The Super foods during pregnancy

It's easy when you fall pregnant to eat twice as much as your usual quota, plus a bit of whatever you like on top. You're eating for two, so why not? Well, whilst you are eating for two, you need to be aware of exactly what your number two requires in order to be as fit and healthy and you can possibly make them. Plus, it will make your life during pregnancy a lot easier. Here's a quick list of some supersonic foods which will do just that:

Eggs - did you know that eggs are a great source of Vit D? Very few foods contain it, but eggs do! VitD strengthens your immune system, which is typically lowered in pregnancy, so it can help to ward off draining illnesses like colds and flu. It also helps your body absorb calcium for you and your baby.

Spinach - we all know, thanks to Popeye, that Spinach is high in iron, but did you know that if you eats lots during pregnancy it can prevent the very common anaemia? It is also high in folic acid, which helps your baby’s spinal cord develop healthily.

Nuts, especially cashews - a great source of protein and dietary fibre, and brilliant to snack on.

Wholemeal Bread - sounds obvious but it really is a great way to boost your calorie intake and keep your energy levels up (it's a source of magnesium which helps your body absorb energy from food).

Chickpeas - or houmous! A great snack and super delicious, chickpeas are high in calcium, which is essential for your baby’s growing bones.

Blueberries - bursting with Vit C and can be enjoyed as a snack, sprinkled over breakfast cereal or even in salads.

Salmon - omega-3 fatty acids are especially useful in pregnancy; omega-3 is vital for the nerve and brain development of your baby. If you’re veggie or just fancy a healthy snack, pumpkin seeds are just as good as they also contain good amounts of omega-3.

Of course this is just a guide and so long as you're getting a varied diet with a mixture of superfood goodness, there's no reason why you can't indulge in the odd chocolate eclair .... because a little bit of what you fancy always does you good!

The perfect holiday for children

The family and I ( 2 grown ups and 2 young children, 6 and 4) have just had a wonderful weekend away at the very gorgeous Centre Parcs Longleat. If you've never experienced a Centre Parcs holiday, or even a holiday with the kids in the UK, then this is a great place to start.

Longleat Forest is part of the stunningly beautiful Longleat Estate which has rolling hills and magnificent Giant Redwood trees. You have the option of using bikes, walking or catching the land train, which is exclusive to Longleat Forest. It's a breath of fresh air which the kids revel in and we as parents need! There are so many activities for the kids to do (indoor too if you happen to get the worst of the British weather), there really is never a dull moment. There is even a Spa offering relaxing treatments so you feel you can truly relax into a holiday.

Have a look for yourself at the many things on offer, and I promise you the kids will love it and you'll have achieved the perfect family holiday. We did.

The fashion of smocking

Smocking, if you didn't already know, is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric, allowing it to stretch. It was used before elastic, on details such as cuffs and necklines in clothes where buttons were undesirable. It has an interesting history - developed in England back in the Middle Ages, and worn most commonly by labourers, which is particularly interesting given it’s intricate work and, I think, really pretty effect.
Smocking requires lightweight fabric with a stable weave that gathers well. Cotton and silk would be the favourites then, although according to Good Housekeeping: The Illustrated Book of Needlecrafts, "Any type of fabric can be smocked if it is supple enough to be gathered."
We have a number of girls dresses which boast smocking, take a look here and here. They make wonderful occasion dresses, for weddings, birthdays and christenings. Proof indeed that the times are changing again, and a long forgotten art form is coming back into vogue.

A healthy smile ....

As a mother of two under 5, I know how tough it can be to do the best for your children, in all areas of their upbringing, all of the time. I am human and not perfect! In terms of being healthy, children will nearly always choose and want the unhealthy options and after endless whining and tantrums it's easy to give in (sometimes). I don't like to go overboard on either sugar or artificial sweeteners but a little of each won't do any harm.
Sitting in the dentist waiting room last week, I read an article by the Children's Dental Practice stating that tooth decay is caused, simply, by sugar. Surely that's just common sense isn't it? But with lots of hidden sugars in things which we think are healthy, fruit juice for example, we as parents can often be guilty. The best and simplest way to prevent tooth decay is by limiting the amount of sugar your child has. Here is some good practical advise which the article shared with it's readers:
1. Clean your child's teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as soon as first teeth appear
2. Use a natural fibre toothbrush to start with (Mamissima stocks natural fibre toothbrushes)
3. Ensure sure the level of fluoride is at least 1000pm up to 3 years and 1450-1500 over 3 years of age.
4. Children should spit out, but not rinse
5. Keep sweets, cakes, chocolate as treats and avoid sugary drinks
6. Avoid fizzy drinks!
7. Be aware of hidden sugars in things like ketchup, baked beans, Nutella - dried fruits such as raisins contain natural sugar in a concentrated form, plus the sticky texture is very bad for teeth!
8. Fruit juices should only be given once a day
9. Offer children nothing but water after brushing their teeth at bedtime
10. Never give baby a sugary drink in the bottle

The power of the Liberty print ...

There’s something very special about a Liberty print isn’t there? Not least, because ever since 1875 Liberty has been synonymous with luxury and great design. 1875! But also because, I believe, the history of Liberty is so fascinating – it was instrumental in the development of Art Nouveau, it relentlessly nurtured and show cased up-and-coming designers, it thrived upon its reputation for eclectic and fashionable design, and its store in London still holds the title of one of the leading fashion destinations in the world. Whatever you buy sporting a liberty print will be recognised, admired and worth every penny you spent on it – it’s like a little slice of that wonderful reputation of fashion and quality. So we are very excited to have found some wonderful children’s clothing for you, fashioned from liberty prints, by HoneyChild. They are handmade in the UK and mix two Liberty prints in soft cotton. We also have Liberty print Dribblebuster Bibs, perhaps more suitable for boys, which add a touch of that luxury and quality which both and your baby can enjoy. The bibs make great little gifts too.

To learn more about the history of Liberty, click here.

Decisions, decisions ....

....baby names! Naming your baby is a big part (one of the fun parts!) of the whole pregnancy chapter and something which we as parents pour over and over from the start of conception, sometimes even before, and right the way through until that moment when you finally meet your son or daughter. Most couples will have a list of 4 or 5 names for girls, and the same for boys. And aren't girls names easier to come up with?! Names have meanings, taken from religion or language, and also meanings for us in terms of treasured family members, hero's, heroines, movie stars even! So it's a big deal. Here at Mamissima we have been tweeting popular 'Brighton' names we hear frequently in our shop. It's great fun and very interesting! Sign up for our tweets, @mamissima, to keep up with what's hot in the naming game. And if you're still stuck for ideas then there's even a website devoted entirely to baby names http://www.babynames.co.uk/ !

Christening Presents

With the start of Spring there are not only new beginnings in nature but there always seems to be a baby boom too! Not sure if it's just here in Brighton but there are lots of Spring babies about! Which means Christening season will soon be upon us.

I struggle with Christenings as I can never think of something beautiful and original to give as a gift. Traditionally, the gift should be something meaningful and something that will last forever, that the child can keep and look back on in adult life, almost like an heirloom. Silver spoons and silver bangles were de rigueur when I was a babe, and I do still have my silver bangle (somewhere). So how have things changed and what are the most unique and beautiful gifts for our babies now?

We still have the traditional things like a silver spoon (this one chimes!) or silver rattle, which may not be the most original gift but often the old ones are still the best. A nice alternative, and much more contemporary to the silver bangle is a friendship bracelet , on which you can have a name engraved and a birth date. Or a slightly more glamorous version of a bangle is this pretty coil bracelet with little charm. If jewellery is not your thing, and you're not a direct relative to the baby then you'll probably want to go for something a bit less traditional and perhaps more fun. I think a money box is a great Christening gift, every child should have one, and it sends a good early message about the importance of saving pennies!

For more ideas, take a look here. And if you still need some help, then give us a call at the shop where we'd be very happy to help 01273 626 676