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Making A Splash!

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Sian

Taking children swimming  is not only fun but a great way of providing them with life-saving skills!  Many Mums can worry about taking their little ducks for a dip, but we often forget that they spend nine months in the womb!

Children that have had regular water-based activity are often more confident when taking those first steps in the pool. Those that haven’t been for a regular dip, may be a little more nervous.

There are some great aids to help you and your little swimmer take to the water.

The Swim Fin is a great flotation device that does away with uncomfortable arm bands or rubber rings. Keeping the body upright, the Swim Fin allows children to move freely in the water, whilst having the reassurance that they won’t sink! We recently saw little Kai Rooney taking a splash on holiday with his very own Swim Fin!

Monkey Swimmers are made with the latest swimming technology to become the slimmest and most comfortable arm bands out there. They come with a story book to educate little swimmers on taking to the water and a progress chart to monitor their development.

For those swimming on holiday, a Flotation Suit is a great multi-tasker in offering UV sun protection plus a buoyant little swimmer. Perfect for dips in the pool or a trip to the beach!

Our range of Swim Fins and UV Protection clothing are currently on offer, to get you well-prepared for taking a dip, down at the local leisure centre or on sun drenched shores!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Travel, Sun Safety | Leave a comment

Safety In The Sun!

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Sian

It’s that time of year when school holidays are circled on the calendar and seeing as the British climate doesn’t appear to be ‘doing’ summer this year,  we hit lastminute.com for a spot of summer sun!  If you’ve booked a family holiday for a week in the sun, it’s important to prepare in advance to ensure mini sunseekers are well equipped for warmer climes.

Babies can quickly suffer the short, and long-term damage of sunburn and heat stroke, so keeping your baby safe in the sun is crucial.

Sunburn can cause pain, fever, and dehydration. And just one sunburn during childhood raises the risk of melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer) later in life.

Babies under 6 months should be kept out of the sun completely.  Though that’s not always possible when out and about in foreign countries, so we’ve come up with some precautions you can take to ensure a fun family holiday without the risks…

 

Timing

The sun is strongest between 10 and 4 o’clock, so when you can, time your stroll or outside play with your baby before 10am or after 4pm. When you do venture out, keep in mind that the sun’s rays bounce off surfaces like water, snow, cement, and sand.

Remember, babies can also be sunburned at other times of day, even on cloudy or cool days. Why? Because it’s not the heat of the sun that burns the skin but the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

UV rays can damage the skin at all times of day, all year round, even in the middle of winter. And a baby’s thinner, more delicate skin is especially vulnerable.

You can’t feel these UV rays when they hit your skin, but you’ll see the effects later. (It can take several hours for the redness and pain of a mild first-degree burn to appear.)

 

Safe In The Shade

Use a sunshade on your baby’s pram whenever you’re outside. The Shade A Babe pushchair cover has a built in SPF of 50+ and blocks 99% of all harmful rays.

You may be surprised to know that shade provides only partial protection against UV rays. Without sunscreen or other protection, even a baby in the shade can get sunburned.

 

Dress Code

Cover your baby’s arms and legs in lightweight, light-coloured clothing. Light colours reflect the heat and keep skin cooler than dark colors, which absorb heat.

Fabrics with a tight weave protect skin better than loosely woven fabrics. (Hold the fabric up to the light. The less light you see shining through, the tighter the weave.)

Sunsuits and UV protection clothing are perfect for days out, or lounging by the pool. These JackaBel T-shirts offer an SPF of 50+ and have a quick-dry feature to keep kids from shivering by the poolside!

Whether your baby has none, or a full head of hair, a hat is essential. Choose a hat with flaps in the back for neck protection and a brim that’s wide enough to shade the face like this Bucket Hat.

 

Slather on the Sunscreen

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Look for the words “broad spectrum” on the label. “Broad spectrum” means the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely to cause sunburn and wrinkling, while UVA rays cause damage deeper in the skin.

Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors, and reapply it every two hours. Make sure you cover all exposed areas of your baby’s skin, including the tips of the ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of the feet.

If your baby goes into the water, reapply sunscreen as soon as you dry them off – even if it’s been less than two hours since you applied it.

 

Taking time to prepare in advance will not only save you from hunting down sun tan lotion, hats or protective gear whilst abroad (which may not be up to UK industry standards), but will give you the peace of mind that you and your little one can enjoy a week in the sun, with no souvenier sunburns!

 

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Travel, Simple Safety Solutions, Sun Safety | Leave a comment

Made By Mums… Bubble Bum Booster Seat

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Sian

Mums are great. Not only to they have a natural ability to do ten things at once, eyes in the backs of their heads and a built in radar that spots danger at ten paces. But when there isn’t a product on the market that does the job they want it to do for their little ones… they invent something that will!

Many of the best award-winning and most widely used products for babies have been invented by parents. We know what’s best for our baby, what we want products to do (and what we don’t want them to do!). So we take a peek at our favourite ingenious baby products, that came from the minds of Mums.

 

This week…

The Bubble Bum Booster Seat

Bubble Bum Child Car Booster Seat - PurpleThe Bubble Bum Child Car Booster Seat is a cost effective, portable, lightweight and inflatable child car booster seat for children aged between 3-11 years.

The Car Booster Seat easily deflates and folds flat so that kids or Mums can carry it in rucksacks or handbags, making it perfect for holidays, coach journeys and school trips.

Grainne Kelly, mother of two boys had the idea for BubbleBum in 2009 while making frequent trips between Derry and England to visit a sick relative.

After being stranded at an airport without a car seat she proceeded to solve the problem not only for herself but for all other parents who are faced with the same issue.

Grainne developed an inflatable seat that could be packed and taken on holiday. Within 18 months the product was being sold in more than 20 countries.

“I created the BubbleBum out of sheer frustration with what was currently available on the market,’’ she said.

“Modern families do a lot of travelling in cars, coaches and taxis, and bulky, heavy booster seats just aren’t practical.

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Travel, Made By Mums, Mumpreneur, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Made By Mums… Thudguard Baby Helmet

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Sian

Mums are great. Not only to they have a natural ability to do ten things at once, eyes in the backs of their heads and a built in radar that spots danger at ten paces. But when there isn’t a product on the market that does the job they want it to do for their little ones… they invent something that will!

Many of the best award-winning and most widely used products for babies have been invented by parents. We know what’s best for our baby, what we want products to do (and what we don’t want them to do!). So we take a peek at our favourite ingenious baby products, that came from the minds of Mums.

 

This week…

The Thudguard Baby Helmet

When Mum Kelly Forsyth-Gibson endured a painstaking trip to A&E after her daughter fell on the patio, she was shocked to learn that there were no products on the market to protect children’s heads from taking a bump. The Thudguard Baby Helmet was born.

Mother of three Kelly spent ten years perfecting her headwear product, which was impressively featured in The Apprentice a few years back. Asked if being a parent gave her better insight into what makes a great safety product, Kelly told us; “You need to have experienced a problem first hand before you can fully appreciate the benefits of a product like this.”

We’re sure that any Mum that’s made the perturbing trip to A&E with a little adventurer, would agree!

See our other Made by Mum features on the BuggyTug, My Carry Potty, and The Bubble Bum Child Car Booster Seat.

If you have an idea for an invention, Tweet us and tell us about it!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Travel, Made By Mums, Mumpreneur, Safety at Home, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Made By Mums… Snooze Shade

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sian

Mums are great. Not only to they have a natural ability to do ten things at once, eyes in the backs of their heads and a built in radar that spots danger at ten paces. But when there isn’t a product on the market that does the job they want it to do for their little ones… they invent something that will!

Many of the best award-winning and most widely used products for babies have been invented by parents. We know what’s best for our baby, what we want products to do (and what we don’t want them to do!). So we take a peek at our favourite ingenious baby products, that came from the minds of Mums.

 

This week…

The Snooze Shade

Mum of one, Cara Sayer’s invention of the Snooze Shade blackout cover for prams, buggies and pushchairs, not only inspired her to launch a range of Snooze Shade products, but saw her recognised for her ingenious idea in a number of high profile publications. The Award Winning Snooze Shade has been rated by the likes of Prima Magazine, ITV1’s DayBreak, Boots and SKY News. Further, Cara has picked up awards including Tots to Travel Award, National Business Mum 2010 and Startups Product of the Year 2010.

Cara, on finally taking the plunge to invent what the world was looking for; “One day, I rather foolishly said to a few friends that someone should invent something.  So they said ‘go on then’”.

Someone had to do it – we’re glad Cara did!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Travel, Made By Mums, Mumpreneur, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Surviving The Big Shop (With the little ones!)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sian

If you’ve ever gritted your teeth while trying to control an unruly toddler in the supermarket, you’ll find the following scenario’s familiar, and educational… !

As we parents know, even the best-behaved children have bad days. Sadly, they seem to come on the day all of your supplies have run out and you have no choice but to face the bright lights of Tesco, little one in tow.

The good news is that by using creativity and forethought, parents can improve the shopping experience for everyone (that being you, baby and the rest of the shop!) and turn a necessary chore into a smooth outing.

Plan Ahead

Set the tone for your trip. Discuss what type of behaviour you expect from your child before shopping, and praise them when they show good behaviour.

Don’t shop when you or the kids are hungry and/or tired. Taking a toddler to the supermarket at naptime is only asking for trouble. And be sure to change baby’s nappy or have older children use the potty before you head out. Wet or uncomfortable kids aren’t happy kids.

Shopping lists and time are of the essence! The middle of your shopping trip is not the time to decide what to make for dinner that week. Don’t even pop your pound into the trolley until you have a well-planned list! If you’re familiar with the shop’s layout, organise your list by aisles to avoid prolonging the trip by going back and forth. Frequent stops lead to boredom and frustration for kids, so keep moving!

Mummy’s Little Helper

Toting a snack and drink will stave off whining from hungry and thirsty children. A sippy cup of milk is a healthy snack that gives a toddler something to do while you shop. In addition, keep a small bag of toys in the boot of the car specifically for longer shopping trips. Let your child choose a toy for that day’s trip, and be sure to return the toy to the bag once you’ve left the shop. Infant toys that attach to trolley handles will save you from reaching down for thrown toys in the aisles.

Kids love to help with the shopping! School age children can put non-breakables in the trolley, find items for which you have coupons, and even comparison shop with you. Toddlers and older kids will be excited when it’s their day to have a free choice of fruit or vegetable. Incorporating your child’s selection into a meal will give your child a sense that you value their input.

Practice Safe Shopping

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), falls from shopping trollies are among the leading causes of head injuries in young children. A CPSC study estimates that since 1985, an annual average of 21,600 children ages five and younger are treated in A&E for shopping trolley-related injuries. Additionally, a 1994 investigation concluded that 51 percent of victims fell from the seat, and 49 percent fell from the basket.

The CPSC recommends parents take the following action to prevent falls from shopping trolleys:

  • Use the bar belts to restrain your child in the seat.
  • Don’t allow your child to sit in the basket.
  • Don’t allow your child to ride or climb on the sides or front of the trolley.
  • Don’t allow an older child to push the trolley with another child in it.

 

In addition to following these safety rules, parents may want to invest in wrist bands, or a padded safety strap. These soft devices typically secure in the back so the child can’t undo them, and they effectively prevent babies from putting their mouths on cart handles. Fabric wraps that cover handles also achieve the same purpose and keep teethers from gumming an area that’s been frequently touched by shoppers (who may have handled packages of raw poultry and meat).

If your child is just too fussy or fidgety for a shopping trolley, try putting them in an infant or child carrying pack. Slings, front carriers, and backpacks allow your child to be close to you and free up your hands. Older babies may relish a backpack ride for variety and enjoy a “new view” whilst shopping.

Teaching Time

Consider your time at the supermarket with your child as a teaching opportunity. Toddlers may enjoy a homemade book of foods you can assemble using pictures from magazines—and then you can find the items in the shop together too. Talk about the things you buy at the supermarket. Where do apples come from? What colour is a banana? What letter does bread start with? Have your child count the number of tomatoes you want placed into a bag. Visiting the bakery for a “shopper’s cupcake” and practicing saying “thank you” can become the highlight of the trip.

Who knew the Friday Big Shop could be so much fun?!

Posted in Baby Travel, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Summer Nights… For Sleepy Tots

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Sian

Finally! The cold, dark and gloomy nights are beginning to slip away, and you can almost smell summer creeping in. We notched our clocks forward – sure, we whined a little bit about missing out on that crucial hour of sleep, but the lighter mornings don’t half put a spring in our step!

 

With lighter mornings, come lighter nights. Whilst this prompts us Mums to dig out the patio furniture lurking in the back of the shed, trade our winter Uggs for ballet flats and put away the thick winter duvet for another year, our little ones may not welcome the disruption to their beauty sleep!

 

Thank god for the latest Blackout Shades, specially designed to keep out the sunlight to allow baby to get a peaceful daytime sleep.

 

Light and portable, these baby shades can be taken away on holiday or used for a weekend sleepover at Grandma’s – they simply stick straight onto the window using static (no tape or BluTac required).

 

For tots that regularly travel (maybe to Grandma’s, separate parents’ houses or the lucky babes that are partial to a city break or two!), the Gro Anywhere Travel Blind comes in a handy carry case for easy transporting. The BabyDan Travel Cot is lightweight, easily portable and comes complete with mattress pads and bumper rail, so no matter where your baby is sleeping, they’ll be in comfort.

 

For babies, the Content and Calm Cot Canopy is an ingenious product (designed by a Mum!) to keep baby’s cot dark and comfortable for a peaceful sleep in the daytime sunlight. It’s light and portable so great for holidays or overnight stays.

 

Many parents find that during the warmer months, little ones can develop allergies and uncomfortable nights due to the dry air where they sleep. A low cost but extremely effective Humidifier will keep the air moist and little noses comfortable. It also helps to eliminate the risk of dry skin, sore throats and headaches, which all make for an unhappy little sleeper.

 

So as we embrace the beginning of a hopefully warm summer, we can ensure our little spring chickens remain cosy and cool no matter where they are. And we’ll have the peace of mind that they’re sleeping soundly as we pour an Iced Tea out on the patio!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Travel, Bed Safety, Safety at Home, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Made By Mums… The Cot Canopy

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Sian

Mums are great. Not only to they have a natural ability to do ten things at once, eyes in the backs of their heads and a built in radar that spots danger at ten paces. But when there isn’t a product on the market that does the job they want it to do for their little ones… they invent something that will!

Many of the best award-winning and most widely used products for babies have been invented by parents. We know what’s best for our baby, what we want products to do (and what we don’t want them to do!). So we take a peek at our favourite ingenious baby products, that came from the minds of Mums.

 

This week…

The Cot Canopy by Content & Calm

Mums everywhere understand the dilemma of a non-sleeping baby in a bright room or the height of summer.  Mum of two Solvej Biddle was no exception and took the reins to create the The Baby Cot Canopy – a lightweight portable cot canopy that fits over all standard cots to provide darkness and a consistent environment to help babies and toddlers sleep.

Mumpreneur Solvej is no stranger to the inventing game, having since created a number of baby safety products, and even presented the Baby Cot Canopy to the panel of Dragons Den.  Solvej says; “Like so many of us, my life is all about trying to find the right balance between being a good Mum and still having a life of my own.”

With her creative cot canopy, there can be a good night’s sleep all round!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Travel, Bed Safety, Made By Mums, Mumpreneur, Safety at Home | 1 Comment

Sleep Tips For Toddlers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Sian

Toddlers can be so excitable during the day that it can be a challenge getting them to sleep at night. Be it restlessness, fear of missing out, or not wanting to be alone. The sooner you establish a robust routine, the easier bedtime will be. A handful of sleeptime-sensible Mums divulged their golden nuggets for getting even the most hyper tot to drop off…

 

Set the Mood

Work out a bedtime routine in advance so there’s no confusion. You will both know what’s expected of you and that there will be consequences if the routine isn’t kept.

Leave a tape recorder near the bed playing tunes or stories on low volume. You could record some of your story telling, so they can listen to your voice if they need to.

Cover shelves with curtains or blankets at bedtime to hide all the toys and books so little night owls won’t be tempted to get out of bed and play.

With lights out, talk through fun scenarios, such as going to the seaside or the park, and leave them with those good thoughts.

Blackout blinds are a great investment especially in the summer months when it remains light.

Bath products with calming ingredients such as chamomile and lavender are proven to bring an onset of sleepiness.

 

If it’s just not happening…

If your child is clingy at bedtime, let Dad put them to bed to break the cycle. If you have battles at bedtime, you and your partner must show a united front.

Read only a few bedtime stories in a soft monotone so you don’t over-excite them.

If they don’t have a comforter, encourage it. They won’t feel as though they’re sleeping alone.

Rubbing their temples in a circular motion helps get them sleepy.

Get your child to tell all their toys it’s time to sleep; they’ll ‘ll nod off before they finish!

Swap the monitor ends around, so your child can hear you’re still around.

If your child wakes for milk, dilute it, gradually increasing the water over time until it’s no longer of any interest.

Cut morning naps. Once they’ve reached 18 months, one in the afternoon is fine.

A dim night-light helps those that are scared of the dark.

A solid routine and a few tricks up your sleeve will help establish a smooth bedtime process, giving you more ‘me’ time, and allowing your little one to wake up feeling well rested and refreshed. That goes for you too!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Safety at Home, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment

Made By Mums… The Buggy Tug

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Sian

Mums are great. Not only to they have a natural ability to do ten things at once, eyes in the backs of their heads and a built in radar that spots danger at ten paces. But when there isn’t a product on the market that does the job they want it to do for their little ones… they invent something that will!

Many of the best award-winning and most widely used products for babies have been invented by parents. We know what’s best for our baby, what we want products to do (and what we don’t want them to do!).  So we take a peek at our favourite ingenious baby products, that came from the minds of Mums.

 

This week…

The Buggy Tug

Mums in their thousands gawped in horror as we saw the horrific CCTV footage on the news of the pram rolling off the platform at an Australian train station. It’s enough to make anyone head to the nearest Halfords in attempt to have a high powered braking system installed on our prams!

BuggyTug inventor and Mum, Di Mayze performed some market research and found that 72% of parents had either experienced or knew someone that had experienced an incident where a pram started to roll away after letting go for a split second.

74% said that their buggy or pram did not come with a safety wrist strap as standard, yet 77% said that they would feel more secure if their buggy had one. Enough said for Di – her wrist strap idea holds the title as the UK’s only detachable safety strap and has seen rave reviews from publications nationwide!

Di Mayze conducted her research following a horrifying incident in York when three men jumped into the River Ouse to save a four month old baby after her pram rolled into the water. Mum had simply bent down momentarily to fasten her older child’s coat. The men heard Mum screaming and rescued the baby, who was face down in the water.

Di said, ‘There are stories such as this happening all over the world, and it seems that many parents, including myself, believe that in the UK it should be a legal requirement for buggies and prams to have a wrist strap connecting the carer and the pushchair, as is now the case in Australia.’

Di’s Buggy Tug came about after she too saw the horrifying footage of the buggy rolling under a train in Melbourne.  She immediately started looking around for a strap and could not believe that one didn’t already exist. Very few buggy manufacturers include one as standard, and those that do only offer a very basic one.

‘I wanted something that is transferable to most buggy and pram brands, and comfortable and flexible enough so those using it barely notice it’s there, so I invented BuggyTug. I’m thrilled with the result, and I know from the many positive reviews I receive that those who use it feel that extra bit more reassured that their child is safe!’

For us, that’s the number one priority!

Posted in Baby Safety, Baby Travel, Made By Mums, Mumpreneur, Simple Safety Solutions | Leave a comment