Little I is now 2yrs old so we are way past the bottle feeding stage but with my Sister-in-Law's baby bump getting bigger by the day I am keeping my eye out for new products to make her life a little easier when baby comes. One such new product is the Tommee Tippee Ultra Bottle.
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There is nothing worse when breastfeeding baby than those naughty hands. They scratch your face, pull on your hair, grab the muslin waving it around flashing your boob to the whole of Starbucks. So thank goodness for Boobie Beads - a great range of silicone necklaces which baby can playing with during breastfeeding to help them focus on feeding.
My girls have always slept in sleeping bags from little babies to tumbling toddlers. Not only are they the safer than loose sheets, they keep them cosy and warm despite their nocturnal wriggling and rolling!
We are holidaying in Northern France this Winter. I am a little concerned how cold it will be in the farmhouse we are staying so I was delighted to discover Grobag have a 3.5 tog range designed for cold environments of 12 -15 degrees.
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. The information above is from www.nhs.co.uk. I am not a medical professional and the information above should not be substituted for the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. If you suspect your child has croup take them to your doctor or healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
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!
We have been using the Chicco Echo stroller for days out since Little I turned one back in February. So we have certainly put it to the test!. We tend to use it when our larger Chicco Urban travel system won't fit in the packed car or we are just popping out and want something lighter and smaller. It is a godsend for when Little I is staying with her extended family as it is so easy to explain how it works!
Little Butterfly London's signature Soft as Moonlight Nappy Change Cream is rich in antioxidants as it is in anti-inflammatory properties, this powerful balm protects and repairs and calmly melts into the skin, nurturing and protecting baby's most sensitive areas. The cream efficiently supports healing and helps protect baby's delicate skin from excess moisture. The organic certified balm is crafted from 18 carefully selected botanical ingredients proven to nourish sensitive skin including mango seed butter, comforting calendula and camomile to relieve discomfort. Cocoa, shea butter and buttermilk nourish and protect, while peach kernel and cucumber seed oil maintain the skin's natural balance. Soft as Moonlight Nappy Change Cream is a 100% natural product, beautifully restoring any irritated, dry and cracked areas on mature skin too. Looking after baby's precious, delicate skin is a must for all mums. I have discovered a stunning range of certified organic plant based products offering a holistic approach to baby skincare - Little Butterfly London. I have a stunning tub of Soft as Moonlight Nappy Change Cream to give away to one lucky winner! Simply complete the Rafflecopter form below to enter: I have been battling for the past few months with our old in-ear baby thermometer. The baby wriggles and refuses to let me take a reading and when I do get one it fluctuates all over the place. It has had it's day. So time to test out some of the new infrared thermometer models which allow you take accurate forehead temperatures within a few seconds. Sounds infinitely better than poking a screaming baby in the ear. The 3 models I have been sent to test out are the NUK 2in1 baby thermometer, Omron Gentle Temp 720 and Chicco My Touch. Let's put them through their paces... NUK 2in1 Baby Thermometer £24.99 This is a dual thermometer which uses infrared technology to measure the temperature in the ear but also at the temple. How does it look? The unit is compact and the rounded design means it fits in the hand comfortably. It has a little matching stand which keeps it upright. The sensor has a cap which fits snugly. How does it work? It defaults to ear mode so if you want to use it to measure at the temple you have to change the mode - which isn't the most instinctual process but you get the hang of it. You pop the sensor against baby's temple and gently move it in a circular motion. The screen is not backlit so in a dark room it is difficult to read the screen but the tip does glow red/green to indicate fever which would be visible. How long does it take? Readings take 5-8 seconds Did the baby like it? She didn't seem to mind at all and it is quite easy to do when asleep. Added extras? As mentioned the device has a fever alarm - the tip glows green for a normal reading and red for a high temperature plus you can measure surface temperatures (bath water, baby milk etc) using a different setting. It holds the past 25 readings in it's memory. When not in use the device shows the room temperature (it can be turned off completely to save battery life). Silent mode. Pros: The stand makes it easy to use at a glance as a room thermometer. Cons: It is annoying that it reverts back to ear mode everytime it is turned off. Verdict: 4/5 Good all rounder - Great value for money Omron Gentle Temp 720 £43.95 This is an infrared contactless device which measures forehead temperature. How does it look: The unit is quite large and definitely the most medicinal looking device on test. It is long but sits in the hand well. How does it work: It couldn't be more simple. You turn it on. Hold it 1-3cms from the centre of the forehead and press the start button. The screen is back lit so easy reading in the dark. How long does it take? 1 second Did the baby like it? My top tip with this one is do it discreetly! As soon as Little I saw the unit she wanted it. Trying to keep her still to take the reading (which only takes 1 second so you'd think it would be easy, right?) Luckily it does only take 1 second so at some point they usually do sit still for that long. It is perfect when they are sleeping as you don't need to touch them at all. Added extras: The unit shows the room temperature when not in use and can also be used to measure surface temperatures. It holds 25 readings in the memory. Silent mode. Pros: The speed of reading is virtually instantaneous. Plus you don't need to touch the child (just keep them still for 1second!) Genius. Cons: It is quite large (you wouldn't want to carry it around in your bag) plus it is quite expensive. Most importantly it doesn't have a fever alarm. Verdict: 4/5 Incredibly quick and easy to use - a professional unit. Chicco My Touch £24.99 This is an infrared forehead thermometer with an unusual design. How does it look? The smallest device I've seen, the My Touch is round and compact. How does it work? The unusual device is designed to be held between 2 fingers and cradled against baby's temple. It is very simple to use. Turn it on, wait 2 seconds for calibration then press the scan button. You cradle against baby's temple moving slightly up and down. The unit beeps when finished and has a 3 colour fever alarm to alert high temperatures. The screen is not backlit so you need to rely on the fever alarm in the dark. How long does it take? 5 seconds Did the baby like it? She barely knew it was happening as I did it during a cuddle. We even took a selfie during one reading! Little E also decided it was her favourite because it is 'so cute!'. I never thought I would say this about a thermometer but she is right! Added extras: 25 previous readings memory. Silent mode. Pros: It is very compact so incredibly portable. I love the ergonomic design. The red, amber, green fever alarm (plus a sound alarm) makes it very clear to read. Cons: No backlight, no surface or room temperature settings. Overall verdict: 4/5 Unique design - Most portable
So they all get the same score! They all took forehead temperature accurately and efficiently - it is personal preference which added extras you like - plus how much budget you have to spend.
If you don't already have a room thermometer in the nursery and are on a budget the NUK is a good option but if you have a little bit more cash to spend the Omron is a very professional device. Personally I will be keeping the Chicco My Touch in my change bag at all times - it is so compact and perfect for when out and about (it accompanied us on our family holiday to Spain last month!) In the medicine cabinet I'll keep the professional Omron - perfect for night time contactless readings. Clink the links below to purchase via Amazon.co.uk
All products tested were sent for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Post contains affiliate links Linking up to #triedtested at myfamilyfever.co.uk and goingonanadventure.co.uk #familytested at thegigglesfamily.com #maternitymondays at becomingastayathomemum.com #pocolo at vevivos.com Exciting news today! Baby specialists Chicco have just launched a new range of DryFit nappies. Little I has been given an exclusive preview of the new nappies and has been testing them out over the past few weeks to give you the lowdown on how the perform on a very active 16mth old! The new nappies go from newborn size 1 up to size 5. The weights seem generous to me and where Little I was needing a size 5 in the leading nappies to guarantee overnight dryness, size 4 Chicco DryFit are a perfect fit with plenty of room. It will be a while before she needs size 5! The fabric like external liking is extra breathable helping to avoid sweating and nappy rash. Little I's bum has been perfect when wearing them so that gets a thumbs up. The nappies are thin and initially I was concerned they may not hold much liquid but that isn't a problem at all. They absorb loads and Little I can easily go overnight without leaking. And the best thing is they stay compact rather than going all bulky and saggy like the leading brand. They also mask the smell much better - great for the warm summer months. The design is also subtle and pastel meaning they don't show through Little I's thin summer clothes. Little I is one of the most active babies I know. Luckily the DryFit nappies flex and stretch mimicking the movements of her leg stopping leaks. They have been tested during climbing, gardening, exploring and even during impromptu baby yoga sessions! The nappies past every test and I can see why they are the leading brand in Italy, Chicco's home country. New Chicco DryFit nappies are available exclusively from Boots in store and online from today. At £7.99 for a pack it works out roughly 21p per nappy (size 4) which is more expensive than the leading brand and supermarket own brands but from 24th June they are on Buy One Get One Free making them a steal so stock up during the offer! Find out more at chicco.co.uk We were sent Chicco DryFit nappies to review but all opinions are our own. Linking up to #maternitymondays at becomingastayathomemum.com #triedtested at myfamilyfever.co.uk and goingonanadventure.co.uk #sharewithme at letstalkmommy.com and #familytested at thegigglesfamily.com |
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