Absolutely Mama October 2019

Mama O C TO B E R 2 0 1 9 • I S S U E 3 3

The Magazine for Stylish Mums

Green BABY Eco essentials for your mini

MAMA AWARDS THE WINNERS AS VOTED FOR BY YOU

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Small WINS Susie Verrill on parenting

Getting

COSY Autumn-ready interiors updates

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Who knew it took 143 years to make a babygrow?

Silver Cross Clothing

Available at:

silvercrossbaby.com

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mama WELCOME

74 contents 77 40 OCTOBER 2019

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AGENDA What’s On

FASHION 40 City Life

HOME & INTERIORS 68 Nursery Notes

New Books

48 Kids Fashion Notes

70 Into The White

50 Country Life

74 Sleep Space

WELLNESS 58 Eat Your Veg

RESOURCES 87 Eco Warriors

62 Being Well

91

Arts and entertainment for the month ahead

14

October’s best new releases

ESSENTIALS 22 Tot Gear

Key kit to make parenting easier

MAMAHOOD 30 Woman in Work

Jules McKeen on launching postpartum brand Sarka London

ON THE COVER: @artipoppe artipoppe.com

32 Small Gains

Susie Verrill and Greg Rutherford on parenting wins

Easy pieces for exploring the concrete jungle from Bobo Choses

Th e best looks and launches for little ones

Heading into the great outdoors with Th e New Society

Organic baby recipes from Mamamade

Could assessing our lifestyles be the key to wellness

Beautiful decor and furniture for your little one’s space

A peek inside Georgie Ludlow of interiors brand Oskoe’s home

Decorating tips to create a good sleeping environment from Pea

Planet-saving half term activities at the V&A Museum of Childhood

Language Low Down

Introducing a second language

October 2019

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mama WELCOME DESMOND & DEMPSEY P. 48

Editor’s

LETTER EXPLORERS P. 14

ORGANIC ZOO P. 45

T

his issue is all about the little things.

No, not the ones currently hanging around your ankles… the things that make your life as a parent easier.

In my interview with mama blogger Susie Verrill, we discuss the small wins that make the dayto-day a lot less challenging. And our Woman in Work, Jules McKeen, is the founder of a new postnatal fashion brand named Sarka London that’s on a mission to change the face of mama style – one technical revolution at a time.

Elsewhere in this issue, we talk to Brighton artist James Wilson about his cool new collaboration with organic zoo. Georgie Ludlow, founder of stylish children’s interior brand Oskoe, shares a peek inside her home in our decorating special. We also round-up the best eco-friendly essentials, including non-plastic baby bottles.

And finally, the results of our annual Mama Awards are now in! Thank you to everyone who voted and turn to page 22 to find out who won.

C a rly Gl e n di n n i n g E DITOR

MILK TOOTH P. 38

@carlyjglendinning carly@zest-media.com

Part of the

Mid-weight Designer: REBECCA NOONAN Account Manager: DONNA MCCAFFERTY

T h e M a g a z i n e Fo r S t y l i s h M u m s @ A B S O L U T E LY M A M A

absolutely-mama .co.uk Editor UK: CARLY GLENDINNING Features Editor: HELEN BARON Social Media Editor: JESSICA SHALTOUT Marketing Manager: LUCIE PEARCE Art Director: PAWEL KUBA Senior Designer: MIKE ROBERTS

Finance Director: JERRIE KOLECI Director: LEAH DAY

LON DON OFFICE : 50 - 52 Whar f Rd, The Angel, London N1 7EU

Managing Director: SHERIF SHALTOUT For editorial enquiries please email: carly@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please email: donna@zest-media.com For media partnership enquiries please email: lucie@zest-media.com

Absolutely Mama supports

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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 The products and brands getting our attention this month

Stylish Snoozing

S LEEP E R We love nothing more than a crisp new pair of pyjamas and none are more stylish than the sets from cult brand Sleeper. This 100% cotton style has been made by hand. the-sleeper.com

MINI ME

SOOR PLOOM One of our favourite brands for little ones, Soor Ploom, has launched a beautiful collection for mamas. Full of gorgeous natural linens and sustainably-produced knits in muted colours. soorploomclothier.com

or’s Editick P

M OT H E R L OV E

DE SIGN LET TE R S Design Letters has added a ‘mom’ cup to their popular range. A cute gift for a new mama, it would look just as great on your kitchen shelf as on your desk. designletters.com

Into The Woods

T HE G RU F FA LO BY M O RI In celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Grufflo, MORI is launching a special collection featuring four prints inspired by the much-loved tale. The day and sleep designs are suitable for little ones from newborn up to 4-years. babymori.com

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ma m a LOVES

T I P TO E

LOEFFLER RANDALL The new collection from accessories brand Loeffler Randall is full of covetable designs. Known for their beautiful sandals, they’re pretty good at autumn-ready boots too. loefflerrandall.com

F LOW E R P OW E R

T H E M I D D LE DAU G H T ER Embrace the turn of the seasons with the autumn-y prints from new girls wear brand The Middle Daughter. This retro floral dress captures the mood perfectly. themiddledaughter.co.uk

Natural Beauty YO P E With 93% natural and minally processed ingredients, Yope’s formulas are gentle enough for little ones’ skin. Their geranium shower gel is an uplifting blend of refreshing bright notes and subtle floral scents. yope.me

Little Dreamers

T HE B O N N I E M O B The new collection from British brand The bonnie mob reflects themes of peace, love, and pandas.

Expect the brand’s signature adorable knits, with lots of playful Beetles references. thebonniemob.com

Over The Rainbow

LIT TL E C LOU D The autumn collection from interiors favourite Little Cloud features lots of dreamy new designs. Alongside their popular personalised name signs, look out for rainbows, glitter clouds and Liberty fabrics galore. little-cloud.co.uk

B E YO ND BUMP ISA B EL L A O L IV ER

Sustainable maternity brand Isabella Oliver’s collection is full of pieces you’ll want to wear during the nine months and beyond. They have just launched a ‘Pre-Loved’ campaign so you can send your old pieces to be re-loved. isabellaoliver.com October 2019

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Patch Kids

RIVERFORD ORGANIC FARMERS

Riverford will be holding their annual Pumpkin Day on Saturday 26 October at their farm in Devon, near Totnes. A fun family outing with pumpkin painting, seed potting, live music, and good food, this year the event will also be plastic-free for the first time ever. riverford.co.uk

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W H AT ’S O N From space exploration to ballet, there’s lots to explore this October

On Pointe 2 October – 6 November, various times Royal Opera House

The Royal Ballet’s new season opens with Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon.

Little ballerinas in-the-making will love the spell-binding costumes and choreography in this retelling of a modern masterpiece. roh.org.uk

we love

Life On MARS 18 Oct – 23 Feb • The Design Museum

The Design Museum launches an exciting new exhibition that explores how sending humans to Mars is not just a new frontier for science but also for design. Mini space explorers will love the multi-sensory installation of the Red Planet and the full-scale prototype habitat by international design firm Hassell. designmuseum.org

Tiny Dancer Until Feb 2020 Royal Opera House

Ballet Dots is a specially curated fun and friendly workshop for children, allowing them to take their first steps into ballet. Sessions are split into three 45 minute workshops for ages 3 months to 12 months, 12 months to 2.5 years and 2.5 years to 5 years. roh.org.uk/workshops/ballet-dots

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TANGLED TALE

Until 27 October, various times Unicorn

In celebration of Black History Month, the classic West African and Caribbean tales about Anasai, the spider hoaxster, are brought vividly to life in Artistic Director Justin Audibert’s newest production for the Unicorn. unicorntheatre.com

EVENTS

MINI Bookworm s Little literature lovers will enjoy autumn’s series of book-themed events

I M M E R S IVE R E AD I N G 22 – 24 October Battersea Arts Centre

For more confident readers (age 8 – 12), The Day I Fell into a Book at Battersea Arts Centre uses binaural sound recordings, intricate lighting technology and projection to take the audience into a lost world of classic myths and legends. bac.org.uk

LITE R ATU R E CO M E S TO LI F E 17 – 27 October Southbank Centre

Coinciding with half term week is the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre. There’s a packed programme for families including a performance of Michael Morpurgo’s enchanting tale ‘I Believe in Unicorns’.

Gruffalo Fun

southbankcentre.co.uk

Tue 22 – Sun 27 Oct, various times Arts Depot

oin Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book, The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up, in the much-loved show that’s toured the West End and the world!

J

artsdepot.co.uk

DOGGY DREAMS 25 – 28 Oct The Design Museum

ne for inspiring the next generation of animators, Hey Duggee, CBeebies’ multi-award-winning and much-loved show, is the subject of a new exhibition at the Design Museum. The exhibition marks the start of a partnership between the museum and BBC Studios.

O

D ETAI LE D D R AWI N G Until 27 October Japan House

Young readers will love the new exhibition at Japan House exploring the works of Anno Mitsumasa. Immersive and interactive, his detailed drawings are considered to be the precursor to to titles such as ‘Where’s Wally’. japanhouselondon.uk

designmuseum.org

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We love

BOOKS This month’s new releases have us travelling around the world W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

TAKING FLIGHT T H E AT L A S O F A M A Z I N G B I R D S

By Matt Sewell

Big Adventures EXPLO R E RS

By Nellie Huang and Jessamy Hawke

This exciting non-fiction storybook charts the adventures of 50 famous explorers as they take one giant leap into the unknown. Packed with jawdropping facts and guaranteed to get the heart racing, it’s a great one for budding young adventurers. £16.99;  dk.com

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Travelling across every continent, Matt Sewell takes little readers on a journey to discover the most amazing birds all over the world. Laugh-out-loud funny and beautifully illustrated with vivid watercolours. £16.99; pavillionbooks.com

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BOOKS

FURRY FRIENDS HUMANIMAL

By Christopher Lloyd and Mark Ruf f le

From the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning Absolutely Everything! comes HUMANIMAL, a brilliant book uncovering the curious connections between humans and other animals. Little ones will be fascinated to discover just how similar they are to a surprising variety of creatures. £12.99;  whatonearthbooks.com

A N I M A L M AG I C THROUGH THE ANIMAL KINGDOM Illustrated by Charlotte Pepper

INTREPID EXPLORERS D A R W I N ’ S V OYAG E O F D I S C OV E R Y

By Jake Williams

This brilliant new book celebrates the 160-year anniversary of Darwin’s ground-breaking text on evolution: On The Origin of Species. Step onboard The Beagle and follow along as Jake Williams retraces the journey that inspired almost all modern-day knowledge of the natural world. £12.99;  pavillionbooks.com

What do frozen mountain peaks, vast deserts and lush forests have in common? They are incredible places animals call home. This magical book invites little readers on a journey through 13 diverse habitats to discover the secret lives of the creatures that live there. £9.99;  dk.com

MIND YOUR

MANNERS CONNOISSEUR KIDS

By Jennifer L . Scott

This charmingly illustrated book from Jennifer Scott (author of the New York Times bestselling Madam Chic series and founder of The Daily Connoisseur blog) is a playful take on manners and being a good global citizen. With activities, learning games, fill-in-the-blanks, letter writing, and recipes, it’s one for parents and little ones to read together. £16.99;  abramsandchronicle.co.uk

B OTA N I CA L B E AUT Y T H E W O N D E R S O F N AT U R E

By Ben Hoare

This compendium from bestselling author Ben Hoare will wow mini and grown-up nature lovers alike. A book to truly pore over, there’s 100 remarkable items to study – from rocks and minerals, to microscopic life, plants, and animals. £20;  dk.com October 2019

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i-Questâ„¢ signature Welcome to a luxurious world of soft, textured, quilted fabrics; aged cognac leatherette touches in all of the most elegant of spaces; and beautifully tailored lines.

This signature i-Size multidirection safety seat with added comfort is exquisitely crafted to make memories of each moment with baby last forever.

A SIMPLY TIMELESS CAR SEAT WITH THE LATEST IN SAFETY AND LOADED WITH LEISURE

joiebaby.com/signature Available from all good nursery retailers.

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Carry Cool ARTIPOPPE

Dutch brand Artipoppe is changing the face of baby carrying one stylish print at a time. With designs from classic leopard to exotic peacock, they only use materials from ethical producers, and the fabrics are woven in Lithuania – where the workers earn fair wages. artipoppe.com

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Plastic-Free

Parenting Helen Baron rounds up the eco alternatives that will help you ditch the plastic

THE DUMMY Editor’s Pick

HEVEA

An iconic design always way ahead of its time, the Hevea rubber dummy is naturally safe, soothing and sustainable. It’s biodegradable too, so when baby has had enough, skip the bin and bury it. €9; heveaplanet.com

The Potty

ECO BY NAT Y

A potty facilitates its own obsolescence, but you can avoid landfill guilt by choosing this cute contemporary model, made of 95% renewable sugarcane.

It’s designed for use with flushable, biodegradable inserts, so you also never have to clean it: result. £29.99 (inserts sold separately); naty.com 18

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THE NAPPY

BAMBINO MIO

This is the reusable nappy brand that leads them all, with over 60 awards and fans in over 50 countries. Their range of cloth nappies lasts from birth to potty training, and the disposable biodegradable liners make changing a cinch. From £15.99; bambinomio.com

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essentials SUSTAINABILIT Y

5 of t he be s t

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THE STROLLER GREENTOM

Made from recycled and bio plastics and completely recyclable itself, the Greentom stroller is built in a ‘closed-loop’ system, reducing waste to the bare minimum. It can also be adapted for use from birth to four years old. From €279; greentom.com

THE TABLEWARE EKOBO

Ekobo’s dinky dinnerware is made from bamboo and designed with minimalism in mind. Available in a range of tasteful tones, it can be composted when no longer in use.

They also do bento-style snack boxes and a recycled PET lunch-bag. by-ekobo.com

The Lunch Box LIEWOOD

These lunchboxes are crafted from ecofriendly bamboo and feature dividers to keep snacks separate. We love the bento box sets, with stretchy straps and a strip to write your child’s name. From €33; liewood.com

B O TTL E S

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1. Hevea glass bottle with ball, £20; ulula.co.uk 2. Avent glass bottle, £14; amazon.co.uk 3. Mam Feel Good glass bottle , £9.60; boots.com 4. Como Tomo silicone bottle, £15; kidly.co.uk 5. Lifefactory glass bottle, £10; kidly.co.uk 6. Natursutten 2 x glass bottles, £33; amazon.co.uk

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e s s ent i al s HALLOWEEN

MERI MERI Hanging Bats; £7.50 merimeri.co.uk MERI MERI Giant Spider Balloon; £16.50 merimeri.co.uk

Little

Spooks

Everything you need for a hair-raising Halloween, from decorations to dress-up

LIEWOOD Cat Backpack; €40,00 liewood.com

MERI MERI Glitter Halloween Stickers; £6.75 merimeri.co.uk

MINI RODINI Cat Dress; £45 alexandalexa.com

LOLA Halloween Craft Box; £25 lotsoflovelyart.org

STELLA MCCARTNEY KIDS Bat Sweatshirt; £63 stel lamccartney.com ORGANIC ZOO Moon Top; £28 and Moon Trousers; £27 organic-zoo.com

MERI MERI Luna Witch Doll; £53 merimeri.co.uk

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e s s ent i al s

TOT GE AR

ent parroved app

P L AY D AY S M A M A S & PA PA S

The Cheeky Faces Playmat and Gym from Mamas & Papas is the ideal space for playtime. With a soft, plush padded base, it’s nice and comfy for little ones to lay on, and it comes with gym arches full of hanging toys which will entertain and engage. £59; mamasandpapas.com

TOT GEAR

Inspired kit to make parenting easier

PLASTIC FREE AQ UA W I P E S

Aqua Wipes are natural, 100% biodegradable and importantly, plastic free. With purified water and organic Aloe Vera (and no nasties), we love that they are kind to little one’s delicate skin and eco friendly too. aquawipes.co.uk

NICE WHEELS M A M A S & PA PA S PHOTO CREDIT: @CASSIE.AND.RIO

Inspired by minimalistic Scandinavian style and natural fabrics, the new Signature Edition Ocarro Simply Luxe pushchair from Mamas & Papas comes with a winter pack including a super soft sheepskin liner to keep your little one wrapped up warm throughout the chilly months. From £999; mamasandpapas.com 22

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CHEEKY FAC E S

Activity Snuggle Rug Reviewed by Mamas & Papas Parent Approved Panellist Holly Burge @the_thirtysomethinggirl

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he Cheeky Faces Activity Snuggle Rug from Mamas & Papas is great for tummy time.

My daughter Posey can only really handle short periods of time holding her head up at the moment, so this is perfect to get her beach body ready and pump some iron in the gym.

Tummy time is important for muscle development, and the rug makes it so much easier to weave this into her day without her really realising. The fabric is super soft and snuggly whilst the cushion is supportive, making it the perfect place to chill and play. It can also act like a little sofa if Posey sits the other way around and she really seems to find this comfortable.

The first time I put Posey on the rug, I think I placed her too high and she face planted the floor in slow motion... bad mother award coming my way. However, I have now perfected the placement and she can lie comfortably and engage with the toys attached. There are also additional hoops to attach her other toys, which is handy. We took this to Granny’s on Sunday, and it was small enough to chuck in the car and kept her happy while the family had a good catch up. mamasandpapas.com

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Eaton House The Manor boys and girls love learning. They are individual, inquisitive and enjoy having fun! Our non-selective 3+ entry into the nursery allows each child to blossom at the right pace as they get ‘school ready’ before seamlessly moving into the Kindergarten.

Wellbeing is at the heart of all we do, and there is a genuine warmth in both of our nurseries in Belgravia and Clapham. They offer a gentle, personalised and fun introduction to learning where children grow both emotionally and academically. As a result, our littlest children are engaged, confident and happy.

Come and visit us and discover for yourself what makes us so special.

Clapham | Belgravia

020 3917 5050 | sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com | www.eatonhouseschools.com

EATON HOUSE SCHOOLS Celebrating 120 years of excellence

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AWA R DS 

2 01 9 

Thank you to everyone that voted in our second Absolutely Mama Awards

I

n our second annual Absolutely Mama Awards, the brands who entered really got put to the test. Not only were they subject to your vote, but this time they had to seek the extra approval of our rigorous judging panel.

Carly Glendinning (Editor), Helen Baron (Features Editor), and Jessica Shaltout (Social Media Editor), trialled every parenting essential, beauty product, and even taste tested the baby food entries (the things we do for you!).

The results are in and we are confident that the winners represent the very best brands who are leading the way in the parenting world. From trusted household names, to new and pioneering start-ups.

Thank you again to everyone who took part, your input is incredibly important to us and we appreciate every single vote. Read on to find out more about the winners and runners up.

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essentials M A M A

AWARDS

Best EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Best BATH TIME ESSENTIAL FOR BABIES

Best BATH TIME ESSENTIAL FOR MAMAS Winner: Neal’s

Remedies

Yard

Product: Mother’s Massage Oil Pioneers in award-winning, natural and organic skincare and wellbeing, Neal’s Yard is a proud British business. They opened their doors in Covent Garden, London, in 1981 and now handcraft their products at their eco factory in Dorset, using ethically sourced herbs, botanicals and essential oils. nealsyardremedies.com

Winner: Green People Product: Organic Babies Natural Baby Wash and Shampoo With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Green People offers a complete range of certified organic products for all of the family. Green People products are packed with up to 99% active natural and organic ingredients to protect, nourish, balance and, most importantly, respect your body. greenpeople.co.uk

Winner: Elvie Product: Breast Pump Elvie Pump is the world’s first silent wearable breast pump. The all-in-one, lightweight design fits discreetly inside a standard nursing bra without the hassle of tubes, wires or noise. A complete departure from existing pump technology, the truly hands-free pump gives women the flexibility to go about their daily routine while expressing milk. elvie.com First runner up: Mama Bamboo, Bamboo Biodegradable Nappies Second runner up: Sleepyhead of Sweden, Pods

First runner up: Burt’s Bees, Baby Bee Multipurpose Ointment Second runner up: Mustela, Multi-sensory Bubble Bath

First runner up: Bloom and Blossom, Nip & Lip Soothing Balm Second runner up: Babyopathy, Birth Day Pure Essential Oil

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Best TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Best MEAL TIME ESSENTIALS Winner: Little Tummy Product: Chickpeas, Cauliflower & Kale Unlike the super-processed alternatives, which dominate the market, none of the meals Little Tummy make are ever heattreated. Instead, they use a coldpressure-method which is known as high-pressure-processing, or HPP. littletummy.co First runner up: Babease, Organic Mexican Beans Second runner up: Little Freddie, Organic Baby & Toddler Food

Winner: Micralite Product: Profold Stroller Micralite is a British brand that provide high performance products built with family adventure in mind – whatever that means to you. Whether it’s a walk in the park or a trip abroad, Micralite strollers, travel cot and accessories make travelling with kids easier – so you can focus on the fun stuff. micralite.com First runner up: Micralite, Sleep & Go Travel Cot Second runner up: Bugaboo, Bee 5

Best NURSERY ESSENTIALS PRODUCT Winner: Scandibørn Product: Scandinavian Children’s Furniture Scandibørn is an online lifestyle boutique that brings Scandinavian-inspired children’s design to the UK. Expect to find the very best in contemporary and minimal Nordic design including brands such as Cam Cam Copenhagen, Oliver Furniture, Liewood and more. scandiborn.co.uk First runner up: Sleepyhead of Sweden, Mediterraneo Collection Second runner up: Babyhubshop, Bedside Crib

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essentials M A M A

AWARDS

Best MATERNITY BRAND Winner: Seraphine Seraphine is a leading European retailer, providing stylish maternity clothes to fashionable mamas-to-be. Loved by fashion editors, bloggers and celebrities, this is a brand offering covetable maternity clothes for every stage of pregnancy. seraphine.com First runner up: Isabella Oliver Second runner up: Lily + Ribbon

Best CHILDREN’S FASHION PRODUCT Winner: Piupia Product: Midnight Blue Booties With a focus on quality and sustainability, the Londonbased brand presents a timeless selection of clothing ranging from 3m to 6yrs. The doublelayered midnight booties are made from 100% repurposed cotton fabric and designed with elastic at the ankle to keep little feet in. piupia.co.uk First runner up: Bambino Mio, Swim Set Second runner up: Babiators, Sunglasses

Best TOYS AND ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT Winner: Kiko & gg* Product: Wooden Doll’s House Kiko & gg* by Kukkia have been designing toys from Japan for over 7 years – inspired by their passions, travels, pets and their children. Their designs and toys are regularly featured in fashion and children’s magazines around the world, and they often partner with discerning companies on joint projects. kikoandgg.com First runner up: Green Toys, Fire Station Second runner up: Le Toy Van, Grocery Set and Scanner

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N E W CO L L EC T I O N 2 0 1 9

For more details visit our website www.venicci.co.uk or email customerservice@venicci.co.uk

Check out our new brand INSEVIO www.insevio.com

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Easy Does It IN THIS SECTION

This month, it’s all about the little things that make your life easier as a mama. Susie Verrill talks to us about her parenting wins; and Jules McKeen, founder of Sarka London (collection pictured), tells us about how she’s revolutionising postpartum style with technical triumphs. Enjoy!

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JULES MCKEEN (RIGHT) AND HER CO FOUNDERS

“Nobody was addressing the really difficult year postpartum”

woman in

WORK Jules McKeen on launching new postpartum fashion brand Sarka London

I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

Q How did you meet your co founders Rachel and Jules and come to launch the brand?

A I knew that to launch Sarka London as the go-to style destination for new mothers, I needed to find the right co founders. This took a good couple of years of mining the professional contacts I had made in twenty years of working in marketing in London. But as often happens with start-ups, a personal friend conversation with Jill Easterbrook, the Boden CEO, led to her introducing me to two very close friends of hers, Rachel – an accountant with a background at Soho House and Burberry, and Jules with a background as a buying director at large retailers. We had three major skills covered and are really diverse in how we think and act, so we got cracking to launch in September this year.

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mamah o o d

SARKA MODELS HANGING OUT AT THEIR SHOOT

Q What made you want to focus on post-maternity rather than maternity?

A We had all experienced with our own pregnancies that nobody was addressing the really difficult year postpartum. Women who have been looking forward to ditching the maternity clothes at long last, suddenly realise that their beloved wardrobe just isn’t fit for purpose. If she’s breastfeeding that has a huge impact for access to her breasts without necessarily exposing her belly and décolletage to the restaurant.

With over a quarter of UK births (and rising) being C sections and 75% of UK mothers remaining a dress size up come the baby’s first birthday, we recognised the need for a brand which combined the functional needs of the new mother’s body without any compromise on her look.

Q Describe your design aesthetic…

A At Sarka London we want to help new mothers get their style self back – our ethos is ‘no more compromise’. Women compromise enough when they give birth, so we design our collection around there being no compromise she has to make between feeling like her awesome, pre-pregnancy self, and the functional changes happening to her body.

As such, our design approach looks like a simple, clean, Scandinavian capsule collection, but underneath it’s like a swan paddling furiously to support her body with hidden breastfeeding access and adjustable supportive waistbands.

We also use super-soft sustainable fabrics which mean our jerseys feel

like butter against a baby’s cheek.

The collection is designed to seamlessly fit into the aspects of her pre-pregnancy wardrobe which still work for her. We believe this will help women feel like they still own their personal style identity as they get to grips with their new lives.

Oh – and no infantilising prints! We rigorously tested our collections with customers and the un-gendered, un-frilly, ‘un-mumsy’ style (in the stereotypical way this word is perceived) is a really key aspect to our design ethos. She has, after all, had a baby – not a style lobotomy!

Q What special features does the collection have, and how did you go about designing them?

A In Sarka garments, it’s all about the 007 tricks and helping hands. We know for example that a frustration for breastfeeding mums is remembering which side they fed on last, so we have little Sarka orange ribbons hidden next to the openings so she can tie it as a reminder that this was the last breast she fed from. This balance is so important for milk supply and avoiding mastitis, so hopefully it will help to keep her on track.

Waistbands in our trousers and skirts can pull right up over a belly for soft, C section support, or use the ties on our Ada trousers to pull the waist in tighter as the body starts to slowly reduce over the course of the year.

And pockets! We have a hidden iPhone pocket at the back waist of the Ada trouser so it’s away from the baby if you’re wearing her, and really deep pockets in the Boudicca sweats, Emmeline dress and Sulis sweatshirt.

Q How important is sustainability to the business?

A When we set up Sarka London, sustainability had to be baked into our ethos.

We wanted to sleep at night knowing we’d done the best we could to ensure we could track our garments back to the sustainable wood, manufacture in Britain, and ensure

INTERVIEW

JULES MCKEEN (RIGHT) WITH CO FOUNDER JULES

good working conditions and a small footprint.

As such, our garments are made in the UK with a generations-old family factory and we know the craftspeople personally. They’re designed to last a lifetime too; there’s no ‘fast fashion’ chuck it out aspect to what we do – longevity is designed into the garments’ adaptability.

Q How did your own motherhood journeys play into your decision to launch the business?

A It goes without saying that there’s no better validation for a business need than experiencing it yourself, and missing the speeches at a wedding because I was breastfeeding in a toilet with my dress over my head was definitely one example! Being lied to about ‘getting back into your jeans’ was another – and I think in the last five years the performative motherhood body image issues on Instagram have made this significantly worse for women, as have the tabloids.

I’ve felt for years that this was yet another feminist issue around compromise, and if I waited for the fashion or retail industry to answer this need when those (mostly men) were hurtling towards ‘fast fashion’ narratives, I’d be waiting forever. So who better to build a business designed for a woman’s postpartum style needs than a bunch of women who are pissed off it hasn’t happened before, and have the passion to make it work? sarkalondon.com @sarkalondon October 2019 | 31

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S M A L L G A I N S Absolutely Mama meets Susie Verrill and Greg Rutherford to talk about parenting wins and their upcoming wedding

Q Congratulations on your engagement!

How is the wedding planning going?

A Thank you! We’re really excited but aside from a single dress fitting to get an idea of what suits me, we haven’t really done any wedding planning! It’s a really busy time for us at the moment, plus ours is looking to be a destination wedding (Arizona) so we’ll be packing a lot of prep into our Christmas trip over there in a few months. It’ll be lovely once we get stuck in though.

Q Are your boys excited? What was their reaction when you told them?

A Our friends looked after the boys while we went on our hike the day of the proposal.

Greg had obviously planned for them to help us out childcare-wise for the day but when we returned home, they’d all gone out and got balloons, cakes and a card. Only problem was, Milo and Rex just repeatedly shouted ‘HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!’ because they really don’t understand the whole marriage thing. I’m sure they’ll have a fab day when it all actually happens but I’m not sure they’re all that excited… it’s not on their radar at all!

In a way it’s quite nice because it just feels like it’s ‘our’ thing as a couple, as opposed to a family affair.

Q What made you want to get involved with the Haliborange Vitamins ‘Every Parent’s a Winner’ campaign?

A There’s so many reasons why we jumped at the chance of teaming up with Haliborange and their ‘Every Parent’s a Winner’ campaign. Firstly, we’re always keen to work with brands that we genuinely already use and Milo’s been munching on their ‘sweets’ (vitamins, of course) daily for over a year now. The fact he asks for them shows us they’re already a winner from a kids’ point of view. Secondly and most importantly, the campaign’s just got real heart to it. We’re all in this parenting journey together and it really is the minute, daily wins which can lift your weary spirits and give you confidence in your abilities. We want to be a part of championing ordinary, every day life and realistic expectations rather than being divisive or encouraging any sort of parenting guilt (which creeps up on us all easily enough anyway). We think it’s such a positive, kindhearted campaign and it’s for products which benefit our little ones.

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mamah o o d INTERVIEW

“Everyday parenting wins for us are things like the boys eating three of their five a day”

Q What are your own everyday small parenting wins?

A Everyday parenting wins for us are things like the boys eating three of their five a day, getting through a craft session without anyone crying, getting both boys off to sleep at the same time in the evening (a rare occurrence) and us making it on time to anything.

Q And finally, best and worst thing about being parents?

A Best thing about being a parent is hard to put into words, in our opinion. Just the fact there really is magic in each and every day. It sounds silly and an exaggeration but before kids, it would take pretty specific things to be able to label the day ‘a good day’ and if you were in a bad mood, you were in a bad mood.

With children; an absolutely dreadful day can often be flipped on its head in a matter of seconds because of something they’ve said or done. And it won’t even be anything incredible, but as much as they can often

contribute to stress, children can also be a huge tonic. Worst thing is probably explaining to a toddler that yes, it’s stopped raining but no, we still can’t go to the park because all the equipment’s wet.

Susie Verrill and Greg Rutherford are working with Haliborange, the UK’s No 1 kids vitamin brand, on the ‘Every Parent’s a Winner’ campaign, which celebrates those everyday parenting wins. Recommended by 9 out of 10 parents, Haliborange is available from Boots supermarkets and pharmacies.

haliborange.com October 2019 | 33

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mamah ood COLUMN

“When Sebby dropped his morning nap I found it hard, when he dropped his afternoon nap, I literally cried”

real mum talk...

Telling it Like it is Alexandra Hunter on rountines

A

bout 8 years ago I was at a wedding talking to a woman I knew at the afternoon reception when she suddenly announced that she had to leave. Why? Because if she didn’t put her baby down to sleep within the next half hour her routine would be disrupted, the baby would never sleep again, she wouldn’t ever sleep again and she couldn’t possibly deviate from the routine. It didn’t matter that it was a close friend’s wedding. A routine is a routine. This was before me and my best friends had babies and I didn’t have a clue. I am embarrassed to say I thought she was just uptight and inflexible. I assumed when I had a child I would be so in tune

with it that my baby would be calm and sleep when it needed to. Hahaha!

Fast forward a few years and Sebby arrived, obviously without a manual.

I read a huge amount of articles and books about getting a baby to sleep.

Some that were helpful and some that made me weep in my hormone addled state with the sheer cruelty of their suggestions. Inevitably I stupidly listened to my NCT peers and when some announced that their babies were sleeping through at 3 months I again felt I was failing. After reading a book that really distressed me about giving them water rather than milk in the night, on the premise that eventually they stop crying and asking for it, I gave up on the idea of routines until Sebby was 5 months old. I then decided that a routine for naps and bedtime was essential for

both of us and I started asking friends I trusted what had worked for them.

Having a baby in a routine has tremendous advantages and disadvantages and you need to think about your lifestyle as well as theirs when setting something up. What do you want to be able to do in the day?

I wanted Sebby to sleep at particular times and in his cot which worked brilliantly, but it meant that my day was very limited in terms of when we could go out. He quickly got used to sleeping in his own bed and not on the move and so for an hour in the morning and two in the afternoon we were at home always. I would drive like a maniac to get back from swimming in time to put him down for his nap, but for me it worked. I suddenly understood why the woman left the wedding so abruptly. Sebby was happier with more sleep and so was I. When Sebby dropped his morning nap I found it hard, when he dropped his afternoon nap, I literally cried. His bedtime was always set and the build up to it is a routine that both of us still love, we never deviate from it. We have supper, a bath, cuddles and teeth, he chooses his 3 books and we read them in my bed and then he has milk and his teddies in his own.

Ask friends you trust for advice, don’t go with a set routine that makes you feel uncomfortable just because millions of books have been sold and believe that at some point in the near future you will have uninterrupted sleep again.

Sadly though, Sunday morning lie ins are now a thing of the past.

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E A SY P I EC E S FO R LI F E I N T H E C I T Y F R O M B O B O C H O S E S p .4 0 AU T U M N A L ST Y LE FO R R OA M I N G T H E CO U N T RYS I D E F R O M T H E N E W S O C I E T Y p . 5 0

Mama & Mini SMALL STORIES

Small Stories has launched a super cool mini me charity collection for autumn.

Featuring the brand’s playful painted dot print, there’s a sweatshirt and a bomber that come in grown-up and kid’s sizes. 10% from each sale of the adult designs will be donated to the charity Well Being Of Women. smallstories.co.uk

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ST Y L E NOTES

The month’s best styles, collaborations and collections

KNIT WITS

HADES

Crafted by hand in Scotland, this hip knit from HADES is part of a collection of six slogan jumpers inspired by themes of dissent and iconoclasm. We’ll take one in every colour, please.

we love

hades-shop.co.uk

E A R C A N DY MILK TOOTH

With a current collection inspired

by Egyptology, the cosmos, and counterculture, London-based jewellery brand Milk Tooth make super-cool statement earrings.

Each design is plated in 24ct gold and has a uniquely vintage appeal. milktoothldn.com

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Wardrobe Wonders BAUKJEN

The beautiful new collection from ecoconscious, London-based brand Baukjen is all about sharp tailoring, tactile fabrics, and standout prints. It’s a lesson in capsule dressing, with many pieces designed to be interchanged. baukjen.com

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Forever Pieces

MAMA

nd Bra us Foc

BAMFORD

On a mission to upend the throwaway culture of fast fashion, Lady Bamford has been championing sustainable style for years. Her AW19 clothing collection features natural and biodegradable fabrics, free from hazardous chemicals. bamford.com

ISABEL MANNS

SEASONAL STEPS

A London-based eco-conscious brand

A

AT P AT E L I E R

The sustainably-made accessories from Swedish brand ATP are handmade in Italy. It’s a meeting of craftsmanship and a Scandinavian sense of design. atpatelier.com

5 of t he b e st C H A N G I N G B AG S

TIBA + MARL Miller Backpack Grey, £130; tibaandmarl.com

STORKSAK, St James Changing Bag, £189; storksak.com MICRALITE, DayPak 25L Changing Bag £65; micralite.com

recent addition to the ever-cool Wolf & Badger store, Isabel Manns previously worked for design greats including Burberry, Emilia Wickstead, and Naeem Khan, before launching her own eponymous label, which debuts this season.

New York trained and London based, the talented designer takes an innovative approach to tailoring.

The majority of the pieces in the collection are reversible and there’s a custom service available so you can alter the length, or choose from different design options. It’s an ethically-conscious move, to help the wearer create something that they can (hopefully) wear for a lifetime.

Eco credentials are sewn into every part of the brand – from a transparent supply chain in the UK (their seamstresses are Londonbased), to economically cut fabric to minimise waste. And speaking of fabric, designs are printed on the most beautiful Italian silk – think florals so vivid they jump out at you and spiralling ocean waves. These are pieces that are truly works of art. isabelmanns.com

ELODIE DETAILS, Soft Shell Changing Bag, £55; alexandalexa.com

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JEM + BEA, Edie Weekender, £130; jemandbea.com

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C I T Y L I F E Easy-to-wear pieces for exploring the concrete jungle b o b o ch o s e s .c o m

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Baby care the natural way

Reclaim motherhood as a positive, stress-free experience

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fash io n INTERVIEW

Dance With The

UNIVERSE

Absolutely Mama caught up with founder of kids clothing brand organic zoo Paulina Krzywosinska and artist James Wilson about their new collaboration I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

PAULINA KRZYWOSINSKA FOU N DER OF ORGANIC ZOO

Q How did you and James meet and how did the collection of sweatshirts come about?

A Things happened so quickly! And all by chance, so I believe it was meant to be. James stumbled upon my store one morning, while in Kemptown in Brighton. I guess being a dad of two young boys he got drawn in! We chatted for good half an hour and followed each other on Instagram. At once, I was dazzled by James’s work and sensed his great enthusiasm towards children. Once I had started working on ‘Dance with the universe’ and decided to invite an artist to collaborate with me, James was my first choice. He instantly said ‘yes’ and the rest is history!

Q How are the pieces made?

A To me, the four sweatshirts we created together feel more like pieces of art, not

clothing. The designs are all handmade by James, not a computer program, which is so special. He used a ‘cut out’ technique and each element/letter in the design is unique. The tops themselves are made with butter-soft organic cotton and the graphics are screen printed.

Q What do you admire most about James’s work?

A What I love about James’s work the most is that he is a ‘brave’ artist who works with different techniques and styles. Yet, at the same time, whenever I see his work, I instantly recognise that it belongs to him. He has this incredible, unique and fresh style about his work.

Q What was it like working together?

A The word that comes to my mind is ‘a flow’.

It actually didn’t feel like work, but a fun project! Once I shared with James my ideas about ‘Dance with the universe’ I felt like he at once grasped the concept! There was no need for further briefs as the designs that James delivered a few days later blew me away!

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fash io n INTERVIEW

Q Favourite way to spend a day with your family in Brighton?

A Brighton has so much to offer. My number one thing to do is long walks. The favourite routes include South Downs National Park and Seven Sisters. I also like mooching around in the Laines and visiting the Royal Pavillion on rainy days.

JAMES WILSON ARTIST

Q What made you want to work on a childrenswear collection?

A Having two children myself, a three and one-year-old, kids clothing is something I’m dealing with on a daily basis (if not hourly).

I think it’s really important that children’s clothes should be great quality, ethically produced, and of course look great.

“I had a lot of fun with this collaboration and I can’t wait to see happy faces in the sweaters – James”

Q How did you work with Paulina to come up with the concept and what was your inspiration?

A Paulina and I first met when I went to her store to purchase some of her existing clothing, I think from that moment we knew that we have a similar eye for design and ethics. So with this particular collection, Paulina and I sat down over a coffee and discussed styles, colours, and the story behind it. After a couple of weeks of emailing and meetings we came to the conclusion that the ‘cut out’ style of graphics kept the designs feeling handmade and tactile but also engaging for the little people who look at them all day. The main inspiration behind the graphic shapes is nature and us moving.

Paired with some cool slogans, the collection comes together to give a great energy and a positive vibe to everyone’s day.

Q What was it like working together?

A It was a really fluid and and positive process, and I think that shows in the end result. From the get go we both involved

each other in the processes we took charge of. For example I would scan and email my work as I went along and suggest colours for print, and Paulina would show me samples of paper stocks and materials for the swing tags and jumpers. I had a lot of fun with this collaboration and I can’t wait to see happy faces in the sweaters all around the world.

Q What do you love about organic zoo?

A So many things, but if I had to narrow it down to my core love of organic zoo it has to be the colours. Everything just matches so well you can take any two items from their collection and they will go together. It makes choosing the kids’ clothes in the morning so easy. The physical store is also such a testament to the brand, it’s not jut a bright white box, it has real character. It feels like everything was done with thought and care even down to the paint on the walls.

Q Finally, favourite way to spend a day with your family in Brighton?

A Waking up slowly and getting dressed, having a wander down to the beach, grabbing some coffee and pastries on the way. We like to get the electric railway along the beach to the play park on a sunny day, and who doesn’t love to end on a fresh stone baked pizza. organic-zoo.com October 2019 | 47

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kid s

FA S H I O N NOTES Carly Glendinning rounds up the month’s best styles, looks and launches

we love

B OY S & GIRLS S AY P L E A S E

PLANET

The new collection from Spanish brand SayPlease is full of unisex, play-ready pieces. Made from GOTS certified organic cotton, we love the colour palette of brown, electric blue and mustard and the simple, graphic prints. saypleasebaby.com

COOL S M A L L S X O E U F N YC

Two of our favourites: Smalls and Oeuf NYC have come together to create a limited edition collection of long sleeve tees to highlight the importance of sustainable fashion. Coming soon in rose, mustard and natural, from ages 2 to 14 years. smallsmerino.co.uk

Space Adventures MONKIND

Get ready for lift-off with a collection inspired by hidden dimensions from MONKIND. Made from eco-friendly fabrics, little space explorers will love the sci-fi prints. monkind.com

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fas h i on

Sleep Time

KIDS

nd Bra us Foc

DESMOND & DEMPSEY

British sleepwear brand Desmond & Dempsey are introducing a kids collection for the first time this season. A riot of colour and print, your minis will love their classic cotton styles. desmondanddempsey.com

FIN+ZEE An eco-friendly capsule collection of thoughtfully tailored pieces

A

SUPER P OW E R S SCAMP & DUDE

Scamp & Dude launches at John Lewis & Partners this autumn. Infused with superpowers (to give little ones supercharged strength), look out for an exclusive colourway of one of their brilliant prints . johnlewis.com

5 of t he b e st M I N I H ORRORS MERI MERI, Hair Slides, £7.50; merimeri.co.uk

MERI MERI, Mini Star Witches Hat, £12 merimeri.co.uk

MINI BODEN, Hedwig Cardigan, from £35; boden.co.uk

ORGANIC ZOO, Midnight Bloomers £28; organiczoo.com

relatively new indie brand on our radar is Fin+Zee, created

by London-based mama Emily ChenMoir. The capsule collection for little ones aged up to 4 years is designed to be gender neutral, but it’s a really good one to know if you’re dressing boys (as it can often be so tricky to find great pieces).

The brand takes pride in being multi-cultural – inspired by life in London and Chen-Moir's Asian hertitage. Chen-Moir places a big importance on sustainability too.

Seasonless and produced on a very small scale, every piece is made in a small London studio which she visits regularly. The fabrics are all from sustainable sources (such as Japanese gauze, denim cotton, and European linen) and she up-cycles wherever possible.

The resulting aesthetic is clean and simple, the tailoring is thoughtful, and there’s just the right balance of unexpected design details.

Think clever detachable hoods, reversible braces, and colourful contrast trims. These are clothes that are made for playing in, but are stylish, smart and with plenty of individuality too. finandzee.com

MERI MERI Bat Dress Up Kit, £29; merimeri.co.uk

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C O U N T R Y L I F E Get all bundled up for a day in the great outdoors t h e n e w s o c i e t y k i d s .c o m

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Good Vibes NIMBLE

With a collection of activewear so cool it will make you actually want to go to the gym, Nimble take doing good very seriously. Their fabrics are made from post-consumer use recycled plastic bottles and the brand also supports women’s domestic violence charities. nimbleactivewear.com

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The delicious new Saffron Latte from The Fullest ticks all of the wellness boxes (vegan, paleo, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and organic). Saffron can help to prepare for labour and treat minor postpartum depression too. £52.09; thefullest.com

mama’s

WELLNESS NOTES Organic snacks and bump-friendly yoga

AND RELAX MADE BY ZEN

The perfect way to soothe the senses during your morning meditation or wind down after a long day, madebyzen has a range of natural oils infused with the healing properties of plants to use with their stylish Kasper diffuser. The clever remote control helps create a cosy and relaxed space. £79.99; madebyzen.com

Bump Up HOLO

For total relaxation at the end of a pregnancy yoga class, or for zenningout in the pool, the clever holo lilo makes lying on your front with a bump possible.

We love that it can be used at any point during the nine months – from the moment it’s uncomfortable to lie on your tummy, right up to birth. holo-lilo.com

S N AC K H A P PY ORGANIX

Little fans of the classic picture book will love these Gruffalo and Mouse shaped biscuits from Organix. Made with organic ingredients, they are vegan friendly as well as having no added sugar or salt (in keeping with the brand’s ‘No Junk Promise’). organix.com October 2019

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Q &A

E AT YOUR VEG

Sophie Baron, founder of organic baby food brand Mamamade on healthy eating

I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

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Q How did you come to set up Mamamade?

A I started developing what is now Mamamade when my daughter was about 7 months old. I knew how I wanted to feed her – I wanted everything to be organic, everything plant-based, everything home-cooked, so I could be sure of what she was eating. But I really struggled to manage providing high-quality meals with the pace of weaning (and life with a baby in general).

There were literally weeks on end when Liba would only have sweet potato, banana and avocado on rotation because I couldn’t cope with preparing or cooking anything else – and batch pureeing didn’t help as she very quickly wanted texture.

I couldn’t believe that other than cooking it all myself, the only option available to me was offering the long-life, heatprocessed pouches on the shelf. They were overly smooth, very watery, really sweet, and tasted nothing like real food…

I felt horrible each time I gave her one.

I was sure there had to be a different way to feed babies and to support parents like me with products that were healthy, flavourful, but that would also be flexible enough to grow as my daughter did. Mamamade is designed to put parents in the best possible position to raise their little ones the way that they want to, and it’s been so exciting to see parents with babies of all ages – from 6 months all the way to 24+ months – enjoying these meals.

“We want the babies eating Mamamade to learn that eating is enjoyable”

Q How do you come up with the flavour combinations and how are the mixes made?

A When I first started working on Mamamade, I really wanted to think in terms of being ‘flavour-led’. I did a lot of research on the subject of introducing solids and everything I read talked about this flavour window, during which babies are more receptive to new tastes. There’s a lot of talk in the weaning space about introducing bitter veg to babies first – how baby’s first food should be kale or broccoli – but actually the evidence isn’t actually so clear-cut on this being necessary in order to raise a good eater.

What is clear is that babies should get a wide variety of flavours and foods – this is the best way to ensure they get all the vitamins and nutrients they need.

And part of the weaning process is teaching your baby that food is a positive thing, that sitting around the table is a positive thing. We want the babies eating Mamamade to learn that eating is enjoyable – that is why we always put taste and flavour at the forefront. So when we develop new mixes, we always think in terms of variety – can we ensure we are getting all the different food groups in? But we also want the mix to tickle taste buds – so we ask ourselves, what is that little flavour surprise we can add in on top? We use spices and aromatics that are tasty but easy on baby’s tummy – like rosemary, cumin, garlic, turmeric – because they not only have nutritional and health benefits, but they make food taste good!

There’s only one thing healthier than kale and that’s having a positive relationship with food. We believe that should be the main objective with

Baby’s First (supercharged) Gnocchi Will make about 8 gnocchi (about 2-4 portions)

Ingredients

• 1 x Sweet Potato, Beetroot & Dates Pouch (Sweet Potatoes, Beetroot, Medjool Dates, Ceylon Cinnamon + Coconut Butter) • Heaped teaspoon plain flour (can sub gluten free bread flour) + more for surfaces • Heaped teaspoon cornflour •O live oil

Method

1 Steam or microwave contents of pouch according to instructions on the back of the pack.

2 While that’s heating, add a big glug of oil to a small pot of water and bring it to a simmer.

3 Once the vegetables are cooked through, drain off any water and mash with fork until mostly smooth (some texture is ok!).

4 Add in flour and cornflour and mix in with fork until it creates a soft dough.

5 Flour a plate or smooth surface. Using a small teaspoon, scoop bits of the dough and place onto floured surface, then roll gently into small sausages (about 4cm).

6 Using a spatula, gently transfer into simmering water and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the gnocchi rise to the top and float.

7 Spoon out the gnocchi onto a plate and drizzle with avocado oil.

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weaning, and our flavour-led mixes help parents achieve more variety and taste combinations so that they can raise confident, happy eaters.

We have a team working out of our own kitchen in North London – a lot of care and attention goes into each recipe and each pouch that goes out!

Q Tell us about your background writing for the likes of Vogue and Conde Nast Traveler. Does it feel like a complete departure to launch your own start-up?

A It does and it doesn’t. I always thought I’d be an editor or a writer when I ‘grew up’ – but I’ve followed an unusual path!

I never would have imagined I’d start a business one day, but now that I have, I’m continually pleasantly surprised by the extent to which I’m applying my editorial experience on a day-to-day. I learned so much from the editors I worked for at Vogue – how they see things, how they communicate what they’ve seen – and I’m working every day to keep to those same standards and diligence.

There is an editorial approach to everything we do – no ingredient is unnecessary, everything we send out and communicate has been carefully considered. And we are still able to provide quite a high-touch experience to our customers, which I’m really proud of.

Q Have you always liked to cook and what sort of food do you eat at home as a family?

A My husband and I are both huge foodies – we LOVE to cook and always have. I’ve always read cookbooks and loved learning about food – and my husband is actually a very technically precise cook! That’s why I started teaching myself and learning so much about child nutrition and how children learn to eat – because it was so important to us to raise a good and confident eater. Food is a huge part of our lives, and I literally don’t know what we would have done with a picky eater!

We both find the act of preparing a meal to be really meditative and enjoyable, which is why we eat more or less every meal at home. For the most

part we eat plant-based, but we try not to stick to labels (you can cringe, but we consider ourselves ‘conscious-tarians’).

Our go-to weekday meal is a buddha bowl with quinoa, pine nuts, and whatever veg we can find in the fridge, roasted. It’s such a simple but comforting meal, and it’s how Liba’s learned her colours, actually! We also seem to do quite a lot of veggie stews and soups… I guess you could say we like comforting foods that keep well in the fridge!

Q And finally, you’re originally a New Yorker, how are you finding raising a family in London?

A I actually hated London and was desperately homesick for New York for so long, but all that has changed since having my daughter. I love it now and can’t imagine moving back! London is a really special place to raise a child. Liba is so lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing parks and playgrounds – we live in such a green, almost suburbanfeeling area, but we are a few stops into the centre of town with all it has to offer.

And in general London is such a childpositive city in a way that New York isn’t.

Buggies are always (or nearly always) welcome, every restaurant will have a high chair – kids seem to be everywhere and allowed everywhere. It’s so easy to hop on the tube or a bus or go into a taxi without folding the buggy. When Liba was 6 weeks old I took her on the tube to the Tate Modern and fed her on a bench outside – with no struggle or stress. it was the most pleasant day, and also very specifically London! And also the fact that there is such a wonderful worklife balance here… the list goes on! mamamadefood.com

Sweet & Spiced Porridge Fingers Makes about 4-6 fingers (2-3 portions). Once cooked, they will keep in fridge for 2 days or freezer for 1 month

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup porridge oats •A ny milk, plant milk, or water • 1 x Carrot, Apple & Ginger Pouch (Carrot, Apples & Ginger) • 1 tsp tahini

Method

1 Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking sheet with greased or waxed parchment paper.

2 Prepare porridge according to usual method or instructions on back of pack.

3 Whilst the porridge is cooking, steam or microwave contents of Carrot, Apple & Ginger pouch for 3-5 minutes, stirring once halfway through.

4 Once the veg is heated, mash gently with the back of a fork. Stir into porridge with the tahini, adding more for taste if desired.

5 Spoon porridge mixture onto baking sheet, shaping into rectangle ‘fingers’.

6 Bake for 10 minutes, until starting to brown, and allow to cool entirely before offering to baby as finger food.

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The Purs ui t Of

B E I N G W E L L Carly Glendinning finds out if assessing our lifestyles could be the key to achieving wellness

I

n my teens and early twenties I spent most of my hard-earned cash on things that would destroy my health (hello Malibu and ‘full fat’ cokes in smoke-ridden pubs).

But these days, things are a little bit different. You can count Abel & Cole organic veg boxes, regular binges in Planet Organic, and running religiously three times a week amongst my most solemn vices.

Blame it on the rise of Instagram if you will, but the pursuit of wellness has become an obsession for many of us.

There’s endless improvements we can make (daily meditation, supplements, and fermented foods anyone?) but it can all be tricky to navigate. Add the motherhood juggle into the mix and it’s a pretty potent recipe for feeling inadequate when we reach for the caffeine to get us through a stressful day.

According to Oliver Patrick, we might be hung-up on it, but we’re living in the most difficult era to be ‘well’. Patrick is a physiologist and the co-founder of VIAVI, a premium health assessment and health strategy service and I am sitting in his smart office in the heart of the sprawling

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Harley Street area with the purpose of assessing how my lifestyle and genetic make-up are impacting my wellbeing.

Patrick explains that the service that VIAVI offers is aimed at people who want to be ‘health intelligent’.

Using a data driven approach (there’s no generic health screens, populationbased statistics, or woolly fads here), the idea is to identify health concerns, reduce the risk of future disease, improve energy levels, and with any luck help you age gracefully.

A few weeks before meeting Patrick, he emails me with some ‘homework’. He has sent me a heart monitor I must wear for three days, a prick test to measure food intolerances and a swab to take my DNA. The heart monitor attaches to my body with two sticky pads and is easily concealed under loose clothing. It makes reassuring little flashes so that I know it’s working. I wear it to do everything – on my run, at work and when I’m sleeping, only taking it off when I shower or take a bath. Throughout the day, I record my activities in an online diary, noting anything particularly stressful or out of the ordinary. The prick test

is like a mini stapler, but much less dramatic in terms of pain. This sample and the DNA swab that I take from the inside of my mouth are couriered off to the lab to obtain my results.

Patrick is one of the most upbeat people I think I’ve ever met. Prior to arriving at his office, I have a fleeting moment of panic. What if my DNA shows something gruesome lurking in the future of my health?

What if I’m doing everything wrong?

But his is not the doom and gloom approach to health that many of us fear we’ll be served if we’re truly honest with our GPs. He cheerily explains that DNA testing does not deliver a foregone conclusion

“We might be hung-up on it, but we’re living in the most difficult era to be ‘well’”

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V I AV I

that we will get certain diseases, like scientists once thought. As with all of the tests that VIAVI do, what it’s really useful for is identifying risk areas – giving us the chance to make positive lifestyle changes before it’s too late.

But before we can go through my results, there’s a few more tests to carry out. Patrick measures my arterial stiffness and blood vessel age, my body composition and fat, the antioxidants on my skin, how much oxygen I consume when exercising my hardest and my cardiovascular fitness. I stand in front of a computer whilst he instructs me through a series of movements, so he can assess my spine flexibility and core stability.

Health Strategy VS1: fee £15,000 Health Strategy VS2: fee £10,000 Health Strategy, bespoke: fees variable viavi.com

The outcome is fascinating and not really at all what I had thought. I have been working long hours recently and have been ironically stressing that I am too stressed. The chart that records all of my activities whilst I was wearing the heart monitor surprisingly shows that my stress and sleep resilience is good. Interestingly however, the night I watched TV straight before bed, is the night I slept the worst.

What’s more I’ve been avoiding dairy for the past few years as I blindly feared I was allergic, but it turns out I don’t have an intolerance. The genomic profiling did show that my body does, however, find it difficult to break down lactose.

So it’s helpful to learn that I can have lactose-free milk if I want. It also shows that I have difficulty metabolising caffeine, so Patrick recommends 2pm as a cutoff point for me. Anything after 4pm and it’ll affect my sleep he warns. No more espresso martinis for me then.

Based on my test results, Patrick suggests lots of little tweaks like this to help me optimise my lifestyle and improve my health. But above all, he reassures me in his upbeat way I’m already doing lots of the right things (my Planet Organic binges must be paying off ). It’s something that we could all do with hearing more often, and is especially powerful if you’re a mum.

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B E AU T Y NOTES Hair, make-up and beauty news for the month ahead

SKIN S AV E R S U M M E R F R I D AY S

we love

For summer skin all year round, the three masks from Summer Fridays live up to all the hype.

Our personal favourite is the antioxident-rich R+R Mask, which is chock-full of natural, vegan ingredients. £42; selfridges.com

LET IT G R OW HAECKELS

Haeckels’ Pluviophile candle has the fresh, earthy smell of the ground just after it has rained. We love the Margate-based brand’s new packaging, which is made from Mycelium (from fungi) and agricultural waste such as sawdust, flax and hemp husks. Plant it in your garden after use. £55;

Super Serum V I N T N E R ’ S DAU G H T E R

The brainchild of a former winemaker from Napa Valley, Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum is infused with 22 of the world’s most nutrient-rich botanicals.

Deeply nourishing, it’s like a magic potion for renewing, repairing, protecting, and toning the skin. Safe for pregnancy. £175; libertylondon.com

haeckels.co.uk

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Feeling Clean

BE AUT Y

n Salo w e i Rev

GLASSHOUSE SHOP

With organic extracts of chamomile, comfrey and aloe vera to soothe and hydrate, Glasshouse Shop’s Hair, Hand & Body Wash not only smells heavenly but has a pH balance to nourish skin and hair equally.

The extra large bottle makes it last ages, minimising packaging waste. glasshouseshop.co.uk

By S A R A H LONDON

I

W o r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

GOLD RUSH ALPHA-H

If your skin is feeling the after effects of this summer’s sun, Liquid Gold by Alpha-H is an award-winning treatment that effectively banishes pigmentation and damage (it’s also great for wrinkles). A bit of a wonder product, it tones, exfoliates, and acts as a serum and moisturiser too. £33.50; alpha-h.com

5 o f t he b e st NAT U RA L WON DE RS HERBAL ESSENTIALS Refreshing Toner, £15; herbal-essentials.com

BY SARAH LONDON Organic Facial Oil, £32; bysarahlondon.com

f you’re into natural and organic beauty, you might have heard of By Sarah London. The packaging warrants bathroom shelf display, all of the plantbased ingredients are listed on the front, and every product is hand-blended. Suffice to say I’m a bit of a fan girl, so I was excited to discover the sister duo behind the skincare brand have just launched their very own facial.

I visited their light and airy private room at No.30 in Kensington Church Street, for a 60 minute treatment. It’s a rare opportunity to meet the founder of a skincare brand, as Sarah offers her clients a consultation before she gets to work. Warm and friendly and extremely passionate about natural skincare, she explains to me that the treatment has a focus on relaxation, taking a moment for yourself, and creating a more grounded sense of wellbeing. It’s a facial that’s great for pregnancy and sensitive postpartum skin too, as none of the products contain fragrance or essential oils.

Sarah truly has magic hands.

She performs a face-lifting massage technique on my skin using her Green Clay Face Mask and Organic Facial Oil. It’s soothing and every bit as relaxing as promised. Afterwards, I have dewy skin for days and I even sleep better too. bysarahlondon.com

LANI Cleansing Powder, £18.99; lovelani.com BALANCE ME Vitamin C Repair Serum, £32; balanceme.com

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ST IRIS ADRIATICA Energy Cleanse, £29 siadriatica.com

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WA L L PA P E R WA L L PA P E R

O R G A N I C COT TO N B E D L I N E N O R G A N I C COT TO N B E D L I N E N

CUSHIONS CUSHIONS

N EW WA L L PA PER CO L L EC TI O N N OW ONLINE

HOME HOME

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@hibou_home @hibou_home

@hibouhome @hibouhome

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home &

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Coming Soon OLIVER FURNITURE

New to Oliver’s collection is the seriously stylish Wood lounger.

Almost invisible joints, cleverly hidden screws and the finest natural materials ensure the quality is obvious – and make it equally suitable as a kids bed. Available at oliverfurniture.com

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N U R S E RY NOTES Helen Baron’s interior picks for the month ahead

HANG OUT R AFA KI D S

A mini masterpiece from one of our favourite kids furniture brands, the ‘H’ wardrobe features clever storage and eye-catching design, with a sliding door that doubles as a set of display shelves. £1,665; scandiborn.co.uk

we love NIGHT SHIFT BOORI

For those in need of a cot that won’t take up too much floorspace, we recommend the Harbour Compact.

Available in natural Aussie araucaria wood or a white or grey plant-based paint finish, it’s as sustainable and safe as it is neat. £199; boori.com

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New Leaf CA M CA M C O P E N H AG E N

We’ve fallen in love with Cam Cam Copenhagen all over again. The Scandi brand’s new collection features tasselled playmats in autumnal prints, quilted storage baskets and tonally matching takes on their pretty Harlequin furniture range. Prices vary; scandiborn.co.uk

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Star Struck

NURSERIES

d Bran s u c Fo

N O B O D I N OZ

Sweet dreams are made of this: three super-soft cotton muslin swaddles in a golden stellar print and shades of twilight and midnight blue. Let the snoozing commence. £23; smallable.com

UUIO Wo r d s H E L E N BA RO N

T

his brand keeps surprising us – which is fitting, because surprise seems to be a crucial element of their success.

Uuio specialises in providing a fresh take on tried and tested products. The brand’s creations are often simple yet always striking, with familiar forms – such as the playmat, the cot, and the daybed – getting minimalist makeovers underpinned by some serious design thinking. Their toy wooden trees are a case in point: stripped down to their essential forms, they can be assembled and reassembled in a plethora of ways, and are just as easily used as a piece of designled decor as a child’s plaything.

Our latest crush is on their new soft-play shapes, available individually or as a set. Simple geometric forms such as the cylinder, wedge and column are crafted in a high-quality, OEKOTEX certified and washable Camira fabric, in candy hues from sherbet yellow to sugar-pink. They’re similar to what you’d find at the local soft-play, but with a cleaner, softer finish and much easier on the eye. Combine them with Uuio’s signature ‘Level’ folding play-mat for an elevated home soft-play experience as temperatures begin to drop. From €89.

ISLAND LIFE BOBBY RABBIT

We love the way this Brit boutique presents themed collections of goodies – and their ‘treasure island’ assortment is one of the best yet. Discover soft toys, tableware and a bed with more than a touch of a boat about it. Anchors away! bobbyrabbit.co.uk

5 o f t he b e st MO B I L E S

VITRA Eames Mobile £95:; connox.co.uk

NUMERO 74 Small Star Lantern, £58; bobokids.co.uk

SEBRA Crochet, £49.95 scandiborn.co.uk FLENSTEAD Giraffe Safari Mobile, £26 smallable.com

VELEVTEEN BABIES Mountain Bear mobile, , £65; velevteenbabies.co.uk

uuio.de

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INTO THE WHITE Q How did you come to buy the house and what drew you to it?

A I fell in love with Barnes after visiting a supplier here back when I worked as Head of Marketing for Leon Restaurants. We were renting in Fulham and were just about to begin house hunting, so I instantly took my (now) husband to the Brown Dog pub and that night we both just knew this was where we wanted to live.

After doing a bit of research it became clear there weren’t many houses in our price bracket and we narrowed it down to a beautiful row of former little railway cottages on a pedestrianised road. We popped letters through everyone’s door and at the same time our now home came on the market. We were so excited about the project that lay ahead – the previous owner had owned it for quite some time and had hardly spent any time here!

Q What was it like when you first moved in and have you done any renovations?

A Think brown carpets, green bath fittings, rope handrails on the stairs (?!), lots of dark brown wood – that was all greasy and sticky in the kitchen (yuck!), thick white security bars on the windows (!), a tiny downstairs bathroom, and galley kitchen. It was a struggle to get in the warped front door covered in old wisteria and the back bedroom window was days away from falling in, with the tree in the garden’s branches scraping on it!

Georgie Ludlow, founder of stylish family interiors brand Oskoe, shares a peek inside her light, bright home

Q What was your decorating vision?

A We were really set on creating a minimal, calm space. We wanted to use as many natural materials as possible as well as opening up and making the best use of the little

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h o me & interio rs INSPIRATION

“We were really set on creating a minimal, calm space. We wanted to use as many natural materials as possible”

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space we had. We pulled pages out of magazines, created mood boards and inspiration files – I loved doing this!

We spent many hours researching and planning, my husband focused on the storage in order to ensure best use of the space and I was militant about finding the finishes we really wanted.

Q What did you do to your daughters’ room?

A I never felt an overwhelming desire to paint walls pink, or create a traditional nursery. I really didn’t want to add lots to the calmingly minimal space we had created and come to love. Originally this was our spare room so when I got pregnant we just moved the furniture

around to add a little cot and changing table and bought the special antique mirror from a beautiful local shop.

In all honesty I wasn’t a huge fan of the decoration and textile choices on the market at the time. However, as my eldest daughter grew older we realised there were bits she did need and finally through Instagram I started to discover pieces that fitted with the style we had spent so long creating, they just weren’t available in the UK. This is how Oskoe began.

Q How have you incorporated Oskoe pieces into the house?

A The girls still don’t really have a lots and lots of stuff. We believe strongly in encouraging them to use their imaginations to create play. Although whenever they see new Oskoe stock they often wish it was for them, we have tried to stay quite strict and we only really give them new toys for birthdays and at Christmas. The House Storage Bag in the kitchen is absolutely perfect for hiding the less beautiful toys and they both love to sit at the Nofred

Q Which room do you love the most?

A The kitchen – light floods in through all the glass and when the sun sets down this side of the house it creates beautiful shadows on the kitchen wall. I love the juxtaposition of the modern clean white units against the concrete worktops, full of character and imperfections.

CAM CAM C O P E N H AG E N Star Cushion; £24 oskoe.com

get the LOOK

OLLI ELLA Luggy; £49 oskoe.com

W O O D E N S TO R Y Natural Stacking Toy; £30 oskoe.com

NOFRED

Mouse Chair & Table Bundle; £370 oskoe.com

ROCK & PEBBLE

House Storage Bag Large; £60 oskoe.com

mouse furniture sets to play, read, draw, and eat. As they have grown we have added bits and pieces – muslins, changing bags, play mats (when they were babies), and the sleeping bags, duvets, tableware as they have got older.

ROSE IN APRIL ,

Joseph Bunny Light; £80 oskoe.com

Q And finally, favourite way to spend a family day at home?

A We never imagined being in this house with two children, but many years later our eldest daughter is settled in the local school and pottering around Barnes at the weekend is perfect for us. A visit to the farmers market and our local café for coffee then a walk along the river and an afternoon in our courtyard garden in the summer or in front of the log burner in the winter, watching the girls play is perfect. My husband also runs his own business and with us both working so hard during the week we love catching up and making plans, feeding each other ideas, and talking about our businesses. oskoe.com October 2019

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S L E E P S PAC E Five bedroom decorating tips to create a good sleeping environment from the founders of interiors brand Pea

W o r d s C L A I R E Q U I G L E Y WA R D A N D PA U L H I C K S

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1 . C R E AT E A T H E M E

We believe kids bedroom decor should be given the same care and attention you would when redoing an adult space in the home. It’s all about creating a room we would want to spend time in and be proud to show. Children’s bedrooms provide comfort and sanctuary. A space of their own within the family home. So make it inspiring by allowing their personality to flourish through the chosen theme.

A

t Pea we believe in the power of the imagination, which means we also believe in the power of sleep.

Sleep is super important. Loads of vital things happen when children sleep, they grow, stay healthy, and creativity flourishes. That’s because when we dream, our brains connect unrelated ideas between things that didn’t seem connected before. This makes children better problem solvers and nurtures their imaginations for inventive thinking.

The moments after we wake can be our most creative because our immediate post-sleep state mixes our waking thoughts with a dusting of dreamworld magic.

So that means a child’s bedroom has to be a place to rest and to play.

In time for the clocks going back this autumn, here’s our five top decor tips for creating a good sleeping environment…

2. PERSONALISE IT

Personalising a space provides a greater sense of ownership and control. Children should be able to express themselves through their bedroom decor with visual reminders of their interests to help positively develop their identity, just as we do. You know your child better than anyone so add personalised touches that make them feel happy and safe, such as their favourite colours and artwork which inspires them.

3. MAKE IT ZEN

Children’s bedrooms often double as playrooms, but when it comes to bedtime it’s important to try and ensure there isn’t too much distraction. That means putting toys away at the end of the day to separate play and rest. By using clever storage, you can create a room that doesn’t overstimulate.

It’s all about balance: a space that during their day allows their imaginations to run wild, but at night becomes restful.

4. KEEP IT CALM AND COSY

Colour stimulates mood, behaviour and learning. It can bring out the best in children, so the benefits of using colour in their bedrooms are huge. We recommend using neutral calming tones with playful accent colours to create that balance. And don’t forget the importance of good bedding. Fabric impacts body temperature and therefore how we sleep, so choose a high-quality cotton to help keep children cool and cosy at night.

5. INSPIRE THEIR I M A G I N AT I O N

Aim to create a rich environment for children to immerse themselves in pretend play. A space they have the freedom to explore for themselves. A bedroom filled with inspiration to tell stories, bring their imaginations to life and colour their dreams. Bedtime deepens little imaginations before they fall asleep.

So, we believe the bedding we tuck our children up in should feed their imaginations through the story that illustrates them. frompea.com October 2019 | 75

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Eco Kids

NOBU HOTEL IBIZA BAY

Little travellers can enjoy a wealth of activities at the chicest kids club on the island. Inquisitive minds will love learning about the environment through Balearic craft lessons using repurposed material from the beach… not to mention the mermaid parties!

For children aged 4-12, nobuhotelibizabay.com

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Add a Little Luxury To Your Stay Book your next family holiday at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai as an Imperial Club guest and add a little luxury to your stay with exclusive benefits across the resort.

From complimentary airport transfers, to a dedicated concierge team and even an exclusive private beach just for our Imperial Club Guests. Enjoy a little moment to yourself while the kids have their fun at the Atlantis Kids Club or The Zone for teens, with complimentary daily access during your stay.

The best part of it all? Daily complimentary access to the all-new Imperial Club lounge. Whether you’re after a tasty bite for breakfast, relaxing afternoon tea or evening cocktails before dinner, the Imperial Club Lounge has it all.

Book today for a dream holiday you’ll never forget.

atlantisthepalm.com

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INSPIRATIONS

CULTURE CLUB VILLA LENA

Villa Lena is an agriturismo destination that combines accommodation, a farmto-table restaurant and a not-for-profit art foundation. In addition to cooking classes, truffle hunts and more, there’s an array of half-term activities this October – including drawing workshops . villa-lena.it/en/

mama’s

T R AV E L NOTES Helen Baron rounds up the most exciting travel kit and destinations

we love ICE BABY

NEW OPENING

SUNNYLIFE

Ice trays don’t come much brighter or more on-trend than these. Jazz up holiday drinks with unicorns, rainbows and cacti, or sneak some extra fruit or veg into little ones’ diet by whizzing up some fun, flavoursome smoothie cubes – because kids seem to love food more when it’s ice cold. £12; trouva.com

T H E N E W T, S O M E R S E T

The main attraction at this West Country gem is the beautifully landscaped garden. The historic estate has been fully restored with 23 rooms, a spa, restaurants, a cider press and farm shop. thenewtinsomerset.com

3 FO R FA M I L I E S I N C O R N WA L L Azure

The Bluehouse WA T E R G A T E B AY

N O R T H C O R N WA L L

Azure, so-named for its sweeping views of the crystalclear Carbis Bay, is a spacious and luxurious home set over two floors, complete with hot tub. An ideal family getaway.

A 7-bedroom luxury cottage with a cinema room and playroom as well as children’s items, books and beach toys. The local area, meanwhile, boasts excellent activities for all ages.

Hand-picked self-catering properties ranged around North Cornwall’s finest spots. We love the website’s journal, too, where you’ll find local itineraries for sunny days, dog-owners and more.

cornishgems.com

bluehousewgb.co.uk

latitude50.co.uk

C A R B I S B AY

AZURE, CARBIS BAY

Latitude50

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M O U N TA I N T R A I L Carly Glendinning escapes to Design Hotel The Hide in the Swiss town of Flims

W

e had arrived at The Hide Hotel at nightfall, after a long winding drive up into the Glarus Alps, finally reaching the little town of Flims. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for the Rhine Gorge (otherwise known as the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’) and Lake Caumasee, so we had expected panoramic views. But nothing ever quite prepares you for that moment when you open the curtains after waking up in a strange new place, famous for its scenery.

The curtains in question were heavy black velvet and hung floor to ceiling – making the big reveal all the more dramatic, like unveiling some sort of magnificent work of art. The 47 rooms at The Hide Hotel are all on the top floor and guests can choose between a north or south-facing view. Our ‘penthouse’ looked out onto the sweeping valley, the crystal geode-like mountainscape tearing through the sky above.

We donned our fluffy white bathrobes, fired up the Nespresso coffee machine,

made some edelweiss tea, and stepped out onto our terrace. I could have happily sat there for the whole weekend and watched as wispy clouds floated past the rocky edifice, breathing in the famously pure alps air and soaking up the scene before us. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere quite as peaceful, the silence only punctuated by a church bell ringing out across the tiny toy-like buildings in town below.

I’m sure I must accredit some of the quiet to the time of year. Flims is a popular ski destination, and whilst I have no doubt that it would be a magical snowy getaway, it is quite something to visit in summer. With 250km of trails to explore, the flocks of winter sports enthusiasts had been replaced with families of hikers and mountain-bikers. The town seemed busy, but the hotel didn’t feel one bit overrun.

Part of the Stenna Flims Complex, The Hide has been awarded prestigious Design Hotel status and the interior is a modern, cosy, and inviting interpretation of an Alpine retreat. Dressed by Norweigan visionary and artist Erik Nissen Johansen, the rooms are luxurious – a bold statement

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escapes SWITZERL AND

“The Hide has been awarded prestiguous Design Hotel status and the interior is a modern, cosy, and inviting interpretation of an Alpine retreat”

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“From the hotel, you can walk straight out to the ski lift, which will carry you up into the rocky landscape”

in colour, texture, and mood. Ours had a mosaic-like marquetry feature wall (a jagged patchwork of different woods), providing a dramatic backdrop for the Hästens bed. The furniture read like a who’s who of buzz designers – pulling together a rich scheme of glass, raw stone, sleek metal, wicker, and swathes of velvet.

Breakfast is served each morning in the hotel’s main restaurant on the first floor.

Continental buffet-style, there’s something for everyone – whether you favour eggs and bacon or gluten free muesli and almond milk. On our first morning, guests gathered on the green velvet banquettes – filling up ready for an action-packed day ahead.

From the hotel, you can walk straight out to the ski lift, which will carry you up into the rocky landscape. Not afraid of a bit of a climb, we decided to scale the terrain on foot, following the meandering paths up and up. It was lush and grassy, with flowers tumbling everywhere and the hum of crickets on the breeze. Families with Fjallraven backpacks in every colour rolled past us on bikes and we spotted a hiker or two carrying a baby sling.

The views, of course, are totally spectacular.

For hikers of the more serious variety, there’s an onsite mountain concierge ready to facilitate any equipment rentals, activity planning, and to provide insight into the far-reaching area and the best places to see.

However, if your little ones aren’t up to the climb, The Hide has partnered with Kindercity, an expansive play and learning centre in the Stenna Flims Complex. It’s

SWITZERL AND

a play paradise, boasting a chocolate and bread workshop, science experiences, a dino factory, robot laboratory, and a driving school, all under professional supervision. Guests of the hotel (little and large) get unlimited free access.

The hotel prides itself on being a wellness retreat and after our hike, we felt we had earned ourselves an afternoon in the newly opened spa. Most of the guests seemed to still be out enjoying other activities, so we were lucky enough to have it all to ourselves. We hopped in and out of the saunas and steam rooms (the hottest sauna has a panoramic mountain view), sipped citrus-ey water in the cosy and stylishly decorated relaxation areas, and fell asleep on a huge swinging bed out on the terrace.

Flims itself is a pretty village, lined with traditional wooden shuttered houses and there are some great boutiques and gift shops to explore. We ate at The Deli, which is downstairs at the hotel. It has a relaxed atmosphere, much like the food.

We ordered modern mezze-style dishes, of which there were plenty of vegan-friendly options. We also had a drink in the hotel’s buzzing bar (which has a cinema downstairs) and curled up in the lounge area, complete with crackling fire, snug library, and deep velvet sofas made for sinking into.

We left feeling utterly refreshed. Full of mountain air and dewy-skinned from the sunshine and time spent in the spa.

Even if you’re not a biker or a hiker, the Swiss Alps in the summer is a must-see, and The Hide is the perfect place to just watch the clouds roll right on by.

T H E H I D E H OT E L , F I L M S From £112 per night designhotels.com October 2019 | 83

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“Largely empty of crowds but with consistent, rolling breakers and surrounded by dramatic cliffs”

The Algarve’s

N E W W A V E Absolutely Mama travels to south Portugal’s surfers’ paradise Wo r d s H E L E N BA RO N

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escapes THE

ALGARVE

THE TOWN

S

agrès is perched at Portugal’s southwestern tip, where the gentle hills and winding roads of the Algarve give out onto the wind-ruffled Atlantic coast. It’s a small, walkable beach town defined by the many nearby surf spots – at least one of which seems to be ‘on’ at any given moment, though October is a particularly perfect time to go. The ruined Sagrès Fortress overlooks a dinky fishing harbour, sleepy shops open late into the evening in high season, and a broad range of restaurant options is on hand to tempt travellers of every stripe. Our recommendation? Grab a deckchair and something to eat in the sunny yard behind the Laundry Lounge – a launderette-cum-brunch-spot-cumcocktail-bar.

THE HOTEL

M

emmo Baleeira is the southernmost of the memmo Group’s three Portuguese hotels; it’s also the largest, with over 140 rooms catering to those with a taste for minimalist modern design. Recently restyled, rooms are spacious and airy, with views of the large, lawned gardens, pool deck and Baleeira harbour. Natural materials and neutral tones abound, while the family suites offer large lounges with a sofabed and open-plan kitchen – ideal for evenings in when all that beach action starts to catch up with the little ones.

The closest beach is moments away, and there’s even a partner surf school on site – not to mention an indoor pool, sauna, spa treatments and a playroom for kids.

THE ACTIVITIES

A

s a surf town, the answer to this is obvious – but it’s worth noting that all ages and abilities are catered to, and in our experience the instructors were insightful, friendly and super patient.

You don’t need to bring any equipment as there are more than enough surf shops and rental places to go around, but do be prepared to pay – lessons here are a little more expensive than in some other surf destinations in Europe and further afield, and the group sessions often larger. That said, when the conditions are right, the experience can be glorious, allowing you to ride ripe, reliable waves surrounded by some of the loveliest scenery in the Algarve. The rugged headlands, rock pools and sandy hills are also great for walkers, jeepdrivers and cyclists, while windsurfing, diving, paddle-boarding and kite-surfing are other local favourites – all of which can be organised through the hotel.

THE BEACHES

W

hether you’re surfing or simply lounging, the beaches in and around Sagrès bear investigation, with a surprising variety of scenery (and surfing) between them. Our favourites were Praia do Cordoama, 15 minutes’ drive along the coast – largely empty of crowds but with consistent, rolling breakers and surrounded by dramatic cliffs – and the closer-at-hand Praia do Martinhal, which benefited from a decent beach cafe, powdery sand and a lilting breeze that took the edge off the summer heat.

R O O M R AT E S From £126 per night inc. breakfast memmohotels.com/baleeira

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Boys & Girls 3 - 11 years old

We are Confident, Creative and Kind

Please join us for one of our upcoming Open Mornings:

6th November & 27th November 2019 Tour our beautiful new building on Worship St (EC2A) and hear all about our wonderful school.

Book your place online today!

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resources W H AT TO D O W I T H A LL T H E TOYS W H E N YO U ’ R E S E LLI N G YO U R H O U S E p . 8 9 LE A R N I N G A S ECO N D L A N G UAG E AT A YO U N G AG E p . 91

Eco Warriors

V& A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

Get your creative hands ready this half term for activities and workshops exploring a healthier, better future for us and our planet. Coinciding with the new Extinction Rebellion display at the V&A Museum of Childhood, and part of the Big Draw Festival 2019, Drawn to Life. vam.ac.uk/moc

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‘ Enjoying childhood and realising our imagination.’

“My favourite thing about Dallington School is that the teachers and students are very friendly and positive, there is a brilliant atmosphere in the classroom” - Johan “I think Dallington teaches you in a way no other school does and I really enjoy that” - Alex 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 October 2019 from 6 to 8 pm

Headteacher: Maria Blake Proprietor and Founder: Mogg Hercules MBE Email: hercules@dallingtonschool.co.uk Phone: 020 7251 2284 www.dallingtonschool.co.uk USE.indd 1

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mama

PROMOTION

Top Tips Sarah Thomas, Sales Manager at KFH Brook Green shares her top tips for managing the showing process when you and your family are still living in the home.

Let your agent know key times that you need to be home like nap time or bath time, so they can work viewings around that.

• Invest in a few portable storage tubs for the everyday toys so you can give your property the quick once over before each viewing, even popping the tubs in the car if needed.

• Make sure beds are made and dishes are done (or at least in the dishwasher) – it makes such a difference to the home’s appeal.

Toy STORY It’s time for your next chapter – but is your family home ready to attract buyers?

R

emember back to when you first purchased your home. You spent weekends trawling antique markets for beautiful, individual pieces to make your home a reflection of your own unique personality and style.

Coming back to now, when you spend Saturdays between the farmers’ market and the playground, your two bedroom flat has filled with all the happy chaos that comes with family life. Your fridge is covered with children’s art, there are scooters in the hall and brightly coloured toys are everywhere. It’s time to sell, and you may wonder how to ensure a wide appeal, and present just the right amount of family flavour, speaking to buyers who may or may not have

children. Happily, the sales experts at London property group Kinleigh Folkard and Hayward have some tips.

Pippa Warren-Evans, mother to one-year old Hugo, and Sales Manager at KFH Kingston, has this advice: “It’s common for sellers to outgrow a property, especially if they’ve extended their family. What is normal to them might feel like clutter to others.

Decluttering can have a huge impact when making first impressions and can be the difference between a buyer putting forward an offer or not. You might need to put a few things into storage – or even most things – to find the balance between presenting a home and a busy house”.

David Moreton, weeks from becoming a father himself, and Sales Manager at KFH West Hampstead, says that the KFH agents’ experience

SARAH THOMAS Sales Manager KFH Brook Green

PIPPA WARREN-EVANS Sales Manager KFH Kingston

DAVID MORETON Sales Manager KFH West Hampstead

and advice can really help families throughout the process. “While we have the industry knowledge to get the vendors the right result, we also pride ourselves on bringing that human element to the job”. He recalls a very unique instance where some vendors had rushed to the airport with kids in tow and admit they had just run out of time to prepare their house for a planned open day that morning. “They called us in a panic, so a member of my team and I rallied to help them out.

We went straight to the property and put some of the kids’ toys and family equipment in our company cars in order to have the house looking as wonderful as possible in such a short time frame.

The clients made it to the airport, the house showed very well, and they received two strong offers”.

It can seem overwhelming, especially when your family is still living in the space, but if you need help, the team at KFH can always advise. Get in touch.

At KFH our dedicated team regularly advise and find properties for families of all ages and stages of life. We have over 60 branches across London, so even if you continue your search in another location, our team of sales and lettings experts are on hand to assist you in every step of your journey.

kfh .co.uk October 2019

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ed w re en ne ua op our Sq st n ju y in to ! ve er les ia ha urs Ecc rav e W w n on Belg ne g a din in il

bu

NURSERY SCHOOLS

Come and visit our lovely new Nursery School!

Boys and Girls 2 - 4 years old Four central London Nursery locations

www.eatonsquareschool.com/nurseries/

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educatio n BILINGUALISM

“Learning more than one language from a young age can be enormously advantageous”

The low-down on L A N G U How should childcare professionals introduce children to a second language, or support those whose home language is not English?

E

A

ight per cent of the total population of England and Wales speak a main language other than English, according to the 2011 census – the greatest numbers speaking Polish, Punjabi and Urdu. Huge numbers of children are growing up in homes where English is not the only language spoken. The 2011 census also showed that 19 per cent of the population in Wales spoke Welsh.

The evidence is clear that learning more than one language from a young age can be enormously advantageous, resulting in improved working memory, self-control and mental flexibility, a lower rate of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

G

E

S

disease, and greater employability.

Not only that, but for young children learning languages comes naturally and spontaneously. Researchers agree that there is a critical window up to age seven, beyond which our aptitude declines markedly.

An immersive approach

Seeing her daughter, then aged three, become fluent in just a few months while attending Spanish pre-schools abroad was part of what inspired Lianne Moseley to start Spanish/English bilingual childcare business Bonitots.

Within months of opening in 2015, she had a two-year waiting list and has now set up a nursery. But it is not only Spanish-speaking families who October 2019

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Hawkesdown House School

For Boys & Girls aged 2 to 11 years

27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN Telephone: 0207 727 9090 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

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educatio n BILINGUALISM

Bilingual Wales

seek her out – half of her children come from homes where only English is spoken, or another language. Lianne has also worked with children for whom Spanish is a third language, and even recalls one child who spoke four languages fluently – English, Spanish, Flemish and Mandarin – “moving effortlessly between them”.

She has created an “immersive” bilingual setting where most transactional interactions and play activities are in Spanish. “But we do specific activities in English,” she explains.

“Partly because we have a duty to support the child’s majority language as well, but also because of the EYFS stipulations for school readiness in England, and because all assessments need to be in English.

“All phonics teaching is in English for example, and I teach piano lessons in English so the children have the English vocabulary to continue music lessons elsewhere”.

Home support is essential too, and Lianne works closely with parents, for example sharing key words their children are learning.

Misconceptions

While the children clearly take it in their stride, misconceptions prevail says Lianne – that a child’s language development will be held back by learning more than one language. “Our experience, and this is borne out by studies, is that bilingual or

trilingual children have more words than monolingual children. Language is one of the strongest areas for all our children and that is because of, not in spite of, their bilingualism. For the children all I see are the benefits.”

Celebrating difference

Sue Smith of Sweet Peas Childcare in Ely, Cambridgeshire, marks 20 years as a childminder this year, and has cared for a number of children with English as an additional language, but has never found they struggle more to settle. As with all children, she says, “It depends on their disposition and how they’ve been parented”.

Her approach is to actively seek information from the parents about their culture, beliefs and family connections. She learns key words in a child’s home language.

Sue says: “We celebrate where they come from, what makes them different, and make them feel valued for who they are.”

She keeps her instructions in English simple and combines them with gestures, such as arms outstretched.

“Sometimes there is a language barrier with the parents as well,” Sue adds. “But it’s important to find a way to communicate, because if you can’t form a relationship and have that partnership, it isn’t going to work.”

While bilingualism remains unusual in most of the UK, in Wales it is far more commonplace, supported by the government’s Welsh language Cymraeg 2050 strategy, which aims to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050, and includes a programme to support and expand Welsh-medium childcare provision.

Dwynwen Thomas is a childminder based in Nefyn in North Wales. She has cared for children who are Welshspeaking, English-speaking and those growing up with both languages at home.

“I get them to come into it gradually and begin by saying something in Welsh and then translating it into English so they get to hear both languages,” she explains. “I don’t want them to feel alienated because they don’t understand – I want them to feel involved. If they’re not happy they’re not going to be learning either.”

She adds: “Introducing bilingualism to children at a very early age actually enhances their learning in my experience.”

While Dwynwen says in order to “get on in the world” children must have both languages, beginning with Welsh is important, both for practical and cultural reasons.

She says: “It’s your home language it’s something that connects you with your roots and something that you build on throughout your life.”

Sowing the seeds

For all its benefits, bilingualism is not something the majority of childcare providers can offer, nor is it something the vast majority of parents will expect – but it is still worth considering.

Anna Neville, CEO and founder of Kidslingo, which teaches French and Spanish to 12,000 children aged 0 to 11 each week, believes it can “sow the seeds for a love of languages”.

She says: “We want to instil in them that languages are something to be embraced, so they can take that on later in their education and their lives.”.

From offering immersive programmes and weekly classes, to learning a few words in a child’s first language, how childcare professionals approach languages in their settings is vital in supporting the language-learning potential of the children in their care; get it right and they can tap into a multitude of advantages that will endure for the rest of their lives. pacey.org.uk October 2019

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Clare BOURNE

Clare Bourne is a specialist Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapist at Six Physio Chelsea. sixphysio.com

Ask the

EXPERTS Q

&

A

Parenting and medical professionals, as well as leading entrepreneurs, answer some of your most pressing questions 94

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Q Pelvic fl oor muscles... Where are they? What do they actually do? Why are they so important?

A Pelvic floor is for life, not just pregnancy and post birth. Like any muscle, if we don’t use it and strengthen it, it weakens. Also the pelvic floor is not only responsible for urinary incontinence, which gets the most profile before and after childbirth. Other symptoms that might relate to your pelvic floor include pain during sex, needing to pass urine frequently or urgently, and constipation.

Despite what the recent Tena Lady adverts suggest, urinary leakage is not normal and should not be accepted as a new norm. It is common, and many women do experience urinary incontinence after birth, however there is a lot that can be done. Women’s health physiotherapists are trained in helping women recover postnatally, with special pelvic floor training – which is the first line treatment for urinary continence in the UK, as stated in recent NICE Guidelines.

Pelvic floor exercises are often described as ‘oh when you squeeze down there’, which is essentially not wrong, however it is not all about squeezing (or contracting as physios like to call it). The relaxation of a muscle is as important as the contraction and lots of women struggle to let go of their pelvic floor, allowing it to fully relax. When we are stressed, not breathing deeply, or relaxed our pelvic floor naturally sits quite tight.

So before starting your squeeze try and take a deep breath in and see if you can feel your pelvic floor relaxing – it is as important as the squeeze.

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reso ur c es ADVICE

Heather MORRIS

Heather Morris is a Registered General Nurse and State Certified Midwife. She is mum to Freddy, Harry, and Jack. metanium.co.uk Q My son is 11 months old and has developed nappy rash for the fi rst time, I thought it only affected younger babies?

A You’re not alone in thinking this, many parents assume that babies only get nappy rash when they’re tiny and needing their nappy changed up to ten times a day. But it is actually quite rare in newborns and the peak time for little ones developing a sore

bum is 9-12 months. This may be because weaning and changes in diet usually take place at this sort of age, and can lead to runny poos or diarrhoea. These irritants can cause redness and irritation to your baby’s delicate skin.

Try to change wet or soiled nappies as soon as possible (including at night). Clean the area carefully using plain water or wipes that are fragrance and alcohol free. Dry gently by patting the skin and avoid rubbing. Avoid using soap or talcum powder.

Whenever possible leave your son’s nappy off, so his skin can ‘breathe’. You may need lots of towels available if you do this, depending on how mobile he is!

Use a barrier ointment, such as Metanium, as they are generally more effective than creams and lotions, and provide a better moisture barrier for the skin.

Claire MAGEE

Claire Magee is the MD at Nannycare, specialists in goat milk based nutrition for babies. nannycare.co.uk Q Is goat milk-based Follow on formula safe and approved?

A Following an extensive clinical trial with the Nannycare formulation and submissions to the European Food Safety Authority, we are proud to say that, since March 2014, goat milk formula is recognised under EU and UK legislation as a nutritionally equivalent alternative to cow’s milk-based formula*.

This means that Nannycare Follow on can be used in the same way as its cow’s milk equivalent, is just as safe and suitable for your baby and has a mild and creamy taste that babies love.

Our philosophy is to choose pure, whole goat milk which is an excellent protein base for Follow on formula.

Nannycare is simply made, retaining as far as possible the natural goodness and qualities of our goat milk, supplementing only as needed to meet regulatory requirements. In this way, we minimise unnecessary ingredients which may place a burden on the infant’s metabolism. Our successful track record, combined with care and passion for our products, stretches back over 27 years in the UK. Nannycare is now available in many branches of Boots (or Boots.com) and major supermarkets.

Careline UK: 0800 328 5826 ROI: 1800 937 375 E: enquiry@nannycare.co.uk, nannycare.co.uk Important notice: Breastfeeding is best for your baby and should continue for as long as possible.

Nannycare Follow on milk is for babies over 6 months, as part of a varied weaning diet. It should not be used as a breastmilk substitute before this age and should be used on the advice of a healthcare professional.

NOTE: Goat milk formula should not be given to babies with cow’s milk protein allergy unless directed by a healthcare professional. *Directive 2006/141 (EC) and equivalent UK legislation

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We’re here to help when you and your family are ready to find your new home. Visit kfh.co.uk 9864_KFH_Spring Campaign_Absolutely Mama_Banner_420x28_art_v2.indd 1

Henry Fawcett Community Nursery (Leaf ) Clayton St, London SE11 5BZ 020 7582 0509

to know Mama’s guide to London’s best nurseries and preschools

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 N O RTH WEST

NORTH

E AST

North Bridge House Nursery School/Pre-Prep 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, Camden Town, London NW3 5JY 020 7267 6266

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

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

Little Stars Nursery 58 Allen Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 8RZ 020 7254 4367

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

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

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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, London N16 0NX 020 3844 4227 Creative Explorers Day Nursery 18 Gisburn Rd, London N8 7BS 07956 809748

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

The Lyceum Nursery 6 Paul Street, City of London, London, EC2A 4JH registrar@lyceumschool.co.uk lyceumschool.co.uk 020 7247 1588

SOUT H E AST Dulwich Montessori Nursery School St Stephen’s Church, College Road, Dulwich, London SE21 7HN 0208 766 0091

Eaton Square Nursery School, Belgravia 28 & 30 Eccleston Street, London SW1W 9PY Eaton Square Nursery School, Knightsbridge Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BX Eaton Square Nursery School, Pimlico 32a Lupus Street, London SW1V 3DZ nursery@eatonsquareschool.com eatonsquareschool.com 020 7931 9469 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

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reso urces DIRECTORY

London. Property. We get it.

07/05/2019 10:37

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

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

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

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

Tadpoles Nursery School 68 Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10 0NQ 020 7352 9757 The Barnes Village Nursery 3A Station Rd, London SW13 0LP 020 8878 5111 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 Little Chepstow Nursery 108 Lancaster Road, W11 1QS 0207 243 0243 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 Kids Unlimited 34 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 3BQ 0845 365 2918 St Peter’s Nursery School 59a Portobello Road, London W11 3DB 020 7243 2617 Ladbroke Square Montessori School 43 Ladbroke Square, London W11 3ND 020 7229 0125 The Square School 18 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 3QU 020 7221 6004

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

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

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

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

Carmelite Parish Centre Pitt Street W8 4JH 07810 712241

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TRIED & TESTED

IN DEPTH REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PARENTING KIT

r e s ou rces REVIEWS

Silvercross Balance Car Seat

W

Re vie w e d b y A N NA WO O L F

Patacake Moses Basket

W

Re vie we d by SOPH I E H E L SBY

hen looking for our baby’s first bed, we knew that it was important to have her close by our side and within easy reach for those night time feeds. I’d seen various designs online and was on the hunt for the ‘right one’ for quite a while. When I came across Patacake, I immediately added one of their Moses baskets to my wish list.

Finding eco-friendly and natural products for our nursery was very important to us, and Patacake’s baskets tick both of those boxes!

They are beautifully handmade in

Bolgatana, Ghana by local Fra Fra people and are sold by the artisans themselves, ensuring a fair wage is received. Patacake then send out the baskets in recyclable packaging.

There are many beautiful designs to choose from, but we opted for a natural basket with a navy motif and navy handles, which looks great anywhere in our home.

Made from natural elephant grass, the basket is lightweight, durable, and easy to move around.

Another bonus is that it came with a made to measure mattress, made from hypoallergenic, breathable foam with a water resistant, washable cover (all compliant with EU and British standards). Order the fitted sheets with your Moses basket and Patacake will ensure they fit your one-of-a-kind bed perfectly.

We are very happy with our beautiful first bed for our baby, she has many comfy sleeps ahead of her!  £138; patacakekids.com

e’ve just had our second baby and we wanted a car seat that would work for our eldest now, and then could be passed on to our youngest. The new Silvercross Balance was the perfect option for us as it has two configurations, so you can use it from nine months all the way up to 12 years.

It has an easy lock Isofix system, which made it really simple to set up.

I think most parents worry that they are installing a car seat correctly – but Silvercross seats have a clever QR code on them, which you can scan using your phone to bring up a five-step guide. Really good for peace of mind.

The seat feels super secure, due to a top tether and it also has a five-point safety harness. Rather than removing the harness as you move between stages, it has a handy pocket for storing it.

The Balance has extra soft diamond quilted padding, made from breathable natural bamboo. Nine head-rest positions and three recline options make it so comfy I don’t think our eldest is going to want to give it up to her younger sister!  £225; silvercrossbaby.com

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