How to Keep Cool in the Sunshine

We’ve got lots of beautiful products in-store to keep little ones cool in the sunny weather, including reversible organic sun hats, muslins by aden + anaise, swim shorts for boys, pretty summer dresses for girls and soft organic cotton bodysuits for babies.

You can find some excellent natural sun protection creams at our favourite Brighton shop, Infinity Foods, and Boots also stocks a good range of creams and potions.

Here are some helpful tips to keep children cool in the sunshine:

Keep out of direct sunlight – Babies aren’t born with a developed skin protection system, so they burn more easily. Babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour and provides protection from the sun.

Apply lots of suncream – A young child has more skin (relative to body mass) than an adult, so sunburn can be very serious in small babies. Always use a high protection suncream and reapply every couple of hours.

Invest in a sunhat – Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or long flap at the back to protect their head and neck from the sun. Mamissima stocks a wide range at reasonable prices.

Keep baby rehydrated – if breastfeeding, feed more often, and make sure you and your child drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can also give them diluted fruit juice, ice cubes and homemade fruit juice lollies. For older children, plenty of fruit and salad will also help keep up fluid levels.

Stay in the shade – The sun is at its hottest between 12 noon and 3pm, try to stay in the shade during these times.

Keep bedding and clothing to a minimum – remove duvets and thick blankets. Cool cotton sheets are a must at this time of year. Don’t worry about nighties and pyjamas at bedtime – just a nappy will do.

Cool room = happy baby – put a fan in baby’s room and open windows, keeping blinds closed to keep the sun out (make sure baby is supervised and stays well away from open windows, particularly if they’re crawling/climbing).

Have fun – paddling pools, splashing in the sea, lying in the shade under a big tree and eating lots of ice cream can all help too. Be safe, have fun and enjoy the sunshine.

See our full range of products here.

What’s In A Name?

Excitement about the new heir to the throne’s name has reached fever pitch with only days to go before the new arrival. So what will Prince William and Kate Middleton’s little prince or princess be called?

As is only fitting for a royal, most members of the Royal Family tend to have multiple names. Prince William alone has four: William Arthur Philip Louis. When naming their right royal sprogs the royals tend towards traditional names, especially those of successful monarchs.

Elizabeth and Victoria were both extremely strong and successful, as were Arthur and William. Less likely to make the cut would be Henry, considering King Henry famously married six times – and beheaded two wives. As far as non-traditional names go, only Princess Anne’s son (Prince William’s cousin) has gone off grid, naming his little princesses Savannah and Isla.

Top of our list is George and Louis for a boy, Victoria or Carole for a girl. So what will it be? Whatever it is, we're sure Miss Middleton would love one of our best-selling personlaised necklaces. So if you're looking for gift ideas, William, you know where to come. Watch this space …

Top Ten Brighton Names - Girls

Alice

Victoria

Laura

Amelia

Rosie

Cindy

Fleur

Yvette

Coco

Claudia

Top Ten Brighton Names - Boys

Elvin

Harry

Henry

Sebastian

Calan

Ellis

Dylan

Milo

Rudi

Billy

Just a few tips for the last two weeks of pregnancy

Without a doubt, the last two weeks of pregnancy is tough. It’s really easy to get it into your head that when you hit the last month, that tiny little treasure will arrive straight away and on time. Every day I see customers on their due dates, wandering around not knowing what to do with themselves, no doubt thinking, “Is today the day”. And naturally, every time they experience a slight contraction they’re so sure they’re in labour, because today is the day.

Of course, I have complete amnesia from my last pregnancy so I can’t possibly remember how I felt at this point. Nevertheless, I have come up with a few survival tips to (hopefully) keep you going through the last few weeks of pregnancy:

•           Don’t stop working – a little distraction will make the days go faster, and it means you won’t eat into your maternity leave.

•           Prepare the birth announcement. Figure out the design, what it’s going to say and have it ready to go when the baby’s born (moo.com is perfect for quick and affordable prints). Address the letters, ready for postage, and give yourself a big old pat on the back when it’s all done. A sleep-deprived new parent doesn’t want to be doing this once the baby arrives.

•           Make sure the baby’s room and newborn supplies are ready (Tip: you’ll need more than 10 nappies … a lot more – babies generally go through 10 a day!).

•           Stock up the freezer because there isn’t going to be much time to shop once the baby’s here.

•            Indulge! This is your last chance before you’ll almost certainly be starting your post-baby weight loss regime. So if you have any cravings, pack them in ladies!

•           Take a breastfeeding class. If you’re feeling under-prepared, solve the problem and take a class in whatever area you feel deficient. I promise you, you’ll feel much more confident and secure as a result.

•           Buy a baby journal. Mamissima sells lovely journals with lots of space for pictures and recording special memories and feelings. Visit www.mamisima.co.uk.

•           Write a letter to your baby, saying anything and everything you feel and would like to whisper in her or his ear. Write it by hand, the old-fashioned way.

•           Buy photo albums and start putting all your photos in them.

Trust me, you’ll be grateful later when you start taking hundreds of pictures of your new baby.

•           Read, read, read – Books, journals, magazines, newspapers, anything. You won’t have the time or energy to read for a while.

•           Spend some quality time with your partner. Your life together is about to change forever, so cherish these last few weeks and plan some grown-up, fun activities. Lunch at your favourite restaurant, a picnic in the park, breakfast in bed, cinema, weekend away. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just make the most of each other’s company.

•           Last but not least, treat yourself to something special, just for you. Babies are expensive and as soon as they arrive your needs become secondary. If you want that new pair of shoes, buy them now!

Good luck!

Lolita@mamissima

Good person from Brighton

I’d like to devote this blog to the most amazing person who I don’t suppose I will ever meet. A customer driven by financial trouble made a mistake but had enough courage to come forward. She posted an envelop with money and a note addressed to Mamissima and here’s what she wrote:
To the Manager,
I was made redundant recently and have been struggling to keep up with financial commitments. At the end of December a baby was born in my family a month early. I had four pounds in my bank and needed it to feed my own child. I was mortified at turning up empty handed so I am sorry to say I stole a pair of beige Cashmere Booties from your shop. I always meant to repay you when I could. I am really sorry I would not do it again. I had a weak moment of desperation. I feel especially bad, as you are a small local business. Here is the £14 for the booties. Once again I am really sorry for taking them.
Best wishes
A sorry neighbour
It would take me forever to describe how I felt upon finding the note and the money. It all made sense and reinforced my belief in what I do. I love my business and although it’s a struggle for small businesses such as mine, I love what I do. Nothing make’s me more proud than been part of Brighton authentic, vibrant, immensely talented, hard working businesses community. Our small businesses are the heart of the city’s attraction. This note has inspired me and made me confident than ever before to continue with my lovely shop.
If you are feeling up to it today, have a cup or a glass of something nice for this good person from Brighton.

Lolita@ Mamissima

Bye bye latte hello espresso for me

A large dose of caffeine may be the way many of us start the day, but researchers say little and often would do more to help us stay awake and stimulate our cognitive mind. Although large cups of coffee boosts caffeine levels, but these fall away during the day and therefore low doses of caffeine would give more active hours during the day. Very mainland European don’t you think!! Love it!!! At work or at home I always struggle between 12 and 3 pm. Apparently must of us use caffeine the wrong way by drinking a few mugs of coffee or tea in the morning. "This means that caffeine levels in the brain will be falling as the day goes on. The same research says that if you are feeling sleepy during the day, a 20-minute nap beats three cups of coffee any day. That's what our body needs but who has 20 minute to nap!!!! 

For pregnant women no coffee please!! Caffeine can raise blood pressure, and drinking too much of it can affect pregnancy.

Enjoy Mamissima

TRYING FOR BABY AGAIN

I was in my shop and a friend stopped by with her 6 months old baby. She said her and her partner thinking of trying for another baby and I became a bit worried for them and started advising against trying so early. I told her to wait longer until baby was at least a year or two, using some scientific evidence of two year gap in order to recover her strength; I even mentioned to give as much time as possible to her first child; but the worst thing was I just got my friend back after she stopped breastfeeding and I am actually looking forward to nights out in town and few glasses of Prosecco.

But then after she left I felt really uncomfortable about my advice and thought about it a lot. So this is a bit strange to write about such personal thing but it’s on my mind and I will just go ahead and do it.

I have two happy and healthy children and It is so important for me to say how blessed and privilege I feel to be their mother. Our youngest is four and it is no secret to say that we have thought and spoke about having more but we kind of know that why try our luck when we so happy with two, and there are so many women that can’t have one.

I am so quite simply terrified of trying.  For me trying after my first has meant so many months of anxiety, loss and sadness and I think of all the things that might happen and all the things that could go wrong on the road to a healthy pregnancy.  But then I am calmed thinking that there are millions of women getting pregnant everyday and it may not take months and months of anxious waiting. 

Its becoming normal to have smaller gap between children simply because we have children later and later in our life’s, in my shop majority of first time pregnancies are over 34. “No wonder” it’s only take’s us Forever to get our career on track and in many cases to find the man with whom to have children.

So I suppose the answer is complex and I still feel bad for advising my friend against it. If you worried and thinking when is the good time, that is probably anytime and if “That Is What’s On Your Mind” as soon as you find strength to deal with what ever difficulties may or may not be ahead.

At last, I would like to mention how happy I am to know that NHS IVF treatment will be extended to women up to 42 years of age. What a smart thing to do…..

Enjoy Mamissima

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