I have just returned to the shop having been to do today's post run. Of course today is the day that the much talked about postal rate increase has been implemented. It is quite an increase! It got me thinking about the (also much talked about) current financial crisis. It seems that the majority of people we speak to have either been made redundant, taken a pay cut, pay freeze or at the very least not had a pay rise for a very long time. Combine this with cuts in child tax credit, working families tax credit and child benefit and it is a bleak picture. Even worse is that every day essentials are getting more expensive....petrol, bread, pasta, milk, electricity/gas and now postage!

So, we have been thinking about tips for saving money, or spending wisely when you have a family to provide for. We have a few ideas and we will be blogging about them one at a time!

Today is a no brainer for me. I know a lot of families do not want to even think about it but it seems so obvious to me that I can't comprehend why families would choose not to do it....washable nappies!

Using washables saves on the expense of buying nappies, nappy bags and bin liners (watch your rubbish halve overnight!) before you even factor in the environmental benefits. To be completely fair I guess you need to consider the cost of washing (detergent and electricity) and drying but if you sit down and work it out over 2 and a half years (for one child, free for second, and third in our house!) you are definitely going to save money.

I have just had a quick look online and disposable nappies are on average 15p each. If you change your baby an average of 6 times a day (more when they are newborn, less as they get older) that makes it 90p a day x 7 days in a week = £6.30 x 130 weeks (assuming most children toilet train around 2 and a half, some will be earlier, some later and most will still be wearing night time nappies at this age but I am trying to keep it simple) = £819.00 for 1 child, and I think I have been quite conservative with my estimates.

Washables, including wraps, liners, bucket, mesh, wet nappy bag etc will cost you no more than £350.00 even for the 'top of the range' brands and can be done much cheaper if you are happy to do a bit of folding!! Washing costs are hard to estimate but even if we say an extra £100 you are still quids in and that is just for one child. Don't forget with number 2 you only pay for the laundering.

Give it some serious thought. Have a good think about what is stopping you switching. If you have any questions or would like to talk about it, call us or email. We love a good natter. And remember, the sooner you switch the more you save!

New Harness Buddies!

We have been asked loads for a substitute for traditional reins, a way of keeping little ones close and safe without making them feel restricted and cross! We have searched high and low and come across a few variations on a  theme, but we think the big hit with the kids (and lets face it, they are the important ones!) will be these Harness Buddies. Each one is a cute animal that has a sturdy harness and 'tail' attached. The child wears the animal and the parent holds the tail, keeping the kids and the grown ups happy!

Particularly useful in busy places: town centres, parks, airports, markets, shops or near hazards such as water, roads and steep drops.

Available in a variety of very cute designs...pick your favourite and get going!

Sun Protection Creams

As we approach Summer we come to that time where parents everywhere are considering the best way to protect their little ones from the sun. It is rare for us in the UK to get really hot weather but it is also widely accepted now that even on cloudy days, delicate skin can burn. The dilemma is that it has also been widely publicised recently that Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly common in people in the UK, the sun being our main source. The trick is to ensure your children get enough sun to get their Vitamin D without risking burning their skin and increasing the risk of skin cancer.

It is the UVB rays in the sun that boost levels of vitamin D and some studies have shown that during the Winter in the UK there is not enough sun to increase levels of vitamin D. Therefore our bodies rely on stores from the Summer months.

The NHS advise is that in the UK if we spend some time in the sun in the middle of the day exposing as much of our skin as possible, 10-15mins should be enough but obviously this varies from one person to the next. Sunscreen should be applied if you are in the sun longer than this.

It is also worth considering the type of sunscreen you choose for your family. Chemical sunscreens work because your body absorbs the chemicals contained in them and the chemicals then absorb the sun's rays. Mineral sunscreens work by coating the surface of your skin and reflecting the sun's rays away from your skin.

Chemical sunscreens have been linked to an increased risk of cancer but I will allow you to do your own research on that topic as it is highly controversial.

In conclusion, there are many variables involved in sun protection. The intensity of the sun, the time of day, the percentage of your skin that is exposed, UVA/UVB rays, individual sensitivity to the sun. As parents we have to make informed choices and take calculated risks on all sorts of topics.

Personally, I go for my usual mantra of 'everything in moderation' so my kids are allowed to play in the sun for short periods of time without sunscreen. I don't bother sending sunscreen to school, despite demands by teachers, because I don't think they spend enough time in the sun for it to be necessary. They do, however, all take hats. If we are outside in the sun for prolonged periods of time I prefer them to cover up with a light t-shirt or rash vest if in the water, rather than applying head to toe cream. We then just use a mineral sunscreen (Naturally Cool Kids Sunshine Armour is our favourite) on face, neck and forearms.

When choosing a sunscreen make sure it protects against UVA and UVB rays and whatever the SPF factor, reapply every 2 hours if you are in full sun.

I hope that helps, lets hope we get some sun this year!!

Do you read magazines?

I love to read, preferably a good book, but like most mums my reading time is limited and so sometimes a magazine is more realistic. I can dip into a magazine in shorter bursts. I struggled for a long time to find an accessible parenting magazine that had articles I was interested in, product reviews that were useful and some content that provoked thought and discussion amongst myself and my friends.

Then I found 'The Green Parent' magazine. It is a great blend of articles, letters, product reviews, recipes and more that I find interesting and thought provoking. It is published once every two months, so I have plenty of time to read each issue and even manage to squeeze the odd book in too!

The April/May issue is currently on sale and includes articles on how to prevent tooth decay naturally, 'unplugging' teenagers and cutting the clutter in your home.

If you are interested in parenting and reducing your impact on the planet at same time, you should take a look!

NEW Spring/Summer Lizzie Shirt

From the very start of heybaby* we made a conscious decision to, wherever possible, use suppliers who produce their goods in the UK. It just makes sense as it provides employment in the UK and cuts the environmental impact of the finished product as transportation is greatly reduced.

When you look at children's clothing, options are limited. However, we have been a stockist of Cornish brand Lizzie Shirt for a number of years now. Designed and produced in their own premises in Falmouth, the range is fun, colourful and practical.

We love Lizzie Shirt because the clothes are purely for kids. It is so common to hear parents worrying about their children 'growing up too fast' and often the children's clothes on the high street are just smaller versions of their parents' attire. With Lizzie Shirt the clothes are designed purely for kids. Distinctive fabric combinations and quirky embellishments make the clothes truly unique...just like your little ones!

Take a look at the new collection here.

Did your labour go according to plan?!

Having had three children myself, and from talking to mums who come in the shop, I find myself a little bemused by the term 'birth plan'.

I decided whilst pregnant with my first that there was no point in trying to plan for something that could happen at any moment within a 5 week window and that was a complete unknown to me. I had no idea how I would feel, how it would happen, when it would happen and how it might progress. To try to 'plan' it felt like trying to control it. I felt instinctively if I tried to control it I was setting myself up to fail. I did not want to kid myself that I had any say about when or how our baby might decide to appear.

Three labours later, I realise that although there are elements of a labour and birth story we cannot control or plan, there are also elements that can be discussed and prepared for, which can make the whole process more relaxing (relaxing is good!) and dare I say enjoyable?!

So although you may be feeling frustrated that you cannot decide when your baby might put in an appearance, you have no idea how you will manage the pain and your labour may last an hour or several days, you can discuss with your partner (and write down if you feel it is necessary) a number of preferences and options that you feel strongly about.

For example, you obviously need to discuss where you would like to have your baby. Hospital is not the only option! Home birth is becoming more popular all the time and some areas have specialist birth centres. Talk to your midwife as early as possible to give yourselves time to discuss your options.

Explore hypno-birthing, homeopathy, massage, yoga, acupuncture and any other areas you are interested in . Some of these elements have huge benefits during pregnancy as well as labour and can be used to relive an array of symptoms as well as helping you to relax (remember, relaxing is good!)

Discuss with your partner what sort of labour you would prefer. Do you want to stay mobile as long as possible? Be in water if possible? Use a birth ball? Turn off bright lights? Music? Think about what helps you relax and what you might find comforting, this will help the time pass in a more relaxed manner.

The element at the forefront of most women's minds is pain relief. I think this is tough and I see no point in make absolute rules as the pain is such an unknown. But do discuss with your birth partner the pain relief path you would ideally like to take and make sure he or she is clear on your preferences so that if necessary you have someone to speak for you! Do your research and if you have any absolutes, make sure everyone involved in your care is aware.

Finally think about the moments after the baby is born and talk to your midwife about their 'protocol' so that if you wish to deviate from it, everyone is aware of your choices. Does your partner want to cut the umbilical cord or would you like it to be left as long as possible? Do you want to try to deliver your placenta naturally or are you happy to have the 'routine' injection to speed this up? Do you want to keep your placenta? Have you considered stem cell storage?

This is not an exhaustive list of everything you will want to discuss whilst pregnant but it does point out some of the variables I wish we had been made aware of or given more thought to. I think the term 'birth plan' is a misnomer. It is not possible to plan for such a unique event. However, that does not mean that it cannot be how you want it to be. With some careful thought and consideration, you can have the birth you would like.

World Book Day

We had to leave home earlier than usual yesterday morning to get the whole family to our daughter's pre-school for breakfast. Breakfast was in aid of World Book Day. The children were asked to dress up as one of their favourite book characters and bring a book to share. Our little one was desperate to dress as a Princess but was adamant she had to take her special 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff" story with her. I tried to persuade her to dress as a goat but when she retrieved her sparkly shoes from the dressing up box I knew I was onto a losing battle there!

It is well known amongst parents that books are good for children. That reading to them and with them is beneficial. There is nothing like that feeling of snuggling up with your little ones and a good story. It is a moment of peace in the day. A chance for a cuddle and some one-to-one time. Magic!

What I guess is not so well known, is why books and reading are so good for your child's development and how you can help them to read, speak, listen and write... important skills for life. I picked up a leaflet at pre-school this morning that had some important points in it that I had never considered before. It became clearer to me why Play-doh, sand and water play, painting and music are so important in their early development.

Your child will notice adults around them reading and writing and will want to copy them. Mark making is the first step towards writing and is closely linked to physical development. The more chance a young child has to develop large and small movement in their arms, hands and fingers the easier it will be to make marks with their tools (pencils, paint brushes etc)

The good news is that activities such as digging, painting and swishing a scarf through the air to make shapes all count. So now we can dig, paint and play to our heart's content safe in the knowledge that whilst we are having fun, there is a hidden benefit there for our kids.

We hope you had a good World Book Day and enjoyed your bedtime story last night!