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12 ways to cope being a hungover mum this Christmas.

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“I’m never drinking again” – we’ve all been there.  Some of us more than others *ahem*. 

Social drinking and Christmas festivities are fun, it’s your time to let loose and release the inner caged animal that is dying to break free, back away from routines and tight schedules – Because this is your time to SHINE!!  Dance on tables, sing karaoke till your hearts content, even drunken cry if you need to… That is what Christmas is all about (well kind of)

With that in mind picture this, it’s 5am, the kids have woken up desperate to play with their new, noisy toys, and all you can smell is last night’s gin. You’ve got one arm hanging out of your dress from last night, your hair resembles an actual birdsnest, your eyelash strip is stuck to your cheek in a desperate, yet final attempt to cling on for another day and to top it all off you stink!!

Often, it is at this point  I utter those four words “I’m never drinking again” but not this year… no no…. there is no need… We have tested this method far too many times (for your benefit rather than our own of course) and we are proud to announce IT WORKS!

Parent hangovers are REAL but Preperation is key – here are our MyBump2Baby top Christmas hangover top tips…

 

Essential Ingredients for a Successful Hangover Day

  • Ipad Chargers
  •  Sweet and Savory naugty snacks
  •  Christmas PJ’s
  • Painkillers
  • Just Eat app
  • A Shower
  • Movies
  • Another bottle of wine (for pros only)
  • A Family member

Tip 1

Prepare for one of the longest days of your life, sorry. One way to help your hangover is to make sure you’ve charged every single electrical item in your house, what easier way to keep the kids entertained? Oh and keep the chargers nearby, because an tantrum over a dead battery is not something you need to contend with right now. 

Tip 2

Stack the cupboards full of sugary snacks, because it’s quite possible that normal bog standard food isn’t going to shake this one. Not only will you crave sweet sugary snacks but it will keep your kids happy too…

Tip 3

Play games with your kids, of course we mean games where you don’t actually have to do anything. Sleeping lions, doctors, or hide and seek

Tip 4 (if staying in is needed)

Stay in your pyjamas all day, tell your kids you’re having a pyjama film party. How else would you celebrate your new Christmas pjs?

Tip 5

Take some painkillers to cure that awful headache. Make sure you check the dosage on the box first. 

Tip 6

Cook yourself a full English breakfast, better still get one delivered via Just Eat. For once you can forget the guilt as you tuck into your fry-up. You did enough dancing last night to earn a full English, life’s all about balance at the end of the day. 

Tip 7

Freshen yourself up, wash away the smell of last night’s alcohol – your family will thank you for it too. Make sure your shower isn’t too hot, and crack the window open for some fresh air. 

Tip 8

Shut the blinds and put a film on. The darkness will help your eyes and you might even get a snuggle from your child especially if you are in charge of dishing out the sugary snacks. 

Tip 9 (for professionals only)

There’s always the hair of the dog, there’s no evidence that it’s actually good for you, but it might make you feel a bit more lively. 

Tip 10

Nap!!  You might even be able to convince the kids to have one as well. If you can’t convince the kids to, take them to the cinema and doze off there.

Tip 11

If you’re feeling brave, you could round up the family for a brisk walk, wrap everyone up and head out. The exercise is likely to make you feel better and when you get home you can treat yourself to a nice warm drink of mulled wine

Tip 12

If all else fails, call in some back up in the shape of a family member, give them a call and say “Granny, the kids keep asking for you, they just love you so much”

 

PERSONAL PROTECTION: Can you afford NOT to have it? 

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisors throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Today we have an article from our financial adviser in Edinburgh. Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection.

SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT PROTECTION!!!

Only 51% of parents with children under 4 have any kind of life insurance in place*

 

Of these, only 16% have critical illness insurance*

 

Only 14% of the above have any form of insurance to protect their income*

 

PERSONAL  PROTECTION  Can you afford NOT to have it

Most people know what life insurance is and what it does.  But the statistics above show that the UK population, especially younger people, are grossly underinsured.

 

Is this due to the cost? – Life insurance is as cheap as chips!! 

 

The sooner you take out insurance cover, the cheaper it is! If you sat down and thought about what this means financially to those who would be left behind, life insurance would be a no brainer.

 

Where there is an even bigger gap in the insurance market, is the lack of people who have NO cover in place, should they be unable to work due to accident or illness.  Younger people should really think about this as, statistically speaking, they are more likely to suffer a serious illness than die in the foreseeable future. The uptake on life insurance, all be it low, is larger than critical illness insurance.  This should be reversed.  Younger people should consider the implications of not being able to work due to a serious illness.

 

Here is an example of a situation one young couple found themselves in due to lack of insurance:

 

Jake, 34 and Chloe, 32 had both worked full time until the birth of their daughter, Alice, 18 months earlier.  Chloe had opted to take 6 months’ maternity leave from her job as a marketing assistant in a small electronics company as she earned less than Jake, a software engineer. They lived in a two bedroomed flat near to Chloe’s mum who lived on her own and worked part time, which meant she was able to spend time with the baby, which she loved.

 

Alice was now attending a private nursery near to home 5 days a week which was expensive but it was the nursery that Jake and Chloe liked and thought best suited to Alice, who seemed happy and settled there.

So when Jake had an accident and was diagnosed with a severe back problem, he was signed off sick and couldn’t continue with his job. As a result, he was entitled to 3 months’ full pay and following on from that, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the next 3 months, currently, £94.25 per week.  As Jake was the main breadwinner, they soon began to feel the pinch.  They fell behind on their mortgage payments which in turn affected their credit rating; their ability to remortgage in the future was affected and nursery costs became a huge problem and they reluctantly had to give up Alice’s place.

 

This was a terrible situation for Chloe and Jake.  How could they have avoided this situation?   Jake, in the knowledge that he would only ever receive 3 months’ full sick pay, could have set up an Income Protection Policy to pay him 65% of his full salary, payable after 3 months, until he was able to go back to work or retire. This policy would have cost Jake £32.64 per month.  To put this cost into context, Jake and Chloe paid £110 per month for their TV and sports package.

It’s all about priorities!!!

 

The scenario above is unfortunately very common across the UK.  According to the Financial Conduct Authority, only 6% of 18-34 year olds took financial advice in 2017** and only 16% of mothers with children under 16 and 24% of fathers with children of the same age had critical illness cover in place.  If you’ve been thinking about getting some advice, don’t ignore it or put off until another day.  Go ahead and contact a professional, impartial financial adviser who will normally offer you an initial, complimentary financial review to provide you with sound advice.  Your financial adviser will be able to make sure that you and your family have the right protection in place at the right cost, should the worst happen.

 

Contact us NOW for your complimentary financial review:

email:  James.durey@charlesderby.com

Tel:  07730 403745

 

 

* Source:  Mintel Report Term Assurance – UK

**Source:  Financial Conduct Authority

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 of the Best Christmas Movies for all the Family

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It’s the most wonderful time of year, which means it’s time to snuggle up in your comfy pjs and watch your favourite Christmas films over and over again. We asked our audience of families for the Best Christmas Movies for all the Family and dum dum dum here they are;

 

Elf

11 of the Best Christmas Movies for all the Family

What better way to enjoy the build up to Christmas than to laugh at Will Ferrell. In Elf, a toddler is accidentally transported to the North Pole, he’s brought up with all the mannerisms of an elf and is taught to make toys ready for next Christmas. After years, ‘Buddy’ realises he’s not like the other elves and decides to take a trip to New York in search for his real Dad. Their relationship begins to blossom, but not without many obstacles ready to test them along the way. An incredibly funny and fantastic film.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

The Grinch

This film is brilliant, the Grinch and his dog set out on a crazy adventure in an attempt to steal Christmas. They live alone, and they really don’t like Christmas. So when their neighbours start making it bigger and brighter – the Grinch begins feeling rather disgruntled. A great adaptation of its original.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Home Alone

 

What a wave of emotions – one minute you’re laughing, the next you’re crying. Cheeky, 8 year old Kevin starts acting up the night before his family are due to go on holiday to France. The family leave for the airport after a mad rush (sounds familiar!) and accidentally forget Kevin. At first, Kevin loves being in charge, until thieves begin trying to break into his house. Kevin must use traps in order to stay safe!

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Miracle on 34th Street

An ultimate classic. Old man, Kris Kringle finds himself in a bit of a situation when he’s pretending to be Santa Claus at the Thanksgiving Parade. Following his successes, he ends up working as Santa in Macy’s store, but this doesn’t go down too well. It leaves him in court having his health and authenticity questioned.

Watch the trailer here:

 

Polar Express

A fantastic adventure. A young boy is encouraged to hop on the train that’s appeared outside of his bedroom window on the night of Christmas Eve. He makes a trip all the way to the North Pole, to see how Santa is preparing for Christmas. He makes the journey in a bid to find himself. The perfect film for Christmas Eve.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Santa Claus the Movie

Claus’ destiny was always to become Santa Claus, he had been delivering toys to his local town, but he wanted more. In present day, Claus can hardly cope with his enormous workload. With Christmas on the way, Claus’ most hardworking elf ‘Patch’ decides to leave the workshop and puts Christmas in huge trouble. Everyone must work together to fix it.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Shrek the Halls

‘Ogres don’t celebrate Christmas’ – they do when Donkey’s around. This 30 minute special is enough to put anyone in the Christmas mood. Shrek’s never celebrated Christmas and Donkey tries everything he can to change this. The family must come together to celebrate Christmas in a different way.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

The Snowman and The Snowdog

So heartwarming. In this film, a young boy suffers after the tragic death of his beloved dog. To distract himself, he decides to build a snowman in the back garden, but he can’t leave the snowman alone, so he builds him a snow dog. In the cold night, the snowman and his snow dog come to life and they take the young boy on a moving adventure.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Jack Frost

A heartening fantasy. Musician, Jack Frost, struggles to balance his busy lifestyle, after an awful accident, Jack passes away, leaving his wife and son ‘Charlie’ alone. One Christmas, Charlie decides to play a tribute to his father on his harmonica, when his dad is magically brought to life as a snowman. Jack Frost has another opportunity to be there for his son.

 

Watch the trailer here:

 

Jingle all the Way

A standard last minute Christmas stress. A father promises his son the greatest toy on the market ‘Turbo Man’, only problem is, he’s left it till Christmas Eve to buy it. Unfortunately, the toy has sold out in every shop, so the father is forced to hunt it down when he bumps into another father on the same mission as him. It’s a race against time as the father realises the true meaning of Christmas.

Watch the trailer here:

 

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

Featuring 3 short films, this classic is perfect for Christmas. ‘Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas’, after a wish for it to be Christmas every day, three brothers end up pranking their family. It’s only until their Christmas goes terribly wrong, that they realise that Christmas is about more than just presents. ‘A Very Goofy Christmas’ this lovely classic brings a tear to our eyes, after Max is told that Christmas isn’t real, Goofy is forced to try everything to convince him that Santa is real. When Santa finally delivers Max’s present, Max asks him an important question, and the answer is incredibly special. ‘Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi’, this brilliant storyline shows exactly what people will do for love. Both Mickey and Minnie go through troubles to buy each other the perfect Christmas gift, only for them to end up being pointless. But at least they have each other – and that’s what Christmas is all about.

 

Watch the trailer here:

The Importance of Life Insurance – A True Story

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisers throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection. 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 adviser please fill in our contact form with your name, telelphone number and town name and we will pass your details on to your nearest financial adviser.

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.

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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