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!