Mummy Musings

A big thank you to the lovely people at Peter Rabbit Organics: 3 boxes of their wonderful organic baby juices arrived today to go into the info packs that we hand out at fairs, groups and events we go to. They are a blend of pure fruit juice and water, in a baby/toddler friendly strength. We love Peter Rabbit juices in our house.  Not only are they Soil Association certified organic, they don’t have any sugar (or even worse, artificial sweeteners), they come in baby sized packs and…

When families first start investigating the world of babywearing, they often question how much they would actually use a sling or baby carrier.  They are worried that it would just be another piece of baby gear sitting in the cupboard gathering dust. Well, here is my day today, so you can see just how much easier busy family life can be when you wear your baby. The morning started with me trying to complete my pre-course work for the Peer Support Course I am attending tomorrow. …

As anyone who has been for a play with us recently will know only too well, L is displaying normal toddler (baby/pre-schooler/child) behaviour and snatching toys from other children and having problems with the concept of sharing. As one mother described yesterday, it is a little like watching baby wrestling and my two instincts (the grown up "social niceties" side that says we must all be nice to each other/don't want people to think I have a thug for a daughter and the "it is natural…

Just back from a lovely session at the NCT Coffee Afternoon: a smaller than normal group due to the holidays but everyone was happy to have at least one group that carries on running during the summer. As ever a mixture of ages, from a tiny 5 week old, all the way to a 2 1/2 year old (plus my 9 year old). It felt a bit like a sling meet, as all but one baby was in a sling, and that mummy had unusually brought the pram as she had a big parcel to collect. The group meets every other…

Earlier today we attended a fantastic hands on Gargoyle  making session at the Chapter House, Exeter Cathedral. We were met by Holly, who has only recently joined the education and events department at the Cathedral.  Holly was very friendly and welcoming and gave us a set of binoculars to go outside and look at the amazing gargoyles ourselves. Holly explained that the gargoyles on the Cathedral range in age from the oldest dating back to the Norman times to the more "modern"…

The girls have been having a whale of a time playing together today.  They have built dens, been on the swings and trampoline, investigated worms and mud pies, washed dolls in a bowl of ice, created towers out of random bricks, drawn pictures and practised rolling around in the grass. The house and garden look like a bomb has hit and the toddler is filthy (she even has mud UP her nose) and exhausted but it was so worth just staying out of their way and letting them find their own ways…

Just wanted to let everyone know about a few events coming up soon: Exeter Sling Meet/Walk - Friday 24th August, 2pm.  Meet at the Welcome Cafe, past Exeter Quay.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/308072649291195/  Check the facebook event on the day if the weather is bad for an updated venue. All Night Milk Bar Beer Meet - Thursday 16th August, 8pm.  Meet at Sawyers' Arms, Cowick Street.   https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/253121041474219/ Crafty Social at Spacex Gallery -…

Now that L is walking and moving so much more, I am remembering just how “helpful” a toddler can be. L’s helpfulness includes: Wiping the table (aka shredding the dishcloth) Replying to customer emails (aka eating the space bar) Kneading the bread (aka eating the dough) Sorting the washing (aka spreading it out all over the floor after I had just folded it.  She then got in the washing basket for a ride round the room) Arranging the flowers (aka eating petals) Taking the…

Just back from a lovely trip to the West Exe Baby Cafe at the St Thomas Community Centre (Thursday am, 10.30-12.30 if you don't already come) and all the staff are buzzing with ideas for the Big Latch On in August. From the Big Latch On site - What is the Big Latch On? Groups of breastfeeding women coming together at registered locations around the world to all latch on their child at a set time. All the breastfeeding women and children are latched on for one minute at the set time and…

St Margaret's Pre-Prep are holding a Teddy Bears' Party and would love you to join them and look around their wonderful Nursery, Reception and Years 1-2. The event is free and all children must be accompanied by an adult and a…

Just remembering how lovely the start of the inquisitive phase is.  Although L isn't walking yet and she is in the sling when we go out, it is still taking us half an hour to walk down our road, stopping at every tree, fence, wall, plant, lamppost etc so she an inspect, touch, smell and feel each new thing. Current favourites are shaking the rain off trees, feeling the different textures on tree trunks/walls and sniffing the flowers. It is all rather sweet really, as it is all…

If you go down to the High Street today, you're in for a big surprise... A big red ball of a surprise in fact. The Red Ball Project tour of England 2012 has come to Exeter and will be here for the next 3 days. Currently wedged between the pillars of the Guildhall, the Red Ball will be in Princesshay on Saturday and The Quay on Sunday, certainly worth a…

The lovely people at WaterBaby have been kind enough to send us some bottles of their water drink fortified with Folic Acid. WaterBaby is an everyday water drink and a new approach to pregnancy care. WaterBaby is fortified with the recommended daily intake of Folic Acid and a careful blend of supporting vitamins and minerals including Zinc and Calcium designed to provide a refreshing and palatable way to extra hydration and nutritional support during all stages of conception, pregnancy and…

One of the questions I get asked all the time is "I saw a cheap Ergo baby carrier for sale, do you think it is genuine?"  Nine times out of ten, I have to advise that I think it is a fake and may be dangerous. Ergo Baby is aware of the problem of fake baby carriers and is working hard to stop it as the fake carriers may be dangerous for several reasons: Weak or flimsy buckles that break when the baby is being carried insufficient stitching or seams meaning the straps may…

The Exeter Pregnancy and Baby Fair is delighted to announce that it's chosen charity is the Pandas Foundation. Pandas Foundation is a non- profit organisation supporting families across the U.K suffering from pre (antenatal) and postnatal depression. Offering sufferers and their families support and advice to help aid their recovery. The Fair will be a totally free event for expectant parents and families with young children but you will be able to give a small donation on the day or buy…

Potty Training – Get Ready, Get Set, Go! By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution   Get Ready If your child is near or has passed his first birthday, you can begin incorporating pre-potty training ideas into his life. They are simple things that will lay the groundwork for potty training and will make the process much easier when you're ready to begin. During diaper changes, narrate the process to teach your toddler the words and meanings for…

The Potty Training Readiness Quiz By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution   Potty training is easier and happens faster if your child is truly ready in all three areas: physical, cognitive and social. But the big question is: how do you know when your child is ready? If you have never traveled this road before, you likely don’t even know what signs to look for. Take this quiz to find out where your child is on the readiness spectrum. 1.        …

Quick Facts About Potty Training By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution   Potty training can be natural, easy, and peaceful. The first step is to know the facts. The perfect age to begin potty training is different for every child. Your child's best starting age could be anywhere from eighteen to thirty-two months. Pre-potty training preparation can begin when a child is as young as ten months. You can begin training at any age, but your child's…

If you are looking for some quick play ideas the new Attachment Parenting UK website has a whole page of them. Here are a few: A selection of wooden bricks can be used for so many games at all ages - children can make houses, boats, stables for toy horses, garages for toy cars, towers, ramps, roads...the list is endless. A bag of different colour, texture and length of ribbons makes for an excellent inspiration for all manner of games - as does a box of material scraps for dressing up…

  A wonderful family-friendly place to spend a holiday.    Rural and idyllic quiet location amongst rolling countryside ·         Standalone/self-contained gite ·         Set in 2.5 acres of gardens ·         Private patio, including furniture, sun beds and a barbeque ·         3 bedrooms with flexible sleeping arrangements  (Can be 2 doubles and 2 singles or 1 double and 4 singles) Plus a cot-bed which can go in any…

Will you be taking part in the annual screen-free week?  The TV doesn't get watched much by the children and I can do without my bad US cop Dramas but other aspects will be hard - I can't do my job without the computer for example.   I will certainly be making an effort to do less surfing and will cut out smart phone use for the week too.   Screen-Free Week   Screen-Free Week is an annual event in which parents, children, teachers, and others across the country turn off screen media…

Just taken delivery of one of the brand new TotsBots wraps which we are testing out before deciding whether or not to stock. First impressions:  lovely bright pattern - (the Turnip one in orange). feels a little flimsy/lightweight?  Could just be that I am now so used to the heavier wraps.  The thinness could be an advantage though. Cross over tabs at the waist, so good for sizing. Fit is bigger than the Motherease. Have popped it on over an Eccobots nappy so will report back…

Book Description Every parent would happily give up ever scolding, punishing or threatening if she only knew how to ensure that her toddler/child/teen would thrive and act responsibly without such painful measures. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves is the answer to this universal wish. It is not about gentle ways to control a child, but about a way of being and of understanding a child so she/he can be the best of herself, not because she fears you, but because she wants to, of her own…

Our local supermarket has a sign up in the entrance telling you what food is desperately needed by the Food Bank, so you can add a few bits to your trolley as you go round, then put it in the big boxes at the end of the checkout. So simple, yet it makes such a big difference and it barely adds a couple of quid to each shop - just imagine if EVERYONE donated even just one tin of food every time they shopped? What does Exeter Food Bank Do? Exeter Food Bank is designed to help individuals…

I think I have found a new favourite cafe - the brand new, only just opened Welcome Inn on the canalside in Exeter. We were only able to pop our head through the door and say hello yesterday as they were just closing up from their first day's trading but we were so impressed with what we saw that we will be back very soon. The old pub has been converted into a really pretty and welcoming cafe, with a light and airy feel, scrubbed wood tables, painted furniture and squashy sofas. They…

Product Description The Wonder Weeks. How to stimulate your baby's mental development and help him turn his 10 predictable, great, fussy phases into magical leaps forward describes in easy-to-understand terms the incredible developmental changes that all babies go through during the first 20 months of their lives. This is the extended, "fat" edition with 2 more chapters covering 2 more leaps in the mental development of your baby up to the end of the sensorimotor period. The book is…

Review "Those seeking alternative methods of raising confident, well-loved children will warmly embrace Kohn's message." - Publishers Weekly "Alfie Kohn does it again: He takes a topic (parenting) that has been studied and written about for years and gives us a wise way of adjusting our lenses so that we really see it clearly. He doesn't give simple rules, he gives deep understanding and a core foundation for parents." - JoAnn Deak, Girls Will Be Girls" Product Description This book…

5.0 out of 5 stars World wide, Children and families benefit from babywearing.,15 July 1999 Review By An Amazon Customer This review is from: A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying Around the World (Hardcover) Beautiful visual and written images of babies and children from many cultures being carried in wraps and slings, on backs and in arms, as families work and play together. Babywearing and breastfeeding are depicted in harmony with the family's daily life. Babies and children…

Product Description It's no secret that breastfeeding is the normal, healthy way to nourish and nurture your baby. Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for generations. Now their classic bestselling guide has been retooled, refocused, and updated for today's mothers and lifestyles. Working mothers, stay-at-home mums, single mums, and mothers of…

Review Mumsnet Best Awards 2011 - Best parenting book `An excellent book for reassessing the way you talk to your children and, as one said, "putting it into practice isn't as hard as I imagined and the children respond so, so well".' --Mumsnet, January 2011 Synopsis This down-to-earth book is written to make relationships with children of all ages less stressful and more rewarding. The authors use innovative ways to solve problems. In this book you will learn to cope with your child's…

Yesterday was a busy old day for Lamb and me. We spent the first part of the morning hanging out at home and playing together. Her current favourite game is “reading” books - we spend hours with her sitting on my lap, turning one or two pages in a board book, looking very intently at the pictures. She talks to the pictures quite a lot and does seem to be listening to me when I point to parts of the page and describe what is happening. However what she seems most interested in is…

Review "constructive, intelligent solutions on how to take the lessons of the past, embrace the good things about the present and raise bright balanced children for the future" (DAILY RECORD) Product Description Sue Palmer's ground-breaking book TOXIC CHILDHOOD generated national debate. Now, in this important follow-up book, she provides an essential guide on how to bring up children in a way that avoids the problems of a toxic world. Includes practical, easy-to-follow advice on: Food…

Despite my best intentions to SLOW down a little, I just don't seem to be able to clear my diary and this week is no execption. Today I am dropping off an order to a lovely pregnant mama - lots of yummy cloth nappies and a stretchy wrap for her. Later on, it is Make and Take at the Hub on the Green, one of the 9 year old's highlights of the week. Tomorrow it is Babyccino, so do come along for lots of nappy (and other) chat, cake and coffee in a lovely supporting environment.  The…

A big thank you to Sue, who used to be one of the toddler leaders at Exeter Steiner School, for coming back into school today to teach a group of us how to make a doll. For those who don't know them, Steiner dolls are rather special.  They are hand made, with a particular child in mind, from natural fabrics and stuffed with hand carded wool.  The dolls are kept intentionally very simple, with embroidered eyes and mouth and no facial expression. This is so the child can give the doll…

Been a bit of a moaning minnie this week so very glad to have been cheered up by this. I picked up a leaflet for Politmore House events yesterday at the new St Thomas Library and guess what symbol they are using to denote a family friendly event? The international breastfeeding logo!  How cool is that?  I have seen it around lots of places but this is the first time I have seen it used like this and it is such a welcome change to a picture of a bottle. On the basis of that, even…

Review "Why Love Matters is hugely important. It should be mandatory reading for all parents, teachers and politicians." - The Guardian "Sue Gerhardt's choice of title reflects the loving attention to detail that is the essence of this book... excellently researched and well-written book which deserves to be widely read by practitioners, researchers and parents." - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice "Sue Gerhardt has written a vitally important book - a must-read…

Is 10am too early to think of lunch?  The Lamb has been nursing lots lately so it seems I have food permanently on the brain. I am finding it hard not to fill myself up with instant sugar hit snacks, so planning ahead today. I am going to make these in an hour or so and have with some cheese and salad - a simple, quick lunch that a 9 month old can join in with too. You will need: Chickpea flour Water Salt Olive Oil Take equal parts of chickpea flour and water, mix…

I know I have shared this blog before but it always makes me laugh.  We definately suffer from the pooping just as the washing machine goes on - how about you? You can read the whole of Amber's blog here -…

I love this book - it is a fantastic reminder that being a mother (or father for that matter) is a real job in itself and needs no further qualification. What Amazon has to say: 'The best parenting book you've never heard of.' - Anne Karpf, The 'Guardian' 'Naomi Stadlen writes with understanding, deep insight and humour. This is truly woman-to woman.' - Sheila Kitzinger, childbirth educator, mother 'I wish I'd had this book years ago - to show to bosses who didn't understand, to friends…

Babyccino today was full of lovely mummies and babies/children, all playing happily together while the grown ups drank coffee and ate biscuits. My kind of afternoon. A successful afternoon on the real nappy front too - a pregnant mummy came along with lots of questions and was able to touch and see a whole range of nappies. As well as a nappy demo from me, she was able to chat to other cloth nappy users about their experiences of real nappies and just how easy they are to use. Also…