Absolutely Mama February 2018

FEB R UA RY 2 01 8 I S S U E 1 3 • £ 3 .9 5

Mama The Magazine For Stylish Mums

Creature Comforts

DONNA WILSON’S STYLISH FAMILY HOME

GREEN LIVING

Ethical shopping with kids

Voice of REASON

HOW TO SILENCE YOUR INNER CRITIC

HURRAH FOR GIN

Katie Kirby on honest parenting

ISSUE 13 • FEBRUARY 2018 MAMA_Feb18_COVER_UK_v2.indd 2

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R ST Y L I S H M U M S

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Clarks and the Clarks logo are registered trademarks of C & J Clark International Limited.

Clarks and the Clarks logo are registered trademarks of C & J Clark International Limited.

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11/01/2018 16:07

FFRREEEE. .TTOO BBEE MMEE. .

CO CO MM FO FO R TR TI NI NY O YO UR U RS O SO U LU L Super Super lightweight. lightweight.

Super Super flexible. flexible.

OurOur Crown Crown Collection Collection is designed is designed to liberate to liberate movement movement through through comfor comfor t. t.

SoftSoft materials materials andand super super spongy spongy soles soles bend bend andand flexflex withwith thethe natural natural motion motion of growing of growing feet.feet.

Giving Giving kidskids thethe freedom freedom to be to be their their fearless fearless selves. selves.

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Book y visit thour spring is

North Bridge House

Knowing the individual, realising their potential.

Nursery and Pre-Preparatory Schools, NW3 20 February 27 February 6 March

Preparatory School, NW1 4 May 14 June

Senior Canonbury, Senior Hampstead, N1 NW3 22 February 20 February 28 February 6 March 13 March

9 March 16 March

Full event details on the website

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mama WELCOME

c ontent s FEBRUARY 2018

39 40

32

76 Lots of gorgeous things

13

What's On

Events and activities for you and your little ones

16

New books

Fab new books for little ones

ESSENTIALS 20 Home comforts

All the baby kit you need

22 Tot treats

Luxe essentials for toddlers

Photographer KEN COPSEY Stylist CHARLOTTE KEWLEY

49 86

AGENDA 10 Mama loves

ON THE COVER:

34

MAMAHOOD 26 Mother's Ruin

Katie Kirby on her popular blog Hurrah for Gin

42 30 Slummy Mummies

68 Voice of Reason

32 Green Living

HOME & INTERIORS 80 New additions

Nancy Alsop askes how did candid writing about parenthood lose its honesty

Mama wonders how eco-friendly its possible to be with kids

43 Guilty Mother

Mama's columnist on romance

FASHION 40 Fashion Notes

The season's finest looks

49 Insta-mum

Courtney Adamo's 5 strong brood

WELLNESS 64 Eating out with kids How to encourage fussy eaters

Annalie Howling on how to silence your inner critic and get back to enjoying parenting

The latest kiddie pieces for your home

78 Creature comforts

Donna Wilson shows us around her stylish family home

TRAVEL 86 High design

Modern architecture meets rural charm in Puglia

90 Love is in the air

Escape to the country for a romantic weekend break

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Hatching Dragons

Helping your baby fly through life Think that your baby should get more out of a nursery?

They can. With us.

Fully immersive bilingual Mandarin -English nursery school launching its third setting in Westminster Spring 2018, following on from its success in Twickenham and Barbican.

So for teachers with real degrees, expertise, applicable skills in music and the arts and who have travelled the world...

To find out more...

And if you want your child to have horizons as big as the world Help them learn to fly with us

@hatchingdragonsbarbican

E:

enquiries@hatching-dragons.com

@DragonNurseries

P:

020 3912 2900

@hatchingdragonsbarbican

Westminster Barbican

W: www.hatching-dragons.com

@hatchingd

Twickenham

W:HATCHINGDRAGONS.indd www.hatching-dragons.com 1 W: www.hatching-dragons.com

@hatchingd @hatchingd

Twickenham Twickenham

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W:

mama WELCOME XXXXXXXXXXX, P XX BOOKS WE LOVE, P.16

COOL COMFORT, P.52

Editor’s

LETTER

MERI MERI, P.76

DONNA WILSON'S HOME, P.78

M

otherhood isn’t just an activity, it’s an identity, and while we’re raising the next generation – doing our best to shape and support impressionable young minds – us mamas are also often reinventing ourselves.

It’s something contributor Nancy Alsop was thinking about when she penned her feature on the rise of the Slummy or Scummy Mummy (page 28). Nancy’s piece offers a refreshing and provocative view on ‘mum culture’ – and is valuable, I think, in light of the growing power of mums on social media and in the marketplace.

Speaking of the mum marketplace, this issue is fi lled with inspiring and (importantly) practical gear for the mum of discerning taste. We’re big fans of shopping small, green and sustainably, and hopefully this issue will leave you full of ideas about how to do so.

Elsewhere in the magazine we counteract the February weather with a travel dispatch from Puglia on page 86.

I hope you enjoy the issue – my fi rst since returning from maternity leave after having my second baby.

It’s good to be back.

KINGDOM OF ORIGIN, P.40

Hel en Ba r on E DITOR

@hel_bow helen.baron@zest-media.com

T h e M a g a z i n e Fo r S t y l i s h M u m s

Mid-weight Designer: REBECCA NOONAN Production Manager: CHRIS COUCHMAN Finance Director: JERRIE KOLECI Directors: GREG HUGHES & ALEXANDRA HUNTER Managing Director: SHERIF SHALTOUT

@ A B S O L U T E LY M A M A

For editorial enquiries please email: morag@zest-media.com

absolutely-mama .co.uk

For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: rochelle@zest-media.com

Editor: HELEN BARON Editorial assistant: GEORGIA MCVEIGH Contributing Editor: NANCY ALSOP Commercial Director: LEAH DAY Commercial Manager: ROCHELLE STREATER Marketing Manager: ANGIE KOLECI Art Director: PHIL COUZENS Senior Designer: PAWEL KUBA

For media partnership enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: lucie@zest-media.com

Absolutely Mama supports

THE FIRST FORTY DAYS, P. 67

Part of the

LON DON OFFICE : 197-199 City Road, London EC1V 1JN, UK ABU DHABI OFFICE: FACT M.E FZ-LLC, Office 907E, TwoFour54, Park Rotana Complex, P.O Box 769328, Abu Dhabi UAE zest.london To read the lastest issue of Absolutely Mama subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelymama

Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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10 things we Absolutely

LOV E From nostalgia to nouveau - things we love this February

BOLD BRITISH

Kingd om of Orig in Driven by a desire to create a truly British brand for girls, these quirky clothes are a fresh take on traditional fashions. Their new range, inspired by 60s prints, is crafted out of the finest Belgian silk and British woven cotton. kingdomoforigin.co.uk

TIMELESS TRADITION Pepa & Co.

Pepa & Co.'s collection reflect how certain designs have withstood the test of time. Their deeply nostalgic and beautifully crafted clothing are a true testament to the heritage of traditional childrenswear. pepaandcompany.com

Superb stuff

Steif f Recognised worldwide for the yellow label lovingly stamped into their ears, Steiff teddybears take luxury to a new level. With fur made of the softest mohair, they're a must have keepsake to pass down to the next generation. steiffteddybears.co.uk

Drops of joy

L a Pra i r i e The new nightcare formula by La Prairie is its most powerful yet. In just one drop, it enhances the skins natural detoxifying process and aids new cell creation, ensuring skin looks rejuvenated and youthful all day long. ÂŁ984 laprairie.co.uk

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ma m a LOVES

DEAR DIARY

SUPER SCENTS

kik k i . K Award winning Swedish designers kikki.K have a long history of creating fabulous stationary that is both minimalist and eye-catching. The fun diaries, notepads and calenders are the perfect way to get organised in a fun and quirky way. kikki-k.com

Jo Malone

Jo Malone are well known for their powerful frangrances. Their beautifully designed diffusers, with unusual black reeds, will afford you the opportunity to drench your home as well as yourself in stylish scents. jomalone.co.uk

Hydration

kikki.K Help along that New Year Resolution to stay hydrated with this gorgeous glass waterbottle from kikki.K. Reduce your footprint with less plastic and revitalise yourself at the same time. £18 kikki-k.com

TRENDY TRAVEL

Lovely letters

Ke r ikit Say goodbye to days of disorganisation with the Thea Travel bag - as chic as it is practical. Perfect for travelling with kids, it includes multiple interior and exterior pockets for essentials, as well as looking absolutely fabulous. £295 kerikit.com

Pos h Tot t y Des i g n s What better way to say 'I love you' than a personalised box of ten cards listing all the reasons that your Mum is the best. To make it truly personal, choose to keep the cards blank and fill them in yourself. £14.50 notonthehighstreet.com

Luxury Life

Ro co co Don't settle for high street horrors when indulging after a long day, have Rococo chocolates instead.

Not only do they look wonderful, they taste great, too. rococochocolates.com

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©2018. All rights reserved Young Soles. Photography by Emma Donnelly.

Spring Summer 2018 New styles. New colours. www.youngsoles.co.uk YOUNG SOLES.indd 1

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Revolting Rhymes 12 February Southbank Centre

Magic Light Pictures bring fairytales with a mischievious twist to animated life, accompanied by music performed by Southbank Sinfonia. See Little red Riding Hood, Snow White, Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella as you've never seen them before. southbankcentre.co.uk

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Half-term fun for February and Southbank's Imagine Children's Festival

Exciting and educational events to entertain them this month THE THE NATIONAL GALLERY

W H AT ’ S ON

P L AC E S FO R P O R TR A IT S A N D P E R FO R M A N C E S

Pop-up Portraits 12-15 February National Gallery

Drop in to the National Gallery to try your hand at portrait painting, watched over by the faces created by some of the most famous artists in history. nationalgallery.org.uk

Cirque du Soleil OVO Until 4 March Royal Albert Hall

Bring out your inner entomologist with this extraordinary performance by Cirque du Soleil, hurling you headlong into the elusive world of insects. royalalberthall.com

Editors Pick

Imagine Children’s Festival 7-18 Febuary  Southbank Centre

Super Heros, snails and scientists are just some of what you can expect to find at Soubank Centre's Imagine Children's Festival.

Encourage creativeness in your kids and immerse yourself in childhood with this celebration of stories, poetry, comedy, music and theatre. Suitable for all ages, during half-term. southbankcentre.co.uk 14

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Sharky + George 4 February Trotters, W8

Sharky + George have collaborated with Trotters to create complimentary activity sessions for shoppers. Take part in strawberry bootlace races and much more. trotters.co.uk

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agenda

Last Month’s Highlight

WHAT'S ON

Bubble London 28-29 January Design Centre, Isling ton

SYLVAIN DELEU

 The biggest baby and children's tradeshow, Bubble, re-opened its doors to showcase the newest and most exciting launches in kids fashion and products. A great opportunity to view how kids fashion is changing and adapting, there was a special focus on the rise of gender neutral clothing, and its growing popularity is a surefi re sign that the industry will be changing.

Design Centre, Islington; N1

DREAM ON

HISTORY LIVE

From 10 February V&A Museum of Childhood

elve into dreamworld at the Museum of Childhood.

Their new exhibition, Dream On, explores the notion that our dreams have the ability to bring inanimate objects to life, immersing you in the world of possibilites in the middle of the day - or as it's more commonly known, a daydream. You're guaranteed to leave with a warped and wonderful sense of reality.

Cambridge Heath Road, E2 vam.ac.uk

D

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

Until 25 February V & A Museum of Childhood

ebruary is the last chance to view the V & A's breathtaking exhibition detailing the life of worldrenowned children's author, Michael Morpurgo. Creator of classics such as War Horse, it showcases original letters and unpublished manuscripts - and even gives you the opportunity to meet the Joey puppet from the West End production of War Horse. vam.ac.uk

F

3 Shows for the Season H A R E & TH E TO R TO I S E

B E A R A N D B U T TE R F LY

J O E Y ' S C I RC U S

See a fabulous and fresh take on Aesop's classic fable at the Lyric Theatre. The award-winning adaptation will have you on the edge of your seat. Who will win this time?

Lyric Square, W6; lyric.co.uk

A charming tale following friendship and the strength of a bond between two very unlikely allies, Bear and Butterfly will have you laughing and crying simultaneously.

40 High St, TW8; theatrehullabaloo.org.uk

Everyone knows Punch and Judy, but do we know where they came from?

Step back into Punch's past with this fun adaptation aboard a barge on the river Thames.

Blomfield Road, W9; puppetbarge.com

13-17 February Lyric Theatre

13-17 February Watermans Art Centre

Until 18 March Puppet Theatre Barge

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We love

BOOKS

Entertaining, informative and funny things to read out loud this month Wo r d s P E A R L B OY D

Bright Eyes

LITTLE CREATURES M I C E I N T H E C I T Y: L O N D O N

by Ami Shin

F I R E F LY H O M E

by Jane Clarke & Britta Teckentrump

Th is stylish picture book features vibrant neon throughout as it invites readers to help a little lost fi refl y fi nd her way home. The fun interactive text brings Florence Firefl y to life. £11.99  nosycrow.com

All across London, mice dressed in top hats and smart overcoats are making their way across town to work. Award-winning South Korean illustrator Ami Shin's work is a cross between Where's Wally? and Angelina Ballerina. Every page is teeming with surprises and young children will have something new to spot every time they open the book. And if they like this one, introduce them to Mice in the City: New York next. £12.95  thameshudson.co.uk

Editor's pick

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Mama loves

agen d a

BOOKS

BODY ART WE ' R E ALL WO R KS O F ART

by Mark Sperring

Th is striking book celebrates and normalises human diversity by highlighting the many examples of humans as seen in art styles and movements around the world. The lyrical text works well read aloud and the vibrant illustrations are minimasterpieces in themselves. £11.99  pavilionbooks.com

READING WEEK World Book Day 2018

Page turner MY WO RST BOO K EVE R!

by Allan Ahlberg

Th is clever story is about the making of a book and all the things that can go wrong. Allan's idea features a crocodile, but the publishers want a dinosaur and the illustrator's keen on a hippo... and further problems arrive at the printer. £10.95  thameshudson.co.uk

MINDFUL TOTS

MIND HUG

by Emily Arber and Vanessa Lovegrove

Children's Mental Health Week starts on 6 February and this storybook is all about introducing mindfulness from an early age in a child-friendly way. Part of every book sale goes towards Place2Be's work in schools. £9.99  circus-house.com

W

orld Book Day returns on 1 March with its mission to celebrate reading for pleasure and encourage children and young people to read and love books. A stellar line-up of authors, illustrators and events is planned across the country alongside a series of special new works that will cost just £1 or free in exchange for a £1 World Book Day book token. Bestselling children’s authors and illustrators for 2018 include broadcaster Clare Balding, musician Tom Fletcher, comedian Julian Clary and top illustrator David Roberts, sports journalist Gerard Siggins and further favorites Pamela Butchart, Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton and Kes Gray. In addition to these new titles, and completing the line-up, there will be releases from favourite household brands Marvel’s The Avengers, Mr Men and Paddington.

The £1 World Book Day book tokens are available to all nursery and schoolchildren in the UK and Ireland.  worldbookday.com Februar y 201 8

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Dream Time  BOORI

Classically styled and with an undeniably regal bearing, the Sleigh Royale cot bed from Boori is ideally designed for your sleeping beauties – and features a discreet integrated drawer for handy extra storage. £999 boori.com

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1

3 In Style

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Best for babies indoors and out

Wo r d s G E O RG I A M C V E I G H

5

1. Bunny bedding

2. Swathed soft

3. Characterful

4. Goofy gums

5. Hamper heaven

The Modern Nursery We love the fun rabbit prints on this Mini Rodini Babysized bed set. Ethically sourced and made from 100% cotton, it comes with edge seams to ensure both pillow and duvet remain secure while keeping baby safe and snug. £65 • themodernnursery.com

Little White Company Th is super soft sleepsuit is the epitome of cosiness.

Poppers down the centre and legs will allow your little one an uninterrupted sleep while engulfed in the fleecy fabric and moonlight blue winter forest design. It looks adorable as well. £28 • thewhitecompany.com

aden + anais Well known for their iconic muslin swaddling, aden + anais have annouced a gorgeous new range in collaboration with Disney.

Featuring hand sketches of classic characters, items are available as bibs, blankets, swaddles and musys.

• adenandanais.co.uk

Matchstick Monkey Combining entertainment and relief, these Dancing Monkey teethers are an innovative spin on the traditional circular designs.

The soft rubber and texture blend can be frozen to soothe gums, and are totally dishwasher friendly. £14.95 • matchstickmonkey.com

Harrods Th is positively luxurious cashmere baby hamper is the perfect gift for any newborn. Combining quality cashmere items with everyday cotton clothing, it's both practical and plush.

And it comes with a mohair teddy to top it off. £725 • harrods.com

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BA BY

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6. Bath box The Baby Box Dispel those first bath fears with this Baby Bath Kit, which provides everything you could want to make bathtime a success. Ranging from the bath itself to sponges, soaps and towels take away the stress and splash with style. £115 • thebabybox.com

7. Nice knit

8. Warm and safe

9. Simple soaps

10. Save time

Finn + Emma Hand-knitted by artisans in Peru, ethically sourced and made from fair-trade cotton, this Elephant rattle is the perfect companion to keep your baby entertained. And it's stuffed with all natural sheep's wool for ultimate softness. £25 • naturalbabyshower.co.uk

Silver Cross Silver Cross takes baby sleeping bags to a higher level of luxury with their new range. Embroidered and quilted on the exterior, they have jersey lining for extra warmth inside to ensure baby is kept snug and safe all night long. £30 • silvercrossbaby.com

Green People The simplicity of the packaging on these baby skin products mirrors the purity of the ingredients within. Totally organic, this lovely gift pack sets baby up with with a truly simple and pure start to life - and it's great for Mamas, too. £16.50 • greenpeople.co.uk

Slumbersac• Available in three weights, the awardwinning Slumbersac is the perfect way to ensure baby maintains the right temperature. With a choice between long or short sleeves, they're perfect for a blanket free future.

• slumbersac.co.uk

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Feeling

Fancy Fantastic finds this February Wo r d s G E O R G I A M C V E I G H

Cool but classic BENEDITA

It's often hard to find clothes that are both warm and stylish during the winter months. That's where Benedita come in. Their gorgeous designs and timeless cuts have a nostalgic yet contemporary feel to to them - perfect for all occasions. benedita.co.uk

Creative cashmere

PETITE SUMMER INFANT

OLIVIER BABY

Olivier Baby's range of handknitted pieces combine fun and traditional designs. Made of 100% cashmere, every item has a personal feel. So if you thought cashmere and baby don't go together, think again. ÂŁ32 olivierbaby.com CAMP BESTIVAL: THE GRANDADDY

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The My Size Potty by Summer Infant is an ingenious revival of the potty. For little ones old before their years, this mini loo is the answer. Adding a touch of humour by making encouraging noises when the flush is pulled, it comes with a removable bowl for easy clear up. ÂŁ34.99 summerinfant.co.uk

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essentia ls TODDLER

Bright backpack MINI BODEN

Well known for their bold prints and practical, fun clothing, Mini Boden doesn't disappoint with this printed backpack. Alongside its cool and quirky appearance, it has a roomy interior and pocket on the outside, and is suitable for all weathers. £12 thelittlenaturalco.co.uk

VELVET TOE BONTON

Forget glass slippers; to feel like a real princess you need look no further than these beautiful velvet slippers from Bonton.

Rubber soles to prevent slipping mean they're practical as well as looking fabulous. We wish they made them in adult sizes as well. From €59 bonton.fr

editor's pick

Lunch life BECKY + LOLO

Becky + Lolo's gorgeous lunch boxes will add some fun to any meal. Whether you're storing snacks for a day out or preparing for school, the durable plastic will withstand any little bumps and can be thrown into the dishwasher at the end of a long day. £4.98 smallable.com

Picturesque Picnic JOJO MAMAN BÉBÉ

Get your littlies dreaming of summer days with this beautiful wooden picnic set from Jojo Maman Bébé.

Turn your living room into a sunny glade with a selection of fruit, cake and cutlery, all packed into a lined wicker basket. £32 jojomamanbebe.co.uk

HIGH TIME PHIL&TEDS

The spongy aerocore seat on this eye catching and quirky highchair is guaranteed to provide maximum comfort - but that's not all. The wide, and easily removable tray is perfect for any large meal, and it converts into a child's chair. £84.99 mothercare.com

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mamahood M OT H E R ' S R U I N : H O N E ST PA R E N T I N G W I T H K AT I E K I R BY p . 2 6 • W H O I S T H E S LU M M I E ST O F A LL : H OW D I D C A N D I D W R I T I N G A B O U T PA R E N T I N G LO S E I T S H O N E ST Y ? p . 2 8

Modern Mamas  IN THIS SECTION

Join us as we explore the different aspects of contemporary motherhood.

Nancy Alsop writes about the rise of the Slummy Mummy, we speak to Instamum Courtney Adamo of family living blog Babyccino Kids, (now relocated to Byron Bay after months of travel,) and our editor explores greener ways of parenting.

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Q&A

P Mama’s

RUIN?

arenting defi nitely has a funny side. It might be easy to overlook it in the fug of sleepless nights and pointless negotiations over biscuits, or in the darkness of your kitchen at 5.30am when you are being bullied into starting a craft project involving glitter. But comedy moments are plentiful and anyone who needs to be reminded of them could turn to Katie Kirby. Her blog Hurrah for Gin is full of simple, deadpan stick people drawings, their succinct speech bubbles evoking in just a few words the enormous range of emotions that can be summoned by even the smallest of events.

These sketches offer an antidote to any literature you may read offering advice on how to get your baby to sleep, or what you should be feeding your toddler, or how to master the tantrum, or any of the other areas in which your experience might not tally with the official line. Does your child's terrible behaviour in the supermarket embarass you? Does she only eat Wotsits for breakfast? Will he only sleep if you lie on the floor of his room for an hour? You are not alone. Hurrah for gin, as Katie Kirby says.

Katie Kirby’s popular blog Hurrah for Gin offers a insightful and hilarious look at parenting, as depicted in stick figures. Mama chats to her about blogging, therapy and social media I n t e r v i e w P E A R L B OY D

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mamah o o d

Tell us how you started Hurrah For Gin. I was on maternity leave after having my second son and, like many other mums, was struggling to see how I was going to make returning to work, work. What with childcare, drop-offs/pick-ups and the difficulty of fi nding flexible employment.

I was feeling a bit despondent about it all. So to give my brain something to focus on other than just the kids I decided to start a blog as a hobby really. I’d always liked reading them myself but hadn’t really found any that depicted my own experiences because most of them seemed to be full of sunshine, flowers and well-behaved impeccably dressed kids. So I was always keen that my own would show the real, raw and funny sides of parenthood.

Q A

Q You have said in the past that you find blogging therapeutic. Is it the act of writing it or the response you get?

A Both I guess. It certainly helps me to write my experiences down as I love writing, but the fact that so many people comment that they are going through the same ones makes me realise I’m certainly not alone. The funny thing I think is that the vast majority of parents go through the exact same struggles but we pretend we are coping as that’s the British way. However being honest and open about our shortcomings is much healthier.

Q When did you first see the funny side of the chaos that is parenting?

A I guess that’s just how I look at life in general, trying to see the humorous side to

~

MOST BLOGS SEEMED TO BE FULL OF SUNSHI NE , FLOWERS AND WELL-BEHAVED IMPECCABLY DRESSED KIDS

~

bleak situations. I really think that if you don’t laugh you’ll cry so you may as well laugh – and sharing tales of woe is part of that. For example my oldest woke up at 3am on Christmas Day - horrendous.

But when I talked about it and asked other parents what time their kids got up and I heard some equally horrendous tales, and then suddenly it all just seemed quite comical.

INTERVIEW

Q How do you feel about the effect of social media on mothers?

A I think it can be quite harmful if you aren’t careful. It’s very easy to look at other people’s facebook feeds and feel like they are making a much better job of things than you. But social media lies and we all edit our lives to make them look shiny and perfect on facebook. I guess my blog is in someway the antidote to that where I try and show the fl ip side of family life.

Q What do your children think about your blog?

A Not much; they don’t really care. They live in their own little worlds so if we are not talking about football, Lego or Star Wars then they have little interest.

Q Do you ever feel under pressure to be funny at the expense of truthful?

A No I’d never lie about something in order to make a better joke. It’s more to do with the way you tell a story, so getting the flow right is what usually takes time.

What’s next as your children get older?

That is the question! I’m not sure really.

I think it’s harder to talk about your kids as they get older. Babies and toddlers are all very similar so when we joke about them it’s in a general sense but when they are school aged it becomes much more personal, so I’ve stopped blogging so much about our actual lives. I’d love to keep doing books though but perhaps different genres, children’s books maybe?

Q A

Katie Kirby will be at the Turks Head, Twickenham for ‘An Audience With’ on 6 February 2018. For tickets and more info visit wegotthisco.com Februar y 201 8

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Who is the

SLUMMIEST of them all?

Mama asks: how did candid writing about parenthood lose its honesty?

Wo r d s N A N C Y A L S O P Illustration PHIL COUZENS

arents who watched Motherland, the raved-about new series by Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) and Graham Linehan (Father Ted), will doubtless have nodded along in mirthful recognition – even solidarity – at the unflinching representation of what it is to be both middle class and to have children in the 21st century. Surprise!

No one is having it all. And shock!

Everyone is mad in their own special way – whether, at one end of the spectrum, they’re going to extreme lengths to cadge free childcare so that they can just get to bloody work on time or, at the other, presenting a breezy Ralph Lauren-style model family face to the world while busily 28

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having secret threesomes with people from the Internet. And this non-dressed up, not immediately obviously Insta-friendly account of parenthood rides the crest of a very specific parenting zeitgeist, in all its manic, wild-eyed, crazy and at-times near-psychotic desperation: the rise of the slummy/scummy mummy.

It all began with the Alphas, of course, those so-called “yummy mummies” who managed to magically produce perfect offspring; balanced organic lunchboxes; immaculate-though-twee homes awash with Cath Kidston (Cabbages & Roses for the more discerning);

~

“ NO ONE IS

HAVING IT ALL .

AND EVERYONE IS MAD IN THEIR OWN SPECIAL WAY ”

~

and imaginative outfits for every endless World Book Day or party requiring fancy dress unobtainable to the more basic mum with her trusty glitter, scissors and glue. They did all this casually while also ensuring their kids were high-achieving and did things like going to bed on time without alarming nightly meltdowns.

These people were, of course, either self-created myths (cross reference: threesomes with people from the Internet) or eye-bulgingly wealthy and thus able to delegate with abandon. But these fictitious uber parents did more than to just leave us with a sense of inadequacy; they bequeathed in their wake the rise of the anti-yummy mummy, as pioneered by Fiona Neill, the Times’ original Slummy Mummy whose laundry pile is rarely less than a metre high and, in consequence, whose every confessional book has teetered at the top of the bestseller’s charts.

She – along with the swelling tide of social media - has in turn spawned a litany of colossally popular bloggers,

11/01/2018 11:32

mama h ood

MIND

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mama h ood

from Selfish Mother, to the Unmumsy Mum to Hurrah for Gin, whose sweary stickmanillustrated blogs fondly yet honestly recount what life with toddlers – or miniature dictators – can be like.

So far, so refreshing. But as the bloggers practically triple daily in number, all clamouring to proclaim their ineptitude louder than the last, the near-compulsive candour has also filtered down to every playground and school pick-up in the land.

Your child has fallen head-first off the climbing frame because you were distracted with gossip about that weirdly attractive teacher? “Ach, don’t stress, my child broke every bone in his/her body last summer – we still don’t know how – at that boozy picnic that no-one can remember getting home from!” “You think that’s bad? I blot out their whingeing every day by downing gin with my morning coffee!” “I feed my kids ready meals every night!” “I don’t feed mine at all, except the occasional Haribo!” “I don’t remember my kids’ names!” “I haven’t seen my kids in weeks!” “Occasionally I get so off my head I forget I even have kids!” “My youngest is a twat!” “My middle child is the spawn of Katie Hopkins and Jeremy Hunt!”

And so on, each ‘self-deprecating’ declaration of failure more extreme than the last.

Something that was born of a commendable desire to deflate the impossibly high standards set by the saccharine yummy mummies has descended into a different sort of oneupmanship. It is important to remember that these are, invariably, middle class parents deafeningly proclaiming their ineffectiveness; if a working class parent dared to shout, in jest, that they cracked open their first bottle of wine as they poured their kids’ cornflakes, social services would doubtless be summoned. And therein lies the rub.

It is, after all, human nature to delight in a candid chat and the realisation that our shortcomings are not only recognisable to but also shared by our peers. But when those failings are plastered relentlessly across a host of social platforms – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – it becomes less of an in-it-together candour, and takes on a smugness all of its own that says, “here I am being hopeless – and yet, by some miracle cocktail of good fortune and spectacular genes, aren’t my children still beautiful in spite of bohemian old me getting sozzled in the corner? And come to that, aren’t I remarkably artfully dishevelled in my small label designer clothes that make me look like I’ve wandered off the Moors as some sort of Brontean fantasy – minus the tuberculosis.”

The compulsion to be honest smacks of studied affectation and competition. Rather than sitting in friends’ homes swapping comic stories of the disasters (and triumphs)

~

“SOMETHING THAT WAS BORN OF A DESIRE TO DEFLATE THE IMPOSSIBLY HIGH STANDARDS SET BY SACCHARINE YUMMY MUMMIES HAS DESCENDED INTO A DIFFERENT SORT OF ONEUPMANSHIP”

~

MAMA_Feb18_CANDOUR.indd 31

MIND

of family life, the compulsion to publish every move to a mind-boggling number of followers doesn’t scream ‘supportive sisterhood’ so much as “look at me and how unbelievably authentic I am!” Particularly since, even as the snapshots and videos of toy explosions in the sitting room/ children head-to-toe in cake mixture/ toddlers swearing loudly go up, there is one hardto-ignore constant: an exemplarily dusky Farrow and Ball interior in the background; a picture-perfect shabby dog lolling by a log burner, firmly ticking the middle class signifier of taste box; and the ‘slummy’ mummy herself, caught ‘unawares’ – despite this being a selfie – in an Anthropologie maxi dress with a Barbour thrown over, some Toast knits, hair unkempt in a manner that can only be achieved with much zealous back-combing and a pair of Hunters paired with thick handmade socks, looking like a stylist’s dream reworking of 1940s make-doand-mend ration fashion.

In truth, the mums vying to out-inept one another are almost invariably – and entirely laudably – highly devoted, hardworking non-binging non-day drinkers who also happen to have one eye on the entrepreneurial prize of being a much followed social media slummy mummy. All of which is entirely commendable, if only we could wind down the competition and be neither yummy, nor slummy but just fine.

We’re fine with just being fine.

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Going

GR EEN Mama wonders how environmentally friendly it’s possible to be with kids Wo r d s H E L E N B OW M A N

F

or a while now, I’ve been thinking about how to reduce my family’s environmental footprint. Earlier this year, we almost moved to the country in search of a slower, more mindful pace of life – one that might encourage a closer connection with nature as well as the opportunity to consume less. For various reasons, the move didn’t happen, but a feeling that our family life was unnecessarily wasteful continued to grate. I’d always thought of myself as environmentally aware, but now I had two young daughters to think about: the future of the planet just got personal.

I know many parents feel the same. It’s difficult, when presented with the boxes of disposable nappies and wipes, the plastic tubs of creams and lotions, the dozens of travel pouches of baby food, the rapidly outgrown clothing and the small mountains of unloved toys, to feel that you’re not privileging transient experience and momentary convenience over the longterm health of the living world.

The truth is, people aren’t great for the planet. But that doesn’t mean we can (or would want to) blithely rationalise our impact away as a tragic inevitability. While mo’ people generally equals mo’ problems, we still need a functioning planet for our children to call home. A planet that can sustain life while inspiring wonder. So how to minimise our environmental impact in the here and now?

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ECOVER CLEANING RANGE

The fi rst step, as I found out to my increased consternation, is to transform that vague, gnawing worry about ‘the environment’ into a more solid sense of precisely how negative your personal impact is. For example: I thought that most plastic was recyclable. My local council always instructed us (or so I thought) to use our recycling bin for ‘metal, plastic, glass and paper’ – and in my ignorance I didn’t think to unpick those generalisations all that much.

It turns out that of the 3.4 million tonnes of plastic discarded in the UK each year, only 1.5 million tonnes are recyclable. And of that number, only 500,000 tonnes are actually recycled. Th is means, for example, that most of our food containers – pouches, plastic fi lms, bottle tops and ‘mixed plastics’ – go directly into landfi ll. And guess what? The recycling symbol – those circling arrows we all recognise, and in which I had always placed a stupidly blind faith – doesn’t mean ‘recyclable’ at all; it simply denotes that a manufacturer has made ‘a fi nancial contribution’ towards the collection and recycling of packaging, usually in lieu of using recyclable materials for their own products.

mamah o o d GREEN

ECO BY NATY BIODEGRADABLE WET WIPES

~

OF THE 3.4 MIL L ION TON N ES OF P L A STIC DISCA RDE D IN THE UK E ACH YE A R , ON LY 1 .5 MIL L ION A RE RECYCL A BL E

~

One reason for this waste is that many of the recyclable plastics we use in our daily lives – baby food pouches being a particularly relevant example – are not recycled by most local councils. Happily for my family, Ella’s Kitchen pouches can be recycled by specialist company Terracycle

LIVING

(terracycle.co.uk), which focuses on the recycling of hard-to-process waste; there’s a collection point close enough to my home that we’re able to store up our used pouches and do drop-offs every couple of months. But what about everything else?

The best solution, of course, is to reduce the amount of harmful waste you produce from the outset. It’s a minefield out there, not to mention inconvenient – moreso because plenty of the big brands seem happy to mislead or obfuscate rather than doing their bit.

And of course, it’s even harder with little ones to look after – little ones who would rather you be continuously wiping their nose than Googling ways to go plasticfree. But what follows are some relatively simple ways I’ve found to do a little good.

Because after all, it’s not our world we’re trying to save: it’s the world we’ll leave to our children.

Be wise to the effects of plastics

E

veryone’s talking about this right now, in no small part due to the devastating effects plastic pollution is having on our oceans, as highlighted in the BBC series Blue Planet II. The truth is, there’s a fair bit you need to know if you’re to understand how plastic recycling works in the UK. Start with a quick glance at the various plastic recycling codes, which

5 E C O - C O N S C I O U S A LT E R N AT I V E S Y O U ’ L L L O V E

Takeaway Coffee KEEP CUP

SISTER & CO COCONUT OIL

Body Scrub

HEVEA KAWAN NATURAL RUBBER DUCK

Bath Toys

Bottles

Tablewear

That daily coffee you enjoy after the school run? Make sure it’s in a keep-cup. In the UK alone, we discard around 2.5 billion coffee cups every year – and only 1 in 400 is recycled. At uk.keepcup.com, you can design your own keep-cup to suit your tastes.

Microbeads in many exfoliants are actually tiny balls of plastic that find their way into our natural watercourses, killing wildlife and harming entire ecosystems. Avoid using coffee in your scrubs too as it blocks drains. Use natural coconut oil with brown sugar instead.

So many baby products are made of plastic when they could equally well be made of natural materials.

For bathtime go with rubber or cork.

We love the Kawan duck by Hevea, as well as their full range of rubber teethers and pacifiers, available at meandbuddy.com.

There’s no need to stick with plastic for baby bottles and toddler training cups – check out the Pura collection including adult water bottles at kidly.com, made from stainless steel. Kidly is a great destination for natural and sustainable toys too.

Ditto dinnerware – several new manufacturers make eco-friendly bamboo sets. Bamboo is a great natural fibre that can be used to make all sorts of kitchenware and tupperware for children’s snacks.

We love this stylish star-print set from mollyandmoo.co.uk.

PURA

MOLLY AND MOO

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HURRY UP SUM MER

ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

Each of our beautiful catered villas in Mallorca and the south of France comes with its own pool and experienced Scott Dunn staff. Your private chef will prepare mouth-watering menus, with ingredients sourced from local markets, while your host will take care of everything from bringing you fresh sorbets by the pool, to advising you on the local highlights. For little ones, we offer fantastic nannies that will look after children from 4 months old. They tailor activities around their needs, interests and routine while always ensuring the fun factor.

To start planning your luxury holiday today, visit scottdunn.com/villas or call on 0208 682 5040

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mamah o o d GREEN

ORGANIC CLOTHING BRAND PIUPIA BABY

~

THE AV E RAGE BA BY CA N GE T THROUGH 6,500 N A P P IES IN TWO A N D-A-HA L F YE A RS

~

ECO BY NATY CLEAN POTTY

LIVING

save from permanently sitting in landfi ll.

Just make sure you dispose of them in a biodegradable nappy sack.

The same logic applies to wet wipes, which have seen a huge rise in use over the last 5-10 years – as evidenced by the sheer number of them found clogging up our sewers and (worst of all) our beaches. Most wet wipes contain plastics and polyester and don’t break down.

But switching brand can help: Jackson Reece (jacksonreece.com) makes widely available biodegradable wet wipes from cellulose, a plant fibre. They disappear completely within eight days in a sewage treatment plant or six weeks in a compost heap, and are great for kids with eczema or sensitive skin. The fact that they’re made in Britain also means they leave a smaller carbon footprint getting from the factory floor to your doorstep.

Refuse and recycle excess packaging

seem designed to obscure as much as they explain. A good resource to the meaning of these codes, the main types of plastic they denote, their various toxicities and environmental impacts can be found at lifewithoutplastic.com.

Use eco-friendly beauty and cleaning products

T

he beauty and sanitary industries are some of our worst environmental offenders; as a result, many of us look into chemical-free alternatives while pregnant. There are good aluminium-free deodorants on the market these days, as well as natural detergents and cleaning products that eschew harmful manmade chemicals.

The Ecover (ecover.com) range is famously gentle, and means you don’t have to fret when baby crawls all over your freshly mopped floor.

Rethink your brand loyalties

D

id you know that the UK’s leading nappy brand scores the lowest marks on almost every ethical standard, from animal testing and workers’ rights to environmental impact?

It’s like buying nappies from Darth Vader. The good news is, there are better alternatives.

A growing number of parents in the UK are switching to reusable cloth nappies, but if that’s too extreme a step, try the biodegradable nappies made by Swedish company Naty (naty.com). They’re made from organic cotton and plant fibres which break down naturally when disposed of – important when you think that the average child can go through 6,500 nappies in two and a half years.

That’s over 10 tonnes of waste you could

W

hen it comes to food packaging, it really can seem impossible to avoid harmful plastics. But as already mentioned, your impact can be improved by fi nding out if companies like Terracycle operate collection points in your area and taking tricksy packaging to them. Besides which, it’s always worth sending an email to the Customer Service department of your supermarket of choice, to politely remind them that their customers are concerned about the volume of non-recyclable materials used in their packaging. They may not take action as quickly as you’d like, but they will be listening.

Buy less, buy better

Y

ou can also help to save the environment (and some cash) by buying fewer toys and clothes for your little ones – and making sure the ones you do buy are chosen with at least one eye on their ecological impact. Wooden toys generally look better than plastic ones anyway – check out Sarah and Bendrix (sarahandbendrix.com) and Garbo and Friends (garboandfriends. com) for inspiration. Environmentally, it really can pay to shop small, with many independent brands placing a fi rm emphasis on sustainability. Support eco-conscious brands and you’ll be supporting the planet.

Everyone’s a winner.

Some more helpful resources: reyouzable.com • bulkmarket.uk hetu.co.uk

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mamah o o d

Guilty Mother

BAD ROMANCE

Forget Valentine's day. For Mama's resident Guilty Mother, there's nothing more romantic than a mix tape

I

probably don’t have to tell you but Valentine’s Day is approaching.

But if you are thinking about scrambling to grab a reservation at The Ivy, I say: don’t bother. I’m not a hopeless romantic, I’m a bad romantic.

I don’t mean to be a spoilsport, but for me, Valentine’s day is overrated.

It’s all become too much. I wonder if even Saint Valentine himself would approve.

The high street will be throwing love and romance everywhere, trying to ram it down everyone’s throats. People holding hands or gazing into each other’s eyes while they stroll in the park. No thanks. Valentine’s day is just a time where commercialism is forcing us to prove our devotion.

Th ings just seemed so much easier in the nineties. Wasn’t it just more fun then? Valentine’s day was for one thing and one thing only - to tell someone you have been eyeing for a while that you have a massive crush on them. It was a good rule of thumb not to spend much money on a card. Any

Wo r d s J O W I M B L E- G ROV E S

card would do. Handmade if possible, smothered with the scent of Impulse on the inside. How could a spotty teenage boy resist? There was always a chance that the poor guy might pass out from the overwhelming stench of perfume, but hey, you have to make a good impression if you are going to win his heart. Just think, a little more Corey Haim and a little less Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman.

Alternatively, remember mix tapes?

Nothing says 'I fancy you' more than a

COLUMN

mix tape. All those 90s R&B hits. We were spoilt for choice. SWV ‘Right Here’, Robin S ‘Show Me Love, ‘Jump’ by Kris Kross and don’t forget to add Boyz II Men as the fi nal song. Need I say more? He would be a fool to decline your impressive swooning skills.

Either way, valentine card or mix tape, you just hope and pray with a belly full of butterfl ies that he will get the message. Just don’t go overboard with your obsession or he’ll think you are some kind of stalker. Not cool. All you wish for is for him to, one day, invite you to meet him in the town shopping center to walk around. What a dream.

Back to the present day and I know my husband loves me. Love is when I fall asleep on the sofa and wake in my own dribble and he still wants to kiss me. Love is when he watches me demolish an entire family sized bag of tangy cheese Doritos on my own.

He looks at me but doesn’t comment, even though we both know that it is pure greed.

It is love of the purest kind. The times I put my jeans on and they feel too tight. I tell him that they must have shrunk in the wash.

He mumbles and walks off. We both know the truth of why they are snug but he’s too kind to say so. Those damn Doritos again. I can’t understand how I’m putting on weight when I have switched from wine to G&Ts (less calories – tick) and I went for two runs this month (tick). Apparently, this is not a sufficient health and lifestyle commitment.

What does he know?

Now you might be thinking “What woman doesn’t love romance?” Well, I don’t mind the odd romantic comedy, but seriously, get those rose petals away from me. The thought of someone playing the fiddle while I eat. No thanks. I love small gestures, like a handwritten card or a trip to the cinema but I don’t need a gift. We don’t need to hold hands (maybe just on special occasions) and we don’t need to spend the entire day together.

We need separation to survive.

For the majority of us with busy lives, we want to feel loved and appreciated all year round, not just when someone tells us to.

So there you have it. The lowdown of what it’s like to be a woman who doesn’t love romance. No flowers or chocolate hearts please. I prefer to get my own flowers these days, as let’s be honest, no one wants a bunch of lilies or yellow carnations. We want peonies and hydrangeas.

So this valentine’s day, promise me you won’t go out? Just stay in and make a mix tape.

g uilt ymother.co .uk • @g uilt ymother Februar y 201 8

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NI NE I NTH E M I R R O R .CO M

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Ju m p Up  BEYOND NINE

As far as mama-style is concerned, we tend to aim for clothing that’s minimalist in aesthetic yet oversized in proportions. This jumpsuit from maternity-and-beyond brand Beyond Nine fits the bill (and postpartum bods) very nicely indeed. £80; beyondnine.co.uk

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6 of the best S N U G SW E AT E R S

’s tor i d e pick MANGO Angon Jumper; £49.99 shop.mango.com

mama

ST Y LE NOTES

From pregnancy must-haves to colourful bags, this seasons best

TROY Funnel Jumper in rust; £200 troylondon.com

GANNI The Julliard Mohair Pullover; £355 selfridges.com

Simple Styles

GENEVIEVE SWEENEY Elsa Jumper; £180 genevievesweeney.com

•BAUKJEN•

MANGO Bella Jumper; £25.99 shop.mango.com

Baukjen's mission is simple: to provide straighforward, stylish clothes that are suitable for the everyday - and that's exactly what they provide. The carefully crafted designs are quirky, contemporary and guaranteed to last. baukjen.com

DRIES VAN NOTEN Wool Blend Jumper; £555 selfridges.com

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fas h i on

MAMA

d Branus Foc

COSY CASHMERE •London W11•

What could be more luxurious than pure cashmere? London W11 deals with nothing but, yet its ethos surrounds cashmere in the everyday, ensuring you can add a touch of luxury to even the dullest of days. londonw11.com

ENVIE we love

The brand redefining pregnancy WHO?

BRIGHT BUMPS

Envie de Fraise was the brainchild of Anne-Laure Constanza, who, when pregnant with her first child, realised that there was a distinct lack of stylish and flattering clothing for pregnant mothers. She had a dream to create a brand that made expectant mothers feel trendy, elegant and attractive again.

•Isabella Oliver•

Isabella Oliver provides a fresh take on maternity clothing with their comfortable, flattering clothing that have a focus on fine fabrics. The nature of the designs mean they adapt to your shape as your body grows - and can be worn well after pregnancy, too. isabellaoliver.com

WHAT ?

BOLD BLING •Jed Green•

Make a statement with these striking earrings by Jed Green. The bold yet minimalist design is great for accessorising a casual outfit or adding a touch of fun and colour to the the classic Little Black Dress. £225 tomfoolerylondon.co.uk

Compact CARRIER Chapman Bags

he Lady's Leather Saddle Bag is the simple yet chic accessory perfect for the everyday. Spruce up a jumper, or accessorise a day dress with this fun, compact little bag. £169.50; chapmanbags.com

T

Envie de Fraise was established in 2006, named after the fable that all pregnant French women crave strawberries. Its mission was to create a chic line for pregnant women that followed the latest fashion trends, but came at an affordable price. It quickly established a name for itself, and soon became the largest collection of maternity wear in Europe. It is now the go-to brand for stars and celebrities such as Gwen Stefani and Melanie Laurent. A special collection was also designed for french First Lady Carla Bruni.

WH ERE? Envie de Fraise is based in the heart of the Paris fashion district, and is successful all over Europe, producing more than 400 items every season.

enviedefraise.co.uk

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Dress: Black bandeau from Wolford

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Cool Comfort Key transitional pieces to take you and bump effortlessly through the seasons P h ot og r ap h er K E N CO P S EY S t y li s t CH A R L O TTE K EW L EY H ai r and m ak e u p ZO E K RA M E R M odels J E N N Y M E I STE R

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Above: Dress: Black Bandeau, Wolford • Coat: Joseph Navy Wool Coat, Harrods Right: Dress: Phillip Lim Black Peplum Dress, Nine in the Mirror

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Above: Top: AG Jeans Grey Vest, Harrods • Trousers: Leopoard Print Striped Trousers, ASOS Maternity

Jacket: Mira Mikati 'Forever or Never' Patch Leather Jacket, Nine in the mirror Left: Top: AG Jeans Grey Vest, Harrods

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Newborn Helper Service

Don’t miss out on the moments that matter Let us help you with your childcare and household tasks.

So you can feel relaxed, rested and happy 020 3002 3637 www.helperbees.co.uk HB.indd 2

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fash io n

INSTA-M A M A

INSTA MUM

Courtney Adamo is co-founder of Babyccino Kids and mama of five in Byron Bay @courtneyadamo

Tell us about Babyccino Kids.

Babyccino started more than ten years ago as an online diary, a blog between three mum friends.

We shared our discoveries as new mothers – everything from craft projects to recipes, new must-have products to handy parenting tips.

Over the years, it has grown and evolved. In addition to our daily blog, we also have a shopping portal representing more than 400 independent children’s brands and boutiques. We also have kid-friendly city guides for six hip cities, and we host our annual ShopUp events in London, New York and Los Angeles.

Q A

Q How has instagram helped grow the business?

A Instagram has been a wonderful tool to help gain exposure for Babyccino. I think people love to see the behind-the-scenes of any business – it helps for people to relate and connect when they feel a personal connection, and this has certainly been true for our company.

We also love that Instagram has helped connect us to other likeminded mothers, bloggers and businesswomen, and we gain so much inspiration from these other women. Because we work with so many wonderful brands, it’s also a great way for us to highlight them and give exposure on this level.

Lastly, my business partner, Esther, and I wrote a book last year and Instagram was a great way to promote the book and to see photos of families from all over the world enjoying it.

Q Your feed is beautiful.

How do you get the perfect shot and what inspires you?

A I normally grab my phone when my kids are doing something cute, and I feel inspired to document it - anything from playing together on the beach, or building a tower of blocks in our living room. Often they don’t even know I’m snapping a photo (I find the best photos are the candid, natural shots). I’m also inspired by nature and our travels and find that Instagram is a great way of quickly documenting places and moments I want to remember. Because we live so far from our extended families, I often view Instagram as a great way to keep our families up to date on the children’s milestones and family adventures. It’s a very personal feed, but perhaps this is why people feel they can connect so easily.

Q What’s next for you and your business/family?

A On a family level, we have now settled in Byron Bay, Australia. We connected really quickly to the local community here, with many thanks to Instagram and the connections we made through it. We are staying put here in this beautiful corner of the world for now.

On a business level, we would like to continue to grow our community. We’d also love to bring our ShopUp events to Australia – I’m hoping to organize an event in Sydney this year.

babyccinokids.com

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6 of the best S N U G PYJA M A S

TROTTERS Edward Pyjamas; £32 trotters.co.uk

r’s editock pi

kids

FASHION NOTES Stay warm with all the hottest designs this winter

Trendy Traditions •Kingdom of Origin•

Chic, charming and oh-so-stylish, Kingdom of Origin mirrors the fashions of the past without becoming too stuffy. They are must-have designs this season. kingdomoforigin.co.uk

MINI BODEN Woven Jumper; £19.50 boden.co.uk

MINI BODEN Printed nightie; £19.20 boden.co.uk

PETIT BATEAU Girl's nightshirt with sailor stripes; £34.50 petit-bateau.co.uk

PETIT BATEAU Boy's Gingham poplin pyjamas; £42.50 petit-bateau.co.uk

TROTTERS Gingham Scottie Pyjamas; £32 trotters.co.uk

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KIDS

WEATHER-PROOF •Muddy Puddles•

For bright, colourful practicality, look no further than Muddy Puddles. Their range of waterproof clothing is perfect for the wet weather, but we particularly love these all-in-one suits. muddypuddles.com

STELLA MCCARTNEY

CLASSY CUTS • Tr o t t e r s •

Often recognised for their iconic shoes, Trotters' clothing range is as smart and practical as it is fun. Suitable for lounging around the house or a smart do, they are the perfect clothes for all occasions. trotters.co.uk

Products and brands to bookmark

JOYFUL JUMPERS •Jojo Maman Bébé•

Add a touch of brightness to those grey and rainy days with this adorable cardigan from Jojo Maman Bébé. The fun embroidery is guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face, and keep baby cosy at the same time. £22 jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Chic Feet La Coqueta

he beautiful and nostalgic designs

by La Coqueta bring back memories of our own childhood and long before. We absolutely love these gorgeous suede desert shoes, that are suitable for boys and girls. £48; lacoquetakids.com

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d Branus Foc

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tella McCartney's success in the fashion industry is well known, and her ethos revolves around sharp tailoring, femininity and natural confidence. She has collections in men and women's clothing, eyewear, lingerie and fragrance. In 2010 she launched her hugely successful kidswear collection, and it has since gone from strength to strength.

The collection captures the energy and essence of childhood whilst remaining effortlessly cool and stylish a true testament to her understanding of fashion and its ever changing demands. The girls line ranges from colourful and bold prints in the urban lines to more quintessentially feminine pastel designs, with striking frill and embroidery work.

The boys line too, suggests a strong urban influence, with stylish denims and cheeky prints incorporated alongside simpler plain designs.

The brand also has a hugely successful baby range, from newborn up, and combines the bold prints with traditional baby clothing. stellamccartney.com

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Pushing the

LIMITS Cool but classic; understated but bold; classy but contemporary; this collection of contradictions is the only thing to wear this winter. bonton.fr

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If the

Shoe Fits…

As it turns out your own mother was right and every child does need properly fitted ‘sensible’ shoes. Here’s how to win(g) the battle Wo r d s L I B B Y N O R M A N

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very parent has a strange moment in a shoe shop.

There you are on the other side of the fence, trying to reason with a reluctant toddler (or 12 year old) that it is very important to get shoes fitted properly – “sensible shoes” – or their feet won’t grow properly.

Yet you clearly remember sitting in the fitting hot-seat aghast as the school shoes were brought out. Even if you secretly agree that flashing lights, purple spangles and inbuilt wheels are much more fun, it’s time to toe the parental line. The good news is that you can argue this one with right on your side.

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FOOT WE AR

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CHILDREN WILL OF TEN NOT SAY IF THEIR SHOES ARE TOO SMALL , PARTICULARLY IF THEY LIKE THE SHOES

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Bare facts

hildren’s feet are malleable. In a newborn the foot is made up of soft and flexible cartilage and this only converts to bone over time, a very long time. At age five, your child has the full complement of 26 bones, says The College of Podiatry, but their feet are still vulnerable and well-fitting, properly made shoes are essential right through school, even if it’s a battle to manage what they wear out of school.

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So why measure?

ou may think you can spot when the shoe fits, but this is more complex than Cinderella and Prince Charming. Emma Stevenson, podiatrist and spokespeson for The College of Podiatry, says: “A professional shoe fitter will not only look at the length of a child’s foot, but also the width, which is important. Children will often not say if their shoes are too small, particularly if they like the shoes, which is why it’s worth having regular checks.”

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And how often?

hildren’s feet are, rather like the rest of them, miraculous. On average, they grow two sizes a year up to the age of four, one size after that. It doesn’t always work that way though – so nothing for what seems

an age, then a massive growth spurt.

Emma Stevenson says The College of Podiatry recommendation is to measure older children every three to four months. For children aged one to three, it’s around every eight weeks.

So grit your teeth, join the queue and get the fitting done as close as you can to the start of term.

Don’t sweat it

t has to be leather all the way because, as Startrite’s brands manager Denise Aldous points out, children are very active. Leather is flexible and breathable, essential for growing feet and good for sweaty feet (yes, children’s feet do a lot of that too). Look for good padding on uppers and flexible soles. The College of Podiatry reminds you to check their socks fit properly too.

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And the good news? ots of good work is being done to reduce the fitting stress. You can download devilishly clever measuring tools from Startrite – involving digital photos and a special grid which tech-obsessed children might just enjoy. Or buy its measuring gauge for home use.

Oh, and bare feet are great for foot health. So let your child run around as nature intended, wherever it’s safe to do so, sure in the knowledge you are nurturing their feet while saving a fortune on shoe leather.

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*

Supportive maternity fitnesswear keeping you active throughout pregnancy.

*Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Cannot be applied to Gift Packs or Fit Kits. Code expires 31/05/18.

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B E AU T Y N E WS p .6 2 • E AT I N G O U T W I T H K I D S p .6 4 • S I LE N C I N G YO U R I N N E R C R I T I C p .6 8 A F I T N E S S R O U T I N E FO R T H E D I G I TA L AG E p .73

Fe e l G o o d  IN THIS SECTION

Ideas and inspiration to keep your family healthy and well.

Turn fussy eaters into cheery feasters with help from the high street, how to stay positive and get back to enjoying parenting by controlling your inner critic and a new fitness regime for both parents and kids.

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6 of the best VA L E N T I N E S D AY ESSENTIALS

LE LABO Santal 33 Liquid Balm Perfume, £60 libertylondon.com

mama’s

BEAUT Y NOTES Prep and pamper with the best new products this February

CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet, £28; chanel.com

COVER FX Pressed Mineral Foundation, £31; selfridges.com

’s tor edipick

Star Sign •M AC •

EYEKO Bespoke Mascara, £30; eyeko.com

Look to the cosmos this season with MAC’s latest makeup drop. Inspired by the Lunar New Year, this radiant collection is composed of an eye shadow palette, lipstick and powder blush, all in soft shades of blush pink and cream. If it makes creating that natural look easier, we want it all. maccosmetics.com

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Instant Look in a Palette, £49; charlottetilbury.com

ELIZABETH ARDEN Eight Hour Lip Balm, £20; elizabetharden.co.uk

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welln es s BE AUT Y

SMOOTH SPEED •Dyson•

It's rare to be able to say that something is truly revolutionary - that was before Dyson's Supersonic Hairdryer.

Less damage, quicker dry time, less noise, and in-built heat control are just some of the reasons we love it; £349.99 dyson.co.uk

we love J-BEAUTY

Make like a soldier with bootcamp-style fitness Wo r ds J OY MO NT G O M E RY

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•Shiseido•

Inspired by traditional Japanese concepts of life and wellness, Shiseido’s Future Solution LX range combines high-performance formulas with a holistic heart. The Firming Contour Serum and Total Radiance Foundation are the latest additions to the range, using powerful antioxidants for dreamy skin day after day. shiseido.co.uk

SCENT TO SLEEP •Neom Organics•

Sleep routine still adjusting after the party season? Neom Organic's essential sleep kit is the answer. In a simple three step process, it uses calming scents to help relax you and ease you into a deeper and longer slumber. £20 neomorganics.com

Stretch away Previse

ay goodbye to stretchmarks with Previse's Mommybalm. The formula includes a blend of peptide and botanical emollients and antioxidents to reduce the appearance of stretchmarks and help create a more confident you. £71 • harveynichols.com

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B A R RY ’ S B O OTC A M P

arry’s Bootcamp is the fitness brand loved by London’s gym class elite. Originating in LA, there are currently over 40,000 members of Barry’s ‘FitFam’. A classic class is composed of two parts: cardio on the treadmill and strength training on the floor. Each class is different in its composition - ours is divided into six sections: three parts treadmill and three parts floor. According to their website, a single class can burn up to 1,000 calories, and we can certainly see why. After a pre-class introduction from our friendly trainer, the class kicks off on the machines.

We are offered three levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate and advanced, which in turn correspond to the numbers on the running machine. The lights are dimmed and the music pumps as our trainer leads us through interval runs and sprints at varying speeds and inclines.

We then swap to the floor to do a series of challenging strength exercises – everything from bicep curls and squats to mountain climbers. On our way out we grab a smoothie from Barry’s Fuel Bar and hobble our way to lunch with a serious sense of achievement. barrysbootcamp.com

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C Happy

E AT E R S

Most children are fussy diners, to varying degrees.

But how can we expand their foodie repertoires?

Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

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hildren are on the whole terrible dining companions.

Watching someone pick every last green thing off their plate and deposit it on the table, or on your plate or on the floor, is not fun, and neither is dealing with moaning when any of their disliked ingredients appears.

Fussy eaters might exclusively eat white food, or only foods that aren’t touching other foods, or insist on ketchup with everything, or chips. There’s no logic to any of it – they might have an irrational hatred of tomatoes, but not tomato sauce; they might love pastry but refuse to try quiche, they’ll eat cheese, but not if/only if it’s melted, they love mangoes but won’t go near melon. And then there are the inexplicable things that they do like. Olives, for instance, are very popular among children, as are cornichons – and they’ll usually eat mussels. Nothing is predictable – some of them love strong mustard and hate ketchup, and these firm beliefs can change daily.

Most children have an automatic resistance to things their parents encourage.

Homework, baths, gloves. And of course food. So if our power as parents is limited, how do restaurants fare as motivational environments? If we took our children to restaurants more often, would they widen their food repertoires? We picked three informal places to try with an aim of getting our girls aged 8 and 11 to try something new, and ideally to come away liking it. The rules?

No kids menus.

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WAHACA

well n es s

FOOD

Wahaca

 Wahaca is buzzy, colourful and fun and its Mexican street food focus is well suited to children in many ways. Small sharing plates mean lots of things to try. The main hazard however is chilli, which is unpopular among children but in most things here. If something’s deemed too spicy, they won’t eat it, and entire dishes can be dismissed this way, leading to the worst possible outcome: rejected food, hungry children, money wasted – the main reason (apart from behaviour) that parents avoid restaurants. Burritos, tacos, quesadillas are all kid-pleasers; the 11-year old loves her chicken burrito but slightly complains that it’s spicy. Still, we try a selection of things between us, including crab tostadas, black bean quesadilla and pork tacos, which all go down well, as does guacamole, which is proof for us that children will eat things in restaurants that they refuse at home. We loosen the ban on kids menus when we spot the build-your-own-taco offering, which even with avocado creates so much delight (and is a welcome relief from fish goujons and chips) that our mission is clearly a success.

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M OST C H I L D R E N HAV E A N AU TO M AT I C R E S ISTA N C E TO T H IN G S THE IR PA R E N TS E N CO U RAG E .

HO M EWO R K , BAT H S , GLOVE S . . . A N D FO O D

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The Real Greek

 Sharing plates have become a bit ubiquitous now, but Greek restaurants practically own the concept. Mezze is basically the way we all eat now anyway. At The Real Greek, they solve the problem of tables never being big enough for ‘three or four small plates each’ brilliantly by using the stacking silver serve equipment usually associated with afternoon tea, and this the kind of thing children like too. We order one of the set menus, Tonia’s Filoxenia, which is a feast. First there’s Greek flatbread and hummous, which admittedly sounds like what the children have in their packed lunches, but this is better and even they agree. Then comes the tiered THE REAL GREEK display: delicious green pea fava topped with red onions and tomatoes gains adult approval but inevitably the children pick off the onions and tomatoes. Halloumi skewers with minted yoghurt, chicken wings marinaded in smoked chilli and falafel balls with tahini dip and a steaming bowl of saffron rice are all quite popular.

We share a decadent (and not so Greek) salted caramel cheesecake and leave sated.

PING PONG

Ping Pong

 Dim Sum should be a no brainer for kids.

Small parcels of deliciousness. But our girls are suspicious of dumplings. Ping Pong’s menu is vast and we order a huge spread, including pink ‘unicorn noodles’ which don’t seem to be part of a children’s menu but easily could be. Most popular are the pork ribs, probably because they’re intensely sweet, and the pork puffs – but surprisingly nobody likes the pork buns, even though they are exactly the kind of bready thing you’d expect children to adore. Steamed pork and chive dumplings are a great success, as are the beef gyoza. The dumpling prejudice has definitely been challenged.

VERDICT It seems that fussy eaters are only fussy when their parents are cooking.

Who knew?

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FOOD & DRINK

The First Forty Days

Heng Ou, Amely Greeven & Marisa Belger

That rare thing: a parenting book with something defi nably new to say.

The First Forty Days explores how informed nutritional choices can optimise wellbeing amid those fi rst, fleeting yet incredibly important days of motherhood. £18.99; abramsbooks.com

mama’s

Ed’s pick

FOO D N OTES

Hot news, fresh from the kitchen

NICE SERVE Bobo & Boo

TOP UP? RICH PICKINGS

Bamboo dinnerware is just the best: natural, biodegradable and free of all the toxic nasties used to make plastic. We love the Bobo & Boo range, including this cute divided plate – ideal for fussy eaters. £11; eatwell-uk.co.uk

These heat ‘n’ serve Finger Foods are made with wholesome ingredients, free from all artificial gunk. What’s more, the recipes were created by baby nutrition expert Annabel Karmel.

Available exclusively from Tesco

Annabel Karmel

Deliciousness, Delivered HELLO FRESH

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ven for stay-at-home mamas, whipping up three balanced meals a day can be a challenge, especially with fussy toddlers who seem determined to survive on rice cakes, milk and the sweets Grandma gives them on the sly.

One way to stay on the healthy path is to reduce the planning and shopping element to an occasional web-click, and have pioneering

meal delivery company Hello Fresh bring a substantial part of your weekly menu direct to your door.

Subscribe to their Family Box plan and you’ll receive farm-fresh ingredients for up to four meals and four people in a single weekly drop, as well as full details on how to prepare everything. Family Boxes avoid spice and err towards the kid-friendly.

• From £53.99; hellofresh.co.uk

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FAMILY BOX PLAN

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Voice of

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We all have a negative voice in our head that holds us back. Here leadership coach Annalie Howling tells us how to silence it

As mothers we know not to worry about the monsters under the bed.

We comfort our children, helping them understand that the monsters are in their imagination and that there is nothing to be afraid of.

But as adults it is the monsters in our heads that often get the better of us.

The nagging, negative chatter that belongs to what I call our ‘inner critic’.

Quite simply, our inner critic is the voice in our head that tells us that we aren’t good enough. It whispers a constant list of reminders to us as to 68

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why we can’t or shouldn’t do things, thriving instead on a foundation of guilt. And it is this feeling that somehow we are not doing the best job that often stops us fully enjoying parenthood.

A recent survey conducted by Water Wipes found that four in 10 respondents said their happiness at becoming parents had been tempered by feelings of guilt, with a further 63% of those surveyed admitted feeling overwhelmed since having children.

It wasn’t all guilt and self-doubt however. The survey also revealed that new mums and dads feel more fulfilled, with 96% saying that having a child had brought them a new kind of happiness. So why, with these extremely high numbers of joy and fulfilment, were so many of those who were surveyed still also reporting greater feelings of guilt?

Many experts blame the media, especially social media, as it offers

a 24/7 platform for us to view ‘perfection’ and allow our inner critic to tell us where we don’t measure up.

We don’t eat as cleanly as some, didn’t snap back into shape as quickly as others and aren’t breezing through the daily challenges motherhood brings, leaving us to feel guilty about our perceived failures. We can just as easily find ourselves comparing ourselves to friends and other mothers around us. Or indeed simply to the image of ideal motherhood that we create in our own minds.

While the quest for perfection is an exhausting and disappointing struggle for most of us, the inner critic, however, loves our constant battle. It thrives on our sense of consistent failure in not measuring up and is on hand to offer new benchmarks, set ever further from reach.

And no-one is exempt - everyone has an inner critic. I have worked with

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MIND

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Redefining changing bags.

The Modern Midwife – Marie Louise introduces the MLM Classic and All Black pre-packed changing bags containing essentials for labour, birth, the first 24 hours of your newborn baby’s life and beyond. Combining 8 years’ experience as a working midwife with British heritage, timeless design and premium quality. MLM bags and contents embody the spirit of Marie Louise.

“Safe, environmentally friendly, trusted and premium products are the hallmark of Marie Louise.”

• • • •

Designed by The Modern Midwife Manufactured in Britain Toxin Free Fabrics Organic Cottons & Products

“Confidence you can carry, created by a midwife for mums everywhere.”

Shop online: www.mlmaternity.com

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Contact Marie Louise: marie@mlmaternity.com

Follow The Modern Midwife for expert advice

12/10/2017 10:57

wel ln es s

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“ W H I L E TH E QUE ST FOR PERFECTION IS AN EXH AUSTIN G AN D DI SAPPOI NTI NG STRUGGLE FOR MOST O F US, THE I N NER C RI TI C LOVE S THE CONSTANT BATTLE ”

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hundreds of men and women of all ages and every single person - whether in a team workshop or in a 1:1 session - will bring up this internalised negative voice as a reason why they feel that they can’t achieve their goals (although they don’t necessarily recognise it as their inner critic).

Believe it or not, the inner critic should actually be thought of as a well-meaning friend who is a dreadfully unskilled communicator. Our inner critic wants to keep us safe; it doesn’t want us to fail or to be judged and it has often been with us for longer than we can remember. The stream of negative messages is its way of guaranteeing that you won’t fail – by not allowing you to try. So once you have identified this negative force in your mind, you can tackle it. There are many techniques that I use when coaching to create resilience and help people become the master of their inner critic, redefining the relationship.

Firstly, learning to take care of yourself is a good place to start, especially for parents who so often put their own needs and wellbeing last. Self-care is always the key to successfully mastering and transforming the relationship with your inner critic.

When you are feeling weak and drained, you are most vulnerable to self-doubt and guilt.

Mothers especially give so much of themselves to other people and things that they often view self-care as a luxury or an indulgence. In fact it is essential. Without being your best self you cannot give your best to anyone else.

MIND

FEEL THE FEAR & DO IT ANYWAY he inner critic is the loudest when you are about to make a big change. It knows that it is about to lose the battle, so is slinging everything it has got at you. Think about a time when you did something bold and tackled a fear, and remember that the chatter was loudest in that moment just before you pushed past and did it anyway. Remember to look out for this peak in activity and take it as an exciting signal that you are on the precipice of a big change.

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KILLER COMPLIMENTS

Self-care comes in many forms and often involves more than one thing. For any person, it is the things that you need in your life to feel the most fulfilled and your best self. This can include time spent with and without your children, exercise, learning, work, laughing with friends, dancing, walks in nature. Whatever self-care means to you, try to find ways to work these essentials into your day.

PEAK EXPERIENCE hink of a time that you were feeling your best self, yourself at a 10, perhaps it was at a friend’s wedding, a date night, a memory of laughing with your children. Whatever that moment is, stop and think about it.

Think about who was there, what music or sounds were there, what the light was like.

Make the memory as vivid as possible; this is a peak experience of yours. When you have made some notes, find an image and/or song that instantly takes you to that place and keep it on your phone or somewhere that you can access it quickly to give you that boost when you need it most. It will remind you what you are capable of and push you away from those feelings of guilt and worthlessness.

I have a fabulous client that pulls on a pair of ‘leopard print power pants’ which are workout leggings and heads out for a run before she needs to make a tough call.

Another who plays Katy Perry’s Roar in the car to reconnect to that energy from her peak experience. Whatever works for you, do it.

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ccept compliments. People wish to give them to you as if they were a gift, accept them graciously with a simple thank you. If the inner critic makes it hard for you to accept or believe them, then imagine that they are true. Think about trying on a beautiful gown, you don’t have to buy it, you are just seeing how it looks on you – and try the same with compliments. You will start to see that they suit you.

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SOCIAL MEDIA ook at the time that you use social media and how it affects your moods. If you look through your Instagram feed and feel exhilarated and inspired on a Tuesday afternoon and you have great energy, then fantastic. However, if you find yourself entering a negative cycle of self-doubt on a Sunday evening from the sofa after a manic weekend of birthday parties and social events, then turn it off and invest in a self-care ritual instead.

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AND FINALLY - JUST SAY ‘NO’ his is one of the hardest but most rewarding changes that you can make. It is incredibly hard sometimes to just say ‘no’ to your inner critic but you can do it. Recognise the negative chatter when it’s starting and put a stop to it quickly by simply reminding yourself that you don’t have to listen. You are in charge, not your inner critic.

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To learn more about Annalie’s work visit inc a sacon sult in g.com

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wellness NUTRITION

TECHY

Training Discover a new high-energy, super-fun fitness routine for the digital age that’ll slim both mum and munchkins down in no time W o r d s K AT Y G I L L E T T

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new kind of fitness routine for kids and mums has emerged, which promises to burn up to 1,000 calories in just one 45-minute session, and it’s taken the wellness world by storm. Originating in Spain just two years ago, PRAMA is a high-energy circuit training-style workout, complete with music, LED lights and pressure-sensitive walls, which has turned traditional training into a far more interactive, sensory and immersive experience. It’s more like playing a life-sized, fast-paced game, but it also has endless state-of-the-art training programmes and intensity levels that can be customised to your fitness level at the touch of a button (and your data is stored in the cloud so you can keep track of your progress).

Personal trainer and PRAMA Master Hanna Belyaeva tells us more…

Absolutely Mama: How does PRAMA work?

Hanna Belyaeva: PRAMA is a circuit training-style workout that’s similar to HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It’s functional, physical and fun. The interactive training software available with PRAMA offers six new and improved training modes and more than 500 different exercises. The

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P RAM A COM ES COM P LE TE W ITH M USIC, LE D LIGH TS AN D P RESSURESE N SITIVE WALLS

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training modes include free training, workouts with a partner, group training, challenges and tests.

Overall, the platform delivers a complete solution for functional training at gyms and fitness clubs, using interactive flooring with integrated LED lights and sensors, several different types of functional markings, versatile new training software, and PRAMA Mood lighting.

AM: What benefits does it have for children?

HB: PRAMA looks like a crossover between an arcade game and a playground. Children have a lot of fun, plus they learn social skills and good sportsmanship during classes. It also helps to increase bone density and improves the cardiovascular system, muscle strength and endurance.

AM: How about adults?

HB: While circuit training classes invariably involve people working at a

set pace, this game uses a computer to set different levels at each section of the touch-sensitive floor, featuring grids, patterns and numbers. So different age groups and levels of fitness can exercise at the same time. In adults, this game-style programme helps to improve muscle strength, endurance, reflexes, coordination, agility, cardio and unleashes plenty of positive energy.

AM: How did you get into this industry in the first place?

HB: I finished my career as a professional athlete – as an international master of sport in free-style wrestling – in 2013 and started working as a personal trainer. It's what I do now and I currently have a lot of fun teaching PRAMA. pavi g ym .com /en /prava Februar y 201 8

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Theaward awardwinning winning dreamgenii dreamgenii support pillow The pillow helps helps you you get getaa comfortable night’s night’s sleep by supporting comfortable supporting your your back, knees knees and growing bump back, bump

Available from leading nursery retailers Available from leading & nursery retailers & www.dreamgenii.com www.dreamgenii.com DEAMGENII.indd 1

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N U R S E RY N OT E S p .76 C R E AT U R E CO M FO R T S – D O N N A W I L S O N ' S ST Y LI S H FA M I LY H O M E p .78

Basket Case  BON TON

The new homeware collection from Bon Ton mixes natural materials, bohemian spirit and rustic minimalism to romantic effect – not least in this incredible raffia-frame junior bed.

Le Lit Bohème, 379€; bonton.fr

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5 of the best P L AY K I T C H E N S

N UR SERY NOTES

1

Cool toys, organic linen bedding and a cot fit for a prince

2

4

Bag It Up

•Rock and Pebble•

3

Make tidying up easier (and more fun) with this ‘safe house’ for toys – an organic canvas storage bag complete with ladder and keyshaped charm. £59; thismodernlife.co.uk

5

r’s editock i p

1. Djeco Leo’s Kitchen, £85; en.smallable.com 2. Brio White Stove, £46; en.smallable.com 3. Grey Sebra Kitchen, £178; en.smallable.com 4. Design Letters Cooker, £25; en.smallable.com 5. John Lewis Country Play Kitchen, £125; johnlewis.com

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NURSERY NOTES

AND SO TO BED •Maileg•

From vintage-styled matchboxes to mini suitcases, Maileg knows where rodents like to rest. We love the retro metal mouse cot, which also fits the brand’s cute baby bunnies. £22; bijoulifesty;le.co.uk

BABY BLUE Ooh Noo Words: Hele n B a r o n

E

SLEEPY HEAD •Nobodinoz•

These baby ‘envelopes’ from organic brand Nobodinoz will keep tiny ones cosy in their stroller while also detaching for indoor use.

The graphic ‘Passegiata’ print is our favourite.

Passegiata Eclipse Organic Cotton Baby Nest in Midnight Blue, £53; en.smallable.com

we love HANG TIME •Meri Meri•

Tidying up is an art, and with these giraffeshaped hangers you can encourage your little ones to master it. And if they take the clothes off so they can play with the hangers? Well, can you blame them? £13.50 for two; shopmerimeri.co.uk

Work Hard Krethaus

ur latest furniture fixation is Krethaus’ range of handmade wooden kids furniture, including this mini desk with matching milk stool: friendly, sustainable minimalism – and built to last.

Oriente Mini Desk, £231 & Oriente Stool, £24; en.smallable.com

O

very season, Slovenian brand Ooh Noo reliably serves up covetable, sustainable and rigorously designed takes on traditional products, from wooden toys and nursery furniture to home decor.

This time around, our eye has been caught by their bedding, sized for all manner of beds, baskets and cots and crafted from 100% flax linen. It’s available in a variety of home-complementing shades and prints – though our pick of the current designs is the slate blue, which contains just enough grey to keep things neutral and just enough blue to bring a minimalist scheme to life. It’s a delicate balance, stylishly struck – and what’s more, the linen used is produced in the EU, ethically and sustainably, so it’s easy on the conscience.

It’s also superbly convenient. The beautifully rumpled texture means you can skip the ironing, while the duvet cover’s hidden zipper makes changing sheets (always one of our least favourite household tasks) a cinch. It can be washed at 60 degrees with no fear of damage, and tossing it in the dryer is actually beneficial to the fabric, ensuring it stays super soft and snuggly with every wash. Prices vary. ooh-noo.com

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Creature COMFORTS Designer and mother of two young boys Donna Wilson shows us around her stylish family home Wo r d s T H E M O D E R N H O U S E

W

e moved here four years ago, from a small rented flat just off Brick Lane.

We were looking for about a year, trying to find a family home that we could make our own, but it proved very challenging – I think we were pretty unlucky.

We started looking around Walthamstow as lots of our friends were moving there, and increased our search to the surrounding areas too. My partner Jon saw this on another agent’s website, but it was photographed really badly and looked run down and overgrown. I saw it was a detached house, so I decided to take a punt and see it anyway. As soon as I walked through the door into the hall I fell in love with it. And that was that.

I think the hallway might still be my favourite part of the house actually. It feels like such a luxury to have that space.

It’s turned into a bit of a full-time job to keep it clear of jackets and shoes, but it’s the one space that I like to keep really empty. The house was a complete blank canvas when we moved in. Both my partner and I are designers, so it was an exciting project for the two of us to take on. We’ve been working on it pretty continuously since we moved in. That said, we still have loads of plans for it, but very little time to put them into action. We’ve got two young boys, so they keep us pretty busy.

So far, I think my favourite additions inside are the two log burning stoves – we’ve got one in the living room, and the other in kitchen, next to the dining area. There’s noth-

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HOME

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A LOT O F THE T E XTI LES I N O U R HO USE AR E M Y D ESI GNS, ES P EC I ALLY I N THE KI DS’ ROO MS – THE T RE ES AND B I G K NI T T ED RANDO M T HI NGS

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ing better than a real log fire to keep you cosy through winter. Actually, John also recently made two amazing bunk beds for the kids.

Their height can be adjusted as they grow; they’re pretty great too.

We worked with an award-winning garden designer – Howard Miller – to redesign our outside space. He came up with a plan that made it feel like a country cottage garden. I grew up on a farm in rural Aberdeenshire, so it’s amazing to have a tiny piece of that in London. We’ve got a hedgerow, paths and flowers beds that echo the surrounding allotments. I can’t wait to see what pops up in the spring. The next idea is to install a wooden Japanese hot tub… I really like Leytonstone.

We’re on a lovely street in a conservation area, which means it’ll never really change; it’s almost like stepping back in time. There’s a great sense of community, it’s more like a little village than a London suburb.

We use the kitchen for pretty much everything. It’s really high and spacious, and it’s a perfect family space. We play games, make clay sculptures, do homework and eat all around the table, sometimes all at the same time. I work from home sometimes too, but only when I really need to concentrate. My studio is open plan so there’s always a lot going on. The studio’s been running for 12 years now. A lot of the textiles in our house are my designs, especially in the kids’ rooms – the trees and big knitted random things.

The armchair in the kitchen is one of mine too. I guess a lot of the artwork is also by me; the framed prints and the mounted plates in the kitchen. Actually, it’s really lovely to look at it all and realise how much the studio has grown over the years.

There’s also a lot of stuff in the house that I’ve collected. I have a weakness for anything tactile, regardless of what it is, if it’s got an interesting texture it always draws me in.

There’s a red and black Finnish textile in the living room that I discovered recently in a shop in Hastings – I instantly fell in love with the strong colour and repeating pattern.

I’m always trying to stimulate creativity in my family, and myself, so that means we always have lots of art materials around and we keep lots of stuff around that people might generally throw out. Our house has lots of little ‘installation areas’ on shelves or in the cupboards, which are a mix of nice found objects and things we’ve all made.

Reproduced courtesy of The Modern House. For more home tours and interviews, visit themodernhouse.com Februar y 201 8

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Discover blissful baby & toddler friendly holidays Everything that parents need for stress free getaways in luxury villas and resorts All private pools barriered

Free 20+ items of baby & toddler kit

30 point child safety check

0800 014 2770 www.totstotravel.co.uk

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T R AV E L I N S P I R AT I O N p . 8 5 • P U G LI A FO R P R I VAT E ACCO M M O DAT I O N p . 8 6 B E ST R O M A N T I C M I N I B R E A K S p . 9 0

Great Escapes  IN THIS SECTION

From the UK’s best romantic getaways to architect-designed modernism in rural Puglia (the southern Italian region famed for its sprawling olive groves and pristine beaches), these stylish destinations offer family travel without compromise.

Enlist the help of experts at The Thinking Traveller to find your perfect villa. thethinkingtraveller.com

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MATERNITY NIGHTWEAR & LOUNGEWEAR

Enjoy 10% off your order with MAMA10 at checkout

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escapes

INSPIRATIONS

Aegean Awe

•Eagles Palace, Halkidiki•

Escape to the white sandy beaches and crystal clear seas of Greece. Eagles Palace luxury resort is fully kitted out to cater to both you and your child's every need. With a fully functional kid's club, pool and adventure program - and a spa for mama - relax in the heat safe in the knowledge that your kids are in the best of hands. eaglespalace.gr

mama’s

TR AVEL N OTES

r’s editock pi

Slip off for some Greek sun or escape to Africa.

HEALTH HAMPER

POWER PRAM

•Joie•

• C Y B E X•

Safety is paramount for this new carseat, placing baby at an angle to ensure no breathing difficulties ensue from the classic upright position. Secure and stylish, it's a must have for peace of mind. £250 uk.joiebaby.com

Th is pram is as versatile as it is stylish. It boasts a 3-in-1 system, with a frame that accomodates the CYBEX cot, car-seat and pram. And it folds with one hand for stress-free outings. £300 pramcentre.co.uk

3 LUXURIOUS SAFARIS WITH CHILDREN Ant's Nest

Mara House

Aimed at families, Ant's Nest in the malaria-free Waterberg reserve in South Africa offers private family cottages. Overlooking a vibrant waterhole, there are multiple kid's activities such as "bug" walks, and the opportunity for riders to take in the sights on horseback, too. scottdunn.com

Immerse yourself in local culture and take a trip to Mara House in the Masaai Mara. Perfect for families, it's a fully staffed private house and comes with a private safari guide and swimming pool. Great for working to your own schedule and keeping to baby's routine. scottdunn.com

SOUTH AFRICA

K E N YA

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge SOUTH AFRICA

For those nervous about taking kids on safari, Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is the no-nonsense solution. Equipped with a kid's play centre and babysitting facilities for the later drives, lose yourself in Africa whilst your kids are entertained. scottdunn.com

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High Design Modern architecture meet traditional charm at Montaltini, a modernist holiday home in Puglia Wo r d s H E L E N BA RO N

I

t wasn’t until we’d been parents for a year or so that we learned how to ‘do’ family holidays properly.

Before our first child arrived, any worries about future travel plans centred on flights – would our daughter-to-be scream and annoy fellow passengers?

Would she wriggle and fight to be free of our laps?

In the event, we still travelled a lot in her first year, and the flights were rarely a big deal. Even a long-haul trip to LA with a newly walking thirteen month-old – eager to toddle up and down the aisle for the full 11 hours – was, ultimately, bearable. By that time, of course, we’d figured out the real key to holiday happiness when you have little ones in tow: the right accommodation.

Our first trips during the summer following our daughter’s birth were shorter hops to Marseille and Provence, where we (naively) stayed in small hotels highly regarded for their luxurious amenities and air of stately repose.

That is, until we pitched up with a nap-hating six monthold already possessed of a firm grasp on the power of a well-timed shriek. We felt terrible every time she cried or complained, and resolved to do things differently in future – from that point forward, it would be private lets all the way. When our second daughter arrived, shortly before our first turned two, it cemented our certainty – which was why we found ourselves enlisting the help of the experts at The Thinking Traveller when planning our next family holiday.

We wanted a destination that was conveniently accessible, naturally beautiful, blessed with an air of authenticity and – importantly – that offered a choice of private accommodation that didn’t compromise on design or comfort. Our consultant’s answer was immediate: Puglia, the southern Italian region famed for sprawling olive groves,

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THE GUEST-HOUSE HOUSED IN A TRADITIONAL TRULLO

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PUGLIA IS ALSO BLESSED WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW AND H ISTORIC VILLAS, MASSERIA AND TRULLI, BUILT OR RENOVATED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD

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THE POOL SURROUNDED BY CENTURIES-OLD OLIVE TREES

white hilltop towns, tumbledown walls of creamy stone and magnificent beaches. Happily, Puglia is also blessed with a large number of new and historic villas, masseria and trulli, built or renovated to the highest standards – and often with family life in mind.

Heedful of our love of contemporary architecture, the Thinking Traveller recommended Montaltini, a modern property close to the coastal town of Monopoli, designed

by Luca Zanaroli Architects.

An elegant L-shaped building comprised of two oldstone wings joined by a black cubic lodge, Montaltini features four spacious double bedrooms as well as a separate guesthouse in the form of a traditional, cone-roofed trullo.

Set in gardens scattered with centuries-old olive trees, the house is framed by cacti-bearing gravel beds, a pale concrete terrace and an infinity pool surrounded by sunbleached decking. We fell in love with the photos and were Februar y 201 8

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even more impressed by the real thing: only an hour’s drive from both Bari and Brindisi airports, situated along a dusty gravel track among almond trees laden with fruit – extremely well-connected yet with a pleasing sense of privacy and calm.

The villa was also ideal for our children, then aged 8 months and 2 and a half: large enough for our elder daughter to explore and enjoy a little freedom; small enough that we could always keep an eye on her.

Her sister, not quite crawling yet, enjoyed playing at the pool’s edge under the shade of the olives while the adults enjoyed long meals prepared in the outdoor kitchen and

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THE HOUSE BECAME A FRAME THROUGH WHICH TO LOOK OUT ONTO THE TIMELESS COUNTRY BEYOND

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THE TRULLO INTERIOR

eaten at the huge al fresco dining table.

The villa, which sleeps ten adults, was the perfect size for two or three couples or small families to share; we had an entire wing to ourselves while friends took the remaining rooms. The bathrooms were fit for a luxury spa, while the designer furniture (much of it with a Seventies Milanese vibe redolent of Luca Guadagnino’s movie I Am Love) proved remarkably resilient to all the rough and tumble an excited toddler could throw at it.

The languid September days were spent lazing beside the pool or visiting local towns including picturesque Alberobello, famed for its winding streets and central huddle of THE KITCHEN FORMS THE MEETING POINT OF THE HOUSE

PLENTY OF OUTSIDE SEATING AREAS

white trulli, and Monopoli, with its imposing historic centre serenely overlooking the bluest sea. The beaches - even those close to town centres, are still possessed of a ‘golden age’ charm (think The Talented Mr. Ripley) and there are several large coastal nature reserves within an hour or two’s drive for those seeking a little more ruggedness or isolation.

A highlight of our trip was a four-course meal at the villa, provided by two local cooks with a definite flair for Puglian classics: unforgettable pasta and irresistible tiramisu.

But while the food was superb, the villa itself was ever the star of the show: its clean, geometric lines and minimalist sophistication ingeniously integrated into the surrounding landscape. Indeed, the house and garden became a frame through which to look out onto the timeless country beyond, and we loved showering al fresco in the pool showers, out of sight below the garden, looking out across the groves as the rosy glow of dawn gave way to another blazing morning. Later we would sit out together beside the pool, the children playing as we watched the sun fall and the moon come up behind the twin cones of the trullo.

There is a traditional Puglianese tongue-twister that runs, ‘Si ce n’amma scì, sciammu’ncinn. Si nun ce n’amma scì, nun ce ne sciàm scénn’. It means: ‘If we have to go, let’s go. If we don’t have to go, let’s stay.’

Alas, we couldn’t stay at Montaltini forever.

But we’ll definitely be going back.

Villa Montaltini is available to book through thethinkingtraveller.com.

Prices start at £4,032 per week.

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LUCKNAM PARK

Escape to the

COUNTRY In need of some time away just the two of you?

Here are some great places for a romantic weekend break.

Wo r d s M O R AG T U R N E R

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through the stunning grounds. Afternoon tea in the Drawing Room is a particular highlight, then dress up for cocktails in the super chic bar.

If you’re looking to be swept up in truly glamour getaway then this is the place.  dorchestercollection.com

The Pig near Bath

S

Chewton Glen

hewton Glen is the quintessential English country house hotel; indeed it has been voted best of it’s kind in the world, amongst many other accolades.

While all the rooms are all fabulous, the tree house suites are beyond amazing. Fully kitted out with their own wood burning stoves, terraces and hot tubs they are the height of luxury.

Nestled in a 130 acre estate on the edge of the New Forest, the list of nearby attractions include beautiful woodland walks, fishing, golf, cycling and sailing on the South Coast. But if you prefer not to stray to far from your gorgeous room then the onsite actives are very impressive too. Pop

C

THE CLOSE HOTEL

his is the third little piggy following in the footsteps of The Pig and The Pig in the Wall. It is perhaps the prettiest of them all.

A beautiful country house that makes you feel as if you are in the set of a period drama with it’s tastefully decorated rooms, sweeping gravel driveway and stunning oil paintings. However the real highlight is the gastronomy. Head chef Kamil Oseka sources everything within a 25-mile radius, much from the hotel’s own well stocked and much loved garden, and rustles up unfussy seasonal feasts. It’s a place to relax, unwind and enjoy feeling like a houseguest at a fantastic county pile.

T

o you’ve managed to convince your in-laws to babysit for the weekend or have farmed out your offspring to various unsuspecting aunties and uncles. But now just where to you go to make the most of your precious time sans enfant? The last think you want to do is waste hours stuck in the car so opt for one of these luxe romantic spots that are all within a couple of hours drive of London.

LUCKNAM PARK

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THE TREEHOUSE SUITES ARE KITTED OUT WITH WOOD BURNING STOVES, TERRACES AND HOT TUBS

 thepighotel.com

THE PIG

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into the spa, swim in the heated outdoor pool or even try your hand at falconry.

Much of the food served in the Dining Room restaurant is produced in the hotels kitchen garden and can be washed down with one of the 1800 wines on their wine list.

Chewton Glen is the kind of hotel that you’ll always long to return to.  chewtonglen.com

Coworth Park

ountry manors don’t come much more glamorous that Coworth.

The 17th-century mansion and polo estate has been treated to an intelligent and eco-friendly modern makeover that’s given it three restaurants, a spectacular spa, and an air of quietly confident grandeur. Set in 240 acres it has an onsite equestrian centre with a Guards Polo Academy where you can have lessons or simply head out on horse back on a ride

C

Lucknam Park

his place really does tick every imaginable box. Michelin- starred restaurant, award winning spa, 500- acre estate – there is even a cookery school if you feel like trying out something different a deux. You’ll be in the capable hands of head chef Hywel Jones who earned the Park its Michelin star. He serves up elegant culinary creations in the opulent

T

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Hold your baby closer £

Stylish clothes for mums and dads for skin to skin contact from birth

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orders over £25 code: AMVIJA5

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GETAWAYS

COWARTH PARK FAIRWAY SUITE BATHROOM

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CHEF HYWEL JONES SERVES UP HIS CREATIONS IN THE OPULENT DINING ROOM THAT WAS ONCE A BALLROOM

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dining room that was once a ballroom. Check out the stunning ceiling with a fresco of the sky.

On a sunny day wander around the stunning formal gardens and on a chilly one make yourself at home in the beautiful library.  lucknampark.co.uk

The Close Cotswolds

ith it’s dark painted walls and quirky interiors; The Close is a modern take on the Cotswolds.

You’ll still find that old world charm but it’s mixed with a modern edge that gives the revamped 16th century farmhouse a comfy chic feel.

Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, it’s a great place to explore the area or just chill out on one of the many deckchairs in the garden. With two restaurants and a stylish bar it offers a relaxed, yet stylish, break.

W

 cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk

CHEWTON GLEN'S TREEHOUSE SUITE

The Dormy House Hotel

his boutique hotel is one for those with a love of great interiors. The 17th-century farmhouse was given a 21st-century makeover by interior-design talents, Todhunter Earle and the retro-chic of calm neutral textures and Emily Todhunter’s bold geometric prints.

Add to that the award winning, sleek, Scandi-chic House Spa that spans several floors and you realize this is a place where you can while away hours on a cold winter weekend. But if you do decide to venture out the hotel can organize endless activities for you, from bike hire to picnic hampers to enjoy on the 400-acre estate or a round of golf at the neighboring Broadway Golf Club.

Eat in the Garden Room restaurant with its picture perfect views over the nearby village or try a relaxed pub lunch in the Potting Shed.

Rustic chic meets cosmopolitan style would sum up this Cotswold’s star.

T

 dormyhouse.co.uk THE GALLIVANT

The Gallivant East Sussex

f you’re looking to blow the cobwebs away on one of the UK’s most dramatic beaches, then a stay at the Gallivant could be just the ticket. Describing itself as a ‘restaurant with rooms’, this relaxed beach spot is just across the road from the rolling dunes of Camber Sands.

With a clutch of awards (coolest beach hotel etc), it has 20 rooms all decorated in a Hamptons-esque style.

The New England feel continues into the restaurant where you’ll be served with the delicious local fare that got the Gallivant included in Squaremeal’s top 100 Restaurant List 2016.

I

 thegallivant.co.uk

The Hoste Hotel, Burnham Market, Norfolk

ho doesn’t love Burnham Market's lovely galleries and shops. Not to mention some of the best near-by beaches in England, such as Brancaster and Holkham. And right on the high street of this pretty village you’ll find the Hoste Hotel. Traditional, cosy and full of charm, each room is individually decorated - you can see them all on the website and pick your favourite in advance. The superb restaurant that prides itself on using ingredients sourced from within a 30-mile radius of the kitchen is a busy, lively affair and always booked up so be sure to make a reservation.

W

 thehoste.com Februar y 201 8

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Sara KEEL

Sara is Founder of Babycup First Cups, award-winning mini open cups recommended by dentists from weaning onwards. babycup.co.uk Q How old should my child be for their fi rst dental appointment?

A The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) advises taking your child to see a dentist as soon as his fi rst teeth come through, and defi nitely by his fi rst birthday. The BSPD’s recently-launched ‘Dental Check by One’ campaign says these early appointments are a chance for the dentist to check teeth are developing as they should be. Dental decay is almost always preventable, so it’s never too soon to book that visit and to get information and advice,

DENTAL DECAY IS ALMOST ALWAYS PREVENTABLE, SO IT'S NEVER TOO SOON TO BOOK THAT VISIT AND GET INFORMATION

Ask the

EXPERTS Q

&

A

Parenting professionals and leading mumpreneurs answer some of your most pressing questions

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such as gently wiping gums with a soft cloth and introducing drinking from an open-top cup by age one, to help look after your little one’s precious smile. Not all babies or toddlers are keen on opening their mouth on their initial dental checks, but the vital thing is to help make it something that becomes familiar and natural. My little ones’ fi rst appointments mostly consisted of the dentist appearing to just count their teeth in time to a rhyme, but she was actually having a good look at the gums and what few teeth were showing. Those counting rhymes or fi rst go in the dentist’s chair are just little steps, but they play a brilliantly big role in helping our babies grow up with healthy teeth that are free from decay.

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reso urces ASK

Nicole HASTIE

Nicole Hastie is a Carrying Consultant and Director of Kangaroo Care UK. She is passionate about helping parents learn the benefits of skin-to-skin contact with their babies. vija-design.co.uk Q Should I put skin-to-skin contact in my birth plan?

A Where possible, mother and baby should spend time skin-to-skin for an uninterrupted hour immediately after birth. Once essential checks have been made, ask for the noise levels and lights to be kept low, giving you and your baby time to rest and get to know each other. Ensure you are both warm enough and comfortable by wearing something that supports baby on your chest and covers your body to maintain your

T HE EXPERTS

own temperature. Baby’s heart rate, body temperature and respiration will usually stabilise during skin-to-skin contact, easing their transition from the womb to the world. Being held against mum’s skin can help baby’s immune system, reducing the risk of infection. Requesting skin-to-skin contact as part of your birth plan, and packing a comfortable and supportive kangaroo care top or wrap, will help you enjoy this simple but powerful way of welcoming your baby into the world. Births don’t always go to plan, but skin-to-skin contact has many benefits even when it cannot happen straight away. Choosing what to wear for skin-to-skin contact doesn’t have to be expensive. There are comfortable options, such as the Bandeau from Vija Design which starts from just £17.99.

BIRTHS DON'T ALWAYS GO TO PLAN, BUT SKINTO-SKIN CONTACT HAS MANY BENEFITS EVEN WHEN IT CANNOT HAPPEN STRAIGHT AWAY

Marie LOUISE

Marie Louise became a senior midwife at the age of 22 and now teaches antenatal classes alongside midwifery. She is the founder of MLM bags, safe for mums, baby, and the environment. mlmaternity.com Q What pain relief is available for labour and does it matter if you have any?

A There are various forms of natural and non-invasive pain relief options and I would recommend you look into these and consider them too, but the drugs we offer in maternity and around most hospitals in the U.K. are Dihydrocodeine, Entonox (gas and air), Pethidine and an Epidural.

The main person it matters to is the mother. It’s her body and her baby and she needs to do what is

right for her at the time. There are risks involved with any clinical procedure or drugs given but as we have been using these various forms of pain relief for years they are considered to be safe. I have looked after women that have found the pain of childbirth traumatic and as a result have had problems bonding with their baby postnatally. Although this is not common it’s important women feel comfortable to ask for pain relief as having a traumatic experience and difficulty bonding really matters. My eight years of experience has led me to believe it’s best to manage labour at the time and not make too many regimented plans. I have known women to plan to have an epidural as soon as possible but when it comes to it they're coping fi ne and don’t need it. The very opposite has also happened and then women feel guilty for wanting and having an epidural.

To take the pressure off, research what’s available beforehand and decide what you need at the time. If anyone has any further questions please feel free to contact me directly.

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Heather MORRIS

Heather Morris is a Registered General Nurse and State Certified Midwife. She is mum to Freddy, Harry and Jack. metanium.co.uk

Can nappy rash be prevented?

No matter how careful you are, most babies are likely to get nappy rash at some time. Nappy rash is usually mild and can be managed with a good skincare routine and a barrier ointment. Taking care of your baby’s delicate skin is essential in both treating and preventing nappy rash. Following these simple steps will help: • Lie your baby on a towel and leave your baby’s nappy off as often as you can, to let fresh air get to the skin.

Q A

Lucy COE

Lead Midwife for the Midwifery Led Team at The Kensington Wing chelwest.nhs.uk Q What happens if I need to go to the loo during labour?

A Firstly this is a really common question- and please do not worry!

When you are in labour, it is normal to feel lots of pressure down below when you have a contraction and sometimes you can mistake this for actually needing the loo; but your midwife will be there to support you and help you to the bathroom if you really need to go. When it’s time to push your baby out, you actually use the same muscles as you would to pass a stool, so the sensation of this is very normal and nothing to

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• Change wet or soiled nappies as soon as possible.

• Clean the nappy area thoroughly using plain water or alcohol and fragrance free wipes.

• Don’t use talcum powder as it contains ingredients that could irritate your baby’s skin.

• Try to bath your baby every day, but don’t use soap or bubble bath.

• Gently pat rather than rub your baby’s bottom dry and avoid vigorous rubbing.

• Use a suitable barrier ointment at each nappy change.

Most mild cases of nappy rash can be easily treated with an ointment from your pharmacy and following this skincare routine, but if you are worried always seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

NAPPY RASH CAN BE MANAGED WITH A GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE AND A BARRIER OINTMENT

worry about. Our bodies are very clever and usually we don’t need to open our bowels for a day or so after the birth which can give us a little time to heal. Sometime you need an episiotomy. This is a small cut to your perineum performed by your midwife to expedite the birth of your baby. Episiotomies are not routinely performed, but stitching afterwards heals similarly to when you tear naturally so you should still be able to go to the bathroom without any problems.

It is also very important to think about your bladder in labour, as it’s best to keep it as empty as possible.

Your midwife will remind you to try and go regularly, and within a few hours after the birth of your baby.

YOUR MIDWIFE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU – OUR BODIES ARE VERY CLEVER

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Tamara BUGEMBE

Tamara Bugembe is a paediatrician and Founder of the agency HelperBees, that assists new mums in adapting to life with a baby. helperbees.co.uk Q I am due to return to work after a year of maternity leave. Do you have any advice about how to prepare myself and family for this transition?

I am particularly worried about how my return will affect my child.

A Keeping In Touch days are a wonderful way to ease back into work before the big return. They allow you to refamiliarize yourself with work, identify areas where you may need refresher training, projects you would like to be involved in and a working out a pattern that suits you. Once you start work, your child will sense

Karolina LEWIS

Mum of two (10 years and 6 years), Founder and Creative Director of maternity nightwear and loungewear company Bumpkyn London bumpkyn.co.uk Q Why is it vital to closely monitor fetal movement from the beginning of pregnancy?

A Th is is such an important subject and doesn’t get touched on enough in antenatal classes or by medical professionals.

Many mums who experience a stillbirth say that there was a change in their baby’s pattern of movement beforehand and it’s thought that up to a third of stillbirths could be prevented if mums reported their concerns promptly and babies thought to be at risk delivered.

T HE EXPERTS

a change in the family routine and react to it. It is not unusual for them to become clingier or more challenging around their sleeping and eating patterns. These new behaviours are their way of getting information about what's changed in their lives, and what these changes mean for them.

Reassure them by being consistent to allow them time to get used to the new routines.

There is evidence that the fi rst three months of the transition are the hardest for the whole family.

Your child is likely to develop viral infections from the new childcare environment. During the fi rst few months, be careful not to over commit at work and explain to your colleagues that they may need to be flexible during this phase.

Parental guilt is real and excruciating. Find a sisterhood of other mothers who have recently been through the same transition support each other. Having a mother that works has not been shown to a negative effect on a child’s development.

Most women usually begin to feel movement between16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy and it is essential, therefore, for both Mums and Dads to get to know their baby’s movements to be able to react quickly.

Here at Bumpkyn we recognise the importance of this, which is why we work closely with Kicks Count, a charity which aims to empower mums-to-be with knowledge and confidence about their baby’s movements during pregnancy, to ensure healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

Kicks Count have also developed an award-winning, free app which lets you record the baby’s pattern of movement by tapping the screen each day and observing it over time, which makes it a great tool.

In any case, if you instinctively feel something isn't right you should immediately call your midwife or the maternity unit.

Learn more on the subject at kickscount.org.uk Februar y 201 8

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02/11/2017 11:50

11/01/2018 09:21

reso urces ASK

Wendy SHAND

Co-founder of family friendly holiday specialists Tots To Travel totstotravel.co.uk Q How do I ensure our fi rst holiday with a baby is a success?

A Initially, holidaying with a baby might seem stressful – but with the right preparation you can enjoy a stress-free and sublime family getaway.

Choose holiday accommodation that’s genuinely family-friendly and suitable for your family’s specific needs.

If you want privacy and flexibility, opt for a self-catering private villa or apartment. If you’d prefer to have a week off cooking with plenty of on-site facilities, choose a resort. It’s now possible to fi nd a combination of the two which offers the best of both worlds.

If your villa has a private pool, double check that a physical pool barrier is in place and the more thoroughly a property has been vetted for child safety, the better, for your peace of mind.

It’s also really important to research your destination – fi nd out about the family activities, restaurants and facilities available. Choosing a short haul holiday with a quick transfer time is a good way to avoid overtired travel tantrums.

Overpacking can also be an inevitable and costly problem for parents when there’s so much baby kit and caboodle required. Aim to pack only what you’ll need and consider choosing a destination that comes equipped with key baby items, for example we equip each of our destinations with an Essential Kit, containing 20+ baby/toddler items (one thing you should never leave home without though: wet wipes).

During your holiday, it’s often tempting to stick to your normal routine.

Remember that a holiday is a time to relax, so don’t worry if your little one ends up staying up a little later than normal.

Adjust your expectations and take the time to unwind and enjoy this special time together.

T HE EXPERTS

SAFELY SPORTY Mama talks to women's health expert Camilla Lawrence about the benefits of antenatal and postnatal physiotherapy

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a women’s health physio or a pelvic physio so I specialise in treating pregnant and postnatal women for any aches, pains or muscle problems they may develop during pregnancy or postnatally. I also treat women of all ages who are struggling with pelvic floor issues. I set up the women’s health physio team at SIX Physio in 2010 and I’ve been running the team in Chelsea since then. We’ve got about six women’s health physios that cover our clinics.

Q A

Q How would you suggest one best prepares themselves for pregnancy?

A I think the most important thing is to try and be as fit and active as you possibly can.

Active women who have a good fitness level tend to cope with the pregnancy better. With that comes a good measure of rest as well.

There needs to be a balance in all of our lives so the rest point is also important. Pregnancy really takes it out of you, and a lot of women don’t expect the levels of exhaustion. There are physical symptoms like sickness, headaches and fatigue, and that can put a lot of women, particularly from an exercise standpoint, back quite a lot. They just don’t feel like they can do it. So if you’re not very fit going into the pregnancy and you’ve spent the fi rst three months feeling horrendous and not exercising, it can be quite difficult to start catching up at that point - although it’s never too late.

What are the benefits of physiotherapy after birth?

A While aches and pains are common after Q

pregnancy, they’re not normal. It's not normal to have back pain, or rib pain, or pelvic pain lots of people get it because of the changes that your body is going through during those nine months - but it’s never normal. It’s absolutely treatable, but you shouldn’t end up with escalating pain coming up to or after the birth.

If women are in any pain or experiencing pelvic floor issues we can see them immediately postnatally to sort it out.

We also provide postnatal body check-ups from six weeks onwards, when we do a really thorough assessment of their back, their spine, their pelvis and their abdominal muscles to check whether there’s any separation there. We can also check their pelvic floor muscles.

If they’ve consented we’ll do a vaginal examination and be able to give them a good idea as to how well they're recovering. From there we give them specific advice about how to get back to what they want to return to.

Some women never dream of getting back to running, but others want to be doing it from day two; it’s about a safe return to exercise.

CAMILLA LAWRENCE

Lead Women’s Health Physio at SIX Physio advises on getting back to exercise safely after having your baby: sixphysio.com Februar y 201 8

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10/01/2018 16:56 11/01/2018 09:21

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mama

PROMOTION

Hatching

DRAGONS

Cennydd John, Founder of Hatching Dragons, the UK’s first bilingual Mandarin-English nursery school provision, talks about the origins of his school, the benefits of bilingualism and seeing it come to life in the children at his nurseries...

I

t was 2012 and I had just returned from China where I had spent a wonderful period setting up and running an educational consultancy. And I was now about to have a baby.

For the fi rst time, I was faced with the many questions that most parents have to face here in the UK. And childcare - the who, where, what and at what price (emotional and fi nancial) - was chief amongst those concerns.

My boy was born in December 2012.

And like a dutiful parent with professional ambitions, I researched childcare provision in advance. And I couldn’t escape the feeling

that, no matter how lovely the people or places were, I could probably do a better job myself. After all, I felt that I was pretty literate and numerate, I had lived in China and learnt the language and I wanted something that might provide that breadth of experience for my son. Moreover, for the price that I was being asked to pay for much of the monolingual provision I saw, I thought that there should be something offered that parents might not be able to provide at home to justify the cost and the sacrifice that they would have to make.

The more I researched early years education, childcare and nursery in the UK, the more I thought about what I would value as a parent and what could be delivered, educationally, in line with that expectation.

And for me, with my experience in China, that something extra was language Mandarin specifically - and an educational ethos that spoke to the global community and different cultures that are found within it.

I furthered my research and found that, whilst there were over 180 bilingual Mandarin immersion early years programmes and models in the US alone (not to mention those in Canada, Australia, Singapore etc) there was nothing in the UK that I could fi nd.

And yet no reason why not. In fact, I found that current research on bilingualism in the early years proved that it augmented cognitive development. What was becoming known as the “bilingual benefit” - enhanced concept formation, analytical reasoning, improved memory retention and

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concentration and more - ultimately leads to higher academic achievement later on in life and so there was all the reason for it.

The fact that Mandarin became formally incorporated into the National Curriculum in the UK in 2015 suggested the time was right.

We opened our fi rst nursery in the Barbican in the summer of 2015, our second opened in Twickenham in September last year and our third is due to open in Westminster this Spring. I like to think our growth is a reflection of our educational success and of how many parents share my views on the importance of bilingualism and of interculturalism. In an age where division and polarisation appears to be on the up, it’s never been more important. In doing so, I hope we can offer a little seed-change in early years education - that bilingualism and interculturalism can become more of the norm. Because there is every reason to in this day and age. Our children deserve it.

0203 912 2900, enquiries@hatching-dragons.com hatchin g- dra gon s .com Februar y 201 8

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Oliver Thomas Nursery School 1 Mathews Ave, London E6 6BU 020 8552 1177

to know Mama's guide to London's best nurseries and preschools.

N O RTH WEST North Bridge House Nursery School/Pre-Prep 33 Fitzjohn's Ave, Camden Town, London NW3 5JY 020 7267 6266 The Mulberry House School 7 Minster Road, London, NW2 3SD 020 8452 7340 Living Spring Montessori St Michael's Church Annexe, St Michael's Road, London, NW2 6XG 020 8830 7331

Nuffy Bear Nursery Brondesbury Park Fitness & Wellbeing Centre, Sidmouth Road, London, NW2 5JY 020 3432 8708 Sylvia's Happy Childcare 119a Chevening Road, London, NW6 6DU 020 8960 2217

NORTH Les Trois Oursons 4 Collins Yard, London N1 2XU 020 7099 0452

Little Stars Nursery 58 Allen Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 8RZ 020 7254 4367 Puddleducks Nurseries Puddleducks House, r/o 75 Friern Barnet Road, London NW3 5JY 020 7267 6266 Hackney Care For Kids 61 Evering Rd, London N16 7PR 020 7923 3471 William Patten Daycare Nursery William Patten School, Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington N16 0NX 020 3844 4227

Henry Fawcett Community Nursery (Leaf ) Clayton St, London SE11 5BZ 020 7582 0509 Base Zero Nursery Happy Days 109A Randlesdown Rd, Gramsci Way, London SE6 3HB 020 8461 3510 The Villa 54 Lyndhurst Grove, London SE15 5AH 0207 703 6216 Chairbears day nursery 9-12 Deptford Broadway, London SE84PA 020 8305 6588

SOUT H W EST The Knightsbridge Kindergarten St Peter's Church, 119 Eaton Square, London, SW1W 9AL 020 7371 2306 The Willcocks Nursery School Holy Trinity With All Saints Church, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BA 020 7584 5054

E AST

Melrose House 55 Finlay St, Fulham SW6 6HF 020 7736 9296

Sahan Preschool Day Nursery 12 Stukeley Rd, London, E7 9QZ 020 3719 7002

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Dulwich Montessori Nursery School St Stephens Church, College Road, Dulwich SE21 7HN 0208 766 0091

Creative Explorers Day Nursery 18 Gisburn Rd, London N8 7BS 07956 809748

Hatching Dragon Nursery School 1 Viscount St, London EC1Y 0AA 020 7256 9365

1 04

SOUT H E AST

Hatching Dragons Westminster Units 3&4 Westminster Quarter, 2 Monck street, London, SW1P 2BQ 0203 912 2902

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reso urces NURSERIES

Tadpoles Nursery School 68 Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10 0NQ 020 7352 9757

Wee Ones Nursery 4 St Ann's Cresent, London SW18 2LR 0208 870 7729

The Barnes Village Nursery 3A Station Rd, London SW13 0LP 020 8878 5111

The Orchard Day Nursery 201-203 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1NL 020 3880 7373

Gwendolen House 39 Gwendolen Ave SW15 6EH 0203 441 2450 London Early Years Foundation 121 Marsham St, Westminster, London SW1P 4LX 020 7834 8679 One World Nursery 9 Knowle Cl, London SW9 0TQ 020 7924 9505 Dee's Day Nursery (Wimbledon) 2 Mansel Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 4AA 020 8944 0284 Learning Ladders Nursery Ground Floor, Falkner Court, Francis Chichester Way, London SW11 5HX 020 7622 9300 Kiddi Caru Day Nursery 2 Piazza Buildings Empress State, London SW6 1TW 0207 386 4505 Tiggers Nursery School, Putney 87 Putney Bridge Rd, London SW15 2PA 020 8874 4668

Tiny Thinkers Childcare 192 Tudor Drive, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5QG 0203 441 2450

W EST Rolfe's Nursery School The Little House, 34a Oxford Gardens, London W10 5UQ 020 8969 5805 New Studio Pre-School Kelfield Mews, Kelfield Gardens, London, W10 6LS 020 8969 5805 Denbigh Under Fives Group 5b Denbigh Road, Denbigh Road, London W11 2SJ 020 7221 5318

The Square School 18 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 3QU 020 7221 6004

Carmelite Parish centre Pitt Street W8 4JH 07810 712241

Holland Park Nursery School Kenley Walk Hall, Kenley Walk, London W11 4BA 020 7792 0323

Iverna Gardens Montessori Nursery School Armenian Church Hall, Iverna Gardens, London W8 6TP 020 7937 0794

Jack in the Box Kelmscott Community Hall, Ashchurch Grove, White City, London W12 9BT 020 8811 8099 Stepping Stones Nursery 5 Gayford Road, London W12 9BY 020 8811 1646 Bright Sparks Montessori School 142 Sinclair Road, London, W14 0NL 020 7371 4697 Vanessa Nursery 12 Cathnor Road, London W12 6JA 020 8743 8196 Little Owls Nursery 108 Lakeside Rd, London W14 0DY 020 3266 0044 The Kensington Kindergarten St Barnabas Church, 23 Addison Rd, Kensington, London W14 8LH 020 7371 4848

Caterpillar Montessori PO Box 105 11 London W4 5WU W4 5LG 020 8747 8531 Maggie and Rose 55 Finlay St, Fulham SW6 6HF 020 7736 9296 Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School Disterllary lane, Fulahm Reach W6 9US 020 8748 4303 Windham Nursery School Windham Road, Richmond, Surrey, London TW9 2HP 0208 831 6060 Merchant Square Day Nursery 13 Harbet Rd, Paddington, London W2 1AJ 020 7402 2227 Busy Bees at Hammersmith 3 Bute Gardens, London W6 7DR 0208 741 9945

Millie’s House Nursery and Pre-School Distillery Ln, London W6 9PL 020 8748 4303

The Corner House Day Nursery 82 Lavington Rd, London W13 9LR 020 8567 2806

St Peter's Nursery School 59a Portobello Road, London W11 3DB 020 7243 2617

One World Montessori and Pre-Preparatory 69 - 71 Brook Green, London W6 7BE 020 7603 6065

Bunny Park Day Nursery & Nursery School 37 Manor Court Rd, London W7 3EJ 020 8567 6142

Ladbroke Square Montessori School 43 Ladbroke Square, London W11 3ND 020 7229 0125

Little Cherubs Nursery School Our Lady Of Victories Church Hall, 16a Abingdon Road, London W8 6AF 07810 712241

Hatching Dragons Twickenham 2 The Green, Twickenham, London, TW2 5AA 0203 912 2901

Kids Unlimited 34 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 3BQ 0845 365 2918

Februar y 201 8

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res ou rces

COLUMN

HELP – I'M HAVING A BABY!

New Dad

DIARY Mama's resident TV magician and new dad celebrates his new arrival Wo r d s C H R I S C OX

W

ith our baby in a sling, we attempt to move the coffee table to what is the actual centre of the room. Not what I considered to be the centre of the room. We reposition it and admire our efforts. We’ve just moved house with a six-week-old baby, who is now fast asleep in the carrier while we empty boxes. We are nailing this parenting lark. We sit on the floor of our new lounge, resting for a moment, wishing we’d ordered a new sofa earlier. Then my wife pipes up, ‘That table still isn’t in the centre.’

Now the fi rst few weeks have turned into months we’re starting to understand our Little Cox, getting more in sync with her and every day falling in love all over again. I’m used to making thousands of people in theatres smile and laugh when I’m on stage, but that is simply nothing compared to the pride that burst from my body when I got my fi rst smile from our baby. I didn’t even have to use any of my best jokes, just bouncing her up and down on my knee did the trick.

There’s never a good time to move house, and doing it with a brand new little person is as bad a time as any.

Luckily we got a Izmi Baby Carrier, 1 06

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WE HAV E TICKE TS F O R H AM ILTON, WHICH M E ANS IT'S TIME TO START INTR ODUC ING A BOTTLE OF EXPR ESSE D M ILK

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which has been perfect for going hands-free. Our Little Cox loves the closeness of being next to us and falls asleep almost instantly when she’s in it, giving us time to sort out boxes and work out whether we should keep any DVDs or just bin them as they’ll be useless by the time she’s old enough to watch them. We decided to keep the Disney ones. At the very least they can be used as coasters for the coffee table, which is now in the middle of the room.

As soon as we moved in, we stuck a list of jobs on the fridge. As visitors arrived and asked if there was anything they could do to help, we directed them to the list while we watched TV. A weird thing that’s happened since becoming a dad – it’s ruined “You’ve Been Framed”. Where I used to fi nd myself belly laughing at kids falling over I now fi nd myself wincing and hoping the kid is alright.

Fortunately, adults falling over is still

CH RIS’S TOP BABY BUY

Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump Double the pump means half the speed for expressing – I was amazed at how quickly my wife got used to using it. medela.com

Izmi Baby Carrier Our little one loves being in it, my wife looks cool wearing it and so do I. We love this sling. izmibaby.co.uk

Angelcare Nappy Disposal System Like a Harry Potter spell for getting rid of stinky nappies.

Chuck them in the bin and the smell vanishes.

We can’t live without this now. angelcare.co.uk

as funny as ever. Although my wife didn’t seem to agree when she tripped over an empty roll of packing tape.

We’re now starting to think about the future, getting some sense of normality back. Before Little Cox arrived we would go to the theatre about twice a week, but we’ve not really been since then. However, we have Hamilton tickets for a few weeks time which means it’s time to start attempting to introduce a bottle of expressed milk. My wife has taken to using the Medela Double Breast Pump which is an incredible little contraption, quickly and (I’m told) painlessly getting the milk out into one bottles designed to not interfere with breastfeeding. As she expresses I get bonus Daddy time with Little Cox, who has become fascinated with my made-up songs about what she’s doing. “Baby’s wriggling her legs” is a big hit in our house.

So it’s now time for me to commence the battle of the bottle.

Little Cox loves nothing better than being on the boob, but her parents very much want to see Hamilton. If we can get her to happily take one bottle then it buys us just enough time to see a show, but at the minute she is having none of it. The battle of wills continues. I play with the bottle in her mouth, she takes a little, realises it’s not the boob and kicks up an almighty fuss. I settle her and we start the battle again. Every day it gets a little easier, she takes a little more milk and we inch closer to getting a tiny bit of our life back. Soon we’ll be able to leave her for while with parents. But then we look at her and wonder, how can we even leave her for a second? She’s more entertaining than any piece of theatre. I’d pay to see her every single day. And those tickets are much easier to get than Hamilton ones.

CH R I S COX was named by The Guardian as ‘One of the most exciting entertainers in Britain'. magiccox.com

absolutely-mama.co.uk

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11/01/2018 15:38

‘ Enjoying childhood and realising our imagination.’ We are delighted to announce that Mogg Hercules, Headteacher and founder of Dallington School has been appointed MBE for outstanding services to education in the New Year Honours List, 2018 Dallington is a family-run co-educational independent school, with a nursery, in the heart of London.

Personal tours each day of the week, except Wednesday.

Next Open Evening: Thursday 3rd May 2018 from 6 to 8 pm

Email: hercules@dallingtonschool.co.uk Phone: 020 7251 2284 www.dallingtonschool.co.uk USE.indd 1

10/01/2018 14:20

Teaching children to fly Our schools differ in character but share the same focus: teaching children to fly.

The higher and happier the better.

The powerful combination of highly trained staff and tailor-made teaching encourages our pupils to excel.

They mostly call it having fun. We call it being the best they can be.

OPEN DAYS Bassett – open afternoon – 2 March Orchard – open morning – 8 March Prospect – open morning – 22 February To book in, please call the school you would like to visit.

Notting Hill | 020 8969 0313 bassetths.org.uk

HSG.indd 1

Chiswick | 020 8742 8544 orchardhs.org.uk

Putney | 020 8246 4897 prospecths.org.uk

04/01/2018 11:25