Ireland’s No.1 pregnancy & baby magazine ISSUE
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Ireland’s No.1 pregnancy & baby magazine ISSUE
48
Apr/May 2019
Expert Advice Just For You
Choosing Childcare must read advice
Real life: Birth story baby diary &
Boost your toddler’s speech development €2.90 – ROI
S... REAL MUMions real solut
£2.70 – UK
no limits
tells us why Rhona Cullinan hold will never Down Syndrome Molly back her daughter
Apr / May 19 GROUP EDITOR Emma Parkin eparkin@zahramediagroup.com 01 287 8636 DIGITAL EDITOR Emily Elphinstone emily@zahramediagroup.com STAFF WRITER Elsje du Toit elsje@zahramediagroup.com HEAD OF SOCIAL Kate Gunn kgunn@zahramediagroup.com DESIGN Sarah Hamill, Rory Maguire and Rodrigo Maruso Image libraries Getty Images, Shutterstock ADVERTISING Sales Manager Regina Hinds rhinds@zahramediagroup.com 01 287 8633
T
here’s something for everyone in this issue of easy parenting. So find a comfy spot and get stuck in for a good read! Choosing childcare for the first time can be so daunting, if you are trying to make decisions then head straight to p.22 to find out what you need to consider. Pregnant and feeling queasy? Then make sure to read the great tips on treating morning sickness on p.26. Get the lowdown on what you need to consider when buying your first car oter. Nina having fun on her sco seat, p.30. Arlene Harris looks at the rights of working parents when they need to take time off to care for sick kids. While Rhona Cullinan tells us why there are no limits for her beautiful daughter Molly, who has Down Syndrome. We hope you enjoy this issue; please tell us if you’d like us to cover any particular topics by emailing us at editor@easyparenting.ie.
ADMINISTRATION Production Consultant Val Citron valeriecitron@gmail.com Circulation Manager John Dempsey jdempsey@zahramediagroup.com
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EASY FOOD ISSUE 138
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Managing Director Gina Miltiadou gmiltiadou@zahramediagroup.com Chief Executive John Mullins jmullins@zahramediagroup.com Published by: Zahra Media Group, 12 Prince of Wales Terrace, Quinsborough Road, Bray, Co Wicklow. ISSN 1649-8496. One year subscription to Easy Parenting is €20.00
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Trimesters at a glance Eating for two Staying active
Fresh flavours | Irish lamb | Seafood chowder | Easy Easter dining
LABOUR & BIRTH
The signs of labour Pain relief Breastfeeding
HOME AT LAST
Safe sleeping Postnatal health Bottom care
THE FIRST 12 MONTHS
Introducing solids Teething time Baby routines
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Meet our mums panel
CAROLINE MCGUIRE
KATE GUNN
NICHOLA CURRAN
GILLIAN BURKE
ARLENE HARRIS
TRACEY QUINN
easy parenting | 3
Contents
In th
94 S e kitch 96 B pringtime en aby-f bites r Crafts iendly recipes 100 C & activ heerf ities 101 C ul crocodile raz s pape y hair r plat e
April / May 2019
Regulars 06 Your Say
What you’ve been talking about
08 Parenting news Top tips and up-to-date news
11 Events calendar What’s on around the country
Pregnancy 14 Birth story Leah McCarthy shares the story of her son Cole’s birth
16 Maternity style Denim, and stripe style
20 Embarrassing pregnancy questions All of it, answered
22 Choosing childcare Tips and advice for first timers
25 Baby names
10 colourful name ideas
26 Morning sickness Diet, and lifestyle tips
30 Car seats
Top tips, and advice
Precious beginnings
36 What is gentle discipline? Discipline, gentle parenting style
40 Soothe baby’s colic How give baby relief
43 Weaning time Introducing baby to solids
47 What to feed picky eaters Aileen Cox Blundell shares her tips for coping with fussy eaters
55 Nappy changing tips
All you need for baby’s bottom
58 Help your child’s speech Expert advice on speech development
60 Baby diary
Updates us on her baby Milla
62 The importance of play Why babies need to play
64 Vital vaccinations Protection and prevention
66 Baby clothes
53 Baby myths busted
We dispel the top baby myths 4 | easy parenting
82 Allergies: tips and solutions Prevent and soothe the symptoms
86 How to keep your home clean when you have pets Handy tricks to keep your home clean and fur free
92 Parenting truths Mum-of-two Geraldine Walsh talks about the many phases that kids go through
Keep your little one cosy this winter
68 No limits Rhona Cullinan tells us why Down Syndrome will never hold back her daughter Molly
71 Savvy swimmers The all round benefits of swimming
Just for you 74 Beauty The latest beauty products and tips
76 Fashion Try out some dreamy denims
78 The Newborn Identity An excerpt from Maria Boyle’s book
80 Good reads Parenting and lifestyle books
Experts panel 104 Fitness 106 Children’s development 108 Emotional health 110 Sex & relationships 111 Nutrition and diet 112 Babies and sleep 113 Childcare 114 Ask the midwife
Meet our experts TRACY DONEGAN Midwife
48 Sick kids and work What to do when you work full time and your child falls ill
Family
FIONA O’FARRELL Occupational therapist
LUCY WOLFE Paediatric sleep consultant AILEEN COX BLUNDELL The creative force behind Baby Led Feeding
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CATRIONA LYSAGHT Speech therapist
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NEWS
News
NEARLY A QUARTER OF BRITISH CHILDREN EAT DINNER ALONE IN THEIR BEDROOM 85% of parents admit that they struggle to get their children to sit at the table and stay there until everyone has finished according to a recent study, while 11% say that their children refuse to eat an evening meal at all. Over a quarter of parents (26%) blame their child’s addiction to online gaming, as it fuels the resistance to come to the table when called and more importantly, to stay at the table until everyone has finished. As many as 15% of the mums and dads who took part in the study say they regularly relent and let their kids eat elsewhere as they are too exhausted to argue, while a further 11% say they’d do anything to avoid confrontation at the end of a long day. The UK study shows the average British child now eats in front of a screen five times a week, with only four meals a week eaten together as a family, with 20% regularly eating meals in front of a computer game and one in five using a tablet while tucking into their evening meal. Aldi commissioned the study to mark the launch of their Teatime Takedown activation to help parents save family mealtimes. A first of its kind service, Aldi’s Teatime Takedowns involve enlisting an elite quad of professional gamers who parents can call upon to infiltrate their kids’ video games and take them down, ensuring that they are offline during dinnertime hours.
European Immunisation Week Prevent. Protect. Immunise During the week of 24 to 30 April 2019 people will be reminded how important immunisation really is. European Immunisation Week (EIW) will take place during this time and all member states, including Ireland, will take part in this. The EIW is organised in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Immunisation Week. For more information, go to www.euro.who.int/en/home. 8 | easy parenting
Ireland has the third highest fertility rate in the EU, although the average woman is older than 30 when she has her first child. There is also a high proportion of women who start their family in their 40s compared with other nations. New official figures show the people of this country still live up to the age-old stereotype of being fertile with big families. Behind Finland, Ireland has the second highest share of mothers with four children or more across the EU, at 9%. There are 1.77 births per woman in Ireland, according to the Eurostat figures. This puts us third in the fertility stakes, behind Sweden, at 1.78 births per woman, and France, in first place, at 1.9.
Carrying newborn car seats could injure new mums Experts have warned that lifting and carrying baby car seats can put a new mum’s postnatal recovery at risk. The first stage seats can be heavy and awkward for mothers who have just given birth and could cause or worsen pelvic organ prelapse, physiotherapists said. The UK’s Professional Network of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) said the seats were not well designed for carrying. The POGP advised putting a car seat on a lightweight frame with wheels and to use the car's ISOFIX fittings if possible to minimise twisting. It’s recommended that car seats are mainly used in the car and not as a carrying device. Some experts suggest using a sling to transport babies to and from the car.
News
Parents Too Busy To Potty Train Suggests Survey Parents are too busy to toilet train their children early enough, and are not recognising the strain that this delay could put on their bladders and bowels, a recent UK survey found. A survey of early years staff by charity ERIC and the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) revealed 68% of them feel that over
the past five years children were being potty trained at a later age. Almost half (43%) of the 202 early years practitioners questioned felt it was down to parents putting it off because they are too busy or at work too long. The nursery practitioners said parents needed more support, and 92% believed toilet training should be a shared responsibility between nursery and home.
Positive Thinking In Pregnancy Could Help Child’s Future Ability In Maths & Science Your attitude during pregnancy could have an effect on your child’s ability in maths and science, according to a new study published by Frontiers in Psychology. Using data from Bristol’s Children of the 90s study the research is one of a series from the University of Bristol, that examines a parental personality attribute known as the ‘locus of control’. This is a psychological measure of how much someone believes that they have control over the outcome of events in their life or whether external forces beyond their control dictates how life turns out. Those with an external locus of control would believe there is little point in making an effort as what happens to them is due to luck and circumstances, in contrast with internally controlled people who are motivated into action because they feel they can influence what is going to happen. Researchers examined the ‘locus of control’ by using responses from questionnaires completed by over 1,600
pregnant women who took part in the Children of the 90s study. They then looked at the mathematical and scientific reasoning and problemsolving skills of their offspring at the ages of 8, 11 and 13 assessed in school using specially designed tests. This study is among the first to link the prenatal locus of control of parents to the maths and science abilities of their offspring years later. Findings reveal that mothers with an internal locus of control before their child was born (those who believe in the connection between their actions and what happens to them) were more likely to have a child who is good at maths and science. Compared to their externally controlled peers, internally focussed mothers also were more likely to provide their children with diets that assist brain development, to more frequently read stories to them and to show an interest in their child’s homework and academic progress.
Did you kn
ow?
easy parenting
Your baby voice and can hear your o from abou ther sounds t of pregnan 23 weeks cy.
easy parenting | 9
Pregnancy
Story My birth
Leah McCarthy shares her son Cole’s birth story The Start of labour 4:40am: I wake to the feeling that I am slowly peeing myself! Surely this isn’t it? I don't feel pains or anything. I go to the bathroom and find my waters slowly trickling away. I wake my husband, Quinten to say I think labour has started. 4:50am: I call the midwife on duty on the Domino’s team, Helen, to tell her I think I’ve started as that’s what was always suggested to do when your waters break. She asks me if I want to go in and get checked or wait at home for a little while. I still have no pains so decide to wait and we agree that I go in to get checked over at 9am. 5:20am: First contraction! It lasts for 30 seconds and it’s over. 20 minutes later… another contraction! And so, on they go every 20 minutes up until 9am. They are like mild cramping pains, bearable through breathing and bouncing on the yoga ball. All the while, my husband decides he needs to make some snacks for the hospital and proceeds to spend most of his time in the kitchen making a fruit salad! 9am: We are only leaving the house to head to the hospital, but we are all set
1 | easy parenting 14
to go. Another contraction as I get in the car, three minutes later another contraction, three minutes later again another contraction. Every three minutes all the way on the 30 minutes journey to the hospital. The pain is getting worse but still bearable.
The Hospital When we arrive, Helen hooks me up to a monitor to get checked over. The heartbeat looks good and everything is okay – I am 2cm dilated. The contractions start to slow back to every 20 minutes, but are becoming stronger. Helen decides it's best I stay as labour is established and my waters have partially gone. I’m admitted to the early labour ward. Contractions are getting stronger, no amount of bouncing or walking is making this go away! I try lying down and it’s the most uncomfortable feeling ever! I am given a TENS machine to try for the pain. I hate it! The little electric pulses are more annoying than anything and it does nothing for the pain. 11:50am: I am transferred across the ward to a delivery suite. Pains are stronger and I am told the amazing news I can have a warm shower… and this is where I stayed for the whole
labour! That warm water was the most amazing pain reliever. Unfortunately, there is no birthing pool available at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), so the shower was the next best thing. Another Domino midwife Vicki checks in with us. She stays until after lunch as Helen has finished her shift. They take me out and check how far along I am. I am 6cm dilated. Well this is progressing nicely! I never thought I would be this far along. At this stage I stay out of the shower leaning over the yoga ball for a while. I am starting to feel the tiredness and feel like I’m not getting a break. Quinten produces his fruit salad and starts to feed me some between contractions. I NEED to get back in the shower. I sit on a stool and keep standing up to aim the shower head at my back for the pain, oh the ever-increasing pain! It’s starting to feel unbearable now and I am offered gas and air. I decline as I don’t know how much further I’ve gotten, and I still want to keep doing this myself. Vicki has now also finished her shift and hands over to a hospital midwife, Linda. I don’t care who’s there at this stage I just want to get this baby out safely. At around 2:30pm they take me out to check me, and Linda announces I am
Pregnancy
fully dilated. She can feel baby’s head crowning. She asks me if I want to feel it and I do, and my husband feels it too. I really didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. This is all getting very real and it finally hits me I will have my baby soon. I get up on the bed and the midwife says I can start to push. I really don’t know if I have the strength but remarkably I feel a sense of calm before the storm. A breather before the pushing starts. Linda offered me gas and air, which I accept, more so to have something to bite down on rather than actually sucking it in. I had always said I didn’t want to give birth lying on my back as I had read stories it’s the worst position to give birth in. Quinten reminded me of this, but I was at the stage mentally where I just wanted to get the baby out. I started to push and push and push and his head was out. Linda announces the baby has a head of dark hair, which I was not expecting! She asks if I want to feel the head again, but I just wanted to get it out. I’ll meet my baby very soon. One final big long push and my baby arrives. It was part of our birth plan that Quinten would announce the sex of the baby. A healthy baby boy! He was born at 2:58pm weighing 7lbs 5oz, crying his little lungs out. He is put on my chest and I can’t believe he’s actually here. I thought I would cry but I didn’t and neither did Quinten. I don’t think this diminished the overwhelming sense of relief, happiness and pure love I had for this little human I had been cooking for the last nine months. We did skin-to-skin and Quinten did it too while I was being stitched up. It was just lovely to lie and watch daddy and son bonding. Cole is our first born, just like us. He was the spitting image of his daddy with the same ears, mouth, fingers and toes!
The next chapter A lot of people tell you there is no love like it – and there isn’t. It is unconditional and fills you up until you feel like your heart is about to burst. Nothing can touch it. I had finally become a mammy and we had become our own little family. Our world was forever changed and all for the better to have our beautiful son in it. Reflecting on my birth experience, I think it was the most positive I could have hoped for and I would do it again in the morning. The Domino Scheme was perfect for
us and they were so supportive and helpful throughout my pregnancy and birth. A big plus for me also, was being allowed home the next day to my own house and my own bed.
S h a re your birth s
tory!
Would you like to share your birth story with easy parentin g and our sister www.everymum .ie? Email editor@ easypare and tell us your nting.ie story.
easy parenting | 15
Pregnancy
1
Stripes can be super flattering on your growing bump. Check out these cute striped pieces
1 Jenny Stripe Maternity Top €75 @ Isabella Oliver 2 Maternity Multi Colour Stripe Skater Dress €52 @ Dorothy Perkins
3
3 Maternity Striped Nursing T-Shirt €29 @ Topshop 4 White/Blue Maternity Stripe Slogan Tee €20.50 @ Next 5 Navy/White Stripe T-Shirt €12.99 @ Mothercare 6 Maternity Jersey Dress €18.50 @ Next 7 Navy Breton Maternity & Nursing Tunic Dress €55 @ JoJo Maman Bebe 8 Stripe Maternity Midi Dress €27 @ Next
16 | easy parenting
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Pregnancy
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easy parenting | 17
Pregnancy
8
G N I S S A R EMBNAANRCY QUESTIONS PREG D E R E W ANS Are you pregnant and feeling slightly embarrassed by some of the symptoms you’re experiencing? Don’t worry, they’re all normal, Elsje du Toit explains
I
f you’re expecting, you might get told often that you have that “pregnancy glow” going on and look absolutely gorgeous – which might be true… But no-one knows about those weird, less glamorous things going on in your body. You might even feel too shy to talk about it with anyone! Well, fear no more, because we have the answers to all your most embarrassing pregnancy questions.
1. What’s up with all the gas? When you’re expecting, the progesterone hormone is your baby’s best friend – but it can lead to embarrassing problems for you, a.k.a. excess gas leaving you mortified in public situations. Progesterone relaxes the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract and slows down digestion. Put that and the increasing pressure your growing baby is putting on your abdomen together, and you’ll get plenty of places for gasses to get trapped. But bear in mind that the average person passes wind about 15 times a day and that anything up to 40 times a day is normal – so don’t be too hard on yourself. Help yourself: First off, watch your diet and cut out obvious offenders such as fizzy drinks, beans, cabbage and the likes – food that are most likely to cause wind. Also try to eat and chew your food slowly and give it time to digest and wait at least half an hour after a meal before you lie down.
2. I’m so constipated! Constipation can be very uncomfortable – especially 20 | easy parenting
Pregnancy
if you’re expecting. Progesterone is also partly to blame here, but what really makes it worse is iron supplements. Help yourself: If you’re experiencing constipation, ask your pharmacist for a liquid iron solution, which absorbs better, and try liquidised soups to get your bowels moving. Also try to get some mild exercise, like taking a walk for about 20 minutes every day or doing some yoga. And stay hydrated. as it will help make you feel less constipated.
3. Why do I have Haemorrhoids? Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are enlarged and swollen veins in or around the lower rectum and anus. Anyone can get piles – they don’t just happen in pregnancy. They may itch, burn or bleed making it very uncomfortable. Piles can occur because hormones make your veins relax – plus the added pressure of the baby pressing down on these relaxed veins doesn’t help much. If you’re constipated, it can aggravate the haemorrhoids. Help yourself: To get some relief from it, make some changes to your lifestyle. Eat plenty of high-fibre foods such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread, drink plenty of water and avoid standing for long periods. Also, avoid straining when you go. You could also sit on a donut-shaped pillow to get some relief, or try using an over-the-counter or doctor prescribed cream to reduce inflammation.
4. i JUST PEED MYSELF! One of the most embarrassing things that can happen when you’re pregnant is unexpectedly wetting yourself whenever you have a fit of laughter or an unexpected sneeze. But just remember it happens more often than you think! A lot of strain is being put on your pelvic floor muscles as it plays a very important role in keeping everything in.
Help yourself: Ways to try and combat this potentially embarrassing problem are to practice your Kegel exercises (pelvic muscle-toning exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training). You can do Kegels everywhere without anyone noticing. Firstly, determine where your pelvic floor muscles are – stop urination in midstream to do so. If you can do that, you’ve got the right muscles. Squeeze these muscles for three seconds, then relax for three seconds. Work your way holding the squeeze for 10 seconds. Do this 10 times every time you do this. You can also use special incontinence pads to help absorb urine. Avoid coffee, citrus, tomatoes and soft drinks – all of which can irritate your baldder and make it harder to control those leaks.
5. Why are my nipples so itchy? It’s normal for your breast to increase in size during pregnancy – it’s your body’s way of getting ready to feed your little one once she’s born. Because of the growth the skin is stretching and it can cause a constant itchiness. Help yourself: To avoid having to keep scratching your nipples, especially when in public, lather on a natural moisturiser after you shower. And when you feel the need to scratch, try dabbing on a thick emollient cream.
6. Why are my breasts leaking before I’ve even given birth? Although leaky breasts are often associated with breastfeeding mums, your breasts can start leaking before the end of your pregnancy. This is because your breasts start preparing for nursing as large amounts of the hormone prolactin are released. Simple daily activities such as changing clothes or showering can cause your breasts to leak. Help yourself: You can consider this as a useful trial run before breastfeeding your
little one. Wear nursing pad inside your bra which will absorb any liquid that leaks out.
7. Why do I have an increase of vaginal discharge? During pregnancy, your blood flow all over your body increases – especially around the cervix. This can lead to an increase of vaginal discharge. However, if you’re having any itching, vaginal discomfort or when your discharge becomes foul smelling, talk to your GP. And if you’re concerned that its is more than a discharge (that your waters might have gone) then go immediately to the hospital. Help yourself: An increase of vaginal discharge is all very normal, so wear cotton underpants (it’s more breathable and absorbent than synthetic fabric) and use panty liners to keep the area clean and dry. Make sure to change it frequently. Also always wipe from front to back and avoid scented soaps. If there is blood in your discharge, it could suggest labour is imminent.
8. Why am I having strange dreams? You might experience a lot of weird dreams later on in your pregnancy. Whether they're sexy dreams, or scary nightmares, the raised oestrogen in your body is to blame. It can also be caused by your emotional state while you’re pregnant. Women often feel vulnerable and nervous about their pregnancy, the future and their baby. This can cause anxiety and a lot of restless nights. Help yourself: There is no need to worry or getting your dreams analysed. Enjoy the sexy dreams and just try to ignore the scary ones. It’ll all pass in time. easy parenting | 21
Precious beginnings
s k o o B ' s Kid e early age can encourag an m fro ds ki ur yo to g r Readin ong readers – here’s ou them to become lifelbe ds reads for ki pick of some of the st
Malala’s Magic Pencil
By Malala Yousafzai / Illustrated by Kerascoët (Penguin Random House)
This beautifully illustrated picture book, now in paperback, tells Malala's story, and shows them the worldview that allowed her to hold on to hope and to make her voice heard even in the most difficult times. As a child, Malala used to dream about a magic pencil she could use to solve problems like the smell of the rubbish dump near her home and to make her family happy. But as she grew older, she saw a world that needed fixing – and as Malala began to wish for a better world she realised that even if she never found a magic pencil, she could still work every day to make her wishes come true. RRP €9.36
Age 5 +
Super Duper You
by Sophy Henn (Puffin) Sometimes we are loud, sometimes we are quite, sometimes bold and clanky, sometimes soft and cuddly. Sophy Henn celebrates all the different, extraordinary and sometimes contradictory things we are in this joyful and colourful rhyming picture book. Perfect to read aloud – and then read again, and again! RRP €14.05
52 | easy parenting
F is for Feminism An Alphabet Book of Empowerment Illustrated
by Carolyn Suzuki (Penguin Random House) Help your child to discover the meaning of words that can change the world! Activism: trying to change something important by making your voice heard. Compassion: caring about other people's suffering. Diversity: including all kinds of different people. Equality: when everyone is treated in the same way. Feminism: fighting for equality between girls, boys and everyone. RRP €8.19
Speak up!
by Laura Coryton (Egmont)
Written by Laura Coryton, who led the international campaign against tampon tax, Speak Up! is a vital and timely book exploring what it means to stand up for what you believe in on both a public and personal level. Laura explores how to make sure your voice is heard as well as what happens when your voice is challenged by others. With a positive message about friendship, female empowerment and standing up for who you are, this is the perfect gift for girls aged 12+. RRP €6.71
The Very Hungry Caterpillar 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
by Eric Carle (Puffin) 2019 marks 50 years since The Very Hungry Caterpillar first munched his way through a variety of delicious food – and our hearts. To celebrate this milestone, a limited hard back edition of this beloved classic has been released. With a stunning golden jacket, and bonus content, the book features the story of the making of this classic, and a letter to the reader from Eric Carle himself.
RRP €11.48
6
Precious beginnings
common baby myths busted
Overwhelmed with all the information you’re receiving? Emily Elphinstone looks into the truth behind six of the most common baby myths
1
Myth #1 Babies should sleep
through the night by six months.
As babies grow, they gradually begin to link their sleep cycles together, and are able to sleep for longer periods of time once they also learn to ‘self soothe’. However, don’t panic if your little
one isn’t consistently sleeping through the night at six months. Every baby is different. You can encourage healthy sleep habits for your little one by building a routine of going to bed at roughly the same time, winding down with a bath and bedtime story, and creating a peaceful environment for sleep. Reasons for restlessness and waking include hunger, teething, illness, and growth spurts, so it's normal to experience periods of sleep regression even once your little one sleeps through the night more regularly.
Expert Advice from Fiona O’Farrell: It can be very tempting to try and throw yourself and your baby into a rigid routine. However, this does not meet your individual baby’s needs and can cause further stress for your baby and you. By meeting your baby’s needs for sleep, you are helping him to feel secure thus leading to long-term positive, good sleep habits: • Ensure your baby/toddler gets enough sleep during the day in the form of naps. • Establish a sleep zone. • Establish a consistent bedtime routine. • Put your baby/toddler to bed when drowsy but still awake. easy parenting | 53
In the kitchen
Lamb chop tray bake
Now that spring has finally sprung we can start putting a few lighter, fresher dishes on the meal plan. My lamb chop tray bake is filled with all the colours of the rainbow. Uniting the flavours of roasted butternut squash, simple parsley and rosemary with the classic Irish lamb chop. An added bonus is, it's all baked on one tray so less washing up.
Two yummy springtime dishes from blogger and cookbook author Jolene Cox
Ingredients Serves 4 1 tablespoon of rapeseed oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 red pepper, seeded and sliced 1 yellow pepper, seeded and sliced 1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunky pieces 6 baby potatoes sliced in half 1 courgette, sliced 1 red onion, cut into wedges 4 lamb chops 1 tbsp parsley 1 tbsp rosemary Method 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/ gas 7. 2 Scatter all the vegetables on a large baking tray. Chop and sprinkle over the herbs drizzle with oil and season. 3 Place on the middle shelf of the oven and Roast for 30 minutes, then give the veggies a good shake and put them to one side of the tray. 4 Season the lamb chops with a little salt and pepper (no need to oil them as they will release enough oil while cooking) Place them on the tray and return to the oven for 20 minutes (turning them after 10). 5 Garnish with another sprinkle of fresh rosemary and parsley and serve with some leafy greens.
94 | easy parenting
In the kitchen
Easter bunny cupcakes
Filling your Easter basket has never been easier with my quick and easy bunny cupcakes. Even the littlest of hands will enjoy putting the sprinkles on the bunny ears and adding the chocolate chip nose. It's the little jobs that make bake-togethers stress free and more fun for everyone. Ingredients Makes 6 115g self-raising flour 115g butter
115g caster sugar 2 eggs 200g white chocolate 6 white marshmallows 6 chocolate chips 2 tbsp of coloured sprinkles Method 1 Preheat oven at 180°C/gas mark 4. 2 Measure all the ingredients into a large bowl cracking your eggs in last. Mix well with and electric whisk. 3 Add a tablespoon of cupcake batter into cases. Bake in the oven for 20
minutes. 4 Meanwhile melt white chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Add two tablespoons of coloured sprinkles in to a flat plate. 5 Cut six white marshmallows diagonally. Get a little helper to press the sticky side of the marshmallow into the sprinkles. 6 Top each cupcake with a spoon of white chocolate. Stick two bunny ears on to each cupcake, using the melted chocolate as glue. Finish with a chocolate chip nose. easy parenting | 95
Crafts & Activities
Fun with Pipe Cleaners! Use up those bags of pipe cleaners to make these fun crafts with the kids Crafts expert Sadhbh Devlin
CHEERFUL CROCODILES These cheerful crocodiles are so simple to make and need very few craft supplies. They are perfect for little animal lovers. Why not lay down a blue scarf for a river, some sticks and stones for texture and your little one will have lots of fun bringing their crocodiles for a swim! You will need: Green Pipe cleaners Green Craft Sticks Googly-Eyes Black Pen Method: 1 Wrap one pipe cleaner around the centre of a craft stick in a zigzag shape, making sure to leave a length free at each end. These excess lengths will form one front leg and one back leg. 2 Repeat the first step – but in the opposite direction! Again, make sure to leave some excess on each end to form legs. 3 Twist the ends of the pipe cleaners in to form feet. Bend the legs slightly to make them more ‘lifelike’ and to help the crocodile stand up. 4 Add two googly eyes! 5 Add details, such as nostrils and a scaly tail, with your black pen.
100 | easy parenting
Crafts & Activities
CRAZY HAIR PAPER PLATE Have you got a budding hairstylist at home? This easy, non-messy craft will provide plenty of opportunities to create crazy hair styles! Make a few and open a mini hair-salon for them. You will need: A Paper Plate Multi-coloured Pipe Cleaners A Hole-Punch Felt-Tip Pens Method: 1 Punch holes around the top half of the paper plate. There are 24 holes here (because that’s how many pipe cleaners I had!) but you can add more or fewer. 2 Turn the plate upside down so that the base faces upwards. Draw a happy face on the base of the plate. 3 Thread a short piece of each pipe cleaner into each hole folding it up to meet the longer length and twisting them together to secure. 4 When all of the pipe cleaners are in place it’s time to get creative! How many hairstyles can you design? Curly, straight, short, long, spiky, smooth - the options are endless!
About Sadhbh Sadhbh Devlin has always been told she has a head for hats. In truth, she only owns two hats, both woollen and shapeless. She does, however, wear many metaphorical hats. She is mother to five-year-old twin girls, wife to a very tall husband, a crafter, a party-lover, an avid photo snapper, a sometime production designer and soon-to-be TV presenter. She writes about all of these hats and more at her award-winning blog www.wherewishescomefrom.com. Find her on Twitter @wherewishes
easy parenting | 101
Crafts and activities
make a
SSnake
Dr Naomi Lavelle shows us how to create this simple bubble blower so you can make a whole string of bubbles, just like a bubble snake!
What to do:
You will need: • An empty plastic bottle (a small one is fine) • Scissors (and adult supervision) • An elastic band • An old sock or piece of cotton cloth • Food colouring and droppers (optional) • Bubble mixture (or water and washing up liquid) •A bowl
The science bit:
1 First get an adult to cut the end off the plastic bottle. Place the sock over the (cut) end of the bottle and secure it in place with the elastic band. 2 If you want to add some colour at this stage place a few drops of different food colouring onto the end of the sock. 3 Pour some bubble solution into the bowl; you can make your own by adding some washing liquid to water and mixing slowly. 4 Dip the end of the bubble blower into the bubble solution, then lift it up and start to blow through the other end of the bottle. 5 You should see a snake of bubbles emerge from the other end of the bottle. Keep blowing to make your snake longer.
The sock acts like lots of little bubble wands. The fibres of the sock cloth are like the frame of the wands. When you blow into the bottle, the bubble solution gets stretched between these fibres, eventually breaking off into a bubble with a pocket of air trapped inside. All the tiny bubbles stick together and form a string of bubbles as you keep blowing. A single bubble will always form a round (spherical) shape, but when the bubbles join together they get straight sides and create shapes like a snake’s scales. 102 | easy parenting
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