Baby Hampshire Jan/Feb 2015 by The Chelsea Magazine Company

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JAN/FEB 2015

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MOTHERS AND BABES

BOUTIQUES & BABIES Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

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HIGHCHAIRS

DAD IN CHARGE…

ONE FATHER’S PATERNITY LEAVE JOURNEY

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CONTENTS JAN/FEB 2015

FEATURES

33 DAD’S IN CHARGE Tom Whipple talks paternity leave 43 DO’S AND DON’TS OF PREGNANCY The Doctor and Daughter duo set the ever-changing record straight 52 FROM SUPER-SICK TO SUPERHERO Becky Pugh’s remarkable birthing story 58 GET WELL SOON We tackle those typical winter bugs 64 A MOTHER’S MANTRA Charlie Anderson on her transition from fashion journalist to yoga guru

EDUCATION

79 OPEN DAYS EXPLAINED How to make them count 80 NURSERY SPOTLIGHT We look at Children’s Nature Nursery 83 PREPARING FOR NURSERY Our expert Sabine Hook on the next step

STYLE

13 BABY INDOORS Snug sleepwear and blankets 14 BABY OUTDOORS Wrap up for ski, snow and outdoor fun this New Year

SHOPPING

61 THE REVIEW: HIGHCHAIRS Laura Mason tests the best highchairs 62 HOT PRODUCTS Must-have gadgets for the months ahead

REGULARS

9 NEWS 16 ECO-FRIENDLY PARENT How to make 2015 your greenest year yet 18 BABY ON BOARD The best board books for baby 25 MINI AGENDA What’s on for baby and you in Hampshire

37 TOT GEAR We review the best buggies on the market 41 DIARY OF A MUM Becky Dickinson reveals the gross (but hilarious) side of having children 46 PREGNANCY MILESTONES Lulubaby’s Louisa van den Bergh on the 10 pregnancy milestones to look out for 49 MEET THE EXPERTS Our professional panel offer essential advice for bump, birthing and beyond 57 FACT OR FAD The Bump Class’ Marina Fogle and Dr Chiara Hunt tackle reflux 70 DIARY OF A NIGHT NANNY Top tips for bedtime 84 NANNY ASH COOKS Ashley Campion cooks up some fruity treats to start the day 87 TRAVEL NEWS We have the best boltholes for holidays with your young family 90 GROUPS & CLASSES Activities for baby in Hampshire 98 INSPIRE HRH Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece talks babies, business and boutiques

CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Whipple

In Dad’s In Charge (p.33) Tom Whipple tells us about paternity leave, tackling toddlers and loving every minute of it.

Brigitta Holmar

Brigi is one third of Baby Hampshire’s stellar design team, who have worked their magic on our New Year issue.

Charlie Anderson

Stylist, yoga teacher and mum-of-two, Charlie tells us all about finding her balance in A Mother’s Mantra (p.64).

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 5

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Hello Last year was certainly an exciting one for Baby Hampshire, with a fresh start and a brand new look. We think 2015 will be just as exhilarating and we have so much in this issue that we hope will get you feeling just as inspired as we are. Becky Pugh shares her remarkable and moving birthing story (page 52) and HRH Marie-Chantal of Greece tells us how she juggles family life with running her eponymous baby and childrenswear label (page 98). Fashion stylist and mum-of-two Charlie Anderson (page 64) explains how yoga helped her embrace motherhood and Tom Whipple talks about his paternity leave experiences in Dad’s in Charge (page 33). Along with a healthy dose of baby style, hot products and first-food inspiration, there’s also our usual offering of wide-ranging advice from our regular panel of experts (page 49), Marina Fogle and Dr Chiara Hunt look at reflux (page 57) and the Doctor and Daughter duo explain the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy (page 43). Don’t miss the chance to personalise your free leather Printerpix photobook (page 35) – the perfect way to capture all those special family moments. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

PHOTOGRAPHY: IN A FLUTTER BY ALILIA, RRP £598, ALILIA.CO.UK

Summer Litchfield Senior Editor

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Enjoy our special fresh-look subscription offer and you’ll receive three issues of Baby Hampshire magazine delivered straight to your door for just £4.95 – PLUS we’ll send you a £20 JoJo Maman Bébé gift voucher absolutely FREE, simply quote the code P501BH when subscribing.

babyhampshire.co.uk/subscribe | 01442 820 580

PHOTOGRAPHER: HELEN MARSDEN MODEL: ALBA Buttercup bow onesie, £32.50, Hucklebones at Selfridges, Pink shorts with gold waistband, £14.99, Zara, Cashmere Baby Bonnet, £28, Olivier Baby and Kids, Cream textured tights, £7 for pack of three, Marks & Spencer.

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 7

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NEWS

U PDATING YOU ON ALL THINGS GR E AT AN D SMALL

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Molly Gunn, fashion journalist and editor of blogzine Selfish Mother has recently launched her MOTHER collection, showing true solidarity for the global sisterhood. The collection features three super soft tees (black, blue, grey) and three sweatshirts (black, moss, grey). The collection is created using Organic Cotton at Fair Wear certified factories, meaning no unfair labour. selfishmother.com

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SEVEN LITTLE WONDERS Now gracing the shelves at Boots, the NAÏF range has been created by two dads in the Netherlands to offer the most soothing care for sensitive baby skin. It avoids irritants and uses only nature’s best ingredients, like cottonseed oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia oil, avocado oil and chamomile. From £8 | boots.com

THE UNIVERSITY OF READING HAS DEVELOPED A TEST THAT COULD HELP BABIES BORN UNDERWEIGHT REACH THEIR FULL MENTAL DEVELOPMENT. A THREE-YEAR STUDY, FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH (NIHR), ASSESSED OVER 300 PRE-TERM BABIES AND DESIGNED AN EASY-TO-USE ASSESSMENT FOR PARENTS THAT DETECTS DELAYED LEARNING IN PREMATURE BABIES. NIHR.AC.UK

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 9

NEWS

Mothercare goes French A brand new partnership between Mothercare and French fashion house Calisson Paris has got us rather excited. The softest leathers and cashmeres are vying for our attention alongside silk bows and Liberty prints. mothercare.com

SLING IT…

HAMPSHIRE:

TOP DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES

Congratulations go to Chewton Glen, as the country house hotel was named Best for Families in the Condé Nast Johansens UK & Ireland Awards for Excellence 2015. This comes hot on the heels of Chewton Glen’s recent success in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards, when it reclaimed its position as the Best UK Holiday Hotel. Little guests receive special treatment at Chewton Glen, from mini bathrobes and activity packs to an extensive range of experiences just for them, including a wooden play area, swimming pool and pony trekking. Under-fives eat and drink for free. chewtonglen.com

Rockin’ Baby is the new company with style and, most importantly, a lot of heart. The reversible slings and pouches give you the choice of two stylish designs in one – ideal for both glam mamas and papas. Storage pockets large enough to house all the essentials mean that juggling baby and baggage is neatly side-stepped in favour of easy, hands-free parenting. For every sling sold, Rockin’ Baby will donate a new sling to a mother in need in Haiti or Kenya. Now that is a reason to go shopping. rockinbaby.com

To celebrate the launch of Metanium Everyday Easy Spray Barrier Lotion – the latest addition to the Metanium family – the baby skincare company is giving away three Little White Company Knitted Patchwork Baby Blankets, and super-soft (and adorable) cuddly bunnies. In a handy, easy-to-use spray, the new double-action lotion protects and moisturises your baby’s skin whilst also helping prevent nappy rash by forming a barrier that guards against irritants like urine and dirty nappies. It’s quick, convenient and simple to use, providing a light, even coverage. Plus, there’s no need to rub the water-free lotion in, so application is extra-kind to sensitive, newborn skin. metanium.co.uk | babyhampshire.co.uk/competitions

10 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN TAYLOR, CALLISON INC.

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BABY STYLE

BABY INDOORS Sleep style, loungewear and blankets for cosy days in with baby

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6 1 Nautical Babygrow £63 petit-bateau.co.uk 2 Baby Blanket £44.95 uk.adenandanais.com 3 Watermelon Babygrow ¤45 bobochoses.com 4 Gingham Sleepsuit £24 thewhitecompany.com 5 Monnalisa Footie £50 alexandalexa.com 6 Bonnie Baby Cashmere Blanket £48 alexandalexa.com 7 Monty Penguin Sleepsuit £14 johnlewis.com Main image Forest Jumpsuit £22.95 ilovedoodledo.com

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 13

BABY STYLE

BABY OUTDOORS Wrap up warm for ski, snow and outdoor fun this New Year 2

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6 8 1 Sheepskin hat and coat ¤465 and ¤56 louislouise.com 2 Glacier Ski Mittens £14 muddypuddles.com 3 Mini Rodini Bear all-in-one £55 alexandalexa.com 4 Baby ski-suit £45 muddypuddles.com 5 Mini Rodini mittens £25 alexandalexa.com 6 Muddy Puddles Baby Flurry Suit £45 muddypuddles.com 7 Mini Melissa Rhino Wellies £50 childrensalon.com 8 Marie Chantal baby ski jacket £195 mariechantal.co.uk Main image Baby all-in-one flurry suit £45 muddypuddles.com

14 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

Eco-friendly

PARENT

Jaime Eastham HAS RUSTLED U P FIVE SIM PLE STEPS TO MAKE 2015 YOU R GR EEN E ST YE AR YE T

hatever you do will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it.” It’s a philosophy I’ve always tried to live by. The choices we make may seem small, but without us inconsequential individuals making seemingly unimportant choices, change would never occur. Each and every one of us truly does have the power to make a difference. And there’s nothing like a good Gandhi quote to kick off the New Year! When people have children, they tend to go one way or the other – either becoming more green to set a good example and make the world a better place for their offspring, or they let convenience trump the environment and become less green. For me, I’m ashamed to say, it was the latter. After my daughter was born I felt too tired and overwhelmed to even think about making more ethical choices. I chose disposable nappies, disposable wipes, plastic nappy sacks and threw away bins full of leftover food rather than composting. It wasn’t my finest eco moment. My only saving grace was transport – I cycled everywhere with my babies as soon as they were old enough to use a bike seat. But even for those of you who are too busy or sleep-deprived to care much about the environment anymore, there are some really simple changes you can do to make your 2015 a little bit greener.

16 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

ECO-PARENT

USE ENERGY SAVING BULBS

LED light bulbs are a great alternative and could reduce your carbon footprint by up to 30%. They can be more expensive, but will save you money in the long run because they can last up to 100,000 hours compared to the 5,000 life span of other bulbs, plus their superior energy efficiency will reduce your utility bills. Also, energy saving bulbs are free from toxic chemicals and fully recyclable.

BIKE IT

For just one journey a week, don’t use the car – cycle instead. It’s much better for the environment, often quicker, great exercise and helps your children develop a love of the great outdoors. Most bike seat options are suitable for babies from around nine months. CTC, the national cycling charity (ctc.org.uk), offers useful tips on choosing the right seat. When you do drive, stick to 70mph on motorways instead of cruising at 80 to 85mph. Besides breaking the law, your fuel cost can go up by as much as 4p a mile for small cars.

CLEAN UP NATURALLY

Replace some of your chemical household cleaners with homemade alternatives. Natural household cleaners are cheaper, better for the environment and free from nasty chemicals. Everyday

household items such as lemon, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are effective alternatives: 2tbs of baking soda mixed with 450ml of warm water makes a great general cleaner, and 1tsp of distilled white vinegar mixed with 450ml of warm water will have your windows and glass shining.

BUY LESS FOOD

We throw away more food from our homes than packaging every year – worth about £50 every month. So, try to buy less food and cook smaller quantities. If we all stop throwing away food that could have been eaten, the benefit to the planet would be the equivalent of taking one in five cars off the road. And with the money you’re saving, you could pay the little bit extra for organic whenever you can.

TRY A CLOTH NAPPY

We all know cloth nappies are better for the environment, but less than five per cent of us use them. Arguments that the washing factor makes cloth just as bad as disposables have been disproven. So why not order a trial pack? Grants and free packs are available in some areas. You may stick with disposables, but you never know, cloth nappies could be easier than you think. It will save you money and reduce the huge number of nappies going to landfill every year. Visit goreal.org.uk. bh

The Latest GREEN INNOVATIONS This backpack is made from nonbiodegradable juice cartons. £12 | ecoutlet.co.uk Fill this Bedol Water Clock up with tap water and you’ll have six months of batteryfree timekeeping. £24.95 | wtouch.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

Click the light once for nightlight mode, or twice for normal mode. Saves energy and waking baby! £17.99 | gro.co.uk/grolight An amazing bath toy that suctions on to the bottom of your bath, reducing the amount of water that is needed to fill it. £9.99 | savewatersavemoney.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 17

BABYon BOARD

IN THIS ISSU E OU R R E SIDENT BOOK WOR M Emma Oâ€™Donovan ROU N DS U P TH E VERY BE ST BOAR D BOOKS FOR BABIE S AN D TODDLER S

HOW TO CATCH A STAR By Oliver Jeffers

A toddler-friendly edition celebrating the 10th anniversary of this spellbinding classic. Enjoy a delicate tale of adventure, perseverance and friendship. How to Catch a Star is a must-have. The Way Back Home, Up and Down and Lost and Found are also highly recommended. Published by Harper Collins

18 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

BOOKS

Turn over for our interview with Emma Dodd

TRAIN!

KISS

A little elephant has a singleminded and enthusiastic love of trains, that is until his friend’s cat, rabbit and penguin introduce him to the delights of cars, diggers and planes. A wonderful tale that is fun to read and a joy to share.

A bright and positive story emphasising the gift of giving and the value of friendship. This book springs to life with the addition of clever interactive finger holes to enhance hand-eye coordination.

By Judi Abbot

By Tiger Tales

Published by Abrams Appleseed

Published by Little Tiger Press

OFF TO THE PARK!

By Stephen Cheetham Written in collaboration with childcare specialists, this book is the perfect antidote to a rainy day as you explore the familiar elements of a trip to the park through a variety of engaging and exciting interactive elements. The book is far more than a collection of words and includes buttons to press, textures to explore and a scratch and sniff ice cream finale. Published by Childs Play

COUNTABLOCK

By Christopher Franceschelli Learn about numbers from one to 10 and then embark on a further exploration up to 100 in this highly tactile board book. Published by Abrams Appleseed

The pop-up playmat provides a stimulating focus for babies as they enjoy tummy time and explore the textures.

By Eric Carle

This fold out touch and feel playmat is a celebration of colour, nature and the seasons.

Published by Minedition

Published by Puffin

WHAT CAN YOU SPOT? MY FIRST COUNTING By Gemma Cooper

With engaging illustrations, this first counting book will keep your little readers entertained for hours. Each page is packed to capacity with things to spot and count – from mini beasts, to sea creatures and farm animals, learning to count is made easy. Published by Autumn Publishing

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR’S POP-UP PLAYMAT

to familiarise themselves with objects from around the house and their corresponding colours.

CIRCLES

By Yusuke Yonezu This is a supremely stylish read. Shapes are cleverly reinvented with each turn of the page, as young readers are encouraged

FUNNY BUNNIES UP AND DOWN By David Melling

Little ones will have a great time counting bunnies and watching them bounce from one adventure to another as they explore opposites in a delightful way. Published by Hodder Children’s Books

HAPPY…

By Emma Dodd Happy... is the sensitive and innocent observation of the love between a mother and her child. This beautiful book sparkles with glittering gold detailing throughout and would make the perfect gift for a new baby. Published by Nosy Crow

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 19

BOOKS

MEET THE AUTHOR EMMA DODD

Emma O’Donovan speaks to the children’s author and illustrator to discuss her new book and what makes her happy What’s the inspiration behind your book Happy...? The inspiration for my new book was my two children, Conrad, 12, and Imogen, nine. All my favourite books are inspired by them. I think what parents want most in the world is for their children to be happy. It was so important

dreams of Emma’s Jack Russell, Buzz, adventures to come...

to me that there should be reference to the fact that it’s not possible to be happy all the time. As a parent though, it is our job to facilitate happiness and always be there to support our children. This is reflected in the lines of my book: “And when you are not happy and the sky seems rather grey I’ll do my very best to chase the gloomy clouds away”. But most of the book is about the joyfulness of being a child, when each thing you encounter is new and exciting. Do you have family pets and have they ever had cameo roles in any of your books? I have a 14-month-old Jack Russell Terrier called Buzz. At

least that was what we were told when we got him – as he grew he became longer and longer, so I rather suspect that he has a close relative who is a Dachshund. He is utterly delightful, and his adventures with his best friend, Ruby, a naughty Cockapoo, are an endless source of inspiration and amusement. Keep an eye out for Buzz and Ruby in the future. I suspect they will make an appearance in a book of their own one day. You live in Surrey. Does the surrounding countryside influence your work? Living in a semi-rural environment influences my work. I am so aware of nature: the colours, the changing of the seasons. I walk Buzz every morning after I’ve dropped my children at school and before I sit down to work. I

never tire of the countryside, and every day I take time to notice the changing skies, or the colour of an autumn leaf against the grass. I use these observations in my work. I am also lucky enough to live within walking distance of a Space NK Apothecary – essential when you have a lipstick habit like mine.

Buzz and Ruby will no doubt be the star of their own book

Tell us about your experience of reading with your own children. I read so many picture books to my children when they were little. Two favourites were Cockatoos by the brilliant Quentin Blake and That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell and Neil Layton. Both books are great fun to read out loud. I still read to my children now. At the moment we are reading Roof Toppers by Katherine Rundell, which we are all rather enjoying. bh Happy... is available to buy from The White Company, £7.99. emmadodd.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 21

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AGENDA

C h a r l o t te To m l i n s o n -W h i te R O U N D S U P E V E N T S I N H A M P S H I R E

THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

Don’t miss the stage version of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. The doorbell rings as Sophie and her mum are having tea. Who could it be? What they don’t expect to meet is a big, stripy tiger. Following a smash-hit West End season, the teaguzzling tiger is back in this charming family show. Suitable for three year olds and above, it is packed with magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Based on the classic children’s book by Judith Kerr, this is the brainchild of David Wood, the country’s leading writer-director of children’s shows. This one will have the kids purring with delight.

Admission: £12, family £42. Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 February, 11am and 2pm (except on 17 February, 2pm only). Nuffield Theatre, University Road, Southampton SO17 1TR | 023 8067 1771 | nuffieldtheatre.co.uk babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 25

OUT AND ABOUT

Stardust Bricks in Motion MILESTONES MUSEUM Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke RG22 6PG, 01256 477 766 milestones-museum.com See everything from cars to spacecraft, made from LEGO bricks plus children’s activities inside Milestones, Hampshire’s Living History Museum. Admission: See website. Wednesday 25 February to Sunday 26 April.

Robin’s Winter Adventure THE SPRING ARTS AND HERITAGE 56 East Street, Havant, PO9 1BS 023 9247 2700 thespring.co.uk

Pied Piper Theatre Company presents this uplifting tale of change, bravery and friendship. Told with puppetry, poetry, music and magical design, it follows a young boy’s incredible journey with a feathered friend. But will facing his fears turn out to be the greatest adventure of all? For children aged four plus. Admission: Adult £8, child £5. Saturday 31 January, 2.30pm.

26 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

THE PHOENIX THEATRE & ARTS CENTRE

Station Road, Bordon, GU35 0LR 01420 472664 phoenixarts.co.uk Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, this wondrous adventure is full of eccentric characters, hilarious and thrilling moments, with haunting music, magic and mayhem. Suitable for little ones aged five plus and all the family, the enchanting story follows the quest of a young man in search of his heart’s desire.

Friday 30 January, 7.30pm Children’s Festival

Little Frankenstein

THE LIGHTS West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 01264 368368 thelights.org.uk

WEST END CENTRE Queens Road, Aldershot, GU11 3JD 01252 330040 westendcentre.co.uk

This half term, head to The Lights for their annual Children’s Festival where there is fun for all the family. Little ones can enjoy lots of craft, cooking, dance and music sessions on the theme of ‘Whizz Bang Woosh... It’s Supersonic!’. And with some of the other events and performances like Planet of Cakes, Starlight Express Musical Theatre, When You Wish Upon a Star and To Infinity & Beyond, you won’t be disappointed. Admission: See website for details. Monday 16 to Friday 20 February.

Some gentle horror for little monsters. Taking inspiration from his most infamous ancestor Dr Frankenstein, puppeteer Frank Stein creates a

new real live puppet that is destined to change his life forever. Guaranteed to light up the imaginations of children aged five years and above with surprising puppetry, spellbinding storytelling and lyrical music. Admission: £6.50. Wednesday 18 February, 2.30pm.

Get The Picture Trail MOTTISFONT Near Romsey, SO51 0LP 01794 340757 nationaltrust.org.uk/ mottisfont For a special half term experience with the family head to Mottisfont. There’s crafty fun for kids on the ‘Get The Picture’ trail, inspired by Mottisfont’s photography exhibition. Take a picture frame around the gardens to ‘capture’

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inc qualified childcare, heaven has just arrived! inc qualified childcare, heaven has just arrived! NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Hal inc qualified childcare, heaven has just arrived! £75 per adult £75 per adult NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hamps At New Park Manor Hotel & Spa we have one thing in mind, and that is families. NPM BabyBaby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 adult 08/10/2012 13:24NPM Page Baby 1NPM Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Page NPM Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Half Hamps £75 per £75 per adult At New Park Manor Hotel & Spa we have one thing in mind, and that is families. per adult £75 per adult At£75 New Park Manor Hotel & Spa we have one thing in mind, and that is families. £75 per adult Our unique Family Spa Membership enables you to bring your little one to enjoy the £75 per adult Why areare spa’s just forHotel adults? Bring your children along andand spend theis day as a At Why New Park Manor & Spa we have one thing in mind, and that families. spa’s just for adults? Bring your children along spend the day as a Our unique Family Spa enables you to bring your little onethe tothe enjoy the Why areare spa’s just forMembership adults? 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Over the four hour period ofor this package, we will create time to take the children off your hands in off period of this package, we will create time to take the children off your hands in period of this package, we will create time to take the children off your hands in months your family enjoy our wonderful outdoor heated pool all day long. period of this package, we will create time to take the children your hands in time alone or as a couple as well as entertaining the kids. Over the four hour NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 well 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Baby 1one Hampshire Half Page_Layout 08/10/20121 13:24 Page 1 Page 1 Hampshire Halfas Page_Layout 1 Page 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1one Hampshire Half1Page_Layout 08/10/2012 13:24 Your unique membership also entitles you totake have your little looked after time alone orNPM as aBaby couple as entertaining the kids. 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NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1create 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1one Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 our 08/10/2012 Your unique membership also entitles you to have your little looked after period of while this package, we create time to take the children off your hands in period of this package, we will create time to take the children off your hands in by our qualified Den team for 2 hours, twice a week, leaving you with some ‘you’ by our qualified Den team for 2 hours, twice a week, leaving you with some ‘you’ our Den while you indulge in a 1 hour treatment of your choice from our menu. NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 areas, 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1one Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 Page 1 our Den while you indulge in aspending 1entitles hour treatment of your choice from our menu. 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Other facilities include an abundance NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Page_Layout 08/10/2012 13:24 into the spa for some fun in the water. into the spa for some fun in the water. by our qualified Den team for 2 hours, twice a week, leaving you with some ‘you’ NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1children Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/20121 13:24 Page 1 Page 1 After spending time in our relaxation areas, collect the andand bring them time to enjoy our award winning spa facilities. Other facilities include an abundance After spending time in our relaxation areas, collect the children bring them of outdoor games and activities, south facing terrace and Cinema into the spa for some fun in the water. into the spa for some fun in the water. This day be facing adapted to mornings orHampshire afternoons. NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1can 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Halffabulous Page_Layout 1 room. 08/10/2012 13:24 Page 1 This day can be adapted to mornings or afternoons. of outdoor games and activities, south terrace and fabulous Cinema room. This day can be adapted to fun mornings or afternoons. time tothe enjoy our award winning spa facilities. Other facilities an abundance This day can be adapted to orspa afternoons. into spa for some fun in mornings the water. into the for some in the water. of outdoor games and activities, south facing terrace and fabulous Cinema room. Children’s times the are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1inafternoons. 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1include Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 Page 1 Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. This day can bespa adapted to mornings or Your unique membership also entitles you and your family This day can be adapted to mornings or afternoons. Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire 1 08/10/2012 13:24NPM Page Baby 1 Hamps Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. Your unique membership also entitles you and your family of outdoor games and activities, south facing terrace and fabulous Cinema room. Half1Page_Layout to 15% off of all food and beverages. Specially designed This day can be adapted to mornings or afternoons. Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. This day can adapted to mornings or13:24 afternoons. NPM Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1Manor 08/10/2012 NPM Page Baby 1Forest Hampshire Half Page_Layout 08/10/2012 13:24NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Hal Children’s times inbe the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. New Park Manor Lyndhurst Road, New Forest SO42 7QH Your unique membership also entitles you and your family £75 per adult New Park Lyndhurst Road, New SO42 7QH £75 per adult £75 per 15% off of all food and beverages. Specially designed NPM to Baby Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Page_Layout 1 08/10/2012 13:24 NPM Page Baby 1 Hampshire Half Pagea children’s lunches and supper, plus 3 delicious menus to New Park Manor Lyndhurst Road, New Forest SO42 7QH Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. £75 per adult Telephone 01590 623467 Email info@newparkmanorhotel.co.uk New Park Manor Lyndhurst Road, New Forest SO42 7QH £75 per adult £75 per adult Children’s times in the spa are between 8am-10am and 3pm-6pm. Telephone 01590 623467 Email info@newparkmanorhotel.co.uk to£75 15% off of all food and beverages. Specially designed Your unique membership also entitles you and your family Why are spa’s just for adults? 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OUT AND ABOUT

Owl Babies Story Trail ROYAL VICTORIA COUNTRY PARK Netley Abbey, Southampton SO31 5GA 023 8045 5157 www3.hants.gov.uk/ countryside/rvcp/

some ideas then recreate them using the craft materials. Don’t forget to look out for the snowdrops along the river banks. Admission: Normal admission charge applies plus £1 per trail. Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February, 10am to 5pm.

Hands-on half term BEAULIEU Brockenhurst, SO42 7ZN 01590 612345 beaulieu.co.uk With lots of interactive activities for all the family, there will be plenty of chances to get hands-on. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to handle and learn about historical motoring objects at these special drop-in sessions. Running daily in the National Motor Museum, take an up-close look at cars, artefacts, early motoring clothing, photos, documents or try your hand at racing your family on the giant Scalextric track. Admission: Normal admission applies. See website for details. Book in advance and enjoy a 10% discount. Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February, drop-in 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Little ones of pre-school age are set to have a ‘hooting’ good time on this story trail. Expect a short walk with a craft activity, drink and biscuit. It’s bound to ruffle their feathers, but in a good way. It is best to book in advance. Admission: £3 per child. Normal parking charges apply. Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January, 11am to 12pm.

Sid’s Show KINGS THEATRE Albert Road, Portsmouth, PO5 2Q J 023 9282 8282 kingsportsmouth.co.uk Don’t miss Sid from CBeebies, live on stage, in a fantastic fun-filled adventure that’ll knock your socks off. Join Sid on his quest to find his favourite socks as he journeys to the bottom of the sea, deep in the jungle and outer space.

Shrove Tuesday Cooking On the Fire SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS

Jermyns Lane, Romsey, SO51 0QA 01794 369318 www3.hants.gov.uk/ hilliergardens Head to Hillier’s for this Family Bushcraft session with a difference. Enjoy an outdoor cooking lesson making tasty treats to celebrate Pancake Day. So you had better get practising your flipping technique. Booking is essential. Admission: £10 per child per session (includes admission for one adult).

Tuesday 17 February, 10am to 2.30 pm

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 29

OUT AND ABOUT

The Cat in the Hat THE BERRY THEATRE

Wildern Lane, Hedge End, SO30 4EJ 023 8065 2333 theberrytheatre.co.uk A lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children. Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home? Admission: See website for details.

Saturday 28 February

Sing-a-Long-a Frozen THE ANVIL Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR 01256 844244 anvilarts.org.uk Who hasn’t been singing Let It Go and wanting to dress up

as Elsa? Now Disney’s Frozen has been given the full sing-a-long treatment. With lyrics on screen you can sing to your heart’s content. Plus a live host, interactive fun pack and fancy dress competition. Admission: Adult £16, under 16s £11, family ticket available. Please contact the box office for details. Saturday 28 February, 3pm.

Longdown Activity Farm LONGDOWN ACTIVITY FARM Deerleap Lane, Ashurst, Hampshire SO40 7EH longdownfarm.co.uk Longdown Activity Farm opens the farm gate for the 2015 season, welcoming visitors for February half term. The Farm will be open from Saturday 14 February, every day until 1 November. Have a go at bottle feeding a kid goat; hold a duckling or baby rabbit in their animal-handling barn. You may even see some piglets. Opening Saturday 14 February.

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Love Nature MARWELL WILDLIFE

Thompsons Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH 01962 777407 | marwell.org.uk Get back to nature this half term and head over to Marwell Wildlife where they will be celebrating all things natural. A guaranteed week of family fun with activities, talks and lots of animals to see, plus a few special guests. Admission: See website for details.

Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February, 10am to 5pm

Packed with games, songs, poems and magic, plus some funny characters, it’s perfect for children aged three plus. Admission: See website for details. Sunday 1 February, 1pm.

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the sparkling waterways and crumbling facades of Venice. You could explore up to four different destinations in just seven days, while a fortnight could yield up to nine – more than most people will visit in several holidays. And if you’d like to delve a little deeper into the local culture and sights, you can opt to combine your cruise with a day or more stay in either Venice or Genoa if that’s where you’re planning to join or leave you’re ship. There’s the option too of stays in Nice and Milan, both are within easy reach of Genoa. There’s no better way to travel There’s nothing quite like the sight of your huge gleaming ship waiting for you. The beauty of cruising the Med is that travelling between places is just as pleasurable as the destinations themselves. From dining on fabulous cuisine, splashing about in the pool, or catching a West

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babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 31

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Could adoption be for you? Then take the next step... To find out more, contact 023 9287 5294 or email adoptioncentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk Or visit www.adoption.portsmouth.gov.uk www.portsmouth.gov.uk 32 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

FATHERHOOD

DAD’S IN CHARGE

Tom Whipple TALKS PATER NAL PR E SUM P TION S, PAR ENTING AN D PR ECIOUS TIM E WITH HIS 10-MONTH- OLD SON FELIX babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 33

FATHERHOOD

t is always said with a conspiratorial smile. Even now, four-and-a-half months in, I find no other question quite as annoying. “So,” the women (and it is always women) ask, when they see me out with my 10-month-old son, “has dad been left in charge?”. We all know what dad being left in charge means. A hundred Saturday supplement articles by Polyfilla columnists describing their useless husbands, and by useless husbands trying to outdo each other in anecdotes about their own incompetence, have provided the script.

would love to be back on my Blackberry doing deals and being big and important. So it is that we go ahead and affirm each other in the respective roles we have chosen in life. Just occasionally though I tell the truth. I have indeed been left in charge – not for an afternoon but for five months. And, by the way, you might have to get used to seeing men left in charge – because a change in the law in 2011 means their paternity leave entitlement is at last comparable to that of women. Employers are now obliged to give men up to 26 weeks leave, provided their partner has returned to work. And from April

toddler sitting on one’s lap to find testicles and jump on them. When we describe our babies’ progress it is through passive aggression, “Oh, aren’t you lucky Chloe isn’t crawling yet, it’s so exhausting”, rather than the more male, “I bet mine can do a bigger poo than yours” form. I have even become extremely adept at navigating the social niceties of conversing with a breastfeeding lady. And, at the same time as my attitude to episiotomies has changed (there are things one can never unlearn), so has my attitude to paternity leave. Initially, it felt like I was doing my wife a favour – nobly sharing the burden like the good Northern European metrosexual I am. Today though, what I want to say

Dad being in charge means a brief interlude in the main childcare, normally characterised by a rapid descent towards a domestic Lord of the Flies scenario. By the time mum returns from getting her hair done, she will find the toddler eating from the bins, the baby having its bottom wiped with the Financial Times, a large Jackson Pollock-esque crayon drawing covering one of the kitchen walls and, in the middle of all of this chaos, a flapping husband attempting to wipe the poo off his iPad while looking charmingly flustered. Normally, I do what is expected. I meet their indulgent smile with a harassed smile, that implies I am more used to pushing around a PA than a pram. Really, it says, I

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2015, this will be replaced with Shared Parental Leave offering up to 50 weeks. When my wife and I had our first child, we decided to take advantage of this law to split the time we took off. Written like that, it seems like a completely innocuous decision. Indeed, it feels like it would be harder to justify why you wouldn’t do it, than why you would. Yet in the time I have had out of the office, I have only ever met one other man who made the same choice. At the many coffee mornings I attend, while the cumulative flat whites wreak terrible injury on my £140 a week statutory pay, the talk is of breast pads and nipple cream rather than, for example, the uncanny ability of a

when I see those conspiratorial smiles is not just that childcare is my main role – a role I am, it just so happens, good at – but is also something I enjoy. As I finalise post-paternity leave childcare arrangements, get back in touch with my HR department, and contemplate a day that does not begin with a cross little boy demanding I remove him from his cot, continue with a happy boy tottering on furniture like a drunken sailor in a storm, and end with an extended period of trying to convince him to eat anything that isn’t toast, it feels like I was the one receiving the favour. For five of the most important months of my son’s life, I have done something that so few fathers have had the privilege and opportunity of doing: I have been there. Ours has not been quality time – the snatched and slightly guilty interactions of a father struggling to commute, work and be a parent (which I am sure are yet to come) – it has something of a higher quality than that: companionable time. It has been an all-too-brief time when this Dad has been left in charge. bh Tom Whipple is the Science Correspondent for The Times and devoted dad to 10-month-old baby Felix.

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SKILLS, JAMES MILLER

I HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT SO FEW FATHERS HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING: I HAVE BEEN THERE

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REVIEWS

TOTGEAR

ON TH E H U NT FOR TH E MOST TR AVEL-FRIEN DLY PUSHCHAIR , Summer Litchfield PUTS TH E BABY ZEN YOYO TO TH E TE ST

BABYZEN YOYO

Since my three-year-old daughter, Lily, was born she has had two modes of transport, both well-known brands. One for every day, which we’ve had no complaints about, and a lighter one, for travelling, which I’ve never seen eye-to-eye with. It rattle, can’t be steered with one hand, the hood always falls off and she has never looked comfortable in it. So, on a mission to find a new travel buggy – before she grows out of needing one at all – I came across the BABYZEN YOYO.

Lily looking sn ug

in her smooth

ride

✽ LOW-DOWN

✽ PRACTICALITY

Launched in 2011, the YOYO has become one of the most popular lightweight, compact pushchairs on the market. Weighing only 5.9kg, it is small enough to take aboard a plane as hand luggage. Attach the newborn ‘nest’ to the chassis for the first few months so that your baby can face you, then switch to a padded, front-facing seat for when they’re six months and beyond.

The most impressive thing about the YOYO is the neat way it folds and unfolds in an origami-like way. One minute you can be carrying it slung over your shoulder (folded up it’s the size of a large changing bag), the next you’re lifting the handle and the whole thing unfolds before your eyes, with satisfying clicks that reassure you everything is safely in place.

✽ GOOD LOOKING? Being a bit of a monochrome fan I kept it simple and tried out the black version but it’s also available in red, pink, blue or grey. Its sleek lines and pared-down style is pleasing to the eye. In this case, less is definitely more.

✽ DRIVEABILITY Considering how lightweight it is, I expected the YOYO to feel flimsy on the road, but it has four-wheel suspension so it can navigate

lumps and bumps with the greatest of ease – only needing the tiniest nudge of encouragement over curbs. It was super smooth and easy to steer one handed thanks to its special ‘soft drive’ system.

✽ COMFORT Although the seat is a little low – so not ideal for the constant lifting in and out that a younger baby requires – my daughter made it perfectly clear how comfortable she was right from the start. Although now very much a toddler, she had plenty of room and the straps were simple to adjust.

✽ THE VERDICT?

Pu shchair origami in action

Although I was only looking for a secondary buggy to travel with, I was so impressed by the YOYO that I can see us using it as our everyday wheels too. The fact that it folds up so small and so easily is a plus for home (and narrow hallways) as much as it is for any length of journey. So, no more ‘yo-yoing’ between different pushchairs for us anymore. I’m suddenly feeling a lot more zen. £445 | babyzen.com

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 37

REVIEWS

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The latest from our reliable friends at Mamas & Papas, the Armadillo Flip can be folded using just one hand, whatever way the reversible seat is facing. For a compact stroller you get a lot of space for your money – no wonder they’re calling it “the revolutionary ‘big’ little stroller”. The large hood is a great shield from the unpredictable weather, too. £399 | mamasandpapas.com

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You can trust in Silver Cross to offer a well-designed stroller. The Reflex easily converts from an umbrella-folding pushchair to a pram and a car-seat travel system, when using the additional newborn accessory pack (£75) and the Silver Cross Simplicity car seat. A first for strollers, we love the integrated LED lighting system that has been developed for high visibility when dark – perfect for extra-safe winter evening strolls. £250| silvercrossbaby.com

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Transforming from a car seat to a stroller in less than 10 seconds, at just the click of a button. The nifty Doona™ is a rearward facing 0+ car seat that will protect a child until they reach 13kg. It’s the only product to pass both car seat and stroller safety tests, promising the utmost security and comfort both in and out of the car. £299 | cuddleco.co.uk

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BABY TALK

mum DIARY OF A

Part 10

MUM- OF-TH R EE, Becky Dickinson CON FRONTS TH E GROSS SIDE OF BRINGING U P CHILDR EN ’m downstairs loading the dishwasher (such is the glamour of child-rearing) when the familiar refrain rings through the floorboards. I wait to see if it’s followed by crying. It’s not. I ignore it. The three children are all in the bathroom, supposedly getting ready for bed. Given that they are being supervised by the seven-year-old, this is clearly not going to happen. But we’ve run out of clean wine glasses and I really want to get the dishwasher on. “Mummmeeeeeeee!” I have a rule I stand by: if the above drawn-out syllables are followed by a thump or crying it means there’s a high probability one of them has fallen, tripped, banged or squashed something. Usually a finger, knee, or more worryingly, a head. If not, it’s just one of those everyday childhood calamities: “My pyjamas are inside out,” or “She’s got my toothbrush,” or “I can’t find Dino” – Dino being an indispensable, medium-sized stuffed stegosaurus. “Mummmeeeeeee!” This time the shriek is followed by frenzied laughter. This could be worse than a potential first-aid moment. I leg it upstairs, stubbing my toe on the stair gate and swearing, and into the bathroom where my seven-year-old son J is standing at the toilet, naked. The toddler is next to him, hands outstretched. The middle child is looking on, laughing. “She’s trying to catch my wee!” screams J, pointing to his youngest sister. More shrieks of hilarity. “STOP!” I yell, to all of them and none of them. Too late. J is mid-stream and the toddler is already soaked. As is the floor. This ranks in her top five ‘Most Disgusting Things I Have Done in My Life’. For a child who is not yet two years old, she has already built up quite a portfolio. There

was the time she slid her hand inside her nappy, then gently stroked my face. I thought she was being affectionate until I almost gagged on the putrid smell that suddenly assaulted my nostrils. Then there was the time she pooed on the bedroom carpet, during those vital two minutes between bath and nappy. Not to mention all the random, revolting objects that have made their way from the floor to her taste buds, including week-old Weetos that she’s somehow managed to unstick from the floor, cankerous old apples from the tree in the garden containing goodness knows what, a used baby wipe fresh from the bin and a poor unsuspecting ladybird, who met its end

don’t tell you that you’ll probably poo giving birth to them. Well, admittedly you might hear the faintest of rumours, but not until you’re already pregnant, by which time it’s kind of too late. Forget peachy-skinned newborns with fluffy nappies and woolly hats. Give it a year or so and you’ll be running around after them with Dettol spray in hand. Which is why I feel a moral obligation to spell out the sheer grossness of small children. Unfortunately, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably already got one just on the cusp of grossness, or expecting one, so it’s too late. Oh well, forewarned is forearmed and all that. Anyway, back to the bathroom and everyone is in hysterics. Everyone except me. Actually, that’s not quite true. I am trying to stifle my own laughter, while running a bath. To show my amusement would only encourage repeat behaviour, which would not be welcome. But I have to admit it’s funny and there’s something infectious about three tiny children giggling unreservedly in a small space. It’s better than them all crying anyway. Just 40 minutes later, the kids are clean, even if the floor isn’t. Pyjamas, story and milk have all been accomplished and I finally kiss them good night. There’s still the floor issue, but sod that, I need wine. At least the dishwasher is finished. I pour myself a glass of red and settle into the sofa. There’s no denying it: children are gross. Fortunately, this is rivalled only by their cuteness. And what could be more adorable than a sleeping, bath-fresh infant? And relax. “Mummmeeeeeee!” Oh, hang on. bh

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

“SHE’S TRYING TO CATCH MY WEE!” SCREAMS J… MORE SHRIEKS OF HILARIT Y between newly emerged molars. And now to add to the lengthening list of disgusting behaviour: catching her big brother’s wee. Well, that’s just delightful. One of the mysteries of family planning is that nobody warns you just how gross children become once they reach a certain, extremely young, age. Nobody tells you that poo, wee, sick, bogeys, nits and threadworms (yes, we’ve been there, got the vile tasting medicine) are about to become a part of your very existence. They might warn you about sleepless nights, bleeding nipples, never-ending laundry and even mention yellow nappies. But nobody ever tells you what revolting little creatures they turn into once they develop the ability to move – a skill that happens alarmingly soon after childbirth. Nobody ever mentions the scatological curiosity of small children, just as they

Want to read more on Becky Dickinson’s family life? Visit babyhampshire.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 41

HEALTH

The

DO’S & DON’TS of pregnancy E XPOSING TH E TRUTH S OF PR EGNANC Y, DOC TOR AN D DAUGHTER DUO Roger Marwood AN D Rebecca Maberly SE T TH E EVER- CHANGING R ECOR D STR AIGHT

Do… ABOUT DOCTOR AND DAUGHTER The dynamic duo is made up by obstetrician and gynaecologist Roger Marwood and his eldest daughter Rebecca Maberly, who is mum to two boys Wilfred and Gus. Rebecca created and set up their successful website doctoranddaughter.co.uk two years ago. Roger Marwood is a consultant at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and has 40 years experience working in a busy NHS hospital. He has personally supervised around 20,000 pregnancies and countless deliveries.

✽ CARRY ON AS NORMAL Pregnancy is not a disease or a disability and, unless there are particular issues with your pregnancy, you should be able to carry on living a normal life. You can continue to eat most foods, go to work, socialise and remain physically active if it feels comfortable. Current advice says that you do not need to consume any extra calories during your pregnancy. If you are hungry, then of course eat more, but equally, if you are not hungry, do not be concerned as your baby can take all it needs from your body. If you want to eat a little treat once in a while, then go for it, but make sure you are eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables too.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHANN MALAWANA PHOTOGRAPHY, ISTOCK

✽ STAY ACTIVE If you remain active throughout your pregnancy your body will thank you for it after the baby is born. As with many aspects of pregnancy, let your body be your guide. A decade ago women were discouraged from exercising during pregnancy, but more recently there has been a complete reversal and women are encouraged to keep active. Exercise can help reduce backaches and constipation, improve mood, energy and sleep and help women endure and recover better from labour. It can also help with fluid retention, swelling and help control weight gain during pregnancy. Swimming and walking are gentle on the muscles and joints. If you’re already a keen runner or yoga practitioner then you should

be able to continue, but you may need to modify your routine.

✽ YOUR PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES Pregnancy damages and weakens your pelvic floor muscles, which support important organs like your bladder, uterus and lower bowel. If you do not maintain the strength of this muscle then they may drop or prolapse from their normal position. This can result in stress incontinence, where you wet yourself when you sneeze or cough, or in worst cases a prolapse where these organs can drop down through your vagina. Doing regular pelvic floor exercises will strengthen these muscles and will not only help you with a vaginal birth, but also help you to recover more quickly from rips, tears and haemorrhoids. For Doctor and Daughter’s top pelvic floor exercises see babyhampshire.co.uk.

✽ EDUCATE YOURSELF Educate yourself and your partner about your impending birth. It is a great idea to be aware of what will happen to your body when you go into labour and how your body is equipped to give birth to a baby. Knowing about your pain relief options, different birthing positions and breathing techniques can also give you confidence as your due date approaches. Attending antenatal classes in your local area is the best way to learn all you need to know, and making new friends who will have babies of the same age.

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HEALTH

✽ GOOGLE THINGS It can be very disconcerting to google any pregnancy related symptoms you may be having. Advice on the internet is not always helpful or safe. If you’re looking for reputable pregnancy advice, make sure you consult a well-advised website (ours has been written by a doctor), or speak to GP or midwife.

✽ STROKE SHEEP

Don’t…

✽ EAT RUNNY EGGS (AMONGST OTHER THINGS)

There are certain foods that pregnant women are advised to avoid. These include: • Runny eggs • Unpasteurised cheese • Liver • Undercooked meat • Raw shellfish (certain types of fish should also be limited) • Unwashed salad If you’ve already eaten any of these, and have not been unwell, then try not to worry as it’s unlikely you’ve put yourself at risk.

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There are also many food items which pregnant women seem to avoid unnecessarily, probably due to old wives' tales, including smoked salmon, prawns, cream cheese, cottage cheese, halloumi, feta and peanuts. As long as you are not allergic to these foods and you are confident that they have been prepared well, then they should be fine to eat while pregnant. For a more detailed list of foods to avoid see Doctor and Daughter’s suggestions on babyhampshire.co.uk.

✽ WORRY TOO MUCH It’s easy to say, but try not to worry too much about your pregnancy and the birth. As long as you keep healthy and take your doctor or midwife’s advice then you will be doing the best for yourself and your baby. As far as labour and the birth goes, no one can predict how this will pan out so try not to fixate on a particular birth plan. Try to remain open minded about your birth and trust in your midwife or doctor.

It may sound like an obscure one, and although the risks are very small, pregnant women are advised to avoid coming into contact with sheep. They can carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis, chlamydiosis and listeriosis which can potentially cause miscarriages in humans. Toxoplasmosis can also be caught from eating food contaminated with cat faeces, so the risks can increase when handling cat litter, gardening and eating unwashed vegetables. It is a good idea to be aware of this small but real risk in certain situations. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling a cat and wear gloves when gardening. Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly and heat your food through properly when cooking.

✽ BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP If you are worried or feel you need support during or after pregnancy, please do not be afraid to ask for help. For example, if you’re worried you have not felt your baby move, or experience bleeding, do not hesitate to call your midwife or doctor. You should receive support and reassurance and no one will make you feel foolish for seeking help even if it’s a false alarm. If you are feeling depressed or unable to cope during or after pregnancy, speak to your GP or health visitor. bh doctoranddaughter.co.uk

Magical

Milestones

Louisa Van den Bergh, FOU N DER OF LU LU BABY, R EMINISCE S OVER H ER M EMOR ABLE PR EGNANC Y MILE STON E S

a lime. I still clearly remember my first 12 week scan with my son – I couldn’t believe how well formed this little thing inside me was and how active he was bouncing all over the place, kicking the wall of the uterus, and yet I couldn’t feel a thing.

The positive pregnancy test. You may have missed your period, your boobs may have doubled in size, you could be feeling nauseous or you just have a nagging feeling that you don’t quite feel the same as normal. Whatever your indicator, it is hard for words to describe that feeling when the line appears (not always a blue one) and your world changes forever, whether it is your first or fifth pregnancy (or 11th in the case of my mother-in-law). First scan. Whether you have an early dating scan or a nuchal fold scan at 12 weeks, that first view of your baby’s heart beating is, well, unbeatable. It is sometimes hard to believe that you have a little life inside you especially as you may not look that different (yet) on the outside. At the 12 week stage, amazingly your baby’s major organs and body systems are fully formed but your baby will only measure about two inches from crown to rump (from the top of their head to the bottom of their bottom) and is about the size of

46 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

3 4

Telling your friends and family. Whatever stage you tell your close family and friends, or however you do it, it is fun to be able to share your news with those you love – although some may have guessed already. Telling work. I don’t know many pregnant women who haven’t been a little nervous about telling their boss or colleagues. I certainly felt that way when, only six months after returning from maternity leave, I had to explain to my boss that I was expecting again. His reply: “That’s most inconvenient, isn’t it?” – hmm! Hopefully, most modern bosses these days are a little bit more PC. Putting away your favourite old jeans and slipping on the maternity wear. You realise then that there is no going back and there is only one way your tummy is heading and that is most definitely outwards. For me, it was also quite a relief as you tend to not even look pregnant at this stage, despite bulging out of your normal wardrobe and feeling like your body is changing. Once you are wearing your new maternity wear, you start to feel more comfortable, look more pregnant and feel less, well, fat.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

ypically the nine months of pregnancy are split into three trimesters. The first trimester is the first 13 weeks, the second is from week 14 to week 26 and the final trimester is up until your baby is born. However, pregnancy can also be viewed as a journey with several important and memorable steps along the way. Here are my top 10 pregnancy milestones. Do remember that the order may vary from pregnancy to pregnancy as everybody is different.

PREGNANCY

8 9 10

Feeling those first few flutters and kicks. For me, this is one of the most magical moments of pregnancy, making those weeks of nausea and tiredness all feel worthwhile. Most pregnant mums will feel a few kicks from as early as 15 to 16 weeks (for second and subsequent babies) but normally by 22 weeks. If you have placenta previa (a low lying placenta, normally diagnosed at a 12 week scan), then you may not feel kicking quite as strongly. Always see your GP if you are concerned about baby’s movements. The 20 week foetal anomaly scan; for many mums this is only the second opportunity to see your baby on screen and it is one of the most special moments in your entire pregnancy. It is also an opportunity to find out the sex of your baby. Even if you don’t, you will no doubt be interpreting the sonographer’s words and language to see if they gave away any hints! Your baby has been growing quickly in the last eight weeks and is about 10 inches from head to heel (including legs this time) or about the size of a banana. Buying that first baby item. Whether you rush out to the shops as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, or wait until closer to the time, buying for your baby makes it all seem a little more real and exciting. Reaching ‘term’ or 37 weeks. By this stage your baby is fully formed with hair and tiny fingernails. They will be busy practising breathing by inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid, sucking their thumb and still moving plenty. Going into labour or going in for your caesarean section. Whether you have a show, your waters break or you start contracting, that moment when you realise that your baby will be with you so soon is one of the most exciting – and daunting. Only very few mums’ waters break prior to going into labour so you are much more likely to feel your uterus contract. bh Visit: lulubaby.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 47

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BABY-LED WEANING EXPLAINED

meetTHE

EXPERTS

OU R PROFE SSIONAL S GIVE TH EIR ADVICE ABOUT BIRTHING , BABY AN D BEYON D COLOUR CHANGE IN BREAST MILK

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

Deearna Withey, Breastfeeding Consultant and Maternity Nurse Sometimes your breast milk can change in colour but do not fear, usually there’s nothing to worry about. GREEN MILK If you drink green herbal drinks, digest foods such as seaweed and spinach and eat some supplements, milk can become green.

PINK, ORANGE, RED AND BROWN MILK Caused by foods that contain yellow, red (such as beetroot) and orange food dyes. RED STREAKS Sometimes blood from a cracked nipple will get into the milk. This is totally normal. BLACK MILK Linked to certain antibiotics. If this occurs, stop feeding. Tell your GP before you start medication that you are nursing. 07771 660 121 (call for a free consultation) deearnas-maternity-agency.co.uk

Linda Evans and Adela Bujdosova, Elite Infant Wellbeing Consultancy A new phenomenon that has taken the world of traditional weaning practice by storm is the concept of baby-led weaning (BLW), developed by Gill Rapley. This method of weaning is simply allowing your baby to ‘self-feed’ by reaching out for foods that they can grab a fist of. BLW is a spoon-free zone allowing your baby to use their oral motor coordination. The six-month-old guideline provided by the World Health Organisation is given with the view that a baby’s digestive system matures between the ages of four to six months. Developmental readiness is crucial when it comes to weaning generally and most babies around six months are able to self-feed, sit up unaided, or sit up with minimal support, and have good hand-eye coordination. When starting BLW, milk feeding will be your baby’s main nutritional intake, which can be offered before or after solids. Research shows that babies who have selfweaned are more able to regulate their appetite and less likely to be fussy eaters. There are a variety of foods that can be introduced in the early phase of BLW, such as soft pieces of potato and squashed banana or mushable steamed carrot. Your baby will progress from tasting a tiny amount to licking, sucking and eventually chomping off pieces of food which will advance tongue mobilisation, as they learn to churn food from the front of their mouth to the back. All babies have a gag-reflex which is a protective mechanism, which may be triggered during weaning, and may cause your baby to spit or cough food out. However, this reflex will mature as they reach toddlerhood. elitewellbeingconsultancy.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 49

HEALTH

Dr Etienne Horner, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Again and again I think this is a topic worth talking about. It can be very difficult preparing partners for the journey of giving birth. Most are really good at supporting the pregnancy, attending regular appointments with a keen interest – many go along to antenatal classes, learning about birth positions, massaging and pain relief, so they are well prepared when the big day arrives. However, when it does come, there is only so much they can do. Women can be in a lot of pain: a pain their partner, if male, will never experience or be used to seeing. They will often be told that this is quite normal and this is the reason why giving birth is called labour! Of course, unless both have decided to have a natural delivery, there is the possibility of having an epidural, which can manage the pain effectively and offer some relief until the next big step coming in the form of pushing the baby out. Women push as much as they can and this can be very hard for the partner to watch as there is little they can do to help, except by giving support through their presence. If the birth isn’t coming along as it should, doctors may decide to help with a ventouse or forceps delivery and this requires careful attention from the doctor. As to be expected, this can be a very worrying time for the partner, with their loved one and unborn baby at a very difficult stage in the labour – one that can involve a lot of blood, in addition to the instrument used for the delivery. Therefore, it is integral for medical professionals to speak to the partner during the labour as much as with the person giving birth, to try to reassure them that this is not an unusual situation. Equally, it is important for professionals to build trust with both partners during the antenatal appointments, helping them to have a better understanding of what the labour will entail, when the day finally arrives. 07868 972 920 info@etiennehorner.co.uk etiennehorner.co.uk

50 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

MORE THAN JUST BLUES Richmond Practice Dr Katharina Schramm MD, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician Having a baby is one of the most joyful experiences in life, but it can also be quite overwhelming and frightening. BABY BLUES As a new mum there are enormous hormonal changes to deal with and it is therefore quite normal to feel tired, tense and tearful in the first days of your newborn’s life. ‘Baby blues’ usually starts between three to five days after giving birth and lasts up to a week. It’s not an illness – but simply normal feelings during a transitional period of adjusting to a great change in your life. POSTNATAL DEPRESSION If low feelings last for longer than two weeks, they could be the first signs of an illness that will not go away on its own. Postnatal depression (PND) is a recognised and treatable condition that affects approximately one-in-five mothers and up to one-in-10 fathers. As it is a very common

– but often unrecognised – illness, it is important to take any early warning signs seriously, like feeling exhausted, anxious or hopeless. Discuss these with your health care professional such as your midwife, or you could use the safe environment of a postnatal check up to discuss any concerns with your doctor. They can help debrief you on your birth experience which will aid you in making sense of any intense and possibly traumatic experiences. It is also helpful to get your baby checked by your doctor or paediatrician to make sure they are as healthy and happy as possible. You can even approach your doctor before your baby is born to get advice on preventive measures. This is particularly important if you have suffered from depression in the past. If you took antidepressant medication before becoming pregnant, you should discuss the risks and benefits of continuing treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding with your doctor. It is crucial to remember that while postnatal depression can be distressing, frightening and very lonely – talking to your health care professional about your worries is the first and most important step towards getting better. 020 8940 5009 richmondpractice.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

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REAL LIFE

From super-sick to

SUPERHERO

A GR AVELY ILL BABY DIDN ’ T FE ATU R E IN Becky Pugh’s DR E AM OF MOTH ER HOOD. BUT WITH FAITH , H OPE AN D TH E R EMAR K ABLE STR ENGTH OF H ER SON , H ER FAMILY OVERCAM E TH EIR NIGHTMAR E

52 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

REAL LIFE

atching a child embark on a new year is poignant for any parent. After all, who knows what developments and triumphs 2015 might throw up? But it is particularly meaningful in my household. We are grateful for every day that our fouryear-old son merrily goes about his business. Our hearts swell as he chatters incessantly, masters the smallest tasks and becomes ever more independent. We marvel at his imagination, his confidence and his articulacy. Because the day Arthur was born, we were warned by a bevy of doctors that his future might be terribly bleak. I had enjoyed a normal pregnancy and began maternity leave from my job on a newspaper three weeks before my due date. I was counting on a leisurely month of pottering and preparing for the baby and thought I’d given myself ample time to pack a hospital bag, put the finishing touches on the nursery and get my head around the seismic shift that my life was about to undergo. I was wrong. As it turned out, I had no time at all. My waters broke that evening while my husband, William, and I celebrated my newfound freedom from employment in a pizza restaurant in Notting Hill. Hastily, we paid our bill, called the maternity ward and caught a cab to St Mary’s, Paddington. It was 9pm on a hot Friday night in July. We assumed I’d be given a routine check by a midwife and sent home until my labour had sufficiently progressed. Wrong again. A day-and-a-half later, after an unsuccessful induction, an epidural and an emergency caesarean, we had a child. A very sick child.

had gathered in my private room to be briefed by the consultant neonatologist, Dr Sunit Godambe, on our baby’s condition. We learned that Arthur had been born with hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and was likely to have severe brain damage. Dr Godambe couldn’t tell us much more at that stage, except that he didn’t think our baby was going to die. Later, after Arthur had undergone a brutal series of tests and an MRI scan, we discovered that he had suffered a stroke in the womb when I was 33 or 34 weeks pregnant. The resulting blood clot had caused a blockage in his brain and an excess of fluid had gathered

but eventually began to spend long days there with him and short, miserable nights at home. He was fed exclusively through a tube to begin with, and was connected at all times to two different monitors. He continued to have countless tests, examinations, scans and finally brain surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital. There they fitted a shunt, which he will have for the rest of his life, underneath his scalp to drain the excess fluid from his brain. When he had recovered from the operation, we were finally allowed to take our little boy home. He no longer needed hospital care and we wouldn’t know any more about the extent of his brain damage until the

Arthur bonds with baby brother Louis

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

ONE OBSTETRICIAN FELT THAT ARTHUR HAD FORCED HIS EARLY ARRIVAL BECAUSE HE KNEW HE NEEDED HELP A nurse wrapped our tiny son in a towel and gave us seconds to cuddle him. The brief encounter was long enough to take in his grotesquely large head and impossibly tiny body (he weighed just 4lbs 13oz). The surgeon said they didn’t yet know what was wrong with him, and that he needed to go straight to the neonatal unit. I took one look at William, whose normally warm and humorous face was ashen, and passed out. By the time I woke up, William, my parents, his parents and various doctors and nurses

there – hence his enlarged head – instead of being reabsorbed into his system. The doctors have never been able to tell us why it happened. They ruled out the usual causes, which are infection, trauma (such as a big fall or car crash) and a specific genetic combination. But one obstetrician felt sure that Arthur had forced his early arrival because he knew he needed help. He remained in Special Care for the next three weeks. At first I stayed at the hospital,

results of another MRI scan in November. It should have been a fabulous new start for us: a chance to enjoy our precious baby. Except that nothing went right. I was not good at breastfeeding – I was too anxious to produce much milk. Arthur rarely slept, cried all the time, hardly put on any weight and showed no signs of learning to smile. I was exhausted, bewildered and completely beside myself. I felt alienated from my many friends with babies the same

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 53

REAL LIFE

Arthur is doing better than his parents could have ever imagined – this year he started primary school

ARTHUR HAS DEFIED THE ODDS. MEDICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY HE IS COMPLETELY NORMAL age and hated hearing their tales of cheerful, routine-led babies. I vividly remember saying to one that I didn't understand how anybody enjoyed a single second of motherhood. Eventually Arthur was diagnosed with reflux and given strong medicine to soothe the acute pain it caused. Things gradually improved. He started eating a bit more – and therefore sleeping and gaining weight, too. He even began to smile which, as we all know, is a supremely gratifying milestone. Soon the time came to hear the results of the second MRI scan and as fulsome a prognosis as the doctors could make for Arthur’s brain function. The news was relatively good. The fluid had drained well from his head – which was now a normal shape and beautifully proportioned – and his brain was nowhere near as badly damaged as they had initially feared. The scan suggested, however, that his fine motor skills, vision and some cognitive ability could be weaker than normal. Once again, we were informed that the next few months would be crucial and that only as he

54 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

developed would we really be able to tell the full breadth of his problems. So Arthur began a relentless programme – devised by the experts at St Mary’s – of physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy in an attempt to help his brain overcome its potential damage. He and I were beyond busy. We had constant appointments with paediatricians, with a cranial osteopath, with a feeding specialist and with the brain surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital. There were highs (he rolled, sat, crawled and walked in the end, though he did so a long time after his peers) and there were lows (one doctor thought he couldn’t see; another was concerned that his neck wasn’t strong enough to support his head; he remained exceptionally small for his age). But we have come a long way since then. Who knows whether it is down to the medical expertise of Arthur’s many doctors and nurses, the power of prayer (everybody, from William and I, to our families, missionaries in Zimbabwe, monks in

Yorkshire and well-wishers all over the world prayed for our baby), his own determination, good luck or a combination of them all, but Arthur has defied the odds. We were told initially to prepare for special schools and a carefully adapted home. Instead, Arthur is lapping up his first year at our local primary school and our perfectly ordinary house is strewn with his LEGO, his scooter and his cluttered array of artwork. Medically and developmentally he is completely normal. Arthur’s birth and early years were deeply traumatic for both William and me. They had – at least temporarily – an impact on our friendships, our marriage, our very identities. But the wonderful, remarkable thing about the ordeal is that it hasn’t defined Arthur at all. To see him now, you would never know what he has endured. He can feel his shunt but so far doesn’t mind that he has one. He calls it his ‘special bone’ and believes it gives him magical powers. Yup, he may look like an ordinary boy, but he is, in fact, a superhero. bh

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From Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, supermarkets, chemists, health stores & www.pregnacare.com †Folic acid contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. Pregnacare® has always contained 400mcg folic acid, the level recommended for all women from the start of trying to conceive until the 12th week of pregnancy. ††Based on a survey of 1000 midwives. For more information on this research, please visit www.pregnacare.com/mostrecommended 1Agrawal, R. et al. Prospective randomised trial of multiple micronutrients in women undergoing ovulation induction, Reproductive BioMedicine Online December 2011. 2L Brough et al. Effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on maternal nutrient status, infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population. British Journal of Nutrition (2010), 104, 437-445. 3Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol.18, No.5, 487-489 (1999). *A beneficial effect can be obtained from a daily intake of 200mg DHA in addition to the recommended daily intake of 250mg DHA / EPA for adults – Annex of Commission Regulations (EU) No. 440/2011. ‡(IRI value data. 52 w/e 22 Feb, 14).

HEALTH

TOP TIPS

Keep your baby upright, particularly during and after feeds. Putting him in a bouncy chair for daytime naps might help. Put a couple of books under the legs at the head of the cot to raise his head at night. ✽ Feed little and often, particularly if your baby is vomiting a lot. ✽ Dummies can help as they encourage the baby to suck the acid back down. ✽ Cranial osteopathy can be helpful in calming babies. ✽ Gentle pressure or a warm pad held on the baby’s tummy can ease the discomfort in a bad spell. ✽

Fact or Fad?

Reflux

Dr Chiara Hunt AN D SISTER Marina Fogle OF TH E BUM P CL ASS INVE STIGATE

OTHER MEASURES Feeding thickeners or special formula designed for babies with reflux can help by causing the milk to sit more heavily in the stomach. ✽ Reflux is sometimes linked to cow’s milk protein allergy, especially if your baby also has eczema, so your doctor might recommend a cow’s milk-free formula. If you’re breastfeeding, try excluding cow’s milk from your diet for a minimum of two weeks. ✽ Early weaning might be helpful; most paediatricians recommend weaning ‘refluxy’ babies between four and six months as this has been documented to improve their symptoms.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELENE SANDBERG

✽

All babies cry, some more than others and some seemingly all the time. When does excessive crying suggest that there might be a medical problem behind it? Reflux is when the muscle at the top of a baby’s stomach that keeps milk in after it’s been swallowed is not quite strong enough, allowing milk and stomach acid to travel back up the oesophagus. This occurs mildly in a lot of babies causing them to vomit or ‘posset’ soon after a feed. For most babies this does not cause them any discomfort and they keep enough milk down not to lose weight. However, when it is severe it can cause pain and discomfort or worrying weight loss. Sometimes the milk travels all the way up causing them to vomit often, losing most of their feed and resulting in poor weight gain. Silent reflux is when the baby doesn’t vomit but the acidy milk keeps on going up and down the oesophagus. This is often very painful and can be more difficult to diagnose. These babies tend to scream the whole time but don’t vomit more than normal babies. Silent reflux is often confused with colic as the symptoms are similar. Babies with both are clearly uncomfortable, but babies with reflux tend to scream all day long while colic tends to affect babies more in the evenings. Colic can often be eased with over-the-counter remedies such as Infacol, and babies tend to

grow out of it between 10 and 12 weeks. Many paediatricians feel the reason we see more reflux nowadays may be because we are more likely to put babies to sleep on their backs. ‘Refluxy’ babies are more comfortable on their fronts, yet putting babies to sleep on their backs significantly reduces the risk of cot death. So, as tempting as it might seem to relent and put your baby to sleep on his front, don’t – it’s not safe. Most reflux can be diagnosed by a GP or a paediatrician simply by talking to the mother and examining the baby. In severe or complicated cases there are tests that can be done to confirm the diagnosis, but these are somewhat invasive so are not done routinely. The treatment for both reflux and silent reflux are the same. Many are mild and require only simple measures to make the baby more comfortable, but others require medication prescribed by doctors. As miserable as it can be for both the baby and the mother, rest assured that the vast majority will grow out of it, most within the first six months or when the baby is established on solids, even without treatment. And most ‘refluxy’ babies turn out to be robust, healthy and happy toddlers, full of beans and ready to explore the world! bh

MEDICATION Gaviscon or sodium alginate coats the stomach and oesophagus, protecting it from the burning stomach contents, and thereby reducing symptoms. It also acts as a feed thickener. ✽ There are various other prescribed medications (most commonly Ranitidine or Omepraole) that treat reflux by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. ✽

Find out more: thebumpclass.com

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 57

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rom the moment you pump up the central heating, you can bet your last tissue there’s a big old cold lurking around the corner coming to get you or your child. Winter advocates coughs, colds, fevers and other unwelcome guests, as they make their way into our bodies, sometimes with very little warning. Dr Nico Jonas, Consultant Paediatric Otolaryngologist (ENT Surgeon) at The Portland Hospital says: “Young children are particularly susceptible to upper respiratory infections, especially during winter.” As parents, especially first-time parents, we naturally worry at the signs of a sniffle from our little ones, but Dr Jonas explains that minor infections are part and parcel of a normal childhood and helps them build a strong immune system. Dr Jonas suggests the best treatment for a high temperature is paracetamol or ibuprofen, while a saline or saltwater nose spray, when used regularly, can be very effective at clearing nasal discharge. If this infection has caused your baby or toddler to become a snorer, Dr Jonas recommends using a short five-day course of nasal decongestant as it will keep the nose open and help the child breathe better during sleep. “It is important not to use the decongestant for more than five days at a time,” he warns. Upper respiratory infections can also lead to coughing and may develop into a chest infection, which might require a

Get well

SOON

THIS ISSU E Rebecca Moore BAT TLE S WINTER BUGS WITH R E SCU E R EM EDIE S FROM H E ALTHCAR E PROFE SSIONAL S 58 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

HEALTH

visit to your doctor. In more serious cases it can also spread to the ears and develop into an ear infection. However, now many parents are seeking alternative methods to clear up nasty winter bugs. Acupuncture has become hugely popular over recent years, although it has been practised in the Far East for more than 2,500 years. Emma Cannon, author of You and Your Bump, and founder of The Fertility Rooms in Sloane Square, Chelsea, works with specialist children’s practitioner Alison Smith who treats babies, children and adults.

school clinic,” explains Emma. “Acupuncture works by stimulating the body’s energy system and helps return the body to normal function. It does this by removing phlegm from the body, building energy, removing heat, regulating the flow of energy and supporting immune function,” says Emma. The clinic sees all sorts of different conditions and they also give dietary advice to support their treatments. It’s particularly important to make sure we’re putting the right food and medicine in our bodies in winter. Henrietta Norton, head

NATURE IS INTELLIGENT AND, IF WE EAT SEASONALLY, CAN PROVIDE US WITH THE FOODS WE NEED AT THE RIGHT TIME Paediatric acupuncture, which is a treatment specifically for babies and children, has been practised for more than 100 years and is quite different from treating adults, so it’s important to be seen by an acupuncturist who has experience in this area. It can clear up many conditions including coughs, colds, allergies and skin problems. “We regularly treat babies with a non-needle approach using instruments that stimulate the points rather than pierce the skin, and we also treat school children who attend our weekday after-

of nutrition at Grace Belgravia and co-founder of Wild Nutrition, stresses that taking a good multi-vitamin can be very supportive over the winter months. “My children take our Wild Nutrition Bespoke Child Food-State MultiNutrient (suitable for children aged three to 12 years), which provides a range of immune supporting nutrients in a food-form with vitamin C, vitamin D, selenium and zinc. It also includes elderberry, which is excellent for warding off viral and bacterial infections, and is proven to reduce the duration of infection.”

If you’re pregnant, it’s important to keep the immune system built up. “During pregnancy our need for nutrients such as zinc and vitamin D can increase, especially during the winter,” says Henrietta. “These also play a key role in immune tolerance and eating foods rich in these nutrients, such as eggs, pumpkin seeds, game and yoghurt, can be really supportive.” Many mums-to-be are warned about taking vitamin A during pregnancy, but Henrietta insists it’s an essential vitamin. “Vitamin A is important for foetal development and the immune system. Squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots are excellent sources of betacarotene. Nature is intelligent and, if we eat seasonally, our food can provide us with the foods we need at the right time.” Parents should also be wary of ear infections. “Ear infections are again very common and the child can be unwell with a high temperature and earache,” explains Dr Jonas. He recommends paracetamol and/or ibuprofen to treat the pain and temperature, but would prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms persisted. “In the event of discharge from the ear your child will require antibiotic ear drops. Regular ear infections and hearing loss might require further treatment,” he explains. So when these beastly bugs make their way into your homes fear not, they should be gone before you know it, and predominantly shouldn’t cause too much pain. But if there’s anything unsettling consult your doctor. bh

THE BUG BUSTERS BRAUN THERMOMETERS

MULTI-STRAIN BIOTIC

SNUFFLEBABE RANGE

The Braun ThermoScan (£49.99) is the latest ear thermometer from Braun. It's age adjustable and gives fever guidance for the whole family – the colour display works with the age precision technology as fever definitions change as newborns grow. The Braun No Touch + Forehead Thermometer (£52.99) gives instant and highly accurate readings, with two clinically proven options to take temperatures – in non-invasive no touch mode or the traditional forehead touch way. boots.com

This little wonder (£25) plays a vital role in the immune development of babies and infants thanks to the flora contained inside the powder. Babies acquire this flora during the birth process and breastfeeding, but feeding with formula, vaccinations and antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria. It can be added to milk or other cold or lukewarm liquids. wildnutrition.com

These drops and sprays clear baby's nose naturally. The spray (£2.80) gives instant relief, while the drops (£2.35) soften and wash away pollen, dust, viruses, bacteria and mucus, letting little ones breathe easier. tesco.com

NUK NASAL DECONGESTER The Nasal Decongester (£3.99) from NUK gently cleans out a baby’s blocked nose – squeeze the pump ball, then hold the nozzle up to one nostril and gently reduce the pressure. This will extract mucus, resulting in a snot-free nose. nuk.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 59

SHOPPING

THE REVIEW Best for

BUILD

OU R R EVIEWER Laura Mason PUTS TH E BE ST HIGH CHAIR S TO TH E TE ST Best for

BABY Best for

VALUE

Best for

STYLE

Best for

SPACE

NUNA

OXO

BLOOM

JOIE

STOKKE®

This pop-up highchair is extremely practical and a good wallet-friendly option. It’s also easy to maintain – the material is wipe clean and the generously sized tray table can even go in the dishwasher. The chair itself folds flat and has some handy wheels to tote between rooms. £99 | johnlewis.com

This beech highchair is sleek and simple which makes it easy to clean – there are no small nooks or crannies for food to hide. There are a lot of additional extras for added comfort such as the cushion and newborn seat piece. It’s well-made and has to be one of the best looking chairs on the market. £159 plus £47 for the Baby Set | stokke.com

Zazz

Tot Sprout

Fresco Chrome Mimzy

This über-stylish chair is the ideal statement piece within any kitchen or dining room. It’s incredibly quick and easy to set up, and it comes with a removable tray, toddler barrier and adjustable harness. It’s supremely robust too – the Zazz has the highest longevity of any chair tested, an impressive 12 years. £160 | johnlewis.com

This extended use highchair grows with your child and their developmental stages, meaning it should comfortably see them through until they’re five. It’s undoubtedly sleek and contemporary, and has a great space-saving design. The components can be altered to your child’s size for optimum comfort. £204.26 | mothercare.com

This highchair’s claim to fame is that it is the world’s tallest highchair, a useful feature that allows baby to join the family at most breakfast bars and tables. This chair is also suited from newborn (as opposed to six months) through to eight years. This chair also gets a thumbs up for the lack of accessories required. £399 to £499 depending on frame | johnlewis.com

Tripp Trapp®

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 61

INTERVIEW

HOT PRODUCTS MUST-HAVE PRODUC TS FOR TH E MONTH S AH E AD Affordable, stylish and good for the environment. What’s not to like?

GREENTOM

We’re delighted that the world’s greenest stroller has hit the streets without making a dent on the environment. The Greentom Upp is the only pushchair in the world to be made entirely from recycled plastics. The frame is made from 5.6kg of recycled and biobased materials while the fabric seat is made from 62 recycled soft drink bottles. The Upp is suitable for babies from six months and prices start at £199. Visit greentom.co.uk for more information.

LATEST AND GREATEST

GO-GO SPEAKER

SPUNI

THERMOBAND

This beautifully-designed wireless speaker attaches to your pushchair with a handy strap. Connecting through Bluetooth, the lightweight Stellé Audio Go-Go Speaker offers high-quality audio on the move, making it the perfect companion for mobile parents. £99 | stelleaudio.com

Fresh to the UK, the Spuni’s uniquely-shaped design encourages little eaters to suck food off the spoon. The ergonomic proportions mean it fits comfortably into baby’s or adult’s hands, leading to less mess and less food wasted. It’s intelligent eating at its best. £14 | spuni.com

This clever silicon band lets parents know when a baby’s bottle is just right for feeding time. The 37°C Thermoband fits most makes of bottles and its intelligent colour-changing technology means you’ll know the precise second when it’s good to go. £13 | maguari.com

62 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: UPP BY GREENTOM

Our pick of the best baby gadgets to hit the market

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A Mother’s

Mantra

AS WON DER FU L AS MOTH ER H OOD IS, IT CAN SEN D YOU INTO A FL AT SPIN . ST YLIST AN D YOGA TE ACH ER Charlie Anderson SHAR E S H OW SH E FOU N D H ER BAL AN CE 64 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

HEALTH

here is a concept presented in the ancient yogic text the Bhagavad Gita called Dharma. It doesn’t translate easily into English but, to summarise, it is to do with the fulfilling of our own desires in a way that is consistent with the flow of the universe. It’s a process of alignment, of moving with steadiness, wisdom and a clear mind towards our Truth. When out of step with our Dharma we can feel disconnected, unhappy and stressed. I was about 21 when I started work at Tatler magazine. Beginning as an intern, after three months I was made Fashion Assistant: the dream job that, despite the low pay and long hours, I was thrilled to have. It was also around this time I started going to yoga classes. Whilst I knew next to nothing of yoga’s philosophy, I could feel that it was the perfect antidote to a consistently hectic job. Working at the magazine was an endless cycle of shows, shoots, travel, freebies and utterly crazy bosses – the late, great Isabella Blow being one of them. Then, aged 28, two major things happened: I was promoted to Fashion Director and I fell pregnant with my first child. I adored the pregnancy, but I found having a newborn was worlds away from what I had expected. I was used to the strains of a non-stop job, but this was different. I realised that, for me, stress became negative and all-engulfing when it involved an emotional connection with those around me.

To begin with the cries of my baby elicited a normal maternal response. However, with a colicky baby and after a few sleep-deprived weeks, I began to find that the first squeak of a cry sent me into a state of fight or flight. I felt overwhelmed and, combining this with the physical exhaustion that looking after a tiny baby entails, I moved into a permanent state of anxiety. As endocrinologist Hans Selye recognised in 1926: “in addition to being itself, (stress) is also the cause and the result of itself”. The pressure falling on me from the demands of my daughter outweighed my ability to deal with them. I was tearful, irritable, anxious and unable to cope with simple tasks. I found that I couldn’t sleep, even when my baby wasn’t crying, as I was anticipating when the next cry would be. My state of mind deteriorated and after four months I reached total burnout and sought help. I now realise that the anxiety was causing me to react to my daughter instantly and aggressively as if she was a threat. With help – in the form of a maternity nurse who specialized in postnatal depression – I learned to relax and was able to give myself space to reflect on my daughter’s needs with wisdom and understanding. As children learn from and mimic their parent’s moods and actions, she in turn became a calmer and more contented baby. I guess it was this experience that gave me

THE FIRST SQUEAK OF A CRY SENT ME INTO A STATE OF FIGHT OR FLIGHT

Charlie with her daughters Hope and Scarlet

CHARLIE’S TOP THREE YOGA BOOKS AWAKENING SHAKTI BY SALLY KEMPTON I came across this book in 2013 after attending a teacher training with Sianna Sherman (a noted Anusara teacher). In tantric yoga Shakti is the name for the potent manifest energy that drives every living thing. It is considered to be divinely feminine and is represented by the goddesses. In this book, meditation guru Sally Kempton explains how these goddesses are aspects of ourselves. She shows how to recognise them, subdue or enhance them to suit our needs. This book is truly my constant companion. The advice, information and meditations have proved invaluable in my life.

A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA BY DR PAUL BRUNTON Dr Paul Brunton was a British journalist fascinated with mysticism and the East. This book details his journey from the bookshops of 1930’s London to his life-changing meeting with Sri Ramana Maharshi at the foot of Mount Arunachala. His prose is beautifully dated, in common with the travelogues and novels of that era. Most profound is the undercurrent of his shift from skepticism to enlightenment, while the continuing descriptions of meetings with faqueers, sages, magicians, astrologers and anchorites beggar belief. Immensely readable with a lot of depth.

THE HEART OF YOGA BY TKV DESIKACHAR Desikachar is the son of Sri Krishnamacharya, the forefather of modern yoga who taught, among many, BKS Iyengar and Shri K Pattabhi Jois (who systemised the Ashtanga practice that is so very popular today). This was the very first yoga book I picked up. It is informative, non-dogmatic and super easy to read. There comes a time in most peoples’ yoga journey when questions arise that can’t be answered in the space of a busy 90-minute class – if that’s the case then this is the book for you.

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 65

HEALTH

more perspective. When I found myself back at work sitting front row at Donna Karan during NY fashion week with a gorgeous five-month-old baby girl at home I had a deep awareness that something was not right. I resigned as soon as I returned to London. Kids are like filters: they make you focus on ditching the crap. And yoga has taught me how to reduce negative stress in my life; through my practise Iâ€™ve learnt to listen to myself, make mistakes, learn from them and

66 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

trust my intuition. In other words â€“ moving into alignment with my Dharma. Three years on, after much deeper personal yoga study, I had an entirely different experience with my second daughter. I was calm, she was calm, I slept, she slept, there was no stress cycle, we were happy. My girls are now four and seven and I teach regular weekly yoga classes, work privately with clients and occasionally dip my toe back into fashion. As people they are loving, lively,

creative and sociable but they also know how to be calm, quiet and respectful. They both have mats that they play on from time to time (I never force them to practise) but most importantly they have a growing understanding of how, through yoga, they can regulate their emotions and bodily energy and why it is important to always be kind and follow your Truth. bh charlieyoga.simpl.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: EMILY WALKER

After her first child was born, Charlie gave up her job in fashion and began to focus on how yoga could help to de-stress family life

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68 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

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night nanny Z

DIARY OF A

he story so far: Katie’s five-monthold daughter Ella had begun to wake several times a night and will only settle with a feed each time, despite being a good sleeper previously. I’ve spent two nights with the family; last night I gave Ella her 10pm feed and although from midnight onwards she woke at the end of nearly every sleep cycle, I re-settled her each time without feeding her. At the beginning of my third night I check on the peacefully sleeping baby on my way to my room. She looks as if she hasn’t a care in the world; she is breathing deeply and slowly, her eyelashes smooth against her cheeks. At 10pm I go into Ella’s room and gently wake her for her first, and only, feed of the night. I am confident that she doesn’t need more than one night feed because Katie has begun to wean her onto solids. This means her feeding pattern is no longer that of a newborn baby who needs regular feeding throughout the day and the night, but is now more recognisable as that of a toddler who has meals during the daytime when the requirement for fuel is greatest, and then doesn’t feed at all overnight. Ella is barely awake, sucking on the teat with her eyes closed. I wind her firmly over my shoulder, change her nappy swiftly and put her back to sleep. Her eyelids flicker – she knows I have been there and gone away, and she is happy with that. It is the perfect ‘dream feed’; Ella’s body and mind are in a state which is more asleep

SHE IS BEGINNING TO ACCEPT THAT SHE DOESN’T NEED FEEDING EVERY 45 MINUTES than awake, which means she will find it easy to get back to sleep. She is beginning to accept that she doesn’t need to be fed every 45 minutes and she doesn’t need to work herself into a rage any more. However, a change in routine requires about five days or nights to consolidate properly; changes really don’t happen overnight. I go back to my room and write up the Sleep Diary – each night the entries become fewer as Ella needs me less frequently, but I can begin to write tips for Katie to follow once I am gone. The night proceeds calmly, as I hoped it would. At the end of each sleep cycle I find I am automatically wide awake, with an eye on the monitor, but there is no sound apart from the occasional snuffle and noise of movement as Ella wriggles to make herself comfortable. And then suddenly at 3am, with no warning, the lights flash and Ella cries out briefly. I am at her cotside in moments, ready to soothe her if necessary. But although her breathing is rapid and her face is scrunched up, she has stopped crying out and is calming down. I put

my hand on her stomach and whisper “shh, shh”. Her eyes remain closed and she quickly calms down. I take my hand away and watch her fall from this wakeful state, known as REM, into calmer, deeper non-REM sleep. I pick up the Sleep Diary and write down another entry. Ella sleeps through until 7am when I take her into her mother’s room. We discuss the night’s events and Katie asks: “What woke Ella so violently?” “Well,” I reply, “It could very well have been a vivid dream or an unusual noise just as she was coming up to her lighter sleep that disturbed her. But the significant point is that she didn’t wake up completely; she has learned how to go back to sleep by herself. She probably didn’t even need my intervention – she is nearly there and you can be very proud of her.” A look of worry crosses Katie’s face. “But you said you’d be here for five nights,” she protests. “You’re my Nanny McPhee – I don’t want you to go!” “Don’t worry – it isn’t over yet. Although Ella has learnt the lesson well, we do need to reinforce it. Too many people get this far and think they’ve cracked it. Then they relax and the hard work unravels because they haven’t finished it off properly. Research proves that it takes five nights, and my experience bears that out. I’ll be back tonight.” “Oh, good,” breathes Katie. “I'll see you later, then.” bh

For more information on anything mentioned in this article you can contact Georgie Bateman at Night Nannies on 01794 301 762 or georgie@nightnannies.com | nightnannies.com

70 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

FOU N DED 15 YE AR S AGO, NIGHT NAN NIE S HAS GUIDED THOUSAN DS OF PAR ENTS AN D TH EIR BABIE S TO BE T TER SLEEP. Georgie Bateman SHAR E S H ER L ATE ST STORY

DEVELOPMENT

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 71

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72 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

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babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 73

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St Nicholas’ School FLEET•HAMPSHIRE

HAPPY LEARNING

Open Morning Saturday 7th March 10am – 1pm

01252 850121 st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk For more information please contact the Registrar: registrar@st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk St Nicholas’ School, Redfields House, Redfields Lane, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 ORF Registered in England Reg. No. 872200 Reg. Charity No. 307341

A prep school for girls aged 3-11 with a co-educational nursery

Places now available in the new junior school which opens in September 2015 Please contact us to book an individual visit 01962 835750

78 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

office.juniorschool@stswithuns.com

www.stswithuns.com

EDUCATION

SCHOOL CHECK LIST

OPEN DAYS EXPLAINED

Alison Fleming, HE ADMISTRESS OF NEW TON PREP, ON MAKING THE MOST OF OPEN DAYS Choosing your child’s next school involves a combination of hard work and intuition. Open Days can certainly be very helpful but don’t be duped by window dressing! You of course know that on every school Open Morning you will see the best that is on offer. Classrooms will all have those extra little touches, you will hear the school’s best musicians perform in the Recital Hall, talented gymnasts and sportsmen will be strutting their stuff and even the kitchen staff will have prepared particularly delicious biscuits no doubt. At the same time, if a school has nothing to hide and everything to show, then an open day is still an invaluable glimpse into the real school beyond the league table statistics and the carefully scripted promotional material. So as a parent, how can you get the most out of an open day? First, check the school’s website for timings and if you need to register your attendance. Allow yourself a decent time slot – having

made the effort to visit the school, there’s no point rushing round and not giving yourself time to discover anything meaningful. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions! Best of all, ask questions of the children themselves. I always say to our Newton Prep children that they are the school’s best ambassadors – they can’t ‘spin’ the school and their passion (or otherwise!) is real and shines through more than any paid employees. Of course, research and questioning can only go so far. At some point, your gut instinct will take over. As you walk around, ask yourself if you can see your child thriving here: working hard, playing joyfully, making friends, growing as a person? And, equally as important, can you see yourself enjoying being a member of the parent body of this school? You will, after all, form many friendships amongst fellow parents in the coming years. The physical environment of the school itself does, of course, play a part in this. At Newton Prep, after our recent building works, we are lucky enough to have fantastic facilities and wide open spaces that speak

THINGS TO NOTICE ✽ Is the Head freely available to talk to? Do you like them? If you don’t like the Head or cannot buy into their philosophy, then you ought to think very carefully about registering your child. ✽ Are the children involved with the Open Day? ✽ Do the children speak freely and enthusiastically or does it seem like they are coached? ✽ Are the teachers passionate about their subjects? ✽ Is the material on the classroom walls up to date? ✽ Are sporting, dramatic, musical achievements and participation celebrated?

GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK ✽ What do you look for in a child applying here? ✽ If the admissions procedure is selective, what needs to be achieved by my child in their assessment? ✽ What characterises a child from this school? ✽ How do you manage the stressful senior school transfer process? ✽ How would you describe the school community? Is there a good PTA? ✽ Would you describe the school as traditional or innovative? ✽ What opportunities are there for interaction between the oldest and youngest children?

for themselves. Schools obviously don’t have to feature state-of-the-art amenities but it is true that appearances do still matter. It is important that the school you are visiting looks loved and cared for. Look out for engaging displays of children’s work or photographs showing them learning and playing. If displays look tatty and old, that in itself tells its own story about a school. Afterwards, now that it means something, why not look through the website and read the promotional material through the filter of what you have just seen? Even the Ofsted or ISI report will come to life a little more… and remains a good way of comparing schools like-for-like. bh

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 79

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Sarah Emerson, OF CHILDREN’S NATURE NUR SERY AT LYMINGTON, EXPL AINS WHAT MAKES THE NUR SERY SO SPECIAL

Exploring the great outdoors gives children time and space to think, to be, to learn and to grow

Children’s Nature Nursery is unlike any other nursery in Hampshire, what is it that makes it so unique? We provide children with the best of both worlds: the freedom of childhood as they explore and connect with nature, and activities that ensure their first experience of education promotes a lifelong love of learning. Our Kids Love Nature approach prepares children for the future by fostering confidence, emotional security, communication skills, and a willingness to challenge themselves, take risks, be imaginative and develop excellent social skills. When a child leaves us to go onto

the next stage, they have all the skills necessary to succeed. We make it our aim to provide the best environment for children to flourish – our passion is why we have been awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in two consecutive inspections. How was the Kids Love Nature approach conceived? The founders, who have over 25 years’ of experience in education, passionately believe that children must receive enriching experiences in their formative years. Our approach takes inspiration from the way in which the Danish Forest Kindergartens develop children’s confidence and self-esteem through the natural world, as well as the expressive and creative principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and the child-centred pedagogy of Montessori. Tell us about a typical day for a child at your nursery? While one child is working out a puzzle, another is

being introduced to letters in a fun and sensorial way. In the creative area, other children are working together on a large piece of art using an array of materials. Meanwhile, in the woodland, children are climbing trees, hunting for bugs and measuring each other with sticks. Later in the kitchen, a small group will have come back from our farm where they collect vegetables and eggs, after running with our pygmy goats, and will prepare a delicious organic lunch. In the garden they can be seen playing with friends or building in the sandpit while another group of children are in the classroom practising relaxation and yoga.

and we’re constantly working to expand these projects in order to reach more families. We also work closely with our pupils’ parents through our parenting sessions twice every term which help them promote positive behaviour, support home learning and build positive relationships with their child. What should parents expect at your open day in January? The open day is on the 31 January (10am to 12pm). All families are welcome to join us and will experience a typical day at the nursery, meet the teachers, watch the approach in action, get to experience our woodland explorer session and meet our animals on the farm. bh Sarah Emerson is the Head of Education for Kids Love Nature

Kids Love Nature also reaches out to local communities through social responsibility projects, can you tell us a bit more about this? We work closely with Children’s Centres to provide deprived families with nature-based experiences in order to improve children’s wellbeing

Children’s Nature Nursery at Lymington, South Baddesley, Lymington SO41 5RP W: kidslovenature.co.uk | T: 01590 626607 | E: lymington@kidslovenature.co.uk Day Nursery for two to five year olds. Open All Year from 8am-5pm

Wykeham House School Open Day Saturday 31 January 2015 10.00am - 1.00pm, or call the School for an individual appointment

wykehamhouse.com aged 3 to 5

Independent Day School for Girls aged 5 to 16

Separate Independent Day School for Junior and Senior Boys

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 81

Prep School Boarding & Day 8 – 13 Years

Pre-Prep & Nursery 3 – 7 Years

Highfield Open Day Saturday 7th February 9.30am - 12 noon

Brookham Open Day Monday 9th February 9.30am - 11.30am

Stay Play!&

“A First Rate Education” ISI Report 2014 www.highfieldschool.org.uk | 01428 728000 | Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ

he Portsmouth Grammar School Nursery offers outstanding care for girls and boys from age 2½ to 4 helping children to become active, independent

learners in a happy, fun and supportive environment. To find out more about your child joining the Nursery please call 023 9268 1337.

1922 - 2012

Baby Hampshire.indd 1

17/11/2014 14:30:11

1922 - 2012

Be Outstanding

www.charltonhouseschool.co.uk t: 023 8067 7575 55 Midanbury Lane, Bitterne Park, Southampton SO18 4HE

“Set within the 18 acres of St Mary’s College,

“Set within theSchool 18 acres of St are Mary’s Charlton House & Nursery ideallyCollege, Charlton House School & Nursery are ideally located for children to investigate the world aroundfor them in a safe and protected environment.” located children to investigate the world around them in a safe and protected environment.” Mrs D Owen, Headteacher.

s av ilab Place aa s av Pl ce le ailable ing place to • Small class sizes tand s • Excellent pastoral care g pleaace to t u o andin rn t s An l ea t ou Mrs D Owen, Headteacher.

• Excellent academic success • Small class sizes • Excellent academic success • Excellent pastoral care

Charlton House

Nursery Charlton House

St. Mary’s College

Charlton House

St. Mary’s College Preparatory Dept

Nursery Educating Girls & Boys age 3 - 16 in a caring Christian environment

Charlton House

St. Mary’s College Preparatory Dept

Educating Girls & Boys age 3 - 16 in a caring Christian environment

82 | JAN/FEB 2015 | babyhampshire.co.uk

EDUCATION

TIME TO PREPARE

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

FINDING A NUR SERY CAN BE A HE ADACHE FOR MANY PARENTS AND PARENTSTO-BE. OUR EDUCATION EXPERT Sabine Hook EXPL AINS WHEN TO APPLY

It used to be the case that finding a place for your child at nursery was as easy as registering with the local school at the end of your street, safe in the knowledge that there would definitely be a place available. In recent years, however, such a simple registration process is a distant memory for many. With registration deadlines creeping earlier and earlier, and most parents hedging their bets with an average of four different nursery applications, the pressure and competition has become increasingly intense. For the most successful and popular nursery schools, it is now a nearincomprehensible reality that registrations can be accepted as early as three months pregnant. This results in parents who are registering after birth being stranded so far down the waiting list that it is barely worth paying the registration fee, which is almost always non-refundable. Since each nursery’s registration deadlines vary in direct proportion to the popularity of that nursery, it is well worth researching this issue long before your child’s birth date. Desirable nurseries in family-friendly areas will require registration forms and fees just days after birth. Directly asking your favourite nurseries when they recommend registering puts the responsibility in their hands, and there is a chance that this could quickly dispense with any unnecessary stress. If the registration date recommended is a couple of days after birth, or even earlier, then it’s time to get organised. For example, it has become increasingly common to see women in their second

trimester of pregnancy making nursery and school visits. In addition, either requesting registration forms from the nursery or printing them off from the website will allow you to fill in the majority of information at your leisure before the birth, which means that you only need add the date of birth and the child’s name before sending them off. Registration fees can range from £50 to £130, and these are non-refundable if your application is unsuccessful. Therefore, you should only apply to those nurseries that are of real interest, and to which you have a reasonable chance of successful application. It is important to communicate regularly with those nurseries with whom you have registered, as well as keeping them updated on any changes of address or contact information. Some nurseries do not allow visits before registration; rather, they will invite you to visit closer to the point of entry. It is always essential to make sure you have visited the nursery before confirming the place. Visiting a range of settings will give you more experience, allowing you to compare and contrast those you have visited and thereby making an informed and well thought-out decision. The unfortunate reality for most parents is that, due to such high competition for places,

the majority of nurseries (especially in London) encourage registration from birth, and if not then up to eight months after birth, which will usually be sufficient to gain a place for a start at two or two-and-a-half years old. Although such a level of preparation at such an early stage may initially seem ridiculous, it will ensure you have the best possible information available as early as possible, allowing you and your partner to relax, look after yourselves during the last stages of pregnancy and enjoy the precious early days and months with your new baby. bh ABOUT THE EXPERT Sabine Hook is the Early Years and Nursery Lead Consultant at Holland Park Tuition & Education Consultants. Having gained her PGCE qualification in primary school teaching from the Institute of Education in London, Sabine has fostered strong personal and professional relationships with the most popular nurseries and pre-schools in central and west London. hollandparkeducation.com

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Nanny Ash

COOKS

Breakfast can be tricky (and messy!) but it doesn’t have to be boring. Cook up a batch of fruit purée (right), using dates as a natural sweetener, and incorporate it into two other tasty and nutritious dishes, guaranteed to brighten up the gloomiest morning.

Itsy Bitsy 8-12 months

BREAKFAST FRUIT PANCAKES INGREDIENTS • 2 eggs • 280g self-raising flour • 310ml whole milk • ½ cup of the breakfast fruit purée • Unsalted butter METHOD 1 Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Whisk the whites until they form floppy peaks. 2 Sift the flour into a second bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg yolks and the fruit purée. Mix until it is smooth. 3 Fold in the egg whites. 4 Place a pan over a low heat and add a very small smear of butter. Cook each dollop of the mixture slowly, turning after 2 or 3 minutes. Vary the size of the pancakes to suit. 5 Then serve the pancakes with syrup and a dipping pot of your homemade purée.

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Put the pancake mixture in a squeezy bottle and not only is it easy to be precise, but you can also create your own fun pancake shapes.

Ashley Campion WELCOM E S IN TH E N EW YE AR WITH TH R EE FRUIT Y R ECIPE S TO START TH E DAY

TOP TIP

The fibre in dates is very good for the young digestive system, plus dates are rich in vitamins and minerals, to get your child off to the vey best start.

FOOD

Teeny Weeny 6-8 months

BREAKFAST FRUIT PURÉE

TOP TIP

INGREDIENTS • 1 pear • 1 plum • 2 de-stoned dates METHOD 1 Peel the pear, and peel and de-stone the plum, roughly chop and cook in a pan with 2cm of boiling water. 2 As the fruit starts to soften, roughly chop the dates and add to the pan. 3 Allow the fruit to simmer for about 15 minutes, adding boiling water as necessary to stop the purée sticking to the bottom of the pan. 4 Remove from heat and blitz in a liquidiser until smooth.

If your child is over one years old you can add a range of different dips and textures for them to try – jam, marmalade, honey, marmite, lemon curd or even some whipped cream.

Tiny Bopper 12-24 months

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELENE SANDBERG

BREAKFAST FRUIT MUFFINS INGREDIENTS • 235g plain flour • 2tsp baking powder • 1tsp ground cinnamon • 2 large eggs • 50g soft unsalted butter • 100ml skimmed milk • ½ cup of the breakfast fruit purée • 4 dates, roughly chopped METHOD 1 Pre-heat your oven to 180°C. Place the muffin cases into a muffin tin. 2 Mix all the dry ingredients together and add the eggs, butter and milk. 3 Then add the fruit purée and chopped dates and mix well. 4 Spoon the mixture into each muffin case leaving a 2cm gap at the top to allow for the muffin rising. 5 Bake for 20 to 25 minutes – the muffins should be golden when cooked. 6 Leave to cool before serving.

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 85

JOIN US ON OUR PLAYGROUND SELF-CATERING FAMILY HOLIDAYS ON THE NORTH CORNWALL COAST

TRAVEL

news

WE’ VE PU LLED TOGE TH ER TH E BE ST BOLTH OLE S FOR HOLIDAYING WITH A YOU NG FAMILY BABY COMES TOO Teaming up with luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, The Residence Mauritius is offering guests up to 10 hours free babysitting. Situated on a kilometre stretch of white sand, and with over 10 acres of tropical gardens to explore, The Residence Mauritius is an enticing stay for families. The complimentary babysitting service allows parents to relax and enjoy the hotel’s restaurants, bar and fantastic Sanctuary Spa – happy holidaying for all. Valid for bookings between 30 January and 30 April 2015 (excluding 27 March to 17 April) scottdunn.com

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 87

TRAVEL

Before THE ARRIVAL

Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia in Italy is the place for a brisk babymoon before the baby arrives. Nestled in the enchanting Apulian countryside, the award-winning mind and body wellness centre’s idyllic location is the ultimate setting for future parents to enjoy some well-earned pampering. The spa’s team of experts have a tailored programme for expectant mothers with prenatal offerings, like their mother-to-be treatment and warm salt water floatation, so you can relax and enjoy the company of a partner or friend before the arrival of a newborn. borgoegnazia.com

NEW COLLECTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Mediterranean cruise line, MSC Cruises has completed its partnership with childcare experts Chicco. Now each of the 12 ships in the MSC fleet comes equipped with a variety of Chicco products in its kids’ clubs for fun and educational entertainment for toddlers and parents to share. All of the sessions have been specially designed by the Chicco Observatory – a special developmental research lab focusing on the under-threes. msccruises.co.uk

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Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

LITTLE EXPLORERS

In Africa’s oldest proclaimed Game Reserve, Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in Northern KwaZulu Natal, you can now enjoy four-star luxury at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge. Offering spectacular scenery and excellent safari opportunities within the heart of Big Five territory, the eight Luxury Bush Villas are the ideal option for families – and there’s a spa. isibindiafrica.co.za

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

Set SAIL

Holiday Tots has added to their portfolio with a new range of enticing family and eco-friendly options. Letting families embrace nature and adventure, parents can also rest assured that this doesn’t mean giving up the little luxuries. All of the accommodation from Holiday Tots is suitable for families with young children, meaning we can all enjoy the likes of luxury domes with rugs on the floor, wood burners, partitioned bedrooms and real beds, indulgent yurts, tipis and more. holidaytots.co.uk

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A SELEC TION OF

LOCAL AC TIVITIE S FOR YOU AN D YOU R LIT TLE ON E

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BABYBALLET CLASSES

BABY SIGNING THE FUN WAY!

Join the fun at their award-winning classes in Hampshire, with many venues across Southampton, Portsmouth and Romsey. The nation’s favourite babyballet classes offer a magical introduction to ballet and dance for boys and girls aged six months to five years. Taught by qualified and friendly teachers, they offer a range of classes including: Twinkle’s Tots (six to 18 months), Tiny Toes (18 months to three years), Mini Movers (three to five years) and Combined Ballet and Tap (four plus). Special Offer: Three week introductory courses for just £10 by quoting ‘Baby Hampshire’ when booking. t: Karen 07983 000 943 e: southhants@babyballet.co.uk babyballet.co.uk

Written by speech and language therapists, award-winning Sing and Sign teaches through music and specially produced songs that target important words using musical instruments, props and pictures that enable parents to use the signs at home. They have now launched ‘Sing and Sign Babes’ which uses music, sensory stimulation and basic signing to help build the framework for good communication. Classes are for babies from birth to 24 months. Southampton, Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford & Totton t: Heidi 07778 064 016 or Carrie 07902 474 218 e: singandsignportsmouth @hotmail.co.uk singandsign.com

WATER BABIES

PRE-SCHOOL DANCE CLASSES

Venues are located across Hampshire Enjoy the experience of teaching your baby to swim with Water Babies, leading baby swimming experts. They’ll give you all the skills and support you need to get your baby started. Water Babies have created a course that will teach your child core life skills, confidence in the water and, ultimately, the ability to swim. From birth to four years old, their unique programme is structured and dynamic, yet flexible and gentle, completely centred on your little one’s individual needs. The classes are fun, innovative and led by some of the most highly skilled instructors in the world. t: 01794 324 353 e: humptydumpty@waterbabies.co.uk waterbabies.co.uk

Classes held in Chichester, Petersfield, Horndean, Havant and other locations opening for 2015 Diddi Dance are the only pre-school dance programme for girls and boys to cover 14 different dance styles including hip hop, salsa, disco and Bollywood. Classes are 45 minutes long and help toddlers with coordination, rhythm and gross motor skills, as well as boosting confidence through repetition and fun. Their reputable dance classes have been making little ones move for 10 years. Private parties and nursery sessions are also available. To book your free trial, contact your local Diddi Dancer: t: 07767 702 444 e: louise.martin@diddidance.com diddidance.com

GROUPS & CLASSES

BILINGUASING

HYPNOBUBBAS

SWIMMING LESSONS

Southampton and Winchester Award-winning bilingual (Spanish/ English) singing, music and sensory class for babies, toddlers and pre-school children coming soon to Southampton, Winchester and surrounding areas. The classes are tailored according to each child’s development stage: ‘Bebitos’ (birthsitting), ’Gatitos’ (crawling-walking) and ‘Exploradores’ (toddler - preschool). Songs are based on familiar nursery rhymes with a Spanish twist and are accompanied by fun movements and lovely props to stimulate the senses. No prior Spanish needed, so why not learn a new language with your little one? t: Lourdes 07736 253375 e: lourdes@bilinguasing.com bilinguasing.com

HypnoBirthing can be found in Surrey and Hampshire Choosing HypnoBirthing during this special time of your life will give you the understanding, support and confidence to achieve an easy and comfortable birth. With Hypnobubbas you will discover an amazing five-part programme of two and a half hour sessions in which you will learn powerful techniques, helping to eliminate any of your fears and anxieties. This will allow you to feel relaxed, calm and positive about your birthing experience. At the end of your classes you will feel confident and empowered enabling you and your birthing partner to approach the birth with joy and excitement. t: 07810 442 797 hypnobubbas.co.uk

Classes in Horndean One of the South’s finest, totally independent, highly accredited private swim schools, Rusalka is the only swim school in Hampshire to achieve the ASA ‘Aquamark’ Centre of Excellence status. A caring family business, Rusalka has two superb, purpose-built swimming pool complexes, providing top level swimming tuition and water confidence for babies (from 3 months upwards), children and adults. In November 2007, Yulia won the ASAs UK National Swim Teacher of the Year award. Rusalka also has experienced in-house underwater cameraman to capture your little one’s swimming triumphs! t: 02392 594 449 e: rusalkaswim@btopenworld.com rusalkaswim.com

GET CREATIVE AT THE POTTERY CAFÉ

LITTLE IMPRESSIONS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Between Alresford and Alton Come along to the Pottery Café, where you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon while decorating your own bespoke bisque pottery. It’s the ideal choice for parties, whether it’s a child’s birthday party, or opening late for groups. They specialise in baby footprints and children’s handprints – keep those memories alive forever on a mug, plate or jug. All for just a £5 studio fee per person, with items starting from just £4. The Pottery Café have their kilns on-site and items will be ready for collection within 10 days. Just off the A31 between Alresford and Four Marks with ample free parking. t: 01420 561 645 thepotterycafe.co.uk

It’s amazing how fast your babies grow. You can create an enduring memento with a Little Impressions three dimensional cast. It takes only a few minutes to make the clay impression. Then, the cast is made, preserving the uniqueness of your little ones forever.Little Impressions create the beautifully framed hands and feet of little ones. They do castings for newborns, babies, toddlers, siblings, family, first shoe and photo combinations. The results can make a wonderful Christmas present for loved ones or gorgeous keepsakes for yourself. Contact Alex for a home appointment or for her Petersfield casting venue details. t: 07855 840 550 e: alexa@little-impressions.com little-impressions.com

Classes run across Hampshire A brand new pre-school and toddler programme aimed at the under 5’s which offers fun and educational sessions that will take youngsters on a foreign language and cultural learning experience, through music, dance and storytelling. The sessions are designed to promote the importance of language skills and cultural awareness from an early age as well as improving social skills and enabling children and parents alike to have plenty of fun. Globe Tots is expanding and is also looking for instructors, if you would like to get involved, please enquire to find out more. t: 07796 936 041 e: info@globefit.co.uk globefit.co.uk

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 91

COMPETITION

WINA Venture experience and wall art worth £850

VENTU R E AN D BABY HAM PSHIR E HAVE TE AM ED U P TO OFFER AN E XCLUSIVE PH OTOGR APHIC E XPERIEN CE

VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY and Baby Hampshire are offering you and your little Hampshire beauties an opportunity not to be missed with the cutest competition around. It’s time for your little ones to practise their pout, as your family could win a creative photographic experience.

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Does your child have a face full of character or a beautiful beaming smile? Well, they could be photographed by the highly talented team at Venture Southampton in their fabulous state-of-the-art studio. You’ll be treated to an exclusive prize: a photoshoot and £850 worth of Venture wall art to take

prime position in your home. With Venture’s signature style, the photography will light up your home. Venture is the UK’s largest family portrait photographer, so the team will capture your family’s story and create unique memories of you and your tiny treasure. bh

It’s time for you to get snap happy: all you need to do is enter the competition online via babyhampshire.co.uk/ competitons where you’ll supply an image – plus there will be a selection of runner-up prizes worth £245. Enter before 11.59pm on 27 February 2015. Good luck!

PHOTOGRAPHY: VENTUREPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

HOW TO ENTER

Discover the secret to blissful holidays with your baby Wendy Shand, mum of three and multiaward winning owner of the baby friendly villa specialists, www.TotsToTravel.co.uk is a ﬁrm believer that the key to stress-free holidays with babies and children is a question of careful thought and preparation! Here Wendy shares her secrets of successful family holidays...

Monty an

“Booking a family holiday can be stressful, downright hard work and it’s easy to get it wrong. Sometimes it can even be unsafe... and I speak from experience. When my son was two, he fell into an unenclosed swimming pool. We pulled him out but it could easily have been worse.”

Avoid the pitfalls

Thankfully, with careful thought, it doesn’t have to be like that. Here are some tips to avoid the common pitfalls of holidaying with a baby: Pick the right holiday for you Remember, you may want to feed your baby at odd hours, warm up milk or put your baby down for a nap and I certainly found that hotel rooms were limiting. A cottage or a villa gives you more ﬂexibility to ﬁt in with your baby.

FrAeDEeR

RE R! OFFE

d Wendy

Fully kitted out – You’ll need a long list of baby friendly kit so look for accommodation that provides everything you’ll need, from black out blinds to baby monitors. Our Free Holiday Planner Pack provides a list of all the kit you will need. Pool safety ﬁrst – This one’s close to my heart. Once your baby starts to move they become turbo powered. Choose accommodation that has a pool barrier, not just an alarm. Time of year – If you want to introduce your baby to swimming or want to avoid intense heat then do check out the average weather temperatures. You’ll ﬁnd a copy in our free Holiday Planner Pack.

Create lists – I ended up with paper everywhere so I’ve compiled a series of ticklists of what to pack.

Relax! Enjoy the Journey

And a relaxing journey is all about being well organised which is why we have put together our FREE Holiday Planner Pack – jam packed full of great advice and travel tick lists so you don’t forget a thing!

Get your FREE Holiday Planner Pack Call 0800 014 2770

Get your FREE Holiday Planner Pack, simply visit: www.freeholidayplanner.co.uk or call 0800 014 2770

YOUR SHOPPING

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Breastfeed with discretion & style. Discover the stylish way to breastfeed in public with our smart, chic and effortless breastfeeding cover. The Breastfeeding Butterfly is a great alternative to breastfeeding tops, it provides cover for your breast, post-pregnancy stomach, side and back. Feeding in a calm and cosy environment your baby can maintain eye contact with you. Other products from Faye & Lou: Rainbow Muslins have an extraordinary range of uses and come in bright, eye-catching colours which are stimulating for babies. Where white muslins can become dull and grey with time, Rainbow Muslins stay bright and colourful.

Cozio extra large muslin squares are perfect for swaddling your baby. They can also be used for the following: burp cloth, sheet, play mat, changing mat, towel, lightweight blanket and much more.

Faye & Lou are experienced mothers and expert nannies creating products dedicated to making a mother’s life easier.

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EMPORIUM

Night Nannies Sound advice and a sound night’s sleep for you and your baby

• Do you need advice and support in looking after your little one? • Does your baby still need feeding at night but takes time to settle again? • Is your baby ready to sleep through the night, but you are too exhausted to get started? • Do you need help establishing breastfeeding? • Would granny like an extra pair of hands and some up-to-date experience on tap when she has your children to stay? • Or are you just longing for a lie-in?

e-mail: georgie@nightnannies.com

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how is your baby sleeping? If you suffer from sleepless nights you’re not alone and it really doesn’t have to be that way. I can help you! Using gentle, proven methods sensitive to yours and your baby’s needs and with my one-to-one personal support I can help you achieve a FULL NIGHT’S SLEEP in 10 days, often much faster. CALL for a FREE 15 minute consultation on 01794 341172 or email karen@babysleepthenight.com for more information on how I can help you.

babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 95

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babyhampshire.co.uk | JAN/FEB 2015 | 97

INTERVIEW

INSPIRE

What made you decide to start Marie-Chantal Children? I really wanted to create a children’s lifestyle brand where mothers could buy everything from party wear to casual wear in one stylish shop. We now have concessions and boutiques around the world, including two new London stores, and a website I’m really proud of. Where is home and where do you work from? My home is in Chelsea. I work around the corner on the Kings Road with the prettiest view of a tree lined street looking down to The Royal Hospital. I love London – it inspires me. Describe your typical day It’s kind of manic. I’m up at 6.30am, then it’s breakfast with the kids at 7.30am. I drop the kids off at 8.15am and, depending on my schedule, I’m in the office at around 9am. Then it’s design and business meetings and a working lunch. I also try to get to the gym at least three times a week. I like to be home for the kids at 4pm. Then it’s homework and dinner.

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HRH PRINCESS MARIE-CHANTAL OF GREECE The boutique owner talks to us about balancing a large family and a jet set life You spend a lot of your time travelling. Can you tell us three of your favourite places? I love going back to Hong Kong as that is my home away from home, but I adore Greece, of course, and New York. How do you find juggling a family with running a business? It’s always a challenge, but for me family always comes first.

When things get too hectic I try to focus on the home and kids and that always gives me a great perspective on what’s important. What’s the best thing about being a mother? Unconditional love. And the hardest? Being away from my children. What’s your secret to staying (or trying to stay) balanced? The Marie-Chantal Children’s Diary helps me to stay organised. I have five children in four different schools and the diary is the only way I can remember what’s happening when. Who are your inspirations? Valentino is a great friend and I

really admire his lengthy career. Diane von Fürstenberg is like family – she’s been a great mentor. And my father (American entrepreneur Robert Warren Miller) for his work ethic. Which achievements are you most proud of? Creating an international business while having five kids. I have an amazing team supporting me. You’ve recently started a blog. Can you tell us why you started it? Businesses need to embrace social media to stay on top. My blog – mariechantalblog.com – is attracting a new audience as it is more of a lifestyle blog for mothers. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others. Any future plans you can share? We are expanding in the Middle East – very exciting. bh mariechantal.co.uk

From classic wool knits for winter to soft, breathable cotton fabrics for summer, there are 5 beautiful styles and a variety of bright, bold colours allowing your pushchair to stand out from the crowd all year round. www.icandyworld.com