All Mums- The Place to Be!

Now THIS is a UK mummy site to check out! It has only recently arrived in the UK, but its European sister sites are hugely popular, and I can see why! All Mums aims to provide everything a mother could possibly need- including a Meet Mums section, a MarketPlace, Groups, Forums, Local Tips, Advice and Information plus a bunch more!

What I really love about All Mums is the way it is set up for members- you can add photos, as much or as little information to your profile as you wish, you can update your mood or what you are doing, can form groups and friendships and ask questions to your hearts content! Even better, when you register (which is free) you recieve Gift Vouchers to spend in selected stores! How Fab is that?!

Whether you are pregnant, have an infant, toddler, child or teen there is so much in the community just for you!

This site is one to watch, and it is always great to get in on something right from the beginning! Kind of like a founding member!

Visit All Mums today, and Enjoy!

Modern Baby Pop-In Nappy

RRP: £15

• Ease of Use: 2/5
• Comfort: 3/5
• Aesthetics: 4/5
• Slimness of Fit: 3/5
• Night Time Effectiveness: 5/5
• Value for money: 4/5
• Drying Time: 2/5

The Modern Baby Pop-In Nappy is unique in its design- it is a birth-to-potty hybrid cross between an All-in-One and a two-part system. It is comprised of a bamboo liner which poppers inside the waterproof shell, and also comes complete with a detachable extra bamboo liner and a wrap around night-time booster.

It seems to sound both simple, yet complicated at the same time! I was fortunate enough to be given a first-hand demonstration of how the nappy fits together, however I know of many poor souls who are left completely dumb-founded as to what they are supposed to do with all of the ‘bits’!

What immediately struck me about the Pop-In is the lovely exterior, it is soft, unassuming and far more appealing than a standard PUL wrap. It is lined with a PUL laminate which provides the waterproofing, but you wouldn’t know it from the outside, it really is pleasant looking.

Sadly though, with washing this lovely softness doesn’t fair too well- I found the outer shell to pile somewhat which is a great shame.

As mentioned, the Pop-In comes complete with a detachable night-time booster- this wraps and snaps around the liner inside. Made from Bamboo this is very absorbent, and can be trusted for night time use. However, the sheer bulkiness of the nappy with all the components inside is really off-putting and I just know my daughter can not be comfortable with all of that wad between her legs!

Another major issue I am having with the Pop-In is that although it is designed as a Birth-to-Potty nappy, at a petite 15 months, the aplix tabs are already stretched to their maximum on our daughter- and all of the size settings are exhausted. There is just no way she will fit into this nappy for much longer.

I can see this nappy being appealing and effective for small babies where only one, or some of the parts are required for absorbency minimising bulk, and where indeed it actually fits (!) but as a birth-to-potty nappy i’m am afraid it just doesn’t stand up for us.

Available to purchase from Modern Baby

The bumGenius 3.0

RRP: £14

• Ease of use: 5/5   
• Comfort: 5/5
• Aesthetics: 4/5
• Slimness of Fit: 5/5
• Night Time Effectiveness: 4/5
• Value for Money: 4/5
• Drying Time: 5/5

The bumGenius is a fantastic pocket nappy comprised of a soft polyester outer shell with a laminated PUL on the inside, a fleece liner inner layer, and 2 microfibre inserts which are stuffed into the open ‘pocket’ at the back of the nappy. It fastens with Aplix tabs (a high quality brand of velcro) and has snaps down the front which enables you to adjust the size of the nappy as your baby grows.

Although it may seem bulky at first, the bumGenius can be used right from birth, and should fit most babies until they reach potty training. My 15 month old still wears hers very comfortably on the medium size setting. The Aplix crossover tabs allow maximum adjustability across the waist, and the bumGenius features laundry tabs so you can stick the Aplix to these to prevent them sticking to the rest of the laundry in the machine! Aplix tabs are great for putting a nappy on in super quick time- although as your baby grows in dexterity and becomes increasingly curious, be wary as little fingers will be able to undo these!

The bumGenius washes really well, and the super soft fleece inner does not pile at all. They are very hardwearing nappies and in my opinion, one of the best on the market.

The new version 3.0 comes complete with 2 microfibre inserts- a trim newborn one, and a thicker one-size insert, which also features poppers to allow you to adjust its length. You can use both or either one at a time depending on the age of your baby and how much absorbency is required. These inserts simply get stuffed into the back pocket and the whole piece is placed on the baby. After use the inserts can be removed before popping it in the bucket, or some people find that by placing the whole piece in the machine, they will naturally seperate during the wash cycle. Either way is fine.

Most other inserts will fit in the bumGenius should you decide you need some extra boosting (perhaps when your baby gets older and starts to do bigger wee’s)- the GAD hemp inserts are really absorbent and work well inside a BG.

The bumGenius is favoured by nurseries and childminders as it is so easy to use, and when they are provided ‘pre-stuffed’ they are just as easy to place on the babies as the disposables- so if you will need to use some form of childcare this is worth keeping in mind!

Check out the Manufacturers page for more information or purchase a bumGenius 3.0 one-size nappy now

Fink- ‘Family Interaction Nurtures Kids’

What a cool name huh!?

Families are changing, and children are becoming less involved in family interaction with the ever increasing use of MP3 player, mobile phones, social networking sites and games consoles. How many families do you know who actually share a family meal time that is rife with interesting conversation? Sadly, the answer is probably not many.

Fink Cards were created by the Warner family, based on cards that mum Lisa made when her children were younger. These simple questions cards transformed family meal times from a chaotic and unproductive mess, to an interesting and fun time where each family member was fully engaged.

Questions such as ‘Who Inspires you’, ‘If you could choose a Super power, what would it be’ and ‘What is your earliest memory’ can offer valuable insights into family members, and can help a family really get to know one another.

Sharing love, laughter and fun brings a family closer together and regular time together offers children a deep sense of security and stability.

At just £4.99 per pack, Fink cards are a ‘must have’ for every family- they also make for great gifts for any family member!

Transform your family into confident communicators- grab yourself a pack now!

Reinstatement of the Leicestershire Real Nappy Network

Today saw the reinstatement of the Leicestershire Real Nappy Network- representatives from a host of related arenas attended a meeting held by the Leicestershire County Council to discuss a more centralised approach to the promotion of Real Nappies in the area.

Alongside health visitors, councillors, advisors, agents, nursery workers, waste managers and nappy manufacturers, I of course attended the meeting, in which some very encouraging future plans were drawn up.

The meeting kicked off with a council officer speaking about the Waste Prevention Project, and its aims to change peoples behaviour in order to reduce waste, and increase recycling and composting. The council, as with the rest in the UK, are subject to millions of pounds worth of fines for excessive waste production- and as the councils money comes from each and every taxpayer- this is everyones problem!

The general aims are to increase advertising and promotion, re-vamp the lending kit and cash-back schemes for local residents, and to change the perception of real nappies into more of a ‘normal’ and ‘mainstream’ thing to do. One fantastic way that this is being achieved in the Loughborough are is through the commitment of Shelthorpe Day Nursery. With the backing of the council, they have successfully created a daycare that uses nothing but real nappies for its children. They do all their own laundry, and it of course saves the parents a fortune from not having to supply disposables every morning! They are heartwarmingly enthusiastic about the scheme, and the plan is to implement this in more nurseries around the county. Fab stuff!

There will also be an increase in Nappucinos run in the Leicestershire area, so if there is currently none held near you, do not fear- chances are there will be one soon!

So, keep an ear out for more from the LRRN- as we mean business!

Babylegs on Special Offer

We are currently running our BEST EVER deal on Babylegs Leg Warmers- Buy 2 pairs, and get a 3rd pair absolutely FREE!

Choose from over 20 Fabulously Gorgeous designs- but be warned, you will be stopped wherever you go for people to comment on their cuteness!

Heres what makes Babylegs so Fantastic:

1. Baby Legs are One size fits most, meaning they are one of the only items your little one wont grow out of each season!

2. If you carry your baby in a carrier, you will know how trousers will ride up to expose bare little ankles- then you know its time for Baby Legs!

3. BabyLegs make changing nappies a doddle - No trousers, or even worse, tights to wrestle with

4. Provide light weight sun-protection

5. Tights can put pressure on cloth nappies, causing them to wick moisture- but Babylegs elimate this issue!

6. Why cover up that super cute, fluffy nappy you just bought? Put the BabyLegs on and show it off!

7. BabyLegs make nappy-free, rash-prevention time cozy.

8. BabyLegs protect the knees of little crawlers and unsteady toddlers.

9. They are ideal for potty training, as trousers or tights can be difficult for a child to pull down in a rush!

10. And finally, they are so darn cute! Seriously.

RRP: £7.99 - BUY 3 FOR 2 (Limited time only, while stocks last)

How to Make Baby Stuff

Make Baby Stuff.com is a fabby site for anyone in search of baby craft projects- learn how to make baby clothes, baby slings, nappy bags, baby toys- the lot! Its a great resource for all you craft loving mummys, and those wanting to do things a bit more frugally (well heck, these days I think that covers just about all of us!)

One of my favourite set of instructions has got to be for this recycled cardboard playhouse- I’ll be giving it a try next weekend thats for sure!

Complete with windows and skylights, many hours of fun could be had with this eco-friendly , money-saving and crafty creation! Infact, the kids can get involved in the making of it too- making it all the more desirable!

 This site is definatley worth checking out- enjoy!

Dragons Den Featuring Baby Loves Disco!

Will the Dragons dance with their babies tonight? 

On September the 8th we see the last in the series of the hugely popular and painstakingly addictive Dragon’s Den. Will Mancunian Naomi Timperley and her American business partner Andy Blackman-Hurwitz be able to melt the hearts of the fiery Dragons with their innovative and successful concept Baby Loves Disco? With 16 children between them you’d think Theo, Duncan and Peter would be uber interested. Tune in to BBC 2 on 8th September @ 9pm to find out!

Baby Loves Disco is a phenomenon taking the UK by storm; it’s a real disco in a real club but especially for your little ones.

Baby Loves Disco is the afternoon dance party for little kids (6 months to 8 years)
And (especially) their parents, featuring real DJs spinning tunes guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving. The latest and most unlikely craze was started in the US, and is well established in over 30 cities. It is also going global having recently launched in Japan, Israel and Poland.

We will certainly be watching Naomi appearing on the show- Good Luck Naomi!

Other Peoples Breastmilk 

Next Tuesday see’s the airing of the latest edition of the G-Spot series on Channel 4, and one that tackles the highly emotive issue of breastfeeding. Kate Garraway visits communites in which breastfeeding other peoples infants is completely normal, and examines the root issues of why such practices are so controversial in our society.

Kate says of breastfeeding:

”It’s the most natural thing in the world, but it can still generate such a strong reaction from people. It’s still seen as something that’s dirty. Yet in other cultures, women can breastfeed each other’s babies, for example, and nobody bats an eyelid.”

We are really excited to watch the show, and are interested in the public reactions to it. Particularly when the mothers raise the fact that most people have no issue drinking the milk of a cow, but are squemish at the thought of drinking another humans milk- which is of course a very topsy-turvy way of thinking!

”Many people might think it is weird, but they argue it is much weirder to drink cow’s milk, which is, after all, from the breast of another species, than it is to drink it from a woman. I’m not saying that I would have been able to have my daughter fed by someone else if I’d been unable to breastfeed, but it certainly makes a degree of sense.”

Be sure to mark it in your diary- Tuesday 9th September, 10pm Channel 4

Do pop back and share your thoughts on the show!

My husband caught only the last half of a radio news feature this week that spoke about a celebrity vowing to use real nappies for their children, when they eventually have them!…..but we don’t know who it actually was that said it- any ideas?!

If you heard it too- let us know!