Ireland’s No.1 pregnancy & baby magazine ISSUE
49
Summer 2019
Expert AdviceJust For You
travelling with baby? top tips inside
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Fun
babies after 40 REAL MUM
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Ireland’s No.1 pregnancy & baby magazine ISSUE
49
Summer 2019
Expert AdviceJust For You
travelling with baby? inside top tips
Fun
babies after 40 REAL MUM
STORIES
Toilet TRAININ
9 772009 400020
06
€2.90 – ROI
£2.70 – UK
how choos to
e perfecthe lightw t eight buggy
G ADVICE
S... REAL MUMions real solut
ING
SHAM
P Walsh Geraldine Mum-of-two with uninvited cope bump. on how to on your growing comments
BUM
Welcome
Editor’s letter
make bathtime
T
Summer 2019
he sun is trying its best to peep out of the clouds as I write this editor’s letter. It might not have been the summer we hoped for (yet!), but if you find yourself stuck indoors on a rainy day, why not curl up on the couch and have a flick through this issue of easy parenting? As always, it’s packed with handy tips and interesting information. If you’re lucky enough to be heading off on holiday, make sure to check out our handy tips for travelling with a ride on Nina enjoying her trolley baby on p.66. Get the lowdown on the the weekly shop! importance of ‘sunshine vitamin’ vitamin D on p.52. If you’re on the lookout for a lightweight stroller for your little one then read our top tips on p.56. Find out what you need to consider before buying your baby an activity toy on p.64, and learn how to treat the top five newborn concerns on p.49 . 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.
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 Siobhán O’Riordan, Gosia Sitek and Rodrigo Maruso Image libraries Getty Images, Shutterstock ADVERTISING Sales Manager Regina Hinds rhinds@zahramediagroup.com 01 287 8633 ADMINISTRATION Production Consultant Val Citron valeriecitron@gmail.com Circulation Manager John Dempsey jdempsey@zahramediagroup.com
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Check out our sister titles... EASY FOOD ISSUE 140
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Managing Director Gina Miltiadou gmiltiadou@zahramediagroup.com Chief Executive John Mullins jmullins@zahramediagroup.com Published by: Zahra Media Group, er summ Cookin sh 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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LABOUR & BIRTH
The signs of labour Pain relief Breastfeeding
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THE FIRST 12 MONTHS
Introducing solids Teething time Baby routines
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TRACEY QUINN
easy parenting | 3
Contents
In th
94 S e kitch 96 M ummer re en cipes edite Crafts rranean mood 100 F & activ lutt iti 101 S ering butt es umm e er sun rfly set
Summer 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 Maternity style Lovely looks for the summer
16 Breathing techniques How breathing can help you through your pregnancy
18 Bump shaming How it can be damaging to a woman’s self-esteem
20 Pregnancy in your 40s Older mums share their journeys
22 Baby names
15 sunny name ideas
24 Pregnancy checklist Everything you need for baby’s arrival
27 Super supplements
Ensure you get all the nutrients
30 Gestational diabetes
Everything you need to know
Precious beginnings
36 Breastfeeding tongue tie Ciara Morgan shares her journey
39 Feeding al fresco Feeding baby on the go
42 Have a blast of a bath
52 The sunshine vitamin
All you need to know about vitamin D
54 The perfect lightweight stroller Tips on what to look for
Family 80 Summer guide How to stay safe this summer
58 Time to toilet train Tips and tricks to help your toddler make the transition
61 What is self-care?
The importance of taking care of yourself
62 Baby clothes Outfits your baby will love this summer
64 Developmental toys
86 Allergies Reduce your child’s hay fever symptoms
92 The truth about perfect parents Mum-of-two Geraldine Walsh on the myth that is ‘perfect parenting’
Everything you need to know
66 Baby travel Advice for a stress-free holiday
68 Baby diary Laura Doyle updates us on her baby Milla’s development
Just for you 72 Beauty The latest beauty products and tips
74 Fashion Fun pieces for summer
76 Decode your vagina How to keep your intimate area healthy
78 Mums’ Books Parenting and lifestyle books
Experts panel 104 Fitness 105 Speech therapy 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
How to make bath time fun
48 Kids’ books Our pick of the best books for kids
49 Top 5 newborn concerns Solutions for common newborn issues 4 | easy parenting
TRACY DONEGAN Midwife
DAVID KAVANAGH Family therapist
FIONA O’FARRELL Occupational therapist
OLLWYN MORAN Neurological development therapist
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Pregnancy
d n a r e d l O wiser The average maternal age in Ireland is rising, and it's increasingly common nowadays for women to have their first baby in their 40s. Arlene Harris speaks to women who became parents later in life
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here was a time when people aimed to become parents in their twenties; presumably so they would be young enough to keep up with their energetic children. These days over half of first-time parents in Ireland are in their mid-30s and while in medical terms the mother is classed as ‘geriatric’ when she is over 35, it is by no means stopping people from becoming parents well into their forties and beyond. For years celebrities have been welcoming new arrivals long after the supposedly optimum age with Brigitte Nielsen giving birth to her fifth child at the age of 54, Janet Jackson becoming a first-time mum at 50 and more recently Gordon Ramsay’s wife, Tana was in her mid-forties when her fifth baby was born. And it’s not just the rich and famous 20 | easy parenting
who are starting families later as Maria Cleary can attest. The Wicklow woman can now count herself a member of the same club as these well-known faces as she is expecting her first child at the age of 44. “Mike and I are expecting our first and probably our only baby in October,” she says. “I had been trying for years to become pregnant and really didn’t think it was going to happen for us – but after three attempts at IVF we have finally succeeded and are beyond excited at the thought of becoming parents. “I have always been quite fit so haven’t had any issues with the pregnancy as yet, but I probably worry more than I might have done if I was younger because I know I am at an age where things could go wrong. Waiting for results of genetic tests was very nerve wracking, but thankfully all is fine so far.
“To be honest once the health of our baby is good I don’t think there is any other difference between me and a first-time mum in her thirties – in fact, I feel I am much better able to cope with whatever life throws at me now than I would have a decade ago.” TIRING However, Grainne Moloney begs to differ as she says having her first child at 42 and second at 44 was ‘very hard work’. “I always knew I wanted children but although my husband was keen to start a family I didn’t want to have them as soon as I got married,” says the Dublin woman. “So we waited for about five years and then it took a long time for me to get pregnant as I miscarried twice before finally giving birth when I was 42. “The pregnancy was very difficult and the labour was long and very traumatic. Then after my daughter was born, I got postnatal depression and was totally wrecked all of the time. I didn’t have any energy for anything and had actually decided that I was only going to have one child when suddenly I found myself
pregnant again – it was not an easy time for me. “My daughter has a very determined personality and ever since she was born has demanded our full attention all of the time. My son, thankfully, is more easy going, but if I’m being honest, I have found the whole parenting thing very difficult and a real eye opener as I really thought it would be easy. My mother says that I should have had the kids when I was younger and although it really annoys me when she says it, I think she might be right. Perhaps I would have coped better with both the birth and the early years if I was in my twenties, but at this stage, I will never know.” LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND DON’T PUSH YOURSELf But midwife Tracy Donegan says age shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to a healthy, happy pregnancy and delivery. “It’s definitely a myth that having a baby is harder when you are older,” she says. “No matter what your age I would encourage all expectant mums to listen to their bodies. Don’t push yourself past your limits and if mum and baby are healthy regular exercise is definitely recommended. “Also talk to your midwife or doctor about taking any extra supplements especially if you’re eating a healthy diet. Exercise doesn’t just keep you healthy; it’s also great for your growing baby. Yoga, swimming and walking are all gentle exercises but if you already have an exercise programme such as strength training and/or cardio keep it up as long as you’re feeling up to it and if necessary adapt to your growing bump and rollercoaster of energy levels. Lots of mature mums have very straight forward pregnancies and births but the labelling of these women as ‘geriatric’ sends a very different message.” Donegan, who founded gentlebirth.ie says while a healthy pregnancy isn’t age dependent, older mothers often need to be
reminded that they don’t have to be super mums. “A big one for older mums is learning how to accept help,” she says. “After working or running a department like clockwork for years, some mature mums can find the unpredictability of a newborn’s schedule to be challenging and try to ‘soldier on’ without support.” THE GOOD AND THE BAD Psychologist Peadar Maxwell says there are both ups and downs to being an older parent. “Apart from the downturn in fertility making it less likely, becoming a parent when you are older has its rewards and its challenges,” he says. “For many people the choice of when to have a child may be overridden by study, career and housing demands. So it’s practically impossible to predict when one becomes a parent so when it does happen it should be embraced as the right time. “Some younger parents do not have the emotional maturity to parent as they would with ten or 15 years of adulthood under their belt. Equally most middle aged parents simply don’t have the energy to combat the demands of sleep deprivation or an active toddler. Either way there are pros and cons.” DIFFERENT TIMING The Wexford based expert says the maturity of an adult with some life experience normally enhances parenting styles, but some of those parents may feel out-of-sync with their friends and colleagues who are moving on and reclaiming their independence as an adult, going out, having lie-ins or even travelling. “While there’s no reclaiming youth, a mature parent can take action to keep their energy levels up by eating well, cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoking and getting exercise,” he says. “Lifestyle changes which include a reasonable level of fitness and weight management is
Expert advice Maternity expert, Tracy Donegan agrees and has a few top tips for older mums: • Identify local resources to support you in these potentially challenging few months. • Breastfeed your baby – you and your partner will get more sleep if you learn how to co-sleep safely. • Consider hiring a postpartum doula to support you and your partner as you settle in with your new baby. • Older mums may find it quite isolating so check out local mum and baby groups to connect with others. • Don’t rush your recovery and try to connect with your partner daily who is probably finding this new adventure tiring too, particularly if neither of you are sleeping. www.gentlebirth.ie
proven to help parents of good health to keep up with their young children and be more available to do energetic pursuits together. But a youthful mindset helps too so talk back to unhelpful negative thoughts about being older than the other parents or missing out on things and say to yourself, 'it’s great I did all of things I did before I became a parent and look how much calmer and wiser I am now.' “Of course there are compromises that can’t be avoided for most of us. Getting enough sleep is one and the time it takes to get over a night out is another. As a new, older parent you will need to prioritise you and your child and getting rest and sleep is an important part of that. But don’t let guilt stop you from doing some of the things you have always enjoyed such as catching up with family and friends, getting exercise or pursuing a hobby. It is about balance.” easy parenting | 21
Precious beginnings
Mother-of-two Ciara Morgan shares her experience of breastfeeding and tongue tie and explains how she overcame the issues to successfully feed her second child
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oth of my breastfeeding journeys were full of highs and lows but also such a special time in my life which I am so grateful for. It began when I was just 24 having given birth to my first baby. During my pregnancy I did no research whatsoever, I was happy to float on the 'whatever happens, happens' boat. 36 | easy parenting
I knew my body would cope with birth and do what it needed and I trusted the health professionals. With breastfeeding, I was fully sure my body knew exactly what to do and my maternal instincts would kick right in. Unfortunately, this was not quite the case.
The Birth I didn’t have a great birth for various reasons, it was long, tough and full of complications which ended in a ventouse delivery, stitches and eventually infection. When my baby was born she was laid on me and unfortunately following the trauma of the birth I didn’t feel an immediate connection. I had no idea
what I was doing and due to another labouring woman needing the room I was given no attention with trying to breastfeed. Suddenly, I was alone in a corridor with my husband and baby trying to put my breast into a screaming baby’s mouth. She was having none of it and did not latch while I got hot and sweaty and flustered. My husband was in shock and tried his best to calm me but he was feeling similar emotions. Due to infection I stayed on the ward for three days, during this time there was constant tears, from my baby and from me. Nurses, midwives and the paediatrician all remarked on her jaundice but I got no information as to
Precious beginnings
how I was to make this better. Along with my tough birth, barely able to breastfeed and now my baby suffering due to all of this, it was day three and I already felt like a failure. By day three, I had finally found a way to feed and with my milk coming in made it easier, however, the latch was not right. I was feeling more in love with my baby every passing day but still not feeling fully connected.
Asking for help I asked for a lactation consultant but unfortunately there wasn’t an appointment available for another two weeks. In the meantime, I bought nipple shields and multiple creams for my suffering nipples and kept on going. I noticed my daughter’s tongue didn’t lift well so I decided to mention this to the hospital lactation consultant. The appointment was a disaster in which we tried relentlessly for an hour to latch her and failed. The consultant informed me it was likely tongue tie but gave no resolution and no follow up advice. For me, I felt I’d exhausted all avenues and it cemented the fact that it was time for me now to move to bottles. I gave it another two weeks of breastfeeding before I began a slow transition (this is very important in order to avoid mastitis or other complications). Every feed was agony and a battle and I still felt like a failure. The move to bottles was the right thing for me to do at the time, but it took a long time to come to terms with it. My daughter and I bonded a lot better as time went on, once I stopped beating myself over my decision.
The second baby Five years later, I was pregnant with my second and I felt very apprehensive about all aspects of birth and feeding. This time I vowed to be fully in control and I had my five years of mum
experience with lots of learnings to help me along. I researched all options for birth and practiced Gentle Birth which I was very apprehensive about at first but it helped a huge amount. I researched every part of breastfeeding that I could. I bought the book The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding. It’s written by La Leche League and give breastfeeding solutions to breastfeeding issues along with great latch tips and feeding positions. I joined some fabulous Irish breastfeeding groups on Facebook. There is a very large Irish breastfeeding page which has a wealth of knowledge shared by thousands of mums who previously breastfed or are currently breastfeeding. I went to a La Leche League meeting while pregnant. This was a strange experience as I felt awkward walking in but the women were very friendly and very happy to talk to me about what to expect with baby number two and aim for a better breastfeeding journey. I also looked up lots of videos on the ‘flipple latch’ on You Tube and watched as many instructional videos as I could.
Ready to go I felt prepared and ready for my baby by the time birth came. This birth was perfect, drug free, gentle and calm. I happily bonded with my baby boy immediately and felt such relief at the flood of love that came over me. I remember thinking, this is what they talk about. I left him to lie on my bare chest and he performed the breast crawl which meant he found his own way to the breast and began to feed. Days later, I felt like it was going perfectly but once again my nipples were getting cracked. Every feed felt like razor blades by day three. Due to my research I knew this meant the latch wasn’t good. I worked on getting a deeper latch and privately
paid a lactation consultant. She helped me with some feeding techniques to widen the latch but it didn’t fully solve the issue. Over the next few weeks I had multiple professionals check for tongue tie to no avail. As my son was gaining weight steadily, they didn’t consider a potential tongue tie as an issue.
Nagging maternal instincts Due to the ongoing pain, I wanted to investigate further and help continue the journey so I paid for a private appointment with a consultant who specialises in tongue tie. Sure enough, there was a posterior tongue tie and a severe lie tie. He released both and I can’t begin to describe the relief in that first feed after! It was perfect. In the weeks that followed, my baby and I were so happy and he fed extremely well. I had stopped dreading every feed and could finally enjoy every moment of him and his sister. I had planned to stop at a year, but I carried on until two years when he gently weaned.
What helped make breastfeeding successful this time around? The following things are what worked for me and may help you on your journey: • My research- being armed with so much information, it helped make it so much easier to know what was happening and I was well educated on each issue and also on the benefits. • Repeating ‘never give up on a bad day’ every single day for up to three months and every time a leap came around. • Shouting loud and repeatedly asking for help. • Trusting my instincts.
easy parenting | 37
Precious beginnings
to e m i t , y d stea
t e l i to
, y d Rea
n i a r t
Are you about to embark on toilet training with your toddler? If so, make sure to read the following tips and tricks
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efore we get into the ins and outs of toilet training, it's important for parents to know that starting the process before your child is ready can have the absolute reverse effect of success. Pushing potty training when your child is not ready can actually delay potty training development. Some parents like to wait for a holiday to start the training, but anytime is the right time if you feel your child is ready. It can even be tackled over the weekend. Whenever you decide to start the process of potty training, remember that it will take
58 | easy parenting
some patience and perseverance! Some signs of being ready for toilet training include the child removing his or her nappy after soiling, taking an interest in others' potty habits (i.e. wanting to watch you, dad or a sibling use the potty) and/or forming habits when having a bowel movement such as squatting or grunting. While some kids will be ready to learn at an early 18-24 months it’s important to remember that some children have no interest in potty training until the age of three or even four. So don’t get discouraged. All children are ready at their own pace.
What are the signs of being ready for toilet training? They are having longer dry periods more often. They can follow simple instructions. They can pull up and down their own pants. They show an interest in learning about potty training. They are able to imitate behaviour. Once your child displays some or all of these behaviours they may be ready to begin potty training.
Precious beginnings
Treat mistakes lightly Accidents are inevitable, especially when your child is tired. When they do happen it is important to remain calm. The more positive and supportive you are, the more relaxed and open your child will be to learning this new skill.
MUM
'S TIPS " We wa ited un turned til my d three to aughte start to r all of th ilet train e nappie Potty training takes time. ing. We s out of on a Fri put her sigh day. Th Remaining patient ere were t and sta first cou a rted few acc ple of d idents o throughout the process ays, bu super p ver the t we pe ositive rsisted and en will foster a stress free and and sta By the M couragin yed onday, g the who we sent successful learning lots of s le time. her into pare clo creche thing, a environment for your child. with acciden nd aga ts throu in a few g h more out the You will also need to be week la week b ter she ut one was po consistent with your tty train really w ed. It's orth pe rs isting w approach. Pick a routine that ith." Fiona works for you and your child and Patience and consistency is key
stick with it. Make sure all of your child’s caregivers such as babysitters and grandparents also follow your potty training routine.
Getting ready Potty/toilet or both? First, decide whether you want to train using a potty or the toilet. A potty is mobile and it’s familiar, and some children find it less daunting than a toilet. Find out your child’s preference and go with that. Some parents encourage their child to use both the toilet and potty.
Equip yourselves Second, make sure you have all the right equipment. If your child is using the toilet, you’ll need a step for your child to stand on. You’ll also need a smaller seat that fits securely inside the existing toilet seat, because some children are nervous about falling in.
Books At the start, you might like to read a book about toilet training with your child. There are some fun children’s books your child might like to read in the early stages of toilet training.
Toilet words Teach your child some words associated with going to the toilet – for example, you might want to teach her words like ‘wee’, ‘poo’ and ‘I need to go’.
Using training pants After your child has had a few weeks getting used to the potty, it’s a good time to start with training pants. These are absorbent underwear worn during toilet training. Training pants are less absorbent than a nappy. They’re useful for holding in bigger messes (such as an accidental poo).
Top toilet training tips Let your child set the pace for training. Train them when it feels right for them. Watch your child for signals that they need to go to the toilet, such as hopping up and down, or holding their pants. Get them to the potty quickly. Praise your child gently whenever they use the potty. Put on easy-to-care-for clothes that your child can pull up and down easily. Take your child with you when you or your other children go to the toilet. It prepares your young child for when it is their turn. Help your child to manage for themselves on the potty or the toilet, but don’t leave them to manage alone. Go with your child when they ask you to. After they have finished, get your child’s permission to wipe their bottom. Remember to wipe girls from front to back to prevent infection. Prepare your toddler: Discuss with them that they are now going to be using the big toilet in crèche, show them where it is and that they will have to tell their minder when they need to go etc.
easy parenting | 59
Precious beginnings
Have baby,
l e v a tr Will Are you heading off on a trip with your little one for the first time? Whether it’s by plane, train, car or boat you'll have a stress-free trip with the following advice
Have you chosen a childfriendly location? If you have decided to holiday in Ireland, many hotels provide a ‘Baby’s First Holiday’ package for first-time parents, which is worth looking into. This can include a welcome pack of baby essentials, such as nappies and wipes and babysitting facilities for parents. Also, many hotels in Ireland offer a special family room, which includes a steriliser and nappy changing unit. For overseas holidays, look for a child-friendly beach holiday, or familyfriendly campsites or holiday parks. Before you book somewhere, make sure that all aspects are suitable for children. For example, if you are renting a house with a pool, make sure that the pool is guarded and the garden is enclosed. Like 66 | easy parenting
with your own home, all stairs and dangerous parts of the house must be baby-proofed.
Where will baby sleep? Most hotels and resorts will provide a cot, but be sure to check this in advance, otherwise, you may need to bring a travel cot. You will need to bring a travel mattress with you, even if the hotel does provide a cot. Bring along your baby’s monitor and a night-light, if they are used to sleeping with one. Packing a blanket and sheets with a familiar smell will help your baby to settle at bedtime when you get to your new destination. A travel black-out blind is a good investment too, as you may find that your room doesn’t have blinds or curtains. If your baby has a favourite
book or soft toy that is part of their bedtime routine, be sure to bring it along
Baby’s bag of tricks Use a compact changing bag that is designed for travel. Don’t forget to pack a portable changing mat, nappy accessories such as nappy rash cream, wipes, nappies, and nappy bags.
A light stroller If you’re travelling by plane, then a lightweight, fully collapsible pushchair/ stroller that reclines is a good idea. Airlines have different weight limits, so phone ahead and check that yours meets the weight and dimension restrictions. In most airports, you will be able to use a buggy right up to the departure gate at
Precious beginnings
which point the airline staff will place it in the hold.
Sun protection for baby Consider investing in a parasol with built-in UV protection that can be attached to a buggy, and a beach shade. UV pop-up tents are great for providing sun cover for your baby while they play and shelter during nap times. Cover the window of your car beside your baby with a sunshade. A sun hat is an essential cover for the sensitive skin on your baby’s head, ears and neck.
Baby holiday
essentials checklist: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Car seat (suitable for planes also) Pushchair Blanket Baby Sling Weather appropriate clothes (and plenty of them) Hats A large supply of nappies and nappy supplies Any feeding equipment you usually use Passports (if travelling abroad) Basic first aid kit Sun cream (for babies over six months) Swim nappies (if you are going to a pool or the beach) Baby monitor Travel adapters A universal bath plug Toiletries (whatever you usually use) Portable night-light
expertadvice Olivia Mai, founder of The Stork Exchange
The Pram Bag With most airlines, children under the age of two do not have a luggage allowance, but parents are allowed to take an additional bag on board (be it a laptop bag, a duty free shopping bag or a baby bag). So really, you’ve got to be smart about what you pack in the baby bag. There is a parental loop hole however – the Pram Bag! Most airlines prefer you to pack your pram into a protective cover, and from what we’ve witnessed, we’d recommend it too. The handy thing is, you can pack a lot of additional 'padding/protection' into that pram bag in the form of nappies, towels, and spare clothes. You can either check it in or if you’re bringing your pram to the gate, bring it through security too. It will have to go through the scanning machines of course, and all the usual liquid restrictions etc apply, but consider it an extra free bag!
The Baby Bag So then, now that we’ve sorted the spare nappies and clothes into the pram bag, what does that leave for the baby bag? If like me, your handbag is choc-full of who knows what and it takes ten minutes of rooting in the abyss to find your keys, that’s just gonna add to your stress level at the airport. Trying to change a nappy in a cramped airplane toilet, while hanging on to the baby with one hand and searching through the baby bag with another is something I’d do, but would definitely not recommend! Keep it to the basics, for your own sanity. I would argue that enough nappies and wipes for the flight, a spare baby grow in case of emergency, your baby blanket and food / drink are really the essential essentials. Of course if your baby is taking medications bring them too but basically keeping your baby hydrated, comfortable and well fed should make for a better flight. Everything else can go into checked luggage or the pram bag.
Did you know? A nappy bag has its own separate luggage allowance and is not considered a piece of equipment. It has to be 5kg or smaller, and can be brought in addition to the regular luggage allowance. Top tip from Dublin Airport Make sure you carry all your travel documents in one easily reached place, make sure your hand baggage meets security requirements before you leave home and work out whether you need to take buggies to the aircraft or check them in. Remember to keep everything that your baby needs on the flight in your carry-on luggage, ensuring that it is always to hand.
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r e m m Sustyle
Just for you
p this Summer? e st r u o y in g n ese a spri Looking to put pdate your wardrobe with th res o u Well, why not om some of our favourite st s fr fun new piece
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1 Short Sleeve Terracotta, €11 @ Penneys 2 Embroidered Top €45 @ Littlewoods Ireland 3 Print Skirt €39.99 @ H&M 4 Mustard Button Front Shorts €29 @ Dorothy Perkins
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5 Button Short Sleeve Shirt Dress €46 @ Next 6 Floral Print Wide Leg High Waist Trousers €49 @ M&S 7 Gingham Check Blouse €29.99 @ Mango 8 M&S Print Mini Waisted Dress €47.50 @ Floral 9 Utility Dress €18 @ Penneys 10 Rust Boilersuit €60 @ Next 11 Gabriella Ruffled Wrap Midi Dress €52 @ Vero Moda 74 | easy parenting
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In the kitchen
Two delicious and summery treats from cookbook author and blogger Jolene Cox
F L AVO U R S
When the sun shines in Ireland you have to just seize the moment get out there and dine alfresco. My two recipes this month are perfect for evening sunshine suppers in the garden or weekend family picnics in the park. All we need now is for the weather to co-operate.
Bacon and cheese Jambon Makes 8 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon plain flour 200ml milk (warmed) 100g white mature cheddar 50g parmesan cheese 6 smoked rashers 1 sheet of puff pastry (320g) 1 egg yolk Method 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. 2 Cut your pastry into eight rectangles. Chop the bacon into little squares removing the fat and fry in a pan until golden and crisp. 3 In a saucepan melt butter over a medium heat and add the flour and whisk. Gradually pour in your warmed milk (a few seconds in the microwave will do) 50 ml at a time, whisking after every 50 ml, until you’re left with a smooth white sauce. 4 Grate both types of cheese and add to the sauce until it's melted. Season with a little salt and pepper and add the crispy bacon squares. 5 The sauce will be quite thick, as it needs to stay on the pastry. Add a tablespoon of the bacon and cheese mix to the centre of each pastry rectangle. 6 Fold in each corner and brush with egg yolk. Bake for 40 minutes and that’s it, delicious hot or cold.
94 | easy parenting
In the kitchen
Barbecue chicken Drumsticks Serves 4 8 chicken Drumsticks For the dry rub 1 tablespoon of brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion powder Homemade barbecue glaze 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon smoked paprika Method 1 You will need two mixing bowls and a large lined baking tray. Preheat over to 180°C/ gas mark 4. 2 With sharp scissors, remove the skin and fat from each drumstick. In a bowl
mix together all your dried spices. Cover each drumstick with the dry spice rub and place onto a lined baking tray. 3 Oven bake for 40 minutes turning each drumstick after 20 minutes. In another mixing bowl combine the honey, soy, ketchup and smoked paprika to make your glaze. 4 After 40 minutes toss the drumsticks into the glaze making sure each one is covered. Serve on a platter with leafy greens and let the whole family tuck in.
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Summer creations
You only need a few items to make both of these lovely summer inspired crafts from Sadhbh Devlin
FLUTTERING BUTTERFLY These floating, fluttering butterflies are easy to make and lots of fun to play with. Make your butterflies in your favourite colours and bring them out to the garden to fly in the summer breeze! You will need: Coloured Tissue Paper Pipe Cleaner String/Thread Stick/Wooden BBQ Skewer (with the sharp tip removed!) Method: 1 Cut two squares of tissue paper in your favourite colours. Place one on top of the other and crumple them up to add texture. 2 Squeeze the square in the middle to make a bow shape and secure with the pipe cleaner. Use the ends of the pipe cleaner for the butterfly’s antennae. 3 Tie the string/thread to the centre of the pipe cleaner body. 4 Attach the other end of the string to a stick and get ready to fly!
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Crafts expert Sadhbh Devlin
Crafts & Activities
SUMMER SUNSET Did you know that you can ‘paint’ with tissue paper? Celebrate the beautiful summer-evening skies with this simple but effective technique. There is a city-scape featured here but perhaps you could make a beach or another nature scene! You will need: Coloured Tissue Paper (Tip: cheaper tissue paper tends to ‘bleed’ more) Watercolour paper Paintbrush & Water Black Permanent Marker Method: 1 Draw a landscape scene using your black marker and tear the tissue paper into rough shapes. 2 Use the paintbrush and water to ‘paint’ the areas you want to colour and place the tissue paper on top. The colours will bleed into each other. After a few minutes you can remove the tissue paper. 3 Leave the painting aside until it is completely dry. 4 Next, finish the picture by colouring the landscape black.
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
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