Coats/Snowsuits on children in cars, is it safe?

As the cold winter approaches, we start to look for out child s next winter coat, be it that duffle from Boden or the snow suit from Petit Bateau. Never a thought did I give to the thickness of the coat or how that could affect my child’s safety in the car. Did you know that thick winter coats or snowsuits can compromise your child's car seat safety.

In order for a baby car seat or toddler booster seat to function properly, the straps need to remain tight against the child's chest. Winter coats and snowsuits make car seat safety difficult because they change the way a child fits into the car seat. When the car seat straps don't fit the child properly, there is a chance the child could be ejected from the car seat.

The car seat harness needs to stay close to the child's body at all times. All coats and clothing will compress in a crash, but thicker winter coats and snowsuits could compress enough to create a lot of slack in the harness, allowing the child to be ejected from the car seat.

Check All Winter Coats for Car Seat Safety

It's easy to check and see whether a baby's winter coat or infant snowsuit is too thick to be safe in a car seat. This test will show you how thick the coat is and how much the coat will compress during a crash.

Take the car seat into the house.

Put the winter coat or snowsuit on the child.

Put the child in the car seat and buckle the harnesses as you normally would before car travel. Adjust the straps to the appropriate fit for your child.

Put the child back in the car seat and buckle the harnesses again, but do not tighten the straps.

Take the child out of the car seat without loosening the straps at all.

Take the coat off your child.

If you can fit more than two fingers under the harness at the child's shoulder bone, the coat is too thick and is not safe for use with the car seat.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

Raspberry Leaf tea is one of those pregnancy topics which most people talk about but does anyone really know whether it’s for real or not?

Raspberry leaf tea, also known as red raspberry leaf, is a herbal remedy. It is not the same as raspberry fruit tea!

Red raspberry leaf tea is recommended during pregnancy because it contains vitamins (C, E, A, B complex) and minerals (magnesium, calcium and iron) which not only helps mother and baby get all the nourishing nutrients they need, but can also help replenish stores of the mother after birth.
Raspberry leaf also contains the alkaloid 'fragine' which is said to strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus, helping them to contract more efficiently during labour. Research has found that taking raspberry leaf tea during the weeks prior to delivery helps to shorten the second stage of labour by making contractions more effective. Sipping raspberry leaf tea during and after the birth is also said to help the uterus contract back down to size, reduce after birth bleeding and help initiate the let down of breastmilk. While there hasn't been a huge amount of research into this area, the general consensus does seem to be that drinking raspberry leaf tea during the latter stages of pregnancy can help to make for a 'better' labour with few side effects.
However, because there is little research the certainty of these claims cannot be verified.
What we do know for sure is that raspberry leaf should, like other herbal teas, be drunk in moderation. Some midwives think it is not a good idea to take anything that might interfere with your labour, after all we are designed to give birth without any help, as hard as that may seem at the time!
If you do decide to try raspberry leaf tea, let your doctor or midwife know that you are planning to drink it. And really, whilst we’ve reached no real conclusion here, the best advice would seem to be like anything in life, moderation is the safest way to go. Oh, and I also think it should always be taken with a big slice of cake.

Festivals with kids ....

Let's be honest .... music, arts and creativity aside, festivals are like great big playgrounds for adults. Never have I escaped so hedonistically and had so much fun than I have enjoyed at a festival. I haven't done one with my children yet but they are getting to the age now (and I'm getting to the age where the partying should really be slowing down) where I'm thinking it might be ok to try one. But I know to 'do' a festival, responsibly, with children has to be seen in a completely different light. You have to accept that your festival experience will be different and if you're not prepared for that to be so, then you should leave the kids at home. You are going to miss out on a few things, you won't be able to party like it's 1999, get drunk and giddy by 2pm in the afternoon, or stand right at the front of your favourite band or DJ set. And you will have to shelter your kids from the many dodgy aspects of a festival; large crowds, loud music, drink, drugs and weird people! If you accept all of this right from the start, you and your kids could have one of the best holidays of their lifetime. Here's a few tips which I'll be taking on board on my first festival experience with the little one;

1.Choose carefully - there are so many festivals now, it's one of the things we English do better than anyone else in the world, so take the time to research which ones are more suitable for kids. They probably won't be the big boys with huge headlining music acts, but more compact and full of creative acts with theatre, crafts and world music. Most have their very own 'kids area' which you can check out on the website before you commit. Some festivals are completely unsuitable for kids, so don't just rock up without having done the homework.

2.Take plenty of your own food and snacks, things which you know your kids will eat. If you're expecting them to stay up a bit, or a lot, later than usual, they'll need frequent fuel and stuff they like is so much more comforting to them. It can also get really expensive relying on the food stalls.

3. Take some comfort - this might sound totally obvious but when the tiredness kicks in kids need security and comfort. So take a favourite blanket or a few home comforts, pillow or cushion, to help them chill out whilst still enjoying being away from home.

4. Take a potty! Loos at festivals can be hardwork even for us adults, and so for children can be quite an ordeal, especially as the night gets later. Having a potty or bucket, even for older children, will make the experience much less stressful ... if you don't need to use the toilets, then don't bother.

5.Have a chat about getting lost. What and where should your child go if they lose you? Write your mobile number on your child's arm with a permanent marker, rather than a wristband which could fall off.

6.Pack for every possible weather condition, sunny, windy, rainy ... sunblock, hats, shades, waterproof wellies, sandals. If you're prepared for anything it won't matter what gets thrown at you. And lets face it, it probably will.

7. Don't even try to get right to the front of any music act. For one thing, large crowds can be really scary for small children and hard to get out of quickly. And another, loud music is extremely damaging to young ears, and old. Stand well back and enjoy it from a distance, children like dancing too so this gives them some freedom to move around and be silly!

8. Give your child time to do what they want. Take them to the kids tents, give them a couple of hours of their stuff and then they'll be happy to give you an hour to go and see your band or whatever else you'd love to see. Remember it's more about them this time, but if you make it about them, you can bank a few hours for the grown up stuff.

9.Most importantly, Enjoy it! Let them stay up later, allow some raucous behaviour, accept a few tantrums (this isn't the time and place for the naughty step) let them be wild and free ... it's a festival, it's a holiday and it's a chance for you to all escape to a wonderful world, that for just one weekend is nothing like reality. That sounds like a little slice of heaven to me, anyone coming to Latitiude?

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