a mix of items for you and your little one including self-care, home and beauty, tailored to your stage of motherhood from pregnancy to preschool. ecocobox works with a mix of leading and emerging brands, finding natural products with no nasties, animal products or cruelty, so you can enjoy pampering yourself and your little one with peace of mind.

 

An example box includes;

FULL SIZE 100% Natural Refresh Multi-Purpose Balm by Dr Botanicals (RRP £29.90)

FULL SIZE Mineral Blusher by Love The Planet (RRP £7)

FULL SIZE Bamboo Plasters by Patch Strips (RRP £7)

Travel Size Bloom Body Oil by Nathalie Bond (RRP £10)

PLUS another gorgeous gift personalised to your motherhood stage 

 

So Why do we love Ecocobox…

We have written before about our aim to become more eco conscious after realising the waste created by certain baby products. We have aimed as a household since to be more eco minded when purchasing products and so when on the lookout for more eco-friendly beauty products we stumbled across ecocobox. Working only with ethical and sustainable brands, ecocobox is not only a treat to yourself, but helps you discover products that are better for the health of you, your family, and the planet too! You can use everything you discover knowing it is free from toxins, animal products and cruelty.

Our Personal view of Ecocobox

I love a subscription box especially when it is for me and with ecocobox it is the perfect happy post to receive as a busy working mum (it’s also absolutely perfect for busy stay at home mums too). I love the idea of knowing that I will have pure luxury to look forward to every couple of months with the peace of mind that I am helping in some small way to better the planet. Who doesn’t enjoy a treat and this box allows me to receive very needed treats every few months in a beautiful box packed full of luxurious items to enjoy, not only that but I am able to discover new brands for my son.

The fact that the products are specifically chosen for your stage of motherhood by the business owner who is a mum that truly knows what it is like is a massive plus.

I personally can highly recommend this product for you and feel it is the perfect gift for someone you care about – you can buy bundles of 3 or 6 boxes as a present.

Reviews

Don’t only take our word for this fantastic brand, check out their reviews over on Facebook or on their website.

Recommended on MyBump2Baby Badge

Based on our personal experience we have awarded this fabulous business with our recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

 

 

Imaginative Play Curvy Balance Board

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Can you remember the days when a cardboard box was the best thing in the world?

It became a pirate ship, a den, a boat, the best rocket ship you had ever seen or made into a house for your dolls. I remember tying my mum and dad’s dressing gown tie around my head and me and my next door neighbour would hop on an ironing board and slide down the stairs into a sea of bad guys, ready to show off our ninja skills. They were the best times as a child…. When our day were taken up in imaginative worlds that our parents had no idea existed.

Tablets are Replacing Imaginative play

Nowadays, the time for imaginative play at home seems to have been replaced with the latest tablet or best kid’s app. Children seem to time their lives around their favourite T.V shows or the latest online game.  I will admit to being guilty of handing over the tablet to my little boy when I am need of some me time to get the house straight or to finish up something for work, but I often wish I had something that he could play with to keep his mind occupied for longer than 5 seconds.

George absolutely loves dinosaurs and when we are spending time with imaginative play, we often go on safari adventures in search of the biggest animals or the scariest dinosaurs but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to be able to play imaginatively with him.

I am so pleased that I have had the opportunity to review this product! Let me introduce you to the Curvy Balance Board brought to us by Young&Learning an open ended Waldorf inspired toy for all ages and one that can be used in endless ways.

First Impressions of the Curve Board

So firstly let me be honest when I first opened the package from Young&Learning I thought it simply looks like a piece of curved wood, what will my boy be able to do with it? (My goodness how wrong was I?)

As Young&Learning say on their website “It is natural for children to be almost constantly engaged in movement.” So when my little boy first saw the curved pieces of wood what did he do? He went straight over to them climbed on them and started to move them around. I thought to myself what do you “do” with a Curvy Balance Board? As in what would I an adult do with it to make my son engage with it? The beauty is, it is up to your child, I really didn’t have to do a thing. There is no wrong way or right way to play with it, they don’t need instructions, they just figure it out as they go because to my son, it is…

A surf board

A slide.

A bridge over the dinosaur land below

A rocker

A boat

Somewhere to lie with his favourite teddy or a safari truck to our favourite adventure.

 

Endless Hours of Fun Whatever the Weather

This week has been too hot to play in the back garden and so the Curvy Balance Board has been a life saver for everyone’s sanity! I can imagine the absolute same being true in the icy cold months when it is too cold to leave the house at all. Whilst being fairly big and robust looking, the boards are incredibly light weight but very sturdy. It can hold up to 200kg, and I tested that out myself by having a play and joining my son on a surf to find a great white shark. He can easily move it around the room, re-imagining its use as he shifts from different role plays. It has been incredible and heart-warming to see him project his own imaginary play ideas onto this open-ended active toy.

In one week, my son has gotten more use out of the Curvy Balance Board than most of his other “active” toys, and I can only see his interest and involvement growing each day. I would even go as far as to say that his tablet and app playing habit has reduced enormously, instead he chooses to make his own world in or under the Curvy Board. I truly can say it has increased his focus and attention to play.

The Curvy Balance Board is Designed in UK and it is made of harvested European beech wood with FSC certificate. Beech is a hardwood related to the oak, but the lumber is much harder than oak.

Do I Think the Curvy Balance Board is Worth it?

Well it can be used as anything you can imagine both by children and adults. It has been specially designed to be suitable for both children and adults. Beyond its incredible play uses for my son, I have discovered my own uses for the Curvy Balance Board. I have found that it is really fun to integrate into my plain old crunches home workout, adding a new dimension to the move, it really helps during my stretches by laying it arc-side up and gently stretching my back alongside its strong curve. The width of Curvy balance board means an adult can balance on it with their feet fitting perfectly.

At MyBump2Baby we cannot recommend this seemingly unassuming looking board more! The sheer joy I have had watching my son open up his imagination has been priceless.

Based on the endless play opportunities and high quality of the product (despite endless play there seems to be no wear and tear) we have awarded Young&Learning and their product The Curvy Balance Board the recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

Pampers Announces ‘Smart Nappy’ Launch

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Pampers launches ‘smart nappy’ which alerts you when your baby needs changing

pampers launches smart nappy

Smart phones, Ipads, Alexa – our world is bringing out all sorts of amazing products that we couldn’t even dream about.

A new product has been announced that has set thousands of parents tongues wagging throughout the UK.

Ok … sure changing a babies’ nappy can be a little bit challenging at first and lots of expectant parents worry “when will I know to change my babies nappy?” and when we dare ask anything as an expectant parent the response is always the same “you will just know” which isn’t the ideal response but imagine this…. Imagine it was possible for you to know instantly when your babies’ nappy needed to be changed?

Impossible…. Not anymore my friend!!!

Google’s sister company Verily has now teamed up with Pampers’ to create the ultimate ‘smart nappy’ which alerts you when your baby’s nappy is wet and needs to be changed….

Launching later this year, pampers connects the sensor on the smart nappy with the parents or carers phone and they will receive a notification when the nappy needs to be changed. What will come next? Robot nannies? Automatic night feed machines?

Sharing the news via Twitter, Pamper’ announced ““Introducing Lumi by Pampers, the world’s first all-in-one connected care system that is revolutionizing baby monitoring, developed in partnership with #Verily and @Logitech #lumibypampers”

As if that wasn’t enough, parents can also track babies feeding, wetting and sleep routines through the app.

Purchasing the New Lumi

After purchasing the Lumi, the sensor will need replacing every 3 months. This new technology aims to monitor patterns and gives parents a look into their baby’s routines as a whole.  The device also provides parents with their baby’s data so they can even share this with their GP and health visitor.

What do you think about the new Lumi smart Nappy? Let us know on Facebook

The price of the Lumi has not yet been confirmed but we will keep you up to date when we know more.

 

We asked our MyBump2Baby parents what they think about the new Smart Nappy over on Instagram and this was the response.

 

“The new Lumi smart nappy sends a noticiation to your smart phone when you baby needs changing. What are your thoughts on the new smart nappy?”

 

“What is the world coming to, like seriously if you don’t know your babies nappy needs changing surely you aren’t giving the baby enough attention” Sarah Coventry

 

“Wow now we have to send notifications to parents to actually get through to them – unbelievable” David Middlesborough

“I love this idea, I am pregnant and this is a massive phobia of mine” Jess Liverpool

“Pampers, doing everything they possibly can to try and get people back on side after Mamia took over the nappy industry, you should have charged the earth” Emma Lytham

 

“I am scared for where the world is going to be in 5 years… this is all too much” Sarah Preston.

What are the Best Baby Sun Creams for Babies and Toddlers?

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Perhaps you are jetting off abroad or maybe you are staying in the UK, wherever you are this Summer, it is important to remember to use sun cream on your little one’s skin whatever the weather. You would be surprised how strong the sun can be even on the gloomiest days. Did you know?  up to 80 percent of UV rays can pass through clouds. With a wide variety of sun creams out there it is often difficult to know which are the best baby sun creams for babies and toddlers?

How often should you reapply sunscreen to a child?

Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you and your toddler go outside – in the summer months we would suggest putting it on each morning. Reapply every two hours and more often if your little one is playing in water.  Regardless of whether the sun cream states it is water resistant or not, we would still suggest you reapply more regularly.

 

We decided to ask some parents who follow our page to vote for their favourite sun creams;

Please note there are some affiliate links within the article and we may earn a small commission from any purchases

Top 5 Sun creams for Babies and Toddlers

what are the best baby suncreams for babies and toddlersfor

Child’s Farm 50+ SPF Baby Sun Cream – Fragrance Free

£22.99

Childs Farm new formulation 50+SPF suncream for very high protection, is water resistant and protects young and sensitive skin from UVA and UVB rays, whilst keeping skin moisturised and hydrated. So you can relax while your children enjoy the sun safely. Suitable for babies and upwards. Dermatologist and paediatrician approved as suitable for sensitive skin and safe for people who may be prone to eczema.

MyBump2Baby mum says;
Sophie “We have used child’s farm on my daughter since she day dot, she has eczema and a friend recommended it to me. We wouldn’t use anything else”

Buy the sun cream here

 

 

besy sun cream for babies and toddlers

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Anti-Sand Kids Sun Cream Spray SPF50

This clever sand resistant formula is non-sticky and easily absorbed to avoid that sticky feeling. It’s water resistant and has a high SPF factor. It’s also a great choice for fussy babies, as it’s quick and easy to apply with the continuous, any angle spray. It’s also a good one for school-aged children to apply to themselves thanks to the mist spray application.

MyBump2Baby mum’s say

Sarah “We fell in love with this sun cream years ago, we love the fact is it none sticky which is great for my toddler and 6 year old sun as they love going to the beach”

Buy the sun cream here

 

 

Riemann P20 SPF 30 Children Sun Cream Spray

A once-a-day sunscreen, P20 has a five star UVA protection and factor 30 SPF. It’s a good choice for school-aged children, or little ones who hate having sunscreen put on and its water resistant and quick drying. It’s got more of an oily texture than most of the creams on this list, and it’s very quick and easy to apply with the spray action.

Stacey “My little ones hate putting sun cream on which is why I chose this one, just be careful putting your little ones in white clothes afterwards”

Buy the sun cream here

sun cream baby

Green People Organic Children Sun Cream Lotion SPF30

This sunscreen from Green People is a natural sun lotion suitable for children with sensitive skin, or those prone to prickly heat. Offering 97% UVB protection (the rays that cause burning) and high protection against UVA and UVB rays. It’s made from 78% organic ingredients including Aloe Vera, beeswax and avocado, sunflower and olive oil and it’s gentle on eczema and psoriasis. It’s thicker than some others, but it rubs in well.

Martha “my little one is prone to prickly heat which is why we have always used this, my friend also uses this one on her little one that suffers with psoriasis”

Buy the sun cream here

 

ultrasun

UltraSun SPF50 Extreme Children’s Sun Lotion Once a Day

£21.99

Another one-a-day sunscreen, UltraSun’s Extreme lotion only requires one application in the morning, although reapplication is recommended for complete protection. A good option for tots who hate having sunscreen applied, it’s got a thick consistency and an easy to use pump dispenser. It can take a while to rub into the skin, but it’s worth it for the long protection.

Fiona “We first used this last year, I really love it”

Buy the sun cream here

 

Tips for protecting Babies and toddlers from the sun

If you are planning to be outside a lot with your little one, protect them from the sun by following the steps below:

Stay inside during peak sun hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as much as you can.

Look for  shaded areas where possible, or break up your sun exposure with time out in the shade here and there. Use sun umbrellas where possible.

Remember to put sunscreen on underneath your toddler’s clothes, light-colored clothing and loosely woven fabrics allow the most UV rays through.

Choose sun-protective clothing that has SPF built right into the fabric where you can.

Put on a sun hat or cap with a forward-facing brim that shields the face from the sun.

Have your child wear toddler-sized sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection.

If you’re pushing your toddler in a stroller, use the stroller’s shade or a parasol that you can attach to the side rather than tossing a blanket or other heavy covering over it, which could make your child too hot. You could even look at a liner for the pram to help keep them cool, use a Nowa baby liner.

The Savvy Little Monsters Ltd – Taking Pre-loved Buying to Another Level

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How much do we all love pre loved buying, or buy sell sites though?

I know I do, there is always a bargain to be had and always something in my house that is unused and worth some money. There is sometimes however, the downsides to buying preloved items because you can never really know exactly what quality of goods you are going to get.

You know that awful feeling…. you know….  when you buy something on the local buy, sell, swap sites and you either go to collect or it is delivered and it is faulty or unclean and you think “whyyyy!!??” …. it is actually like throwing money down the drain!!! When you collect in person you can often feel a little awkward saying “sorry I don’t want to give you my money anymore because the toy you are about to sell smells a lot like cat wee”.

Now don ‘t laugh…. but this has actually happened to me

I handed over £20.00 for some toys that definitely once a cat’s litter box, I had to stop at the nearest bin and throw them away, as I couldn’t stand the smell in my car. So that day I basically I threw £20.00 plus petrol money in the bin because I didn’t want to offend the seller. I am sure I won’t be the only one that this has happened to.

Wouldn’t it be great if a person could vet all the toys before we buy them and make sure we don’t waste our money on “cat wee” smelling toys? 

The Savvy little monsters taking pre loved to another level

Great news!!!! There is such a site…. The Savvy Little Monsters Ltd was set up by a husband and wife duo and in essence is a pre loved selling site, but boy do they ensure quality and cleanliness. The Savvy Little Monsters Ltd ensure each product is fully safety checked and cleaned before you buy so it really is like buying brand new without the “brand new” prices.

The Face and mascots of the business are the ‘The savvy little monsters” themselves. These cartoon monsters represent the real life members of the family run business from the daddy monster to baby monster.

 

Meet The Savvy Little Monsters

The Safety Monster (Dad) is responsible for the safety of each product. He ensures all products are checked for missing or broken parts and passed to, The Earth Monster (Mum) for re-sale once passed through quality control.

The Earth Monster is responsible for deep cleaning each product before re-sale. Ensuring any unsuitable products are taken out of circulation and sent to Terracycle for recycling. To look after the companies’ green footprint and to help make the Earth happy (yeah they also have a handy zero waste policy ensuring no unsafe products return back into the selling market).

The Insta Monster (Teenager) is responsible for making sure they are active on Instagram. To ensure products are promoted and that their followers grow and interact with them and the teenager also looks after their brand awareness.  This actually makes me feel proud like I could have my little monster help grow our business one day.

Then there is The Fun Monster (baby) who is responsible for having fun and to oversee that the toys are drop, dribble and most of all Monster proof! I mean adorable overload and just amazing to include the whole family.

These monsters draw you in and relating them to the family makes the service that little bit more personal and relatable. You really feel like the second hand pre loved items you buy from them will be top quality, safe and clean as they come directly from a family who care and want to ensure the safety and cleanliness of each item. It really feels like the ethos of the business is ensuring high quality. If they would buy and use the product, then that is the only way they will sell it.

The Savvy Little Monsters Website

Their website is easy to navigate and hassle free saving you lots of time. You can shop by category, brand or even characters, so with my toy story mad son I can head straight to that section. Not only that, they give you the option of monthly packages and my word you get some incentive for your money!! Savings of 25% every month, a free session at a toddler group, up to 50% Cash Back on toys bought from them and the choice of any pre loved toy up to a certain amount on their site every month!! I mean what on earth could be stopping you from saving this site to your favourites.

We at MyBump2Baby absolutely love The Savvy Little Monsters, for their strong quality and zero waste ethos, for their incredible pre loved products but most of all for their fun family orientated business smart idea. Go now and check them out it’s a must in my book.

Recommended on MyBump2Baby

The Savvy Little Monsters Ltd have been awarded with our “recommended on MyBump2Baby badge” check out just some of their fantastic reviews.

 

Gemma says “Friendly and willing to go the extra mile. I’m so grateful for all the help that was gone into finding a toy that my baby loved to play with at the family centre. Highly recommended and will be going here again for all his toys. Thank you for being so friendly and wonderful x”

Jade says “Fabulous service and great customer service very friendly and kindly donated to our up and running baby group! X”

Charlotte says “Amazing little business, toys as good as new will define you be ordering more! Great service and quick delivery highly recommend Thankyou xx”

 

 

Arabella Chi from Love Island has been a Maternity Model – Whattttt?

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Many of us parents, plan our lives around the hit reality show otherwise known as Love Island.

In our house, we actually have a rule in place that all household chores must be completed by 8:50… if there not they get left till the morning, so that we can sit back, whilst my poor husband watches me stuff my face with my favourite co-op salt and vinegar crisps at the same time as whining about why my body doesn’t look like the girls in the Love Island villa…. After he reassures me that he loves me no matter what size I am, we then intermittently shout at the TV, continuously shaking our heads in disbelief at some of the conversations and decisions that the Love Island reality stars make. I can’t be alone in this process surely?

Personally, I cannot deny that when I chat with friends about Love Island, the conversation is a lot more entertaining than “poo and nappy chats”, Love Island gives me a new lease of life in the summer months and I can’t deny that I am a massive fan (I have even ordered at love island water bottle…. Shhhhh)

Now, of course with our website being a pregnancy – pre-school directory, I am always intrigued to hear about pregnant and celebrity mums….

 

Maternity Wear Scandal

Is it me or did the rest of you believe that when you are scrolling through maternity wear the maternity models were actually pregnant? Perhaps it’s just me… perhaps I have been out of the loop for all these years.

Can you believe that some maternity models aren’t actually pregnant? The love island fans have been in uproar since it has been discovered that Arabella used to be a maternity model for ASOS.

An eagle-eyed Love Island fan came across the familiar face on ASOS, posting the screenshots on Twitter with the question, ‘So, Arabella does maternity modelling?’

The tweet rapidly went viral, with many people expressing their shock that models actually wear fake bumps – instead of companies actually using pregnant women.

‘I never even considered that maternity models wouldn’t actually be pregnant,’ one user Tweeted, while blogger Grace Victory said, ‘WHY DID I THINK ACTUAL PREGNANT MODELS WOULD MODEL MATERNITY WEAR? OMG!’

One Twitter user was less shocked with the news ‘I’m laughing at everyone expecting maternity models to be pregnant. Yep, making a woman who’s pregnant shoot upwards of 50 outfits in a few hours is logical.’

Retweeting the piece, model Sophie Porley revealed that it was actually normal practice in the industry.

‘Most of my model friends only got booked for maternity modelling when they had slim faces and arms, then would wear the belly bump,’ she wrote.

‘As soon as models get pregnant, they don’t work anymore. Craziness. And totally unrealistic to all pregnant women. I did maternity when I was 21!’

Another model, Chloe Lloyd, replied to Sophie, adding, ‘Yep and I did maternity once when I was 18! Hated every minute & haven’t done it since but all of us did at one point. Modelling industry is a savage one.’

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this, did you think maternity models were pregnant? Do you think they should be?

So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

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We are really excited to share an expert article with you from the amazing Alexandra Gould a Hypnobirthing Practitioner for the amazing Mindful Mamma in Lincoln. She has an incredible 14 –  5 star reviews on her listing with us. Click here to read some amazing testimonials. Today Alex shares an article on a question many expectant parents have “What is This Hypnobirthing All About Then?”

So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

 

A bit about me…

My name is Alexandra Gould and I am a Mindful Hypnobirthing Practitioner with award winning Mindful Mamma.

I’m also a qualified Midwife, Rebozo Practitioner and currently studying a Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma.

Enough about me!

Now, let’s get down to busting a few myths about hypnobirthing shall we, and explain what its really all about?

Firstly, you don’t have to be a hippy, worship the moon, wear sandals, baggy clothes and listen to monks chanting (although what’s wrong with that? Personally I love a good Tibetan singing bowl).  Hypnobirthing, especially combined with Mindfulness can work wonders for preparing women and very importantly partners for childbirth. I want birth partners to also feel confident and view themselves as a well-equipped birthing coach.

And I mean ANY birth, not just home birthing. Even if you are having a planned caesarean section the techniques learnt in a workshop will help enormously. Before, during and after childbirth, especially breastfeeding.

So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

In fact, the skills you will learn are transferable and can be adapted to just about any and all areas of daily life.

I have often heard women report that they felt as if they’d failed and that has to stop. For me that’s heartbreaking. I want couples to elevate their birth experience. To have as gentle a birth as possible with positive memories. After all its the most important event in a couples lives.

I want couples to feel awesome about their birth, because women are awesome and their physiology is awesome. I want a newborn to have as gentle as birth as possible. Calm Mamma equals calm baby and Hypnobirthing mums very often report back that little one is “so chilled out”.

Practitioners don’t swing a watch in front of you or ask you to “look into my eyes, not around my eyes, but deep into my eyes”, least I hope not!

It’s NOT stage Hypnosis, it’s a therapy that uses simple gentle elements of SELF hypnosis, along with other therapy techniques and effective breathing techniques, so no-one is controlling anyone. Techniques used depend on the practitioner, but will usually also involve aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (CBT), Neuro Linguistic Programming Techniques as well as visualisations. I want couples to have a variety of tools and skills to enable them to find out what works best for them, so it’s not at all prescriptive. Ultimately women deserve to feel safe and respected.

Empowering women to make the best informed choices for themselves, their baby and partner, so they no longer feel as if they are a passive by stander. This is what motivates and is it at the heart of my work, life and passion.

It’s not just deep relaxation although that’s obviously beneficial for a birthing mamma. There is so much more to it.

There is no universally agreed upon definition of Hypnosis and practitioners are likely to explain it in slightly different ways.

Some will explain it as reprogramming unwanted automatic, unconscious, autonomic responses. And I’m mainly talking about the fear and anxiety response here.

Fear is not a good bedfellow with childbirth. If fear and adrenalin kick in then we can get stuck in a fear-tension-pain cycle.

We’ve been programmed and conditioned to be fearful around birth.

As a midwife I have seen, all too often, women who are scared and tense.

It puts a brake on the production of Oxytocin which is the primary hormone to start and progress birth.

Oxytocin is referred to as the ‘Love‘ hormone as its produced by the body when we hug, when we feel safe, secure and private. And yes it’s produced when we make love.

So we absolutely want a woman to feel a `whole lota lota love’ I’m sounding like Cilla Black now!

The other aspect of Mindful Hypnobirthing is to remember it is a skill set. When these simple yet very effective techniques are used, it develops a really strong `Mindset’ in terms of positive attitude, self-efficacy, expectancy, excitement and focus so that a woman is able to be CALM, CONFIDENT AND RELAXED. When this achieved your body takes over and muscles work harmoniously and comfortably.

So if you’re an expectant Mamma, seriously consider committing to a One Day Workshop with me, it may well be the best thing you ever do in preparing for the journey towards childbirth and parenthood.

Remember….You are enough! You have the innate strength and resources to birth your baby.

Mindful Hypnobirthing helps you to access these abilities.

And I thinks that’s a good place to end this blog!

Nameste as they say ; ) Alex xxx

You can visit Alexanda’s website here.

Follow her on social media;

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Top 5 Family Attractions In Surrey

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Today we have a fantastic guest post from the lovely Claire from Fairy Cakes Babysitting and Childcare services in and around Surrey. Claire has written an article on her top 5 attractions for families in Surrey. As you know we have lots of pregnancy to pre-school groups and classes within our directory in Surrey.

Surrey’s Top 5 Family Attractions

Here in Surrey we have so many wonderful places to explore and lots of history to learn about and of course the River Thames. If you love history, being out and about, taking a stroll along the River Thames or if you are thrill seeker, Surrey has something for everyone of all ages. It is very hard for me to pick just 5 places in Surrey as there are so many, but I would like to share with you some of the best places my family and I have been to and have made amazing memories along the way.

#1 Top Attraction in Surrey Hampton Court Palace

top-5-family-attractions-surrey

My number one has to be Hampton Court Palace, I have been so many times with my children, with children I’ve looked after, with my Mum and I never get bored neither do the children.

The Palace itself is amazing with so much to see and historical information to take in. During school holidays they have activities going on around the palace for the children to take part in and actors dressed up doing bits of re-enactment. There is the maze to get lost in or to lose the children in !!

Amazing gardens and grounds to walk through, have picnics on whilst looking at the beautiful surroundings. Many cafes and restaurants to try too.

My favourite part of Hampton Court by far is The Magic Garden, it’s a magical wonder for the children, well and for me !! We often go to Hampton Court just to go to The Magic Garden.

Each part of Hampton Court Palace can be paid for separately,but I for the last two years have bought a palace pass which last for 15 months and can get you into the whole palace, grounds, maze, and magic garden.

The palace pass also allows to visit other palaces such as Kensington Palace,Kew Palace, Tower of London and many more.

Opening times –

Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm

Prices for all attractions

Gate price

Adult £23.70

Child £11.90

Family two adults and up to 3 children £59.10

Prices vary please check the website individual prices available for magic garden and the maze.

 

#2 Top Attraction in Surrey – The Discovery Lookout Centre

The discovery lookout Centre. Part of the lookout Centre is a science exhibition with lots of hands-on science activities for children of all ages it’s a great way to have fun and learn at the same time.

We love it here and have been many times I also love trying all the experiments pushing buttons, playing with the water and so much more. They also have daily shows that run at weekends and school holidays.

Outside in the grounds of the lookout discovery Centre is an adventure playground set in Bracknell Forest which also provides a lovely walk and we many a time I’ve played in the forest making our own tepees out of branches that have fallen from the trees.

Caution- there is so much to see and do here that as the parent/child carer you need eyes in the back of your head and octopus arms!!

Opening hours – daily 10 am to 5 pm.

Entry price of the discovery Centre

Adult £7.90

Child £5.40

Under4’s free

(See website for saver tickets)

Car park £2 for 4 hours

£4 for the whole day

Adventure playground/forest free.

 

#3 Top Attraction in Surrey –  Runnymede Pleasure Grounds,

I love it here it’s a great day out for not a lot of money and making your own fun, especially during the warmer weather.

Situated on the River Thames with lovely views and lots of open grassy spaces for the little ones to run around, play games, have picnics and maybe even an ice cream!!

There is a playground and also a splash pool for the kiddies that is open in the warmer weather, also feeding the ducks and swans is an option.

A little further up but still in the grounds of Runnemede you can jump on a boat which you can soak up the beautiful views all the way to Windsor.

I have spent many days at Runnymede with my children and the fluffy child!

 

Car park prices

For all day parking £6

(Varying times and charges)

 

#4 Top Attraction in Surrey Bocketts Farm

Bocketts farm is a wonderful place for a day out and is hugely popular. It has got better and better over the years, with many more attractions added since I first went many years ago when it was a simple petting farm.

Bocketts farm is situated in Fetcham, not far from Leatherhead and the M25.

The form is a working farm and of course has many lovely animals to visit and some you were able to feed and hold, they even have pig races in a tractor ride.

They have a huge outdoor space filled with multiple adventure playgrounds for the children to all run off in different directions as there is just so much for them to do!

And as if that hasn’t exhausted you enough , there is also an indoor play area (soft play).

and yes you guessed it the only way out to the exit is the very lovely souvenir shop, where usually I do a quick march through saying the car park ticket is about to expire!

All in all this is a fantastic day out for the whole family.

 

Open daily 10 am to 5 pm

Standard prices

Adult £11.95

Children 3 to 17 years old £12.95

Children 2 years £10.95

Under 2’s Free

There are optional extras see website for other special deals.

#5 Top Attraction in Surrey Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington world of adventures review

Last but not least is Chessington world of adventures theme park. You can read MyBump2Baby’s review here.

We are very lucky here in Surrey we have many theme parks to choose from Thorpe park, Legoland and of course Chessington.

I have chosen Chessington as age range wise I think it has something for everyone, where is Thorpe park is really aimed at adults/older teenagers and Legoland for much younger children.

Yes it is a very expensive day out and maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many. My children and I have been very lucky and have had Merlin passes many times and they are well worth the outlay, but for a cheap day out at a theme park you can buy a day ticket using your Tesco vouchers if you’re good at saving them up!

Obviously there is so much to do and many different rides and shows to see, but can also be extremely busy. Always an amazing day out.

You can also visit the zoo with many different animals, my favourite is the little penguins and sea lions and you can also take a look around the sea life centre.

 

Average day price- £50.50pp

Car park- £3 per car

There are also lots of online deals check out their website.

 

Thank you for reading my name is Claire a mum of two girls aged 16 and 12 years and I am a nursery nurse/nanny to many wonderful families for over 20 years and this is my top five days out in Surrey.

I am the owner of Fairy Cakes Babysitting and Childcare Services providing ad hoc, emergency childcare, evening babysitting and Proxy Parenting to many families in and around Surrey. And coming soon Fairy’s wedding and events childcare services.

Email: fairyclaire1979@icloud.com

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If Only You Could Rent Baby Clothes | Baby Clothes Subscription Box 

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baby clothes rental subscription box

 

 

“Have a baby “they said…. “it will be fun” they said… but they never said how many sleepless nights you have when you have a baby.

Regardless of whether it is the numerous night feeds or the amount of thoughts on your mind when you are trying to balance everything that comes with being a parent, there is always a little bit of stress attached when it comes to running a household.

We simply cannot deny the increase in outgoings when it comes to starting a family. The fact is, our babies are always growing which means clothing purchased that initially fits like a glove, regularly need to be replaced with new clothing.

When it comes to babies, growth spurts happen at different stages and sometimes you can end up buying a whole new wardrobe and within weeks the clothes have gone from loose to bursting at the seams and new sizes are needed. Before you know it, you are haul-assing your way to the local shop on an urgent shopping spree at a time that is totally inconvenient for everyone not to mention expensive.

Now what if this problem could be fixed? What if this problem could be fixed with one simple change? What is you could rent baby clothes via a monthly subscription….. wait a minute….. YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!

baby clothes rental subscription box

Baby Clothes Subscription Rental Service

Troberg Baby Box is a subscription rental service that allows you to rent clothes for your baby rather than purchase them, ultimately saving you money and creating a simple delivery service to ensure you receive your new clothing ready for the next growth spurt. The old items are simply sent back, quality checked, washed and sent to a new family. This is a great way to recycle baby clothes.

The Björk Box is a subscription renting service that brings 16 baby clothes items right to your door. Use them for 3 months or until they no longer fit and swap them for the next size up. The box is based on a simple brand to match the simple life we are trying to create for you. By having a subscription box, you can rest easy knowing when you need clothes most they will be delivered to your door.

The Clothing Inside the Baby Box

There are no time restrictions when it comes to the items, simply return and swap as and when suits you and your baby. The baby clothing is 100% cotton, 100% soft. All the clothes are machine washable and each box is designed to get you through one week.. Just throw it all in the wash and you will be ready for another 7 days – it is that simple!!!!

Our Review of the Troberg Subscription Box

The box was delivered and came in a beautiful box.

Inside the box there was some lovely items which comprised of;

Baby Grows x 2

Baby Vests x 5

Tops x 5

Trousers x 1

Bibs x 3

Hat x 1

The clothes are good quality and the outfits included in the box cleverly match up together no matter what top or trousers you choose.

Why We Recommend Troberg Baby Box

Let’s face it, as parents we long for an easy life. When I think about the most difficult times of the day with George they often involve trying to locate something to wear and match it up with something else. I personally would have loved this box when George was a baby, I think it would have saved a fortune.

The whole concept of the baby clothes subscription box is fantastic. In the first 2 years of parenting we spend lots of money on new items and our babies barely have a chance to wear everything before we are replacing it with something else.

Based on our experience we have awarded Troberg Baby Box with our Recommended on MyBump2Baby badge.

 

If you would like to get started with your own baby box click here.

You can follow them on Facebook too.

Items to Remember to Take to a Haven Caravan Holiday

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Wahooo…. the Haven caravan season is finally upon us!!!

There is honestly nothing better than driving away from your normal life to spend quality time with your tribe…. away from chores, jobs and that awful thing that we call “laundry”. Regardless of whether you are heading to Presthaven Sands, Riviera Sands or Lakeland Holiday Park you will need a list of items to remember to take to your Haven Caravan holiday.

You may be intending to be in the caravan for a very short space of time or you may plan on being in the caravan a lot…. Either way it is important to make sure you pack all the essentials.

Essential Items to Remember for your Haven Caravan Holiday

Where on earth do you start when it comes to what you need to take with you? What Essentials do you need for a Haven Caravan holiday?

Perhaps your new to caravan life or maybe you have been a dozen times, either way… I am sure you will agree that a “caravan list of essentials” is absolutely necessary when packing for your well-deserved break.

We have only started going on caravan mini breaks since having my son and believe you me, unless you have a list of what to take on a Haven holiday you WILL forget something. The reason I have created this list is mainly so I can use it myself (I always forget something when we go on our caravan holidays).

You see, packing for a caravan break is a little different then packing for your usual hotel break. Hotels often supply you with towels, bedding and all the extras you need but caravans don’t. You need to think about washing up, cooking etc. which are things you don’t need to think about in a hotel. The reason I have created this list.

Sure…. Haven Caravan Parks have shops on site should you forget something but the cost of these items can be a little on the expensive side. To make sure you swerve any additional charges follow our caravan essentials list and you will be all ready for your break with no hiccups and unexpected surprises.

Caravan Break List of Essentials

Here are my list of essentials (items I have most probably forgotten to take myself before)


Kitchen Items

Washing up liquid

Antibacterial handwash

Sponge

Dishcloth

Tea Towel

Kitchen cleaning products

High chair (unless pre-ordered)

Bin bag

Tea and coffee.

Sandwich bags if you are planning on a picnic

Foil for cooking

Kitchen roll

Laundry Items

Bags for dirty washing

Washing powder

Hand washing

Iron

Bathroom Essentials

Towels (hand, beach, bath and swimming towels)

Shampoo

Conditioner

Body Wash

Hand wash

Hairdryer

Hair products

Makeup

 

Bedroom

Bedding (take your own bedding to save additional costs)

Extra blanket

Travel cot and bedding

 

Entertainment

Tablet (remember wifi may be limited so download from BBC IPlayer or Netflix before you go)

Laptop

DVD player and DVDS

Camera

Chargers

Board games

Books

Colouring

So hopefully this list has given you enough guidance to ensure you have the perfect break. To save money we always find a local supermarket nearby and get some yummy food and drinks with plenty of treats too so we aren’t constantly spending money.