Food Glorious Food!

After the birth and early weeks of a new baby, the breast/bottle debate and the struggle for everyone to get enough sleep, comes the next hotly debated topic....weaning.

What to feed them, when to feed them and how to feed them must be one of the most talked about subjects at mother and baby groups the world over. 

I have had very different experiences of weaning my three and thought I would share them with you!

When my eldest was born, the advice was to begin weaning at around 16 weeks and start off with a bit of baby rice mixed with their usual milk. Not knowing any different I dutifully did as advised and soon found myself plunged into pureeing organic vegetables into suitable purees that could be frozen and used when necessary. 

His mealtimes consisted of me (or his dad) spooning the food into his mouth whilst trying to distract him from the job in hand. We quickly progressed onto the spoon grabbing game and realised that if he had a spoon of his own we might manage to get a bit more food in. As most parents do, we had all the usual worries about whether he was getting enough food , the right nutrients and was his diet leaving enough room for him to get the milk he also needed.

With the second child we were undoubtedly more relaxed. We were used to the mess, he loved his food and we were less focussed on the distinct 'stages' of weaning and let him guide us as to what he was going to eat and how/when. Consequently, he was definitely feeding himself sooner and I don't remember the same anxiety about whether he had eaten enough. As long as he was healthy and growing I knew he was OK.

By the time number three came along I thought I knew what I was doing, until I read a magazine article about Baby Led Weaning. The concept made perfect sense to me and I was intrigued enough to buy a book and explore further.

In a nutshell, the concept of baby led weaning is that you provide a variety of foods (almost anything goes!) and your baby explores them and eats them how and when he/she is ready.

We decided to give it a go and I have to say that I wish we had discovered the idea sooner. Forget purees, ice cube trays and weaning spoons. All you need is a decent high chair, a clean surface for them to eat from and a sense of humour at the clearing up stage! (Essentials for us were the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair and Table Top and a good supply of Cheeky Wipes).

We found it absolutely fascinating to watch our child explore the foods presented with her eyes, her nose, her hands and her mouth. We were confident that she was getting all the goodness she needed from her milk and so never worried about how much she was actually eating. Our mealtimes were family based, stress free and messy!

The bigger picture is that all three of our children have healthy appetites and enjoy a variety of foods but if I could go back I would definitely do baby led weaning again. In retrospect it just seems like a more baby friendly, relaxed and easier way to get them enjoying food!

The book I read is called: Baby-led weaning by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett and is well worth looking at if you are interested in using baby led weaning for your family.

Choosing a buggy

We see lots of expectant parents (and grandparents) in the shop. When you are pregnant one of the big decisions is which pram/buggy to buy. It is an interesting one because it seems to be one thing that everyone has an opinion on. The grandparents are often consulted because they are buying or contributing and of course the choice these days is overwhelming, even to an expert!

Families often stare wide eyed at the choice and ask 'which one is best?!' Of course that is not a question that can be answered because every family is different and has different expectations and priorities.

I always suggest to people that perhaps the best way to make a decision is to look at the practicalities first. For example, if you drive your buggy needs to fit in the car. You also need to be able to get it in the house easily, so check doorways, alleys and garden gates before buying anything too big! If you need to get up and down stairs go for something lightweight or try to negotiate a safe place to leave your chassis downstairs and buy something with a detachable carrycot.

Next, have a good think about what you will be doing once you have had your baby. Will you be in and out of the car several times a day? On public transport? Walking....through town or off road? Where will you store your buggy when it is not in use? 

There is one more thing I always mention. It may seem obvious but it is, I believe, a common mistake when buying your first pram/buggy. Try to think beyond your baby's first 6 months. It is so easy when you are pregnant to focus on your newborn baby and, of course, you should! But try also to remember that your tiny bundle will very quickly grow into a bonnie baby and throughout their first year, what you and they need from their wheels will change drastically! It is very common for a second buggy to be bought when the baby reaches around 6-8 months of age because the first choice is too heavy or cumbersome. 

Of course, it can be helpful to talk to other families about their choices, particularly if they have a similar lifestyle to you. What have they been pleased with, anything they regret? But do remember that what works for one family may not be suitable for yours. 

If you focus on your everyday routine and what you want your buggy to do for you and your family, you should make a good decision!

Waste free lunches

Waste free lunches

I hate to say it but my thoughts are starting to turn to that 'back to school' preparation. With our youngest about to start school and my husband now working in an office away from home we will find ourselves making 5 lunches some days.

I had a purge on plastic about a year ago, we don't buy cling film anymore and replaced our lunchboxes with Lunchbots. My next obsession is trying to find an alternative to disposable wrap for sandwiches/cakes etc. We have substituted cling film for greaseproof paper or paper bags but if we get through 5 a day that is a lot of waste! So, I am thinking what the alternatives might be?  

I have had a look online and found companies that make a reusable sandwich wrap, which usually consists of a large square of fabric, waterproof/wipe clean on one side with a velcro type adjustable fastening. I reckon I could make my own. I am going to do some fabric research because I want them to be plastic free, wipe clean and machine washable.

I am hoping the inner glow I feel when I don't have to throw away 5 paper bags or 5 lots of greaseproof will be worth the investment!  So, if you have made a reusable sandwich wrap or have any inspiration please let me know. In return I will keep you posted on my progress!

Work can wait!

I have to admit that a few weeks ago I was dreading the Summer holidays. This is most unlike me. I normally look forward with anticipation to having time to spend with my 3 children, catching up with friends (mine and theirs) and a break from the old routine. 

However, this year all the rain combined with the fact that I am a self employed mum running my own business (often from home) I was a little anxious about how we were going to get through it without falling out...more than a few times!!

2 weeks into the holidays and I have to say my fears were unfounded, so far! Our saving grace has been that the rain has stopped. That and the fact that I managed to find a holiday club with an interesting and varied programme of activities that they were all happy to go to once a week.

We have managed days on the beach, Olympic activities, time with family, a camping trip, horse riding, swimming and cinema. We have had friends to play and this evening we are packing for a few days away. 

But what I have remembered over the last 2 weeks is that what I love most about the holidays is the lack of routine. Its the ability to ignore the rules without suffering the consequences. Being able to say 'yes' to their 'can we.....' more often. The time to let them get bored and find them 10 minutes later engrossed in den building, or a game of make believe, or a board game that has not been out of the cupboard for months.

Don't get me wrong, it is not all sweetness and light in our house. The boys have discovered that they like to argue, much to my annoyance, and the long days out have been followed by late nights at work. The lack of Blog posts will give you some idea of the lack of work time!

In 4 weeks they will all be back at school, our youngest starts in reception this year and for the first time in 13 years I will be with out a little one at home during the day.

Work can wait! 

Do you Caboo?

One of the busiest areas of our shop floor is the bit where we keep the baby carriers. We have a good selection available along with a baby mannequin that is weighted to give you a real idea of what it feels like to carry a baby. Our customers love the fact they can come in, try the different carriers and decide which one is best for them.

We have recently added a new carrier to our portfolio, the Caboo from Close. We had been asked for the Caboo by a number of customers so decided we would get them in and give it a go.

We now have stock available as well as one on the shop floor for you to try. We have tried it ourselves (Bev has been sporting one in the shop!) and have found it quick and easy to put on as well as being comfortable and supportive. We think it will appeal to people who like the idea of a wrap carrier (like the Kari Me) but are put off by the tying process.

The Caboo is preformed so you can slip it on, pop your baby in, tighten the straps by pulling and GO!

Take a look at the video on our website and if you need any more info pop in for a demo or call us...

Half term holidays

Myself and the family (in laws included) are off to Italy for the half term. We, like most families we know have had to tighten our financial belts a bit over the last few years and holidays sometimes seem like an extravagance. 


However, having thought it through, we have decided that for our family, holidays are a priority. We have made compromises and cut corners elsewhere to make sure that we could have a holiday. Our eldest will be 13 in July and I can't help thinking that there are precious few years left before we get to the 'no thanks, I'll stay at home' stage. And then what??


We can't have that time back...time spent away from home together is definitely positive for us. No jobs to do, no phones to answer, no work = more time to talk and more time to listen. More time to play together, relax together and generally have fun together. It is amazing what that can do for the family dynamic. 


I am really looking forward to our holiday! Whatever you are doing this half term, we hope you find some time to relax with your family. Enjoy! 

Enjoy the Jubilee!

Happy Jubilee Weekend to all of our customers and friends (many of you are both!) We hope you enjoy the long weekend and get to spend some bonus time with your loved ones. We are closed to do just that on Monday 4th and Tuesday the 5th of June but we are open Saturday 2nd June and back to 'normal' whatever that is!) on Wednesday 6th.

Have a great weekend and we will see you next week......