This week Little I has been poorly with croup. We are not the only family suffering; the majority of the babies at the school gates have the distinctive barking cough and the mums look bleary eyed from the lack of sleep. Croup is definitely doing the rounds.

So what is croup and what should we do to help our little ones while they are unwell?

What is croup?

Croup is an infection causes the voice box (larynx) to become swollen and the windpipe (trachea) can become blocked. The airways in the lungs (bronchi) can also become inflamed.

What causes it?

Croup is commonly caused by a virus, most often the parainfluenza virus.

How do you catch it?

Croup is spread in a similar way to the common cold so it is very easy to catch. It is most prevalent in the Autumn and early Winter.

Who is at risk?

Croup most commonly affects children aged 6mths to 3yrs with most cases a presenting in 1yr olds. It can sometimes develop in babies as young as 3mths old and older children up to 15yrs. It is rare for an adult to catch it but it is possible!

What are the symptoms?

A harsh, barking cough and a stridor (a harsh sound when they breathe in) are the distinctive symptoms of croup. They may also have a horse throat and find it difficult to breathe.

A GP can usually diagnose croup and it can be treated at home but if your child is having any difficulty breathing take them straight to the closest A&E department for immediate treatment.

How is it treated?

Most mild cases of croup can be treated at home. Keeping your child upright can help the cough and comforting them when they are upset is important as crying can make the symptoms worse. Regularly give your child water to drink as staying hydrated is very important.

A single dose of an oral steroid can be prescribed by your GP to help reduce swelling in the throat.

If your child has any breathing difficulties they need to be taken to hospital immediately to receive treatment, possibly oxygen through a mask or adrenaline.

How long does it last?

Many cases clear up in 48hrs but it can last a couple of weeks.

Can it come back?

Unfortunately yes, children can catch croup more than once.

Tomorrow is October which means we can officially start gearing up for Halloween! Hurrah! Little E loves Halloween. I'd say it is her favourite celebration after Christmas.

In our latest Baker Ross blogger delivery we have been sent some fantastic Halloween kits which Little E and I will be creating over the next few weeks getting ready for the spooky celebration.

But I think Little E is going to enjoy making the Halloween mosaic wand kits. She will definitely want to add one of these to her Halloween outfit!

Little I had just begun to show an interest in drawing and crafting so she will get to have a go making these Bat handprint kits - they will look so cute with her little handprints!

And on the website there is so much more! I am tempted to have a Halloween party so we can order some other things! Keep your eyes peeled for our Halloween craft posts over the next month.

You can find the whole Halloween craft range online at bakerross.co.uk

Little I and myself have been ill for the past week so excuse the blog silence and this late post. Despite being unwell I have a great selection of meals lined up thanks to Tesco online delivery! Lots of the recipes are featured on this blog so click the links to grab the recipe for yourself.

Monday

Kids: Spaghetti and turkey meatballs

Chicken sausages, red cabbage and parmentier sweet potatoes

Tuesday

Kids: Mini tortilla crust pizzas (Great to make together after school.

Quinoa kedgeree with spinach

Wednesday

Kids and me: Salt and pepper dusted cod with chips and peas (Husband out)

Thursday:

Kids and me: Slow cooked Spanish chicken with bulgar wheat (Husband out)

Friday:

Everyone: Rainbow chilli with brown rice

Saturday

Eating out with Mum

Sunday

Everyone: Pesto crusted pork loin with sweet potato mash and brocolli


What are you eating this week?

I've been experimenting with quick, fun dinners for the girls to keep Little E can entertained after school. Mission Deli sent us some of their wraps to get creative and Pinterest supplied a great idea; Mini tortilla pizzas.

Ingredients

Muffin tin
Tortilla wraps
Tomato pizza sauce (homemade or jarred)
Grated cheese
Toppings of your choice
Italian herbs

It is really simple. You cut circles from a tortilla using a cookie cutter or a tin can.

Pop the tortilla circles into a muffin tin. Spoon in some tomato sauce.

Top with grated cheese and whatever toppings you like (we choose ham).

Add some Italian herbs. Pop in the oven on 180 for about 10minutes.

Little E loved making these and both the kids demolished them! Absolutely loved them! They will definitely be a regular teatime treat.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Lennie and Bailey are sisters so close they are also best friends. Raised by their Grandmother after their mother abandoned them as small children, exuberant Bailey is everything to Lennie. So when  Bailey dies suddenly of a heart attack Lennie finds herself abruptly thrown out from behind her sisters shadow into the centre of attention. Somewhere she definitely does not want to be. Then two boys come along and love complicates things even further, afterall one of them is her dead sister's boyfriend.

This story deals with loss and grief and the confusion that comes with being left behind. The writing style is excellent and I felt completely invested in Lennie's relationships and her future. The concept of feeling guilt for falling in love when you are mourning was handled particularly well. Having two girls myself the concept of two sisters being split up in such a brutal way resonated strongly. My only criticism is the slightly predictable ending. I'm not sure in reality things would have worked themselves out that well but I was pleased Lennie found happiness and closure.

4/5

The Baby Show with Made for Mums, the UK’s leading pregnancy and parenting event, will be returning to London Olympia from 23rd-25th October 2015.  The Show is a must-attend event for new and expectant parents providing everything needed for bump, baby and you. Including all the essentials, alongside the latest, innovative products and boutique brands. 
 
The Baby Show highlights include:
- Over 200 trusted brands offering visitors the chance to thoroughly test and try before buying
- Exclusive show offers and competitions from top parenting brands.
- The Baby Show stage will feature an array of leading experts, including nutrition specialist Annabel Karmel and breast feeding expert, Clare Byam-Cook.
- Catwalk shows with all the latest fashions in maternity, baby and toddler wear.
- A complimentary crèche where parents can drop off their little ones and enjoy the Show knowing they are being cared for.
 
The Baby Show is taking place on Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October, open from 10:00-5:30pm each day.  Standard tickets are £20 on the door and we have 2 pairs to give away. Visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk for more information.

To enter the competition complete the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Do you have a Carbon Monoxide alarm fitted at home? Do you even know what Carbon Monoxide is? We have only recently fitted alarms in our house despite it being on my to do list for 6yrs. Yep, we have been at risk from a silent killer for 6yrs.

What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide gas (CO) is a odourless, colourless, tasteless gas produced when a fuel is not burnt properly. It is completely invisible to human senses. The only way to detect CO is with an audible carbon monoxide alarm. The most common sources are faulty boilers, fires and cookers but other fuel burning appliances are also potential sources.

Project shout is a National campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide. CO can kill in minutes; it deprives the body of oxygen, resulting in critically low levels. This oxygen starvation leads to flu like symptoms but can become deadly within minutes, or cause long-term organ damage and disease.

Who is most at risk?
Everyone is at risk but some groups are more vulnerable than others; those with heart and respiratory problems, unborn babies, young children and older people.

4000 people go to A&E with suspected CO poisoning each year.
200 people are hospitalised each year
50 people dies each year in England and Wales due to CO poisoninh (estimated)

What are the symptoms of CO exposure?

Mild exposure: Headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (often described as flu-like symptoms)
Medium exposure: Severe headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate
Extreme exposure: Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure, death

What should you I do if I suspect CO is present in my home?
Immediately open the doors and windows to ventilate, turn off your appliances and evacuate the premises. Do not re-enter until the alarm has stopped. In an emergency call National Gas Service on: 0800 111 999. If anyone is suffering effects of CO poisoning get medical help. Do not use the appliance until it has been checked by an expert.

How can I keep my family safe? 
Here are 5 steps to improve your CO safety:

1. Fit an audible alarm
2. Have your appliances checked regularly.
3. Don't block ventilation
4. Know the signs around your appliances
5. Learn to recognise the symptoms

Which CO alarm should I buy?
There are many brands alarm available with different features. Make sure your alarm has the following features:

Certification: Ensure your alarm complies with British Standards EN 50291 and carries a British Standards Kitemark.
Audible alarm: It is crutial that you have an audible alarm (rather than just a colour change indicator) which will sound an alarm when it detects CO. This is because you are most at risk when you are asleep.
Power source: You can buy mains wired alarms or battery powered units, Battery powered alarms with 'sealed for life' batteries mean you can simply fit the alarm and forget about it for the entire period of it's life (usually 7-10yrs)
Low battery warning: You need to know when to replace your batteries or unit so this is a must.
Digital CO display: This feature is important so it can give you an early heads up if low levels of CO are in the atmosphere before it gets to a concentration which triggers the alarm.

Where should I fit my alarm?
Ideally you should fit CO alarms in every room which contains a fuel-burning appliance between 1m and 3m from the source of carbon monoxide. Additional alarms can be located in bedrooms, relatively close to the breathing zones of occupants.

We now have fitted 3 CO alarms in our kitchen (gas hob), in our loft (boiler) and on the landing by the bedroom doors (to wake us if we are asleep). We are now protected from this deadly gas and will be shouting about the dangers of CO to make sure everyone we know has an alarm fitted.

For more information on the dangers of CO and advice on how to keep your family safe visit projectshout.com

And how was Marti's performace? Sensational of course! He never disappoints. Maureen Nolan is also amazing in the role of  Mrs Johnstone. 

The show is touring the country until February 2016 book your tickets here

Following on from last week's 'how to eat a donut', this week Little I shows us the correct way to eat cake. As you can see her technique is similar!