Something New Magazine - Summer 2019

somethingNew THE PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR DORSET FAMILIES

Summer 2019

Cheers For Chester

We talk to Sam, mummy to wonder-kid Chester

Delivery Options

Find out about all the available delivery choices for your baby's birth

Pearly Whites Tips on getting smalls to brush their teeth

REAL LIFE

SHOPPING

ADVICE

RECIPES

COMPETITIONS

59 Garland Road, Poole, BH15 2LD 01202 668439

Garland Road

thehub@littlebeansdaycare.com

breakfast & after school clubs

www.littlebeansdaycare.com Ofsted registered: EY481492

contents 06 SUMMER STYLE

We're Summer Lovin' these finds!

08 STORK TALK Find out more about your delivery options.

13 PEARLY WHITES Ideas for getting those teggies brushed.

VACCINE: 14 HPV WHAT IS IT? Detailed information from our nurse.

20 SPOTLIGHT ON...

Read about the remarkable aspects of learning to perform

22 BEACH BABES

We're loving the beach-themed fashion for tots!

24 SOMETHING NEW LOVES Essential oils make for sweet smelling tonics.

26 PINS AND NEEDLES Regular columnist Karina shares her emotional IVF journey

This cutie is Thierry wearing Jojo Maman Bebe, and he’s a total dude! Photograph by Alma’s Home Studio, Blandford. www.almashomestudio.uk

34 CHEERS4CHESTER Chester is our new hero - and so are his mummy and daddy!

40 BABY BOOK CLUB

See which book we're reading this time

42 CHEEKY FACES These cheeky little ones are adorable!

44 CLEANING UP...NATUALLY Eco-mama Louisa shares her experience of going green with cleaning products

49 COOKING UP A STORM Hari Hari Sri Lankan Spices share another tasty recipe idea

50 PARTY POPPING

Ideas for planning kids parties that won't bust the bank!

54 KIDS CORNER

Grab a quick cuppa while the kids are quiet!

Hello!

P

hew, we made it through the depths of winter!

Dorset is awash with colour as the flowers are budding, and we’ve had a glimpse of those longed for sunny days.

This is our second issue as a dynamic duo, and without tooting our own horns, we’re pretty happy with how our relaunch issue was received. We love what we do, and we love how the magazine touches so many people in our local community.

With five children between us, we enjoy being able to share the ups and downs and realities of parenthood.

We hope you find our lovingly made magazine insightful, useful and most of all - relatable!

Enjoy flicking through reading about the options available for where to give birth, info on the HPV vaccine and our uplifting IVF story in the Summer issue of Something New Magazine.

4

somethingNew THE PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR DORSET FAMILIES

Lots of love,

brina or & Se n a e l E xxx

IN NAM

G CEREMONIES B Y

Est. 2010 Naming ceremonies are the perfect way to welcome a child of any age into a family, whether new-borns, adopted children or step children.

Single parents also find such a ceremony a wonderful way to affirm their commitment to their child.

Choosing the right words and content for a personal ceremony can be difficult. Independent Celebrant Diana Saxby of Grace The Day draws on her many years of experience to help you design your own bespoke celebration, providing perfect words for everyone involved to pledge their love and devotion to the child, with complete freedom to choose the content which feels right to you.

Diana will bring along her valuable resource material to her first meeting with you, and support you in your choice of promises, readings and music to ensure each ceremony is personalised and embraces the family and guests, leaving everyone inspired.

As a parent herself, Diana knows it takes a lot of trust for parents to literally place their baby in her hands, but you can be confident and comfortable putting your faith in her, knowing that this will result in the perfect naming ceremony for your child.

Also Wedding Blessings, Vow Renewals and Commitment Ceremonies

diana@gracetheday.com | www.gracetheday.com | 07760 110 007 Grace the Day

gracetheday_celebrant

Diana Saxby

Grace the Day

Sunny Days Ahead

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WIDE JERSEY TROUSERS Price: £17.99 H&M

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YOUR

Y R E V I L DE

OPTIONS

W

hen it comes to deciding where to give birth to your baby there are a few different options available (although the services on offer will vary slightly from area to area).

It is important to remember that we are all unique individuals, with unique pregnancies and, as such, what may be the right birth setting for one woman, may not be for the next. There will be many factors that may influence your decision, such as practical considerations, pain relief options available to you in each setting, previous birth experiences (if it is not your first baby) and importantly, your suitability for any given birth setting. We will briefly consider each in turn;

Home birth Some women with uncomplicated pregnancies may wish to opt for a home birth. Many areas provide a home birth service, with a 24/7 ‘on call’ service, meaning that a midwife should be able to attend you at home, no matter what time of day or night your little one decides to put in 8

an appearance! The midwives are very much ‘guests’ in your home and many women value being in their familiar home environment while birthing. There is also no mad rush to get to hospital when labour starts; although if opting for a home birth it is important to understand that, if things start to become more complicated (for example, if your blood pressure becomes concerningly high, or your labour slows down), you may need to be transferred via ambulance to the hospital for closer observation, or assistance. Your distance from the hospital may therefore be something you wish to take into consideration when deciding on whether a home birth is the right choice for you.

Also, your pain relief options are somewhat limited within the home setting; you may wish to hire or buy a birthing pool to use at home, and the midwife in attendance will be able to offer you gas and air. Pethidine is not routinely available for home births (you may wish to check with your community midwife if it is possible to have pethidine at home in your area), and if you intend on having a remifentanyl oran epidural you will need to give birth within a hospital setting.

There will be many practicalities to consider when opting for a home birth, such as, if you have other children, where do you plan for them to be while you are birthing at home? If hiring a birthing pool, do you have

we are all unique Individuals, with unique pregnancies a floor strong enough to support its weight?

Do your practical plans change dependent on whether you go into labour during the daytime or the nighttime?

Hospital birth You may prefer to birth your baby within the hospital setting. Certain medical conditions may mean that giving birth within a hospital setting is a more suitable environment in which to bring your baby into the world. Naturally, if you are having a planned Caesarean section, this will need to happen within the hospital setting. Equally if are having your labour induced, for example if you go beyond your due date, this will need to take place within the hospital setting. If you have certain medical conditions, for example diabetes, or pregnancy related conditions, such as pre-eclampsia, you will be advised to give birth within the hospital setting, where you can have your labour more closely monitored.

Midwife-led unit Some hospitals also offer the option of a midwife-led unit/birth centre, which is separate to the labour ward. The benefit of

this is that you can give birth in a less clinical environment, safe in the knowledge that, should complications arise during the labour or you want to request an epidural, you are only a stone’s throw away from the delivery suite. In some areas the midwifeled birth centre may be freestanding and independent from the nearest hospital, in which case women need to be aware that, as in the case of home birth, there will be no immediate access to obstetric, paediatric or anaesthetic services, which if needed during the birthing process, will require an ambulance transfer to the nearest hospital.

There are many factors that will influence your decision on where to birth your baby; it is a very personal decision and what may be the right decision for one person, may not be right for the next.

This may also need to be adaptable; as your

Image copyright Jason Lander

pregnancy progresses something may crop up that might necessitate you giving birth in a different environment to that which you originally planned for.

Available options vary from area to area and your antenatal care provider will be able to advise you on the options available to you and will be able to help you to reach an informed decision about where you wish to give birth to your baby.

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PEARLY G

WHITES

etting a wriggly baby or toddler to have their teeth brushed can be tricky. Here are some tips for making it easier, and why it’s so important to persevere!

Use a fluoride toothpaste as soon as the teeth start making an appearance.

Tooth decay is a serious issue in children, and dentists have seen a rise in fillings in kids. A fluoride toothpaste helps to prevent the decay. There are toothpastes marketed at children, however, the NHS suggests that your usual toothpaste is perfectly fine for smallies, just make sure it contains 1, 350 1,500 parts per million fluoride.

Under threes only require a tiny dash of paste, and children aged three to six should have a pea-sized amount.

Top Tips for brushing teeth!

1. Distraction. If standing in the bathroom isn’t working for you, try brushing when they’re distracted by their favourite TV programme, book or toy.

2. Make it a game. By making brushing teeth a ‘fun’ activity, kids will be more accepting. Try using teddies, dolls or action figures as ‘brush buddies’. First brush teddy’s teeth (with the back of the brush) then say to your little one, ‘your turn’. You may have to brush in stages, but it’s better than a fight to do it!

3. Gimmicks. They’re not for everyone, but sometimes they work! A toothbrush with a flashing light to time how long you need to brush for helps children to know when they can stop.

4. Go electric. Electric toothbrushes are seemingly more fun. Although most carry an age recommendation, many parents use them on younger children. If you plan to use an electric toothbrush on a child under five, there’s no reason to suggest that this is detrimental, however, you can call your health visitor or dentist for guidance.

5. Creative brushing. If your child requires a little more help from you, try holding them on your lap facing you, and lower them backwards, you can lean in and brush the teeth more easily. Try tickling, singing or talking to your child to make it a relaxed thing to do.

Whatever your method, brushing baby teeth is REALLY important. Ideally the teeth need to be brushed in a circular motion, ensuring the gums are brushed too. This should last at least two minutes twice a day.

It’s tough, but it’s worth it!

Information HPV

The majority of people will get infected with HPV at some point.

A

s lots of you are aware, there have been many articles on the importance of vaccinations and also of a smear test. Whether you have a son or daughter, the HPV vaccination is one of the most important vaccinations to have (even though this is done in the later years).

This article will provide some insight into the vaccination for parents and carers.

What is the HPV vaccination?

The HPV vaccination is one which protects against cervical cancer. The vaccination is usually given in two doses, each of one small injection into the muscle of the arm.

It was first introduced into the immunisation schedule for females aged

12 – 13 years in September 2008. However, in certain areas of the country, this will now be offered to teenage males from September this year. This is to provide better protection for our children against HPV when they are sexually active in adulthood.

What is HPV? HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus.

Although most have not heard of this virus, it is very common and can be caught through sexual contact with another person.

It is so common that the majority of people will get infected with it at some point in their life. Most people will not know they have the virus as there are usually no symptoms. However, if a woman has the virus, HPV can develop into cervical cancer.

This is not always the case, but as this cannot be predicted, vaccinating against the

virus is safer to protect females from cervical cancer. Although HPV is not as much of a threat to males, both sexes can carry the virus and therefore immunising all teens can help to inhibit the virus being passed on and lower the chances of women developing cervical cancer.

Why is it given to a certain age?

Many parents may worry that because this vaccination is against HPV, that this means that their child may be sexually active or that they are planning to become sexually active in the near future. This is not the case!

The reason is because evidence suggests that the vaccine works best before there has been any exposure to HPV (before a person is sexually active). Furthermore, 12-13 years is a good time to give the vaccine to our teens as they are able to create more antibodies towards the virus.

IMMUNISING ALL TEENS CAN HELP TO INHIBIT THE VIRUS The vaccination does not promote sexual activity in any way, it’s just the same as other vaccinations, in that it is just to protect your child in the future.

Why is it so important?

Although we are very lucky to have the NHS which provides smear tests to help identify potential cervical cancer cells, the HPV vaccination is also a great way to protect our children against cervical cancer in their adulthood.

Latest figures show that the vaccination has reduced the infection by 86 percent.

This should therefore have an impact on the reduction of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is currently the most common cancer

in women under 35, so providing this extra protection is all the more reason for having the vaccination done.

If you have any questions about the vaccine, speak to a health professional who can answer your questions. It is always important to make an informed decision when considering vaccinating your child and we fully support personal research and understanding. I hope this has given you a better insight into the HPV vaccine.

And ladies, it goes without saying: Please remember that it is still important to have regular smears into adulthood.

Sources: Department of health Public health NHS

Learn how to massage your baby in a welcoming & supportive class.

Run by Katherine, a certified instructor with the world leading International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM)

Some benefits of massage for your baby: t t

t t t

Relieves wind, colic, constipation & teething discomfort Stimulates circulation, digestion, nervous & lymphatic systems Enhances bond with you & your baby Develops body awareness & coordination Increases recognition of facial & emotional expressions which support development of social skills

Courses are available in group environment, host your own group or one to one classes.

To find out more information and to book your place contact Katherine:

07802 545554

babymassagebykatherine@hotmail.com www.littledreamersbabymassage.co.uk Or find us on Facebook Little Dreamers Baby Massage by Katherine

What to expect from your baby massage class...

My group classes begin with sharing time when parents have an opportunity to talk about their experience as new mums/dads. We talk about recognising baby states and baby cues and topics related to massage. When the majority of babies are ready and we have asked their permission to begin, we learn the strokes; a few at a time.

We repeat the strokes if necessary in the session and again over the following weeks. With sensitivity to the baby’s response, there is gradual build up over the weeks of the baby’s toleration for a full body massage and parent’s knowledge of the sequence. There is plenty of time for everyone; and both laughing and crying are welcomed. My aim is that parents come to me and feel relaxed and leave with a new skill to practice

with their babies for the following week. We follow the massage with a group discussion about a relevant topic, such as weaning, sleeping, crying, returning to work, etc. I also provide literature relating to the benefits of baby massage, for mums/dads to read in-between sessions.

Baby massage offers a wonderful experience and special time, laying the foundations of emotional wellbeing in the crucial window of opportunity in the early months of life.

Join our group classes: Thursdays at Yarrells Preparatory School (term time only) Fridays at Tesco Tower Park in the community room

“It was everything I hoped it would be, calm friendly atmosphere, brilliant teacher and met some lovely fellow mums. The massage has helped us with calm time before bed and my daughter loves it. Katherine was always willing to run the class at the pace of the babies which was different every week and made the effort to make sure everybody had a chance at all the moves!! Ivy and I enjoyed this class a lot" Zoe with baby Ivy

CELEBRATING 21 YEARS NEW PARENTS

Taking your little one out when they're super small can be quite daunting. Have you packed everything you need? Where will you be able to feed baby comfortably when he/she is hungry? How are you going to handle the buggy slalom? It's ok, breathe, relax and feel reassured that at Farmer Palmer's we understand. Everything we do, we do it for you! (thank Bryan Adams for that!)

Did you know that it’s National Baby Day on May 2nd? To celebrate, Farmer Palmers are offering you FREE ENTRY FOR 1 ADULT if you bring your under one year old.

Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, Dorset BH16 6EU

Listening and delivering what you need gives us pleasure. We asked parents (see our Facebook page) what is most needed for those “oops, I forgot to bring...” moments!

We had thought of a lot, the usual suspects, spare wet wipes, nappies, hats, little socks, sippy cups, which we already do but your new ideas included dummies, bibs, baby grows, eco-friendly nappies, blankets, talc, tights, muslins and washable terry nursing pads! Guess what, they are all available in our shop.

BRAND NEW FOR 2019 If you have a little one under 12 months, Farmer Palmer’s are offering you FREE ENTRY FOR ONE ADULT on Thurs 2nd May. All you need to do is download your voucher from Farmer Palmer’s ‘What’s On’ page on their website.

It’s a great opportunity to come and see why Farmer Palmer’s is perfect for parents with tiny tots.

WAIT! There’s more . . . by signing up to come to Baby Day you can automatically be entered on to the ‘Bump to Baby’ FREE 3 month trial pass waiting list (so popular we have exhausted our current supply but will be issuing to you in September 19).

01202 622022

Bump2Baby@farmerpalmers.co.uk

www.farmerpalmers.co.uk

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED IN THIS CONTEMPORARY ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC TALE

by Centre Stage School of Dance and Performing Arts

SAT 15 JUNE 1pm & 7pm | SUN 16 JUNE 2pm Adults £18 | Under 16’s & Concessions (Seniors) £15 | Family (4 people) £62 Tickets from Lighthouse Ticket office 01202 280000 or www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

advertorial

T

TAKE THE

Stage

his Summer, local dance and performing arts school Centre Stage is staging its biggest ever show at Lighthouse, Poole.

‘The Glass Slipper’ will be a contemporary adaptation of the classic Cinderella tale featuring all talented students of the school in a stunningly creative and ambitious production.

Perfect for families, the show will be full of spellbinding surprises and will feature professional staging, set, lighting and pyrotechnics - even flying! The wow factor is absolutely guaranteed.

Bring your littles ones along to enjoy this wonderful ‘rags to riches’ fairytale and you’ll be in for some amazing surprises, as well as inspired by the incredible talent of the local young performers.

Zoe Mather, Centre Stage Principal, commented “Following the huge success of our previous productions, we wanted to raise the bar and produce an even larger, more lavish

show that reflects the ambition and talent of everyone at Centre Stage.

Staging the show at Lighthouse provides a bigger stage to showcase what we do and allows us to invite a wider audience to enjoy this wonderful family production. Everyone is welcome – not just people associated with the school. Anyone buying a ticket will be genuinely blown away by the professionalism of the show and the talent of its cast.”

The Glass Slipper will take place at Lighthouse, Poole with performances on Saturday 15th June (1pm and 7pm) and Sunday 16th June (2pm). Tickets can be bought directly from Lighthouse Ticket Office on 01202 280000 or via the Lighthouse website www.lighthousepoole.co.uk If you and your little ones are inspired by what you see, then you may want to consider dance or performing arts classes. In addition to being physical activities, dance and performing are also highly social, helping children grow in confidence, improve social and communication skills and make new friends.

Centre Stage accepts new students from the age of 2 ½ and offers free trials for all of its classes.

As well as being a centre of excellence across all genres of dance and performing arts, the school provides an inclusive, nurturing environment for students of all backgrounds.

Centre Stage was a ‘Dance School of the Year’ finalist in 2016 and 2017 and standards are incredibly high, as reflected in the Ofsted registered status, CDMT recognition and outstanding exam results. More importantly, however, its students show extraordinary passion and commitment, which only comes from a deep love for the school.

Centre Stage offers classes for both boys and girls in a number of disciplines including RAD Ballet, Pointe, ISTD Tap Dance and Modern Theatre, Acrobatic Arts, Performing Arts (singing, dance and acting), Pure Voice and LCM one-to-one vocal tuition.

Students are offered exciting performance

opportunities, travelling to London to perform in venues including Sadlers Wells, Her Majesty’s Theatre and the O2 Arena and the school regularly competes, recently winning first place at the regional ‘So You Want To Dance’ and ‘Stars of the Future’ competitions.

Industry professionals frequently visit for workshops and teach at Summer School and all students are involved in the show, which is always an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Students with exceptional talent or pursuing a professional career are encouraged to audition and offered guidance and audition preparation. The school currently has a Royal Ballet Associate and an Urdang Associate and students who have gained places at Wilkes Academy, Trinity Laban, Emil Dale, MTM and Millennium in London.

If you would like to know more about Centre Stage, you can visit the website www.centrestagedance.org The students tell it best and you will see firsthand the sheer enjoyment they experience whilst naturally shining and growing as performers.

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside Since the seaside is kinda Dorset’s thing, we thought we’d find the best seaside summer clobber!

UNDER THE SEA DUNGAREE Price: £10.00 George at Asda

BLUEZOO SHARK SHORTIE SUNSAFE Price: £10.00 Debenhams

NARWHAL FOXY SHIRT APPLIQUÉ T-SHIRT Price: kite-clothing.co.uk £15.00 Jojo Maman Bebe

STRIPE DRESS Price: £6.00 Primark

RED DENIM PINAFORE/T-SHIRT Price: £13.00 George at Asda

WHALE FOOTLESS BABY SLEEPSUIT Price: £17.00 Jojo Maman Bebe

BOAT PRINT BIBSHORTS Price: £14.00 M & Co CRAB T SHIRT AND SHORTS Price: £10.00 M & Co

somethingNew L oves

THE PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR DORSET FAMILIES

Essential oils have been used throughout history to aid daily ailments. Each oil has attributes associated with it that can be beneficial to you and your family, so we have decided to list a few of our favourites. Oils can be used topically, as a massage oil or with an oil burner/diffuser.

It’s essential to remember that not all oils are suitable for use around children so please research any new products before using them. If burning or diffusing oils, it’s best to limit use to less than two hours at a time.

Essential Oils Lavender If you’ve not heard of lavender oil, then you must have been living under a rock!

Renowned for its soothing capabilities, you can use this oil to relax and unwind. Either pop a few drops on your pillow, make a water and lavender spray bottle or add it to a humidifier for a scented mist.

Eucalyptus A godsend for kids with stuffy noses, Eucalyptus is a natural decongestant with anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. It’s pretty potent, so a couple of drops is plenty.

A good tip is to put drops on a hankie or muslin and tuck it under the pillow.

Children and infants should use Eucalyptus radiata rather than Eucalyptus globulus.

Chamomile Oil A comforting oil, chamomile is often associated with calming. There’s a huge list of how it helps, but the most useful are; aiding sleeplessness, easing colic, and as an anti-inflammatory. You can diffuse the oil in a burner or apply directly to the skin (make sure you mix with a carrier oil like coconut oil when using).

Marjoram This is part of the mint family and possesses soothing powers. Known for its ability to ease stomach troubles, from cramps to tummy upsets, this is a useful oil to have in your kit.

Sandalwood Sandalwood is a calming oil, bringing a feeling of relaxation and balance. There are also links to helping with disrupted sleep. Add to a diffuser or oil burner and r e l a x.

Oil Safety Because oils are a natural product, it’s easy to assume that they’re safe. They aren’t. These oils are highly concentrated, and as such should be used with caution. NEVER ingest the oils and NEVER apply undiluted to the skin. We strongly suggest speaking to your GP if you are looking to solve a specific issue. However, oils are a great way to try natural remedies.

£10ur fiorsft f

Call: 07920 715365

yo ent appointm ng ti o u q n whe ing New th e m o “S e” Magazin

Find me on Facebook: @vickygalehair CUT // COLOUR // WOMEN // MEN // KIDS // WEDDING // OCCASION // BLOWDRY BR

I DA L W E A R

UNIQUE DESIGNER GOWNS SUIT HIRE BRIDAL & GROOM ACCESSORIES 01202 986040 bridal@minsterdesigns.com www.minsterdesigns.com MILLSTREAM CLOSE . WIMBORNE . DORSET . BH21 1DW

Needles Pins and

Regular columnist Karina shares her family’s IVF journey. We’d love to hear about your IVF stories too. Send them to eleanor@somethingnewmag.co.uk.

At 3am on 14th May 2013, hoping for the best but expecting the worst, I glanced down at two definite lines. We were finally expecting a baby.

Here is our story…

cycle of infertility treatment had amounted to nothing other than heartbreak.

Upon starting the second cycle, we were advised to take our IVF treatment one step In 2011 Shaun and I were told the brutal further, combining the IVF and ICSI with truth that our chances of conceiving IMSI (Intracytoplasmic morphologicallynaturally were extremely slim and that if we selected sperm injection). I would like to wanted to achieve our dream of having our say that the second cycle was easier, but very own family, we would need to undergo we faced a whole new load of challenges. “assisted conception”. Feeling confused and I began feeling really quite poorly whilst lacking hope, I shed the first tear of many. taking the medication. I was in lots of pain, felt severe nausea almost constantly, A year later, after much research, we met and had lost my appetite altogether. with a consultant at a clinic in London.

Having been borderline OHSS (Ovarian We were advised that we would need Hyperstimulation Syndrome) during my ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), first cycle, I knew the risks were high, but a procedure very similar to IVF (In Vitro through fear of the cycle being abandoned Fertilisation). Six months after the initial I decided not to tell anybody how unwell consultation we were back at the clinic I felt. In January 2013, 36 hours after preparing for our first cycle of ICSI. The administering the trigger shot to release the next few months endured endless pills, eggs which had been producing over the injections and countless trips back and forth past weeks, we attended the clinic for egg between home and the collection. Feeling clinic. The side effects sick with nerves and i was desperate to of the medication were desperate to receive receive some good news some good news horrendous, but nothing in comparison to the when I came around emotional impact of from the procedure, I closed my eyes as the the cycle. On 30th July 2012 our first cycle anaesthetist administered the anaesthetic. came to an abrupt end when just over a Hours later I woke up to find things had not week after having two first grade embryo’s gone as planned as my body had managed transferred into my uterus, my body gave us to produce a dangerous 40 eggs. Waking up the sign that I was not pregnant. Our first with drips in my arm and surrounded by

everything in my control to give this cycle the best shot (and I mean EVERYTHING, from acupuncture to eating pineapple core on a daily basis!!), I just couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t bear the idea of “maybe being pregnant” from being taken away from us. It was a hot day and sitting in the back garden my legs began to itch. I went inside to check and found that I was covered in a Our three day old embryos the day after coming out of heat rash. This was definitely a symptom freeze. This is the very day they were returned to my of being pregnant, but just like all of the uterus. 17 days pregnant but didn’t even know it! other possible pregnancy symptoms, it was also a symptom of taking progesterone. doctors, we were told that I was too sick to The medications really did know how to go through with embryo transfer. The eggs mess with your head! Shaun tried his best would still be fertilised, but in a few days to persuade me to take the test. He felt sure when the embryologist had observed the that this cycle had worked, telling me that growth of the embryos, the strongest would there was “just something different” about go into freeze until the OHSS had subsided. me. I wished I had his confidence, but this Knowing the low chances of frozen embryos was a dream I was just too scared to believe surviving the thawing process, I was in. Going to bed that night I promised absolutely besides myself and begged the Shaun that I would take the test the very clinic to go ahead with the embryo transfer. next time I needed to pee. When I woke at Of course the clinic knew this wasn’t an 2.30am, I tried my best to ignore the feeling option and the Doctor overseeing our cycle of needing to pee, but my nerves were reassured us that the embryos would be in making it worse, and by 3am very safe hands.

I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. So armed with my What had we done to Four months later, I headed to the most a final scan showed deserve so much bad luck? test, important toilet trip of my that my ovaries life.

A minute later, turning had reduced to an the test to face upwards, I couldn’t believe ‘almost normal’ size and that hormone levels my eyes. For the first time ever, alongside were at a safe enough level to cope with the control line was a test line. A very strong a pregnancy. So here we were, third time test line. Maybe we really had been “third lucky, starting another cycle of medication. time lucky”.

By early May I was “PUPO” again (a term frequently used in the IVF world to At six weeks and 3 days pregnant I was describe the blissful state of being ‘Pregnant at work when I started bleeding. I was until proven otherwise’.) The next two panicking, and with the local hospital weeks felt like months as we waited, not so unable to see me until the next day, Shaun patiently, for test date. The 13th May was and I headed back to our clinic in London. eventually upon us, but after almost two The drive to the clinic felt like an eternity. weeks of feeling on tenterhooks, completely Shaun was doing his best to keep me obsessing over infertility forums and doing

but I asked her to carry on. Changing the angle of the equipment, the consultant explained to us that the ultrasound had revealed a third sac, possibly indicating a triplet pregnancy. She asked us to return to the clinic a week later so that she could check for a third heartbeat and confirm one way or another.

calm while my own mind was in absolute overdrive convincing myself of the worst.

What had we done to deserve so much bad luck? By the time we had arrived at the clinic, I was in such a state. Whatever Shaun was feeling, he was hiding it well (thank god one of us was staying strong… or seeming to be!). Amongst all the drama, the idea of being pregnant with multiples had completely escaped me, and I truly believed that we were losing our pregnancy.

Once at the clinic the consultant took me through to have an ultrasound. Looking up at the screen we saw not one sac, but two. I instantly knew that, for a moment at least, I had been carrying twins. Shaun and I were both silent while the consultant looked for a heartbeat and, to our surprise and utter relief, she found two. But I couldn’t see the flickers of the heartbeats that she was pointing out, so I asked to hear the heartbeats instead. She explained that it would be really difficult at this stage, but she tried…and she succeeded. Finally, it felt real. Two little heartbeats, each sounding so different from the other. I cried. Really, really cried. Shaun comforted me as the consultant offered to stop the ultrasound,

Later that night, as I was just about to head to the land of nod, I had another bleed, only this time it was more significant. There was nothing I could do that time of night, other than wait for my scan at the local hospital the next day. I phoned my mum who somehow found the right words to say and convinced me to get some much-needed sleep. First thing the following morning we went to Poole hospital. Thankfully the sonographer again found the two strong heartbeats and asked for a moment to check the third sac. After what felt like 10 minutes, but probably wasn’t in reality, he explained that the sac was non-gestational and that it would either reabsorb into my body or continue to “bleed out”. He explained that there a risk of losing one or both of our babies, as the third sac was attached to both of their sacs meaning that these sacs, too, could also end up bleeding out.

But before we knew it our 12-week scan arrived. Having experienced bleeding on and off for the last six weeks, Shaun and I were both apprehensive, but there was no need. We were growing two little fighters.

The images on the ultrasound were so much more clear this time; they had developed from small little blobs into tiny humans.

Next, it was time for our 20-week scan.

We would find out if we were having boys, girls or one of each, but above all of

Our embryologist this, we would have confirmation of the babies being healthy. The day was perfect, and we couldn’t believe our luck when the sonographer announced that we had a healthy baby boy on the way and a healthy baby girl. A perfect little pigeon pair.

From 20 weeks into the pregnancy I was scanned every four weeks and seen by a consultant so that the doctors could keep an eye on the growth of the babies; a standard precaution in any multiple pregnancy. The scans were all going well until just short of 33 weeks when we were told that our little boy had stopped growing which was potentially sign that I was no longer managing to feed two babies. The consultant had said to us that it was looking likely that the babies would soon be delivered, but that if they hadn’t arrived within two weeks, they would see us on December 24th to decide whether to reassess the situation and deliver the babies early. In the meantime, they wanted to see me for a scan every three days. Leaving the hospital that day, I had such a horrible feeling. It felt as though we were leaving the hospital knowing that one of the babies was at risk and we just hoped that the consultant

Our fertility Dr was making the right choice by sending us away rather than delivering there and then.

You can read about the birth of the twins in the next issue!

Infertility is a difficult journey to find yourself on. It can cause a tremendous amount of pain, both physically and emotionally. I know from my experience how it can leave you with feelings you didn’t think you were capable of. Feelings of jealousy when your friends and families announce their exciting news of a pitter-patter of tiny feet when you would otherwise be delighting in their news. Feelings of loneliness. Feelings of resentment. Feelings of being so unlucky.

But despite the hard times, I know I'm one of the fortunate ones. Sometimes, I step back and reflect on the chance of parenting that I would not have been given had I been born just a few decades earlier. Isn't the advancement of science and medicine in the field of infertility incredible? Every day I thank my lucky stars that I was blessed at the end of my bumpy and uncertain road of IVF.

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Cheers for

Chester

"For all I know I could be having labour pains right now"

T

he words (followed by raucous laughter from the both of us) I said whilst sitting round my friend Kat’s house, having a cuppa on a random Wednesday in March 2016...little did we know, that was EXACTLY what was happening, and so the beginning of Chester’s story.

On the 17th March 2016 Chester was born.

He was nine weeks early, weighing in at a tiny 3lbs 7oz. To this day, we are still unclear as to why this happened, but it does happen and does happen to people you know... namely us. 'Spontaneous labour' I think is what they officially call it, but nowadays that distant memory actually seems somewhat insignificant.

The doctors and midwives tried to stop his early arrival (in fact, they actually tried to send us home) but Chester, in true Chester style, was pretty determined he was coming on that day…and he did. Immediately after he was born, Chester was whisked away in what I can only remember to be some kind of plastic bag and taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where he would spend his first 50 days and nights.

For me and Ben, our first picture with our new arrival wasn’t a joyous one holding him in our arms, me looking dishevelled but glowing from labour, but one where he was covered in wires, a CPAP mask and in an incubator. The eight hours we had to wait to see him or even know that he was stable

were possibly the longest of our lives, and when we eventually did see him, we could barely see his little face for masks and wires, let alone hold or even touch our precious baby boy. What felt like every 2 seconds, an alarm would go off and a nurse would run over to check his stats, turn him, shake his foot and complete a set of 'obs' on him. We had a million questions yet couldn’t muster the words to even ask a single one of them.

What is that alarm? What are all of those wires? What do all of those numbers mean?

Chester eventually stabilised and spent his days in NICU growing stronger. He was fed through a tube that went in through his nose, directly down to his stomach. NICU mums can’t feed their babies 'normally', you spend your time in there pumping (like some kind of permanently knackered dairy cow) for hours to then feed your baby just a few mls of milk through their tube and then start the cycle over again. People would visit when they were allowed to, but the rest of the time you are just there, surrounded by alarms desperate to hold your baby and do all of the things that mummies and daddies do.

Close to Chester’s due date, we were given the all clear to bring him home, although he would remain tube fed for the next few weeks. I remember feeling so excited, but also quite afraid to be leaving the safety net of the wonderful nurses that had become almost like family, but we could soon spend the night all together as a family for the first time. What people often don’t realise about

NICU is that you can’t actually stay there, so every night we would have to go home and leave our precious boy, to come back in the morning. We survived on little sleep and meals that kind family members cooked for us to heat up at the hospital. People would joke that at least we could get a good night’s sleep and that someone else was looking after the baby, it was meant in jest, but at the time we would have given anything to be with him, to be having a normal “new parent experience”. The one we had been robbed of.

Ben had gone back to work, as you know dads only get two weeks paternity leave, so I was there on my own most days and he would join us as soon as he could get back. I was alone that day. The day the world pretty much came crashing down on us. The day that for quite some time, I saw as the day my life had ended, that my dreams had been crushed, the day that I wished would just turn out to be some kind of sick dream.

Brain damage A routine head scan that all NICU graduates have before discharge had shown that Chester had brain damage (PVL – Periventricular Leukomalacia to be precise).

What? How is this possible? What happened to him? When? Why? What does this mean? A million questions and no

answers. No one could say what this would mean for Chester, but it meant that he could have substantial difficulties going forward.

He had somehow developed damage to the white matter of his brain. There were holes or cysts as they call them, in his brain. I wanted to be sick, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I called Ben, told him, and what felt like seconds later, he was with us. Days passed, and still no one could really say what this might mean for Chester.

And then someone said the words Cerebral Palsy. The area in which his brain was damaged could mean he would have Cerebral Palsy. It was now just a waiting game. Only not a fun game, the type of game that causes you to obsess over every little thing and spend hours on end researching what you might be able to do to prevent this, even though deep down you know you can’t do anything, nothing at all.

Chester was closely monitored by the neonatal team post-discharge, and at just three months of age, we were given the news we had so prayed NOT to hear, that our beautiful baby boy had Cerebral Palsy. We had to wait a further couple of months for an 'official' diagnosis, but we were told he had Quadriplegic CP and would be started ASAP on an early intervention programme.

“Quadriplegic? All 4 limbs? So it’s not just his legs?” were the words I remember sobbing into my cup of tea as they told me (not sure why us Brits always seem to have tea in these awful situations, but I actually do think it comforted me in that moment).

That was the day we first met Chester’s NHS physio, and all of a sudden we realised life was just never going to be the same again. I grieved, went to some pretty dark places and couldn’t find the words to tell anyone. I couldn’t even bring myself to say the words Cerebral Palsy or that our son was 'disabled'. I shut off, but one thing kept us going. Hope.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a very complex neurological condition. The largest cause of childhood disability and has many associated conditions, most of which you wouldn’t even think are connected. It is important to know that no two people with CP are the same, it affects everyone differently and there are many different ways to 'treat' and manage the condition. For this reason, coupled with the fact that medically we just don’t know enough about the brain, no one could tell us what this will mean for Chester. No-one could tell us (and actually still haven’t to this day) if he will walk, talk or even be able to feed himself. At one stage, we didn’t even know if he would ever be able to hold his head up or open his hands. He would be monitored and we would just have to 'wait and see'. How do you accept that?

Well, let me tell you, you don’t...and then you just, do. Somehow, you just do.

Milestones became irrelevant, I would obsess over the fact that maybe, just maybe, he would hit one but as time went on and

he didn’t, we began to see that things were hard for Chester, harder than we had perhaps anticipated. He had extreme tightness in his legs and arms and a weak core like jelly. He wouldn’t lie on his tummy (so tummy-time was off the cards) and could barely lift his head. His fists were permanently clenched, and he had a really strong startle reflex. In most babies, their primitive reflexes leave them in the first few months, but for Chester they didn't. Even to this day if he is scared or surprised, he can still be known to have a startle reflex.

The only thing we could do to help him at this early stage was physio and lots of it. The idea being that if he was able to repeat movements over and over again and be exposed to the same sort of experiences as other babies in those crucial early years, there could be some chance that the damaged connections in his brain could begin to repair or almost re-route themselves. The human brain has the most neuroplasticity in the first couple of years – I became obsessed with this window of

opportunity. We would build up a library of basic movements for him to use, in the hope that he would learn not to always pick the default, non-typical movement that his brain wanted him to. His natural motions are stiff, jerky and inefficient. So I took him swimming, to baby sensory, wriggle and rhyme – pretty much any experience that I could get my hands on and was out and about trying to do anything that could in some way contribute to a sensory or physical activity pretty much all day every day on mat leave.

He cried A LOT…I cried A LOT. He was frustrated, I was exhausted and helpless.

Chester was a difficult baby, he slept well at night luckily, but in the day was restless and cried pretty much all day long, which we now believe is down to him being uncomfortable and being trapped in a body that wouldn’t do what he wanted. He had reflux (the dreaded reflux), which is common in CP babies due to the weakness of yet another muscle group. He had medicine for this before every feed for the first year of his life, along with a list of supplements and vitamins that all prem babies get. We couldn’t get enough physio, and that’s when we met our private physio who we have seen every week since Chester was small. A godsend, someone to answer all of my questions and to help us see some sort of future for Chester. We began working even harder, and eventually, Chester began to participate and become comfortable with his physio. This was when his true fighting spirit started to shine through; I saw in him the motivation I knew he needed and would push him every day – this is the Chester we now know to be unstoppable.

In the first couple of years, I took him to between 3-4 appointments every single week (I think the record was eight in one week). Physio, Occupational Therapy,

Speech and Language (for his feeding problems initially), Health Visitor, Portage, Dietician, NICU check-ups…the list goes on, as does the paperwork! These kids have sooooo much admin. From DLA forms and EHCPs, you feel like sometimes your primary purpose in life is to fill in forms proving how disabled your little one is so that you can get some help, any help. There is very little support in the early years and your evenings are often spent researching therapies, surgeries and educational providers. There is no such thing as a specialist nursery nearby, so you also find yourself battling to allow them to access some form of early years placement…but it's worth it, so you do it. Nowadays, that has calmed down a little, but he still has around 2-3 appointments per week, which I fit in around work (somehow).

Slowly but surely we started to hit some milestones and lots of 'ministones'. Things that other people took for granted would have us in floods of tears. Like when he managed to hold his own bottle (he couldn’t drink out of it, but he could hold it with both hands), when he was able to pick something up with a pincer grip (that one was truly epic), when he could clap - believe

it or not, that seemingly simple task is tough for CP kiddies! And when he finally learned to roll over aged almost two, just after Christmas, I think we cried for about a week. At one stage even something as simple as that had seemed like a pipedream.

These days Chester (or Scampi as we call him) is a beaming, happy boy, he’s very cheeky and inquisitive. He is three years old and is beginning to 'talk'. His CP affects the muscles in his mouth, so while he understands language and knows what he wants to say, it can sound unclear or he just physically can’t get it out, which is frustrating and often mummy has to translate. But it's progress, you can never knock progress – we are blessed that he can talk and will never take that for granted.

He gets about by commando crawling indoors and doesn’t any longer spend all of his time with clenched fists. We spend hours every single day working on his physio, stretching his tight muscles, so he doesn’t get shortening (particularly in his hamstrings) and alternating the use of his standing frame, walking frame and a specialist trike (which he loves). Our house, I often joke, is like some kind of special needs showroom. Each piece of equipment

serves a different purpose and is an essential part of his routine. He can’t yet sit unaided and always needs an adult by his side to help with any task, but he can hold a spoon and is beginning to be able to drink out of a cup, so independent feeding is on the cards. He attends hydrotherapy and horse riding in addition to regular therapy and also goes to see a specialist about his communication.

While he has a long way to go, the distance he has already come is exceptional and is down to not only the intervention he had from day one but also from his own determination and fight. Anyone who meets Chester just loves him, and he is actually pretty funny these days, he even managed to sing the other day, which is probably the highlight of my life to date. Most importantly he is just him. And that is how we always hope people will see him. Not as someone with a diagnosis, just as him.

Chester.

We still don’t know entirely what the future holds for Chester in terms of his mobility, speech or to what degree (if at all) his intellect is impaired, and he will most likely be a full-time wheelchair user, but we do know that he will always be an inspiration to us. We frequently fundraise to pay for all of these additional therapies and equipment which, trust me, don’t come cheap. A simple chair can cost hundreds of pounds and look horrendous, but we genuinely believe he wouldn’t be where he is today without all of this. We hope that he grows up in a society that accepts him and that one day, it won’t be me telling this story, it will be him when he is collecting his gold medal at the Paralympics.

Please help us celebrate his small wins by following his story on social media @cheers4chester

Baby Book Club This time, we're reading 'The Day The Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers.

This book is written as a series of letters to Duncan. Each crayon has a gripe that it wants made known; 'Hey Duncan, It's me, RED Crayon. WE NEED to talk.'

It's a lovely book, full of humour and gives you some talking points when you and your children are next creating works of art!

We love the childlike writing and the illustrations are great fun to look through.

You can request to borrow a copy from the library, find it on Amazon or join us in our brand new ‘Book Club’ which meets monthly. We will enjoy our book club book, plus others.

Keep up to date with dates and locations on our Facebook page. You can also hear us reading our favourite books on our YouTube channel if you fancy having a listen.

Lastly, we’d love to hear which books you love to read with your children.

Email or message us and we’ll include it!

80 Fernside Road Poole BH15 2JL Tel: 01202 259412

Fernside Road

littlebeansdcare@gmail.com

breakfast & after school clubs

www.littlebeansdaycare.com Ofsted registered: EY481492

Cheeky Faces!

Send in your cheeky grins, each issue there’s a gift for one bambino!

Send your photos to pics@somethingnewmag.co.uk

ht!

Arthur is glad we got his name rig

beau's keeping that bit for later..

lyra with bff cassie

Is there something on

Frankie aka future fashionista

who doesn't dance with ice lollies?

my face?

Sam brings a new meanign to bowl-er hat

jesse really loves eggs!

kasper looks pretty pleased that it's lunchtime!

lily says lunch also makes a great facial

moses is testing out a moustache

who needs cutlery? says aoife

CLEANING UP...

Naturally L

ast time we talked about cloth nappies and reusable wipes and if you saw, Sian and I ended up doing a Facebook live to answer some of your questions. It was our first attempt and probably not the best example of a live ever, but it was fun and hopefully dealt with some of your queries and encouraged some of you to give it a go!!

My eldest at Bournemouth's Youth Climate Strike.

ABOUT LOUISA I’ve been a student, I travelled, I worked for trendy companies on big advertising campaigns both locally and in London, I got married, I ran my own business and baked a shed load of cakes, but these days I’m a mum of three trying to make the world a better place one day at a time!

Anyway, this time, following on from the previous topic, I’d like to chat a bit about our cleaning routine. When we decided to reduce our plastic, I had a good look around the house and realised how many cleaning products I was buying on a regular basis that all came in bottles which didn’t get recycled.

So, this was my next mission. Luckily I had a friend on the same pathway so my first few attempts were fairly successful as she’d already done a bit of digging for me!

Laundry We had a go with soapnuts but quickly found that our clothes didn’t feel too clean and certainly didn’t smell amazing. I checked in with Emma and learned about Ecoeggs, a plastic (though not single use!) egg that contains two types of natural mineral pellets that work together to lift off dirt and odours. You can use them on their own but we missed the smell and feel of fabric conditioner. So, again thanks to

Emma, we replaced this with white vinegar in pretty much the same way, I’ll let you scented with whichever essential oil we know how those go next time! fancy that week. I think it’s a good idea to change up your scents regularly as you The big question is cost - initially to buy do become used to the essential oils in a them and stop feeling variety of scents can be think it’s a good idea to change expensive, but the other the benefits after a while. Vinegar works ingredients are cheap as up your scents regularly brilliantly, gives your chips! Remember the clothes a softness and oils will last a long time honestly doesn’t smell at all vinegary! (TIP: as you only ever need a few drops so once find somewhere you can buy a large 5l bottle you calculate the outlay, spread over time of white vinegar, you’ll need it!) this is definitely cheaper. Also, having only a few bottles to do all the jobs keeps the cost down too.

Household cleaning Once I had white vinegar and a selection of essential oils in my cupboard, it seems we needed little else. There are a few books out there with ‘recipes’ for toxin free and zero waste cleaning products, but essentially it’s pretty simple. We use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and distilled (or cooled boiled) water along with our favoured essential oils.

I use a different scent for kitchen cleaning and bathroom cleaning, just out of personal preference though to be honest one mix does the job for both. Initially I used our old plastic cleaning solution bottles to save on waste but as these have become worn and the spray tops stop working, I’ve slowly swapped them out for amber glass bottles which keep the essential oils better and look gorgeous on the shelf !

The other items we currently make in house are: foaming hand soap - Castile soap, distilled water and essential oils; Toilet bombs - baking soda, citric acid and essential oils, for a deep clean on the toilets every few days - these little beauties fizz away and help remove some of the more stubborn stains! I’m also currently experimenting with making dishwasher tabs

So, for a 750ml bottle of cleaning solution the cost is as follows: Vinegar : 19p Cooled boiled water: free 30 drops essential oils: approx 20p depending on choice, some are much cheaper than others but if you go with tea tree (anti-bac), lemon and orange (for cutting through grease and a nice clean smell) it shouldn’t cost more than 20p per bottle of solution. So, if you reuse an old bottle, that's 39p for a cleaning solution that really does work!

Much like last time, I’m no expert in this field, there is tonnes of info, recipes and advice to be found on the likes of Instagram, Google and Pinterest, but hopefully this should give you some ideas to get started with. I'd love to hear if you make a swap, and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have.

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Foodie with Kids So this issue we are reviewing Southern African inspired eatery, Zim Braai, located in the heart of Ashley Cross.

From the moment you walk in, the cultural influences hit you. The ambiance, the music, the environment ,the quirky fitting furniture and finer detail of the dĂŠcor brings a little of the African continent to Poole.

First off, there are little things that Something New loves; from the tiny details like eco-friendly biodegradable napkins, to the smaller children’s cutlery, to the colouring on the menu with the colouring pencils.

Ideally located to people watch (Ashley Cross can be so interesting...), or just take time out from life, the vibe of the place is relaxed and inviting. It's refreshing to find a restaurant that has considered their mini-customers so thoroughly - there are highchairs and kids' packs, a kids' menu that's reasonably priced, with great quality food. Pushchair access is brilliant as it's all on one level, so that's a big plus!

They have extremely clear menus with prices and all allergens displayed - the staff are attentive too.

Zim is more than just food, but it’s a dining experience - a new adventure for the whole family! www.zim-braai.co.uk

Cook with Hari Hari Sri Lanken Spices

Beetroot Pancakes

Pancakes are not just for Pancake Day!

Pancakes are perfect for any day and with beetroot being readily available and so good for you, what could be better than to combine these two foods, to create a visually vibrant looking treat – the Beetroot Pancake. I used rice flour in this recipe which makes it suitable for gluten free diets too!

Beetroot are a favourite of mine and their nutritional value makes them amazing foods to try and introduce in to your daily diet. Beetroots are an excellent source of folic acid and a very good source of fibre, manganese and potassium and so are associated with numerous health benefits. Another reason to like Beetroot Pancakes ; ) Without further ado – let's get cooking.

Makes approx 10 pancakes (depending on how big and thick you make them) ● Preparation time approx 10 – 15 minutes ● Cooking time approx 4-5 minutes ● Eating time – seconds!

Ingredients

200g Rice flour (or plain flour if you prefer) 2 medium eggs 250ml milk 1-2 tsp honey or caster sugar Pinch of salt 1 tsp Vanilla extract 1 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tsp baking powder (optional) 2 small beetroot

Time to get cooking 1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5/200c. Peel and wash your beetroot, chop into 4 pieces and place on a baking tray with a few tablespoons of water (to prevent the beetroot from drying out).

Cover the tray and bake for approx 25 minutes until cooked. Check half way through the cooking and add a little more water if needed.

2. While the beetroot is cooking in the oven, measure and mix the flour and baking powder (if using) in a large bowl. In a jug, mix the eggs, honey or sugar and vanilla extract.

3. When beetroot is cooked, add to a blender along with the milk and blend till fully pureed.

Mix in the cinnamon powder. Add this to the egg mix and whisk. Then add this to the flour mix and whisk until you have the pancake batter mix at the consistency of your choosing.

4. Melt some butter or a splash of oil in a frying pan on a low heat setting. Too high a heat will blacken your pancakes. Add the batter to the pan, according to the type of pancake you want, and cook for about 2 minutes on each side.

5. To finish, you can sprinkle sugar and lemon, honey and lime, or add a scoop of ice cream with chopped fruit, a splash of passion fruit curd (like I did, which I got from the lovely From Dorset with Love ) or anything else that may take your fancy!!!

6. And now tuck in! These really are super tasty and I for one will definitely be making Beetroot Pancakes again.

Go on, give it a go and if you do, I would love to hear how you got on!!

PARTY PLANNING

I

f you have ever planned a kids party, you’ll know that there is a lot more to it than you’d think! From invitations to dietary requirements, there’s so much to organise and plan. Here’s our top tips for throwing a memorable celebration.

1. Plan Ahead...Way Ahead!

Booking ahead is essential for halls and entertainers. Most are booked months in advance, so make sure you get booked in early.

2. Budget

My nan said this to me, ‘Cut your coat according to your cloth’ and its stuck with me. I get very excited about gatherings, and have a tendency to go overboard, but costs can spiral. Plan according to what you can afford - we’ve included some low cost ideas to help stretch your budget.

3. Enlist Help

Uncles, Aunts and friends - ask them to come along and help set up, make sandwiches, take photos. You’ll be so busy running party games or speaking to parents that you could do with spare hands.

4. Timing is Everything

Getting the right time of day for your party means you can get the best from the day.

Too late and kids can be fractious and overexcited.

5. Level of Involvement

There are hundreds of party ideas, from soft play to nerf gun wars. You need to decide on what level of involvement you’d like in the party. A traditional hall with games will need you to plan significantly more than booking somewhere where everything is taken care of, like at Lemur Landings.

KIDS

YOGA PARTY!

A party with a difference, host a themed yoga party!

Fabulous birthday parties, stylish baby showers, midsummer slumber parties, even hen-dos.

Let us pop up in your garden and take care of everything for you!

www.portobellaparties.com info@portobellaparties.com 07904 159446 | 01202 959717

This includes games, activities and yoga through storytelling.

What ever the theme your yoga teacher and host will ‘become’ the part! / Yogarama with Ali Om

BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY! Call Ali on 07766 835375 aliomyogarama@outlook.com

NEW for 2019

Create a unicorn bear!

Prices from £23pp

rn ice Unico cream

Unicor n the party ro med om

www.lemurlandings.co.uk | 01202 711570

As Voted by

DorsetMum 2019

s

Dorsetmums Award Winners The ‘Voted by Dorsetmums’ Awards was launched this year and I’m thrilled that thousands of local parents took part to vote for their favourite attraction or businesses in each category.

Parents were asked to consider family friendliness, facilities, fun factor, customer service and all round value for money.

BEST SOFT PLAY WINNER: LEMUR LANDINGS

BEST COUNTRY PARK AND BEST FAMILY DAY OUT WINNER: MOORS VALLEY COUNTRY PARK

BEST ANIMAL ADVENTURE ATTRACTION winner: FARMER PALMERS FARM PARK

BEST UNDER 5’S CLASS WINNER: SING, SIGN AND PLAY

BEST CHILDREN’S PARTY ENTERTAINER WINNER: MAD4ANIMALS

BEST FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER WINNER: HEY LITTLE YOU STUDIOS

Colour me in!

Anna&Henry

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PROFESSIONAL DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICES

TRY OUR SERVICE AND GET: no-obligation quote within 24 hours free trial for two weeks 20% off for first month of service

We will improve cleanliness standards and help you cut household costs. call us on 07702025078 or email annahenrycleaners@gmail.com

OPEN MORNING THURSDAY 2 MAY 9:30 - 11:30

A warm and enriching school that achieves outstanding results

Independent Day School for Boys & Girls aged 2 - 3 Upton · Poole · BH16 5EU · 01202 622229 · admissions@yarrells.co.uk · www.yarrells.co.uk